The Amalfi Coast is likely one of the most lovely elements of Italy, but it surely’s additionally one of the vital crowded and costly. We determined to search out out if it’s potential to expertise a quieter facet of the dramatic coast with out spending a fortune.
It appeared like one of the best ways to do that was on foot. There are a lot of trails carved into the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast and we selected essentially the most well-known—the Sentiero degli Dei or Path of the Gods, alongside a mountain ridge excessive above the ocean.
The hike was beautiful, and we additionally found an off-the-beaten-path village the place we stayed for a fraction of the worth of extra common cities like Positano.
On this publish, I share the whole lot you have to know in regards to the Path of the Gods hike together with a map, transport particulars, what to carry, and the place to remain.
Contents
- What's the Path of the Gods?
- Video: Italy Journey Inspiration
- Path of the Gods Map
- San Lazzaro: Our Quiet, Inexpensive Base on the Amalfi Coast
- Mountaineering the Path of the Gods from Bomerano to Nocelle
- Mountaineering the Path of the Gods from Nocelle to Bomerano
- Path of the Gods Suggestions
- Getting Across the Amalfi Coast
- Tips on how to Get to San Lazzaro and Bomerano
- Lodging for the Path of the Gods
- Our Amalfi Coast Price range
- Is Path of the Gods Value It?
- Extra Italy Posts
What’s the Path of the Gods?
The Path of the Gods (or Sentiero degli Dei in Italian) is a clifftop path above the Amalfi Coast.
The principle part of the hike is 6.5 km (Four miles) between the small villages of Bomerano (in Agerola) and Nocelle (above Positano).
There are lovely views of the ocean and coastal cities beneath alongside the best way.
Each these villages are above the ocean, so there isn’t an enormous change of elevation between them.
The hike is of average problem. If you're an skilled hiker, you’ll discover it simple, and in case you are fairly match, you’ll be nice.
The hike turns into tougher in case you begin or end in the coastal cities of Praiano (beneath Bomerano) or Positano (beneath Nocelle).
These cities are related to the path by steep staircases of over 1500 steps. You may keep away from these sections (as we did) and I share transport suggestions beneath.
The path is straightforward to observe and also you don’t want a information.
That mentioned, in case you are staying in Sorrento you would possibly need to be a part of this small-group Path of the Gods tour from Sorrento. In any other case, it’ll take you not less than two hours on two buses to get to the beginning of the hike.
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Video: Italy Journey Inspiration
Think about combining a visit to the Amalfi Coast with our favorite Italian area, Puglia. This video reveals the most effective locations to go to.
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Path of the Gods Map
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San Lazzaro: Our Quiet, Inexpensive Base on the Amalfi Coast
Lodging is the most important problem for an reasonably priced Amalfi Coast journey, so I turned to Airbnb and used the map view to search out rooms near the mountain climbing path.
Praiano and Positano had been manner too costly, however I used to be amazed to search out this pretty room with non-public rest room within the village of San Lazzaro for simply €65. When the whole lot on the coast was properly over €100 ($118), it appeared too good to be true.
I couldn’t discover out a lot in regards to the village—aside from it’s in Agerola, a group of villages that features Bomerano the place the hike begins—however we discover it’s arduous to go fallacious in Italy.
We made the precise choice. San Lazzaro might not be as engaging because the well-known cities within the space, but it surely has an understated Italian attraction.
As an alternative of memento retailers and vacationer menus, we loved morning cornetti and night aperitivo with locals.
It’s not the place to come back for seashores, however there are views of the ocean far down beneath and loads of hikes close by.
Costs are a lot decrease than the favored locations—on the family-run Trattoria Da Gigino we paid €5 for tasty pasta dishes and even on the fancier Leonardo’s pizzas had been €3-4.
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San Lazzaro will not be essentially the most handy location for exploring the coast—buses are rare and it takes an hour to get all the way down to Amalfi the place you'll be able to change for different locations like Ravello and Positano.
However it's only a 15-minute bus journey from the beginning of the Path of the Gods in Bomerano.
Bomerano is an excellent higher location for the hike and nonetheless reasonably priced—B&B A 2 Passi Dagli Dei is barely 100 metres from the beginning of the hike and the stunning rooms are cheap and extremely rated.
