5 Breathtaking Amalfi Coast Hikes
Blessed with beautiful landscapes at every angle, dotted with ancient footpaths and now with easier accessibility, the Amalfi Coast is the ultimate destination for hikers of all experience levels. The ancient footpaths that once served as the primary means to get from village-to-village now serve as some of the most scenic hiking trails in the world. There is no shortage of Amalfi Coast hikes to take.
Italy’s main hiking body, the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) maintains a list of 124 numbered trails in the region. So how do you decide where to begin? In this post, I cover 5 of the most breathtaking Amalfi Coast hikes to get you started.
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1) Il Sentiero Degli Dei/The Path of the Gods
The Path of the Gods (Il Sentiero Degli Dei in Italian) is the most popular of all the Amalfi Coast hikes. Cut into the coast by Greek settlers in the 8th century, this hike offers stunning views along the entire route. The trail winds through olive and citrus groves, agricultural terraces, gorges, deep valleys and abandoned farmhouses deep in the woods. Breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Lattari Mountains are constants the entire way. At its apex, the trail offers some of the best views of the Sorrento Peninsula.
If you could only do one Amalfi Coast hike, choose this one. It is easily one of the most beautiful hikes in the world! Be warned – it could get hot and crowded during peak tourist season.
Summary of Il Sentiero Degli Dei Hike
Total Distance | 5.2 km/3.2mi |
Elevation Gain | +320 km/1,050 ft |
Difficulty | Moderate |
Duration | 2 – 3 hours |
For more information, check out: Preparing for the “Path of the Gods” Hike on the Amalfi Coast – coming soon
2) Monte Tre Calli Circuit
Monte Tre Calli is a mountain on the Amalfi Coast that stands 1,122 m/3,681 ft above sea level. The summit of the Monte Tre Calli circuit offers a view of the entire Sorrento Peninsula. I declare that it is THE most breathtaking of the Amalfi Coast hikes.
The trail takes winds through a quaint village before going into the woods and then to a rocky trail above the Path of the Gods. If you’re up for a challenging hike that is at least as breathtaking as the Path of the Gods but not as crowded, this is the Amalfi Coast hike for you!
At the summit, if you look west you will see Positano and Capri (if you squint). If you look south, you would be looking into the deep blue horizon where it’s hard to tell where the sea stops and the sky begins. Looking east, you will see the all the orange tiled roofs of Agerola and Mount Vesuvius way in the horizon. Finally, to the north of the summit you will see the Lattari mountain range.
Summary of Monte Tre Calli Circuit Hike
Total Distance | 10-12 km/6-7 mi |
Elevation Gain | +700-900 m/2,297-2,953 ft |
Difficulty | Hard |
Duration | 4 – 5 hours |
For more information, check out: Preparing for the Monte Tre Calli Circuit on the Amalfi Coast – coming soon
3) Valle Dei Mulini/ Valley of the Mills
This is one of the easiest of the Amalfi Coast hikes but isn’t any less impressive. Valle Dei Mulini is rich in history as well as natural beauty. It is easily accessible from the town of Amalfi. In comparison to the first two trails mentioned on this list, Valle Dei Mulini is very green.
The trail goes deep into a forest away from the coast. The sound of the Rio Canneto can be heard throughout the hike, running along the valley below. There are many abandoned paper mills that dot this trail, giving the trail its name. Amalfi paper (Bambagina in Italian) is famous luxury good and has been produced in the region since the Middle Ages. The mills used the rushing waters of the Canneto to help produce their goods. Many of the mills were abandoned when the demand for Amalfi paper declined.
The trail ends at the Valle Delle Ferriere National Park. There is a fee to get in but within a few meters from the trail you will find yourself surrounded by mini waterfalls. Keep your eyes peeled for the orchid that is special to this area.
