The Ultimate 10 Days in Italy Itinerary

Ads are how we keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

If treasure chest was a country, Italy is one full of history, culture, fashion and deliciousness. Rome resonates with stories of gladiators and emperors. Venice is full of romantic canals and quirky bridges. Florence buzzes with Renaissance architecture and world-famous art. And every spot on this 10 Days in Italy Itinerary is like opening a new treasure chest!

Pour in a pleasant Mediterranean climate, a steaming hot pizza or a plate of pasta and the smell of a freshly brewed espresso and you have a winning recipe for a 10-day holiday. Can you see it all in 10 days? Absolutely not! But it’s long enough to get a long-lasting impression of Italy that’ll make you want to come back for more. Again and again!

Psst: Planning a trip to Italy & Europe? Here are some other useful posts:

Oh hey, guess what? We’ve created a printable e-book version of our Two Super Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries (for Two Weeks) post available fo’ free! It’s a solid 30 pages of travel tips, printable packing lists, and all the itinerary details you need to plan a Europe in winter trip. Sign up below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox:

10 Days in Italy Itinerary FAQ

Italy is an easy country to travel through. Good roads between major cities (although driving in Italy can be a bit of an ‘experience’. I’ll tell you about that a bit later!), very good train connections between cities and friendly people who are willing to help when you’re stuck. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to prepare for your trip though.

Here are some things you should know before you head off to Italy:

Where should I fly in and out of?

The two main airports to internationally fly in and out of Italy are Milan Malpensa or Rome Fiumicino. This 10 Days in Italy itinerary starts and ends in Rome, so Fiumicino it is!

The best way to get from the airport to the city center of Rome? Take the Leonardo Express! It’s a direct shuttle train that runs every 15 minutes. It takes you to the city in just under 32 minutes and costs around $19. A taxi takes at least 50 minutes and is more expensive.

How do I get around Italy?

I mentioned earlier that driving is ‘a bit of an experience’. Driving in Italy is often chaotic, unpredictable and busy. Are Italians bad drivers? I don’t think so. Everybody is used to this type of driving, so it’s fine, but it’s probably very different to your daily drive at home. 

But why not take the train? The train network in Italy is great! Taking the train is convenient, gets you right into the city (parking in Italian cities is…creative) and relatively cheap. In this 10 Days in Italy Itinerary you will visit popular destinations, which is really easy to do by train. So my advice is to go for that, unless you really have a good reason to drive.

What is the best time to visit Italy?

9:00am on a Tuesday morning! Oh, you mean seasons and stuff? In that case, the answer is a bit less specific.

Spring and autumn are probably the best time to visit for most travelers. This is when temperatures are between 60℉ and 70℉, so pretty pleasant. Another huge advantage is that cities are not packed with other tourists. Of course it will be busy, because Italy is a popular destination, but nothing like the crowds that visit in summer.

Do you not like waiting in line for everything? Do you like your photos with as little strangers as possible? Winter is your season to visit Italy! It doesn’t really get freezing cold in the Mediterranean either, with mild temperatures between 30℉ and 50℉. If you stay away from the mountains, of course!

Don’t write off summer though! I personally love Italy in summer. It can get very busy at tourist destinations, but to me that’s Italy at its best: beautiful sites enjoyed by lots of people. It fills the squares and streets with a buzzing atmosphere. If you’re into photography, you may have noticed the typical hazy light in Italy. I’ve only seen that in summer. Yes, summer in Italy is hot and crowded, but I’m all for it.

10 Days in Italy Itinerary

Now you know pretty much everything you need to prepare for your trip, let’s see what you can do in 10 days in Italy. We have created an exciting itinerary that lets you experience the highlights of Italy. Not all of them, but I guess you would just have to come back for more. 

Day 1: Arrival in Rome

• Today you’ll arrive in Italy’s magnificent capital, also known as the Eternal City.

Don’t run off to the Colosseum or Vatican City yet! Let’s take it easy today, as you’ve only just arrived. Rome is a lovely city to explore on foot, so let’s go for a walk to get your whereabouts.

