We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Destinations The Best Hotels in Positano Stay at these award-winning and editor-approved properties in Positano, Italy. By Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on May 8, 2024 Photo: Le Sirenuse While the entirety of Italy's 4,660 miles of coastline is worthy of a visit, there's nothing quite like the teeny, tiny cliffside village of Positano. Nestled along the Amalfi Coast, Positano is a positively quaint community with fewer than 4,000 full-time residents. But its reputation as a vacation haven filled with fantastic food, scenery, and utter romance has made it a larger-than-life destination beckoning to travelers from all over the world. If you're ready to experience the colorful coastal homes, swim in the glittering azure waters, and absolutely gorge yourself on heaping plates of pasta, we've got a few properties you won’t want to miss. Here are 10 of the best hotels to stay at during your visit to Positano, Italy, based on our firsthand experience and editor-loved properties, as well as winners of T+L’s prestigious World’s Best Awards. Il San Pietro di Positano Il San Pietro di Positano Book Now What We Like There are gorgeous balconies outside each room. What to Consider If you're someone hoping to explore the area on foot, this hotel can feel a bit remote. Il San Pietro di Positano, a T+L World's Best Awards favorite, is a stunning example of just how luxurious this region of Italy can really be. Every single room here comes with a private balcony, allowing guests to swing open their doors and look out to the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel is beloved not just for its impeccable service but also for its familial atmosphere, making it feel more like you're staying with close friends than with strangers. Here, guests can also spend their days at the hotel's private beach, dine in its Michelin-starred restaurant, or simply enjoy the classic Italian elegance in the common spaces, including the pool and spa. The Details: Distance From Airport: About 39 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms listedNearby Attractions: Ceramiche Casola and Arienzo Beach Club are within walking distanceParking: Parking is available and complimentaryRates: Starting at $1,766 per night Le Sirenuse Le Sirenuse Book Now What We Like This hotel features an inviting family atmosphere. What to consider The hotel lacks a private beach, which its competitors offer. With just 58 rooms and suites, Le Sirenuse, another World's Best Awards favorite, is legendary among Positano devotees. The hotel offers perhaps the best views of the area's famed colorful houses lining the hillside along with the crystalline sea below. It's a place that is both sophisticated and distinctly inviting, thanks in large part to the fact it remains a family-owned hotel to this day. Guests here can expect nothing but top-notch amenities, including a lovely pool, its own Michelin-guided restaurant, and plenty of daily activities on offer, including everything from pilates to cocktail-making classes. The Details: Distance From Airport: Approximately 39 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms listedNearby Attractions: Spiaggia Grande Beach, the port for boats to Capri, and many of Positano's best shopsParking: Private parking available for €100 per dayRates: Starting at $1,093 Hotel Poseidon Hotel Poseidon Book Now What We Like It offers a private car you can take out any time. What to Consider The hotel's hillside location might pose a challenge for those looking to explore on foot. Hotel Poseidon, a one-time private villa (just imagine this being your private home), is now a ravishing boutique hotel that exudes plenty of Italian charm. Its location atop the cliff provides endless views that seem to go on for miles out to sea and right into the heart of town in the other direction. The hotel features all the usual amenities like a glittering pool, spa, and delicious restaurants, but it's got one more incredible feature to love: a 1970s Convertible Beetle, which guests can use free of charge. The Details: Distance From Airport: About 38 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms for 2024, but the hotel is working to open accessible rooms by 2025.Nearby Attractions: Close to Spiaggia Grande Beach and local shopsParking: Available on-site for an additional $53Rates: Starting at $478 a night Villa Magia Villa Magia Book Now What We Like The attentive staff is always ready to lend a hand. What to Consider Villa Magia is set seriously high on a hill, but again, the staff is here to help when you need to get up or down. Villa Magia is one more spot where it feels like you stepped into your own private villa. The boutique property, which is actually a historic watchtower, comes with just a handful of rooms, ensuring