Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento was one of the most awe-inspiring activities of my 5 days in Sorrento. Actually, in my entire life. And, if you grew up in the age before cell phones and high-definition, then you, like me, know a thing or two about awe.
We’ve seen countless innovations take shape, stuff we never imagined we’d experience in our lifetime—GPS, caller ID, legal weed! I mean, at this point, is your mind even blowable anymore?
Enter: travel. Your chance to consistently and without fail awe yourself into oblivion. Just when Jurassic Park had you thinking you couldn’t be any more impressed with film production (it’s so lifelike!), out came Toy Story with its Pixar madness (it’s so lifelike!).
Just when you think you’ve seen all there is to see of Italy, or that hiking one mountain means you’ve hiked them all, you experience the Path of the Gods. And just like that, you’re 12-years-old again marveling at the fact that you can know who is calling before you even answer it! As if!
At the bottom of this post you’ll find a free printable guide to take with you to Italy. It covers the basics of how to hike the Path of the Gods from Sorrento and what you’ll need.
What is the Path of the Gods?
The Path of the Gods is a beautiful cliffside hike along the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy going from the town of Amalfi to Positano.
Why is it called the Path of the Gods?
The Path of the Gods, known in Italy as Il Sentiero degli Dei, was so named for its use as the path the gods would take from the heavens to the sea after being lured there by the sirens.
Some will tell you it’s because, here, you’re closer to the sky than you are the sea, or because of its otherworldly views. But for us it was more because we were literally up inside the clouds, looking down on all the mortals, wrestling with who to throw lightning bolts at.
Where does the Path of the Gods start and finish?
The Path of the Gods starts in Bomerano, a small village near the town of Amalfi, and ends in Positano. In Oreo terms, it’s the delicious cream in between the two delicious cookies. Honestly, you’ll think things can’t get more awesome down there on the Amalfi Coast, but just wait until you head skyward.
Typically the hike itself starts in a teeny tiny town called Bomerano and ends in the slightly larger town of Positano, of Under the Tuscan Sun fame. However, your journey hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento will start, you guessed it, in Sorrento, which calls for just a few additional steps.
Also check out: Pompeii vs Herculaneum: how to choose the best one for your trip and the 14 reasons why Herculaneum is better than Pompeii (in my opinion)
How difficult is the Path of the Gods hike?
If you’re someone who hikes regularly, the Path of the Gods hike is moderately easy. For more casual hikers, it may be a little more difficult.
First of all, I hate the term difficulty level and all of its uses. No hike (or any other physical activity) can be summed up in the terms EASY, MODERATE, and HARD as the difficulty of every hike is relative to every body.
That said, I’ll do my best to accurately describe hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento in a difficulty level manner you can make sense of and hopefully actually use.
A personal example: I am 35 years old, in relatively good physical health. I work out regularly, eat smartly, and do a handful of hikes each year. For me, hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento was easy overall, but challenging enough to keep me entertained. In movie-going terms, we’ll rate it PG (with its fair share of R-rated words and phrases because Ashley).
Other examples I saw: A couple of hikers, maybe ten years younger than me, left their poor struggling mother in their dust. Granted, she wasn’t wearing proper footwear or clothing, but she was also not having a great time.
For her, and many others like her, the difficulty level of the Path of the Gods may be more like “moderate” or “challenging.” Although she’s probably much better than I am at things like cooking dinner, doing her taxes, and getting out stubborn stains. We all have our strengths, people!
What is the Path of the Gods terrain like?
To give difficulty level another layer, you’ll need to take into account the terrain. The Path of the Gods is a pretty well-worn path with just a few surprises.
Parts of it are paved road, parts are stone pavers. Some of it is dirt path, other parts are loose rocks. There are tree roots to maneuver around, steps to climb (up and down), and boulders to traverse. It’s got tripping hazards galore and very few barriers at all between you and a long fall to the sea—people with vertigo need not apply. There are inclines and declines and almost nothing to hold on to. For some of you this all sounds thrilling! But for others, notsomuch, thanksanyway!
