Path of the Gods by bus: Positano–Amalfi–Bomerano
Overview
From Hostel Brikette, take a suitable Amalfi-bound SITA 5070 service from Chiesa Nuova, change at Amalfi to a SITA 5080 journey that actually stops at Agerola (Bomerano), then walk the Path of the Gods to Nocelle. The return from Nocelle uses a separate local bus, with its own ticket and current service to confirm.
This avoids the ferry leg, but it is not a bad-weather hiking solution or a guaranteed quickest or cheapest journey. Compare the three Path of the Gods approaches before choosing, and check the weather, trail notices and a workable return for your actual date.
On this page
The bus route at a glance
The hike between Bomerano and Nocelle sits between the second and third transport legs. It is a mountain route with exposure, not a connection you can safely shorten to make a bus.
| Leg | Service and destination | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Positano → Amalfi | Suitable SITA 5070 from Chiesa Nuova | Actual Amalfi-bound boarding point, eligible date/day column and ticket |
| Amalfi → Bomerano | SITA 5080 with an Agerola (Bomerano) call | Correct branch and same-column departure/arrival; Agerola alone is not enough |
| Nocelle → Positano | Separate local Montepertuso–Nocelle service | Current stop, return journey, ticket and hostel-side drop-off |
Buy tickets and plan your timing
Plan the two SITA legs and the local return separately. Buy the right SITA products through an authorised seller or supported digital channel before boarding, checking route coverage and the operator's [validation or activation instructions](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/faq). A ticket is not a reserved seat or a protected connection.
Check the dated coastal timetable, the [5080 Agerola timetable listing](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/orari/page/3/) and each table's own day-code legend. At the 26 October 2026 review, the linked 5080 PDF was issued on 16 October and the catalogue listed validity through 1 November. For a later trip, look for the new issue rather than copying these dates into your itinerary.
Arrange enough water, food, suitable footwear and weather protection for an exposed mountain walk. Confirm any planned refill or refreshment stop; a photograph or old description does not establish that a business is open.
Chiesa Nuova to Amalfi: confirm the right boarding point
Leave Hostel Brikette at Via Guglielmo Marconi 358 via the entrance stairs, then follow the road approach for about 120 metres / 390 feet towards Chiesa Nuova / Bar Internazionale. The road distance is separate from the stairs. Use the hostel-to-stop guide and allow time for the approach, narrow pavement and crossing; do not plan on a guaranteed three-minute transfer.
Confirm the Amalfi-bound destination and present-day boarding position with the driver or authorised seller before joining a queue or crossing. The bar photo identifies a landmark, not the current queue or ticket-sale hours. The local Interno stop beside Tabacchi Cafiero on Viale Pasitea is a different service and location.
Follow the instructions for your actual ticket and keep it for the journey. Check the scheduled journey in its eligible timetable column and allow for traffic, waiting and a full bus instead of relying on a fixed 45–60-minute ride. At Amalfi, find and confirm the boarding point for the Bomerano service; a nearby bay is not proof of the right bus.
Pause in Amalfi (optional)
A short stop in Amalfi can fit a genuine gap between suitable services, but first establish the actual next Bomerano departure and boarding position. Decide how far you can go without compromising the connection and allow time to return and queue; no fixed ten-minute margin guarantees boarding.
A purchased ticket does not guarantee space on a particular vehicle. Follow the driver's capacity instructions and leave room for a missed or full connection in your whole-day plan. If the next usable service leaves too little daylight for the hike and return, change the plan rather than trying to recover time on the trail.
Bus uphill to Bomerano
Use a SITA 5080 service with a usable Amalfi departure and an Agerola (Bomerano) arrival in the same eligible column. The current [5080 PDF](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/5080_16_10_2026.pdf) contains repeated rows and different branches, including San Lazzaro and Santa Maria. Agerola on a destination display alone is not enough; check the actual Bomerano call, direction, date and day restrictions.
Ask the driver which current Bomerano stop serves Piazza Paolo Capasso and request the stop in good time. The [Agerola municipal route description](https://www.comune.agerola.na.it/vivere_il_comune/luoghi/luogo_16.html) starts the approach from that square via Via Pennino. Use current signs and a saved route map; the Jerla sign and pink lines in the reference images do not certify today's stop position or an unchanged junction.
Hike to Nocelle
The [CAI trail sheet for route 327](https://www.caimontilattari.it/en/sentiero/327/) lists Bomerano–Nocelle at 5.3 km, grade E, with a two-hour walking estimate. That estimate is for the trail, not your bus transfers, breaks, village approaches or return to Brikette. Plan your own pace and the chosen variant with enough daylight.