supremely personalized service. And when we say this place is attentive, we mean it. The staff is always at the ready to carry your luggage up the steep steps and drive you back and forth from area attractions, so you never have to ascend the stairs to their front door. Guests here can also spend the entire day at the hotel without ever wanting to leave, thanks to its two swimming pools, spa, and on-site restaurant. The Details: Distance From Airport: About 38 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms listedNearby Attractions: Fornillo Beach is just a 10-minute walk awayParking: Valet parking availableRates: Starting at $744 a night Hotel Palazzo Murat Hotel Palazzo Murat Book Now What We Like Its dazzling garden is open to guests. What to Consider Its central location means things can get busy. Feel like royalty at the Hotel Palazzo Murat, the one-time summer residence of Joachim Murat, King of Naples. At this historic boutique hotel, guests can book rooms with private balconies offering sweeping views of either its lush gardens or the sea, each furnished with antiques mixed with modern amenities to provide maximum comfort. And its location lower on the hill means exploring the neighborhood on foot is a breeze, including walking right over to the nearby beach. The Details: Distance From Airport: About 39 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms availableNearby Attractions: Spiaggia Grande Beach is a 3-minute walkParking: Paid private parking is available for $31 per dayRates: Starting at $467 a night Villa Treville Villa Treville Book Now What We Like Its epic suites feature private plunge pools. What to Consider Its location is a bit outside Positano's center. Formerly the home of director Franco Zeffirelli, Villa Treville has kept much of its theatrical elegance. Each of its suites appears to be more opulent than the last, with gilded bed frames, soft furnishings, gleaming marble floors, and private plunge pools for when you want to take a dip but don't want to see a single other human being. Everyone checking in is also given five-star treatment, including a welcome drink, access to an organic mini bar, and boat service to and from the Positano Pier or to and from Treville Laurito Beach. The Details: Distance From Airport: Approximately 37 miles from Naples International AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms listed.Nearby Attractions: Close to Spiaggia Grande Beach and a short drive to the trailhead to the Path of the GodsParking: Free self-parkingRates: Starting at $1,054 Hotel Eden Roc Hotel Eden Roc Positano Book Now What We Like All 28 rooms come with sea views. What to Consider The walk back from the beach can feel steep. Hotel Eden Roc is tailor-made for those looking for great views. Its privileged location on the hill means every suite gets to see the water in full view. And while all its rooms are certainly worthy of a stay, the villas are utterly sublime. For example, its Hotel Eden Villa includes a private pool, multiple bedrooms, and a large living room so you can gather with your travel companions with ease. The Details: Distance From Airport: Approximately 39 miles from Naples International AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms availableNearby Attractions: Close to central Positano shops and the Santa Maria Assunta churchParking: Private parking available for an additional $53Rates: Starting at $509 a night Hotel Le Agavi Book Now What We Like Its private funicular takes you up and down the cliffside. What to Consider Hotel Le Agavi is not particularly accessible for guests with reduced mobility. Hotel Le Agavi sits just outside Positano, which gives the hotel a little breathing room from the crowds. Here, guests can unwind by the pool overlooking the sea below, or spend time in their spacious suites that come with balconies or terraces ensuring a picturesque view from every angle. But, hands down the coolest part of this property is its on-site funicular that takes guests for a ride straight from the hotel to the beach and back again. The Details: Distance From Airport: About 37 miles from Naples AirportAccessibility: No accessible rooms availableNearby Attractions: Positano's town center is a short walk and both Fornillo Beach and Spiaggia Grande Beach are within walking distanceParking: Private on-site parking available for $52 a dayRates: Starting at $654 per night Hotel Marincanto Book Now What We Like It has private beach access. What to Consider The terraced layout means there are multiple levels to navigate, which can be difficult for some. Hotel Marincanto is vibrant, colorful, and serene all at the same time. The hotel, which sits just at the edge of Spiaggia Grande Beach, allows guests to stay eye level with the water, especially as they sit around its infinity pool that seems to blend right