Use this info + the photos in this post to best gauge your own difficulty level for hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento.
How far is the Path of the Gods?
From start (Bomerano) to finish (Positano), the Path of the Gods is about six miles.
How long does it take to walk the Path of the Gods?
The Path of the Gods hike itself takes just about two hours–if you rush through it. However, if you add in a lunch break and shorter rest breaks, time for exploring off-path, time for picture taking (and more), it could take you around five hours.
And though you can do it in a shorter amount of time if need be, it took me five hours, total. And by total that includes:
- The entire hike from Bomerano to Positano, via Montepertuso (you can call this “the long way” because I think I missed a sign)
- Two longer breaks: one at a B&B for refreshments and to wait out the weather, and another at a small restaurant for refreshments and rest at the end
- A handful of shorter breaks for picture taking, exploring some ruins, snacking, petting cats, but mostly picture taking
- Hiking one hour in the wrong direction and back
What that five hours doesn’t include is time spent getting from Sorrento to Path of the Gods and back—more on that in a minute. Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento is not as easy as float home on your cloud, but it’s not much harder really. I realize that sounds less god-like and more Care Bears, but whatever.
What can you expect on the Path of the Gods hike?
Now that you know (more or less) what you’ve gotten yourself into up there, here’s a little more. Also along the Path of the Gods, you can expect:
A handful of possible stops along the way
Such as: an adorable B&B, a cliffside restaurant or two, one single water fountain at which to fill up for the day, a picnic table with the world’s best view, an abandoned farmhouse, and… not much else.
A well marked path
That’s pretty easy to follow. I mean, we only got lost once and that’s a huge accomplishment for me. It only took us an hour out of the way (lol) and only because we got lost were we able to find this amazing viewpoint! #silverlining #cloudreferences
A handful of other hikers
It won’t be super crowded as I assume most people visiting the Amalfi Coast on vacation are trying to avoid physical activity (like the other six people I came to Italy with), but you won’t be up there alone either.
A decent down 1,700 steps
No, that’s not a joke. The hike itself will end in a hillside town called Nocelle. But to get back to Sorrento (and pretty much everywhere else), you’ll need to end up in Positano. And how do you get from Nocelle to Positano? Down 1,700 steps. Remember when people labeled this hike as easy? Mwahaha.
Only one place to fill up water
It’s very important to bring plenty of water when hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento (especially in hot-as-Hades mid-July like we did). There’s a water fountain towards the beginning and nothing else until the end. Personally, we brought two liters + the bottle of water from our hotel’s minibar. And we ran out just as we were pulling up to this sign:
Lots of dirt
What I thought was a tan line was really just the new layer of dirt I’d acquired.
Unpredictable weather
While hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento we encountered heavy cloud cover and fog, a ton of sunshine, then rain, and eventually more sun.
While I was at first pretty pissed our hike started out in the clouds, they eventually, and quite abruptly, opened up to sunshine and views. And though we spent most of the hike baking in the sun, we ended up taking the last 1,700 steps in the rain. Be prepared for everything! This is Southern Italy in the summer.
Some of the most amazing views of your life
I kept reading how the Path of the Gods is said to be one of the most beautiful hikes in the world–so the fact that I was in the clouds was less divine than it was disastrous. But once they opened up, good god almighty! Everything they say about it is true.
What to expect hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento
Now, hiking the Path of the Gods is one thing, and hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento is another. Because the Path of the Gods hike is on the other side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, you’ll get a bunch of “that’s too far to go” hate from people who feel physical activity and vacation go about as well together as T Swift and… actually, it looks like she feuds with everyone? Let’s go with the current climate and say Tool. And what do we do up here in the clouds, y’all? We throw shade on them haters.
