Paths of the Amalfi Coast: Self-Launched Edition

Fly or train into Naples, then make your own way up to Bomerano. Cheapest route: Alibus from Capodichino airport to Naples Centrale (~€5), then Circumvesuviana/local train to Castellammare di Stabia or Sorrento and the SITA bus up to Agerola, or the direct SITA bus from Naples to Agerola/Bomerano (roughly €6–10, 1.5–2 hrs). A shared or private transfer from the airport runs €80–120 per car if you can split it. Check in to a guesthouse in Bomerano, buy a SIM/eSIM if needed, and stock up at the village bakery and mini-market (Agerola is famous for its fiordilatte cheese and taralli). Evening: cheap pizza or a home-style dinner at a local trattoria; walk 10 minutes out of the village for the sunset over the coast. Ask your host for the current trail conditions and bus timetables — the CAI 327 trailheads start right in the village.

🚌Airport bus (~£4) + SITA bus (~£7); optional shared transfer €80–120 per car

🛏Family-run B&B/guesthouse or hostel dorm in Bomerano (~£25–35 pp)

• →Alibus + SITA bus transfer Naples to Agerola
• →Village orientation walk and bakery/market shop
• →Sunset viewpoint over the coast

Walk the classic coastal trail down from Bomerano to Amalfi — roughly 3–4 hours, uneven stone paths and plenty of steps, following old mule tracks through lemon groves and hamlets like Pontone with huge views over the coast. Descend to Amalfi, then visit the Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo) and its Cloister of Paradise (combined ticket around €3–5). Wander the town, grab a gelato, and if it's warm take a swim off the small beach or Marina Grande. Return to Bomerano by SITA bus from Amalfi (about €2.50–3.50, 40–50 min) — buses are crowded in summer, so aim for the early evening ones. Navigation: download the offline maps and GPX tracks for CAI 327 / 'Sentiero degli Dei' before you go; signage is decent but the local tourist office in Amalfi can confirm routes.

🚌SITA bus Amalfi–Bomerano (~£3)

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Coastal trail walk Bomerano–Pontone–Amalfi (~10 km)
• →Amalfi Cathedral & Cloister of Paradise
• →Swim and gelato break in Amalfi

A half-day hike straight from the doorstep: from Bomerano follow the signed trail up to Monte Tre Calli (~1,100 m, around 2–3 hrs up) for one of the best panoramic views on the whole peninsula — you can pick out Capri, the Sorrento Peninsula and the coastline stretching south. Nothing technical, but a steady climb on rocky paths and steps; carry 1.5–2 L of water and a packed lunch from the village. Descend the same way or link it to the circuit above Bomerano. Afternoon: rest your knees, hit the village café, or do a short walk on the 'Passeggiata' loop along the valley rim. Budget extra for a cheese-and-salumi picnic — Agerola's fiordilatte is the local speciality.

🚌No transport — walk from accommodation

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Monte Tre Calli summit hike (~10 km, 4–5 hrs)
• →Picnic with views over Capri and the Sorrento Peninsula
• →Short afternoon walk above the village

Your biggest add-on day, and easily done yourself. Take the SITA bus down to Amalfi or Castellammare, then the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (total roughly €8–12 each way). Buy Pompeii entry online in advance (about €18–20; the €22 combined Pompeii + Herculaneum/OPLONTIS ticket can be worth it). For Vesuvius, the easiest independent option is a bus/tour connection from Pompei or Ercolano plus the crater entrance (about €12) — book a GetYourGuide or Klook 'Pompeii + Vesuvius' day tour from Sorrento/Naples (roughly £45–70) if you'd rather have transport sorted. Dry, sunny alternative: ferry or bus to Capri for the day (ferry ~€22–25 each way from Amalfi, plus a day of walking and the cheaper Marina Grande/Monte Solaro area rather than the Blue Grotto queue). Get back to Agerola on the last SITA bus and eat cheap in the village.

🚌SITA bus + Circumvesuviana train (~£12–20 return)

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Pompeii archaeological site (self-guided audio tour)
• →Optional Mount Vesuvius crater walk
• →Alternative: Capri day trip by ferry

The headline walk: leave Bomerano on the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), one of Italy's most famous day hikes. The main route to Nocelle/Positano is about 3–4 hours, mostly level contouring with a long staircase descent; the extension up over Montepertuso or out to the Punta Lìmoni crag adds an hour and bigger views. You can push on to the more exposed upper path if you're comfortable with heights — otherwise stay on the main trail. Descend into Positano, wander the colourful terraced streets, and eat cheaply at a focaccia/panini shop rather than beachfront restaurants. Return by SITA bus from Positano to Amalfi then up to Bomerano (about €2.50–4), or in season take the ferry Positano–Amalfi (roughly €15–20) and bus back up. Trails close in bad weather — check the local forecast each morning.

🚌SITA buses Positano–Amalfi–Bomerano (~£5) or ferry (~£18)

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) hike Bomerano–Positano
• →Positano town walk and beach stop
• →Optional ferry along the coast

A flexible day. Option one: the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve circuit from Pontone or Amalfi — a steep, rocky, sometimes muddy canyon walk past waterfalls and ancient ironworks (about 4–5 hrs; closed or inadvisable after heavy rain, so ask locally the day before and check the reserve's status). Option two: bus to Amalfi and take the seasonal boat to the Grotta Smeralda (Emerald Grotto) at Conca dei Marini (boat plus entry around €10–15). Option three: a genuinely lazy day — read, swim, do a short stroll on the village trails, and eat a long lunch. This is a good day to do laundry, re-provision and plan the Ravello walk for tomorrow.

🚌SITA bus if heading to Amalfi (~£3)

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Valle delle Ferriere reserve walk (weather permitting)
• →Alternative: Grotta Smeralda boat trip from Amalfi
• →Rest day in Bomerano

Bus down to Amalfi, then walk east to Atrani — Italy's smallest municipality and a beautifully preserved tangle of alleys — before climbing the old stepped paths up to Ravello (about 1.5–2 hrs of stairs, take it slowly). In Ravello, visit Villa Cimbrone and its Terrace of Infinity (garden entry around €10) and the Ravello Cathedral (free or a small donation). Eat lunch at a plain café in the main piazza rather than the view restaurants. Walk the high route back towards Amalfi via the Torre dello Ziro viewpoint with the classic lookdown over Atrani and the coast, then bus back to Bomerano. Reward yourself with dinner and one last gelato in the village.

🚌SITA buses Bomerano–Amalfi return (~£6)

🛏Bomerano guesthouse/hostel (~£25–35 pp)

• →Amalfi–Atrani–Ravello stepped walk
• →Villa Cimbrone gardens & Terrace of Infinity
• →Ravello Cathedral and Torre dello Ziro high route

Breakfast at the guesthouse, then retrace your route down the hill: SITA bus from Bomerano to Naples or to Sorrento/Castellammare, then train or Alibus to Naples airport or Napoli Centrale. Allow a generous 2–2.5 hrs to the airport and leave a buffer for the bus not showing up — the Agerola buses are reliable but infrequent on Sundays and holidays. If your flight is later, stash your bag and spend a few hours in Naples: the Archaeological Museum (Pompeii finds), a sfogliatella, and a walk through the Spanish Quarter or along the lungomare.

🚌SITA bus Bomerano–Naples (~£7) + Alibus/train to airport (~£4)

🛏None — departure day

• →SITA bus back to Naples
• →Optional few hours in Naples city centre