The Spanish steps are a great first stop on your walk. Have a coffee (espresso if you want to do like the Italians; milky coffee is only for breakfast) and one of the many pastries at Trecaffe Due Macelli on Via Dei Due Macelli 107. Can’t choose? I think you can never go wrong with a cornetto al pistacchio, a cone-shaped croissant filled with pistachio cream.

Walk on to the famous Trevi Fountain. The popular activity here is to stand with your back towards the fountain, then throw in a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. The legend goes that if you throw one coin, it means you will return to Rome. If you throw two coins, you will fall in love with an Italian. If you throw three coins, you will marry that person. I tried it and something amazing happened! I left with less money than I came with.

Continue your leisurely stroll towards the Pantheon, on to the Forum and the Colosseum. Don’t go in, but just admire them from the outside. You’ll soon figure out that Rome is like an open-air museum. This walk takes less than an hour if you walk it in one go, but you can easily spend a few hours admiring the city and taking photos. It’s so impressive.

You must be hungry by now! If you ask any Roman (that’s a resident of Rome, not a legionnaire) where you can get some good food, the answer will be the Trastevere neighborhood. This area is famous for its many bars and restaurants, and I love it at the end of the afternoon when the area fills up and it creates a bustling atmosphere. Think people eating and drinking outside, cobblestone squares and narrow streets, grapevines hanging over your head.

Walk across the river Tiber to get to Trastevere. Have dinner at Osteria Nonnarella, for authentic Roman cuisine that tastes like it’s made by an Italian grandma (maybe it is, who knows?).

Where to Stay in Rome

When in Rome…it’s best to be in the middle of it all. I really liked Hotel Fellini, which offers 3-star comfort and is only a stone’s throw away from the Trevi Fountain. All the main sites are only a short walk away from this great hotel!

Day 1 Summary

Day 2: Rome

• Today you’ll visit iconic sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Wake up slowly with a breakfast buffet and a good cup of coffee (cappuccinos are allowed this time of day) at your hotel. Today you’re going to see some cool iconic sights up-close.

The Colosseum is one of those sites that deeply impressed me. Of course, the structure is iconic and it’s amazing to see it still dominating the skyline of Rome, but it was the atmosphere that really got me. Being in the stands, looking down on the arena, you can almost feel the gladiators fighting below, the clamoring of the spectators, the roaring of the lions. Brutal of course, but very evocative.

I like this tour of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It makes your visit to the Colosseum a lot more interesting and gives you exclusive access to the arena floor – you get to enter the arena the same way the gladiators did! Plus, you can skip the line, which is very much needed once you see how long the lines for the Colosseum are.

After the Colosseum, your guide will take you to the Roman Forum. I wrote earlier that Rome is an open-air museum and this can’t be more true for the Forum. This used to be the hub for politics and socialising in ancient Rome. Walk around this area, brought alive by your guide through stories and facts, to get a vivid idea of what it was like to live in Rome throughout the centuries.

The tour concludes at Palatine Hill. This is the most important of seven hills in and around Rome. This place has been inhabited since 1,000 BC and is believed to be the center from which Rome grew into the city it is now. You’ll see some beautiful ruins of majestic palaces, and the views of the city are spectacular from here.

Time for lunch, after a busy morning! Enjoy a nice pizza at Pizzeria Acqua & Farina.

The Appian Way is a famous ancient main road just outside the city center. This road runs from Rome to Brindisi in the ‘heel’ of Italy. It was used to supply the Roman army with supplies. The stretch along Rome is just under 10 miles long. Along the way you see ancient basilicas and catacombs you can visit. 

You can walk or cycle the Appian Way, but you’ve had a busy morning, so I’ll go easy on you. This golf cart tour is more relaxing and more fun. This tour takes around 2.5 hours and you’ll get to see more of the Appian way than just walking alone and it also includes a 30-minute walking tour of the Catacombs of Rome. Che bello!

