Amalfi to Ravello Circuit

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Amalfi to Ravello Circuit: Stone Steps Above the Coast

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

Amalfi to Ravello Circuit scored 81/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 71
Accommodation 74
Food & support 81
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 76

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Amalfi to Ravello Circuit is a 10.5 km moderate day walk on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy. It links Amalfi with Ravello by ancient stone staircases, paved village lanes and rougher mule tracks, with about 650 m of ascent. The route suits fit walkers who want a compact coastal hike with historic towns, lemon terraces and big sea views, but it is step-heavy rather than technical. For another Italian coastal classic, compare the Cinque Terre Coastal Trail.

Route Overview

The walk starts and finishes in Amalfi, typically around Piazza del Duomo or Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi, so no transport leg is needed if you complete the loop. Several waymarked variants exist, commonly linking Amalfi, Atrani, Pontone, Scala, Minuta and Ravello, with an optional spur to Torre dello Ziro. The full Amalfi–Pontone–Ravello–Atrani circuit is about 10.5 km, while shorter point-to-point Amalfi–Ravello versions are around 8 km. Expect a mix of scalinatelle, alleyways, lanes and rougher dirt or rocky paths. If you want a quieter southern coastal option after this, see the Cilento Coast Trail; for island hiking, consider the Aeolian Islands Trek.

Old trade routes, watchtowers and Ravello villas

Amalfi was a powerful medieval maritime republic, trading across the Mediterranean with Arab and Byzantine ports and rivalling Venice, Genoa and Pisa. The stone staircases and mule paths on this circuit were practical routes between the coast, hill hamlets and terraced farms, used for trade, pilgrimage and daily travel. Watchtowers such as Torre dello Ziro formed part of the coastal defence network against Saracen raids, while Ravello later became a retreat for noble families, artists, writers and musicians.

Notable highlights

Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Sant'Andrea): The walk begins in Amalfi beside a cathedral known for its steep monumental staircase and Arab-Norman Romanesque architecture, a reminder of the town's medieval trading links.
Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve: A protected reserve with the Canneto stream, waterfalls, medieval ironworks ruins and the rare giant fern Woodwardia radicans; it adds a greener, cooler contrast to the coastal steps.
Torre dello Ziro: A 12th-century watchtower above Atrani, reached by a short spur, with a strategic ridge position that explains the coast's old fire-signal lookout network.
Villa Rufolo, Ravello: A 13th-century villa built by the Rufolo merchant family, with Moorish-influenced architecture and gardens; Richard Wagner's 1880 visit linked it to Parsifal.
Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity: Near the high point of the walk, this villa's belvedere is one of Ravello's best-known viewpoints over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Pontone, Scala and lemon terraces: Quiet medieval hamlets and terraced citrus groves break up the climb, with the Amalfi sfusato lemon closely associated with these hillsides.

Challenges to expect

The main challenge is the relentless stair climbing and descending: about 650 m of ascent, much of it on stone steps. Surfaces vary from paved alleys to dirt and rocky paths, and the scalinatelle can be slippery when wet. Summer heat is a real issue on exposed sections, so spring and autumn are better. Navigation is usually manageable, but variants via Atrani, Pontone, Scala, Minuta and Torre dello Ziro can be confusing.

455

Ranked #455 of 974

See the Top 100 →