10 days Naples & Amalfi Coast | Tours Italy

Route

You start in Naples and stay there for two nights in the city centre. Then you take the ferry to Ischia with a day trip to Procida. Back on the mainland, you pick up your hire car and drive to Sorrento, your base for Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

Pace

Naples is lively and intense. You will walk around with a guide, taste pizza straight from the oven and enjoy the view of the bay in the evening. On Ischia, it's more about sea views and long lunches. From Sorrento, you can plan your days as you wish: a day of archaeology, a day on the coast, a day on the island.

Accommodation

You will stay in hotels with character and great locations: sea views in Naples, tranquillity near thermal springs on Ischia and charm in the heart of Sorrento.

Profile

For those who want to combine archaeology, islands and coast in one trip.

Highlights

You start in Naples with an evening at the Teatro di San Carlo and a pizza workshop. Then you walk through Pompeii and Herculaneum, with Vesuvius in the background. On Ischia, you will enjoy sea views at the Castello Aragonese and discover the colourful Procida. You will end up along the Amalfi Coast, in Ravello at Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, with a day on Capri to finish.

Day 1: Departure to Naples

From Naples Airport, take a taxi or public transport to the city centre to check in, drop off your luggage and explore the city.

Day 2: Naples

You will visit the most Italian city in Italy, including Spaccanapoli, the old town, Castel Nuovo and the Spanish Quarter. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you will discover the charm of this city and learn how to bake Neapolitan-style pizzas.

Day 3: Naples - Ischia

You will take a taxi or public transport to the port of Naples, where you will take the boat to the romantic island of Ischia. This island stands out in the Bay from the others because of its many beautiful beaches and the volcano that provides fertile soil and unique fauna and flora.

Day 4: Ischia

Explore the island by e-bike and stroll through the picturesque harbour villages of Lacco Ameno and Forio, where you will find various shops and restaurants. If you enjoy a brisk walk in beautiful surroundings, we recommend following the hiking trail to the top of the volcano. Once at the top, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Ischia and Procida. Castello Aragonese provides a piece of history on this modest island. The castle was built about 2,500 years ago by a ruler who had set foot on the island from Syracuse in Sicily. The castle owes its current name to the royal Aragonese family, who restored and expanded it in the Middle Ages. In 1441, Alfonso V had the citadel connected to the island of Ischia by a stone bridge.

Day 5: Procida

Take the ferry to the nearby island of Procida and stroll past the restaurants and shops in the colourful harbour, the Marina Grande. The island is overshadowed by Ischia due to its smaller size, but is definitely worth a visit. The former prison on the island of Procida, Palazzo d'Avalos, is an imposing building by the sea that was built at the end of the 16th century. The palace was designed by the architects Cavagna and Tortelli, commissioned by Cardinal Innico d'Avalos.

Day 6: Ischia - Sorrento

You leave the islands behind for a while and return to the mainland. The ferry takes you back to Naples, where you pick up your hire car and drive on to the next location. Discover Sorrento, where views of the immense Bay of Naples are never far away and countless restaurants and boutique shops can be found. It is a very pleasant place with old streets, often adorned with medieval gates, churches, the delightful cloister of San Francesco and ancient fortress walls.

Day 7: Pompeii and Ercolano

Go back to 24 August, 79 AD and discover the devastation that Vesuvius wrought on the people of Pompeii and Ercolano. A guide will tell you passionately about how a metre-high layer of ash covered these cities, which is why everything has been so well preserved to this day.

The city of Pompeii is so large that you will be shocked when the guide tells you that only a third of the city has been excavated. Stop at Via dell'Abbondanza, the forum and the thermal baths and experience in an intense way how these people lived 2000 years ago.

Day 8: The Amalfi Coast

Today you will drive along the beautiful Amalfi Coast and stop in picturesque Positano, Amalfi with its “Duomo” with majestic steps, and beautifully situated Ravello, where you will visit Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, with its dizzying panoramic “Terrazza dell'Infinita”. You can also opt for a guide who will take you on a day trip along one of the world's most beautiful coastlines.

Day 9: Capri

On the penultimate day, you will discover the beauty of Capri: the walk along the “Via Krupp” to Villa Jovis is one of the most beautiful on the island. Take the bus to the special and less crowded Anacapri, where you will visit Axel Munthe's Villa San Michele. Return to the harbour via the Scala Fenicia. You can also take a boat trip around the island: admire the Faraglioni, the three pointed rocks in the sea, and the Grotta Azzura...

Day 10: Departure home

Your holiday is over. You return to Naples, where you take the plane back home. Would you prefer to stay a few days longer? Then you can book a few extra nights in one of our boutique hotels.

Frequently asked questions about Naples and the Amalfi Coast

When is the best time to take this tour of the Amalfi Coast and the islands in the Bay of Naples?

May, June, September and October are ideal. Temperatures are around 22 to 28 degrees, there is less traffic on the coastal road and it is more pleasant to visit archaeological sites. In July and August it is warmer and busier, especially in Positano and on Capri. Beach weather is guaranteed, but you will be sharing the view with more people.

Do I need a hire car for this trip?

Not in Naples and on the islands. There you can walk and take ferries to Ischia, Procida and Capri. From Sorrento, a hire car is useful for Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Would you rather not drive along the cliffs yourself? Then we can arrange a private driver for those days.

What makes this trip different from a standard Amalfi Coast holiday?

You are not limited to Positano and Amalfi. You start in Naples, visit Herculaneum and Pompeii and discover the islands in the Bay of Naples. This gives you a better understanding of the region and means you don't have to change hotels every two days. More cohesion, more variety, less lugging around suitcases.