For those dreaming of a walking holiday in Italy so we have news for you!
Starting in May, the world-famous Orient Express will introduce a new route connecting Paris with Italy’s Amalfi Coast, marking the first time the service has extended to southern Italy.
Travelling in restored historic carriages, passengers move steadily through northern France and into Italy, with long stretches of agricultural land, small towns and upland terrain shaping the view. As the route progresses south, the landscape becomes more varied, with the approach to the coast bringing intermittent views of the Mediterranean between steep, built-up slopes.
On arrival, the geography of the Amalfi Coast determines how it is experienced. The coastline is steep and segmented, with settlements such as Positano and Ravello connected by narrow roads and a network of pedestrian paths. Walking is often the most direct way to move between points or to access less developed areas.
One of the most established routes is the Path of the Gods, a high-level trail that runs between the villages of Bomeranoand Nocelle. The path maintains a relatively consistent elevation along the cliff face, avoiding the steep ascents and descents that characterise much of the coastline. Its surface varies between compacted earth, exposed rock, and uneven stone steps, requiring steady footing but no technical skill.
From this position, the scale of the coastline becomes clearer. The trail traces the natural contours of the mountains, with terraced slopes dropping sharply towards the sea and small clusters of buildings appearing intermittently below. Vegetation shifts along the route, from scrub and low woodland to cultivated sections where vines and lemon groves are maintained on narrow terraces.
Elsewhere, secondary paths branch off towards smaller settlements and agricultural areas, forming a wider network that reflects how the region has historically been navigated—on foot, along routes shaped more by terrain than by direct distance.