Just because hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento may take a little bit longer, doesn’t mean it’s not unquestionably worth it and super easy to fit into a day.
In addition to the stuff listed above that you can expect (many things to trip on, craploads of steps, etc.), when hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento, you can also expect:
- 3 bus rides: two to get there, and one to get back
- A scenic drive along the famous Amalfi Coast—famous for hairpin turns along winding roads atop steep cliffs, that is. If you’re prone to motion sickness, this will be the most challenging part of the day.
- Traffic jams—In some parts the Amalfi Coast highway is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time, and we’re talking Beetles, not Buses.
- Some stops in some very adorable towns–Amalfi, Bomerano, Nocelle, and Positano
- Oh, and you should know that in Italy, “lemonade” means they just fresh-squeezed a lemon into a cup. Just FYI. Keep that with you.
How to hike the Path of the Gods from Sorrento
To hike the Path of the Gods from Sorrento you have three options: via an organize tour, independently via public transportation, or independently via a rental car. Two of these are simple and sensible and will reward you with an incredible experience you’ll be talking about for a lifetime, and one of them is a straight-up death wish.
Do you need a guide for the Path of the Gods?
Definitely not. While professional hiking guides are available for hire, the Path of the Gods is easy enough to do independently with a little planning.
As always, even for something like a hiking excursion, booking an organized tour is going to be the easiest, most stress-free option. But just like skipping work to stay in bed and binge Netflix is the most stress-free option for how to spend your Tuesday, this too comes with its fair share of cons. (Is it really any wonder how I ended up self-employed?)
Pros of hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento on an organized tour
You don’t have to worry about logistics
For some people, making sense of foreign bus schedules is about as much fun as pumping out your own septic tank. There’s a reason people make a living doing this! (I was going for something grosser than giving yourself a pedicure but not all the way to rectal exam—how’d I do?)
Instead, someone will take care of alllllll that for you. All you have to do is show up.
You’ll save so much time
When you book an organized tour, that almost always includes private transportation… which also means you’ll have a direct route to your tour. Unlike with public transportation, you won’t have to make a ton of stops for picking up and dropping people off, and you’ll be taken to the exact spot you need, not a roundabout location. Time Budget Travelers take note! Less time on the road means more time shoveling pasta into your piehole.
You’ll have a knowledgeable guide
Traveling with a tour guide means reaping the benefits of them having done this a thousand times already. They know where they’re going and how to get there, are full of fun facts, and typically know what they’re talking about. In hiking terms, this means you will not get lost. If this is a huge issue for you (ahem, moving on), an organized tour might be your best bet.
Hiking buddies!
If you’re traveling solo to the Amalfi Coast and want to hike the Path of the Gods buuuuuut don’t feel comfortable going it alone, book an organized tour! Or just because no one else in your travel party wants to partake doesn’t mean you should have to miss out on one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. You do you—let them eat tiramisu. Also, there’s always someone around to take pictures for you.
Cons of hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento on an organized tour
What if you’re too slow!? Or too fast!?
Booking a tour for something like a hike can be iffy. What if the other hikers on the tour are more skilled and you’re left trailing behind? Or what if you book with a bunch of crotchety ol’ grannies and get bored as hell having to hang back?
Professionally speaking, this shouldn’t be a problem as tour groups tend to be pretty accommodating to everyone, but there’s always internal pressure to keep up. Curse you, innate desire to appear amiable!
On an organized tour, you’ll have to stick to a time limit
Want to spend longer resting? Sorry. Want to go down this other path and see what’s down there? Too bad. Now, I’m all about some Time Budget Travel, but I also like to be in control of my own adventures. Well, adventures and mountainside alcohol consumption.
Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento on an organized tour is less of an adventure
Traveling around Italy via public transportation is always an adventure and traveling on a tour in a private vehicle robs you of that experience. (On the plus side, the likelihood of actually getting robbed is much, much lower.)
