Walking The Amalfi Coast: 3 Fantastic Amalfi Coast Walks

This post was last updated on 2024 September 21

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Interested in walking the Amalfi Coast? I’ve done and loved 3 Amalfi Coast walks during my two visits to the region and highly recommend them all:

• Valle delle Ferriere starts and ends in Amalfi
• Sentiero degli Dei runs from Bomerano to Positano
• Sentiero dei Limoni runs from Maiori to Minori

To reach the start of these Amalfi Coast walks, you can catch either a SITA bus or a ferry, depending on where you’re coming from and when. Note that the ferry only operates from April-October, and bus tickets must be purchased in advance from a designated outpost (see list here). 

 

Walk the Amalfi Coast to catch these views.

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Valle delle Ferriere (Ferriere Valley)

Amalfi to Pontone (2 hour loop, easy) or Amalfi to Pogerola (3-4 hour loop, moderate to challenging)

Hiked in: May 2007

Note: The standard Valle delle Ferriere hike is a 3.2 mile / 2 hour loop via Pontone. In 2007 I walked some variation of the longer Valle delle Ferriere hike, a 5.3 mile / 3-4 hour loop via Pogerola, and walked in the opposite direction from what is specified on the AllTrails page. 

To start the Valle delle Ferriere walk via Pogerola, head inland up the main street in Amalfi, Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi. To walk the route counterclockwise as per the AllTrails directions above, you’ll take the stairs up from Via Leone Comite Orso (right side of the street; click for map). Back in 2007, I walked the route clockwise via a steep set of stairs from Via Casamare, also off the main street in Amalfi (left side of street; click for map). 

The start of this Amalfi Coast walk is the least fun and most exhausting part, but once the ascent is over, the rest of it is a breeze.

Walking the route clockwise as I did, straight off the stairs you’ll reach the small village of Pogerola, a fantastic place to reward yourself with a bite to eat with a view. You could do much worse than a drink on the panoramic terrace at Gerry’s Pub. They serve up excellent home cooked meals as well, and Gerry himself is said to be happy to answer any questions guests have about things to see and do on the Amalfi Coast. 

 

From Pogerola, the Valle delle Ferriere trail continues inland along the mountains, weaving in and out of woods, past streams and the occasional waterfall, and constantly opening up to sweeping views of the valley and coast. My only companions were the occasional flocks of goats passing by, goatherd in tow. Glorious! Of the 3 Amalfi Coast walks in this post, Valle delle Ferriere is the least busy.

 

Many people hike the Valle delle Ferriere to see the Top Waterfall, Cascata Alta Valle delle Ferriere (marked #3 on the AllTrails map). Access is via a short side trail and costs 5 euros. If you don’t want to pay, there are plenty of other free waterfalls along the main trail that will impress.

I personally don’t remember waterfalls being a main feature on this walk when I did it in 2007 – I’m not sure if it was too dry when I hiked, or if I walked a slightly different trail and missed them, or if I simply didn’t log them as a long term memory in my brain because I’m not really a waterfall person. If you follow the AllTrails map above, you’re bound to pass by some falls, though.

What I DO remember 14 years later are the incredible views I enjoyed from every step of this Amalfi Coast walk. 

 

 

The second half of the walk leads away from Amalfi toward Ravello and Scala, through villages with homes nestled amidst terraced gardens and lemon groves, and views of the Mediterranean TO DIE FOR. I could have hung out (dined, slept, lived, whatever) here forever and ever amen, that’s how stunning this part of the Amalfi coast is.

FAQ for the Valle delle Ferriere

How long is the Valle delle Ferriere hike? Walking the Valle delle Ferriere via Pogerola takes 3-4 hours, or via Pontone takes 2 hours, depending on how often/long you stop along the way.

How hard is the Valle delle Ferriere hike? This Amalfi Coast walk is moderate in difficulty. There are stairs and uneven terrain at some points, so proper hiking boots are recommended. You should be fine with sturdy sneakers as well.

