Positano (Amalfi Coast) weather in January

January in Positano: cool, rainy — a fair time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Positano🇮🇹 Italy · Central & Southern Italy · Beach53
  1. 53Jan
  2. 62Feb
  3. 68Mar
  4. 76Apr
  5. 80May
  6. 92Jun
  7. 95Jul
  8. 91Aug
  9. 85Sep
  10. 78Oct
  11. 56Nov
  12. 55Dec

#12 of 12 months in Positano · #1091 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 53/100 (tier D)

Days
13°C
Nights
10°C
Wet days
14
Sun
6.8 h
Humidity
74%
Daylight
10 h
Positano, Italy
Photo: Josh Withers · Pexels

Traveller notes on Positano in January

Forum posters describe January days as genuinely cold, commonly in the 30s-50sF, with even a sunny day turning distinctly chilly once the sun sets. Fog is called a real drawback of a winter visit, with one poster describing an entire overcast, foggy stay. Most restaurants and hotels close shortly after New Year's, and posters describe the town as very quiet - even many locals head off on their own winter holidays - with ferries not running at all this time of year. Posters consistently suggest basing in a larger nearby town like Sorrento or Amalfi instead, both of which stay more functional through winter, and making Positano itself a day trip rather than a base, with the Path of the Gods hike recommended only if the weather happens to cooperate.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Positano

Regulars are honest this month has grown less predictable in recent years, usually sunny with daytime temperatures in the low-to-high 20s Celsius, though a genuinely heavy rain spell is a real possibility some years, a waterproof windbreaker and packable umbrella the standard advice just in case. Our row backs that mild, genuinely wet read, 21.5C over 16C nights, with a substantial 76.3mm of rain across 10 days and humidity at 77 percent. Regulars are consistent this remains too early in the season for comfortable swimming, the sea itself staying around 18 to 19C, evenings cool enough that a cardigan or wrap over a summer dress is worth packing. Overall the read stays warm and pleasant for exploring the coast on foot despite the rain risk. The sea sits at 18.9C. The record: 11.9 hours of sun, a 16.1 kph wind and AQI 64.
LessPredictableNowWaterproofAdvised · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Positano-forum threads on April weather describe a genuine shoulder-season split: sunny days warm enough to sit out and enjoy without a jacket, paired with cooler, occasionally rainy stretches that call for real layers. One frequent visitor reports very little rain and daytime temperatures climbing into the 80s Fahrenheit with mild evenings, while other posters describe a more typical cool, breezy April closer to the seasonal average. Everyone agrees on one point: the sea itself is still too cold for real swimming this early, fine for sitting on a boat deck in the sun but not for getting in past a quick dip. The standing packing advice is layers regardless of the specific forecast - sunny days run warm, rainy days turn genuinely chilly, and a boat excursion along the coast is cooler than it looks from shore. The record: 18.2C days feeling like 17C, 12.8C nights, 57mm across 9.7 days, a 15.6C sea, 74 percent humidity and 11.1 hours of sun.
SpiaggiaGrandeAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on tripadvisor.co.nz ↗
Positano-forum threads on September draw a line around mid-month: the first half runs warm and humid, similar to August, with storms typically arriving mid-month to usher in a cooler, less humid back half. Crowds don't follow the same pattern - the Amalfi Coast pulls an older crowd not tied to school calendars, so a drop-off around the 15th when kids head back to school is real but barely noticeable given how narrow the village's walkways are to begin with. The sea stays genuinely warm and swimmable through the whole month regardless. The record: 26.3C days feeling like 29C, 21.1C nights, 113mm of precipitation across nine days, a 25C sea, 71 percent humidity and 10.5 hours of sun - busy and sticky early, calmer and drier late.
SpiaggiaGrandeSeptember · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
August in Positano is the most expensive and most crowded month of its year, and the forum's advice amounts to timing your day rather than your trip. The middle weeks are the worst, with Ferragosto on the 15th a national holiday that fills the coast with Italian and European visitors on top of everybody else. What they all agree works is the edges of the day: early morning and early evening are delightful, because the day-trippers and the cruise passengers are not there yet or have gone. On the heat they split - one couple say it spoiled the trip, one regular comes back every late August precisely for the sea - and our row's 29.6C reads as 33C. The record: 24C nights, 5.2 precipitation days carrying 27.3mm, 12.3 hours of sun and a 25.5C sea.
BeforeTheDayTrippers · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Positano climate normals — January

Daytime high13°C / 55°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low10°C / 49°F
Feels like (high)10°C / 50°F
Sea temperature17°C / 62°F🧊 bracing
Rainfall132 mm / 5.2 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days14 days
Humidity74%💧 humid
Dew point6°C / 43°F
Sunshine6.8 h/day
Daylight9.6 h
Wind21 km/h / 13 mph
Snowfall0.7 cm / 0.3 in
Air quality (US AQI)54🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Positano in January

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyChristmas holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Positano's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Toughest weatherPositano's weather peaks June–August, best around July.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Positano in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Closure

    Town closes for winter

    5 Nov – 20 Mar

    From early November most hotels, restaurants and the boutiques on Via dei Mulini shut until Easter, and the ferries stop entirely. The SITA bus down the coast road is the only way in. Source ↗

What's on around the world in January →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Positano — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Positano?

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Positano in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Positano?
January in Positano: cool, rainy — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Positano on SeasonMap's comfort score (53/100).
What is the weather like in Positano in January?
In January, Positano averages a daily high of 13°C and a low of 9.5°C, with about 131.7 mm of rain over roughly 13.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Positano in January?
Positano has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 54 in January.

Within 300 km: Sorrento's Christmas lights and markets on 25 Nov – 6 Jan, and Naples' Crib season, San Gregorio Armeno on 1 Nov – 6 Jan.