I have traveled extensively from Rome north, but never explored the south of Italy and was planning on staying in Positano for 3 weeks over Christmas and New Years and doing day trips to Capri, Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, etc. Is Positano a good place to go during the winter and also is it a good spot from which to do day trips or would I be better off in Sorrento or somewhere bigger? Any thoughts would be most welcome. Thank you!

Sorrento is the transport hub and that may be crucial that time of year.

Positano is a summer resort. It will be slow, with many hotels, restaurants and shops closed, weather iffy. You might want to spend a weekend there that time of year but I can't imagine a prolonged stay, unless you have some private project in mind.

Sorrento is never a good idea, imho. It's a tawdry place very much geared towards package tourists and people afraid of Naples.

Ah but Naples -- now there's a city. Easy transport to Pompeii, Herculaneum as well as the interesting sites north. With three weeks you could really explore. And, should the weather cooperate, grab a weekend on Capri or in Positano.

I've always wanted to spend about a month in the area and greatly envy your opportunity.

Love the Amalfi coast in the spring - but wouldn't touch it in winter. A beach resosrt when it'schily, rainy, feries may not run and lots of things are cloed is not a lot of fun.

Plus, it gets dark so early that many sights are on reduced hours.

Positano is a real town with full-time residents, not simply a summer resort. The facilities which are geared specifically for the heavy tourist influx of the summer season will likely be closed for the winter, during which a number of locals who serve the tourist trade do traveling of their own or are focused on personal lives in other ways. For a 3 week stay I would rent an apartment.
I have been on the Amalfi Coast in the winter and love it for reasons that might not appeal to many vacation travelers, such as the way it looks during dramatic weather. And the chance to spend more relaxed time visiting friends there who are generally very busy during the high season. But the energy is very different from what you would experience in the spring summer and fall.

Your desire to do day trips suggests that Sorrento might be a much better choice. I've stayed in Sorrento over Christmas and New Year's and found it to be a good base. I was able to go to Naples several times from there and Capri is also possible.

I'd stay in Naples.

P.S. And although I've been to Positano three times for a week at a time, I wouldn't stay for 3 weeks even in the summer.

Hi B,

I think that 3 weeks in Positano is 2 weeks too much.

As noted, there will be very few tourists, and most of the towns along the AC will be on their off off-season schedules,

However, the scenery is still there, and the weather can be dramatic.

>... day trips to Capri, Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii,...<

Much easier from Sorrento or Naples.

May I suggest the following?

1 week in Amalfi with visits to Positano, Ravello and Paestum

1 week in Sorrento, with visits to Pompei, Capri and Herculaneum

1 week in Naples.

Fly RT to Naples.

There is bus service to Sorrento from NAP.

Enjoy your visit.