Best of italy in 10 days
This is the best of the best Italy has to offer. The perfect itinerary for the first time Italian adventurers at a digestible price point. A little intense, sure. But coupled with your sweetheart and a love of adventure, this itinerary aims to please the young and young at heart. The eye candy and photo ops abound and the leisurely days filled with vistas instead of sightseeing can make this trip relaxing and idyllic.
6 CITIES
Rome, Positano, Capri, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Lake Como, Milan
10 Days
Fly into Rome, take buses and trains, no need to rent a car, fly out of Milan
>$5K
Thanks to reasonable Italian prices, you don't need to break the bank for your trip to ooze romance and opulence.
Romance + Adventure
Active trip with plenty of hiking and enjoying the nature and beauty of the Italian coastline.
Location
overview
ROME - 2 NIGHTS
AMALFI COAST - 3 NIGHTS
CINQUE TERRE - 2 NIGHTS
PORTOFINO - 1 NIGHT
LAKE COMO - 2 NIGHTS
MILAN - 1 NIGHT
Day 1 - Rome
Land in Roma
STAY: Head to the Westin Excelsior, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Rome (2 nights)
SEE: Enjoy a day of sightseeing and marvel at the abundance of Roman antiquities. Put on your sneakers and get ready for lots of walking on this 3.5 mile loop, while stopping for photos, espresso, and maybe an aperol spritz en route.
Start the day with the jaw-dropping view from Janiculum Hill, walking down the steps of Gianicolo, through the Botanical Gardens of Rome, stopping to admire the Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, making your way down through the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. From there, make your way to the Piazza Navona and on the to the Pantheon. From here, climb up to the Villa Medici and Villa Borghese.
EAT: Don't overthink it and enjoy a fine Italian meal with a $5 house wine at any sidewalk cafe; whatever you find will be fabulous start to this romantic vacation.
Finish off the meal with a leisurely stroll down the Spanish Steps at sunset and a cone of cinnamon gelato near the Trevi Fountain, dropping in a coin for the best of luck on the adventures ahead.
DAY 2 - ROME
Take this day to visit Vatican City (reservations are a must) and the Castel Sant'Angelo or meander the streets of Rome, taking care to see what wasn't feasible on Day 1.
EAT: After two long days of sightseeing, enjoy a long leisurely meal on a lively piazza or tree lined street. One of our favorites is on Via Veneto, just outside the Excelsior. We are still thinking about the lobster ravioli.
Day 3 - Positano
Travel to Positano
Traveling to Positano isn't easy but well worth the effort. It requires a train from Central Rome to Naples and then a bus from there. Pack light as you are on the move for much of this trip. Positano is without a doubt the most beautiful on the Amalfi coast with access to the beach. We don't usually spend days lounging on a beach, but for the pure beauty and accessibility, Positano can't be beat. It makes for an easy day trip to Ravello.
STAY: Villa Mary Suites, Positano (2 nights). Our choice is Villa Mary for the terraced breakfast, excellent location and old world charm.
SEE: Enjoy the rest of the day of meandering Positano's streets and soaking up that Italian sun.
EAT: Enjoy the view, the stroll, and some of the best ravioli on the terrace at Ristorante Mirage at the Hotel Posa Posa.
DRINK: Cap the night off with a drink at La Petite Murat Lounge Bar. The singer was memorable; we giggled the night away on the twinkly verandah.
DAY 4 - RAVELLO
Discover Ravello, high above the sea by moto. Don't forget your quintessential head scarf.
DO: Rent a moto or scooter to travel the most beautiful road in the world uphill to the charming town of Ravello. Once here, visit the beautiful Villa Rufolo. You will recognize the terracce. Sip some tea under the tree canopy and head further on to Villa Cimbrone.
EAT: After visiting the gardens, have a leisurely lunch at L'Antica Cartiera with its stunning views overlooking the valley of Ravello.
DO: Stop and marvel at the Moorish inspired Palazzo Sasso and its imposing view before heading back down the mountain to Positano for the evening.
Day 5 - POSITANO
SEE/EAT: Wait on the marina shores to be whisked away to the beach restaurant a Da Adolfo by a gorgeous Italian skipper while taking in the stunning Positano coast by boat where you can enjoy the best Caprese in Italy on a secluded beach (boat shuttle leaves at10A and returns at 6P). Look for the boat with the red fish.
