Is Via dei Mulini worth it?
Worth it if…Lives up to the hype · +45Positano's bougainvillea-draped main lane of linen, sandal and ceramics shops down to the beach
Worth it, with conditions. Charming and photogenic, but a short lane; guides note Positano's fashion heyday has passed.
Hype10How famous and hyped it is
Reality55Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
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Been to Via dei Mulini? 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 first-timers vote
You'll walk it anyway between the car parks/buses and the beach; it's part of the Positano look.
Why Reality is 55
Lives up to its fame3/5Charming and photogenic, but a short lane; guides note Positano's fashion heyday has passed.
Value for money3/5Free to walk; goods are pricey and often generic, with standout artisan sandals and linen.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5Made-to-measure sandals and 'Moda Positano' linen are local, but similar souvenir lanes exist in Amalfi and Sorrento.
Easy to do4/5Central, pedestrian and largely downhill from Piazza dei Mulini; crowds are the main hassle.
What people loved
Photogenic lane with bougainvillea and pastel shopfronts on the way to the beachGood linen, resortwear and made-while-you-wait leather sandalsEasy, mostly downhill walk from the car parks to the seaWhat wore them down
Frommer's calls much boutique stock 'decidedly passé'; the cutting-edge fashion days are 'long gone'Prices in Positano are high; reviewers say souvenirs cost about double Sorrento'sNarrow and shoulder-to-shoulder with day-trippers in summerMany shops repeat the same lemon and linen souvenirsParking & getting there
Don’t driveDon't drive: Parcheggio Russo and Di Gennaro sit at the top of Via dei Mulini, but they are small, valet-only and pricey (reviewers report €8–10/hour).
- Parcheggio Russogarage · about 2 min walk · ★ 4 (204)Price not publishedMap
- Garage Parking Di Gennarogarage · about 3 min walk · ★ 2.8 (286)Price not publishedMap
- Parking Garage Mandaragarage · about 5 min walk · ★ 3.1 (670)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 along the SS163 from Sorrento or Amalfi (year-round) and walk down Via dei Mulini; or ferry (roughly April–October) to the pier on Spiaggia Grande
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
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No booking; it's a public street.
EntryFree; a public pedestrian laneSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
What's hereMain shopping street; linen and beachwear ('Moda Positano') are the specialty, plus handmade sandals and boutiques on Viale PasiteaSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
SandalsArtisan shops such as D'Antonio, Dattilo and Safari make sandals while you waitSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Heritage shopsSartoria Maria Lampo (Viale Pasitea 12) survives from the 1960s made-to-order eraSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Getting thereRuns from Piazza dei Mulini (nearest car parks and buses) down to the church and Spiaggia Grande, about 5 min on footSource: Google Maps · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Shop hoursMost boutiques close in winter (roughly November–March), like beach businessesSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Time needed30 min to stroll; 1–2 hours to shopSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
In their words
“Almost everything we looked at: food, drinks, gifts and souvenirs were at least twice the price for the same items in Sorrento.”
“There isn’t much to do, we just walked the main stores and some people went to the beach. Was very beautiful.”
“Nearest parking to Via dei Mulini, the pedestrian street which brings you down to the beach.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
What is Via dei Mulini known for?
It's Positano's main shopping lane, with linen 'Moda Positano' clothing, handmade sandals and ceramics, leading down to the beach.
Can you get sandals made in Positano?
Yes. Artisan shops such as D'Antonio, Dattilo and Safari make sandals while you wait.
Are shops in Positano open in winter?
Many close from around November to March along with the beach businesses.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Frommer's – Shopping in Positano
- Via Travelers – Spiaggia Grande Positano (crowds, season)
- Google Maps – Via dei Mulini