12-Day Italy Itinerary:
Rome, Florence & the Amalfi Coast
If you’ve been dreaming about Italy, this is the route I design over and over again for my clients.
Twelve days. Three iconic regions. Smart pacing.
This sample itinerary highlights how I structure a trip through Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast - blending history, food, wine, and coastal beauty without feeling rushed.
It isn’t a package. It’s a starting point.
When we plan together, every hotel, guide, and experience is customized around you. But this flow works beautifully time and time again.
A Quick Note Before We Dive In
This itinerary reflects the pacing and structure I’ve found works best for first-time (and even second-time) visitors to Italy.
Your accommodations will vary.
Your tours will vary.
Your Amalfi Coast town will absolutely vary.
There are endless options. Consider this the highlight version - the must-see framework that still leaves space to breathe.
Days 1–4: Rome Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Gentle Exploration
After your overnight flight, a private driver will meet you at the airport and bring you into Rome.
You’ll drop your bags, freshen up, and I’ll provide a curated walking route to ease into the city. Think:
Pantheon
Piazza Navona
Trevi Fountain
A gelato stop (or two)
The goal? Stay awake. Move your body. Adjust naturally.
Day 2: Orientation — Golf Cart or Food Tour
Your first full day is about getting your bearings.
We’ll typically schedule either:
A private golf cart tour to see major sites efficiently, or
A food-focused walking tour to experience Rome through its flavors
Both are excellent introductions. Rome starts to feel manageable instead of overwhelming.
Day 3: Colosseum & Roman Forum (With a Guide)
A guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum is essential. Without context, it can feel like ruins.
With the right guide, you understand the politics, the spectacle, the daily life, and how the space once looked in ancient Rome.
I always request underground access at the Colosseum. It operates on a lottery system and is extremely limited — when I secure tickets, my clients are prioritized immediately.
Day 4: Vatican Museums & St. Peter’s Basilica
We will not stand in the Vatican line. A guided tour of the Vatican Museums allows you to experience:
The Sistine Chapel
Raphael Rooms
The Gallery of Maps (my personal favorite)
Even if you’ve visited before, a different guide brings a different lens — art, religion, history — and it transforms the experience. And yes, I’ll tell you exactly where to grab lunch when you exit St. Peter’s. You’ll need it.
Days 5–8: Florence & Tuscany Itinerary
Day 5: Train to Florence
We’ll take a high-speed train to Florence (assigned seats, of course).
I walk my clients through how to read the train boards, find their platform, and locate their seats so you feel confident and prepared. Florence is where we slow down.
Day 6: Florence Highlights
Timed entry to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David.
Tickets to explore the Florence Cathedral complex.
And I’ll point you to my favorite leather shops — one splurge-worthy, one more budget-friendly. You’ll know exactly where to go.
Florence is steaks and gelato. Repeatedly.
Day 7: Tuscany Day Trip
A private driver takes you into the countryside to explore Siena and San Gimignano.
Wine tasting. A long vineyard lunch. Rolling hills that feel almost unreal.
This is often the surprise favorite day of the trip.
Day 8: Market-to-Table Cooking Experience
A chef takes you to a local market to select ingredients, then you return to cook the meal together.
Phones down. Aprons on. Real connection.
Days 9-12: Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Day 9: Travel South + Pompeii Stop
We’ll take the train to Naples and meet a private driver who brings you toward the coast. On the way, we’ll stop at Pompeii Archaeological Park for a guided tour. Yes, technically more ruins.
But these tell a completely different story. Preserved homes, bakeries, and streets make Pompeii feel human. A guide makes all the difference.
Afterward, you’ll continue on to your hotel along the Amalfi Coast and settle in.
This is where the trip shifts.
Choosing Your Amalfi Coast Base
Where you stay matters.
Positano – iconic and dramatic
Amalfi – historic and central
Sorrento – easier logistics and strong value
Each town feels different. I match the base to your travel style, mobility needs, and budget.
Day 10: Boat Day to Capri
If you splurge on one experience here, this is it. A private boat excursion to Capri.
Cruise past the Faraglioni rocks. Swim stops in impossibly blue water. Optional time on the island to explore or shop.
Seeing the Amalfi Coast from the water changes your entire perspective.
Day 11: Slow Coastal Living
I intentionally don’t over-schedule this day. Options might include:
A beach club day
Exploring Positano’s staircases and boutiques
A long seaside lunch
Lemon grove visits
Simply enjoying your terrace view
Sometimes we skip a cooking class here if you’ve already done one in Tuscany — the coast is better enjoyed outside. This is the exhale portion of the trip.
Day 12: Departure
A private transfer will take you to Naples Airport, or we’ll arrange a train back to Rome depending on flight timing and pricing. Logistics are built around comfort — not just convenience.
Let’s Design This Properly
Italy is not a trip you want to piece together from blog posts and guesswork.
If this itinerary feels like your kind of trip, let’s build it intentionally — selecting the right towns, securing the right guides, and structuring it in a way that actually works. Start with a discovery call and we’ll take it from there.
Planning fee: $250 per family for trips up to two weeks.