Highlights
- Zip around romantic Rome on a Vespa, and visit the mammoth Colosseum
- Spend a day cycling around the Tuscan countryside with a guide
- Join a cooking class at an organic farmhouse and learn to make pasta
- Take a private boat trip to Capri from Sorrento, and stop at the Blue Grotto
- Board a sunset cruise in Positano and explore the Amalfi Coast at dusk
Brief Itinerary
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Rome, Classic Rome by Vespa | Rome |
Day 2 | Colosseum Tour, Trastevere Evening Food Stroll | Rome |
Day 3 | Train to Florence, Self-Guided Art Tour: Uffizi & Accademia | Florence |
Day 4 | Full-Day Tuscany Tour: E-Bike, Wine Tasting & Lunch | Florence |
Day 5 | Organic Farmhouse Cooking Class | Florence |
Day 6 | Train to Naples, Transfer to Sorrento, Beach Time & Limoncello Tasting | Sorrento |
Day 7 | Private Capri Boat Tour | Sorrento |
Day 8 | Transfer to Positano, Self-Guided Walking Tour | Positano |
Day 9 | Free Time in Positano, Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise | Positano |
Day 10 | Transfer to Naples, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Rome, Classic Rome by Vespa
Ciao, and welcome to Rome—the capital of Italy! As the cradle of Western civilization, Rome's imperial grandeur and religious significance put it on the bucket list of many travelers. On arrival at the airport, a private driver will meet you and take you to your accommodation in the center of the Eternal City. Drop your bags and refresh ahead of this afternoon's two-wheeled tour, the perfect start to your romantic vacation.
Picture yourself cruising past the monumental Colosseum and the Roman Forum on the back of a Vespa. Live out your own "Roman Holiday" while crossing the seven hills with the wind in your hair. Zip through narrow alleyways and bustling piazzas, and experience Rome's vibrant pulse in a way that other modes of transport don't allow. Make a spontaneous stop for a gelato or an espresso to truly live Ia dolce vita. Later, make a reservation at a local restaurant to taste one of Rome's four famous pastas: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and gricia.
Day 2: Colosseum Tour, Trastevere Evening Food Stroll
No trip to the Italian capital would be complete without visiting the icon of ancient Rome—the Colosseum. This morning, a guide will lead you through the landmark, which is still the largest amphitheater in the world. Step through the Gladiator's Gate and go back in time to discover the city of the Caesars. Explore the upper levels and access the arena floor. After exploring the Colosseum, completed in the year 80 BCE, you'll continue to the Roman Forum and finally climb Palatine Hill, all while learning about the world's first global empire.
This evening you'll explore Rome through its food scene. Meet a passionate local guide in Campo de' Fiori, the city's historic food center. You'll take a culinary walk through Rome's historic Jewish ghetto and the romantic Trastevere neighborhood, snacking along the way and learning that Italian food is much more than pasta. That said, your final stop is a dreamy trattoria where you'll sit down to taste classic Roman pastas, such as cacio e pepe, carbonara, and amatriciana, with Italian wines.
Day 3: Train to Florence, Self-Guided Art Tour: Uffizi & Accademia
This morning, board a comfortable high-speed train from Rome to Florence. Just over 90 minutes later, you'll find yourself in the "jewel of the Renaissance" and the capital of Tuscany. This historic city is filled with architectural beauties, such as the Duomo, and is home to world-famous art by Michelangelo and da Vinci. On arrival, leave your bags with the hotel and set out to explore this open-air museum. You should be able to squeeze in a few sights along with lunch before this afternoon's self-guided art tour.
Discover the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance in its birthplace when you visit two of the most recognized museums in Florence. Start at the Uffizi Galleries, one of the world's great art museums with the finest collection of Italian Renaissance art, including the "Birth of Venus" by Botticelli. After, explore the Galleria dell'Accademia, near the Duomo. This convent was converted into a study space for students, but now it's the second-most visited museum in Tuscany. Its main drawcard is Michelangelo's "David," arguably the most famous sculpture in the world.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Full-Day Tuscany Tour: E-Bike, Wine Tasting & Lunch
There's no better way to explore the postcard-perfect scenes of Tuscany than on two wheels. Today, you'll roll along tree-lined avenues and past rows of vines, breathing in the fresh air and experiencing the iconic landscapes of Tuscany up close. A private driver and guide will take you out of Florence into the hills for the day, where you can take your pick of cycling routes and itineraries based on your fitness and love for riding.
After pedaling around the Tuscan hills for a few hours, you'll stop for a well-deserved lunch. Sit down to feast on a multicourse traditional Tuscan lunch (complete with a pasta dish of course). Each plate will be paired with local wines, giving you a full-bodied taste of the region. Following lunch, you'll be free to explore the landscape on foot or relax in the vineyard before returning to Florence for the evening.
