The 9 Best Walks on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi coastline isn’t all about relaxing on beaches, drinking great wine or sightseeing. There’s also an extensive set of walking and hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging. All walks yield big rewards as the breathtaking views make even the most challenging walk worth the effort. The spectacular views along the stunning coast and over the ocean when paired with the ancient historical buildings and shady woods make this a one of a kind experience. There is also the added benefit of walking into and out of gorgeous seaside towns for which the Amalfi Coast is so famous. Indeed towns like Positano and Paraino make brilliant bookends to the walking each day. To be able to savour excellent Amalfi cuisine and Italian hospitality whilst on a walking holiday, perfectly round off this amazing walking holiday destination.

There are both excellent loop walks along with the famous linear hikes that are not to be missed. With the added opportunity to take a dip in the brilliant blue waters of the Med, at Positano, on the Isle of Capri or at the numerous other beaches along the Amalfi Coast.

Best Time to Hike on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a year-round hiking destination, but the best time to hike depends on your preferences and what you’re looking for. The region experiences a Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and mild winters.

Planning Your Amalfi Coast Hike

Planning your Amalfi Coast hike is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

Choosing the Right Trail

The Amalfi Coast offers a wide range of hiking trails, from easy strolls to challenging hikes. When selecting a trail, consider your fitness level and interests. Do you prefer a leisurely walk through olive groves, or are you up for a challenging hike with steep ascents and rocky trails? Research the length, difficulty, and scenery of each trail, and look for specific features you want to see, such as ancient ruins or panoramic viewpoints. Popular trails like the Path of the Gods offer spectacular scenery, while lesser-known routes provide a more secluded experience.

Preparing for Your Hike

Before you start your hike, make sure you’re prepared with the right gear and information. Here are some essentials to bring:

• Comfortable hiking shoes or boots

• Water and snacks

• Sunscreen and a hat

• Map and guidebook

• First aid kit

• Emergency contact information

It’s also a good idea to check the weather forecast and trail conditions before you start your hike. You can find up-to-date information on trail closures and conditions on the Amalfi Coast’s official tourism website. Being well-prepared ensures that you can fully enjoy the beauty and adventure of your Amalfi Coast hike.

1. Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) near Praino and Positano

From Praiano, make your way east along the coast following the signs to Sentiero degli Dei – Path of the Gods hike. Walk up the path past the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria a Castro. This is a bit of a climb, 1500 steps or so in all. It is worth stopping at the top to take a rest and soak up the views.  The section of the walk up to the Sentiero degli Dei is steep and a little difficult, but once you reach the official Sentiero, the path flattens out and becomes fairly easy.

Keep the ocean to your left following the classic Path of the Gods and the signs for Nocella. Throughout the entire hike, you will be treated to stunning sea views. After about 2 hours you will arrive at Nocelle. The jaw-dropping views of the Sorrentine Peninsula are amazing. You can even see the Isle of Capri in the distance. On your right, you may also get a glimpse of the Lattari Mountains. When you hit Nocelle, the trail officially finishes. This is another good place to take some time out to sit and enjoy a coffee or drink. From here, you can take the stairs that lead down to Positano, with superb views over the town and the surrounding mountains as you go. Once you arrive at Positano, find your way through the narrow streets to the beach. There are some amazing restaurants right on the foreshore to grab a wine or a meal.

Distance: 5.4km / 3.5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 500m

2. The Valley of the Mills/ Valle dei Mulini/Valle delle Ferriere near Praino and Positano

This walk starts in the town of Amalfi. There are various ways to do this walk, but our favourite is to take the loop track back to Amalfi rather than walking out and back.

The walk is known as both the Valle Dei Mulini and Valle Delle Ferriere. The scenery is stunning, with lush forest landscapes enhancing the experience, as is the history of the mills that dot the valley as you walk.

From the Piazza Duomo floor, the main street, Via Lorenzo d Amalfi heads North to the small Piazz Spirito Sanot and then Museo della Carta. Turn right here, and it won’t be logged until you pass a sign for the walk. The walk follows the cascading waterway called Rio Canneto past derelict paper mills and snakes its way up the valley. Take your time exploring each of the mills, especially the Antica Ferriere, an ancient set of ruins that the forest has almost swallowed up.