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Mountaineering the Path of the Gods from Bomerano to Nocelle
To keep away from the crowds and warmth we set out early—taking the 6.50am bus from San Lazzaro to Bomerano.
We had a cornetto (croissant) breakfast in a bar in Bomerano’s piazza earlier than setting out on the path at 7.30am.
At first, mist obscured the views of the ocean, but it surely was nonetheless a beautiful hike previous towering limestone mountains, vibrant wildflowers, and historic deserted stone homes, and thru forests and meadows of lengthy grass.
Farmers develop vines on terraces carved into the hillside and nonetheless use donkeys for transport alongside the slim pathways.
Finally, the mist burned away and the deep blue sea revealed itself far beneath, with views of Positano, its homes clinging to the cliff.
What shocked us most was how peaceable the path was. It took us 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Nocelle and we didn’t see anybody else till the final 15 minutes—all that magnificence, all to ourselves!
Nocelle is a tiny village and we couldn’t discover an open bar to have a drink and relaxation.
There are public bogs by the church downhill (in Piazza Santa Croce), and on the terrace exterior we found that Lemon Level was opening.
This cute stall sells recent lemonade from native lemons—simply what we would have liked.
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Mountaineering the Path of the Gods from Nocelle to Bomerano
In Nocelle there are indicators to proceed the path down steep stairs to Positano (or you'll be able to take a bus).
As we’d have needed to take two buses from there to get again to San Lazzaro, we determined to stroll again to Bomerano as a substitute.
At 10am the Path of the Gods was a lot busier, and as we had been dealing with into the solar, a lot hotter.
The path is a mixture of up and downhill sections, and it felt a little bit steeper on the best way again, however that would have been as a result of we had been extra drained.
We’re glad we made the return journey as we received a distinct perspective on the path and noticed issues we hadn’t observed earlier than.
Again in Bomerano, we might have needed to wait 1.5 hours for the bus to San Lazzaro, so we determined to stroll as a substitute, which took us 40 minutes alongside a reasonably quiet highway.
Then it was time for an enormous lunch of pasta and wine and a well-deserved siesta.
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Path of the Gods Suggestions
Hike Size and Particulars
- You can begin the Path of the Gods hike from Bomerano or Nocelle, or the coastal cities of Praiano or Positano (however be ready for many stairs).
- There are indicators from Bomerano piazza to the beginning of the path—listed below are some detailed visible directions.
- The path is straightforward to observe—look out for the crimson and white traces that mark it alongside the best way.
- From Bomerano to Nocelle was Four miles (6.5km) every manner.
- Enable round 4 hours to do the route as we did from Bomerano to Nocelle and again, which incorporates time for breaks. Or two hours for a one-way hike.
- Enable round three hours in case you hike a technique from Bomerano to Positano.
- We extremely suggest getting an early begin to keep away from the warmth and crowds. 7.30am from Bomerano was superb.
Beginning in Praiano
If you're staying in Praiano, it is sensible to start out the path from right here. You gained’t miss any of the most effective bits of the hike by connecting to the Path of Gods from Praiano, however you do must be match.
To get to the path from Praiano, you’ll have a steep climb up 1900 steps which makes the hike way more strenuous, particularly if it’s sizzling (positively begin early!).
I’ve heard blended studies on how lengthy these stairs take—anyplace from 45 minutes to 2 hours relying in your health degree.
Count on the full hike from Praiano to Nocelle to take from 2 hours 15 minutes to three.5 hours. From Nocelle you possibly can hike again or proceed to Positano (see beneath) and take the bus again to Praiano.
Listed here are instructions for beginning the Path of the Gods in Praiano.
Path of the Gods from Positano
Should you begin the hike in Bomerano and need to end in Positano, you might have two choices:
- Stroll down the 1700 steps from Nocelle to Positano (roughly 45 minutes), which most individuals report as surprisingly difficult and hard in your knees. The views are good, although. On the finish of the steps, you attain Arienzo then need to stroll one other 15 minutes alongside the highway to the centre of Positano.
- Take the bus from Nocelle to Positano.