Day 5: Organic Farmhouse Cooking Class
You'll spend all of today in the Tuscan countryside at a very special cooking class. Wave goodbye to Florence for the day and say hello to the rolling green hills, cypress trees, and medieval villages of the Tuscan countryside once more. You'll spend the day at an organic estate in the Chianti Hills, learning to cook genuine local fare from a talented chef. The day begins with a gentle stroll through the vineyard-clad hills to discover the fresh produce and seasonal ingredients at the base of Tuscan cooking.
Your chef will show you how to tell which organic herbs and vegetables are ripe enough to pick for today's lunch. Then, you'll return to the rustic farmhouse, where you'll join a hands-on cooking lesson and prepare a multicourse Tuscan meal. You'll likely make two types of pasta, such as ravioli and pappardelle, plus a delicious dessert. When the meal is ready, sit down for a rewarding late lunch paired with some of the world's most extraordinary wines.
Day 6: Train to Naples, Transfer to Sorrento, Beach Time & Limoncello Tasting
Swap the hills of Tuscany for the Sorrentine Peninsula today. Board a three-hour high-speed train south to Naples. At the train station in Naples, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your accommodation in Sorrento, about a 45-minute drive away. Drop your bags, grab a towel, and set off on a beach-hopping adventure. The beaches along Sorrento's southern coast are some of the most beautiful in Italy. Closer to Sorrento the bays are rockier than most of the Amalfi Coast, but that also means fewer people.
Find the city's main beaches around the Marina Grande and Marina Piccola ports, or organize a car to take you a short drive away to lesser-known stretches of sand. After a quiet and relaxing afternoon sunbathing and swimming in crystal clear waters, it's time for a limoncello tasting. The Sorrentine Peninsula and Amalfi Coast are famous for lemons, so end the day with a workshop where you'll learn how to make the refreshing liqueur yourself.
Day 7: Private Capri Boat Tour
Capri has been a hideout for the rich and famous since the ancient Romans ruled these lands. The island is known as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean," and today you'll experience its sunshine, summer villas, and clear blue waters aboard a private boat with your own skipper. Look back at the colorful houses as you leave Sorrento, and get ready for a romantic day out on the water as you circle the fabled isle. On the way, you'll stop at Marina Piccola. This picturesque inlet is lined with stabilimenti—elegant bathing lidos.
Traveling west, you'll pass the beach of Marina Grande and Bagni di Tiberio. Then, the coastline becomes a scene of high calcareous cliffs with fissures and grottoes, covered by lush coastal vegetation. After, stop by the famous azure waters of the Blue Grotto, where you can switch to a small wooden boat and enter the grotto itself. Continue to the Faraglioni sea stacks, spend free time on the island to shop high-end boutiques and buy gelato, then sit back, relax, and enjoy the final rays of the day with a glass of Prosecco as you return to Sorrento.
Day 8: Transfer to Positano, Self-Guided Walking Tour
This morning, after breakfast, a private driver will transfer you 40 minutes along the Amalfi Coast. Along the drive, take in panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and dramatic coastal cliffs as you navigate toward Positano, where colorful buildings cascade down to the sparkling blue sea below. The Amalfi Coast is famous for its lush landscapes, lemon groves, terraced vineyards, warm hospitality, and fresh seafood, and the town of Positano is one of the region's beating hearts that blends this natural beauty with a more sophisticated edge.
Check into your hotel, then set off for a self-guided afternoon walking tour of the steep village. Start with the ninth-century church of Santa Maria Teresa dell'Assunta, the symbol of Positano, then get lost in the narrow alleyways and staircases that connect the artisan shops and ancient villas of the town. Later, make your way down to the main beach, Spiaggia Grande, where pebbles melt into turquoise waters. Grab a gelato and dip your toes in the sea, or stop somewhere for an Aperol spritz.
Day 9: Free Time in Positano, Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise
This morning is yours to enjoy the beauty of Positano. After breakfast, take a stroll around the village and appreciate the slower pace of life that exists in these small coastal towns. You might like to shop at some of the many boutiques in town or venture down to the water and relax on the beach with a good book. For lunch, find a terrace where you can enjoy the view with a big bowl of seafood pasta.
Spend the rest of the afternoon at the beach, soaking up sunshine and holiday vibes with a spritz in one hand. Later you'll set off for a special sunset cruise along the Amalfi Coast. It's when the sun goes down and the day trippers leave that this coastline really shines. Close to sunset, you'll board a small boat for a one-hour cruise, taking in the landscape of Positano from the water as day turns to night and the stars rise into the sky.
Day 10: Transfer to Naples, Depart
It's the final morning of your romantic Italian getaway. After breakfast, a private transfer will take you from your Positano hotel to Naples International Airport in time for your departing flight. Safe travels!
More Great Italy Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Italy? Check out these other Italy itineraries, explore different ways to spend 10 days in Italy on your honeymoon, or discover the best time to visit Italy.