Path of the Gods: Our Guide to Hiking the Sentiero degli Dei on the Amalfi Coast

What you need to know about the Path of the Gods

• The Path of the Gods is called “Sentiero degli Dei” in Italian — and that’s exactly how it’s signposted along the Amalfi Coast.
• It’s considered a moderately difficult hiking trail. You need a reasonable level of fitness, but you definitely don’t need to be a hiking expert.
• The path of the gods hike is approximately 7.8 kilometers long. Including photo stops, plan on about 4 to 5 hours.
• The best way to do it is from Bomerano toward Nocelle, near Positano — that way you’re hiking downhill.
• Red-and-white trail markers are clearly visible throughout, so getting lost is pretty unlikely.

The Path of the Gods on a map

We’ve marked the Path of the Gods on this map for you. As you can see, it sits between Positano, Praiano, and Amalfi.

The best time of year for the Path of the Gods

Because winters in this corner of Italy are quite mild, you can actually tackle the gods path amalfi trail year-round.

We’d only skip July and August — it simply gets way too hot on the Amalfi Coast, and there’s not much shade along the nearly 8-kilometer route.

If we had to pick one month, we’d go in May. It’s generally a fantastic time to visit the entire Amalfi Coast.

What you should bring on the Path of the Gods

Here’s what you absolutely need for the hike:

• Sturdy shoes: They don’t have to be full hiking boots, but non-slip sneakers are a must.
• Water: Bring at least 2 liters. On warm days you’ll need every sip — and you’ll also pass a spring along the way.
• Hat: The sun on the Amalfi Coast is seriously intense, and the trail offers very little shade. On sunny days, a cap is non-negotiable.
• Wind jacket: You’re up at over 600 meters above sea level, so it can be noticeably breezier than down on the coast.
• Energy-rich snacks: Local dried figs, nuts, or granola bars all work great.
• Maps.me app: Download offline maps before you go — cell service along the trail is patchy at best.

Getting to Agerola (Bomerano)

The trail starts in the town of Agerola, up above the Amalfi Coast — more precisely in the district of Bomerano.

The easiest way to get there is by bus from Amalfi to Agerola. A direct bus only runs from Amalfi — or from Naples.

If you’re staying somewhere else — say, in Sorrento — your best bet is to take a ferry or bus to Amalfi first.

Note: If hiking the Sentiero degli Dei is a firm part of your Amalfi Coast plans, consider booking your accommodation directly in Amalfi. That way you skip the extra morning journey just to catch the bus. We recommend the Amalfi Luxury House — it’s more affordable than it sounds!

There are several stops in Agerola — get off at the Bomerano stop. The trail starts right in the small piazza.

Our tip: Catch the bus from Amalfi as early in the morning as possible — that way the sun will be at your back during the hike, which is perfect for photos. On weekdays, the first bus runs at around 6 AM; on holidays, at 7 AM.

Depending on where you’re staying on the Amalfi Coast, you can take a bus or ferry from Positano back to your accommodation afterward. From Positano, all the towns along the coast are easy to reach.

Our tip: Grab a seat on the left side of the bus — the views on the ride up are spectacular.
Coming by car isn’t really worth it, since you’d have to walk the whole trail back to pick it up. If you do drive, there’s a free parking lot in Bomerano specifically for hikers.

Path of the Gods hike

At a certain point, the trail splits into two versions:

• the Cammino degli Dei “Alto”, which runs higher up and is much more demanding,
• the Cammino degli Dei “Basso”, the classic route that most hikers take.

We’ll walk you through the classic path, since it’s by far the more popular choice. Let’s go!

First section - 1.5 km

The path of the gods amalfi coast trail is well-signposted and begins right in the small piazza in Bomerano — the same stop where you get off the bus.

At the start, you walk about a kilometer along asphalt out of town, then the route turns into a path winding through bushes and trees.

After about 20 minutes of hiking, you’ll reach a fork. Turn left here to take the “Basso” variant — the more popular option.

About 200 meters further on, you’ll hit a truly spectacular viewpoint with breathtaking views over Praiano and the entire Amalfi Coast.

There’s another fork here too, but don’t worry — everything is clearly signposted. Left goes down to Praiano, right goes to Nocelle. And that’s your direction.

Second section - 3.5 km

This section is mostly flat and treats you to constantly changing views of the coast.

Toward the end of the second section, you’ll pass one of the most memorable spots on the path of the gods amalfi coast — Antonio’s mountain hut.

Antonio is one of the last true goat herders on the Amalfi Coast, and he welcomes hikers with a big smile at his little place along the trail.

He offers anyone who’s interested a snack on his terrace — homemade goat cheese, fresh tomatoes from his garden, or a glass of lemonade. Honestly, it’s one of the highlights of the whole hike.

This stretch also gives you the best views of Capri — on clear days you can make out the distinctive Faraglioni rocks.

Third section - 2.8 km

The last stretch is a tough one, because it goes downhill.

That might sound easy at first, but if you’re not a seasoned hiker, the descent can really take a toll on your knees — you’ll probably feel it the next morning!

About halfway through this section, there’s a small bench with a view of Positano — the perfect spot for one last proper break before you reach Nocelle.

Right at the end of the trail in Nocelle is a small bistro, the Chiostro del Sentiero degli Dei.

It serves delicious, typical Amalfitan dishes with a view — a very well-earned reward after the long hike!

From Nocelle, you have two options to get down to Positano: tackle a staircase of 1,500 steps leading to the coast, or hop on the small shuttle bus that runs every hour.

Practical tips for hiking the Path of the Gods

A few more things to keep in mind before you head out:

• You can hike the Sentiero degli Dei year-round, but try to avoid rainy days — many sections get very slippery when wet.
• We’d also strongly recommend going on weekdays. Weekends can get crowded, with entire hiking groups filling the narrow trail.
• You can hike from Nocelle toward Bomerano too, but that direction involves a lot more uphill climbing — and you’ll be going against the flow, since most hikers start from Bomerano.
• Along the trail you’ll pass a few huts where you can grab a snack or a drink. Keep some small change handy.

Frequently asked questions about the Path of the Gods