[Positano's official hiking guidance](https://comune.positano.sa.it/novita/comunicati/il-sentiero-degli-dei) describes moderate mountain hiking with unprotected exposed sections. Suitable footwear, fitness, secure footing and comfort with heights matter. A bus running does not mean that weather or trail conditions are suitable. Check current alerts, signs and closures; an undated status icon or an old comment is not same-day access confirmation.
Follow current red-and-white waymarks, save the route offline, respect private land and take litter away. The [specific CAI 327a variant](https://www.caimontilattari.it/sentiero/327a/) avoids part of the exposure, not every possible difficulty. Use the trail comparison and difficulty advice or a qualified local hiking guide if unsure.
Navigate Nocelle and reach the bus stop
Nocelle is above Positano, not the beach or the hostel. Before following a staircase, identify the current route to the local bus stop. The ceramic sign pictured below points right to the stairs down to Positano and left towards the Path of the Gods; it does not identify a turn for the bus stop.
Ask locally for the current Nocelle car-park boarding point and the correct journey towards Positano. The illustrated approach includes steps and village walking. Allow time for that separate leg rather than relying on an unverified 175-metre distance, a universal right turn or a fixed walking time. See the Nocelle approach guide for its route context.
Return to Positano
The Montepertuso–Nocelle–Positano local service is separate from SITA 5080. The [municipal tourism office](https://comune.positano.sa.it/amministrazione/uffici/ufficio-del-turismo) points visitors to local transport information and posted QR notices. Confirm the current return timetable, operator, boarding stop, ticket and Positano drop-off locally before committing to the hike. Do not assume SITA-ticket acceptance or rely on an old reproduced timetable.
Request and confirm the stop that fits the hostel approach. Use the Chiesa Nuova arrival guide for the final walk and entrance stairs; the local Interno stop beside Tabacchi Cafiero is distinct from the SITA landmark at Bar Internazionale.
The roughly 1,700 steps from Nocelle towards Arienzo are a separate descent, followed by a coastal-road approach. They are not a direct staircase to Brikette or the same route as walking via Montepertuso. Choose a walking return deliberately, with a current map, sufficient daylight and suitable conditions; do not assume it is an easy fallback after the last bus.
Plan your connections
Build a dated sequence: hostel → Chiesa Nuova → SITA 5070 to Amalfi → suitable SITA 5080 to Bomerano → village approach → selected trail and breaks → Nocelle bus-stop approach → confirmed local return → hostel. Add queues, walking, traffic and at least one missed connection; the trail's two-hour estimate does not establish a full-day duration.
Choose the start and turnaround so the whole route and return fit the available daylight and actual services. Do not turn a delayed bus, a later morning start or attractive evening light into a promise of an easy late hike. Recheck conditions before leaving.
If the transport or trail conditions do not leave a workable day, compare other day trips from Positano. For a hiking-focused stay, use Brikette's actual room and stay information and leave flexibility for weather rather than assuming every chosen date will suit this walk.
Budget for the whole journey and arrange bag collection
Check current SITA fares and [transport conditions](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/condizioni-generali/) for your actual products and bags. Buying, validating or activating a ticket and reserving a seat are different things. Do not bring a large load without checking that each operator can accept it.
If hiking after checkout, enrol in luggage storage through the hostel's guest app. Storage requires the hostel to receive your agreement to the terms and conditions and is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Bags not collected by then automatically go to the porters, who charge for their service. Read the full storage arrangements before planning collection around this hike.
| Item | Include in the budget | Avoid assuming |
|---|---|---|
| Two SITA legs | Correct products for Positano–Amalfi and Amalfi–Bomerano; applicable baggage charges | An old per-leg price or a pass that covers every operator |
| Nocelle local return | Its own current ticket and any applicable baggage charge | Inclusion in a SITA ticket or a guaranteed final bus |
| Other choices | Water, food and any optional qualified guide or confirmed private transport | A fixed snack budget or a seller's tour package being a compulsory trail ticket |
Before committing to the route
Do not start solely because buses are operating: check forecast, local alerts, current trail signs and closure notices.
Keep room for full or changed services; neither an early queue nor a ticket guarantees a particular vehicle or onward connection.
Do not mistake the Nocelle–Arienzo staircase for a direct route to Brikette, or use an unplanned descent after missing the return bus.
What to bring
- Correct products for both SITA legs and the separate local return, with saved timetables and validation instructions.
