Amalfi Coast Explorer

Click to view map

Day 1: Arrival Salerno

Arrival in Salerno, where medieval churches and neighbourhood trattorias echo with the addictive bustle of southern Italy.  After checking in at your hotel, stroll along the ‘lungomare’, the seaside boulevard, with views of both the Amalfi Coast and the Cilento National Park.

• Accommodation: B&B or a hotel in Salerno

Day 2: Vietri sul Mare to Corpo di Cava | 7km

Today’s walk takes you from the charming town of Vietri sul Mare, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, to the little hamlet of Corpo di Cava. You will be walking along beautiful but largely unknown footpaths. After strolling through the old town centre of Vietri, famous for its ceramics, you will walk down its little alleys to its Marina before heading up towards splendid Raito with its wonderful views of the coast. After a coffee break at Raito, you then continue uphill to yet another charming little village – Albori. From here, the path takes you inland towards the valley of Cava dei Tirreni. After passing Iaconti and the church of San Vincenzo, you will walk through shaded chestnut woods to your day’s destination near the millennium-old Benedictine Abbey of Corpo di Cava. On your way, you will pass by one of the hidden marvels of this area, the remains of a Roman aqueduct still standing 20m tall! Finally, you arrive at your beautiful hotel in the charming hamlet of Corpo di Cava, beautifully located just above a stunning Benedictine Abbey.  

• Walking for the day: 7km, 3h, ↑400m ↓100m
• Accommodation: Hotel Scapolatiello or similar in Cava de Tirreni
  

Day 3: Corpo di Cava to Cetara | 15km

Today’s walk will take you straight from your hotel, along one of the most famous pilgrim routes in the area, to the Madonna dell’Avvocata, situated on a spectacularly panoramic balcony high above the Amalfi Coast. From the Benedictine Abbey of Corpo di Cava, you first walk up through the golden chestnut woods to the little clearing of Cappella Vecchia or Old Chapel. From here, you enjoy a wonderful view over Vietri sul Mare and Salerno to the south and the ridge of Monte Avvocata to the west. A well-trodden and relatively easy footpath leading through the maquis then takes you to the Avvocata Sanctuary. From here, you can see as far as Paestum and the mountains of Calabria to the south, while views of the Amalfi Coast reach as far as Ravello and Conca dei Marini. This is definitely one of the most beautiful ‘belvederes’ of the entire coast, unknown to most visitors. After visiting the sanctuary, you will start walking down towards Cetara on the Amalfi Coast proper. Here you will pass through grass and shrubland coloured with numerous wildflowers. Along the winding footpath, you will also see some nice examples of local rural architecture. Towards the end of the path, you will enjoy the panorama of the little fishing village of Cetara. You can take your time there to visit its nicely preserved centre and pleasant beach and stop for a cup of coffee or ice cream in the warm afternoon sun. A short bus ride (or boat) along the main coastal road then takes you to Amalfi.

• Walking for the day: 15km, 5-6h, ↑600m ↓950m
• Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana or similar in Amalfi

Day 4: Amalfi to Ravello and back | 17km

Today you walk along a beautiful route (or optionally take the bus) up to the charming historic village of Ravello, one of the most exclusive villages of the Amalfi Coast and a sought-after place by artists over the centuries, as its lofty position and sunny, the dry climate made it an appealing place to writers, artists, musicians and travellers from northern Europe. Boccaccio, D. H. Lawrence and Richard Wagner are among the more notable guests. Ravello not only has a very interesting history and many medieval monuments but also offers beautiful views over the Amalfi Coast. The French novelist André Gide once described the town as being ‘closer to the sky than the seashore’. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas – the superb 11th-century Villa Rufolo, once a papal residence and later, the home of Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th-century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. You can take your time to stroll through the village before starting the walk back down to the coast. Along the dramatically located Villa Cimbrone and the hamlet of Castiglione, you walk first through vineyards and lemon groves, then along a medieval flight of stairs down the beautiful little town of Atrani. This certainly is one of the best-preserved villages on the coast, with the possibility to look around the narrow white little streets of the town centre. The last short stretch to Amalfi is very scenic and has beautiful viewpoints of the town centre.