Head to Trastevere again for dinner at Tonarello, a cozy Italian restaurant. You’ve got to try the pasta with meatballs here. Alternatively, if you still have enough energy, I recommend a Trastevere Food Tour instead. A local foodie takes you round all the best places in this trendy area, with a lot of stops to try local food and wines. 

Day 2 Summary

Day 3: Rome

• Today you’ll explore St. Peters’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums.

After another lovely breakfast buffet in your hotel, it’s time to head to a new country. Wait, what? This is the 10 Days in Italy Itinerary, right? 

Vatican City is officially an independent country, right in the middle of Rome. It’s the residence of the Pope, and most other residents are priests and nuns from all over the world. Vatican City is a very popular place to visit – so popular that during my first visit to Rome I walked over to the Vatican, saw the lines and turned around immediately. I would have had to wait in line between one to two hours to get in.

Back then, skip-the-line tickets weren’t a thing, so you won’t have that problem now. Unless you want to wait in line of course, as a kind of weird achievement thing. Vatican City is not very big, but there is a lot to see. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums which are full of famous art. Add the masses of visitors to that, and you can easily spend a whole day there, including queuing up.

A guided tour of the Vatican lets you skip the line and see all the highlights this micro-state has to offer, led by a knowledgeable guide. This way you see the highlights in about 2.5 to 3 hours. Don’t forget to have a look at the lines when you walk past. It’s worth it for that alone!

Afterwards, have lunch at The Loft, just outside Vatican City. This awesome Italian brewpub is a great spot for a beer and a light lunch. A sharing platter with local meats, cheeses, tomatoes and olives hits the spot.

Any meal in Italy – except breakfast – can take hours. Multiple courses, a glass of wine in between each. A good chat and a good views. Take your time, have a glass of wine, try some light bites, unwind…or totally be like me and be back outside within 30 minutes.

Today’s itinerary ends a bit later than usual, so there’s nothing planned this afternoon. Want to explore streets, squares and alleys to see what you can find? Go for it! Want to go shopping for some Italian fashion? This is the place! Thinking of going back to the hotel for a nap? Go all out, but set your alarm for dinner! (Trust me, I’ve been there before, waking up at midnight confused, thinking I’ve been asleep for two days!)

Dinner at Pasta e Vino Osteria in – guess where? – Trastevere. This restaurant’s name tells you exactly what to expect here. This is where you go for a hearty bowl of pasta and a glass of great wine, although the steaks are pretty spectacular too!

At 8:30pm, it’s time for an awesome evening activity. The paranormal night walking tour takes you through the secret backstreets of Rome, past places haunted by paranormal activity, where gruesome executions have taken place. Will you see anything? Who knows! The guide is great and knows how to tell a spooky story. Shivers down my spine (and it wasn’t even cold)!

Day 3 Summary

Day 4: Arrival in Florence

• Today you’ll travel from Rome to Florence and explore the city!

This morning, after breakfast in the hotel and checking out, take a train from Rome to Florence. The train departs from Roma Termini station and takes you directly to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. The journey takes around an hour and a half.

Check into your room for two nights. After you’ve made yourself at home, it’s time to explore this city the Italians nicknamed ‘La Bella’ (The Beautiful). Florence is very walkable, so let’s get out there.

But…lunch first. Let’s start your Florence adventure with a sandwich from I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti. A sandwich? I know, but these are great. Think freshly baked focaccia, fresh cold meats, the best tomatoes and vegetables…hands down the best sandwiches of Florence. 

Spend the afternoon walking through the city. Take your time and soak it all up. Visit Piazza della Signoria, which is not just your average square. It’s like an open-air exhibition with some very famous sculptures. A copy of Michelangelo’s David, for example, or ‘“Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Cellini. Even the fountain is a combination of stunning sculptures.