You really never know who you’re going to sit next to or which passenger is going to go on an alcohol-fueled rant for the entire half hour trip. It’s such a great time to be alive!
It’s going to cost you more
Not a whole lot, but still more. Public transportation is cheap, private transportation is not. A Path of the Gods organized tour from Sorrento isn’t going to set you back your entire vacation budget, but it will cost you more than the 3€ public bus ticket. But, with hiking as in septic tank cleaners, you get what you pay for (and sometimes it’s worth the splurge).
Path of the Gods Organized Tours
If planning this all out yourself feels a little overwhelming, check out these Path of the Gods organized tours and let someone else handle all the logistics!
From Sorrento: Path of the Gods Hike
4 hours, includes hiking guide, transportation to and from Sorrento, and only takes a maximum of 8 hikers. Popular tour with excellent reviews!
Hike the Path of Gods - from Sorrento
6 hours, includes a guide and round trip transportation, maximum group size of 15, great reviews.
From Sorrento: Path of the Gods Hiking tour
6 hours, round-trip transportation, English-speaking hiking guide, and this tour comes with trekking poles!
Half-Day Private Amalfi Coast ‘Path of the Gods’ Hike
This half-day Amalfi Coast Path of the Gods hike is totally private. Hire a private, local guide just for you and your travel buddies. Includes round-trip transportation, a professional hiking guide, lunch and one of the most amazing experiences in Italy.
Getting from Sorrento to Path of the Gods using public transportation
Just like hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento via an organized tour has its pros (someone to hold your hand) and cons (wait for me!), so does doing the hike independently.
Pros of hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento independently
You’re in complete control
For me, there’s no other option. When traveling, at work, when planning someone else’s surprise party for me, etc. It’s non-negotiable.
Using Italy’s public transportation to get to and back from the hike, you’re in total control as to when you hike, where you start and finish, and how long you want to spend on the hike. There are no schedules to keep up with, meeting points to remember, or old ladies to wait for. Unless you’re waiting for me to finish my beer and then it’s like “Social Security waits for no one, Sue! Drink up!”
When you’re in control, you can go where you want, stop when you want, plan your own picnic, have yourself a merry little photo shoot, hike as fast or as slow as you want, and pet as many cats as you like. There is no one waiting for you, no one pushing you along, and no one pressuring you to drink faster. Except everyone in your entire life because you are the slowest, Ashley! Gah!
Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento independently is much more adventurous
And isn’t that what travel is all about? Opening yourself up to unknown possibilities and potentially riotous encounters with cranky old geezers? Maybe you’ll even get to ride a bus where the driver has to stop to read the operating manual! Or one where the driver has to stop to ask for directions! The wide world is all yours for the taking, people! **all things I’ve experienced on buses in Italy in the last month
Lower costs
And because public transportation in Italy is so… interesting, the cost of hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento via this method is much, much cheaper. A bus ticket along this route will run you between 3 – 10 euros, depending on how much air conditioning and safety you want. If you’re traveling on a budget, the public transportation route is a reliable option and a perfectly acceptable way to get there and back.
Cons of hiking the Path of the Gods independently
On the other hand, completing the Path of the Gods hike from Sorrento independently does leave much more room for error. For instance, there’s a chance you’ll get lost. Even hikers with the best sense of direction on the most well-marked paths can (and did) get lost. It’s not a have-to-live-out-the-rest-of-your-life-as-a-hermit-in-the-forest type situation (as I so fearfully broadcast to the entire southern tip of Italy—look, I’m seeing a therapist about it, ok?), but it could set you back some time.
Additionally, using public transportation is one totally normal, everyday thing. Relying on public transportation in Italy is a straight up gamble and you better come to play. Public transportation in Italy is about as predictable as the plot of Game of Thrones. Though with slightly more Shame! and a little less prone to pornography. Maybe only Charlie Sheen’s handler has to deal with more erratic behavior than the Italian public.
