Is Fornillo Beach worth it?

Worth it if…Underrated · +42Positano's quieter second beach, a short cliff-path walk west of Spiaggia Grande

Worth it, with conditions. 4.4 across 568 Google reviews; reviewers consistently describe it as calmer and worth the extra steps.

Hype23How famous and hyped it is

Reality65Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in

The gap+42UnderratedHow we score

4.4 ★ Google · 568 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

Been to Fornillo Beach? Was it worth it?

One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.

Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 on a budget vote

More free beach and cheaper sunbeds than the main beach, with the same water.

Why Reality is 65

Lives up to its fame4/54.4 across 568 Google reviews; reviewers consistently describe it as calmer and worth the extra steps.

Value for money4/5Free or cheaper sunbeds (guide estimate €20–25) for clear water and fewer crowds.

Can’t get it elsewhere3/5A good everyday swim beach rather than an icon; the town view is better from Spiaggia Grande.

Easy to do3/5An easy coastal walk from the main beach, but still Positano's stairs, no parking and summer crowds.

What people loved

Noticeably less crowded than the main beach, with the same clear waterPretty 10–15 minute coastal walk from town, past watchtowers and sea viewsMore free beach and cheaper sunbeds than Spiaggia GrandeSnack bars and beach clubs on the sand for lunch and drinks

What wore them down

Pebbly beach; water shoes help and it is not soft sandBeach-club sunbeds still feel pricey (one reviewer paid €35 per person)Stairs on the walk back up to the road and townYou lose the classic view of the whole town stacked above you

Parking & getting there

Don’t drive

Don't drive: the only lots on Positano's west side (Carpineto, Mandara on Viale Pasitea) are small, private and pricey; Fornillo is then reached on foot down stairs.

Parcheggio Carpinetolot · about 5 min walk · ★ 3.6 (359)Price not publishedMap
Parking Garage Mandaragarage · about 9 min walk · ★ 3.1 (670)Price not publishedMap
Garage Parking Di Gennarogarage · about 8 min walk · ★ 2.8 (286)Price not publishedMap

Private garages are valet-style (you leave the keys) and charge by the full hour; reviewers report about €8–10/hour in summer, but no operator price list could be verified maps.google.com
Blue-line street meters are scarce and almost never free in summer; white-and-yellow lines are residents only positano.com
Alternating number-plate scheme (odd/even last digit) on the SS163 Vietri–Positano 10:00–18:00 on designated dates (2026: e.g. 30 Mar–6 Apr, 24 Apr–2 May; October weekends/holidays; none from 1 Nov); exemptions include residents, guests with a coast hotel booking, taxis/NCC, motorbikes positano.com
Check current SS163 alternating-plate dates on ANAS / news before driving in season napolike.it

Without a car: SITA bus to Positano and walk down, or ferry to Spiaggia Grande and walk 10–15 min west on Via Positanesi d'America

Driving rules in Positano

Avoid driving on the Amalfi Coast from spring to autumn: the SS163 is narrow and congested, plate restrictions apply on peak dates, and Positano's parking is private, expensive and full by mid-morning. Ferries and SITA buses are the better choice. A car only helps for out-of-season trips or trailheads such as Pontone or Agerola.

Alternating number plates on the SS163 Amalfitana. Anas ordinance 340/19 restricts non-resident cars on the coast road by last plate digit (odd plates barred on odd dates, even on even dates) from 10:00 to 18:00 on designated dates. 2026 dates reported: 30 Mar–6 Apr and 24 Apr–2 May, with October weekends and holidays also listed by positano.com, and none from 1 November. It covers 14 municipalities, from Vietri sul Mare to Positano, including Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano, Furore and Conca dei Marini. Exempt (with documents): residents, guests with a confirmed coast booking, taxis and NCC, disabled-badge vehicles, workers and homeowners. Motorbikes are also exempt per positano.com. Check current dates with Anas or the Comune before driving. napolike.it
Anas ordinance (legal basis). Permanent Anas ordinance 340/19 sets the alternating-plate restrictions on the SS163 each year from 1 April to 30 September, in set time bands. stradeanas.it
Positano ZTL for large vehicles. Via Pasitea, Piazza dei Mulini and Via C. Colombo are a ZTL for vehicles with more than 5 seats (€5 per trip). Paying does not allow stopping or parking. positano.com
Street parking is residents-only. Street parking in Positano and its hamlets (Montepertuso, Nocelle) is for residents. White-and-yellow lines are residents-only and the few blue-line meters are almost never free in summer. Visitors use private valet-style garages that charge by the full hour, with no verified operator price lists. positano.com
Parking overview. positano.com's parking guide lists the private garages and blue-line spots along the coast; spaces fill early in summer. positano.com

Car parks from Google Maps; walking times are estimates. Checked 2026-10-17. Prices change, so check at the entrance.

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: No booking for the free area; lidos rent sunbeds on the spot.

EntryFree; a larger share of free public beach than Spiaggia Grande (free area at the far end)Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026

SunbedsLocal lidos around €20–25 per day for a sunbed (guide estimate)Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026

Getting there10–15 min walk west from Spiaggia Grande on Via Positanesi d'America, the cliffside path from the ferry dockSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026

BeachPebbles and dark sand; calmer and less trendy than Spiaggia GrandeSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026

SeasonBeach clubs close in winter, but the beach can still be walked onSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026

Time needed2–4 hours for a swim and lunchSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026

In their words

“Well worth the extra few steps to avoid the crowd and enjoy the warm sun and sea.”

Jie Chao · Google review · 5 months ago

“The rocks were nice and smooth, making for easy walking into the water without watching your step or getting sand stuck everywhere.”

Alec Ethell · Google review · a month ago

“Bear in mind, the prices in this brach from the beach clubs are for the well-off or rich tourists.”

Miguel Rojas · Google review · a year ago

“Good swim, it’s a beach full of pebbles not sand.”

SC 3 · Google review · 2 months ago

Tips from people who went

No tips yet. Be the first to share one.

One thing people should know

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Questions people ask

How do you get to Fornillo Beach from Positano?

Walk 10–15 minutes west from Spiaggia Grande along the cliffside path Via Positanesi d'America, starting near the ferry dock.

Is Fornillo Beach free?

Yes, there is a free public area, larger than on the main beach; the rest is lidos renting sunbeds.

Is Fornillo better than Spiaggia Grande?

For swimming and space, reviewers usually say yes; for the iconic town view, Spiaggia Grande wins.

Better fits, according to people who went

Spiaggia Grande — photo by Phillip Welty

Worth it if…Reality 64 +22Spiaggia Grande★ 4.3Positano town & beaches · BeachFor the classic postcard view and the ferry pier.

Worth it if…Reality 60 +50Arienzo Beach★ 4.3Positano town & beaches · BeachAnother quieter cove, east of town, with afternoon sun.

Worth it if…Reality 64 +39Laurito Beach★ 4.4Positano town & beaches · BeachSmall cove reached by free boat from the pier, with a famous lunch spot.

Path of the Gods — photo by Sentiero degli Dei

Worth itReality 85 +17Path of the Gods★ 4.8Nocelle & Montepertuso · HikeFree 7.8 km cliffside trail from Bomerano (Agerola) to Nocelle high above Positano

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 17, 2026. How we score · Standards