You can circle back to Amalfi in 2 ways. The standard way is via Pontone. Or at the very top of the valley just before the track doglegs back to the right, turn left on the footbridge. This route makes its way past Pogerola, or if you wish to lengthen the walk further still when you join the Upper Valle Dele Ferriere Walk, you can turn right and walk a few km up to the waterfall. Either return the same way via Pogerola or keep walking straight, as the track also loops back to Amalfi.

Distance: 6.8 km / 4.5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 340m

3. Monte San Constanzo and Punta Campanella Promontory, near Sorrento

This Punta Campanella Promontory hike is like taking a walk back in time along the stunning Sorrento Coast. As you walk, you will pass the ancient remains of old temples where the Greeks and then the Romans worshipped the Goddess Athena or Minerva. The views of Capri Island and the Bay of Ieranto certainly add flavour to this amazing walk. The Sorrentine Peninsula is the most naturally intact region on the Amalfi Coast; it is definitely the most extensive undeveloped stretch of land in the region.

The walk starts from the small square In Termini. The first part of the track is a paved road with houses on both sides. It then morphs into a cobblestoned road formerly known in ancient times as Minerva Road, as it led to the Greek temple of Athena or Minerva in Roman times.

After a short time walking through olive trees, you will pass the Byzantium Monte San Costanzo chapel. Then as you walk, the beautiful Cala Mitigliano appears to your right. This is one of the best beaches in the region.

It is not long until the beautiful Isle of Capri appears. The track heads down to the watchtower and can be a little hard on the knees, but the views make up for it. Please don’t miss walking the narrow path and steps at the Punta Campanella down to the sea, to enjoy the ocean up close.

The Punta Campanella is the main remains of a medieval watchtower with a modern lighthouse beside it. This is the very end of the Sorrentine Peninsula. There are ancient roman stairs behind the watchtower that take you to the base of what was once the main temple to Minerva and earlier Athena.

There are two options to getting back: going back the same way or continuing on the trail. To do this, you make your way back until the point where you see the red and white stones. Turn right and follow the signs. On the way back, we advise that you take the option and sidetrack down to leranto Bay, as it is well worth it. The Bay of leranto is a stand-alone destination that many people walk to, to spend the day at the ocean, so don’t miss it.

The walk back from here is packed with more beautiful views. Eventually, the track starts to lose elevation and goes through the woods. Once you arrive at the modern paved road to the village, make your way straight until the road ends, then turn left. You are now back on the first part of the track. Make your way back to the square in Termini.

Distance: 7.5 km / 4.5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 610m

4. Monte Tre Calli near Positano

From the small village of San Pietro, this 7.5km hike makes its way via fern-covered trails and open scree clearings to the summit of Monte Comune, which towers over Positano.  Mount Tre Calli stands at 1,122 metres above sea level, but since the hike begins at the mountain village of Bomerano, only 550 metres of ascent remain to get to the summit.

This hike up to Mount Tre Calli is definitely one of the most challenging walks on the Amalfi Coast. The rapid elevation gain and unrelenting climb can put some people off. However, the views from the top over Vesuvius and Capri are the best on the coast.

The hike begins at Pasquale Capasso Square. Following Via Tommaso Manni or Via Piano (Piano Road), to the signboards that point straight towards the Circuit Tre Calli walk. Walk along Via Pendola following the many red and white signs that the CAI (Alpine Italian Club) have put in place.

Follow the red and white signs until you arrive at a steep set of stairs. Go up the stairs and continue to follow the signs until you arrive at Via Paipo. Turn left and follow the road. After about 500m, you’ll arrive at the starting point of a path marked with the number 329, and the usual red and white painted stones. Leave the paved road and follow the path ascending through forest.

About 2.5 kms past this point, there is a great spot to rest with beautiful views. Looking west are the colourful buildings of Positano which cascade almost vertically up the mountain slopes behind it. Turn around and look north, and soak up the quintessentially Italian scene, a beautiful cluster of red tile houses sprawled across the plateau enclosed by an amphitheatre of mountains. Not forgetting the Lattari mountains to the north.

