Praiano is the Amalfi Coast's best-kept secret, hiding in plain sight. Positioned between Positano and Amalfi on the coast's western face, Praiano does something the other towns can't: it faces the sunset. Every evening, the Tyrrhenian Sea turns gold, the Li Galli islands become silhouettes, and every terrace in Praiano has a front-row seat. Hotels cost 30-50% less than Positano for equivalent views. The bus stops here (same SITA bus as Positano/Amalfi), the restaurants are local rather than tourist-factory, and two beaches — Marina di Praia (a tiny cove between cliffs with a bar and boat rentals) and Spiaggia della Gavitella (reached by 400 steps down — your reward is crystal water and almost no one else) — offer swimming that Positano's overcrowded Spiaggia Grande can't match. Amalfi Coast →
Plan my Amalfi Coast trip →Sunset watching: Any terrace, any evening. The Africana nightclub (built inside a sea cave, legendary 1960s-70s jet-set venue, sometimes open for events) and the terrace of Hotel Tramonto d'Oro are prime sunset positions. Marina di Praia: A tiny fishing cove between vertical cliffs — a sliver of beach, crystal water, the boat rental for kayak excursions, and the One Fire Beach Bar. Reached by steps from the road. Spiaggia della Gavitella: 400 steps down from the road (near the church of San Gennaro). A small platform-beach with a lido (€20-25/day) and the clearest water on the coast. The climb back up earns you gelato. Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods): The famous hiking trail starts (or ends) above Praiano at Bomerano — a 3-hour cliff walk at 500m with views over the entire coast. San Gennaro church: Majolica-tiled floor, baroque paintings, and a panoramic churchyard.
Getting there: SITA bus from Amalfi (15min) or Positano (15min). Car: limited parking along the road (arrive early). Stay: €80-160/night (vs €150-350 in Positano). Hotel Onda Verde (€100-180, pool + sunset), Casa Angelina (€200-400, design hotel, white-on-white). Eat: Il Pirata (€25-40, Marina di Praia — seafood on the cove), Kasai (€30-45, creative Campanian). THE SMART MOVE: Base in Praiano, bus to Positano (15min) and Amalfi (15min), kayak from Marina di Praia, hike the Path of the Gods from your doorstep. Best of all worlds at half the price. Combine with: Furore fjord (5min), Positano (15min), Amalfi (15min), kayak.