Day by day
Each day is written to balance structure with breathing room. Named hotels, named meals, named activities; logistics noted where they matter.
Day 1
Arrive Rome · Trastevere evening
Land at FCO, Leonardo Express to Termini, taxi to your hotel. Drop bags, cross the Tiber to Trastevere for a walk before dark, and a first-night osteria dinner at Enzo al 29 (no bookings, arrive at 19:30).
Stay:Hotel de la Ville or J.K. Place Roma · Spanish Steps area, walkable to everything
- ◆Trastevere walk at dusk
- ◆Dinner at Enzo al 29 — No bookings; arrive 19:30
- ◆Gelato at Fatamorgana Monti
Logistics: FCO → Termini: Leonardo Express 32 min €14 · Termini → hotel: taxi €10–15
Day 2
Rome · Vatican and Trastevere
Vatican Museums at 09:00 on a pre-booked skip-the-line ticket — walking the full museum takes 3 hours to the Sistine Chapel. St Peter's afterward. Lunch at Pianostrada. Afternoon resting or back in Trastevere. Evening dinner at Armando al Pantheon (book 3 weeks ahead).
- ◆Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel (book 4 weeks ahead)
- ◆St Peter's Basilica + cupola climb
- ◆Lunch at Pianostrada
- ◆Dinner at Armando al Pantheon — Book 3 weeks ahead
Day 3
Rome · Colosseum, Forum, Palatine
The ancient-Rome morning. Colosseum at 08:30 on a Full Experience ticket (underground and arena floor). Roman Forum and Palatine in the late morning. Lunch in Monti. Afternoon at Villa Borghese gardens and the Galleria Borghese (book — timed entry only).
- ◆Colosseum Full Experience — Book 3 weeks ahead; underground + arena floor
- ◆Roman Forum + Palatine Hill
- ◆Lunch in Monti (La Carbonara)
- ◆Galleria Borghese — 2-hour timed entry; book a month ahead
Day 4
Frecciarossa to Florence
Morning train from Roma Termini to Firenze SMN (1h 32m). Check into your Florence hotel around lunch. Afternoon at the Duomo, climb Brunelleschi's cupola (reserved time slot), and the rest of the day on foot through the Oltrarno. Dinner at Trattoria Mario or Da Cesare al Casaletto.
Stay:Hotel Savoy or Helvetia & Bristol Firenze · Central Florence walkable hotels
- ◆Duomo + Brunelleschi's cupola climb (463 steps)
- ◆Piazza della Signoria + Loggia dei Lanzi sculptures
- ◆Ponte Vecchio + Oltrarno walk
- ◆Dinner at Trattoria Mario (lunch-only, so 12:00)
Logistics: Frecciarossa Roma → Firenze: 1h 32m · €45–85 depending on advance
Day 5
Florence · Uffizi, Accademia, Boboli
Two heavy-hitter gallery mornings: the Uffizi for Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio; then the Accademia for Michelangelo's David. Lunch outdoor in Piazza Santo Spirito. Afternoon in the Boboli Gardens and the Pitti Palace. Dinner at Cibreo Trattoria.
- ◆Uffizi Gallery (timed entry, 3 hours)
- ◆Accademia Gallery — Michelangelo's David
- ◆Lunch in Piazza Santo Spirito
- ◆Boboli Gardens + Pitti Palace
- ◆Dinner at Cibreo Trattoria
Day 6
Tuscany day · Chianti or Siena
A hired-car or guided day into the Chianti hills south of Florence. Vineyard visits at Castello di Ama and Fontodi, lunch at a working agriturismo, and an afternoon in Siena (the Campo, the cathedral) before driving back by 19:00.
- ◆Chianti drive: Castello di Ama + Fontodi wineries
- ◆Agriturismo lunch
- ◆Siena: Piazza del Campo + Duomo
Logistics: Hired car or guided tour: €350–500 for the day with driver
Day 7
Florence → Amalfi Coast
Morning Frecciarossa Florence to Naples (2h 45m), regional train Naples to Salerno (40 min), pre-booked private car transfer to Positano (1 hour). Afternoon swim and an early dinner at Lo Scoglio on Praiano's point.
Stay:Le Sirenuse or Il San Pietro di Positano · Cliffside Amalfi classics
- ◆Positano beach afternoon
- ◆Dinner at Lo Scoglio, Nerano — 12 tables on a rock in the sea; book
Logistics: Firenze → Napoli (Frecciarossa) 2h 45m · Napoli → Salerno (regional) 40m · Salerno → Positano (private car) 1h
Day 8
Amalfi Coast · Boat day
A small-boat day along the coast: Positano to Nerano for lunch at Lo Scoglio, swim at Li Galli (the Sirens) islands, Amalfi town in the afternoon for the cathedral, and the evening boat back to Positano for dinner at Chez Black or Da Vincenzo.
- ◆Boat rental (Lucibello) — full day €700–900
- ◆Li Galli swim + Nerano lunch
- ◆Amalfi town: Duomo + Paolo Barbaro pastry
- ◆Dinner at Chez Black (Positano beach)
Day 9
Ravello and a Neapolitan afternoon
Morning drive up to Ravello — Villa Cimbrone's terrace view is the single best in Italy. Lunch at a garden restaurant, then drive back to Naples (1h 30m). Evening pizza at Da Michele or Sorbillo, and a last walk around the old town.
- ◆Villa Cimbrone + Ravello gardens
- ◆Naples: Da Michele pizza (worth the queue)
- ◆Spaccanapoli walk + Sansevero Chapel
Day 10
Depart Naples
Morning at the Archaeological Museum (Pompeii frescoes, the Farnese Bull) if you have a late flight. Taxi to NAP airport for direct connections to most European capitals plus JFK.
- ◆Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Pompeii treasures)
- ◆Lunch at Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo
Logistics: Naples Centro Storico → NAP airport: taxi €25, 25 min
