Praiano

The Basics

In addition to its charm and the churches of San Gennaro and San Luca (the latter is home to a precious silver icon of St. Luke), Praiano is known for its beautiful coastline and beaches. The Marina di Praia beach, guarded by the historic Torre a Mare watchtower, has clear blue water perfect for diving and other water sports. Praiano’s other beach, La Gavitella, is one of the Amalfi Coast’s only west-facing beaches overlooking the Li Galli islets and the island of Capri, home of the famous Blue Grotto. The best way to visit Praiano is by booking a private boat tour from Sorrento or other nearby coastal towns.

Things to Know Before You Go

• A private shuttle boat runs between Gavitella beach and both Marina di Praia and Positano’s Marina Grande, free for clients of the seaside restaurant on Gavitella.

• Don’t forget a hat, sunblock, and plenty of water to stave off Italy’s summer heat.

• Neither the town of Praiano nor its beaches are accessible to strollers or wheelchair users. Tour boat passengers must be agile enough to board and disembark the boat, so travelers with limited mobility should confirm accessibility before booking.

How to Get There

Praiano is located along Campania’s Amalfi Coast. To reach Praiano by land, you must take the train from Naples to Sorrento, then transfer to a SITA bus. Because this is the only public transportation available, most visitors arrive via boat tour.

When to Get There

Praiano, like all of the Amalfi Coast, is busiest during the summer months when the coastline teems with shore excursion crowds, and is closed for business during the low-season winter months. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when the weather is mild enough for a boat trip but the area is not yet overcrowded.

The Quiet Coast

If you want to visit the Amalfi Coast but don’t love crowds, consider trips to the quieter villages. In addition to Praiano, the lesser-known Ravello on the cliff top or Minori and Maiori along the water boast all the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, but see far fewer visitors.

Ways to explore

If you’re not staying in Praiano overnight, the best way to visit is by booking a private Amalfi Coast tour that drives you into town and also stops by neighboring cities such as Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello. Vespa tours offer a similar itinerary—but with an extra dose of adventure as they zip along coastal roads.

Once you’ve explored Praiano’s clifftop churches and pretty piazzas on foot, see them from the water. Many Amalfi Coast boat tours start in Praiano and take you to its hard-to-reach pebble beaches, plus seaside gems such as the Emerald Grotto and Fiordo di Furore.

Accessibility

While some attractions and driving tours are wheelchair accessible, Praiano’s vertical setup, with lots of stairs and steep streets, can be hard to navigate with limited mobility.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Camera, water bottle, swimsuit, sunscreen for exploring outdoors

What to wear

Dress for the weather—covering your legs and shoulders to enter local churches—and wear comfortable shoes for lots of walking and stair-climbing.

Not allowed

Rules vary by tour, but most don’t allow pets, smoking, or alcohol.

Address

On the Amalfi Coast between Positano and Amalfi, Praiano is reachable by car, bus, or private water taxi. If you’d rather not deal with public transportation, the town is a popular stop on guided Amalfi Coast tours by private vehicle.

Driving

Praiano is a 20-minute drive east of Positano and a 30-minute drive west of Amalfi. Both routes follow the SS 163 highway, known for its many curves between cliffs and coastline. Book a driver to avoid navigating the road yourself.

Public transportation

Praiano is connected to the rest of the Amalfi Coast by the local SITA bus. Take the 5070 bus from Amalfi or Positano to reach Praiano in about 30 minutes.

Best times to visit

Arrive in Praiano in the morning to maximize your time, and don’t miss the sunset—the west-facing Gavitella beach is known for its golden-hour views of Capri.

Best days to visit

For relatively smaller crowds at Praiano’s best beaches, aim to visit on a weekday.

Best months to visit

In May and September, it’s warm enough to enjoy the beach, but much less hot and crowded than during the summer months of June–August.

Special events

Praiano’s residents celebrate the centuries-old Luminaria di San Domenico festival every year, August 1–4, lighting candles all over town and creating a special glow in Piazza San Gennaro