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There are a couple of choices on how you can hike the Path of the Gods from Positano in case you are staying there:
- Hike up the 1700 steps to Nocelle—just for the match! Stroll from there to Bomerano and both stroll again or take the bus again by way of Amalfi.
- Take the bus as much as Nocelle and proceed as above.
- Take the bus or ferry to Amalfi and connect with the 5080 SITA bus to Bomerano. This takes not less than two hours.
- Drive to Bomerano (in case you have a automobile), which takes about one hour, and stroll to Nocelle and again.
- Rent a taxi to drive you to Nocelle or Bomerano then stroll again. This non-public switch from Positano to Bomerano prices from €140.
See beneath for extra particulars on getting round.
Path of the Gods from Sorrento
To get to the Path of the Gods hike from Sorrento you must take the SITA bus to Amalfi after which change to a different bus to Bomerano. This takes not less than two hours.
Stroll from Bomerano to Nocelle then stroll or bus all the way down to Positano. You may take the bus again to Sorrento from Positano.
It’s simpler to take this Path of the Gods tour from Sorrento which incorporates return journey minibus transfers and a information for the hike.
What to Pack
- It’s a rocky, uneven path so that you want first rate sneakers. Most individuals put on mountain climbing sneakers or boots, however we had been pleased in mountain climbing sandals—Simon all the time travels with Teva sandals, and I just like the Teva Verra sandals, that are fairly sufficient for Italian cities however comfy and grippy sufficient for mountain climbing.
- Take water and snacks. You may refill at a water faucet close to the start the place the path connects with the Praiano stairs, and in addition in Nocelle and Bomerano. We all the time journey with a light-weight, foldable 1 litre Vapur water bottle.
- Pack sun shades, solar hat, and suncream.
- Don’t neglect journey insurance coverage in case something goes fallacious. An reasonably priced possibility obtainable worldwide is SafetyWing or Heymondo has extra complete protection together with cancellation.
When to Hike the Path of the Gods
We visited in early June and had sunny days and 30ºC (86ºF) temperatures.
It was nice once we first began, however we did really feel the warmth after 10am. I'd nonetheless suggest this time of yr pretty much as good climate is probably going and it’s not as crowded as July or August.
Spring (April and Could) and autumn (September and October) are the most effective occasions to hike the Path of the Gods. Spring is very pretty because the wildflowers are in bloom.
I'd keep away from August if potential as that is when the Italian inhabitants heads to the coast.
You may hike the Path of the Gods in winter, however many resorts and eating places shut and the climate will be cool and wet.
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Getting Across the Amalfi Coast
Automobile
Renting a automobile is essentially the most handy option to get round, but it surely has some downsides. The roads are windy, very busy in excessive season, and parking is proscribed and costly in common cities (particularly Positano).
There's loads of free parking in Bomerano although (marked on Google Maps).
To make issues worse, as of 15 June 2022, visitors is proscribed at peak occasions on the primary SS163 coast highway between Positano and Vietri sul Mare.
The brand new guidelines don't apply to taxis, buses, and locals, however they do apply to rental automobiles. You may solely drive the highway on alternate days—automobiles with licence plates ending in odd numbers are allowed on odd quantity days and even numbers on even quantity days.
The restriction applies between 10am and 6pm on weekends in June, July, and September and on daily basis in August. Easter can even be affected.
This makes driving across the Amalfi Coast way more difficult, so I like to recommend utilizing public transport the place potential.
Should you do resolve to hire a automobile, we normally use Rental Automobiles to search out the most effective offers.
SITA Bus
We received round by bus (there aren't any trains alongside the Amalfi Coast), which is cheap however quite gradual and with restricted schedules.
In excessive season, buses will be crowded, however we had no issues with routes from San Lazzaro.
The native bus firm is SITA and you have to purchase bus tickets prematurely from bars or small retailers. It’s greatest to purchase them the day earlier than as you’ll need an early begin for the hike.
Buses aren’t very frequent so examine the timetables right here.
Mobility Amalfi Bus from Nocelle to Positano
There’s an area bus from Nocelle to Positano in case you don’t need to stroll down the steps. These are run by Mobility Amalfi Coast (not SITA) and tickets will be bought prematurely or onboard (for a little bit additional).
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They run about as soon as an hour in excessive season and take round 25 minutes. You could find the newest timetable on their Fb web page.
