The Path of the Gods Is Not a Short Walk

I almost did the Path of the Gods in sandals. I want to start with that, because it’s the kind of mistake I see other people making on this trail every single time I walk it, and I nearly made it myself the first time I came here, back when I still thought of the whole thing as a “nice photo walk” rather than an actual hike.

Why “short walk” is the wrong way to think about it

The Sentiero degli Dei runs between Bomerano, in the hill town of Agerola, and Nocelle, the hamlet perched above Positano. That’s the trail, start to finish. It is not a loop around a viewpoint, and it is not something you casually add on to a beach afternoon. It takes several hours to walk, and I’m deliberately not going to hand you a number of hours or a kilometer count, because I’ve seen wildly different figures thrown around depending on pace, stops for photos, and which direction you walk it in. What I can tell you honestly is that this is a half-day undertaking, not a 45-minute detour, and every person I’ve watched underestimate that has regretted it by the third viewpoint.

That distinction matters more than it sounds like it should. People read “Path of the Gods” in a guidebook, see a handful of postcard photos of the cliffs above Praiano, and assume it’s a paved lookout you stroll to in flip-flops. It isn’t. It’s a real trail, on real rock, with real exposure in places, connecting two towns that are not close to each other.

Where it actually starts and ends

Most people walk it from Bomerano toward Nocelle, which is the gentler direction because you lose more elevation than you gain. Bomerano itself sits up in Agerola, inland and above the coast, reached by bus rather than by anything resembling a coastal stroll. Nocelle, at the other end, is a small settlement connected to Positano below by a long staircase, not a road you can casually pop down.

I mention this because the “not a short walk” problem starts before you even reach the trailhead. Getting to Bomerano takes planning of its own — I’d point you to our guide on getting around without a car and to the SITA bus guide, because there’s no train up there and no shortcut. If you haven’t sorted out how you’re getting to the start and how you’re getting away from the finish, you haven’t actually planned this hike yet — you’ve just looked at photos of it.

What I wish someone had told me the first time

Nobody handed me a difficulty rating before I first attempted it, and I’m not going to invent one for you either — the trail isn’t uniformly one thing. Some sections are wide and easy underfoot, others narrow along a drop with only a rope or a low wall between you and open air. What I will say, from having walked it more than once, is that you should treat it the way you’d treat any mountain trail: proper closed shoes with grip, not sandals or flat city shoes; more water than you think you need, because there is nowhere reliable to buy more once you’re on the ridge; a hat and sun protection, since long stretches have no shade at all; and a phone charged enough to call for help if you turn an ankle somewhere in the middle, because “the middle” can be genuinely remote.

I’d also add: don’t start late in the day. I made that mistake once, misjudging how much daylight I had left, and spent the last stretch down toward Nocelle moving faster than I would have liked on uneven ground, with the light dropping behind Capri. Nobody needs to finish this trail in the dark. Check what time of year you’re visiting and, if you’re coming in the thick of August crowds and heat, start as early as you reasonably can — both for the light and for the temperature on an exposed, largely shadeless ridge.

Who this hike is not for, and that’s fine

This isn’t a hike I’d recommend to someone who wants a relaxed coastal walk with a gelato at the end. If your idea of an active day is comfortable, level ground, this genuinely isn’t it, and there’s no shame in that — the coast has plenty to offer people who’d rather stay closer to sea level; our accessibility notes and the beaches around Positano are a better fit for that kind of day. I’d also gently steer families with very young kids or anyone with knee or balance concerns toward shorter, better-signposted walks rather than the full Bomerano-to-Nocelle route, simply because of the sustained exposure and lack of easy bail-out points partway through.

If, on the other hand, you do want the full experience but would rather not navigate bus timetables and trail junctions yourself, going with a guide takes that pressure off. I’ve recommended the guided Path of the Gods hike departing from Naples to friends who wanted the views without the logistics headache — someone else handles the transport and the pacing, which matters a lot on a trail this long.

Making a full day of the region around it

Because getting up to Bomerano and back down from Nocelle eats real time, I’d build the rest of your day loosely around the hike rather than trying to squeeze in a second big activity. If you’re staying near Naples and want to bookend a hiking day with something gentler, a walking tour through Naples’ historic center the day before is a good, low-effort way to get oriented without tiring your legs out before the trail. And once you’ve earned a slower day afterward, I’ve enjoyed pairing a hiking trip with a day tour of Sorrento that lets you sit, eat well, and not think about elevation gain for a while.

For planning the wider trip, it’s worth reading through our hiking-focused itinerary and the general packing list before you go, and checking the browse-by-category hiking trails page and the dedicated Path of the Gods category for more on the trail itself. If you’re trying to avoid the worst of the crowds on the ridge, our crowd-avoidance guide and the best time to visit tool are worth a look too, and the guide to how ferries behave outside high season is useful if you’re weighing up transport options around the hike in shoulder season.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Path of the Gods

Is the Path of the Gods hike suitable for beginners?

It can be attempted by reasonably fit beginners, but it should never be treated as an easy or casual walk. Sections involve exposure and uneven footing, so proper shoes, water, and realistic time planning matter more than technical hiking experience.

Where does the Path of the Gods start and end?

It runs between Bomerano, in the town of Agerola, and Nocelle, the small settlement above Positano. Most walkers go from Bomerano down toward Nocelle, since that direction loses more elevation than it gains.

How long does the Path of the Gods take to walk?

It takes several hours, not minutes. We won’t give you a false precise figure, since pace, stops, and direction all change the total time substantially — but you should plan for a half-day undertaking, including transport to and from the trailheads.

Can you do the Path of the Gods without a guide?

Yes, many people walk it independently, but you need to plan the bus connections to Bomerano and down from Positano yourself. A guided option removes that logistics burden if you’d rather focus on the hike itself.

What shoes do I need for the Path of the Gods?

Closed shoes with real grip, not sandals or smooth-soled city shoes. The trail includes uneven, sometimes narrow sections where good footing matters.

Is the Path of the Gods dangerous?

It has sections with real exposure and drops, so it should be respected like any mountain trail rather than treated as a casual walk. Staying on the marked path, wearing proper footwear, and avoiding late starts all reduce the risk significantly.

Is there shade along the Path of the Gods?

Long stretches of the trail are exposed with little or no shade, which is why an early start and sun protection matter, particularly in the hotter months.

What should I bring on the Path of the Gods hike?

More water than you think you’ll need, sun protection, sturdy footwear, and a charged phone. There are no reliable shops along most of the route to restock supplies.