What I’m saying is, you can have the perfect hiking plan mapped out, but if that bus doesn’t show, or that bus company goes on strike, you’re SOL. One time I showed up to catch a bus in Italy and was told, “No. The bus is not coming today.”
“Well why not?”
“Just is not.”
Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento with a rental car
Your third option would be to simply rent a car and drive there yourself. Only there is no such thing as “simply” in Italy.
Sure, I’ve rented plenty of cars in Italy. Were any of them automatic transmission? No. Did the rental company try to scam me into paying for “parking tickets” from places I never was? Yes. Is driving the narrow streets of Italia reminiscent of being squeezed through the birth canal? Also yes. But none of that matters here. What matters is do not attempt to drive the Amalfi Coast yourself.
You may have heard about the winding, dangerous roads of the Amalfi Coast and think, “Sure… I can do that… I’ll just go slow,” but clearly it’s time to take your meds. The Amalfi Coast is curvy, yes. Curves that consistently flirt with the edges of very high, very steep cliffs. Just because Sophia Vergara is a goddess doesn’t mean dangerous curves and lots of flirting is something we can all handle.
I’ve heard first hand accounts from many an Amalfi Coast driver who 1.) totally thought they’d be able to handle it and 2.) admitted they were very, very wrong. The Amalfi Coast bus drivers are PROS and, you’ll see when you get there, they have a kind of skill only years and years of making this same drive can teach you. Do. Not. Attempt. To. Drive. The. Amalfi. Coast. By. Yourself.
How to hike the Path of the Gods from Sorrento Independently
So which method did I use? Well, in true Veruca Salt fashion, I want it all! I want the world, I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket, it’s my bar of chocolate, give it to me now! So I did a little bit of everything. (That little brat got exactly what she deserved but, I mean, we can all relate, no?)
How do you get to the Path of the Gods from Sorrento?
To get to the Path of the Gods from Sorrento you’ll need to take a bus from Sorrento to Amalfi, and then another bus from the town of Amalfi to the start of the trail in the village of Bomerano. Which kind of bus you take will determine how long this trip takes.
Hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento requires 4 steps:
- Bus from Sorrento to Amalfi
- Another bus from Amalfi to Bomerano
- Hike from Bomerano to Positano
- Get from Positano back to Sorrento
Step 1: Bus from Sorrento to Amalfi
There are two ways to get to Sorrento to Amalfi by bus and they are quite different.
The SITA bus
To get from Sorrento to Amalfi you can take the SITA bus. The SITA bus, which I can only imagine stands for Shitty Italian Transport of Alcoholics or Should I Take Anxiety-meds?, is the area’s public bus system.
Now, though hilarious, I’m not being entirely fair. The SITA bus is a perfectly fine way to get around. It’s cheaper than that frappe you’re sipping and, you know… there’s a door and some seats and the tires have air in them. So there’s that.
The SITA bus ride from Sorrento to Amalfi will take you about 2.5 hours. That’s 2.5 hours on a bus that you could potentially not even have a seat on. (As in, you’ll most likely be standing.) Two and a half hours on a bus with no air conditioning, crammed up against a sweaty nonno with a stench that won’t quit, hugging the dangerous curves of the Amalfi Coast.
Even though I no longer suffer from motion sickness, that makes me want to barf. All of this followed by another half hour trip from Amalfi to Bomerano, should you survive.
Want to minimize your time on public transportation here? Check out my post on why you should stay in Salerno during your Amalfi Coast trip.
SITA bus schedule
The SITA bus will set you back just a few euros and has pickup times all day starting at about 6:30 AM. You can view the SITA bus schedule here (go to Autolinea–Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento).
However, the schedule changes throughout the year and I can’t be sure that’s the most recent one. Time to roll the dice! Woohoo, Vegas, baby!
