Positano, Italy is a beautiful place. Scroll through your Instagram feed and you’re guaranteed to see pictures of Positano. This tiny town on the Amalfi Coast in Italy is so hot right now, and for good reason! Along with its delicious food, friendly locals and beautiful Mediterranean climate, it’s so darn photogenic!

Positano is filled with beautiful areas. The town is known for its pastel colored buildings that cling to the side cliffs above the ocean. Golden hour here is magnificent as the buildings light up and glow in warm hues. Downtown Positano is filled with hotels and restaurants that all have balconies and viewpoints for looking out over the hills at the ocean, and at the base of the Positano is Spiaggia Grande- the main beach in Positano. You could close your eyes and still take a good picture in Positano, but don’t leave it to chance! Here are the five best Instagram spots in Positano, along with  some tips and tricks to get the best shot! Bookmark this guide to help you take beautiful photos when you visit Positano. Make sure to check out my travel guide to Positano for restaurant, hotel and attraction recommendations! *This information is accurate as of summer 2019.

Spiaggia Grande

A photo on Spiaggia Grande is the “money shot” in Positano. Spiaggia Grande is the main beach, located at the base of the hill Positano is built into. If you’re staying in downtown Positano it’s very easy to get here, simply follow the steps down to the beach. Once you’ve arrived at the beach you’ll notice that it’s huge! It’s much bigger than I thought it would be. It has a working harbor (if you’re traveling by boat at all you’ll pick it up here), lounge chair rentals, striped changing huts and restaurants. Spiaggia Grande is full of Instagrammable areas, from the blue and white striped huts, to the iconic blue lounge chairs. The only downside is that it can get very crowded!

My favorite Spiaggia Grande shots are taken in between the rows of lounge chairs with the cliffside buildings in the background. My pictures were taken in the late afternoon, and the reason the beach is so empty is that it was raining on and off all day- people just weren’t at the beach! If the day you want to shoot here has good weather and is during high season, I recommend arriving shortly after sunrise to avoid crowds.

Balconies and terraces

The views in Positano are truly breathtaking. Since the town is built into a hill with the ocean below, there are so many gorgeous and dramatic vistas. Luckily, the businesses in Positano know this and most of the hotels, bars and restaurants in town have balconies for guests to enjoy the scenery. Some of my favorite spots to enjoy the views and take pictures are Il Tridente terrace at Hotel Poseidon, Franco’s Bar at Le Sirenuse, the terrace at Hotel Marincanto and Restaurant Bruno. If you want to take a picture at one of these locations I recommend arriving in the early evening, before tourists would stop by for drinks or dinner. Also, get something to drink and enjoy the views for yourself! Don’t just take a picture and leave, soak in the ambiance, support the business, quickly take your shot and then head out.

Fiordo di Furore

Did you know Italy is home to a fjord? It’s true, and it’s located right outside of Positano! The fjord can be found in the town of Furore, which is about a 30 minute drive south of Positano. The fjord can be seen from above on the Amalfi Coast Highway, which winds through the mountains with the ocean far down below. You’ll know you’re there when you arrive at a bridge right before a tunnel through the mountain. Keep driving through the tunnel and on your left will be a restaurant on the side of the road with a parking lot. Pay the owners a small fee and they’ll let you park while you explore the fjord. The walk back to the fjord from the parking lot is about 5 minutes, but be very careful. The road is narrow and winding with lots of blind turns, especially as you walk through the tunnel. Honestly it was a bit scary!

When you walk over the bridge you’ll see the ocean on one side and the fjord with a small beach on the other. In the pictures I saw online, people were on the beach below swimming and sunbathing. Unfortunately it was not possible to access the beach when I arrived. There are two long staircases, one that goes down to the beach, and one that goes up to a lookout. The staircase down to the beach was closed off with a stone wall. Apparently the pathway is no longer safe and it is discouraged to visit the beach. I believe you can still access the beach via boat, but it did look pretty dirty. I did see some people climb over the stone blockade to continue down to the beach but I don’t recommend that. It’s very dangerous and if it’s closed, it’s closed for a reason. I started to worry a little because I was so excited to get a photo at this spot, but luckily the pathway up was open. We climbed up the stairway (it’s an intense climb!) and after a few minutes arrived at a lookout. This is where my pictures were taken. Some people reached out to ask me if I found this area dangerous (I guess some people say it is). I did not find it dangerous but the area does seem abandoned and not well taken care of. We saw a lot of garbage, broken bottles and overgrown plants along the stairway to the lookout. While I didn’t feel unsafe, I do recommend going during the day and with someone else.

Pathway to Fornillo Beach

If you’re standing on Spiaggia Grande looking out at the water, to your right at the end of the beach (where the marina is) you’ll see a staircase going up into the hill. Follow this staircase and you’ll find a beautiful pathway with ocean vistas. The pathway is very picturesque, filled with plants and look out points. After a ten minute walk you’ll arrive at Fornillo, a smaller beach in Positano. Since the weather was not great on this day the umbrellas were not set up, but on a nice day you’ll find beautifully colored umbrellas and lounge chairs lining the beach.

Fruit stands

All along the Amalfi Coast Highway you’ll find little stands selling fruit, vegetables, granita and other local delicacies. The stands are so photogenic with vibrant colors and a local Italian flair. You can’t go wrong with snapping a picture at any of the fruit stands, so I would pick one in an area that’s easy to pull over and park.

When you visit the fruit stands to take a picture make sure you’re polite to the owner. Make a purchase (we bought delicious tomatoes and berries) and ask if they’re ok with you snapping a photo. Chances are they’ll say yes, but it’s best to ask!

I hope you enjoyed this Instagram guide to Positano, Italy! It’s such a beautiful area that’s full of picturesque spots.