Amalfi or Positano

Old Feb 10th, 2016, 05:58 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Amalfi or Positano

Will be spending 3 or 4 nights on the coast and deciding between these two towns. Always dreamed of Positano, but posts about the steepness have me concerned about walking. Would Amalfi be a better town to base and take day trip to Pos? any other pros/cons of which town?
joycap is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 06:42 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,949
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
A negative about Amalfi is that it is a tour bus destination as it has parking thus can be quite crowded..
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 06:55 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Positano all day every day

So much more charming and better views. I don't think the steepness is too much of an issue. What concerns you about it?
JenV is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 07:01 PM
  #4  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If steepness is an issue, Amalfi might suit better than Positano.
kja is offline  
Old Feb 10th, 2016, 07:03 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You can stay in Positano and negotiate no more than 20 stairs - or none at all so long as you choose your hotels wisely.

The main road winds in and out so is not overly steep - I would call it more a gentle slope of no more than 20 degrees.

Amalfi also has stairs on either side of the main village strip and can get congested with big bus day trippers - who can't stop at Positano because there is nowhere to park the big buses.
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 12:14 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Positano is just a picturesque fishing village which has been corrupted by Gucci Armani etc. luxury stores for the hordes of cruise ship passengers who are swarming it regularly.

But be aware that most hotels "in Positano" are in fact not in the village but along the coast on the cliffs like swallows' nests (but they have elevators).

Amalfi has some life of its own - a beautiful market, a gorgeous cathedral, the historical shipyards, the lemon tree groves... There is much more to do in Amalfi.

And Amalfi has been the historical republic which was so significant for the Mediterranean sea.

I would always prefer Amalfi.
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 12:46 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Excuse me traveller1959? Have you *ever* been to Positano? If so, can you please let me know where the Gucci and Armani luxury stores are? I appear to have missed those.

Can you also let me know how the hotels Palazzo Murat, Buca di Bacco and Covo dei Saraceni are 'on the cliffs like swallow's nests' - and I'll add to that list Hotel California, Villa Rosa and Hotel Posa Posa, Hotel Poseidon...

It appears the only thing you know about Positano is hearsay.
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 12:56 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OP - this website will hopefully help you. It covers the whole AC - not just Positano

http://www.positano.com/
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 12:57 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gotten out of the bed with the wrong leg, cod?
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 04:01 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Blueevedcod IS CORRECT.......NO GUCCI,NO ARMANI.

There are lovely small boutiques, Custom Sandle shops, charming streets with lovely flowers. This is an upscale town. I LOVED staying in beautiful Positano. Many type of hotel options available.

Views are wonderful, and YES.......THERE ARE STEPS.
IF STEPS ARE A "TURN-OFF" To you OR if you are not in good physical condition you may not be happy here.

AMALFI is a tour bus destination......
I loved visiting Amalfi and actually took the Bus from Amalfi to RAVELLO which was easy and convenient,but Positano was MORE to my personal preference for me.
TrendGirl2 is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 11:13 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
traveller1959 - a personal attack - the last resort of those with no argument - and you didn't even answer my questions so one can simply conclude you've never been to Positano.
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 01:02 PM
  #12  
WWK
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think the poster above is confusing Positano with Capri!

If you don't want to climb steps, stay at ground level at any of the hotels mentioned above. Buca di Bacco has gorgeous rooms and and an amazing restaurant on site, as well as cooking classes.

And to answer the original question, Positano would always be my pick. It feels much less like a city, and has astounding views of the coast, plus some off-the-charts restaurants.
WWK is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 02:05 PM
  #13  
ekc
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Like WWK, Positano is always my choice. Sure there are stairs, but if you choose your lodging carefully, you can avoid many of them. Also, even if there are stairs it isn't like you need to take all of them at once. A few years ago I rented an apartment that was 150 steps above the beach and I took many breaks to "admire the view" each time I went up to the apartment!

IMO Positano is the most picturesque of the villages, has a good selection of beaches, excellent transportation via ferry to other villages, amazing views and excellent selection of restaurants and shops.
ekc is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 05:10 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We loved Positano. The only designer store there is a tiny Missioni. I loved getting a pair of sandals made at a shop just off the beach.

There are stairs but it's a lovely town. The views from high up are so gorgeous.
denisea is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 09:49 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You probably can stay in Positano and avoid a lot of the steps but if you want to explore the town thoroughly you will find that it is steep (it's on a hillside for heaven's sake). There is a local bus through town (not the long distance bus) but we never used it. The great thing about all those steps was the guilt free lunch/dinner/gelato!

I thought that Positano was more picturesque but even in early May there were huge numbers of tourists all along the coast. Although the coast is beautiful, we thought the beaches in Positano were very disappointing. Amalfi is also beautiful (and felt less tourist-focused for some reason I can't put my finger on) and we enjoyed it very much. Both towns are similar size. One advantage of Amalfi is that it is more of a transport hub with buses in multiple directions so is more convenient for exploring the area. The bus and car park is on the waterfront and not in the town itself.

There isn't a bad decision to be made here!
dreamon is online now  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 10:33 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dreamon - just wondering if you can articulate what it is about Positano's beaches that you found disappointing?

I agree there is no bad decision to be made !
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 11th, 2016, 11:29 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This topic interests me because friends of ours wanted advice on this subject. They are going to AC in mid September. The issue of stairs/steepness comes about because the husband has a prosthetic leg, so it's not about stopping to see the views or being out of shape, or what shops are there, but a mobility issue.
Having stayed in Amalfi, but not Positano, we were unable to offer ideas.

With this focus, can anyone comment on advisability of staying in Positano?
sundriedtopepo is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2016, 12:30 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi sundriedtopepo
Depending on your friends' budget there are options.

Buca di Bacco - this is its website but I've linked to its history
http://www.bucadibacco.it/history.html

Palazzo Murat - located in the pedestrian zone and about 15 steps to the main beach and dock for ferries up and down the coast. No steps to the main road for buses to Amalfi.
http://www.palazzomurat.it/positano-hotel

Hotel Poseidon - located further up the village but on the sloping Via Pasitea and no stairs to the village - just a downward/upward sloping road.
http://www.hotelposeidonpositano.it/

There are others - such as Hotel California and Hotel Marincanto. Hope this helps.
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Feb 12th, 2016, 12:30 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
blueeyedcod, I'll try.

For starters there's expectation - like when everyone says 'you must see x movie - it's so fantastic' and then you can't figure out why everyone liked it so much.

Then there's the fact that I live in Australia with arguably to best beaches in the world. And the idea of paying to use a beach is completely bizarre to Aussies. (Yes, I know that's normal in many parts of Europe.)

I absolutely loved the beaches in Greece, especially the sheltered coves with crystal clear water. Greek beaches are very different to what I'd seen before in other places but I loved them. I also liked many of the beaches I saw in other parts of Europe (e.g. UK, Netherlands, Turkey, Corsica, Croatia) so it's not a case of wanting things just like they are at home but I'm more of a landlubber and normally choose to head inland anyway.

I know that you should accept each place on it's merits and not compare it to others but neither of the beaches we saw in Positano invited me to stay. It's purely subjective!

My friend and I had a week in Positano and absolutely loved it and the coastal areas we visited - just not the beaches.
dreamon is online now  
Old Feb 12th, 2016, 12:58 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you blueeyedcod I will pass on those suggestions to our friends. Not sure what their budget is, but these look like good options.
sundriedtopepo is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -