Positano in Early July

What do you think? That's peak season.

Well, there's busy and there's over run. No need to be rude.

Roberto is one of the best info sources here. He must be having a very bad day. My advice would be to get your hotels tied up ASAP, and make sure you have A.C. and a pool. Most people here in the U.S. have to take their vacations in the summer, and summer is very hot there. Have a fun and enjoyable trip! I am sure you will, there's no place like Italy and I had to go there in August once for a wedding, and although it was hot, we had a great trip!

Thanks Donna. We have our hotel. I know it's going to be busy - and hot - but I was just worried it would be insanely packed with people. I wonder if the sea will be warm enough then for swimming? (We've been to Greece, Spain and France in early July and the sea was really cold so I assume it's the same there)

July and August are the absolute busiest months of the year on the Amalfi coast (and any coastal resort in Italy). I don't know at what measurable level of crowdness a tourist destination ceases to be "busy" and becomes "overrun". Those are subjective attributes.

We've been to Positano many times throughout July and August - it was very busy but I would not describe it as "packed" with people. It was still very enjoyable. We could easily walk, meander, explore without feeling overwhelmed by too many people.

Hi Susan: Oh that is exactly what I was wondering. Thank you.

Hi Maggie, We encountered people as I described only in the small tourist area (from the beach up the hill to where the shops stop - not that far). The majority of Positano was not the least bit crowded. In fact, we walked up/down many streets (w/o what I call tourist shops) and saw no one at all, or very few (we were always there during daytime - like 10-5). I think you'll enjoy Positano. I hope you'll spend a day in Sorrento, my favorite town in Italy :)

Hi, Maggie! I've been to the Med, in Spain and Italy and even Sicily many times in August,in September and October and it was heart-stopping cold every time! This was a big surprise to me! My whole life I looked at the pictures of the Mediterranean Sea and always wished to swim there -- never happened -- too damned cold! We have family on the Adriatic side and found the water wonderful for swimming, and the sand is nice and very fine, much like what we're used to in Florida. This is one of the biggest travel surprises of my life! How Cold the Med is!

Hi Susan: That is very helpful - and very good to know! By the way, what did you like about Sorrento?

Hi Donna:
That is interesting about the Med, isn't it! I was so surprised by the temperature too. I swam in the Adriatic, off Croatia and it was beautifully clear and warm. Where in Italy are your relatives? We've been thinking of going to Puglia (Trani, in particular) for the warmer seas. Do you have any recommendations on that side? (We will have our young daughter with us)

Our family is in Riccione (Near Rimini)which is a resort town! We've had two weddings to attend there, and it's wonderful! Rick Steves hates it because it IS so very touristy, and that's OK with us. Every time we go there it's for a wedding or some other important occasion, usually in late Summer, and we always stay in a hotel on the beach, because the local relatives crowd into the Cousins' homes. It's very family friendly, last time we took a picture of the hotel lobby which was totally full with back-to-back strollers! The family has lived there forever, and have relatives in Milano, and other Northern Cities. It took YEARS to get my husband as far South as even Florence!
LOL! I don't ever arrive via Milano any more. I LOVE Rome -- and am trying to drag my husband South of there and Roberto (God Bless Him) has been helping me with cities to visit. You're going to have a Great Trip -- but if you can get a hotel with a pool, I'd advise it for cooling off! The Med will stop your heart, but the Italians will do it!!

Ah, you are brave Laura! Thanks for the info, and link. I'm sure my 8-year-old will run right in the water!

I went swimming in Positano in late May. The water was cold but tolerable ... of course, I've also been swimming in the Baltic (that is really cold). If you look here, you can see the average sea temperatures in July are all above 25C. Sea temperature in Positano in July