Walking the Amalfi Coast Highlights

Day 1: Arrival Amalfi

Take a bus or book a private transfer and reach your hotel. The first three nights are spent in Amalfi town, where all our chosen hotels are centrally located at walking distance from the seas and all the main monuments of the medieval town centre.

• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Amalfi (Hotel Floridiana or Hotel Lidomare or similar)

Day 2: Amalfi circular walk: Valle dei Mulini I 10km

Today is an easy walk giving you time to take in the fine landscapes and ancient culture of the the region. First, you walk into the quiet back alleys of Amalfi. An ancient staircase takes you underneath impressive limestone cliffs towards the village of Pontone, part of the medieval defence system of the city of Amalfi. Don’t miss Torre dello Zirro, with superb views of Amalfi and Atrani. Continue on through Pontone into the Valle dei Mulini, the valley of the watermills, with ruins of Europe’s most ancient paper mills, dating back to the 11th century.  Descend back to Amalfi, the scenery changing to lemon groves and maquis scrubland. As the walk is relatively short, you still have some time to wander around Amalfi or have a swim.

• Walking for the day: 9-10km, 4-5h, ↑­­­­500m ↓500m
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Amalfi (Hotel Floridiana or Hotel Lidomare or similar)

Day 3: Amalfi to Ravello and back I 8km

Today you walk along a beautiful route (or optionally take the bus) up to the historic village of Ravello, one of the most exclusive villages of the Amalfi Coast and a sought-after place by artists over the centuries. 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 Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th-century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. An entrance ticket to Villa Cimbrone is included in the tour price. Head back down to the coast through vineyards and lemon groves, then along down a medieval flight of stairs to Atrani, believed to be one of the best[-preserved traditional villages on the coast. The last short stretch to Amalfi continues to be as beautiful as ever.

• Walking for the day: 7-8km, 3-4h, ↑­­­­500m ↓500m (shorter option possible)
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Amalfi (Hotel Floridiana or Hotel Lidomare or similar)

Day 4: Amalfi to Praiano: Maestra dei Villaggi I 10-13km

From Amalfi, walk along one of the oldest pathways on the Amalfi Coast, the Maestra dei Villaggi, a mule track dating back to the 9th century. You pass the villages of Lone and Vettica before coming to Santa Rosa Monastery. There is also the possibility to take a local bus here, avoiding a 300m ascent. Continue on to the village of Conca dei Marini, with superb views over Amalfi and the western tip of the peninsula, before descending back to the coast.

You descend into the Furore Fjord, with its charming fishing village underneath the towering limestone cliffs. From here, you walk uphill again, past the Sant’Elia hamlet and church continuing along the Via dell’Amore into the Praia Valley.

A great last stretch through forest, vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland then brings you to the coastal village of Praiano, where you stay for the next two nights. An optional descent to Marina di Praia, the old harbour of Praiano, is worth the effort.

• Walking for the day: 10-13km, 5-6h, ↑­­­­600m ↓600m
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Praiano (Hotel La Perla or similar)

Day 5: Valley of Praia and Sentiero degli Dei I 11km

Walk through the narrow streets of Praiano up towards Santa Maria di Costantinopoli church. From here, continue into the Praia Valley, where an array of vineyards cling to the cliffs. You then climb up to Sant’Alfonso church and onto Santa Barbara caves. Another short section uphill brings you to the beginning of the famous Sentiero degli Dei or Path of the Gods, a walk with unrivalled views. head back down to Praiano along an ancient stepped path and, if you have time and energy, we recommend a descent to the inlet of Cavitella.

• Walking for the day: 11km, 4-5h, ↑­­­­600m ↓600m
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Praiano (Hotel La Perla or similar)

Day 6: Praiano to Positano I 9km

Start your day walking up towards the hilltop monastery of San Domenico. Continue up to the Path of the Gods, renowned for its incredible views, as far as Montepertuso. Then it’s all downhill to Positano, one of the most elegant villages on the coast, where you spend the night.

• Walking for the day: 9km, 4-5h, ↑­­­­400m ↓400m
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Positano (Hotel Pupetto or similar)

Day 7: Positano circular walk or a boat trip to Capri I 8-11km

Today you have two options: a scenic hike high above Positano or a trip by boat to the famous island of Capri.

If you choose the Capri tour, you get to walk through many of its highlights including the Roman ruins of Villa Iovis, the untouched coastline and a range of gorgeous grottos. This walk can be extended or shortened as you wish. Return by boat to Positano in the late afternoon, passing by the Islands of the Sirens. Please note: the Capri boat fare is not included in the holiday price but payable locally.

If you prefer to do the circular hike, take the local bus up to Montepertuso, from where you start a superb walk around the upper valley of Positano. Following ancient footpaths, through the forest to various viewpoints, continue up to Santa Maria al Castello, the old fortress defending the narrow valley between the Amalfi and Sorrento sides of the peninsula. Descend through woodland to Caserma Forestale, from which you can walk up to Monte Sant’Angelo, the highest mountain on the peninsula, a demanding but rewarding ascent. The standard walk continues through the forest and zigzags back down to Montepertuso and finally to Positano.

We also recommend booking an extra night in Positano so that you can do both options shown above on two consecutive days.

• Walking for the day: 8-11km, 4-5h, ↑­­­­700m ↓700m
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Positano (Hotel Pupetto or similar)

Day 8: Departure

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 Floridiana or Hotel Lidomare (Amalfi)
• La Perla or La Costa Diva (Praiano)
• Pupetto (Positano)

Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen 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

If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail to Naples or Salerno. For more details, see the national rail operator, Trenitalia.

The tour starts in Amalfi/Atrani, connected with Salerno by a frequent bus (and boat) service and Naples by a less frequent bus service. In summer, there are direct boats from Naples. A taxi pick-up service can be arranged either from Naples (airport or train station) or from Pompeii or Castellammare di Stabia, which can be easily reached from Naples with the local Circumvesuviana train. Visit Trenitalia for up-to-date train timetables and fares, or use the Omio planner above.

The tour ends after breakfast on day eight in Positano. 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 by train). Several taxi services are available to bring you directly to your next destination.