The Best of Italy Tour: Rome, Amalfi Coast, Island of Capri and Tuscany

Faraglioni rock formations on the coast of Capri, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Italy is ready to embrace you. Immerse yourself in its beauty and allow it to change you. Soak up the sun at outdoor cafés and stroll through piazzas in Rome while sampling gelato. Admire the view as you wind around the dramatic Amalfi Coast. Dive into a cooking class taught at a traditional farmhouse kitchen. Sail away to the glamorous island of Capri and take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea. Sample fine wines at scenic vineyards amidst the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Amalfi Coast, Positano, Pompeii, Ravello, Capri, Siena, Florence, Tuscany region

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Rome - Tour Begins in Rome, Italy

Your tour begins with your arrival in Rome. You’ll be provided a private transfer from the airport to your hotel. After you check in, you’ll have the rest of day free to explore the city on your own. Immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant energy and do as the Romans do! Enjoy the moment. Fun-loving and friendly, Romans have a gift for enjoying life! Wander the charming streets, hang out at the bustling piazzas and stop for a gelato when the mood strikes. Any time of day is the right time to experience “la dolce vita” as the Italians call the “sweet life.”

Tonight for dinner you’ll have the chance to try a typical Roman trattoria in a colorful and authentic atmosphere. Be sure to sample some of the local specialties such as Cacio e Pepe, pasta with Pecorino cheese and fresh pepper, a traditional dish that you’ll find on the menu of practically every restaurant in Rome. A perfect example of Roman cuisine, this dish is very simple yet surprisingly delicious.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Dinner
Day 2

Rome - Guided Tour of the Vatican Museum and Saint Peter’s Basilica

Day 3

Rome - From the Colosseum to the Pantheon

Day 4

Positano - Scenic Drive along the Amalfi Coast

Day 5

Positano - Guided Tour of Pompeii

Day 6

Positano - Cooking Class in Ravello

Day 7

Positano -The Glamorous Island of Capri

Day 8

Florence - Travel to Tuscany

Day 9

Florence - Visit Siena and Learn Tuscan Cooking

Day 10

Florence - Explore the Renaissance City

Day 11

Florence - Wine-Tasting in the Chianti Region

Day 12

Florence - Return Home

Trip Highlights

  • Enjoy an awe-inspiring visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica
  • Savor your guided tour through the world-class Vatican art museums
  • Take a breathtaking scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast
  • Visit to the fascinating archaeological site of Pompeii
  • Learn some secrets with a cooking class in Ravello at a gorgeous seaside setting
  • Set out by boat on a tour around the famous Island of Capri
  • Tour the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Siena
  • Prepare hearty local cuisine in a Tuscan cooking class
  • Skip the line for a guided tour of the world-class Uffizi Gallery in Florence
  • Indulge in wine-tasting in the renowned Chianti wine region

Detailed Description

Discover the best of Italy on this unforgettable 12-day grand tour. You’ll visit some of the most beautiful places in the country. The tour begins in the eternal city of Rome, where you’ll see the building blocks of Western Civilization and learn the fascinating details of ancient history. You’ll also visit the most important site in the Christian world, the Vatican City, which holds some of the finest art collections that you’ll find anywhere.

Next you’ll take an incredible scenic drive along the spectacular Amalfi Coast until you reach Positano. Clinging to mountains above the sea, Positano has a charm that is unique to this part of Italy. Whitewashed houses are covered with vibrant bougainvillea while the deep blue waters beckon in the distance. From this location, you’ll visit the chic island of Capri and take a cooking class at a kitchen with a view of Ravello.

The tour includes the famous region of Tuscany, a lovely countryside with green rolling hills lined with iconic cypress trees. This unspoiled region has many well-preserved medieval hilltop towns as well as important historic cities. Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich history beginning in the Middle Ages. Florence is the place where the Dark Ages ended and the Renaissance began in Italy.

Starting Price

$5,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 909 reviews

Italy Tour Review: Sorrento, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Winery, Private Tours and Guides, 13 Nights

Zicasso’s travel specialist was a fantastic travel advisor. This tour operator helped us plan our perfect Italian vacation by listening to our desires, from wanting boutique hotels with a view to private tours. They secured transportation from Sorrento to Florence to Rome.

Our driver to the winery was exceptional. He went above and beyond to find a quaint restaurant that served my favorite meal: white-truffle pasta. We also had an amazing guide in Pompeii. He was very informative and even surprised us with his beautiful singing voice in the amphitheater inside Pompeii. This trip was magical. We could not have asked for a better organized, non-stress trip.

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Italy Family Vacation Review: Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Siena, Rome, Biking, Cooking, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Experience, 10 Nights

Zicasso's travel company planned the most amazing trip to Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Siena, and Rome for our family of five. It was the best trip I've ever taken, and having all the details covered by them and plans and tickets sent to us via WhatsApp allowed us to really live in the moment and not have to think about what was next. I loved every second. I cannot wait to plan another trip to Italy to experience the southern half of the country.

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Italy Vacation Review: Tuscany, Siena, Florence, Wine Tasting, Cooking Class, 11 Nights

The travel assistance from Zicasso's company was very helpful. All tour guides were wonderful, as well as the tours, with the exception of the all-day tour into Tuscany, ending in Siena.

As an elderly woman, I found it to be too long. Also, after the lovely lunch and wine tasting, it was difficult to go on a 3.5-hour walking tour, as well as walk a mile into Siena and a mile out of Siena. Also, the bus did not have great air conditioning and did not have a working bathroom.

The other issue I had was with the seven and nine flights of stairs in Venice and Florence in our hotels. With bad hips and knees, I was confined to going up and down the flights only once during the day. I suggest this be a question for guests in the future.

