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What to Wear in Positano

What to Wear in Positano

Are you wondering what to wear to Positano? Positano is one of the most popular places on the Amalfi Coast to visit and this guide will tell you exactly what to wear in Positano on the beach, in the town and out for dinner to help you not look like a tourist!

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But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Positano along with some outfit inspiration we thought it would be worthwhile to talk about exactly what and where Positano is, and how the seasons will affect your Positano Packing List

Where is Positano?

Positano is one of the most popular towns on the Amalfi Coast. It overlooks the stunning Tyrrhenian Sea just a bit further South than Naples and Pompeii.

People travel from all around the world to visit Positano because of its beautiful beaches, amazing shopping and colorful houses.

So what should you wear in Positano and is there a dress code you should be aware of?

Positano Dress Code

Woman overlooking Positano
What to wear in Positano

As with many places in Italy, Positano doesn’t really have a dress code per se. As it is famed for its seaside location and beautiful beaches it should come as no surprise that lightweight resort wear can be seen in the town.

However it is important to realise although on the beach, you will find people in Positano very fashionably dressed.

The only real place in Positano that has a strict code is of course in the churches of Positano. All Italian churches have strict dress codes so be sure to read up on what to wear here if you plan to visit a church while in Positano.

Also you will notice that when out for dinner in Italy generally but specifically in Positano people will stick to smart casual dress codes. I would therefore have nice blouses and maxi dresses at the ready for going out to dinner in Positano.

It is also worth noting that Positano is a big tourist destination. As such peak season will run from April to October and if you visit Positano in Winter you will find there to be far fewer tourists. But this comes with the downside of the weather not being beach friendly.

However we will cover all the seasons in this guide to help you know what to wear no matter what time of year you visit.

Note: if you plan to visit Capri too be sure to check out our what to wear in Capri guide.

What to Wear in Positano in Summer (June, July and August)

Chances are if you are looking to visit Positano wondering what to wear is that you will be visiting during the Summer Months. This is characterised as June, July and August, although peak tourist season runs longer than this.

During the Summer in Positano you can expect lots of sunny days and very little rain. In terms of temperatures, in the summer you can expect to see highs of 85F/29C and lows of 64F/18C.

As such we would recommend putting the below on your summer Positano packing list:

MAxi Dresses

As I mentioned above there is lots of beach wear and resort wear seen around Positano.

One of our favorite things to wear on the Amalfi Coast are Maxi Dresses. Loose and flowing clothes are better for the Positano in Summer as they will keep you cooler. They are also great for wearing down on the beach and out for dinner.

Maxi Skirts

Maxi Skirts are also great for pairing with T shirts and Tank tops in Positano. Just be sure you have one item that covers your kness (i.e. nothing with a slit) for wearing if you decide to visit a church.

Tank Tops and T Shirts

These are perfect for out exploring Positano and can be paired with skirts or shorts.

Shorts

Although we don’t tend to recommend wearing shorts in the cities in Italy, they are perfectly acceptable on the beaches and around the towns of the Amalfi Coast.

This are particularly great for archaeological sites and other places where you will be doing lots of walking.

Swimwear

If you are visiting Positano in Summer chances are you will be spending time on the beach or on a boat. Therefore you will want to have some stylish swimwear with you.

As there are no dress codes on Positano Beaches you can choose whatever swimwear you feel most comfortable in whether that be one pieces or bikinis.

Depending on how long you plan to spend on the Amalfi Coast depends on how many pieces of swimwear you will need.

I would recommend packing at least two swimwear pieces so one can be drying while you are wearing the other.

Beach Cover

Most people in Positano when not swimming or sunbathing will put on a beach cover to head to bars or local amenities so we recommend adding one or two beach covers to your packing list.

Sun Hats

Sun hats are a staple on any Amalfi Coast packing list. Be sure to pick a wide brimmed straw hat instead of a baseball cap to fir more in with the locals.

Trousers and Blouse

Trousers and blouses are a great alternative to maxi dresses for exploring towns and having dinner as they are a great day to night transition outfit.

Linen trousers are popular with the locals and are good in the hot weather.

Pashmina

I never travel anywhere in Italy without a pashmina. It is great in the evenings in case you get chilly dining al fresco and can also be used to make an outfit more modest for visiting churches in Italy.