A free boat trip to a secluded cafe on the beach with views to die for. This was one of our favorite days, leisurely and delicious.
DAY 6 - CAPRI
Take a morning bus from Positano to Naples, then a ferry to Capri. It's a haul, but one worth making. From the Molo Beverello quay catch a 45-min hydrofoil to Capri. Expect an hourly service during the summer and up to five ferries a day during the winter. NLG Linea Jet and Snav both offer 45-min hydrofoil services.
DO/EAT: During the day, take a hike along the scenic coastal trail, Fortini coastal walk, where you will feel like the only people on the island. Wander in search of the I Faraglioni rock formations to the blue grotto. While there, take a light lunch and glass of white wine at the Il Riccio Restaurant overlooking the blue grotto. Our goal for Capri wasn't to hike the island, but once we started, we were so taken in, we continued on. Finding Il Riccio with its charming blue and white umbrellas was the much needed pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
DO: Reemerge into Capri proper at sunset after the drones of daytrippers have left and take the chairlift up from Piazza della Vittoria to the top of Mount Solaro, the highest point on Capri at 1,932 feet. Then meander the legendary Via Camerelle to get a taste of local opulence before settling in for dinner at a sidewalk cafe.
Day 7 - CINQUE TERRE
Travel to the Cinque Terre
Wake up early to take in the last of Capri before the day trippers come and head out on an afternoon ferry to Naples. From there, take the train to Cinque Terre.
You'll find rugged beauty and a slow pace in the Cinque Terre. Named for the five towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, this portion of the Italian Riviera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars aren't allowed. Spend your days hiking from town to town and sampling la dolce vita in each of the pleasant towns.
STAY: La Toretta Lodge in Manarola has the best mix of old world and new. The breakfast served daily in your room is delectable and the view is jaw dropping. We chose Manarola to lay our head because of the easily accessibility from Naples via the train and a great starting point for visiting the 5terre.
EAT: Enjoy a late night dinner on the balcony of Trattoria del Billy, taking in the views. Order the pesto, a Ligurian specialty, it does not disappoint.
DAY 8 - CINQUE TERRE
DO: Today, spend the day hiking between the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Meander and enjoy the views and stops along the way. Hiking shoes are a must.
EAT: After a long days hike, sink your teeth into even more pesto at La Regina di Manaroli, soaking in the last of the 5Terre.
Day 9 - PORTOFINO
Take an early morning train to Portofino. Here you will find the quintessential Italian yacht destination with plenty of pleasure.
STAY: Enjoy the Talented Mr. Ripley style beach at the Hotel Piccolo, a charming hotel just outside of town. The rock beach is quintessentially Italian and although a bit of a walk, finding a hotel in Portofino is not an easy feat, with yachts abound.
DO: Park yourself at one of the coastal inspired waterfront cafes and watch the skippers ready the yachts for their elite clientele. Hike up the paths to the right of marina and marvel at the views.
EAT: Don't leave without some gelato at Delfino.
DAY 10 - Lake Como
Today, after enjoying the spread of croissants in room, hop aboard a local train to Milan, and from there, on to Lake Como. We did so much research prior to deciding where exactly to stay on Como, and in the end, we were pleased with our decision to head north to the small towns of Varenna, Menaggio, and Tremezzina. Here, you can take water taxis from town to town as you explore charming villas and take in the fjord like mountains all around you. We chose Varenna for our base and it did not disappoint.
STAY: Albergo Milano. We booked late and this was not the most romantic hotel we stayed at. The rooms are rather unassuming but the terrace was breathtaking and the price didn't break the bank. And Varenna is the best place to make a base.
DO: Hike up to Castello di Vezio from Varenna, past Villa Monastero and climb the castle tours for a magnificent view of the lake.
Day 11- LAKE COMO
DO: After a leisurely breakfast on the verandah, walk to the marina to cross the lake on taxi to Terramizina and visit the picturesque gardens of two of the areas most famous villas.
Villa del Balbianello
Enjoy a light lunch at a cafe overlooking the beauty of Como.
DAY 12 - MILAN
Take a train (only an hour) back to Milan and spend the day looking at the gallery of shops and the opulence of this cosmopolitan town before heading back.
We stayed the night at the Sheraton Diana Majestic, where the garden captivated and the hotel oozed of old world charm. Location was ideal for seeing the city.