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Are you planning to spend 7 days in Italy’s brilliant Campania region for coastal scenery like that of the legendary Amalfi Coast? If that’s the case, you are probably dreaming of sunny weather, dreamy seascapes, and plump locally-grown produce like tomatoes and lemons. This fantastic Naples and Amalfi Coast itinerary will show you one exhilarating week in Italy that you’ll remember forever.
Having just made a trip to the region myself, I can confirm that seven days is the perfect amount of time to see tons of amazing sites. We based ourselves in Sorrento, which was in and of itself a gorgeous home base and in close proximity to places like Positano, Pompeii, and the island of Capri.
While a lot of people visit this region in the hopes of seeing the glamorous (albeit rugged) Amalfi Coast, there is so much more in this region to explore. This 7 day itinerary will show you the best of Campania, from the ancient wonders of Pompeii to the incomparable beauty of Positano and Capri.
Perfect Naples and Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Naples, Italy
Most people arriving into Italy’s Campania region will fly into Naples International Airport. We were able to book a flight with a direct connection from Newark to Naples. From there, you can take a bus, train, ferry, or private airport transfer to Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast (or remain based in Naples).
In my opinion, Sorrento makes the best home base due to its central location and fantastic public transportation and tour offerings.
The train or ferry option will first require a taxi from the Naples airport to either the train station or ferry port. However, I recommend taking a bus directly from the Naples airport to Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast for the least amount of hassle.
We booked a one-way ticked with Curreri Viaggi, a reputed local company with buses that leave from right outside the airport. The ride was comfortable and provided gorgeous scenery as we approached Sorrento (although it was hard to keep our eyes open after a red-eye flight). From the drop-off point in Sorrento, we walked about twenty minutes to our hotel with our luggage.
Suggested Stay: Hotel La Tonnarella in Sorrento (Check Reviews | Book Here). The views at this clifftop hotel were simply exquisite.
Day 2: Pompeii and Pizza Class
Day two of your Naples and Amalfi Coast itinerary will show you two quintessential experiences of the region. The first are the famous ancient ruins of Pompeii and the second is a lesson in making one of Italy’s most iconic dishes.
Visit Pompeii
If you are visiting Italy’s Campania region for 7 days, then a visit to Pompeii is a must. This is your chance to see basically an entire UNESCO-recognized city of Roman ruins due to the disastrous eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
All of Pompeii and neighboring towns like Herculaneum were buried in ash and rocks for centuries. Sadly, many people who were not able to escape perished – you can see eerie casts of several victims of Pompeii in their last horrific moments. Please remember to always be respectful in places where such tragedies occurred, keeping noise and photographs to a minimum.
You can buy individual entry tickets for €22, which gives you a four-hour timeslot to see wonderfully intact mosaics, frescos, and villas from this once-prosperous resort town. Purchase tickets here in advance, as admissions are capped at 15,000 people per day during high season. Alternatively, book this two-hour guided tour with an archeologist like we did, as the site might read more like stacks of crumbled rocks to the untrained eye.
While we opted to rent a car to drive from Sorrento, you can easily take a 45-minute train ride from either Sorrento or Naples. Many private tour options exist as well that include transportation, which I cover in this article. If you drive, be sure to stop at one of the roadside stands in Sorrento for a refreshing lemon granita on your way back!
Learn to Make Pizza
Naples, Italy is the birthplace of pizza, having increasingly grown in popularity since Queen Margherita first tried what would famously become her namesake slice in 1861. With various cooking classes throughout the region that offer lessons in making this tasty treat, it’s a unique experience you shouldn’t pass up. Plus, it’s one less dinner to have to worry about planning!
Since Aaron and I stayed in Sorrento, we found the perfect pizza class on a charming farm in the hills just outside the town. The hosts provided the transportation and ingredients – all we had to do was show up and bring our pizza-making A-game. With high quality tomatoes, fresh cheeses from the farm, and a traditional pizza oven at your disposal, success is practically guaranteed!
Fun Fact: Did you know that Italian cuisine is currently in the process of receiving UNESCO recognition? Finally – pizza and pasta will be officially acknowledged as the icons they are!
Day 3: Visit the Amalfi Coast
Now it’s time for one of the most exciting days on your Naples and Amalfi Coast itinerary – a day trip to the unparalleled Amalfi Coast! Buckle up because you are about to see some of the most incredible scenery of your life!
Maybe you are wondering how to possibly tackle this entire area in a day? After all, the towns along this rugged stretch are small and spread out, with traffic and windy roads making transportation tricky. Plus, there is not good train access to the Amalfi Coast.