into the horizon. And, thanks to its lower location, guests can take a few steps directly down to the water for a swim. The hotel's restaurant, Al Marincanto, is also a highlight, serving locally sourced foods on a terrace under thick vines and bougainvillea, creating a truly enchanting experience. The Details: Distance From Airport: Approximately 37 miles from Naples International AirportAccessibility: No accessible roomsNearby Attractions: Close to Positano's town center and a short drive to the trailhead for Il Sentiero Degli Dei.Parking: Parking availableRates: Starting at $383 a night Hotel Buca di Bacco Hotel Buca di Bacco Book Now What We Like It has direct beach access. What to Consider There's no pool on-site, but it does have that direct beach access. If you want to be right in the middle of the action, there's no better place to check into than Hotel Buca di Bacco, as it sits right on Spiaggia Grande. Guests can choose bedrooms facing away from the water for a quieter stay or go all out with its DeLuxe room, which offers both a terrace and a fantastic sea view. Guests can also dive a bit deeper into the local culture by taking part in the hotel's exclusive cooking class, where they'll learn regional cooking styles, and of course, get to taste their creations at the end. The Details: Distance From Airport: Approximately 36 miles from Naples International AirportNearby Attractions: Situated on Spiagga Grande beach, and close to the Church of Santa Maria AssuntaParking: No parking available.Rates: Starting at $283 a night Know Before You Go The terrain is steep in Positano Be prepared to walk some serious hills to get to and from your hotel and to the local shops, restaurants, and beaches. Wearing comfortable shoes can help, but make sure to also build in extra time to make it to any of your reservations. Also check with your hotel to see if they have free shuttle services or porters who can help you navigate the streets and assist with your luggage up and down the steep steps. Finding parking can be challenging We won't mince words with this one – parking in Positano is nearly impossible. Avoid bringing a car altogether if you can. Check in with your hotel to see if they offer shuttle services to and from the airport, or at minimum, if they have a parking garage or valet on-site. You could spend hours trying to find a parking space in town, and that's precious time you could be spending by the pool instead. Stay on the beach for sunset Yes, the beaches of Positano are gorgeous all day long, but for a really great show, make sure to stay on the beach for sunset. This will give you the best views of the colorful homes lining the hillsides and a chance to see the area while it’s bathed in golden light – a truly magical experience. Leave time to explore other towns on the coastline Positano is situated in prime Italian coastal territory. While you're in town, make sure to leave a little time to explore the surrounding area, which includes the towns of Amalfi, Ravello, and Sorrento (to name a few), each famous in its own right. And if you happen to be in Positano when the seas are calm, do try to book a ferry to the island of Capri, which can take as little as 30 minutes to reach. If visiting during peak season, be sure to book in advance The entire Amalfi Coast gets rather chilly from late fall through early spring, so peak tourist season in the summer can get crowded. And while that certainly means the area will be in full festive party mode while you're there, it also means that places will book up quickly. To make the most of your stay, make sure to book your accommodations, restaurant reservations, and excursions as early as possible. How We Chose These Hotels Several of the hotels chosen for this story have earned spots in T+L’s World's Best Awards. Many are also personal favorites of our editors. Writer Stacey Leasca also chose additional hotels based on personal visits to Positano and research of top-ranked spots. Stacey has visited the Amalfi Coast several times, staying in and touring various hotels and spending evenings watching the sunset in Positano (just as she recommends you do above). She also consulted family and friends who frequent the region for their input. And finally, as with all our hotel roundups, editors ensure all hotel recommendations we make align with our core T+L Hotel Values. Edited by Sophie Mendel Sophie Mendel Sophie Mendel is a Commerce Editor at Travel + Leisure with Dotdash Meredith where she assigns, edits and publishes the product reviews and recommendations that help guide travelers toward the best shoes, apparel and accessories for their needs. Sophie has traveled to 50 countries and has lived in five, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has more than five years of experience as a writer, editor and copywriter. learn more