My family and I recently vacationed in Positano, Italy. I’m a lucky girl because I married into a family that has visited often enough to have friends there.

Visiting Positano feels like going home and spending time with family. Derek and I got engaged there and our Italian friends even gave our daughter gifts when she was born.

We miss our friends and can’t wait to visit them again soon!

My husband and me on the day we got engaged, with one of the coolest views of Positano, Italy.

Some of my friends in the U.S. found out about how much we love Positano and have been asking a lot of questions. Where do you stay? Where should you eat? What should you do while you’re there? It’s fun to hear them talk about their own Positano vacation plans!

Oddly enough, a lot of recommendations I found online before our most recent trip didn’t reflect my personal experience in Positano. That’s a big reason I’m sharing recommendations and information here.

I’ve already shared an introduction to Positano, discovering local craft beer on the Amalfi Coast and where to eat while you’re in town.

Here’s more info on what to buy while you’re in town.

Food

While in Positano, our daily agenda is centered around food. The food in Positano is so delicious. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!

Pizza at Saraceno d’Oro in Positano, Italy, 2017

No, really. We plan dinner while we’re eating lunch for several hours. I wish that were the biggest decision and pace I had every day of my life, haha!

View from Lo Guarracino, Positano, Italy, 2017

Need recommendations on where to eat? I have a post about all of my favorite places to eat in Positano and the dishes I always order.

I have a whole post on where to eat in Positano.

There are a few ways to eat affordably but you can also dine out like the rich and famous. (Literally. A lot of famous people end up in Positano.) There are sandwich shops, cafés, and places to get pizza. But there are also a lot of fine dinning options if that’s your speed.

The lemon granita may feel touristy but they’re really refreshing on a warm, sunny day in Positano.

Oh, by the way, don’t skip out on the lemon granita when you get the chance! They’re typically sold from small carts and run about two euros (as of 2017).

Getting a granita may feel totally touristy, but they’re delicious and can quench your thirst on a warm day in Positano. It’s a great pick-me-up!

Derek and me at a friends’ house for dinner in Positano, Italy, 2012. It was a rainy, wonderful evening with friends.

Booze

If you’re a wine person, you’ll love Positano. 

My father-in-law and husband select the best wines. I am, admittedly, quite spoiled with drinking delicious wines now.

It’s worth noting that great wine doesn’t always mean expensive. There are really delicious wines for each budget. In fact, I started drinking red wine in Paris because it was less expensive than soda. So, pick your pleasure. If you want to splurge, there are some perfect spots for it in Positano.

Drinks at La Pergola in Positano, Italy, 2014

We’ve fallen in love with drinking the light, refreshing white wines made in the area. I love drinking something that’s made locally. Plus, these whites pair well with seafood on a sunny day. (Writing this is making me thirsty. I’m pining for that view, daily pace, and excellent company.)

I think most of those Campania region wines are made with native grapes called Falanghina, Grego, and Fiano. But I’m a filmmaker not a sommelier. If you do a little reading on the subject, you’ll be in great shape to order something delicious.

While on our last visit, we discovered local craft beer from the Amalfi Coast. We didn’t bring any home, unfortunately, but it was delicious!

Limoncello, a sweet liquor, is typically served by the shot glass. It’s a perfect thing to sip on after lunch or dinner, when you’re waiting to pay your bill.

One thing you must try is a shot of limoncello (pronounced  lee-mohn-chell-o). Limoncello is a fun thing to drink after you’ve finished lunch or dinner. It’s is a sweet liquor made from lemons. Perfect for sipping slowly while you wait for the bill.

Limoncello is also pretty easy to bring home in a checked bag, if you’re looking for a good gift.

Artists set up their work early in the morning, in preparation for the crowds that quickly fill the area.

Art

Art appreciation is alive in Positano.

Locally crafted things like ceramics or paintings are some of my favorite things to buy. Smaller items are pretty easy to bring home, too. If you’re buying a whole set of ceramics ask about shipping to the States so you don’t have to worry about carrying home heavy, fragile items.

Don’t take photos of ceramics inside the shops. Many places have strict rules about photography (for good reason). We asked the artist for permission to take this photo.

There are plenty of shops in town for any range in price you’ve got in mind.

DO NOT take photos in these shops. Many places have strict rules about it. They will fuss at you. I can’t blame them. Positano often gets crowded with people who don’t actually buy stuff. This makes it harder for paying customers to get in, which frustrates the locals.

