Positano
Nocelle to Arienzo Beach (via stairs)
- Distance
- 2 km
- Elevation Gain
- 20 m
- Duration
- 1-1.5 hours
This vertiginous descent connects the eagle’s-nest hamlet of Nocelle — endpoint of the Path of the Gods — with the coast far below. More than 1,500 steps carry you from 440 meters above sea level down to the road level near Positano, from where you can continue to Arienzo Beach. The stairway is old, steep, and relentless, zigzagging through terraces of abandoned lemon groves with views that expand with every switchback. Nocelle sits perched on a cliff shelf so high that the boats in the sea below look like white specks. As you descend, the scale shifts: houses grow from dollhouse to real size, the sound of waves replaces wind, and the temperature climbs noticeably. The final approach passes through upper Positano’s quieter neighborhoods. Arienzo Beach itself is reached by its own famous stairway of 300 steps from the road — the reward is a beautiful, less-crowded beach that catches the last afternoon sun. Do this walk downhill only unless you have mountain-athlete legs.
What you see
- 1,500+ steps descending from 440 meters to sea level
- Dramatic perspective shift as the coast grows from miniature to real
- Abandoned lemon terraces and old farming infrastructure
- Arienzo Beach — quiet, beautiful, blessed with late-afternoon sun
Where to take pictures
- Nocelle departure
- Looking down from Nocelle — the entire coast laid out below like a map
- Mid-stairway switchback
- The zigzag stairs with Positano gradually filling the frame below
- Arienzo Beach from above
- The cove beach seen from the road-level stairs — deep blue water against white pebbles
Seasonal Notes
Best spring and autumn. Summer is scorching on the exposed stairs — start early. The descent is always easier than the climb. If you came west on the Path of the Gods, this is the natural continuation down to the sea.
Getting There
Start: Nocelle is reached by local bus from Positano (10 min, infrequent) or by completing the Path of the Gods. End: Arienzo Beach area, with SITA bus stop on the main road above.
The tip
If your knees suffer on long descents, bring trekking poles. After 1,500 steps, your quadriceps will thank you for the extra support.