The City Sightseeing Bus
All that being said, there is another option! A beautiful, glorious, air-conditioned option that doesn’t cost a whole lot more! And that, miei amici, is the City Sightseeing Bus (sometimes called the Coast to Coast Coach).
To follow my lead (you brave soul), take the City Sightseeing bus from Sorrento to Amalfi, then the SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano (you don’t have a choice here), hike the Path of the Gods, then take the City Sightseeing bus from Positano to Sorrento. End scene.
The City Sightseeing bus is, well, you’re smart. It’s a much nicer, tourist-friendly, air-conditioned, clean, basically private bus transfer from Sorrento to Amalfi.
The City Sightseeing bus runs every hour and goes from Sorrento to Positano to Amalfi, then back. You’re guaranteed to get a seat (with seatbelts!), no strangers will be touching you (God willing), and you’ll even get a free pair of earbuds to listen to the pre-recorded sightseeing commentary along the way. [cue angel choir]
City Sightseeing bus from Sorrento to Amalfi
The trip from Sorrento to Amalfi on the City Sightseeing bus takes just 1.5 hours and costs just 10 euros (with a round trip ticket costing 15). Though it is, technically, 5x the price of the SITA bus, it’s about a million times better. Every single cell in your body will thank you.
The City Sightseeing bus also has dedicated bus stops and pickup times and they are always on time. They also have an employee waiting at the stop before the bus arrives to provide assistance. As far as Italian transportation goes, it’s just too dreamy.
(I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that we did get stuck in a traffic jam for a while—but on an air conditioned bus with seats I could lay down in, this was not an issue.)
Where to catch the City Sightseeing bus in Sorrento
To catch the City Sightseeing bus, head to Sorrento’s main bus station–Circumvesuviana station. Inside the ticket office you can purchase City Sightseeing tickets–no advance reservations required.
About 25 minutes before the bus is scheduled to leave, a City Sightseeing employee will appear on the sidewalk with a bright red, portable City Sightseeing ticket booth. She’ll just roll it right up there on the sidewalk. Check in there and then you’re ready to board the bus!
Pro Tip: Sit on the right side of the bus for the most amazing Amalfi Coast views during the drive. (Unless you’re terrified of heights and/or suffer from vertigo. You’ll see.) On the way back, sit on the driver’s side.
Step 2: Bus from Amalfi to Bomerano
After arriving at the bus station in Amalfi, head to the ticket office across the street from the water and grab a SITA bus ticket for Bomerano (though you might need to specify Agerola). The process is quick, painless, and dirt cheap.
On the day I went, I had plenty of time to hang out in Amalfi before my bus arrived. I got a snack, did some shopping, checked out the town square and the beach, and loaded up on meat, cheese, and honey to take on the hike with me. This may be your last opportunity to do this, so do this.
Then hang out in the clusterf#$% that is the Amalfi bus station and take a gamble as to which bus is the one you’re supposed to get on. Look for other people in hiking/workout gear, though everyone else will be as clueless as you (still, misery loves company).
My advice: constantly ask all the bus drivers who are outside smoking if their bus is going to Agerola. Eventually, one of them will say yes! Hold your breath and then board! that! bus!
SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano
The trip from Amalfi to Bomerano is basically vertical, cliffside, jam packed, hot, smelly, and there’s probably a drunk lady waving her beer bottle and screaming at the driver from the back of the bus the whole way. Do not make eye contact. But it’s only thirty minutes long—so that’s a plus.
I should note: the stops here are not marked. Nor does the driver give a damn. All I can tell you here, is to get off the bus when you see something that looks like this:
On the right will be a small restaurant/bar—stop in here for a shot of espresso and a bathroom break and be on your merry way. 4,000 words later, it’s finally time to hike!
Step 3: How to find the start of the Path of the Gods hike
Once in Bomerano, you’ll see light green signs for the start of the Path of the Gods—but they’ll say Il Sentiero degli Dei. (pictured above) Don’t forget, the gods speak Italian. From there, the path to Nocelle is pretty straightforward. You’ll pass farms and walk on paved roads, you’ll come upon abandoned and ruined farmhouses of Yore, and eventually end up on the rocky path that will take up most your day.