• Walking for the day: 17km, 6h ↑700m ↓700m (shorter option if you take the bus to Ravello)
• Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana or similar in Amalfi

Day 5: Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve | 11km

From Amalfi, you walk up to the little village of Pontone, where you have the possibility of visiting the medieval defence system of the Amalfi Republic, located on a narrow ridge. The main point of interest is the marvellous Torre dello Ziro, where you enjoy a dramatic view over both Amalfi and Atrani. Then you walk into the Valle delle Ferriere, one of southern Italy’s most beautiful nature reserves. You will see some spectacular scenery, walking on comfortable footpaths underneath the towering cliffs. The path then descends into the Valle dei Mulini, the Valley of the Mills, an almost fairytale landscape with its ruins of some of Europe’s most ancient paper mills, dating back to the 11th century. From here, a beautiful medieval mule track brings you down to Amalfi through lemon groves and maquis with nice views over the valley.

• Walking for the day: 11km, 5h,↑300m ↓700m
• Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana or similar in Amalfi

Day 6: Amalfi to Praiano: Maestra dei Villaggi | 11km

From Amalfi, you walk along one of the oldest pathways of the medieval Amalfi Maritime Republic, the ‘Maestra dei Villaggi’, or ‘main road of the villages’, an old paved mule track dating back to the 9th century. You pass the little villages of Lone and Vettica before arriving at the imposing monastery of Santa Rosa (there is also the possibility of taking a local bus to here, avoiding a 300m ascent). The walk from here first goes to the charming little village of Conca dei Marini, from where you’ll have wonderful views both on Amalfi and towards the western tip of the peninsula. The route then descends to the coast again along some charming churches beautifully located above the rocky shore. You descend into the spectacular fjord of Furore, with its charming fishing village underneath the towering limestone cliffs. From here, you walk uphill again, and past the hamlet and church of Sant’Elia, you take the ‘Via dell’Amore’, into the Valley of Praia. A great last stretch through forest, vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland then brings you to the coastal village of Praiano, where you’ll stay for the next two nights. An optional descent to the very picturesque inlet of Marina di Praia, the old little harbour of Praiano, is worth the effort!

• Walking for the day: 11km, 6h, ↑700m ↓500m (shorter option available)
• Accommodation: Hotel La Perla or similar in Praiano

Day 7: Path of the Gods | 8.5km

Today you start walking from the picturesque whitewashed alleys of Praiano. Then, along a medieval pilgrim route, you walk uphill towards the monastery of San Domenico, set in a scenic location, dominating the coast from its hilltop. Here you can have a little rest before continuing the climb uphill through spectacular scenery with bizarre rock formations and luxurious vegetation. Shortly after, you reach one of Italy’s most famous footpaths, the Sentiero degli Dei (“Footpath of the Gods”). This path really lives up to its name, with gorgeous views of the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and the Cilento (south towards Salerno). The path leads through varied countryside, vineyards, chestnut trees, oak woods, shrubs and broom bushes.  Through this unique scenery, with its unrivalled views, you reach the tiny hamlet of Nocelle. Passing another spectacular valley, you arrive in the little village of Montepertuso. After Montepertuso, it’s only a short walk down to  Positano, one of the most charming villages on the coast. You can do this either by bus or on foot, but we recommend the latter because of the grottos and charming little streets of Positano.

• Walking for the day: 8.5km, 4-5h, ↑500m ↓600m
• Accommodation: Hotel La Perla or similar in Praiano

Day 8: Departure or Onward Travel

After breakfast, frequent bus service can bring you to either Sorrento or Amalfi/Salerno, from where you travel to your next destination (Naples, Salerno or Rome can all be easily reached). Several taxi services are available to bring you directly to your next destination. An extra night in a Naples hotel can be booked upon request.

Click to view default hotels

• Hotel Scapolatiello (Cava de Tirreni)
• Hotel Floridiana (Amalfi)
• La Perla (Praiano)

*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.

Click to view travel options

• The tour starts in Salerno. Regular (high speed) trains run between this town and most major Italian cities (Naples, Rome, Milan). Visit the Italia Rail website for up-to-date timetables and fares, or use the Omio planner above.
• The tour ends after breakfast on Day 8. A frequent bus service can bring you to either Sorrento or Amalfi/Salerno, from where you travel to your next destination (Naples, Salerno or Rome can all be easily reached). Several taxi services are available to bring you directly to your next destination.