A Hiking Guide to the Path of the Gods
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Il Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods in English) is a historic, cliffside hiking trail. It is considered to be one of the best hikes in Italy and is an unmissable stop on the Amalfi Coast. Are you considering hiking this iconic trail? In this guide, I cover everything you need to plan your hike on the Path of the Gods.
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Il Sentiero degli Dei is about 7 km/4 mi long at 630 m/2,065 ft above sea level. The trail sweeps through terraced gardens, olive groves, and citrus orchards. Eventually, the trail changes and you get spectacular expanses of blue sky with the Tyrrhenian Sea below you. At its peak, you will see the island of Capri, Positano with its famed pastel-coloured buildings cascading down the slopes of the Lattari Mountains.
The name Il Sentiero degli Dei/Path of the Gods comes from an ancient Greek legend. In Homer’s Odyssey, Circe warns Odysseus about the sirens—monsters who enchant sailors with their beautiful songs. With their enchanting songs, the sirens lure sailors to their deaths in the treacherous waters around their island, often identified as the Li Galli islets near Positano. The legend goes that Il Sentiero degli Dei is the very trail where Greek gods walked to try and rescue Odysseus and his crew from the sirens.
Summary of the Path of the Gods Hike
| Elevation Gain | 220 m/730 ft |
| Distance | 6.5 km/4 mi (Bomerano to Nocelle) 10.8 km/7 mi (Bomerano to Positano) |
| Time | 3.5 – 4 hours (one way to Nocelle) 4 – 4.5 hours (one way to Positano) |
| Difficulty | moderate |
Related read: 10 Wonderful Things to Experience on the Amalfi Coast
What to wear/bring on the Path of the Gods
To hike the Path of the Gods comfortably, it is crucial to wear the right clothing and bring the proper supplies. Below are my suggestions:
- Trail shoes or sturdy sneakers with a good grip. Avoid open-toe footwear as parts of the trail are rocky and uneven.
- Lightweight pants or shorts with a breathable shirt would be comfortable for the trail; bring a lightweight jacket during the spring or autumn if you easily get cold.
- Lightweight backpack.
- Adequate sun protection. The trail is very exposed to the sun so make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
- Water. Bring at least 1.5 L per person. There is natural water source at the beginning of the trail (by the Praiano stairs) where you can refill your water bottle.
- Toilet paper and sanitizer. Just in case.
- Lunch/snacks or money for lunch.
When hiking all the way to Positano on a hot day, I recommend bring your bathing suit, a microfibre beach towel. and water shoes. Trust me, the cool waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea would be too enticing to pass up.
What is the Path of the Gods?
The trailhead of Sentiero degli Dei is in the hamlet of Bomerano. There are two main routes on the Sentiero degli Dei. There’s the “high path” that is the more challenging route. It brings you up and over to Santa Maria del Castello. Then there’s the “low path” which would bring you up and down to the town of Nocelle. Regardless of which route you take, both offer spectacular views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the island of Capri, and Positano and the Lattari Mountains. Between the two routes, the low path is the more popular one. And since I have only ever hiked the low path, that is the route that this guide will cover.
As previously mentioned, the start of Sentiero degli Dei is located in the hamlet of Bomerano. The low path would take you from Bomerano to the ancient hamlet of Nocelle, just above Positano. This part of the trail is 6.5 km/4 mi long. Depending on your pace, the hike typically takes 3-4 hours to complete one way. It is possible to continue onwards to Positano. To hike down to Positano from Nocelle, expect to descend about 1,500 stone steps and add about an hour to your overall hiking time.
It is possible to start the Path of the Gods hike from Positano or Nocelle. However, doing the hike in reverse would, quite literally, be an uphill battle.
How to get to the Path of the Gods
To get to the trailhead of Sentiero degli Dei, you must get to Bomerano. Note that I keep referring to the Path of the Gods by its Italian name. This is because all signage that will point you to the trailhead will be in Italian; I’m just getting you accustomed to it.
By foot
Depending on where you are staying on the Amalfi Coast, it is possible to walk to the trailhead. If you’re staying in Praiano there are some ancient steps that will take you up to the Path of the Gods. Be warned: it is a LOT of steps; you will gain 500 m in elevation before intersecting with the Path of the Gods.
I stayed in Agriturismo Sant’Alfonso and was able to cross the street and followed some trails that eventually took me to Bomerano. So, this is also an option.
By bus
Regardless of your starting point, you need to get to Amalfi town. From Amalfi, you need to take the SITA bus to Amalfi-Agerola. You will need to get off in Bomerano. This bus ride will take about two hours.
