The paper deals with problems of the type $-\Delta u+a(x)u=|u|^{p-2}u$, $u\gt0$, with zero Dirichlet boundary condition on unbounded domains in $\mathbb{R}^N$, $N\geq2$, with $a(x)\geq c\gt0$, $p\gt2$ and $p\lt2N/(N-2)$ if $N\geq3$. The lack of compactness in the problem, related to the unboundedness of the domain, is analysed. Moreover, if the potential $a(x)$ has $k$ suitable ‘bumps’ and the domain has $h$ suitable ‘holes’, it is proved that the problem has at least $2(h+k)$ positive solutions ($h$ or $k$ can be zero). The multiplicity results are obtained under a geometric assumption on $\varOmega$ at infinity which ensures the validity of a local Palais–Smale condition.