You’ve spotted a copy, but it’s time to see the original “David” sculpture by Michelangelo. You’ll find him inside Galleria dell’Accademia. There’s definitely a buzz here amongst the visitors. David is kind of a big thing, almost like a celebrity. The rest of the gallery is home to lesser-known works by Michelangelo, some even unfinished. It’s like visiting his workshop back in the day.

Galleria dell’Academia gets quite busy, so skip-the-line tickets are recommended!

Walk past the Cathedral of Florence, the Duomo di Firenze, which is impressive to say the least! The central dome is enormous. It is the largest structure ever built by brick. Ever! Most major cities in Italy have a cathedral, but the white marble and dark green windows make this one stand out! You can even climb to the top for an amazing view. And sore calves the day after!

Try to plan your walk so that you’ll reach Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) at around sunset. This famous bridge was built in 1345, so yes, it is a pretty old bridge indeed. Through the centuries, the bridge has always been home to traders and shopkeepers, which is still the case now. 

Why sunset? Well, I think the bridge is especially beautiful on a sunny day, about an hour before the sun goes down. The light gets this soft, yellow glow, which makes the bridge look stunning.

Have dinner at La Buchetta (make sure you book a table beforehand). This old-school Italian bistro serves classic pasta dishes, ravioli and steak dishes. Steak Florentine, anyone? I had amazing gnocchi here, garnished with edible flowers, and tiramisu for dessert. It was probably the best meal I ever had in Italy. There, I said it! 

Where to Stay in Florence

The city center of Florence is so compact that you can easily walk everywhere. Residenza Benizzi is near Ponte Vecchio, which is both convenient and stunning! The modern rooms are very stylish and super comfortable, some with views of the Cathedral. The hotel serves a great breakfast too!

Day 4 Summary

Day 5: Florence

• Today you’ll be amazed by the artistic and historic delights of Florence by visiting the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Breakfast is light, with coffee and single-portion snacks you can take out or eat there. 

Florence is the city of Renaissance art, so I guess you know what’s coming. Spend the morning visiting the Uffizi. This is one of the most famous galleries in the world and a must-visit in Florence. Now, the Uffizi is not just your average gallery. It is huge! I’m talking about 100 rooms and more than 2,200 paintings. Yeah, you could spend all day here. Don’t though, we have more to see!

I made a list of works you must see in the Uffizi (and even that will take all morning!):

• “Primavera” by Sandro Botticelli
• “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
• “Madonna of the Goldfinch” by Raphael
• “Annunciation” by Leonardo da Vinci
• “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino
• “Venus of Urbino” by Titian
• “Doni Tondo” by Michelangelo
• “Medusa” by Caravaggio
• “Laocoön and His Sons” by Baccio Bandinelli

Are you after some authentic Florentine cuisine for lunch? I know just the place! Mangiafuoco Bracerie serves delicious authentic food. Try the pappa al pomodoro, which is a soup made with Tuscan ribbed tomatoes. The soup is so thick it’s almost like a tomato porridge. Sounds weird, tastes amazing!

This afternoon you’ll visit Palazzo Pitti, one of the most iconic buildings of Florence. This palace started out as a house, built by Luca Pitti, who lived here and died before it was finalized. Dynasties that followed all lived here and had the house expanded, until it became the palace it is now. It houses a few museums which display silverware, jewelry and porcelain collections, as well as Renaissance paintings and modern art.

Boboli Gardens are – well – the gardens of the palace. These beautifully landscaped grounds cover 111 acres, so you can stroll here for hours, wondering what it must be like to have lived here. And what it would be like to get lost in your own garden!

The palace and gardens are very popular attractions, so it’s a good idea to get skip-the-line tickets here, or book a guided tour of the palace and gardens if you like to hear more about the families that lived in Palazzo Pitti, their history and their lives. The stories make your visit a richer experience.

Have dinner at Angel Roofbar & Dining. This exciting restaurant is located on the roof terrace of Hotel Calimala. The rooftop has three levels. There’s a restaurant, two bars and a 360° panoramic patio. The southern Mediterranean food is absolutely delicious.