How do I get to Valle delle Ferriere from Amalfi? The start of the Valle delle Ferriere hike is located at Via Leone Comite Orso, which is on the right side of the main street in Amalfi as you walk away from the sea (click for map).

How do I get to the waterfall in Amalfi? Follow the AllTrails map linked above :) Note that access to the Top Waterfall costs 5 euros. There are other smaller waterfalls along the way that are free to access.

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Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods)

Bomerano to Positano (4-5 hours, easy to moderate)

Hiked in: May 2007

Note: The standard Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) hike is a 5.8 mile / 4 hour hike from Bomerano to Positano. In 2007, I hiked the 5 mile / 4 hour hike from Praiano to Positano, likely because at the time it was easier to reach Praiano by public transport. Today, both Praiano and Bomerano are easily accessible by SITA bus.

Though I started the Path of the Gods hike from Praiano, I recommend that you start it from Bomerano instead. The village of Bomerano is at a higher elevation than Praiano is, so it’ll save you a lot of uphill climbing if you begin from there. My highly detailed journal from my 2007 Italy trip notes that there are 1000+ steps to climb from Praiano, and that it felt like I’d “inadvertently signed up for boot camp on my holiday as I sweat through my clothes ten times over”. So yeah, unless you want a serious workout and/or hate yourself, start this Amalfi coast hike from Bomerano!

DON’T WANT TO WALK ALONE? CLICK TO BOOK A GUIDED HIKE.

 

To get to the Path of the Gods trailhead, you can take the bus from Amalfi to Agerola and get off at Bomerano (takes 40 minutes). Just tell the driver you want to get off at the Sentiero degli Dei trail and you won’t miss your stop (or just stay glued to Google Maps and hope you have service up there!).

In Bomerano, the Path of the Gods trail is very easy to find (unlike the other two hikes in this post): just look for Via Sentiero degli Dei (click for map). 

You won’t have to wait long for the glorious views to start blowing you away!

 

 

Sentiero degli Dei, in a word, is majestic. There are mountains, there are terraces, there’s a deep blue sea – on a sunny day, the landscape is absolutely vibrant. This Amalfi Coast walk is less wooded and more dramatic than Valle delle Ferriere, providing constant views of the coast as you inch closer to Positano. 

And I do mean constant! The sea is always within view wherever you are on the trail.

 

 

The village of Nocelle is a great place to take a break and savor the view. Grab a cold lemony drink from the Lemon Point Positano stand and sip yourself back to life before you continue on the remainder of this Amalfi Coast walk.

As I approached Nocelle, I was intent on grabbing lunch and letting my legs recover (or more like letting my sweat dry), but I somehow ended up leaving town via 1700 stairs down to Positano instead. I was pretty wiped from having climbed up 1000+ stairs from Praiano and probably wasn’t up for walking the rest of the Path of the Gods trail at the time (again, I did this hike back in 2007 so can only guess at my mental/physical state).

So… about those 1700 steps downhill. You’d think it’d be a breeze, but steep declines are often more uncomfortable than steep ascents. I could push my screaming thighs uphill, but there wasn’t much I could do to remedy my shaky knees going downhill. Because of this, I’m not sure I would recommend this shortcut to Positano from Nocelle… but if you want to shorten your walk, the route I took can be found here.

Otherwise, the Sentiero degli Dei trail continues to Positano at elevation, and doesn’t descend until you get much closer to town. 

 

FAQ for the Path of the Gods

How long does it take to walk the Path of the Gods? This Amalfi Coast walk takes 4 hours without stopping much, and closer to 5 hours with ample stops for photos and breaks.

Where does the Path of the Gods start and finish? Start the Path of the Gods walk in Bomerano at Via Sentiero degli Dei (click for map). The walk finishes in Positano via steep downward stairs. 

Is Path of the Gods hike hard? /How strenuous is the Path of the Gods hike? / How hard is Path of the Gods? This Amalfi Coast walk is moderately hard, not too difficult if you have an average level of fitness.

