This 8-day independent travel package to Rome and the Amalfi Coast will help travelers discover the best culinary traditions in each area. While in Rome, you will have plenty of time for independent sightseeing of outdoor monuments, such as the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona, as well as the Vatican Museums.
This 8-day, custom-crafted vacation package includes:
Along the way, you will sample many traditional dishes such as carbonara, cacio e pepe, supplì, fried artichokes, and much more. Afterwards, travel to the Amalfi Coast where you will visit coastal towns, learn about local pasta-making and wine production, and enjoy unforgettable meals at beautiful seaside restaurants. The following itinerary is designed to allow for maximum flexibility giving travelers control of how they spend their time, whether it’s sightseeing, culinary tours, wine tastings, or a little of everything. Continue reading below to discover our full itinerary and contact our travel specialists to start customizing your unique vacation to Rome and the Amalfi Coast.
Arrive in the Eternal City and make your way to the historical city center where you will check into your hotel. Your afternoon will be at leisure to start familiarizing yourself with the area around your hotel as well as some of Rome’s outdoor monuments, such as the Trevi Fountain. In the evening, we recommend having dinner in one of Rome’s characteristic neighborhoods, such as Trastevere, where you will have the chance to eat with the locals and get your first taste of Rome’s unique cuisine. Afterwards, return to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Enjoy your first breakfast at the hotel then spend your morning discovering the highlights of Rome’s city center. You may wish to stop by areas such as the Spanish Steps or the Pantheon to do some sightseeing. Alternatively, you could visit one of Rome’s open-air markets, such as the daily market in Campo de’ Fiori, where local vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and other culinary products. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at a family-owned restaurant (your Trips 2 Italy travel specialists will give you plenty of restaurant recommendations). Then, in the afternoon you will take an excursion to the Catacombs that will include stops at several religious sites including the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Dinner tonight will be at a typical trattoria, where you will have the chance to taste one of Rome’s famous pasta dishes such as carbonara (pasta with egg, cured pork, cheese, and black pepper) or cacio e pepe (pasta with Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper). Buon appetito!
After breakfast this morning you will have more time to continue exploring Rome’s city center. Our suggestion is to step back in time to Ancient Rome during a visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum (optional tour, not included in the travel package). You could also choose to visit other outdoor monuments in the city center or one of Rome’s many museums such as the Borghese Gallery (optional activity, not included. Museum entrance reservations are required). Break for lunch and then prepare for an unforgettable tour of the Vatican Museums in the afternoon. Together with your expert local guide and the rest of your small group, you will visit the main highlights of the Vatican Museums including the Tapestry Gallery, the Map Gallery, the Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel. You will also visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the tour will end inside the Basilica, giving you the opportunity to continue exploring independently once the tour concludes. There are a number of beautiful chapels to admire as well as a crypt underneath the Basilica that is also worth a visit. Afterwards, continue exploring the Vatican area and consider a stop at Castel Sant’Angelo to admire the breathtaking bridge in front of the castle lined with angel sculptures. Return to your hotel and then in the evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
This morning you will check out of the hotel after breakfast and depart Rome. On the way to Sorrento, you will stop in Pompeii for a few hours where you will enjoy a private walking tour of the archaeological ruins. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the ruins of the city were preserved under volcanic ash for centuries. Explore the streets of this ancient city with your guide learning about daily life in Pompeii shortly before the eruption. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to Sorrento with your private driver. Upon arrival in Sorrento, you will check into your hotel and then enjoy an afternoon at leisure. During this time, you may wish to do some sightseeing or visit the local artisan workshops where you can purchase local products or sample goods like the famous Limoncello liqueur. In the evening, enjoy a nice dinner at a local restaurant on the seafront; be sure to try a seafood dish such as fritto misto (mixed fried seafood). Afterwards, return to your hotel in the city center for an overnight stay.
Foodies are guaranteed to enjoy this unforgettable day dedicated to the culinary traditions of the area surrounding Sorrento. After breakfast, meet with your private driver and head to a local pasta factory where you will learn all about the art of pasta making as well as local recipes for pastas and sauces that you can try to recreate when you return home. Then, you will travel to a picturesque farmhouse where several local products are made. Enjoy a traditional lunch and a tour of the grounds featuring the orchards and the vineyards. The farmhouse is located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and you will learn how the rich volcanic soil provides an ideal environment for wine production. Be sure to try some locally-produced wine before meeting back with your driver and returning to Sorrento in the late afternoon. Take some time to unwind and freshen up at the hotel before going out for another delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then depart on a day excursion to the scenic towns along the Amalfi Coast. Your first stop will be in Positano where you will have time at leisure to explore its winding streets and snap photos of breathtaking coastal views. Afterwards, you will continue on to Amalfi where you could visit famous sites like the Cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise before taking a break for lunch at a local restaurant. Consider trying another seafood dish such as spaghetti alle cozze (spaghetti with clams). Continue to explore the center of Amalfi and perhaps enjoy some shopping at local boutiques and artisan workshops before meeting back with your driver and returning to Sorrento. Enjoy a nice dinner this evening followed by an overnight stay at your hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will spend the day on the scenic island of Capri, a shining gem in the Bay of Naples. While in Capri, you will have time to explore the island’s many highlights such as the Villa San Michele in the village of Anacapri and the Gardens of Augustus in the village of Capri. You will also have the option to visit the famous Blue Grotto (sea and weather conditions permitting), a stunning sea cave accessible only by rowboat that is illuminated in blue light when the sun’s rays hit the water. Visit Capri’s many shops which range from upscale boutiques to artisan workshops where you can purchase handmade sandals or Limoncello. After a day full of exploration, you will return to Sorrento for your final dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Enjoy your last breakfast in Italy this morning. Afterwards, you will check out of the hotel and this will mark the end of the tour.
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