To the south, the Med just melts into the sky, spanning the horizon. The Sorentine Peninsula juts out into the clear blue sea, seemingly pointing like a finger at the Isle of Capri just out of its reach.

You can return the same way or traverse to the other side of the mountain following the CAI signs. You will walk on the side of the mountain for a while until you arrive at a crossroad where you go right, arriving at Capo Muro. The rocky track makes its way down the 329 route until you reach a forest with a flatter trail. Eventually, meeting Via Paipo and back to the stairs, you came up from.

From there, you can take the same trail back, or take a paved path down to the main road, or continue hiking down to Positano. Either way, the birds-eye views of Positano and the coast are outstanding.

Distance: 10km / 4.5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 550m

 

5. Capri

Capri is often lauded as being a destination that reminds you of places as far-flung as Egypt, Syria, Greece or even Norway and yet like no other. Capri is probably the most picturesque of all the towns along the Amalfi Coast, and its is no wonder the Roman emperors made this their playground, building 12 astonishingly beautiful villas. Even to this day, the rich flock to Capri to stay in luxury hotels and soak up the ambience of this one of a kind destination.

The two walks that make sense to hike if you have limited time, are to string the Villa Jovis loop together with the Arco Naturale Faraglioni loop. Both walks start and end at Piazza Umberto, so this makes this quite simple to undertake and you won’t waste any valuable time. The walks are both amazing for different reasons. To walk to the Arc Naturale is almost compulsory as it is one of Italy’s most photographed natural features; the Faraglioni de Fiore and the other two rock stacks are an added highlight. The Villa Jovis loop is also a must as the villas are famous in Italy and in a condition that allows you to easily comprehend the sheer grandeur of how these emperors lived daily, the Villa Jovis being the best known. This is a place to wander and take your time. If you decide to do a round trip, be prepared for a more challenging hike and a longer duration.

Whilst on the island, most visitors take a boat trip out to the Blue Grotto, a 3 hr trip at a minimum, so you might consider how you might fit this into your itinerary.

Distance: 8.3km / 3.5 – 4 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 280m

 6. Vesuvius National Park

Although Mount Vesuvius is slightly closer to Naples than Sorrento, it is still well worth visiting the Vesuivius National Park if you want to really stretch your legs. There are stacks of walks in Vesuvius National Park, including the short walk up to the crater rim of Vesuvius from the official car park. This is one of the most popular in the park, but not necessarily the most beautiful. There are 11 official trails within the Parco Nazionale di Vesuvio. However, many of them are closed or under maintenance when writing this article, so please see the link.

The trek on Trail 4 through the Tirone Alto Forestry Nature Reserve is probably one of the best. Wildlife is abundant on this 16km walk which takes about 5 to 6 hours, including snakes, hares, foxes, lizards, and even cuckoos. There are good views of the bay up to the Gran Cono and towards the 1944 lava flow as you walk.

Distance 16km / 5.5 hrs / moderate to challenging

   

 

7. Mont San Michele, Monte sant Angelo and the cable car

This out and back walk starts with a near-vertical spectacular cable car ride up the mountain. The 1100 m ride up is worth the journey on its own. This walk makes its way through beautiful beech wood forest, and traverses Monte Faito and Monte Sant Angelo. The trail winds through picturesque landscapes, including olive and citrus groves, terraces, and valleys, accompanied by 360 degree views of the Gulf of Salerno and Gulf of Naples, including the Ilse of Capri.

From the restaurants and cafes at the end of the cable car, the hike quickly moves away from the first world and enters a remote forest landscape boasting fine views as you walk. The highlight of the walk is the climb to San Michele (the Molare), the highest point on the Latarri mountains. Interestingly, if you want to make the walk longer, you can keep going all the way to Positano, instead of walking back and going back down on the cable car. If you do this walk, you are going to have to start early to ensure that you are not left stranded on the mountain, as the cable car stops in the late afternoon. Checking the cable car timetables before walking is a good idea.