DO look for a mark indicating that it’s made in Positano. If that mark is missing, you may run the risk of buying something that’s mass produced elsewhere. Double-check to make sure it’s created locally.

The artists set up in the morning, which you can watch from La Pergola. The tourists typically arrive shortly afterward by car, bus, and ferry.

There are artists who work down by the sea, too. I love watching the artists work (probably because my mother is a painter). Look around, chat with the artists, and find something that feels right for you.

Our home is filled with art and ceramics from Positano. It makes me really happy. I cherish each piece!

My husband and me on the boat with Positano, Italy, in the background. The scarf I’m wearing was made in Positano. It’s one of my favorites!

Textiles

Textiles are tough to resist in Positano.

Scarves and linen shirts line the walls of the pathways that lead from the center of town down to the beach. They flow in the wind, calling out to anyone passing by.

Scarves are one of my biggest weaknesses. They’re so beautiful and lightweight. Plus, a lot of them are in my favorite seaside colors.

There are a lot of places to buy textiles in Positano, and one of the ones you’ve got to check out is La Bottega di Brunella. The shop has a bunch of clothing hanging outside. It’s all made on looms in Italy. It’s a really cool spot. (Yes, I have a scarf from there, too!)

You’ll also find awesome linens for your house:  table cloths, placemats, hand-painted aprons, bread bowls, tea towels, etc.

Visit the da Vincenzo store for a lot of fun kitchen stuff: aprons, table linens, etc. It’s down the road from the restaurant.

There’s a new store (as of 2017) that’s part of da Vincenzo where you can find lots of these pretty things, and I highly recommend it. We came home with a bread bowl that makes us smile every time we use it!

Shoes

Men’s and women’s shoes are both good finds in Positano.

There are a lot of different shapes, styles, and materials. You’re not at great risk of buying something on vacation, IMHO, and never wearing it once you get home. (I’ve been so guilty of that in other cities.)

There are a few sandal shops in Positano, and some fully stocked shoe stores with more options for guys. I wear my Positano sandals all the time in the summer!

The guys have come home with really stylish, close-toed shoes. Some of my favorite sandals were made in Positano. I wear them constantly in the summer.

There’s one store at the bottom of the stairs near the church (next to Capricci, as of 2017), which you’ll pass as you’re walking to the beach. I highly recommend this shop. The smell of leather alone is enough to draw you in.

There’s a spot for sandals right down the pathway, too. A man sits outside in the corner making the sandals as everyone walks by all day. The display behind him is filled floor to ceiling with sandals, with some lights at the top of the case so you can see them at night.

These two shops I can vouch for – but there are some other awesome ones in town to check out, too!

*These are biased opinions

There are a lot of things to buy in Positano, Italy.

My recommendations are obviously biased, especially in terms of supporting the local economy. My last film, Brewconomy, was about supporting the local economy. I personally believe in doing your best to keep dollars local, so the places and things you cherish will continue to thrive. To me, a lot of that centers around the people in Positano.

The people that live and work on the Amalfi Coast don’t have it easy. It’s a tough place to earn a living, often requiring a lot of hard work – much like any tourist town. The high season is really crowed and busy, and the off season is so quiet that only a handful of places are open.

What makes Positano especially fascinating is the geography and its influence on everything.

Positano, Italy, 2017

The Amalfi Coast is a mountainous, seaside place. The town is built into the mountains. Ergo, everything is very vertical and more difficult to access. Getting people or things to/from a location takes a lot of effort – no matter how you do it. Whether by boat, vehicles on land, animals, or on foot, it takes so much effort to move things.

That includes people. Since Positano real estate is pricey (it’s a tourist town, remember), a lot of people will commute to work in town. That means they may spend an hour on a bike or in a car to go one direction each day. If you do drive into town, parking may be tough to find and/or it’ll price you out of a convenient spot. So you’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot.

Is it beautiful? Absolutely. But it’s a tough place to live and work. I have mad respect for the locals.

What I’m trying to say is there’s no big box store on every corner for the things on your shopping list. What you will find in Positano are beautiful, hand crafted items made by local artisans. There are inexpensive, mass produced things to buy as well. But you won’t find any recommendations for them in this post.

What do you think?

Have you been to Positano? What are some of your favorite things to buy there? Are you planning a trip there? Let me know if you have questions about it! It’s a beautiful place!

Use the comments to share what’s on your mind.