Tastes of Southern Italy: Rome, Naples & Sorrento - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Rome, Evening Aperitivo & City Sights by Night 

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 enticing mix of ancient history, laid-back piazza lifestyle, and delicious cuisine that continues to captivate visitors worldwide.

Golden hour in Rome is when the locals fill the streets and piazzas for one of the country's favorite predinner rituals—aperitivo (local drinks including prosecco, spritz, or artisanal beer, served with small bites). This evening, you'll experience the city's famous landmarks by golf cart, a great way to zip through the distinct quartiere (neighborhoods) and learn about aperitivo and Rome-specific customs from your guide. Start with a tour of Testaccio, famed for its vast food market, 118-foot (36 m) high Pyramid of Cestius, and some of the city's best eateries.

Your next stop is the charming Jewish Quarter, established in 1555 CE and now famed for its leafy cobbled streets and carciofi alla giudia (Jewish fried artichokes). As dusk falls, head to Gianicolo Hill to see the sunset over the "Enchanted City," where you can even glimpse the twinkling St. Peter's Dome in the Vatican. Then, it's on to the Pantheon, where you'll sip prosecco in the Piazza della Rotonda and admire the temple's dramatic silhouette. Your tour ends after a visit to the Trevi Fountain, whose illuminated Baroque carvings are even more spectacular at nightfall.

Day 2: VIP Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour, Classic Italian Cooking Class

Follow in the footsteps of gladiators this morning with a private walking tour of Rome's iconic Colosseum. Built by Flavian emperors in 80 CE as the epicenter of Ancient Rome's public entertainment, you'll slip the queues and discover the amphitheater's highlights and the labyrinthine dungeons. You'll also get special access to the arena itself—it's a moment to remember as the custodian unlocks the gates and you 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.

Later on, you'll continue your immersion into Italian life with an authentic cooking class led by a local, who'll guide you through the different types of pasta used in Roman cuisine and the four classic sauces: carbonara, cacio e pepe, alla gricia, and amatriciana. You'll start by preparing the dolce (dessert). Choose from a classic tiramisu or gelato and leave to set as you work on the pasta. Learn how to mix and knead your flour and eggs, then cut or shape your preferred type of pasta. At the end of the workshop, sit down with your fellow chefs and enjoy your creations.

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 its maze of narrow streets, 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 private 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, weaving 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, learn the best places to feast on Neapolitan pizza and gain private access to places where the city's culinary masters do their work. Be sure to leave room for gelato and polish off your foodie tour with delicious 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:  Explore Naples, Neapolitan Pizza Masterclass

Spend today exploring Naples at your own pace and either embrace the chaotic choreography of the scooters and street life or take a self-guided tour of the city's churches, museums, and historical highlights. The splendid Duomo di Napoli, a 10-minute walk from Piazza Cavour, dates back to the 13th century and incorporates a range of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architectural styles, while the San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica is one of the city's oldest and most interesting churches—it even hides the remains of an underground Greco-Roman market.

Follow the main street, Via Toledo, toward the waterfront, and you'll find the Royal Palace, San Carlo Theater, and Castle Nuovo, all worth a visit, including the castle's two museums, which house an array of medieval and 19th-century paintings, sculpture and objects. Don't miss the Fontana dell Gigante, a beautiful 17th-century fountain featuring a trio of arches adorned with heraldic symbols and marine animals. Standing on the waterfront near Castel dell'Ovo, it's a great place to catch a breather and soak up your Neapolitan experience.

Later on, spend your last afternoon in Naples discovering the secrets to making the perfect Neapolitan pizza. You'll be led by your guide to the restaurant of one of the city's oldest families of pizza makers. Your pizzaiolo and his staff will greet you and introduce you to the art of pizza making, guiding you through every step of the process, from which ingredients to use to the history of this world-famous dish. With your creations freshly out of the wood-fired oven, you'll dine with your fellow chefs and add "Neapolitan pizza maker" to your cooking repertoire. 

Day 5:  Transfer to Sorrento via Pompeii, Aperitivo & Evening Stroll

Day 7: Return to Naples, Depart

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