The Best Airbnbs & Vacation Rentals in Positano: Dreamy Cliffside Stays on the Amalfi Coast
Last Updated on October 16, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
Positano is the Amalfi Coast at its most iconic: pastel homes tumbling toward the sea, bougainvillea spilling from every balcony (my favorite sight in all of Italy), and the Mediterranean sparkling just beyond your morning espresso. It’s easy to dream of a five-star hotel here, and I do, but some of Positano’s most magical stays are its vacation rentals. Cliffside terraces, kitchens with sea views, homes that feel like your own slice of la dolce vita.
I’ve been to Positano twice, a day trip in 2019 and three nights on our honeymoon in June 2025, when we stayed at a hotel right on the main beach. These rentals are the ones I’d book for a longer stay or a group trip, each hand-picked for its design, amenities, location, and glowing reviews; I haven’t stayed in them. I’ve included every booking site each one is listed on. And if you’re still weighing hotels against rentals, my guide to the best hotels in Positano is the other half of the picture.
For Two
Villa Mareblu
Most Unforgettable
Torre La Trasita
For a Group
Casa Sam
The short answer: for a couple, Villa Mareblu, with a private staircase down to Arienzo Beach. For a once-in-a-lifetime stay, Torre La Trasita, a 16th-century watchtower above Fornillo Beach. For a group of up to eight, Casa Sam, a villa with a private pool and views over Spiaggia Grande.
Prefer a Hotel?
Where We Stayed in Positano
Hotel Buca di Bacco, right above Spiaggia Grande, steps from the boats.
Why Choose a Vacation Rental in Positano
A rental can make a lot of sense here: more space, a kitchen for slow breakfasts, a private terrace that feels like yours alone. Positano is always a splurge, but a well-chosen rental often gives you more character and more square footage per euro than a comparable hotel room. Know what you’re getting into: it’s a very vertical town, stairs are part of life, and the best rentals book up months ahead.
Villa Mareblu – Arienzo
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 2 baths
Casa La Cisterna – Positano Hillside
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 bath
One of the most distinctive rentals in Positano. Casa La Cisterna was hand-built by its owner, and it shows: thick stone walls, wood-beamed ceilings, and a lush garden shaded by wisteria and roses, a feeling no design budget can manufacture. Inside, a custom kitchen, a big bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a king bed dressed in linen. It’s romantic in a deeply unhurried way, the place you book when the point of the trip is to slow down and actually feel somewhere.
Torre La Trasita – Fornillo
6 guests · multiple suites
Built in the 16th century as a coastal watchtower and restored into one of the most dramatic rentals on the Amalfi Coast, Torre La Trasita is the kind of place you find on Instagram and immediately build a trip around. Its circular terrace, paved in hand-painted blue Vietri tiles over the sea, is one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in Positano. Suites are individually styled and sleep up to six, each with a private balcony and sea view, and Spiaggia Fornillo is steps away. Worth every bit of the splurge.
Casa Sam – Central Positano
8 guests · 4 bedrooms · 5 bathrooms · Private pool
For a group that wants to feel they’ve arrived somewhere truly special, Casa Sam is it. Spread across three levels of a mid-18th-century building in the center of town, it looks out over Spiaggia Grande, the church dome, the sea, and the hills: the entire Positano postcard from your own terrace.
Four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a Miele kitchen, and a private pool. Central enough to walk everywhere, private enough that you won’t want to. Best for up to eight, or two or three couples splitting something extraordinary.
Before You Book a Positano Rental
Book the moment your dates are set: Summer rentals sell out months ahead.
Read the stair notes: “A short walk” can mean a hundred steps either way.
Higher or lower? Higher up means calmer streets and bigger views; lower means easier morning access to the water.
Book the boat early, too: Private boat tours from Positano to Capri and along the coast fill fast, as do Amalfi Coast day trips.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it better to stay in an Airbnb or a hotel in Positano?
A rental gives you a kitchen, more space, and a private terrace, often with more character per euro. A hotel gives you service, breakfast, and help with boats and dinners. We stayed at Hotel Buca di Bacco on our honeymoon; for groups and longer stays, a rental makes a lot of sense.
Which Positano rentals have beach access?
Villa Mareblu has a private staircase to Arienzo Beach, and Torre La Trasita is steps from Spiaggia Fornillo.
Are there Positano rentals with a pool?
Yes, though they’re rare. Casa Sam, in the center of town, has a private pool and sleeps eight.
When should I book a vacation rental in Positano?
As soon as your dates are set, especially for June through August. The best rentals book months in advance.
Waking up to those pastel cliffs is part of the experience.
Where you stay in Positano is part of the experience: waking to pastel cliffs, stepping onto your own terrace with a coffee, living among the winding lanes, even for a few days. Cliffside apartment, historic tower, or garden hideaway, these rentals make an Amalfi Coast stay feel like something out of a dream.
Packing for the coast? A swimsuit, a cover-up that works for lunch, and sandals that can handle the stairs are the whole formula. My favorites live in one place.
Still deciding? The best hotels in Positano covers the boutique and luxury options, and where to stay on the Amalfi Coast breaks it down by town. For a wider itinerary, our 12-day Italian honeymoon itinerary shows how we structured the trip, and for your days here, things to do in Positano and the best restaurants in Positano have everything you need. Starting in the city? Here are the best Airbnbs in Rome.