A Guide to The Path of the Gods Hike: Best Views on the Amalfi Coast
kateroamstheworld.com contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I believe in. Read my disclaimer for more information.
A walk above the clouds on the coast of Italy: overgrown green flora, the deep blue sea, and peace away from the crowds in nearby Positano and Amalfi.
The Path of the Gods Hike is about 5 miles in length with an elevation gain of around 1000 feet. It does not require technical climbing, and is rated as moderately difficult.
This hike will have your calves and thighs burning and heart rate up; perfect for working up your appetite and not feeling as bad about all of the pasta and gelato you will likely indulge in later. 😉
How to get there
Getting to the start of the Path of the Gods hike is a bit confusing. We came from Sorrento which required taking two buses, and then walking another two miles after the end of the hike down to Positano; it was a long day!
From Sorrento, you will take the SITA bus to Amalfi first. This takes about an hour and a half.
From Amalfi, you will hop on a smaller SITA bus to Agerola. This will take 45 mins to an hour. Ask the driver to let you off at the “Bomerano” stop, and follow the signs to the trailhead from here. Chances are, mostly everyone on the bus will also be getting off here so it will be hard to miss it!
When we were there in early September, the buses ran only once every hour, or once every two hours! So be sure to check the bus schedule before you go and plan accordingly.
All things considered, t will take you about 2 1/2- 3 hrs by bus to reach the trailhead from Sorrento so I HIGHLY recommend getting the very first bus from Sorrento to Amalfi. If not, you will not start hiking until much later in the day when it will be much more crowded and hot!
Starting the hike
When the driver lets you off at the Bomerano stop, you will simply follow the signs to the Path of the Gods hike, or Sentiero Degli Dei. From the bus stop to the start, it can’t be more than 0.25- 0.5 miles.
You should bring: sunglasses, a hat, breathable clothing, a backpack with: plenty of water, snacks, and some cash if you want to buy a lemon slushy on the way and get lunch after!
The hike
It took us about 2-3 hours with stops to complete the 5 mile hike. We stopped at a small lemon slushy stand on the way to enjoy the view; worth it! My boyfriend still raves about them to this day.
Most of the trail is a relatively flat, dirt path, with periods of climbing elevation scattered in. There is one part near the end that gets a little challenging but nothing where I thought I was risking my life.
I’ve read reviews where people said there were “sheer drop offs” and felt “unsafe”, but we NEVER felt like that! I don’t know, maybe these people have never hiked before? I thought the trail was well marked, safe, and easy to navigate. There are signs in a few places that point you to the trail, and there are even drinkable water fountains on the way.
You walk through lush green overgrowth, look out at panoramic views of the coast with boats dotting the sea below.
You will know you have reached the end of the trail when you see a cute restaurant to your left and enter a small town; this is Nocelle.
We stopped into eat here and enjoyed an aperol spritz and a tomato mozzarella sandwich! Cash only, good food and prices!
So from here.. We honestly did not know where to go. There was an option to go left or right (to Positano). We went right, and while it got us to Positano in the end, it took us a full hour to get there! There is also a bus stop in Nocelle where a SITA bus can take you to Positano. we regretted not taking this!
According to this website: https://www.positano.com/en/e/il-sentiero-degli-dei you can take the 1500 steps down from Nocelle to Arienzo, and then a 1 km walk to Positano. I believe this what awaited us to the left (we went right).
So, turning to the right, we walked over 1.5 miles on the side of the Amalfi Coast road, and then descended a different set of 1500 steps into Positano..
If we could do it over, honestly with the 24 hr SITA bus ticket we already had, we wished we would have just taken the bus from Nocelle to Positano. It will save you leg pain and exhaustion, especially since the town of Positano is filled with steps itself!
That concludes my guide to the Path of the Gods hike on the Amalfi Coast!
If you enjoy my content, like this post and check out my others on traveling the Amalfi Coast. Follow my blog for more travel tips and tricks, and my Instagram for inspiration! 🙂
