Is a day trip from Naples to Positano too difficult? Is an overnight stay more sensible?

How much time do you have, and what's the rest of your itinerary?

Train to Sorrento, bus, ferry or taxi to Positano. Or driver from Naples to Positano.

Years ago, I saw Sorrento and Positano as a day trip from Naples. To this day, I view this as one of my biggest travel "mistakes." These are places to be settled into and savored - not seen in a drive-by manner.

As for logistics, I took the circumvesuviana train from Naples to Sorrento, then the bus from Sorrento to Positano. There are also boats, in season, between these places. I don't think there's a direct boat between Naples and Positano; there's definitely not a direct land route (you have to change, as I did).

So, if you do want to experience Positano, definitely take at least one overnight closer by (if not in Positano itself, at least in Sorrento or Amalfi).

I'm spending eight nights in Naples.

I have scheduled a one-day trip from Naples to Paestum and back.

I'd like to see Pompeii. (If anyone knows a sound way to do that from Naples, especially using a tour guide service that would pick me up at my hotel, please advise.)

Positano is a goal, but only if it's a viable option for someone based in Naples.

If you have eight nights in Naples, I'd peel off a handful of them and swap for (some combination) of Positano and Sorrento. (In fact, I'd be tempted to steal 5 of them, but it's hard to say for sure without knowing more about the rest of your trip and your interests)

Train to Sorrento (stop en route at Pompei, or do Pompei as a half-day trip from Sorrento). From there, onward to Positano via bus or ferry.

We spent 1 night in Pompeii (to get an early start), 4 nights in Positano, and 2 nights in Naples before heading to Rome for a week two years ago. That mix was about right. One more night in Naples would have been good, but more than 3 nights would have been too much. From Positano we visited Ravello, Amalfi, and Capri. We were with friends with a car on the way to Positano, but returned to Naples using the public bus and then the circumvesuviana train.

Sam I'm planning a trip in May and spending most of the time in Rome. I will be taking a side trip to Positano and came to the conclusion it can not be done in a day. Well it could, but you wouldn't have more than a few hours. What I'm doing is traveling from Rome to Salerno by train then taking a ferry to Positano. Should get to Positano around 1100 and have approx. 7.5 hrs there. Then heading back to overnight in Salerno. While I agree with most its better to stay a while and savor the towns, not everyone has that option. I do feel it will give me enough time to enjoy Positano and Salerno. I will of course have backup plans in case the ferry does not run that day. Naples to Salerno is only a 35-45 min train ride and the first ferry leaves Salerno at 0840. Trip back would be at around 1930. Hope this helps.

Sorrento would be much better base town than Naples. Easy to get to Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii and also Naples and of course Sorrento itself. We stayed 2 nights in Naples, 5 nights in Sorrento. Originally we planned 3 nights but we liked Sorrento so much we changed it to 5 nights.

I thought a couple of hours in Positano was enough. Sorrento is most definitely a tourist town. Naples was fascinating and much more interesting, but unfortunately I had too little time there. Sorrento and Positano have a view, but so does Naples. I vote for staying in Naples, you can do Sorrento and Positano in a day. Naples is real and interesting. Sorrento and Positano is pretty. IMO YMMV It really depends what kind of vacation you want. I'd be thrilled with a week in Naples, and it is on my list to return to do that.

A couple of years ago our cruise ship made a stop in Naples so we booked a tour with the morning in Pompeii and the afternoon driving the Amalfi Coast. We don't regret it because it's all the time we had, but it definitely put Positano and the rest of the coast on our bucket list for a longer stay. If all you want is to see the beautiful scenery and experience the craziness of driving along that road from town to town then a day is enough, but I'd love to have time to see a couple of sunsets and sunrises there.