Path of the Gods: How to Walk It, From Bomerano to Positano
The Path of the Gods from Bomerano to Nocelle, with the real distance, which way to walk, the buses at both ends and how it fits into a walking week.
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The Path of the Gods, or Sentiero degli Dei, is an old mule track along the cliffs high above Praiano and Positano, with Capri out at sea ahead of you. It is the most famous walk on the Amalfi Coast, and the views are the reason, not the difficulty.
It runs 5.3 km on CAI path 327, from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle above Positano. In that direction it climbs 184 m and drops 356 m in about 2 to 3 hours, and then 1,700 steps lead down into Positano.
It is graded E, easy walking, though some stretches are exposed, and in 2026 it is free, with no permit or booking. It also links to the other paths for walking the Amalfi Coast from town to town.
What Is the Path of the Gods
For centuries the path was a mule track, the way people and goods moved between Agerola and Positano until the coast road was finished in 1850. Local legend says the Greek gods came down it to rescue Ulysses from the sirens of Li Galli, the small islands off Positano.
The whole coast has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, for its terraced lemon groves and vineyards. Italo Calvino called it a road suspended over the gulf of the Sirens, and majolica tiles at the start quote him. Positano's local paper puts the number of walkers at almost half a million a year.
Path of the Gods Map and Route
From the path you look out over Positano, the Sorrento peninsula, the small Li Galli islands and Capri.
The path starts in Piazza Paolo Capasso in Bomerano, a village of Agerola high above the coast. It ends in Nocelle, a hamlet of Positano, 5.3 km away on CAI path 327, from where steps or a bus take you down to the town.
The route is waymarked in red and white, and numbered ceramic tiles along it carry the 118 emergency number. Give the tile number if you ever need help, as rescuers use it to find walkers.
The Walk, Stage by Stage
On the way you pass old farmhouses, terraces held up by dry-stone walls and, near the Grotta del Biscotto, small houses built into caves below the path.
The path has four clear stages. The CAI times give 2 hours to Nocelle, but most walkers take longer, stopping for the views.
The Path of the Gods leaving Agerola on its way to Nocelle
From Piazza Paolo Capasso the path leaves Bomerano and climbs gently to the Grotta del Biscotto at 630 m, the highest point, with a spring nearby.
The Path of the Gods leaving Agerola on its way to Nocelle
A walker on the stone steps above the sea, typical of the path's middle section
At Colle La Serra, 578 m, the path forks. The left branch is more exposed and has the wider views; the right is gentler. They rejoin at Cannati.
A walker on the stone steps above the sea, typical of the path's middle section
A walker looking out over the coast from the open balcony of the path
The middle section runs along the cliff above Praiano and Positano with Capri ahead. Long stretches here are in full sun, with little shade.
A walker looking out over the coast from the open balcony of the path
Montepertuso above Positano, on the way down from Nocelle
The path ends at Nocelle, 437 m, with a fountain and a first-aid post. From there, 1,700 steps lead down past Montepertuso to Positano.
Montepertuso above Positano, on the way down from Nocelle
At Nocelle you can stop and take the local bus down to Positano. The steps take about an hour and are hard on the knees at the end of the day. Walked in the morning, the path is done by mid-afternoon, with time for a swim at Fornillo or the other things to do on the Amalfi Coast.
Which Direction to Walk
Walk from Bomerano to Nocelle. That way the path climbs only 184 m and drops 356 m, and the whole walk faces the view of Positano and Capri instead of turning its back on it.
The other way in is from Praiano. Alta Via route 18 climbs 3.7 km and about 350 m on steps to the San Domenico convent at 364 m, then meets the path at about 550 m. Starting from Positano means climbing the 1,700 steps first, which few people enjoy.
How Hard Is the Path of the Gods
The CAI grades it E, easy walking, but the park adds that some stretches are exposed. It is not for anyone who suffers from vertigo, and the heat is a bigger danger than the drops, as long stretches are in full sun.
Water points are at Bomerano, Colle La Serra and Nocelle, and positano.com advises carrying at least 1.5 litres each. In 2026 the rescue services flew walkers off the path by helicopter in May, August and September, so treat the exposed stretches with respect.
Getting There and Back Without a Car
Bomerano is part of Agerola, a mountain town whose dairies make Provolone del Monaco cheese, so buy lunch for the path before you set off.
From Amalfi, SITA bus 5080 runs to Agerola in about 40 minutes, with around 20 buses a day on the timetable from June 2026. Get off at Bomerano, Piazza Paolo Capasso.
