Path of the Gods from Agerola: Guided Hike or On Your Own?

The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) is an easy trail to find and a hard one to enjoy without planning. Walking it on your own is realistic if you are comfortable with bus connections and a long descent. The guided hike from Agerola to Nocelle is worth it if you want someone to handle the logistics and explain the landscape: about 4.5 hours, from €65.55 per person, rated 4.9 from 75 reviews.

Our listings include just one guided Path of the Gods hike from Agerola, so this is not a ranking of several tours. It is a decision between guided and independent.

What the guided hike covers

According to the listing, the hike goes from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle, a hamlet above Positano. The operator’s figures are about 7 km, a descent of around 250 metres and a duration of roughly four and a half hours, graded moderate. Other sources give slightly different lengths depending on where the walk starts and ends, so treat distances as approximate.

The meeting point is Piazza Paolo Capasso in Agerola, at the Caffetteria il Ritrovo. The guide speaks English, Italian, Spanish and French, and hiking-stick rental and a lemon slush (from May to mid October) are included. Food, drinks, transport and tips are not.

The views named in the description are Capri and the Faraglioni, the Convent of San Domenico above Praiano, and the Gulf of Salerno.

After Nocelle: bus or steps

The guided tour ends in Nocelle. From there you can take a local bus to Positano or walk down the stairs, which the operator puts at around 1,800 steps (other sources say about 1,500). That is a long staircase on already tired legs. If you plan the stairs, add time and wear shoes with good grip. The listing also suggests bringing a swimsuit in summer for a dip at Fornillo beach in Positano.

Doing it on your own

Independent hikers usually take a SITA bus from Amalfi towards Agerola and get off at the Bomerano stop, walk to Nocelle, then continue to Positano by bus or on foot. It saves the tour price, and you set the pace. Check the bus times and the way back in advance: it is a one-way route, and the connections between Positano, Amalfi and Agerola can take around two hours in total.

On your own, you need to:

• decide beforehand where you will finish (Nocelle bus or Positano stairs);
• start with all the water you need rather than counting on buying more along the way;
• be comfortable with exposed sections, as the path is not suitable for anyone who suffers from vertigo.

Who should skip it

The booking page names the following as not suitable: children under 7, pregnant women, people with heart problems, wheelchair users, people with a low level of fitness and people over 95. It also advises hiking shoes and not open sandals or flip-flops. If your group includes a young child or someone who tires quickly, a boat is easier; see Amalfi Coast boat tours or the Path of the Gods hiking page for other options.

The listed maximum group size is 100 people. That is the upper limit, not a typical group, but ask the operator if a small group matters to you.

Which to choose

• Guided: you want the history, plants and geology explained, you prefer not to plan transport, or you are travelling alone. Book early in high season.
• On your own: you are fit, comfortable with timetables, and happy to read the landscape without commentary.
• Neither: you have a young child, vertigo, or limited fitness. A boat day, such as the Furore Fjord and Emerald Grotto trip, shows a similar stretch of coast from below.

Whichever you pick, start early in summer, bring more water than you think you need and keep the descent to Positano in mind when you set your return time.