Sentiero degli Dei trailhead (Nocelle)
The trailhead at Nocelle is where the Sentiero degli Dei ends — or begins, depending on which direction you've chosen to suffer. At roughly 440 metres above sea level, the village of a few hundred residents sits so high above Positano that the boats in the bay below look like seeds on a slice of fruit. The trail itself runs about 8 kilometres west to Bomerano, threading through terraced vineyards and Mediterranean scrub — rosemary, arbutus, heather, holm-oak — with the Tyrrhenian always visible to the south.
Most hikers walk east to west, starting in Bomerano and finishing here. That means Nocelle is where you arrive: legs spent, views earned, and a lemonade at the Chiosco degli Dei suddenly the most important thing in the world.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who've done it twice know to skip the 1,500-step descent into Positano on tired legs — take the small Mobility Amalfi Coast bus instead, a 25-minute ride that saves your knees for something better. Before you board, the smoothie stand near Chiesa di Santa Croce does lemon and orange drinks that are worth the detour.
The story behind Sentiero degli Dei trailhead (Nocelle)
Before a paved road reached Nocelle around 2001, the Sentiero degli Dei was simply how people moved between these coastal villages. It also served as an escape route into the mountains during pirate raids — a function that shaped the trail's high, concealed line across the cliffs rather than the more obvious coastal paths below.
The path's modern identity as a hiking route owes much to Ettore Paudano, the hiker credited with rediscovering and promoting it. A rock stele at Colle Serra carries an epigraph in his name. Italo Calvino and D.H. Lawrence both spent time on these slopes, drawn by the same combination of altitude and sea light that still pulls people up here today.
Good to know
From Amalfi, bus 5080 reaches Bomerano (Agerola) in 40 minutes; the trailhead is a 7-minute walk from the stop. The trail is free and always open, though authorities close it during wildfires or landslide risk. Spring and autumn are the reliable windows. Summer hiking is possible but start early — midday sun on exposed limestone is punishing.
April through early June and September through October give you the clearest skies, comfortable temperatures, and vegetation at its most photogenic. July and August work if you set off before 8 a.m. — the trail has little shade and the midday heat is serious. Winter rain can make the limestone path slippery and occasionally triggers small landslides; check local conditions before you go.
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What travellers say about Sentiero degli Dei trailhead (Nocelle)
Absolutely stunning views!!! Went there at around noon, started at Bomerano, and ended in Nocelle, which is where the hike officially ends, then I walked to Positano. It was mostly downhill, and took me about 2h 40 mins at a leisurely pace and stopping to take lots of photos. I am quite an inexperienced hiker, and not very athletic, but if I tried harder, I could easily get it under 2 hours. However, it can very for everybody, with most people taking 3-6 hours to complete based on which direction they’re going. I felt that the most challenging part of the hike was not even the official hike itself, but it was the steps from Nocelle down to Positano, which are thousands of steps. It started off fine, but really got more difficult as it progressed. My soles were a bit sore after. From Nocelle to Positano it took an hour.”, bringing the total to around 4 hours. Definitely bring a good pair of shoes, bring some food, and at least 1-2 litres of water. Also research well on how to get there. It was so worth it!!!
Such beautiful scenery. Quicker than we thought. Started at Bomerano, walked to Nocelle and then down the steps to Positano. However we needed to walk the road the rest of the way so thinking maybe we took a wrong turn as it did appear there was a higher route from Nocelle to Positano.
The hike is very easy but extremely scenic! You will walk the whole track accompanied by breathtaking views of the coast. It starts in Bomerano village from the town's square. There are plenty of signs and you won't get lost. The square is also a good spot to prepare for the hike. You can have take sway panini made at a local shop and have breakfast at one of the many caffes there. Let you need any additional gear, there's a specialized shop as well with shoes, hiking poles, hats, bags, etc. The entire hike is about 4 to 5 hours long. You will cross the Nocelle village where you can stop for a refreshment before the 1400+ steps descent beack to the sea level. Ah, about that. I strongly recommend doing this track on the Bomerano -> Positano direction. The opposite way is nothing but suffering.
Planned to take the train from Bomerano to Nocelle, however we made a last minute decision to take the stairs down to Positano and skip Nocelle. The walk down to the Positano level from the official trail took about 25 min - shorter than expected. It was another 35 min to get to the main Positano area after getting down to the bottom. Did the trail on an overcast day which prevented us from taking in the views fully.
Great hike! Wonderful views! A bit crowded though. Definitely a more touristy hike but still wonderful! It took me and my spouse 2hr to complete the hike down to Positano.
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