Observe that the 6.20am bus from Positano to Nocelle solely runs on faculty days. The subsequent bus at 7.10am can be an early sufficient begin for the hike, although.
From Positano the bus departs from Piazza dei Mulini.
Ferry
It's also possible to take ferries between the coastal cities (Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno) from April to October. Verify timetables at Travelmar.
The ferry from Positano to Amalfi takes 30 minutes and presently prices €9.
This is able to be an alternate option to attain Bomerano (switching to the 5080 SITA bus in Amalfi), however you wouldn’t be capable of get an early begin as the primary ferry is at 10am.
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Tips on how to Get to San Lazzaro and Bomerano
Should you resolve to remain in Agerola, you'll be able to attain San Lazzaro and Bomerano by SITA bus from Naples (within the path Agerola or Amalfi) which takes about two hours.
They aren’t very frequent so examine the timetable 5080 right here (select the area Campania within the drop-down menu within the prime left).
In Naples, the bus leaves from close to the prepare station exterior the Ramada resort.
We couldn’t discover anyplace to purchase bus tickets because the signal on the bus cease itemizing bars the place you possibly can purchase them was outdated and we ran out of time. The bus driver allow us to on anyway!
When you've got a automobile, driving to San Lazzaro or Bomerano from Naples or additional north is a viable possibility as you’ll drive inland quite than on the coastal highway so that you’ll keep away from the excessive season visitors limits. You would then go away your automobile on the resort and journey the coast by bus and ferry.
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Lodging for the Path of the Gods
San Lazzaro and Bomerano in Agerola
If you wish to keep near the beginning of the hike and are on a restricted finances, Agerola (the gathering of villages that features San Lazzaro and Bomerano) is right.
In Bomerano, the highly-rated and reasonably priced B&B A 2 Passi Dagli Dei is correct at the beginning of the hike.
The rooms are comfy and have air con, a scrumptious breakfast served within the backyard is included, and onsite parking is free (or it’s near the bus cease).
We stayed on this pretty Airbnb room with non-public rest room which was clear, comfy and wonderful worth. It's positioned within the centre of San Lazzaro and the proprietor was very useful and answered all my questions on attending to the village. You’ll must take a bus or stroll 40 minutes to the beginning of the hike.
You may search on Reserving.com for extra lodging choices in Agerola.
Praiano
Should you’d desire to remain on the coast however inside strolling distance of the Path of Gods, you might have the choice of Praiano or Positano. Praiano is a quieter and extra reasonably priced possibility than Positano.
Casa Stella Marina and Il Corallo are two guesthouses with fashionable rooms with balconies and sea views. They're close to the beginning of the steps as much as the Path of Gods.
Inexpensive choices with sea view rooms are Lodge Villa Bellavista and Open Gate.
You may seek for extra resorts and B&Bs in Praiano right here.
Positano
Positano is the busiest and most costly place on the Amalfi Coast, and also you’ll have many steps to cope with because it’s constructed on a hillside.
It's completely beautiful, although.
Alcione Residence is centrally positioned and has beautiful sea views from the rooms and terrace the place breakfast is served.
A less expensive possibility is Villa Palumbo B&B, which has a central location and rooms with balconies and Positano views.
You may seek for extra resorts and B&Bs in Positano right here.
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Our Amalfi Coast Price range
We found that it's potential to flee the crowds and go to Amalfi on a finances—we spent €95 ($112) a day for 2 folks together with a pleasant ensuite room, bus transport, and three meals out a day.
Contemplating we couldn’t get a resort room for that in Positano, staying in San Lazzaro or Bomerano is exceptional worth.
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Is Path of the Gods Value It?
Sure, Path of the Gods is unquestionably value mountain climbing. It’s an exquisite path that provides you a distinct perspective on the beautiful Amalfi shoreline.
Should you begin early, it’s additionally a peaceable escape from the crowds. We extremely suggest including the hike to your Amalfi itinerary.
San Lazzaro is an uncommon Amalfi base, but it surely’s handy for the path and we liked having a quiet place to retreat to after visiting touristy cities like Amalfi and Ravello.
Should you like to hike and are on a finances, it’s value contemplating staying in San Lazzaro or Bomerano.
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