As you leave the cable car, turn left and follow the signs towards San Michele. The red and white markers show the way. Pass the church of Santuario San Michele on the way to the summit. Make your way back the same way to the cable car station.

Distance: 11.3km / 4 to 5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 550m

8. Ischia

The beauty of walking on Ischia is that there are plenty of excellent walks on the island, but importantly it’s also geared up for tourists. It is a fairly large island, at least 40km squared compared to the Isle of Capri, which is one-tenth the size, and there are literally 100’s of accommodations to choose from. There is something for everyone from luxury Amalfiesque stays on the beach to small inland villas at a substantially lower expense.

The walk up Mount Epomeo is often rated as the number one walk on the island. At 789m high, it is a fair climb, but the views are sensational. This walk allows you to get your bearings on the island, providing virtually 360-degree views. The walk usually starts at 460m at the Piazza in Fontana, heading toward Serrana or a shorter version from Santa Maria del Monte. The walk travels through a chestnut wood to the very exposed summit. Instead of walking back the same way, another track keeps going but requires transport at the other end to get back to the beginning.

Distance: 10.4km / 4 to 5 hrs / moderate

Elevation: 400m

P.S. There are also two worthwhile short walks, the spectacular not to missed Castel Aragonese walk (the Aragonese Castle) and the walk in the tranquil La Mortella Gardens. The Maronti to Sant Angelo walk is also worth mentioning, a beach walk in part and a little longer at 7km, is a completely different walk to Mount Epomeo.

 

9. Pompeii

Given that Pompeii is so close to the Amalfi region, we have included it as one of the best walks near the Amalfi Coast. Albeit a little inland from the Amalfi Coast, many people who walk in this region include Pompeii on their itinerary. There is enough walking to spend at least a few days here, but if you have only one day, this is what we recommend. The walking route that we suggest has you visit the famous buildings in Pompeii, plus a few less prominent but just as beautiful buildings. There are two entrances to Pompei; we suggest starting at the Porta Marina entrance.

Begin by visiting the Basilica, which dates back to the second century BC. It boasts a set of impressive columns and the sheer grandeur and magnitude of the Basilica illustrates how advanced society was more than 2000 years ago. It is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent buildings at Pompeii. The towering cliffs in the surrounding region contribute to the breathtaking views, making the area even more appealing for hikers.

The Forum is next on the list. This was the religious, cultural and societal hub in Ancient Pompeii. Following the Forum, we visit the iconic house of the Tragic Poet. The famous mosaic at its entrance is a classic example of a typical Pompeii house. The house draws attention by a famed mosaic that lies at the entrance of the house, with the words ‘Beware of the Dog’ under it. From here, it is on to the House of the Faun, which took up a whole block—followed by the House of Apollo, which is named after the sculptures and frescoes of the God of Sun that were to be found in a back room of the house.

Next, the Lupanar, when translated from Latin, means the “wolf’s den”. The Lupanar was one of many brothels in Pompeii. Its lewd advertising and graffiti from customers that marked the wall make this one of the most popular sites to visit due to its bizarre nature. Not surprisingly, the opulently decorated public baths, known as the Stabian Baths, located around the corner on Via Stabiana were a major part of Pompeii daily life for its citizens. A visit to the brothel followed by a bath perhaps was the order of the day for many Pompeians

The Great Theatre and the Amphitheatre are next on the list. The Amphitheatre, which could seat about 20,000 spectators, attracted people from outside the city gates of Pompeii primarily due to the many gladiatorial bouts staged here. The Villa of Mysteries is the last place on our list. The dining room and its fresco depict a person being initiated into a cult of the God of wine; Dionysus makes this place worth visiting. And a fine place to end the day’s exploration.

Enjoy your day at this archaeological wonder.

Distance: 3.5 kilometres / 6 hrs

Happy walking

Brett at Auswalk

You can find out more about our walks here, or call us on (03) 9597 9767.

But what are your thoughts?  We’d love to hear from you below if you have walked any tracks that you felt were truly inspiring.