Here are the best options for an enjoyable Amalfi Coast day trip:
- Drive to the Amalfi Coast to visit the towns of Positano and Amalfi, but be prepared for frustratingly slow traffic and stressful driving along curvy roads in high season.
- Take the bus to Amalfi from Sorrento. However, keep in mind that the bus can be so crowded at times that you might not be able to board at all.
- Ferry to the town of Amalfi from Naples or Sorrento. Explore for a bit then ferry to Positano. Ferry back to Sorrento or Naples.
- Take a guided tour that provides transportation and drops you off to spend time in the various villages.
- Have the hiking experience of a lifetime along the Path of the Gods before grabbing lunch in Positano. Ferry back to Naples or Sorrento.
I wonder if you can guess which option we chose… #5 would be correct! As you can probably tell, day tripping to the Amalfi Coast isn’t the easiest. However, if you plan properly it’s not only doable, but completely rewarding!
Hiking the Path of the Gods
We reached the starting point of the Path of the Gods to join our tour group in Agerola by booking an early morning private transfer through our hotel, which cost around €150. A tour is not necessary, but since the path has various options we wanted to be positive we were choosing the best one for views while also learning about the region.
The hike is about five miles long and takes about 3 hours. You’ll have unreal views of the bright blue sea the whole way and watch as Positano gets closer and closer towards the end. Be sure to bring good hiking shoes and a camera!
The hike ends in Nocelle where you can continue downhill to Positano on foot via 1800 stairs or by bus. We opted for the stairs (my calves would pay for this later) and then rested in Positano while enjoying lemon pasta with shrimp (one of my favorite meals of the trip) at La Zagara. We returned to Sorrento via an easy 45-minute ferry ride.
Rest and Grab Dinner
A day trip to the Amalfi Coast will take the entire day. Therefore, you won’t have time for much else that night besides dinner, shopping, or watching the sunset. Keep in mind that most places do not even serve dinner in Italy until at least 7pm and the restaurants won’t really fill up until 8 or 9pm.
We had a lovely meal at La Tonnarella that evening, which has a gorgeous dining room and lovely attentive service. With our legs being spent, it was nice to not have to leave the hotel.
Day 4: Boat Tour Around Capri
One thing I can say about Italy’s Campania region is that the sea is all around you, beckoning, inviting you to come closer. I’m the little voice in your ear telling you to answer it with a boat trip around the island of Capri.
While you could take a 30-minute ferry from Sorrento to Capri and wander on your own for the day, I personally didn’t find the island itself to be that charming. Plus, you will spend money just about every time you move while on this congested island.
However, a little time spent on Capri mixed with a boat tour along the caves and coves of the insanely beautiful coast is the perfect balance. Now just sit back and prepare to be dazzled.
Duck into the Blue Grotto
Most boat tours that go to Capri make the otherworldly Blue Grotto their first stop. Basically, you get off your boat to board a much small vessel to enter through the tiny cave opening. You’ll spend about five minutes inside marveling at the intensely blue water while the guides sing opera into the echoey chamber.
This optional experience costs €18 per person in cash. Be ready for the skippers to also ask for a tip afterwards. Also, note that the Blue Grotto sometimes closes due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Explore Capri
Next, you’ll get some free time to wander capri. For time’s sake, most guides point guests to shared island shuttles that cost €22 a person because the local bus is less reliable.
I do recommend taking the bus from the port to the Monte Solaro Chairlift (€14 roundtrip) to the top of the island. I’m afraid of heights, but the ride did not bother me too much. Trust me when I say the views at the top are totally worth it and some of the best you’ll see in Italy!
Afterwards, stroll around some of the many shops selling Italian-made linen and leather goods. The port area also has many overpriced waterfront eateries that are pleasant enough for grabbing a snack and aperol spritz while you wait for your boat to pick you back up.
Soak in the Coastal Scenery
Finally, it’s what I consider to be the best part of the day: spending a lazy afternoon easing into every little cove around Capri while sipping prosecco. You might think you’ve seen beautiful water, but the seas around Capri will have you thinking twice. Bring a swimsuit on a hot day because the pristine crystal clear bays will be calling your name!
Remember to bring a hat and sunscreen and keep on the lookout for jelly fish.
Day 5: Morning in Sorrento & Ferry to Naples
It’s time to leave the paradise of towns like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast to start the last leg of your trip in the vibrant city of Naples. If you wanted, you could also start your one week itinerary in Naples. However, I personally always like ending my trips in the city I’m flying out of for simplicity and less stress.