The travel company was very generous in paying for a wonderful dinner for me and my grandson due to my struggles.

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Italy Tour Review: Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pompeii, Tuscany, Venice, Cheese-Making Experience, Cooking Class, 13 Nights

Zicasso's travel agency far exceeded our expectations. We had our five-year-old and 11-year-old children with us, so the tour guides and walking needed to be kid-friendly.

Our hotel in Rome was wonderful, the location was perfect, and they had good A/C and a breakfast buffet. There were plenty of great restaurants within easy walking distance, as well as the Vatican.

Our tour guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum was great. Pompeii was amazing. Our tour guide was basically a celebrity down there and knew exactly how to take us around the ruins without ever waiting.

Tuscany was our favorite by far. We did a cheese-making experience and lunch that was super-cool. The kids got to play with the farm animals and the owners were so attentive and interesting. We did a cooking class with a chef that was the kids' favorite thing on the entire trip. I would make a point to book this experience; the kids still talk about it and wear the aprons around the house. The resort in Tuscany was nice. We had our own private pool, plus the resort pool, and could easily walk to a small local town with some great food.

Venice was good, but probably our least favorite on the trip. You have to walk a ton, which was difficult for the kids, but it's still worth experiencing.

We travel a bunch and I would highly recommend using Zicasso's travel partner.

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Italy Vacation Review: Venice, Florence, Tuscan Hills, Pompeii, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, Cooking Class, Lemon Farm, Wine Tasting, Olive Oil Tasting, 2 Weeks

We had the pleasure of working with Zicasso’s travel agents to create the perfect Italian adventure. I had quite a few specific requests, from travel logistics to hotel preferences, and they were incredibly patient and collaborative, offering multiple variations of the itinerary until it matched exactly what we envisioned.

Our journey began in Venice, where we were seamlessly picked up by a private driver, transferred to a water taxi, and dropped directly at our hotel. After a wonderful stay, we were taken by private driver to the train station for our ride from Venice to Florence, our one and only train trip, as we opted (based on their smart recommendation) for private transportation for the rest of our travels to avoid potential delays and enjoy added convenience.

From Florence, we were driven into the Tuscan hills, where we experienced magical wine tastings, vineyard tours, olive oil tastings, and unforgettable meals with wine pairings. 

Next, our private driver brought us to Pompeii, where we enjoyed a fascinating tour with our private guide, and then continued on to Rome. In Rome, we loved the private golf cart tour of the city’s major landmarks, as well as a delightful cooking class that was arranged for us; it was a real highlight!

Finally, we traveled by private driver to Sorrento. From there, we had a breathtaking driving tour of the Amalfi Coast, a lemon farm tour, and an amazing day trip to Capri. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and executed.

Summary:

Planning and Itinerary Creation: Zicasso’s consultants made the entire process easy and stress-free. They worked closely with us to perfect the itinerary and were always receptive to changes and feedback.

Hotels: My sister and I requested adjoining rooms and were provided with beautiful family suites throughout the trip. Each hotel was ideally located, comfortable, and well-appointed, with all the amenities we needed.

Transportation: Every transfer was smooth and punctual. The private drivers were professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. (A special shoutout to our driver in Florence/Tuscany – he was the best!)

Communication: Throughout our trip, the travel company’s team was always accessible. Whether we needed to make adjustments or had a question, they handled everything promptly, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy our vacation.

We spent just over two unforgettable weeks in Italy and it was absolutely perfect, all thanks to the hard work, attention to detail, and excellent communication from Zicasso’s travel company! I highly recommend them and would not hesitate to use them again for future adventures.

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Italy Trip Review: Milan, Florence, Lake Como, Venice, 11 Nights

When we started planning our trip to Italy, I knew I wanted to work with a travel agent—specifically, someone who specialized in Italy and was based there. After reaching out to several agencies and reviewing their responses, we chose Zicasso and, more specifically, our travel agent. She is based in Milan and from my very first interaction with her, I knew we had made the right choice.

Our trip could not have been more perfect. Our agent put a lot of thought into every location and planned activity. At the outset, we had a few discussions with her about what we wanted from the trip and, after that, we were happy to leave most of the details in her capable hands. Our goal was to explore mid-to-northern Italy and everything—from the hotels and tours to the free time and transportation—was beautifully organized.

Our 11-night trip started in Milan and ended in Florence, with overnight stays in Milan (one night), Lake Como (three nights), Venice (three nights), and Florence (four nights). Initially, I was hesitant about staying at Lake Como for three nights, but our agent encouraged me to do a little research. I’m so glad she did, as it turned out to be incredible. We had more self-guided time at Lake Como, which was perfect as we adjusted to the time change. In Venice, our itinerary became more structured, but we still had plenty of time for our own explorations. By the time we reached Florence, we had activities and tours planned for every day, which was just what we wanted.

A highlight for my family was a full-day trip into Tuscany, where we visited San Gimignano, an organic vineyard in Chianti, and finished with a tour of Siena. Our day trip to Rome allowed us to see the main attractions and we concluded the journey with a tour of Florence and the Accademia Gallery. Every tour our agent arranged was spot on.

Throughout our trip, she was wonderfully communicative—always available when we had questions, but never intrusive. She even helped us with a couple of last-minute requests: booking a hotel in Milan for one night and arranging train tickets to Verona for an impromptu visit to Juliet’s balcony. Whenever we needed something, she was there.

When we return to explore the mid-to-southern part of Italy, there’s no question that we’ll be asking her to plan our trip again. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a seamless, thoughtfully curated Italian adventure.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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