From Positano or Sorrento, take SITA bus 5070 to Amalfi and change there. Travelmar also sells a ferry and shuttle ticket from Positano to Bomerano for €16. Buy bus tickets before you board, at a tabacchi or ticket office.
To finish, the Mobility Amalfi Coast bus runs from Nocelle through Montepertuso to Positano, €1.30 bought in advance or €1.80 on board. In summer, expect queues at the bus stops in the late afternoon.
Fees, Booking and Rules
In 2026 the path is free, with no permit, booking, one-way system or limit on numbers. A fee like the one on the Cinque Terre was floated in the local press in May 2026, but nothing has been decided.
The path closes only after incidents, such as the wildfires of August 2020. Check before you go after storms or fires, on the Comune di Agerola's page or with the Agerola tourist office.
Walking It as Part of a Week
The Path of the Gods is a stage of every one of our Amalfi Coast walking holidays. These three weeks give it the most room, with the whole walk in daylight and a hotel waiting at the end.
Amalfi Coast and Capri Island (8 Days)
Walking: 67.9 km over six walking days
Elevation gain: 3,555 m in total
Path of the Gods: a loop from Praiano on day 5, then Praiano to Positano on day 6
On the eight-day Amalfi Coast and Capri Island week, you walk the path twice. Day 5 climbs from Praiano through the Valley of Praia to Bomerano and back along the path; day 6 goes over San Domenico to Nocelle and down to Positano. The week ends with a walking day on Capri before you leave from Positano.
Amalfi to Sorrento (11 Days)
Walking: 87.1 km over eight walking days
Elevation gain: 4,655 m in total
Path of the Gods: days 5 and 6, as on the Capri week
The 11-day Amalfi to Sorrento week walks the same two days, then carries on from Positano to Sorrento, Punta Campanella and Capri. A week lets you walk it fresh, with your luggage already moved on. It is the longest of our Amalfi weeks, with three island and peninsula days after the path.
Best of the Amalfi Coast (5 Days)
Walking: 36.1 km over three walking days
Elevation gain: 2,105 m in total
Path of the Gods: Praiano to Positano on day 4
For a shorter trip, the Best of the Amalfi Coast walks the path on its last walking day, from Praiano over San Domenico to Nocelle. It is also a stage of the Highlights of Campania and Mountains of the Amalfi Coast weeks.
Path of the Gods or Path of the Lemons?
The Path of the Lemons is a much shorter walk between Maiori and Minori, on the other side of Amalfi. It runs about 3 km through the lemon terraces by way of Torre, and takes 1 to 2 hours.
In the past, women called formichelle carried around 50 kg of lemons on their heads along it. Choose the Path of the Lemons for an easy morning; choose the Path of the Gods for the views, and walk both if you have a week.
When to Walk the Path of the Gods
In spring the terraces along the path are in flower, and in September and October the sea at Positano is still warm enough for a swim afterwards.
April to June and September to October are the best months. Walk early in summer, when the path is in full sun by mid-morning and the crowds arrive with the first buses.
A public footpath through the terraces near Scala in spring
Flowers on the terraces, cool mornings and fewer walkers. Our walking weeks start in April, and the ferries along the coast are running again.
A public footpath through the terraces near Scala in spring
Positano and its beach in early summer
Long days and warm sea, the best month for a swim in Positano after the walk. Start by 8am to stay ahead of the heat.
Positano and its beach in early summer
Positano's houses stacked above the sea in high summer
The hottest and busiest months. Start at dawn, carry more water than you think you need, and finish before the midday sun.
Positano's houses stacked above the sea in high summer
Positano appearing through the clouds from the path above the town
Warm sea, softer light and the second walking season. The walking weeks run into November, when the path is at its quietest.
Positano appearing through the clouds from the path above the town
What to Pack
Wear shoes with a good grip; the path is stony, with worn steps and some loose sections. Trainers work in dry weather, but flip-flops and sandals are the usual cause of trouble on the steps down to Positano.
Carry at least 1.5 litres of water, a sun hat and sun cream, as there is little shade. Take cash or a bought ticket for the bus at Nocelle, and a light layer for Bomerano, which is cooler than the coast below.
Ready to Walk the Path of the Gods?
Our self-guided walking holidays on the Amalfi Coast include the Path of the Gods on every week, from April to November. Each week includes:
3-star hotels with breakfast every night
Luggage transfers between the hotels
A digital guidebook and GPS navigation app
Support during the walk
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