The good news is that Naples is anything but boring and delivers on amazing local food and so much history! Plus, it’s easy to reach from towns like Sorrento and Positano. Here are the best ways:
- Take the train from Sorrento to Naples. If coming from Positano or Amalfi, first transfer to Sorrento by bus, taxi, or ferry.
- Take the ferry from Sorrento to Naples. You can also take the ferry directly from Positano or Amalfi to Naples.
- Most convenient, but also priciest: Take a taxi or private transfer from Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast to Naples.
- You could also drive yourself to Naples if you rented a car. Most tourists to the region avoid driving in the chaos of Naples (where rules are merely suggestions) at all costs.
Suggested Stay: La Lepre felice-bovio (Check Reviews | Book Here). Beautiful and comfortable room in an extremely central location for Naples sightseeing. We walked pretty much everywhere!
Check-in & Wander Naples
First things first, drop your luggage off or check-in at your hotel and get your bearings as you adjust to your new surroundings. Naples will have a bit more hustle and bustle than the chill vacationland of towns like Sorrento and Positano. However, as this is the end of your trip and you’ve already seen a lot of the area’s main sights like Pompeii, these two days in Naples will have a laidback pace.
Here are some awesome things to do during your first night in Naples to get a jump-start on exploring:
- Take an evening walking tour to get a lay of the land in this chaotic city
- Eat Neopolitan-style pizza at an institution like Gino Sorbillo or L’antica Pizzeria da Michele
Day 6: Explore the Centro Storico
Spend your first day in Naples exploring the oldest part of the city, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Start the day with an espresso or cappuccino and eat a delicious cornetto (nutella-filled is my favorite)
- Walk Spaccanapoli – a street that cuts Old Naples in half and dates back to the Greco-Roman era when the city was called Neapolis. Be sure to duck into the Gesù Nuovo Church to see its ornately decorated Baroque interior.
- Visit the 14th-century Santa Chiara Monastery to check out the gothic church and the majestic tilework and frescos of the cloister garden.
- Step into the Sansevero Chapel Museum to marvel at the masterful life-size carving of The Veiled Christ. This site can book up weeks in advance, so pre-book entry tickets here.
- Take a lunch break
- Climb to the top of Vomero hill for amazing views over Naples from the 14th-century Castel Sant’Elmo. You could also take the funicular to the top from Montesanto metro stop.
- In the evening, stroll to the expansive Piazza del Plebiscito to see the Royal Palace of Naples and the Basilica di San Francesco di Paola.
- See a more refined side of the Naples culinary scene by dining elegantly in the Santa Lucia neighborhood near the waterfront at RestaQmme Trattoria di Charme.
Day 7: Explore Ancient Naples
It’s the last day of your trip but there are still some incredible places to visit, including the most important museum in Naples.
- Grab an espresso or cappuccino and try a sfogliatella (a clam-shaped Neopolitan pastry with a sweet ricotta filling)
- Visit the National Archaeological Museum (pre-book entry tickets here)
- Take the metro from the Museo stop to the Toledo stop. As you emerge from the train, prepare to be surrounded by a sea of trippy blue mosaic tiles in every direction as you make your way out of this “Art Station” designed by architect Oscar Tusquets.
- Walk south on Via Toledo to reach the Spanish Quarter. This is a vibrant setting to grab lunch on a terrace and soak in the lively energy of Naples. Sick of pizza and pasta? Try the squid ink risotto or another tasty variety at Valù Toledo Risotteria.
- Walk back north on Via Toledo to enjoy this famous shopping street of Naples (just be weary of pickpockets on this crowded thoroughfare).
- Take an underground tour through the tunnels of Naples to see the likes of ancient Greek-Roman aqueducts and WWII-era bomb shelters (be sure to book this tour a few weeks ahead as it’s super popular!)
- Cap off your trip with a romantic meal in the Spanish Quarter. A Taverna d’ ‘e Zoccole was a quaint spot on a quiet street off Via Toledo for local seafood dishes.
Head Home
Can it be that this wonderful Naples and Amalfi Coast itinerary is over already? Time flies when you are having the time of your life. Say ciao for now to the lush lemon trees and the mesmerizing blue sea and have your hotel arrange a taxi to the airport. We arrived our typical two hours before our flight and found security and immigration quite easy to navigate without much delay.
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There you have it – one totally blissful week exploring the wonders of Italy’s Campania region. From the gritty urban sprawl of Naples to the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, this 7 day itinerary has had no shortage of vibrant culture, dreamy scenery, and flavorful local dishes to discover. This region is bound to steal your heart and have you returning for a new coastal Italian adventure in no time!
Are you in the midst of planning an itinerary to Naples and the Amalfi Coast? Drop any questions you have below!