After about an hour of hiking, we came to an unnamed B&B on the side of a cliff. It was still heavily clouded over so I decided to stop here to see if they had some alcohol to take away the pain of the crappy weather conditions and lack of amazing views. And they did!
The owner greeted us and gave us homemade wine and picked fresh plums, figs, and blackberries from his garden for us. And you know what happened? The clouds opened up! I *think* we just met the gods of which the path is named. And his name is Salvatore.
At the end of the hike you’ll end up in a town called Nocelle. From there, you’ll see signs leading you to the 1,700 steps to Positano and a slow descent into rheumatoid arthritis. (Don’t be fooled, this isn’t totally horrible. The views here are phenomenal and you get to explore the back streets and residential areas between Nocelle and Positano. It’s nothing short of la dolce vita.)
Step 4: Find the pickup point afterwards
After you make it down alllll the steps, you’ll be like, “Where the f#$% do I go now!?” At least, that’s what I said. But guess what—the steps end at the City Sightseeing bus stop! How magical is that? It’s like the gods planned it that way or something.
At the bottom of the last step, take a left and walk up the road about 300 feet. Right there on your left is the Sponda bus stop where the City Sightseeing bus will pick you up. Stand on the inner part of the road by the buildings (heading west) and about 10 minutes before your bus arrives, the City Sightseeing employee will show up out of nowhere. It literally couldn’t be easier.
What to pack for hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento
Hiking Boots
Many sites will say you can wear whatever shoes you want because the Path of the Gods is super chill. My husband wore his Keens and, sure, you would probably also be okay in sneakers or Chacos.
However, I stayed with my trusty hiking boots–I had a much bigger/longer hiking trip coming up just two weeks after the Path of the Gods and 1.) I didn’t want to break an ankle right before, and 2.) I wanted to break my boots in juuuust a little bit more.
And while you’d probably be just fine in regular ol’ shoes, I’m really glad I wore my Oboz Bridger Bdrys. (Some other hikers even commented when they saw mine saying they wish they had worn real hiking boots too. I’m telling ya–not just a hat rack, my friends!)
Day pack
Every hike needs a decent backpack to carry around all your salami and parmesan. I use this Teton Sports Oasis day pack for shorter hikes and it’s perfect. It holds 2 liters of water (and comes with its own water bladder), my camera + lenses, an extra layer, binoculars, snacks, and everything else I need for the day.
It’s got chest and waist straps, a built-in rain cover (which I used on this hike), and a built-in safety whistle which I literally had to use the very first time I hiked with this bag.
Hydration pack
If your day pack doesn’t come with a hydration bladder, you’ll definitely need to pick one up. The Path of the Gods is a couple hours long and there’s only one stop for water at the beginning and one at the end. And with the hot, humid Italian summer weather, you’re going to go through a lot of water (a 20 oz. bottle is not going to cut it).
I use this 2-liter hydration bladder from Platypus and I’ve never run out of water on any hike. It’s easy to fill, use, and drain and, PRO TIP, also pick up the matching bite valve cover to keep the mouthpiece clean and free of dirt.
Binoculars
Binoculars are something I leave behind on all my hikes in an effort to save weight, but I always regret it. Just go ahead and pack them. There is so much cool stuff to see from up here where the gods hang out!
Proper hiking attire
This is going to be different for every body and for all weather conditions, but just be smart about it. I saw people in nice sandals and street clothes because they probably read the Path of the Gods was simply a lovely stroll. Wear athletic gear–whatever that means to you. (I’m a big fan of all things Under Armour.) For me it was:
- Sports bra
- Athletic, breathable tank top and shorts, with a light top layer in my bag
- Wool hiking socks — sounds hot, but they’re really the best option!
