Hello,
I'm sure this has been covered before, but my fiance and I are trying to pick a town on the Amalfi Coast for our late June honeymoon. We're having a hard time comparing Positano and Amalfi head-to-head. We're looking for somewhere near the water, that doesn't die completely in the evening, that serves decently as a jumping point to Capri and maybe Ravello but is pleasant to be in, in and of itself. My fear about Amalfi is that reviews make it sound like it's industrial, and my fiance's fear about Positano is that it will have nothing but hotels and tourists. We don't mind steps. We have 5 nights in the region and originally thought we'd just split the time between the two, but the hotels we've wanted to stay at in Amalfi require a minimum 5 night stay in June. So we've booked 5 nights at Villa Gabrisa in Positano, but we can still change that. Point being: which town should we stay in? Oh, did I mention we're graduate students on a budget?
Many Thanks,
Wendy

Hi wendy,

How much are you paying?

>..fiance's fear about Positano is that it will have nothing but hotels and tourists.<

Ummmmmmmm. You guys aren't tourists?

>...fear about Amalfi is that reviews make it sound like it's industrial...<

As in factories and stuff? Not that I noticed.

Congratulations on your honeymoon!

I think Positano is much prettier and more romantic than Amalfi, but some people prefer Amalfi's more citified feel.

Neither town will be closed down at night, and both will be full of tourists in the summer months.

Both towns have decent boat service to Capri. Ravello is closer to Amalfi.

Hope you have a great time on the AC!

Positano is smaller than Amalfi, so chances are it will be quieter at night. While I liked both towns, I think Amalfi will provide more things to do since bigger. Also, it is a good jumping off point to take boats over to Capri and also you can take a bus up the hill to Ravello. Positano is just a few minutes away by bus, so it's not like you can't visit it and the many other wonderful towns along the Amalfi Coast during the day..........

I think Positano is much prettier than Amalfi. In fact, I'm not much of a fan of Amalfi because it's easy to park there, so it gets a lot of day trippers and large bus tour groups. It's more difficult to park in Positano.

The boardwalk along the beach is real active at night - it's fun to get a front table at Chez Black & watch the crowds walk by in the evening. Trips to Capri couldn't be easier - the boat leaves right at the beach at the end of the main footpath through town.

I also like the beach at Positano better (the east "private" (pay) beach - not the one at the end of the main footpath).

Take the Hydrofoil to Amalfi for a visit, but stay in Positano.

Stu Dudley
San Mateo (San Francisco), Ca

Positano has enough to do at night. Especially if you start off the night with some Prosecco or a Bellini!

As Stu pointed out, there's great people-watching along the boardwalk, and at least one or two clubs, if I remember correctly.

Beaches aren't great in either town, but the one in Positano is wider, cleaner, and prettier.

Good luck with your choice!

hi ira--
not sure what you mean by "how much are you paying." our overall budget, including airfare, is $6k. we'll be in tuscany the first 5 nights, amalfi cost the next 5, rome the last night. villa gabrisa charges 130 euros/night.
I know we're tourists--but it would be nice to be around more Italians than tourists in Italy. Probably not realistic, I know.
Maybe it's the fact that people drive some in Amalfi that gave me the impression it was more industrial or urban?
Thanks for the great opinions so far--keep 'em coming!

In Positano, it doesn't really get packed with the locals, who invariably end up along the main beach drag over to The Rock on the beach, until after 11 p.m. Until then, it's pretty dead. However, since you'll be there at the end of June, make sure you stay until July 2nd, then head up to Montepertuso, high above Positano, for their annual Festa della Madonna. You can catch a bus up there, and it's pretty frentic -- all the locals out for the local festival there, with fireworks at midnight and 12:30 as well. There's music played by the local high school students at the church up there, lots of stands lining the streets, plenty of street food, dancing, laughing, very lively. You don't see a lot of tourists up there, but plenty of kids on vespas scooting up the hill and drinking in the streets. Lots of fun.

You can't really drive through Amalfi, you just along the coastal road which fronts Amalfi, the same with Positano, when you are on the main road you skirt the upper/middle part of it.

I do think you would enjoy Positano more and like others have said, in late June there is more nightlife there.

There is Club African in Praiano, Music on the Rocks in Positano and more.

Hi wendy,

I go with Positano. Surfergirl reminded me about the very good restaurants up in Montepertuso

La Tagliata (www.latagliata-positano.it). It is high, high above Positano in the town of Montepertuso. If your hotel calls for a reservation, they will send a free car for you. Many recommendations.. 089-875872

Donna Rosa, Via Montepertuso 97/99 tel 089/811806 Montepertuso
just over 4km from the heart of Positano. Open for lunch 12.00-15.00 from Wed-Sun
Open for Dinner 19.00-23.00 Mon-Sun Closed Tuesdays from Oct-May Reservations requested

IL Ritrovo antipasto bar next to Donna Rosa good reviews

Positano!!!! My husband and I are in our mid 20s and visited there this past April. We found plenty to do in Positano - stayed at the Villa Rosa for E140 night and had fabulous views of the water - could even the see the island that Sting almost bought. They are very gracious there- serve breakfast on your own private balcony each morning and will bring wine glasses to your balcony at night.
http://www.villarosapositano.it/

Positano offers a free bus service in and around town, so you don't have to walk up and down the crazy streets.

Take the free service up into the hills at night at eat dinner overlooking the beach below. They will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.

Enjoy!

Positano definitely! It's much more romantic than amalfi in my opinion and you can always take a day trip to amalfi and ravello (which is also quite beautiful)