Positano is vertical, tiny and surprisingly easy alone — everyone walks the same three staircases, so you keep meeting the same faces. Base yourself in Praiano or at Hostel Brikette, eat at the counter, and the village opens up fast.
The Amalfi Coast's only true backpacker hostel, perched on the upper road by the SITA bus stop. Dorm beds run €35–55 depending on season, with a sea-view terrace where solo arrivals swap plans over coffee. Reception hands out a hand-drawn stair map.
A counter-service bakery on the upper main road where staff speak to everyone and nobody blinks at a table for one. Lemon delight €4, focaccia slices €5–7, decent espresso €1.50. Outdoor seats look straight down over the pastel rooftops.
Positano's quieter second beach, reached by a cliff-hugging walkway past the Torre Trasita. Loungers cost €12–15 against Spiaggia Grande's €25, and the free public strip on the left is where solo swimmers and long-stay Italians actually sit.
A locals-and-regulars bar on the road down into town, with a narrow terrace facing the bay. Spritz €8, house white €6 — a third of Le Sirenuse prices. Waiters seat single guests at the rail rather than hiding them at the back.
The family-run boat operator on the beach since 1936 runs shared Li Galli island tours from about €55 per person, six to twelve passengers. Shared decks force conversation in a way private charters never do; book the 10:00 departure at the wooden kiosk.
The beachfront institution with a nautical interior and a proper bar counter where solo diners eat without a reservation. Spaghetti alle vongole around €22, a glass of Falanghina €7. Staff have worked here for decades and will talk if you ask.
A family ceramics workshop running since 1948 where the painters work in the open back room. Small hand-painted lemon tiles from €12, plates €30–60. Ask about the majolica technique and you'll usually get a fifteen-minute demonstration.
A club built inside a sea cave at the far end of Spiaggia Grande, open from around 22:00 with a €20–30 cover including a drink. Early evening the entrance bar fills with a mixed crowd of staff and travellers before the DJ sets begin.
The Path of the Gods runs 7.8 km from Bomerano to Nocelle, 500 m above the sea, waymarked and busy enough to walk alone safely. The SITA bus from Positano's Chiesa Nuova stop costs about €3.40 and takes an hour via Amalfi.
The stone staircase from Nocelle village drops through terraced lemon groves to the Arienzo road. It takes about 45 minutes on tired legs, with shaded landings and almost no one on it after midday.
Reached by 300 steps or a free shuttle boat from Spiaggia Grande, this east-facing cove keeps afternoon sun long after Positano's beaches fall into shadow. Loungers €30 including the boat transfer; the bar serves a decent €10 sandwich.
The 16th-century Saracen watchtower on the headland between the two beaches, with a stone ledge on the seaward path. It's the standard sunset gathering spot for people travelling alone, and the walkway stays lit after dark.