Summary of Valle Dei Mulini Hike
Total Distance | 6 km/4 mi |
Elevation Gain | +340m/1,115 ft |
Difficulty | Easy |
Duration | 2 -3 hours |
For more information, check out: How to Hike Valle Dei Mulini on the Amalfi Coast – coming soon
4) Ravello – Atrani Walk
All the trails on the Amalfi Coast are connected to one another. They were once the primary means to get from one village to another prior to construction of the roads. I recommend taking a walk from village to another and see some of the local life. My favourite walk was the one from Ravello to Atrani.
Ravello is my favourite Amalfi Coast town so that is why I chose it to highlight it on this list. But there are plenty of town-to-town Amalfi Coast hikes to choose from! Prior to my descend from Ravello to Atrani, I did a 10 km circuit in chestnut grove above the town of Scala. I gathered chestnuts to take back to the owners of the agriturismo where I was staying for the duration of my Amalfi Coast visit.
I don’t remember the exact names of the trail that took me into the grove as I was part of a small group tour and our wonderful local guide thoughtfully planned all of our hiking routes. If you are planning on doing this hike independently, I recommend grabbing a map with walking tours from the Ravello Tourist Office. The office would also be able to tell you of trail closures beforehand. After spending some exploration time in Ravello, I recommend descending down into Atrani. Atrani is a small, charming town right at the beach!
Warning: the descent from Ravello to Atrani is deceptively challenging. You will be going down +1,000 steps, some of which are very steep. If you’re going to embark on this adventure, wear comfortable shoes!
For more Amalfi Coast travel tips, check out: 10 Wonderful Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast
Summary of Ravello to Atrani Walk
Total Distance | 3 km/2 mi |
Elevation Gain | 0m (according to Garmin Connect; but +1,000 steps are involved) |
Difficulty | Moderate |
Duration | 1 hour |
5) Punta Campanella
Full disclosure: I wasn’t able to fit this hike into my Amalfi Coast itinerary but it is definitely high on my wish list for a future visit. From what I have read it sounds like a mashup of the Path of the Gods and Valle Dei Mulini hikes! On this trail, it is said that ancient Roman temples can be encountered. The trail will take you through olive groves, gardens of the locals and the coastline. At the end, you will be rewarded with views of the Isle of Capri.
Summary of the Punta Campanella Hike
Total Distance | 7 km/4 mi |
Elevation Gain | +600 m/1,969 ft |
Difficulty | Moderate |
Duration | 3 – 4 hours |
General Tips on Amalfi Coast Hikes
Regardless of which trails you choose to hike, here are some general tips I learned while hiking the Amalfi Coast:
- Plan your trip for the shoulder season! Shoulder season for the Amalfi Coast is September to October. This is also right before winter time on the Amalfi Coast. Trails would be less crowded and temperatures would be comfortable for a hike.
- Pack the right footwear. All the trails marked easy or moderate on this list do not necessarily require hiking boots. And while I did my Amalfi Coast hikes in my Nike Frees, I recommend footwear with a good grip and ankle support for any route that involves the word “Monte” in it. Those routes get pretty rocky.
- Don’t forget to wear SPF! All trails covered in this post have stretches where there are no coverage for sun protection. The higher up you are in elevation, the more intense solar radiation gets.
- Bring your camera! There is beauty to be captured everywhere on the Amalfi Coast.
- Fill up your water bottle at the public fountains. Keep your eyes peeled for the public fountains that dot the Amalfi Coast hiking trails. These dispense potable water and tastes surprisingly good.
- Pack a beach towel and your bathing suit. In most of my hikes, I ended up by a beach at the end. It was refreshing to dip into the Mediterranean after ascending and descending mountains. The beach towel came in handy as dressing rooms weren’t always available and I didn’t want to hike in my bikini. Water shoes aren’t necessary but would make for a more comfortable swim. Amalfi coast beaches are rocky AF.
- Go before you *ahem* go! All trails covered in this post have no toilet facilities on them. However, all the trails have a starting point at a small town square. I recommend using the toilet facilities in these squares before starting your hike.
For more like this, check out: Preparing for the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
What are some of your favourite Amalfi Coast hikes? Please share in the comments below.