The famous walk from Bomerano to Nocelle is only about 6 kilometres, yet continuing to Positano can add roughly 1,500 to 1,700 stone steps. That is the surprise waiting for the traveller who catches an early bus, walks the trail in warm clothes, and reaches Nocelle expecting an easy stroll into town. May gives you cooler air and longer daylight than winter, but the route still punishes poor timing, weak footwear, and a casual approach to rain.

Why May is the better month for this Amalfi hike

May weather is warm, not reliably hot

Amalfi climate averages put May around 14°C to 22°C, with about 34 to 62 millimetres of monthly rain depending on the dataset and measuring station. Treat those figures as planning ranges, not promises. On the trail, the difference between a clear morning and a wet afternoon matters more than the monthly average because parts of the path are exposed, rocky, and slick after rain. The sea may look ready for swimming, but the mountain air can still feel cool when you leave Bomerano early.

The crowd advantage is real but limited

May usually gives you more space than July and August, especially before 9 a.m. It does not give you an empty trail. Small group tours, weekend walkers, and day-trippers still concentrate around the Bomerano entrance and the viewpoints above Nocelle. My clear recommendation is to walk on a weekday, start between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., and keep the first hour moving instead of stopping at every overlook. You will get quieter views, a lower heat risk, and more flexibility if the bus or ferry runs late.

How to walk from Bomerano to Nocelle without wasting the day

Use this five-step sequence

1. Reach Amalfi early enough to catch a local bus toward Agerola and confirm that it stops at Bomerano before boarding.
2. Get off near Piazza Paolo Capasso in Bomerano, then follow the signs toward the trail entrance rather than relying on a phone pin alone.
3. Walk from Bomerano toward Nocelle. This direction keeps the main route mostly descending or gently rolling and points you toward the best Positano views.
4. Pause at wider viewpoints, but keep water and a light layer accessible; the route has exposed stretches and few convenient places to refill.
5. At Nocelle, choose between the steep descent toward Positano and the local bus, then leave time for the return journey instead of treating the final steps as an afterthought.

Why the direction matters

Starting in Positano and climbing toward Nocelle reverses the day’s effort. You can do it, but it turns a scenic walk into a long stair workout before reaching the main trail. For a first visit, start in Bomerano and finish in Nocelle. The official municipal route description and the CAI Monti Lattari trail listing both identify Bomerano and Nocelle as the key endpoints, while local route measurements vary because some count only the core trail and others include the steps into Positano.

What the route actually feels like underfoot

Maps often disagree by a kilometre or two because the Path of the Gods has a core section and several ways to continue after Nocelle. The practical figures below are more useful than arguing over one official distance.

Where the effort rises

The core route is not a flat coastal promenade. Expect compact earth, stone, short climbs, narrow passages, and sections without a protective railing. The hardest part for many visitors is not the mountain path but the staircase after Nocelle. Wet stone, tired legs, and a full day of sightseeing make those steps more demanding than the distance suggests.

The smart stopping point

If anyone in your group dislikes heights, has knee problems, or is already moving slowly, stop at Nocelle and take transport down. The view does not become less valuable because you skip the final staircase. The clear verdict is simple: walk the core trail for the scenery, then treat the descent to Positano as an optional add-on, not a test of toughness.

What to pack for a May day on the trail

Prioritize grip, water, and a small load over fashionable travel clothes. This is a hiking route with a town at either end, not a sidewalk between resorts, and the wrong shoes create more risk than the moderate distance suggests.

Footwear and layers

The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid Gore-Tex costs about €180 on Salomon’s European site and offers a firm hiking outsole plus ankle coverage; it is my pick if rain is forecast or you want more protection on uneven rock. For a dry, warm day, a lighter trail shoe may feel cooler, but it must still have a real lugged sole. Trainers with smooth rubber are a poor choice. Pack a thin rain shell, a sun hat, sunglasses, and one warm layer for the exposed start above the coast.

Pack size and emergency gear

That capacity is enough for water, food, a layer, first aid, and a power bank without encouraging overpacking. A charged phone, offline map, shared itinerary, and basic first-aid kit are the better value.

• Carry at least 1.5 litres of water per person; add more on hot, clear days.
• Bring food because the trail has no dependable chain of cafés or refill points.
• Use sunscreen even under a spring cloud layer; much of the path is exposed.
• Keep cash for buses, small cafés, or a local ride from Nocelle.
• Download the route before leaving mobile coverage and tell someone your finish plan.

Where to stay and how to build the hiking day

Is Agerola or Amalfi the better base?

Agerola is the efficient choice for the hike because you sleep close to Bomerano and avoid spending the morning climbing the coast road by bus. Choose Amalfi if you want restaurants, ferry access, and a more classic coastal base, but book an early departure and allow for traffic. Positano is the least efficient base for starting the standard route because you must first travel uphill to Bomerano.

What should the day schedule look like?

A practical schedule starts with breakfast by 7:00, transport toward Bomerano by 7:30 or 8:00, trail walking through the morning, and arrival at Nocelle around midday or early afternoon. That leaves time for lunch, a decision about the stairs, and a backup bus if your pace slows. Do not book a tight afternoon ferry immediately after the hike; delays come from traffic, crowded buses, weather, and the simple fact that stone steps rarely match a map app’s walking estimate.

Should you add Positano?

Add Positano if you want lunch, a swim, or a short town visit and have the energy for transport. Skip the stairs if the group is tired. The local bus from Nocelle protects your knees and still delivers you to the coast, while walking down can leave you too sore to enjoy the town you planned to see.

When not to hike the Path of the Gods

Skip the trail after heavy rain, during strong wind, or when low cloud removes the route markers and cliff views; wet limestone becomes a slipping problem, exposed sections feel more serious in gusts, and a foggy day can turn the walk into a navigation exercise with little reward, so checking only the temperature is not enough. Skip it as well if anyone in the group has severe vertigo, poor balance, or knee pain that already appears on ordinary stairs, because the route has no easy shortcut back to the starting point and the final staircase can add hundreds of metres of descent after the main walk is over; choosing a coastal bus day or a shorter village walk is the sensible alternative, not a failure. My verdict for May 2026 is firm: choose a clear weekday morning, carry the right footwear and water, and cancel or shorten the hike when the ground is wet, because the view is not worth trading for an avoidable fall or a stranded return journey.

Amalfi Coast Italy hiking May travel Path of the Gods Positano

Lauren Pope