- Footwear for rough exposed mountain paths and steps, plus sun or rain protection suited to the forecast.
- Enough water and food for your actual walk without depending on an unconfirmed shop or refill point.
- A charged phone, offline route map and a shared route/turnaround plan that includes the journey home.
What to include in your budget
- The actual SITA tickets or suitable pass for both chosen legs; check current fares and coverage instead of old per-leg figures.
- The separate local Nocelle return and any applicable baggage charges across the operators you use.
- Your food, water and any optional qualified guiding or confirmed private transport. Check current access conditions; a transport or tour package is not itself proof of a compulsory trail ticket.
Connection and return reminders
- Confirm the whole return before leaving, then allow margin beyond the trail walking estimate.
- Use the correct date, direction, branch and day-code legend in each timetable; no fixed service interval applies to every day.
- Treat the Nocelle village approach, bus stop and final hostel walk as separate legs.
- Keep tickets and follow their actual validation or activation requirements; a ticket is not a guaranteed seat.
- Plan bag collection around the 15:00 storage cutoff or the chargeable automatic porter transfer.
Step by step
- Check the whole day and tickets: Confirm suitable trail conditions, two SITA legs and the separately ticketed local return, with daylight and missed-connection margin.
- Reach the Amalfi-bound stop: Use the entrance stairs and approximately 120-metre road approach to Chiesa Nuova; confirm the present boarding point and SITA 5070 destination.
- Change at Amalfi for Bomerano: Choose a SITA 5080 column that actually serves Agerola (Bomerano) on your date; verify the branch and ticket.
- Reach the marked trail approach: Confirm the Bomerano stop, then use Piazza Paolo Capasso, current signs and an offline route map.
- Walk the selected route to Nocelle: Follow open marked paths at a pace suited to the terrain and your party; keep the trail-only estimate separate from your whole day.
- Complete the separate return: Find the confirmed local bus stop and journey, use its correct ticket, then follow the appropriate hostel arrival route.
FAQs
How crowded are the buses?
Capacity varies by service and day. Allow time for a full vehicle or missed connection, wait clear of traffic and follow the driver's instructions. Neither a ticket nor arriving first guarantees a seat; stand only where permitted and keep passages clear.
Can I stop in Amalfi for sightseeing?
Only use a genuine gap after confirming the next suitable Bomerano service, actual boarding point and enough time to return and queue. Do not assume a fixed interval between buses or sacrifice daylight needed for the hike and return.
What if I miss the Nocelle bus back?
Check the current local timetable and ask locally or your accommodation about an actual suitable alternative. Confirm any licensed transfer's availability, pickup and total quote. A walking descent needs its own route, distance, daylight and traffic assessment; neither a 45–60-minute walk nor the Arienzo stairs is a guaranteed convenient fallback.
How do I read the SITA bus timetable?
Select the dated table for the correct direction and read its own service-day legend. Each journey column must contain both the departure and arrival you need. For 5080, check the actual Agerola (Bomerano) row: repeated rows, branches and empty cells matter. Check the Nocelle return in its separate local-operator information, not as another SITA column.
How long does the bus-and-hike trip take?
Build your actual hostel-to-hostel sequence, including the road approach, both buses, Amalfi transfer, Bomerano approach, hiking and breaks, Nocelle stop approach and local return. CAI's two-hour Bomerano–Nocelle estimate applies to the 5.3-km trail, not the complete trip. No fixed total or arrival time fits every date and pace.
How much does the trip cost?
Add the current correct products for both SITA legs, the separately priced local return, applicable baggage charges, food, water and any optional guide or private transport. Check pass coverage before comparing it with singles. Include all three transport legs rather than treating the SITA portion as the whole day's cost.
Is taking the bus a suitable option for beginners or bad weather?
The bus avoids a ferry leg; it does not remove uneven mountain ground, unprotected exposure or unsuitable trail conditions. Assess your fitness and comfort with heights against the actual route, check current alerts and closures, and choose another activity or seek qualified local advice if uncertain.
Do I have to descend the 1,700 stairs after the hike?
No: plan the separate local return from Nocelle, subject to actual service and capacity. The roughly 1,700-step descent leads towards Arienzo, not straight to Brikette, and differs from the Montepertuso walking route. Choose any descent in advance with a suitable map and enough daylight.
Can I leave luggage at Brikette while hiking after checkout?
Enrol through the hostel's guest app. The hostel must receive your agreement to the terms and conditions, and storage is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Bags not collected by then automatically transfer to the porters, who charge. Plan collection against your real return journey.
