These are the Best Hiking Trails in the Amalfi Coast, and they're not just pretty walks but actual routes carved into cliffs that drop straight into the Mediterranean.
You'll find paths connecting ancient villages, stone steps built by farmers centuries ago, and views that make you stop mid-step because your brain needs a second to process what it's seeing.
Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
This is the one everyone talks about, and honestly, it deserves the hype. The trail runs from Bomerano to Nocelle, about 7.8 kilometers, and it takes roughly 3 to 4 hours depending on how often you stop to take photos (you'll stop a lot).
Difficulty: Moderate. You need decent fitness, but you don't need to be a mountain goat. The path is well marked, mostly flat with some rocky sections, and there's no technical climbing involved. Wear proper shoes, though, because loose gravel will humble you fast.
What you'll see: The trail sits about 500 meters above sea level, so you're looking down at Positano, Praiano, and the islands of Li Galli the entire time. On clear days, Capri shows up on the horizon. The morning light hits different here, and the afternoon brings that golden Mediterranean glow everyone chases.
Start point: Most people start in Bomerano because the trail goes slightly downhill toward Nocelle. You can catch a bus from Amalfi to Bomerano. From Nocelle, there's a staircase (about 1,700 steps) down to Positano, or you can grab a bus.
Valle delle Ferriere (Valley of the Mills)
This one doesn't get as much attention, but it's worth your time if you want something different. The trail takes you through a nature reserve with waterfalls, ruins of old paper mills, and plants that have been growing here since prehistoric times.
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. It's about 10 kilometers round trip from Amalfi town, and you'll deal with steep sections and stream crossings. The humidity in the valley makes it feel harder than it looks on paper.
What you'll see: Waterfalls, ferns the size of small trees, and those mill ruins I mentioned. It's cooler in here than on the coastal paths, which makes it a solid choice for summer months when the cliffs turn into ovens.
Punta Campanella Trail
This trail runs along the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula, where the Amalfi Coast meets the Bay of Naples. You start in Termini and hike to an old watchtower at the point.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. About 4 kilometers one way, mostly flat with some descent toward the end. The return trip has a climb, but nothing brutal.
What you'll see: Capri is right there, close enough that you feel like you could swim to it. The water below is that ridiculous turquoise color that doesn't look real in photos.
Planning Multi-Day Hikes
Here's where it gets interesting. You can connect these trails into a proper multi-day trip, but you need to think about where you're sleeping.
The smart move is renting a place in one of the trailhead towns and using it as a base. Praiano sits between the Path of the Gods and Valle delle Ferriere, so you can hit both without relocating. Bomerano works if you want to be right at the start of the main trail. Positano is the most famous but also the most crowded and expensive.
When looking for villas for rent on the Amalfi Coast, check if they're actually near trail access points. Some listings show “Amalfi Coast” in the title but sit 30 minutes from any trailhead. You want something where you can walk out the door and start hiking, not spend an hour on winding roads first.
Towns to consider for trail access:
- Bomerano: Quiet, cheap, direct access to Path of the Gods
- Praiano: Central location, good restaurants, less chaos than Positano
- Ravello: Higher elevation, cooler temperatures, connects to multiple trails
- Scala: Oldest town on the coast, starting point for several lesser known routes
Practical Stuff That Actually Matters
When to go: April to June or September to October. July and August are hot, crowded, and miserable for hiking. The trails don't close, but you'll regret it.
Water: Bring more than you think you need. There are fountains in villages, but long stretches have nothing.
Buses: SITA buses connect most towns, but they're packed in peak season and run on schedules that feel more like suggestions. Check the times the night before and show up early.
Maps: Download offline maps. Cell service disappears in valleys and on certain cliff sections. Komoot and AllTrails both have these routes.
Shoes: Trail runners work for most paths. Full hiking boots feel like overkill unless you're doing Valle delle Ferriere after rain.
The trails here aren't wilderness experiences. You'll pass through villages, buy a lemon granita halfway through, and see other hikers constantly on popular routes. That's part of it. The Amalfi Coast has been walked for thousands of years, and you're just adding your footsteps to the path.