Day 5 Summary

Day 6: Arrival in Venice

• Today you’ll travel to this one-of-a-kind city and take a gorgeous gondola ride.

Start the day early with breakfast at your hotel in Florence, then it’s time to pack and leave. After check-out, take a morning train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to Venezia Santa Lucia station. This is a direct service that takes you via Bologna and Padova to Venice, so you don’t need to change. It’s a 5-hour journey, so it’s a good idea to grab some lunch and snacks to eat on the train.

Arriving in Venice is a surreal experience that I’ll never forget. You arrive at the station, get off the train, walk through the hall towards the exit. So far so good…but then when you come out, there are just boats everywhere instead of cars. Yes, I had seen pictures of Venice and I know it has canals instead of roads. But actually seeing it was so unlike any other city, that nothing could’ve prepared me for this.

Check-in at the hotel where you will stay for two nights. Freshen up and get out there to explore this city locals nicknamed Serenissima (The Serene).

Do you know what I really like to do in Venice? Just wandering around! Put your map down, don’t use Google Maps, but just walk wherever you feel like going. Forget about the famous places for now. This way you can really find some hidden gems in Venice, whether it’s a restaurant, a picturesque street or canal, or a perfect spot for a picture. The romantic canals are great for exploring!

Walk around as long as you like, but leave an hour or so for the most cliche thing you can do in this city. Think about Venice and you see a couple sitting in a gondola, cuddled up. The gondolier slowly pushes the boat through the romantic canals, while singing “O sole mio”. The couple’s faces slowly moving towards each other, slurping the same strand of spaghetti, until they…Wait, was that in Venice? 

Anyway, you get the point. This is so cliche you have to do it! You will never forgive yourself if you’ve been to Venice and you didn’t get to ride the canals in a gondola. Whether you are there as a couple, with friends, or riding solo (mio), just go for it. 

Gondola rides are so popular there was fierce competition among gondoliers. Therefore an official tariff is now in place. A 30-minute ride costs around $88. If you’d like the gondolier to sing or play an instrument (can you play the grand piano please?), it’ll cost extra.

If you don’t mind sharing a gondola with others, you can book a gondola ride here for a very reasonable $45 – sometimes even less if it’s on offer. The number of people per gondola is small, so it’s still a pretty private experience.

Do boat rides make you hungry too? Head to Bacaro Quebrado for dinner. This tavern-style restaurant serves phenomenal classic pasta dishes. I love al fresco dining, and this restaurant has outdoor seating. You basically sit right in the street, watching people walk by.

Where to Stay in Venice

The city of Venice is built on 118 small islands (but there are loads of other islands in the Lagoon of Venice), surrounded by canals. They are linked through 438 bridges. Pretty impressive! The city is divided into six districts. For this short stay, I would advise to stay around the Grand Canal. The Rosa Salva Hotel is a great place to stay. Modern design rooms in an old building and super comfortable beds. Staff is friendly and it’s only a short walk away from Piazza San Marco.

Day 6 Summary

Day 7: Venice

• Today we’ll visit Piazza San Marco and the Doge Palace.

Have a traditional Italian breakfast at Rosa Salva this morning, which is literally a pastry and a small cappuccino or espresso. The café with the same name is just outside your hotel, and happens to be one of the best pastry shops in Venice. Lucky you!

In Venice, all roads – well, canals – lead to Piazza San Marco. Not literally, but even if you just walk around you will eventually end up on the centrally located St Mark’s Square. It’s worth a visit!

Walking around this square always feels like going back in time. I don’t know whether it’s the impressive buildings like the Doge’s Palace or the Byzantine architecture of St Mark’s Basilica, or if it’s just the large clear space in an otherwise built-up city. Either way, spend some time just being on the piazza, soaking it all in.

Seeing the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica is best done with a guided tour. You get a fun and interesting experience, knowledgeable guides and you get to skip the line. The grandeur of both buildings is truly impressive. The tour starts at 10am at Riva Degli Schiavoni and takes about three hours, which flies by as it’s so interesting.

