HIKING
Walking the Path of the Gods
The Sentiero degli Dei is the coast's finest walk, high on the ridge above Positano. What the Path of the Gods is really like, plus other trails to know.
Check dates and availability ↗The coast's most celebrated walk
High above the road, along the mountain ridge, runs the footpath everyone means when they talk about walking the Amalfi Coast: the Sentiero degli Dei, the Path of the Gods. Its name captures the feeling — a trail that traverses the cliffs hundreds of metres above the sea, with the villages, the terraces and the blue gulf laid out far below, and nothing between you and the view. It is old, a route once trodden by the people who farmed these impossible slopes, and it needs no ticket, no guide and no booking. For many walkers it is the single best thing on the coast, precisely because it gives you what no vehicle can reach: the coast seen whole, from above, in near silence, on your own two feet.
The route, in general terms
The classic walk runs from Bomerano, a hamlet of Agerola high on the plateau at the western end, eastward toward Nocelle, a tiny village perched above Positano. Doing it in that direction, from Bomerano, means you walk largely downhill with the best views ahead of you rather than at your back, which is why most people choose it. At Nocelle a long staircase drops toward the road above Positano, where a bus or a steep flight of steps takes you down into the town itself. You can walk it the other way and climb, but that is a harder day. The distances are modest, yet this is mountain ground, not a promenade, so allow far more time than a map suggests and check current trail conditions locally before you set out.
What it is actually like
Do not let the fame fool you into treating it lightly: the Path of the Gods is a proper hike. The ground is uneven — rock, dust, loose stone and roots — with exposed sections where the drop falls away close to the path and the footing wants attention. There is little shade for much of it, so midday heat in summer is punishing, and there are stretches where a clear head for heights genuinely helps. None of this makes it hard for a reasonably fit walker, but it is not a stroll for sandals or small children, and it is no place to hurry. What you get in return is unbroken: terraced slopes dropping to the sea, the Li Galli islands offshore, Positano appearing far below, and a quiet the road never has. Take it slowly and it is unforgettable.
Other trails worth knowing
The Path of the Gods is the headline, but the coast is laced with old footpaths for those who want more. Above Amalfi, the Valle delle Ferriere climbs a lush, spring-fed valley past the ruins of old iron works and rare ferns into a cooler, greener world than the sun-baked coast below. Ancient stepped mule paths still connect the towns — the climb between Atrani and Ravello is a walkable staircase of centuries, and lemon-grove trails thread the terraces around Maiori and Minori. These are working landscapes as much as scenic ones, and walking them is the closest you come to how the coast moved before the road. As always, conditions vary with weather and season, paths can wash out, and signage is patchy, so ask locally and carry a proper map rather than leaning on a phone.
Practicalities: shoes, water, timing
A few things separate a great day on these paths from a miserable one. Wear real walking shoes with grip — not sandals, not fashion trainers — because the ground is loose and uneven. Carry more water than you think you need; there is little shade and no shop on the ridge. Start early to beat both the heat and the midday walkers, and go in spring or autumn if you can, when the temperature is kind and the slopes are green rather than scorched. Take sun cover, a hat and something warm for the exposed top, and check the weather, since cloud can swallow the views and rain makes the rock slick. If heights unsettle you, know that in advance. Tell someone your plan, and do not count on a phone signal the whole way.
Fitting it into a trip — and is it worth it?
The Path of the Gods does not belong inside a driving day trip — it is a walk of a morning or more, best given its own day rather than squeezed between town stops. That is worth planning for: if you are set on hiking it, build a separate day around it, ideally basing near Positano or up at Agerola so the start and finish are manageable. Many walkers pair the trail with a lazy afternoon on Positano's beach afterwards, muscles earned. Is it worth the effort? For anyone who likes walking, without question — it is the finest free experience on the coast, and it shows you a side of the Costiera the crowds on the seafront never see. Match it honestly to your fitness, respect the mountain, and it may be the day you remember most.