The 10 Best Walks and Hikes Along the Amalfi Coast

The Sentiero degli Dei is undoubtedly the Amalfi Coast’s most famed hiking route. Translating as the path of the gods, it is known for its appropriately dizzying height and divine views. Legend says the gods forged the roughly 7km (4.34 miles) long path as they raced down from heaven to save Ulysses from the entrancing sirens’ song. The trail has a few variations, but the most popular route is from Agerola-Bomerano (reachable by public bus) to Nocelle, where you can climb 1,700 steps to Positano. The medium-intensity hike takes around 3-4 hours and clings to the cliff edge with vertiginous drops.

This picturesque path links the towns of Minori and Maiori along the narrow-paved trails. These were the only connections between Amalfi Coast settlements until the coastal road was built. Once essential for lemon cultivators to transport their produce on foot to ships waiting on the shore, they are still the only access to many houses and farms. As the name Sentiero dei limoni suggests, the route passes above, next to, and sometimes even under the sweet-scented groves where the sfusato amalfitano lemon is cultivated. The medium-low difficulty path (there are still plenty of steps) only takes around an hour, but budget for much longer to appreciate the evocative

Just out of the center of Amalfi along the high street, you find a sign indicating the start of the Valle delle Ferriere. The name comes from the ironworks once found near the upper town of Scala. The valley is also known as the Valle dei Mulini, referring to the now defunct paper mills once powered by the stream, which you can still hear gushing beneath the road leading out of Amalfi. The forested walking route winds up the mountainside past ruined mills, creeping with overgrown vegetation to a nature reserve. The warm, humid microclimate here, protected from cold winds by the rocky ridges above, has spawned vast rockfaces of fossilized moss saturated with water like giant sponges. There are also waterfalls and million-year-old ferns. After the reserve, you can return to the trail and walk all the way to Pogerola before returning to Amalfi. 

This steep route begins in the higher part of Positano and plunges deep into the lush Monti Lattari above. Considered relatively challenging due to the elevation, the trail starts with a series of stairs before diving into a dark oak forest and finally opening out into the dry Mediterranean scrub further up. From here, you get lofty views of the pretty houses of Positano below. The route climbs right to the pocket-sized village of Santa Maria del Castello, an ancient mountain pass with a winsome white church. Consider lunch at the local restaurant before descending back down the knee-destroying stone staircases and returning to Positano.

This coastal path begins in Marina di Praia on a beach overlooked by a cluster of pretty cottages. The route strikes out along a trail through the scrubby valley behind and leads walkers along a series of delightfully named paths. The first section along the Sentiero dell’Agave in Fiore passes olive groves and cacti before merging into the Sentier o del Amore (path of love), coming out at the simple church of Furore. From there, the Sentiero della Volpe Pescatrice–used by farmer-fishermen to move between their fields and the shore–winds down to the precipitous bridge crossing the fjord of Furore. The trail then follows the Sentiero delle Pipistrelli Impazzati (path of the crazy bats referring to the valley’s winged inhabitants) to Conca dei Marini.

This route can be added to the Sentiero dei limoni to create a medium-difficulty circuit. In Maiori, head to the entry point for the coastal lemon route but almost immediately head upwards via a series of steep leg-burning steps. This ascends to the hamlet of Torre and then to the 13th-century Convento di San Nicola via a tree-shaded path. From here, the route turns downwards towards the village of Sambuco, dotted with neat vegetable plots. The trail then continues downwards past the ruins of abandoned paper mills to Minori, from where you can pick up the Sentiero dei limoni again and return to Maiori. 

The Punta Campanella hiking route is a circuit around the most westerly point of the Sorrento Peninsula, along which the Amalfi Coast runs. The trail begins in Termini down a paved road known as the Via Minerva, an ancient Roman mule track built in the fourth century B.C.E., leading to the Greek temple of Athena (Minerva). After a while, the island of Capri appears out in the sparkling Tyrrehean sea to your right. The path reaches the medieval watchtower and lighthouse of Punta Campanella before turning uphill to Mount San Costanzo, 486 meters above sea level, with a 360-degree view of the peninsula. Then, a slightly easier return route takes you back to the starting point in around one hour.

This route takes advantage of the hundreds of staircases and narrow paved paths that zigzag up and down the cliffside. Again, you can tag on the Sentiero dei limoni here and start in Maiori. After reaching Minori, you begin your knee-busting ascent of stone staircases through olive groves, vegetable terraces, and vineyards to the romantic town of Ravello. You can stop for sublime views from Villa Cimbrone’s Terrace of Infinity before continuing to wind your way coastwards to the tiny hamlet of Atrani. More narrow rooftop paths then take you the back route to Amalfi, the capital of the coast.

If the Sentiero degli Dei leaves you thirsty for more heavenly views, follow it up with the Circuit of Tre Calli. This also starts from Agerola (Bomerano), where a series of roads and stairs will lead you to the hamlet of Paipo. From here, the chestnut-forested route begins its steep upward climb following the red and white signs or stone markings typical of official trails of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). The lung-busting ascent will take you to over 1,100 meters above sea level. The summit is Capo Muro, marked by a curious, fungus-shaped rock formation with expansive views across the Sorrento Peninsula and Amalfi Coast. Keep on the CAI trail to return back to Paipo and, finally, Agerola.

The Amalfi Coast hike with the highest reward for the least effort is the trail to Baia di Ieranto. This little secluded cove cupped by vegetation-rich rocky cliffs is only accessible on foot. The easy route starts at the village of Nerano (famous for spaghetti alla Nerano with fried zucchini and creamy provolone cheese). It meanders through olive groves and Mediterranean scrub down to the cobalt water and Capitiello beach. After a dip, you can continue to land’s end at Punta Penna before returning leisurely back up.