It’s tempting to find a restaurant on Piazza San Marco, but I would find something a bit farther away. Most places charge extraordinary prices for food and drinks, often by charging high coperta, meaning “cover” charge, which is the cost charged in Italian restaurants just to sit at the table. Normally it’s €2 or €3 per person, but on this square it seems the sky’s the limit.

Only a couple of minutes’ walk away from Piazza San Marco is Pako’s Pizza and Pasta, which is a hole-the-wall restaurant for takeout pizza and Italian fast food. And it’s good too! Quick is good in this case, because your next tour starts at 2:00 pm and leaves from Piazza San Marco.

Luckily it’s a boat ride, so nothing too active after walking through the majestic buildings of Piazza San Marco. This tour visits two of the islands of Venice: Burano and Murano and takes four hours in total.

Burano Island is famous for its colorful houses and lace production, while Murano is known for Murano Glass of course. Can you visit two islands in four hours? Yes, but it’s wise to book a tour if you just have an afternoon, as the timing just works. 

You can visit the islands on your own as well, taking a vaporetto, which is like a water bus if that makes sense. No, it hasn’t got wheels. It’s a regular public transport boat service. Lines 4.1, 4.2, 12 and 13 go to Murano. Line 12 takes you from Murano to Burano.

Visiting the islands by public transport takes a bit longer and gets busy, so you might have to wait for the next vaporetto. If you don’t feel like booking a tour and rather go on your own, I would advise to just visit one island. Between the two, Murano would be my choice. The glass-blowing is cool to see and there are more vaporetto services back to Venice.

Back in Venice, have dinner at RistoPub Rossini. This restaurant has a great vibe and really good burgers and steaks. I know, I know, it’s kind of wrong not to eat Italian food in Italy, but the burgers (and beers!) are a nice change from pasta and pizza.

Day 7 Summary

Day 8: Arrival Amalfi Coast – Positano

• Today you’ll travel from Venice to Positano, on the Amalfi Coast.

Have breakfast at Pasticceria Rosa Salva. Why change a good thing, right? Plus, there are always new pastries to try.

An early start today, as you will travel a lot. Goal is to get to Positano on the world-famous Amalfi Coast. You really can’t come to Italy without seeing this stunning coastline. If you think of the map of Italy as a long boot, then Positano is where you would lace them up – well, depending on how tall the boot is of course. Or be complicated and look at a map if you like. 

A long journey, but it’ll be worth it. It’s about 5 and a half hours from Venice to Naples by train, after which you have to take a ferry that will take you to Positano in around 1.5 hours. It will be a restful journey though, with a direct train service to Naples that costs around $100.

If you want to speed things up, you could opt to fly from Venice to Naples. The flight time is an hour and twenty minutes. Ryanair flies here for ver low prices, but you need to pay extra for large cabin bags or to check-in luggage.

To get from Naples to Positano, I prefer to take the ferry. It costs around $37 and takes around 90 minutes. It sits in between taking the bus, which takes 2.5 hours but is slightly cheaper, and taking a taxi, which takes an hour but costs between £250 and £300. It all depends on your preferences and how many people you’re with.

Take it easy upon arrival. Check in to your hotel and enjoy being on one of the most beautiful coasts in Italy, perhaps even in Europe. The Amalfi Coast is famous for its pebbled beaches, deep blue water and colorful towns nestled in green hills and cliffs. All the towns on the Amalfi Coast are beautiful, but Positano is absolutely stunning and it has everything you need. And then there’s the food! Think amazing Italian cuisine, but with fresh sea-food. It’s breathtaking to be here!

If you want to have some time to relax by the sea, I can really recommend walking down to Marina Grande Beach. It’s the most famous beach in Positano. This is where you need to take your Instagram photo, with Positano nestled on the hill in the background. Don’t forget you have to walk up again. There’s a reason they call this ‘the vertical town’. 