Hat and/or sunglasses
One downside to being a goddess? You have to deal with the blazing sun all the time. Don’t forget to bring a hat (I have this one) and/or sunglasses with you when hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento.
Camera
Whoever “they” are was right–the Path of the Gods is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. (I mean, I haven’t done them all, but these views would be hard to beat.) Don’t forget to bring a camera! I personally use the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark ii with a 12-40mm lens and a 40-150mm lens. For this hike I just used the 40-150mm zoom lens and my Google Pixel!
Teeny tiny tripod
And because I was hiking the Path of the Gods from Sorrento independently, I didn’t have anyone around to take my picture–hence, the teeny tiny tripod. This small Joby Gorillapod is strictly for cell phones and can be wrapped around a tree branch, a rock, a pole, whatever!
GPS app
For hiking, I use the Gaia GPS app to record all my hikes. It tracks your elevation, your speed, your rest time, and tons of other statistics. #nerd It even works offline when hiking abroad. It’s a few steps up from the Fitbit I also always wear.
Quick dry towel
For all the sweating, just trust me. These microfiber towels are super handy to keep in your daypack or just to travel with for a multitude of uses. I use this multi-size 3-pack and love it. The small is about the size of a hand towel; the medium is great for wrapping up your hair; and the large is about the size of a beach towel.
Sunscreen
Again, it’s a rough life being so close to the sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Safety whistle
I don’t care how *easy* the hike is I’m doing, I always bring a safety whistle with me. For when I get lost, for when I hurt myself, for keeping away predators both human and animal, for when I’ve fallen and I can’t get up (80’s babies, you get me). Most hiking backpacks include a built-in safety whistle on the chest strap, but if yours doesn’t, pack this.
Travel insurance
Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. Travel insurance can offer coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
How to Hike the Path of the Gods from Sorrento
The Path of the Gods hike along Italy's Amalfi Coast is a beautiful and unforgettable experience. Here's how to hike it if you're staying in Sorrento.
Materials
- This printed out guide
- The City Sightseeing bus schedule from Sorrento to Amalfi and from Positano to Sorrento
- The SITA bus schedule from Amalfi to Bomerano
- Extra euros in cash
Tools
- Hiking Boots
- Day pack
- Hydration pack
- Proper hiking attire
- Hat and/or sunglasses
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Quick dry towel
- Sunscreen
- Travel insurance
Instructions
- Take the bus from Sorrento to Amalfi (either the public SITA bus or the highly recommended City Sightseeing bus). You can take both from Sorrento's main bus station: Circumvesuviana Station
- Pick up food and snacks to pack for lunch in Amalfi's town center. This is also the best time to fill up your hydration pack if you haven't already.
- Take the SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano (part of Agerola, you may need to specify this). You can buy tickets in the office at the bus station.
- In Bomerano, look for the light green signs that read "Il Sentiero degli Dei" and follow the arrows. This will lead you to the start of the hike.
- The Path of the Gods hike is fairly easy to follow with limited signage all the way to the village of Nocelle.
- In Nocelle, follow the signs to the steps that lead you to Positano.
- After descending the 1,700 steps down from Nocelle to Positano, turn left and the City Sightseeing bus stop ("Sponda") will be about 300 feet away.
- Take the City Sightseeing bus from Positano to Amalfi.
Notes
All details, links, highlights, and helpful photographs can be found at https://www.mywanderlustylife.com/path-of-the-gods-from-sorrento
Happy hiking!
Recommended Products
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More info for the Path of the Gods, Sorrento
- Heading to Sorrento? Read hotel reviews and book your room here!
- Need a rental car? Check out the best local deals here.
- Don’t forget to pick up an Amalfi Coast guidebook.
- And this handy Italy customs and culture guide!
- Looking for day tours in the area? Check out the great options from Viator and Get Your Guide.
What’s the most beautiful hike you’ve ever done?
Let me know below!
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