The Bomerano bus stop is located right in the main piazza (Piazza Capasso) of the hamlet. You should be able to follow the signs pointing towards Sentiero degli Dei.
By shuttle
There is a shuttle service to Bomerano available from Amalfi. The service is provided by Travelmar. If you are taking a ferry over to Amalfi, you can buy a combo ticket for the Travelmar ferry + shuttle. It is also possible to buy the shuttle ticket directly from the driver. The shuttle departs not far from the port of Amalfi.
The shuttle ride to Bomerano takes about 40 minutes. Note that there are limited departure times throughout the day. Refer to the Travelmar shuttle timetable for more information.
By car
You can drive to Bomerano by following the signs for Gragnano-Lettere-Agerola/Amalfi on the SS366. There is parking available at Piazza Capasso. There is also paid parking available near Agerola’s stadium. Note: aim to arrive before 9 am as parking fills up quickly during peak season.
By private transfer/guided tour
If you want to experience the Path of the Gods without all the time investment and stress of getting there, then I highly recommend going on a guided tour. A guided tour would enhance the experience if you were interested in the trail’s history, understanding the flora and fauna of the trail, and local legends. The Path of the Gods is a really popular hike and you will have no issues finding a local agency offering this tour once you are at the Amalfi Coast.
I personally went on G Adventures’ Local Living Italy – Amalfi Coast tour. This tour was AMAZING as it allowed me to live like a local and explore villages, ancient mountain trails, and local customs on the Amalfi Coast under the expert guidance of a local. I wouldn’t have been able to do half of what I experienced on the tour had I gone to the Amalfi Coast independently. A hike on the Path of the Gods was included on this tour.
Alternatively, if you wanted to pre-book a guided tour, check out the highly-rated tours below:
- Hiking the Path of the Gods with Enzo: Amalfi Coast Adventure. This tour technically requires you to make your way to Bomerano independently. However, I am adding this option here if you want to save a bit of money but still want a local to show you around.
- Amalfi Coast Path of the Gods Hike & Food at Shepherd’s Hut. This is another tour that requires you to make your way to Bomerano independently. However, I included it here because of the reviews on the food at the shepherd’s hut.
- From Sorrento: Path of the Gods Guided Hike with Transfers. This tour offers roundtrip transfer from Sorrento.
- Path of the Gods: Gastronomical Hiking (offering transfers from Sorrento, Positano, or Amalfi).
Hiking the Path of the Gods
The start of the hike will take you to Bomerano. There are cafes that are open early on Piazza Capasso where you can grab a light breakfast, snacks for the hike, or even a lunch to pack for the hike. This is also a great pit stop for bathrooms.
Follow the signs to Sentiero degli Dei to find the trailhead. The signs are white with red arrows. If all else fails, look for Hotel Gentile. The hotel has information sheets about the Path of the Gods for hikers provided by the Monti Lattari Regional Park.
At the start of the trail, there is fountain where you can fill up your water bottle. You are going to need water for this hike. This fountain is the landmark for those hiking from Praiano that they have finally made it to the Path of the Gods!
At first you will encounter hills where sheep and goats graze. Expect to encounter stone steps and rolling terrain on the trail so it is very important to have the proper footwear. Soon, the scenery changes to that of lush greenery. You will come across terraced farms carved into the mountain and narrow pathways where donkeys transport the farmers’ harvest.
Eventually, you will have the Tyrrhenian Sea directly to your left. You will feel like you are in direct limbo between the sea and the sky. There are a series of ascents and descents, so don’t underestimate the difficulty of the trail. However, I barely remember them as I was mesmerised by the breathtaking panoramas offered by the Path of the Gods.
The trail ends at the town of Nocelle. Nocelle is located in the mountains directly above Positano.
Where to eat on the Path of the Gods
You can pack a lunch or stop by a deli in Bomerano to buy a lunch to take with you before your hike. You can grab a sandwich with the famed fior di latte of Agerola.
At the end of the hike, there is a small cafe with farm-to-table offerings like freshly-squeezed juices and sandwiches. This is also the first bathroom that Path of the Gods hikers will come across after the hike. As you can imagine, it gets quite busy here (hence why I recommend bringing emergency toilet paper and sanitiser).
Of course, there’s also the option to eat at a restaurant in Nocelle or carrying on to Positano.
Additional tips for Path of the Gods
- If you’re going to eat in Nocelle, I recommend making reservations ahead of time.
- If you’re going to Positano, there is a bus that stops in Nocelle that can take you there. Alternatively, you can descend 1,500 ancient stone steps to Positano.
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Have you ever hiked the Path of the Gods? Are there any other tips that I should I add to my post? Do you have any questions about your upcoming hike? Let us know in the comments below!