Tonight is the perfect evening for a slow dinner, with southern Italian food and a good glass of wine. The kind of five-course dinner that takes hours, like only the Italians can enjoy. Ristorante Da Constantino is a great place for it. Perched on top of a hill, you can enjoy traditional Italian seafood dishes with amazing views of the sea.

Where to Stay in Positano

Even though Positano is not too big of a town, you have to remember it’s built on a cliff. It’s good to be near the town centre, so you don’t have to walk too far (back up). Villa Palumbo is a great place to stay. It offers simple but comfortable and nicely decorated rooms with balconies with a view. A lovely breakfast is served to your room in the morning, so you can enjoy it on the balcony!

Day 8 Summary

Day 9: Positano

• Today you’ll take a full day boat tour of the Amalfi Coast!

Start with a lovely dolce vita breakfast on your balcony.

Today you’ll go on a full day boat tour along the Amalfi Coast. Why? Because staying in Positano, or any of the other towns is amazing, but you can only fully appreciate this stunning coast looking at it from the water. Plus, there’s nothing more ‘dolce vita’ than cruising the Amalfi Coast in a small boat, sipping wine and eating snacks. It is the best way to experience the Amalfi Coast in one day, while being looked after and having everything taken care of!

This boat tour starts and ends in Sorrento, which is about half an hour by taxi from Positano. During the tour you will sail along the Amalfi Coast, with beautiful stops for a swim in the crystal-clear sea. You also stop in Amalfi and…Positano. The boat and the guides are amazing. They make you feel completely at ease and know a lot about the Amalfi Coast. Prosecco and snacks are included too. You have time for lunch at one of the stops and the guides can recommend some fantastic restaurants.

I can hear you thinking: why not stay in Sorrento and start the tour from there? Most tours start from Sorrento, because it is a better connected town in terms of transport. It’s a lovely town and if you’d stayed in this area for – let’s say – a week, I would totally recommend you to use Sorrento as your base to explore the Amalfi Coast, Vesuvius and Pompeii. But for two nights, nothing can beat staying in Positano, right in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. It’s much smaller, intimate and staying here feels like a special treat.

The boat tour leaves Sorrento at 9:30 AM, so plan your bus or taxi accordingly. Another option is to ask the organizers if they can pick you up in Positano (at an extra charge). 

Once you’re back in Positano, have dinner at Restaurant Il Tridente. I don’t know if the view or the food is better, but that’s a good thing when in Positano! Prefer to have a quick explore of Sorrento? I can recommend Restaurant La Locanda del Gusto, for delicious southern home-style Italian food.

Day 9 Summary

Day 10: Positano – Rome

• Today you’ll travel back to Rome to catch your flight home.

This will be your last breakfast of your trip, so let’s go for something special. I can’t let you leave Positano – or Italy even – without a breakfast at Posides. That’s how good it is!

Today is the last day of this amazing 10 days in Italy itinerary. Depending on your flight back home, make sure you leave on time. Traveling back to Rome Fiumicino Airport takes about 4-5 hours(ah, the bliss of being in a stunning but remote place). That doesn’t mean it will be boring. There are different ways to get back, but I found that taking a ferry to Salerno, then a train directly to Rome worked really well. Taking the ferry to Salerno, then the train to Rome is easy, cheapest and takes about 4.5 hours. 

• Please note when you choose to take the ferry to Salerno, to take the one to Piazza Concordia, which is right by the train station. Molo Manfredi is the other ferry port, which is miles from the station.

That’s it, your 10-days in Italy itinerary! This is the perfect itinerary – or at least a guideline – to see Italy’s highlights in 10 days.

Day 10 Summary

• Breakfast on your private balcony
• Travel from Positano to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight back

About Our Contributor: David Breeker loves visiting Italy. The mix of art, history, food and vibe makes Italy one of his favorite countries that he keeps coming back to. 

---

What are your thoughts on our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary? Let us know below!

Psst: Planning a trip to Italy & Europe? Here are some other useful posts:

Psst: Save this post for later on Pinterest!