Where is the best place to start the Path of the Gods? The Sentiero degli Dei walk is best started in Bomerano, but there are several variations of the walk that start/end in other villages (click to view).

Can you do Path of the Gods by yourself? Absolutely – I did it solo in 2007 *and* without a map or a smartphone! However, if you’d rather not hike the Path of the Gods by yourself, you can book a guided tour like this one.

Do you need walking boots for Path of the Gods? No, you don’t necessarily need boots – sneakers are fine for this Amalfi Coast walk.

Is the Path of the Gods worth it? 100% YES. This is the best Amalfi Coast walk you can do! There’s a reason why it’s so popular ;)

Why is it called Path of the Gods? The Path of the Gods got its name from the Greek gods who, according to myth, had to travel this path in order to save Ulysses from the sirens on the nearby Li Galli islands.

How safe is Path of the Gods? Despite the elevation, the path is very safe and you’re never too close to the edge or in danger of falling down a cliff.

How scary is the Path of the Gods? 0% scary, unless you can’t handle being 2000 feet above sea level. 

 

22 years old and not a clue how to shape my own eyebrows.

 

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Sentiero dei Limoni (Path of the Lemons)

Maiori to Minori (1-1.5 hours, easy)

Hiked in: September 2023

If you want a quick and relatively easy Amalfi Coast walk, the Path of the Lemons (Sentiero dei Limoni) is an excellent choice. There may be 400+ steps to walk up/down, but the bulk of the trail is flat and easy going (so much so, that you could get away with wearing sandals if you wanted to). I recommend starting in Maiori and ending in Minori, both of which you can reach from other Amalfi Coast towns via SITA bus or ferry. 

DON’T WANT TO HIKE ALONE? CLICK TO BOOK A GUIDED WALK.

The Amalfi Coast is renowned for its excellent lemons (the sfusato Amalfitano) and lemon products. Years ago, villagers would walk this path lugging lemons to the ports in Minori and Maiori to sell in the Mediterranean. Today, it’s known as the Path of the Lemons and is walked more for fun than for work.

The Path of the Lemons makes its way through the lemon farms (some of which are open for tours/photos, for a fee) and past panoramic terraces offering stunning views of the villages and sea below. 

There are a couple of outposts selling lemon drinks and treats along the way, but if you make just one stop on this Amalfi Coast walk, let it be the Cuonc Cuonc restaurant near the top of the stairs leading down to Minori. Here, you can order homemade pasta with lemon sauce or red pesto sauce, salad made from veggies grown in the family garden, and a limoncello spritz, and it’ll be the best damn meal you have on the Amalfi Coast. I loved my post-walk meal here so much that I came back the next day for dinner (the sunset view is incredible!). 

In Minori, it’s worth stopping at the famous Pasticceria Sal De Riso to enjoy a pastry or gelato. Good luck choosing from all of the mouthwatering desserts on offer!

Optional Add-On: Minori to Ravello (1 hour, difficult)

Another reason to start the Path of the Lemons walk from Maiori is to have the option to extend the walk to Ravello, a delightful hill town on the Amalfi Coast that is very popular with American tourists. This segment of the walk starts from the west side of Minori (Via S. Croce) – just follow all of the signs that point toward Ravello and be prepared to climb up A LOT of stairs. 

*The* thing to do in Ravello is visit Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, two stunning estates with expansive gardens and panoramic vistas of the sea from above. It’s also a delight just to wander around the village and do some (window) shopping.

As for where to eat in Ravello, I can recommend pizza at Mimi Pizzeria and gelato at Baffone Gelateria Artigianale (probably the best gelato I found on the Amalfi Coast). 

From Ravello, you can catch a SITA bus back down to Amalfi, where you can connect to a bus/ferry to other Amalfi coast towns. If you’re heading back to Minori or Maiori, it’s easier and more direct to walk back down instead.

View from Ravello.

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