Rome, Naples & the Amalfi Coast - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Rome, Private Tour of the City

Benvenuti in Roma! Upon arrival at the airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in the historic center. Settle in and relax, then head out to discover Rome's enchanting mix of ancient history, easygoing piazza lifestyle, and fantastic cuisine that continues to captivate visitors worldwide.

Start your discovery of the "Eternal City" with a private tour. Led by an experienced guide, you'll start at the Spanish Steps, Europe's longest and widest staircase (135 steps in total), which leads to a glorious panorama over the city and Piazza di Spagna at the bottom. Admire the Baroque Bernini fountain in the square, then wander the maze of alleyways and cobblestone streets toward the Pantheon. The dramatic focus of the Piazza della Rotonda is a 2,000-year-old ancient temple still used today for services and worship.

Break for gelato in the square while your guide shares tales of the city's ancient, political, and cultural history, then continue to Bernini's Trevi Fountain, another Baroque masterpiece where a coin tossed inside is said to seal your return to Rome. Your tour finishes in Piazza Navona, a grand square famous for its Fountain of the Four Rivers and abuzz with sidewalk artists and musicians. Soak up the atmosphere with aperitivo at one of the bars that line the piazza, and as dusk falls, head to a local trattoria for delicious pizza Romana.

Day 2: Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Today, you'll dive into the history of the Roman Empire and follow in the footsteps of gladiators with a guided tour of the Colosseum, the world's largest amphitheater. Built by Flavian emperors in 80 CE as the epicenter of Ancient Rome's public entertainment, you'll discover the amphitheater's highlights, including the formidable arena. See the marble seats reserved for the Roman senators and imagine the roar of 80,000 spectators calling your name.

Continue your step back in time with a short walk to Palatine Hill, once an exclusive neighborhood for political leaders and emperors, where you'll see ruins of the sprawling palaces. Admire the umbrella pine-dotted views toward the Vatican, Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forum—the focal point of political life in Ancient Rome and your final stop. Explore the forum's vast 2,000-year-old excavations that reveal the temples, squares, and religious sites used by the empire's noble citizens. Meanwhile, your guide will bring the ruins to life with fascinating stories of the political power plays conducted here.

Finish your afternoon in Monti, a great local neighborhood near the Colosseum. Do as the locals do, and sip a spritz or caffè in the Piazza della Madonna dei Monti and indulge in the Italian spirit of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). You'll also find plenty of trattorias here to sit down and grab dinner when the sun starts to set, and the piazza fills with locals gathering to socialize. 

Day 3: Train to Naples, Street Food Tour

While Naples is justifiably famous for its pizza and its rich history of Neapolitan cuisine, it's also one of Italy's most magnetic and unique cities—with labyrinthine narrow streets, an exuberant atmosphere, and culture and chaos at every turn. You'll experience the best of the city's street food and architectural gems today as you board a high-speed train from Rome's Termini Station for the one-hour and 15-minute journey. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your central accommodation. Grab some downtime before heading out to meet your guide.

You'll start this afternoon's tour with a walk through the lively Mercato dell Pignasecca, where you'll enjoy tasty morsels such as taralli (tiny, crunchy, and flavorsome bagels), mozzarella di bufala, and cuoppo di pesce fritti (cones of fried fish), from the enthusiastic vendors. Continue to snack, weave your way through the back streets, and see the city's key landmarks, churches, and piazzas while your local guide shares anecdotes about Naples' history, architecture, and culture.

There'll be plenty of time for refreshments as you seek out old bars while your guide shares the best places to feast on Neapolitan pizza. Be sure to leave room for gelato and polish off your foodie tour with sfogliatelle (sweet shell-shaped filled pastries) and espresso. You'll part ways with your guide in the UNESCO-listed Centro Storico (Historic Center), where the rest of the evening is yours to continue the evening at one of the local bars and sample the city's nightlife. 

Day 4: Transfer to the Amalfi Coast via Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius

Leave the city behind this morning and enjoy a relaxed, scenic transfer toward the Amalfi Coast. You'll stop along the way to visit two of the area's key sites, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. Walking through the remains of Pompeii's ancient streets is a fascinating and sober experience, with the ash and volcanic debris that flowed from Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE preserving many of the town's structures entirely. See the plazas, villas, and shops frozen in time before visiting a workshop to see local handicrafts being produced.

Next, you'll continue your tour of the area with a stop at Mount Vesuvius National Park. It's a gorgeous drive as you pass a series of small farms and wineries dotted along the landscape before reaching the dormant volcano. It's around a 30-minute hike to the crater with some steep ascents, but it's worth it for the exceptional views of the Bay of Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Afterward, you'll continue to your hotel on the Amalfi Coast in time for aperitivo in the local piazza and dinner at a local neighborhood trattoria.

Day 5: Day Trip to Capri, the "Isle of Sirens"

Set sail for the "Isle of Sirens" this morning as you board a ferry and cross the cobalt blue waters past the Amalfi Coast to Capri, known locally as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean." You'll arrive at the Marina Grande harbor, where the day is yours to explore the island at your leisure. Head first to the quaint village of Anacapri perched toward the top of the island. Here, you'll see the sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius that prompted Emperor Tiberius to build twelve villas on the isle.

Stroll Piazza Vittoria and stop for a gelato before taking the chairlift from Anacapri to Mount Solaro. At 1,932 feet (589 m) above sea level, it's the island's highest point and offers more astonishing views across the bays and over to the Calabrian mountains. When you're ready, make your way back down and enjoy lunch by the sea. After a wander around Capri's chic Old Town, don't miss a trip to the Gardens of Augustus. These beautifully manicured Mediterranean gardens provide the world-famous shot of the dramatic Faraglioni Rocks below.

Day 6: Guided Tour of Amalfi, Citrus Farm Visit & Limoncello Tasting

Spend today visiting the coast's namesake. Amalfi is one of the Mediterranean's undisputed jewels, famous for its picturesque whitewashed houses, historical churches, and beautiful handmade paper. Your guide will accompany you on a tour of the town, where you'll taste artisanal gelato in the beautiful Piazzetta di Sant'Andrea, Amalfi's main square, before wandering up to the top of the town to the Romanesque-Baroque Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea. 

In the afternoon, you'll drive along the coast to a scenic lemon farm, where you'll meander through lemon groves filled with Sfusato Amalfitano lemon trees. See the farmers at work and discover the special qualities of Amalfi lemons and how citrus fruits are used throughout Italian cooking in both salato (savory) and dolce (sweet) dishes. You'll end your tour with a delicious farm lunch using local produce and finish by tasting the farm's own artisanal limoncello (lemon liqueur).

Afterward, your driver will drop you back at your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Rent a kayak and explore emerald green grottos and visit tiny hidden beaches or hike one of the area's many walking trails, including the aptly named "Path of the Gods." In the evening, find a scenic spot to people-watch over a spritz, then head out to dinner and dine on fresh seafood as you savor the picture-perfect Mediterranean views. 

Day 7: Transfer to Naples, Depart

Say goodbye, or ciao, to Italy for now. Take advantage of any extra time with one last cappuccino in the piazza before transferring to Naples, where you'll catch your flight home or continue your European adventure. Safe travels!

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