Although churches won’t be the primary activity you do in Positano, I am sure you will head into one so having at least one church outfit is a good idea.

Underwear

Goes without saying

PJs

We recommend packing lightweight PJs as not everywhere in Positano will have Air conditioning. You may want to check out whether or not your accommodation has air conditioning before booking.

Note: If you want to know what to were in Positano for men I recommend packing a mixture of chinos and linen trousers and some smarter shorts alongside plain t shirts and polos and short sleeve shirts for summer.

And if you are visiting other areas of Italy in Summer be sure to check out our other Italian Summer packing Lists:

What to Wear to the Positano in Spring (March, April, May)

Woman in Green Dress overlooking Positano
What to wear in Positano

Depending on what time you are visiting Positano in Spring will depend on how hot the temperatures are.

April really kicks off peak season in Positano and you may find March too cold to be spending too much time on the beaches.

May is obviously the warmest month in Spring with high temperatures around 79F/26C.

For this reason we recommend packing the same as the summer, though you may need less in terms of swimwear as the weather may be too cold.

And we also recommend adding the following additions to your packing list

Cardigan

Positano evenings in Spring can be cold so be sure to add a cardigan or two to pair to your dress and trousers outfits.

Sweater

This is great for exploring in March and Early April in Positano.

Jacket

This may be needed if you are visiting the Positano in March.

What to Wear to the Positano in Fall (September, October and November)

What to wear to the Positano in Fall is very similar to what to wear in Positano in Summer.

In particular, if you are visiting Positano in September you can pretty much select the same outfits as you would in August.

However the later in Fall you visit the cooler it becomes and peak season tends to end in mid–October.

If you are visiting in late October and November you probably wont be needing lots of swimwear as it will be too cold to get in the water everyday.

Also you will want cardigans and sweaters on your packing list, and in November you may even need a jacket.

What to Wear to Positano in Winter (December, January and February)

Positano can be cold in Winter. So cold in fact that it is unlikely you will be able to swim and use the beach in Winter.

And as Positano gets all the season you can expect to experience some rain if you are traveling to Positano in Winter.

Therefore we recommend abandoning the summer packing list and wearing the below to Positano in Winter instead.

Jacket, waterproof

You will definitely want a warm jacket for the Positano in Winter. If possible we recommend a waterproof one as you can get rainy.

Cardigans, Sweaters and Top Layers

We recommend packing a few different types of top layers with you for instance a combination of cardigans, sweaters and hoodies of different weights so you have enough variety in case of a very cold snap.

Long Sleeve Tops

It is unlikely you will be wearing short sleeve t shirts in Positano in Winter so we recommend packing a variety of long sleeve tops and blouses with you including some smarter ones for dinners.

Jeans

Although linen trousers are perfect for Positano in Summer and the shoulder seasons, they are simply too lightweight in Winter. WE recommend going with heavier weight trousers in Winter. We tend to recommend packing jeans for Positano in Winter

Pashmina

I never go to Italy without one.

Underwear

Goes without saying

Pjs

A slightly heavier weight pair are better in Winter.

Best Shoes for the Amalfi Coast

Sneakers

Sneakers are perfect for Positano no matter the season you visit. T

Sandals

Perfect for the beach and dinner in summer and shoulder seasons. However if you are there in Winter boots are more appropriate.

Water Shoes (optional)

Water shoes are optional for Positano however we recommend taking them especially if you are traveling to the Positano with kids.

The reason for this is that the beaches in this region of Italy can be stony and rocky rather than sandy so water shoes are great for protecting your feet.

Flip Flops

If you decide against water shoes and are planning on spending time on the beach in Positano I recommend taking a pair or flip flops however I would not wear these around town as they aren’t very supportive.

What Else to add to your Amalfi Coast Packing List

  • Sunscreen
  • Aftersun cream
  • Phone / Camera
  • Charger
  • Sunglasses
  • Reusable Water bottle
  • Toiletries
  • Beach bag

FAQs About what to Wear Amalfi Coast

What to wear to dinner in Positano?

Dinner in Positano doesn’t have a special dress code unless you go to a restaurant that stipulates one. We recommend Maxi Dresses and pashminas and blouses and linen trousers for summer and in winter a pair of smart trousers, blouse and a blazer.

Have you been to the Positano? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments below!