A two-week sweep from Milan's lakes to the Amalfi Coast.
Italy's greatest hits, north to south.
North-to-south rail corridor Lakes, art and coastline Balanced cities and coast Ferries on the Amalfi Coast Experienced European travelers First-time grand tourers Culture and coast lovers
Key Facts
Naples Arrival
Naples, Campania
A little over an hour from Roma Termini to Napoli Garibaldi.
Naples, Campania
Walk the old Greek grid; the Veiled Christ is carved from one block of marble.
Naples, Campania
Da Michele and Sorbillo keep the original Neapolitan ritual alive.
Pompeii Day
Pompeii, Campania
The Circumvesuviana reaches Pompei Scavi in about 35 minutes from Naples.
Pompeii, Campania
Frescoes, bakeries and the forum of a city frozen in AD 79.
Naples, Campania
Castel dell'Ovo and the lungomare make an easy end to an archaeology day.
Coast Arrival
Sorrento, Campania
About an hour south along the Bay of Naples' cliffside track.
Positano, Campania
A 45-minute boat ride lands you below the pastel houses of the cliff.
Sorrento, Campania
Cobbled lanes, lemon groves and a sunset over the bay.
Amalfi & Ravello
Amalfi, Campania
Boats run west along the coast; the town's Moorish cathedral is a few steps up.
Ravello, Campania
Bus uphill to the gardens that once inspired Wagner's Parsifal.
Amalfi, Campania
Seafood on the harbourside piazza after the day trippers leave.
Capri Day
Capri, Campania
Thirty minutes from Sorrento to the Marina Grande.
Capri, Campania
Chairlift to Monte Solaro, then a rowboat into the grotto's blue light.
Naples, Campania
Ferry back to Sorrento, then onward to Naples for your flight home.
Duomo & Galleria
Milan, Lombardy
Take the lift to the terrazza for close views of the marble spires.
Milan, Lombardy
Walk the 1877 glass arcade and stop for an espresso at a historic café.
Milan, Lombardy
See the opera house facade and dine in the cobbled streets of Brera.
Last Supper & Brera
Milan, Lombardy
Leonardo's Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, soft dim museum light, visitors viewing the fresco, quiet contemplative atmosphere, fine art photography
Milan, Lombardy
Pinacoteca di Brera in soft afternoon light, gallery walls hung with Northern Italian masterpieces, visitors viewing the paintings, elegant high-ceilinged museum rooms, fine art photography
Milan, Lombardy
Drink aperitivo along the canal banks of Milan's most bohemian quarter.
Lake Como Day
Lake Como, Lombardy
Train from Milano Centrale takes 40 minutes; walk the walls and the cathedral.
Lake Como, Lombardy
A two-hour lake crossing connects the prettiest villages on the Y-shaped lake.
Milan, Lombardy
Porta Nuova district in Milan at evening, modern skyscrapers glowing, a table with a wood-fired pizza, warm restaurant light, diners outdoors, city evening scene, food photography
Renaissance Arrival
Florence, Tuscany
About two hours from Milan Centrale, arriving at Santa Maria Novella before lunch.
Florence, Tuscany
The marble cathedral and the open-air sculptures of the old republic.
Florence, Tuscany
Cross the bridge as the sun drops over the Arno's stone arches.
Uffizi & David
Florence, Tuscany
Botticelli, Leonardo and Titian in the first great museum of the modern age.
Florence, Tuscany
Michelangelo's David, plus a half-finished line of prisoners in marble.
Florence, Tuscany
Wander Santo Spirito, then the gardens behind the Pitti Palace.
Medieval Siena
Siena, Tuscany
The sloping square is the heart of Siena; climb the Torre del Mangia.
Siena, Tuscany
Striped marble, the Piccolomini Library and a floor of inlaid art.
Florence, Tuscany
The direct train returns in about 1.5 hours; dinner near Santa Croce.
Ancient Rome
Rome, Lazio
The first slot of the day beats both the heat and the tour-bus queues.
Rome, Lazio
The same ticket covers the Forum's temples and the imperial palaces above.
Rome, Lazio
Via Leonina is lined with enotecas; settle in for a Roman dinner.
The Vatican
Vatican City
The Gallery of Maps leads to the Sistine Chapel and its Michelangelo ceiling.
Vatican City
Free to enter; the dome climb adds 551 steps and a city-wide view.
Rome, Lazio
Baroque fountains and the best-preserved ancient temple under one dusk sky.
Borghese & Trastevere
Rome, Lazio
Two-hour slots and a 360-visitor cap make this the hardest ticket in Rome.
Rome, Lazio
From the steps into the park; hire a rowboat on the little lake.
Rome, Lazio
The tangle of lanes behind Santa Maria in Trastevere is pure Roman evening.
Transport Between Stops
High-Speed Train
Frecciarossa links Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples in under 2 hours
Ferry
Sorrento to Capri takes about 30 minutes; boats also run to Positano
Circumvesuviana
Regional rail runs Naples to Sorrento and Pompeii in about an hour
Where to Stay
Mix northern city stays with a coastal base.
$ Budget
$$ Mid-Range
$$$ Luxury
Typical cost per person
Accommodation
€100–€300 per night
Food
€45–€90 / day
Entry Fees
€160–€230
Transport
€180–€320
Total Estimated
€2,600–€6,000
What This Itinerary Skips
Curated grand tour
Two weeks tempts you to add Venice, the Cinque Terre and Puglia. This itinerary leaves them out to protect pacing; every stop gets a full day rather than a rushed afternoon. Milan opens the trip, the coast closes it, and Rome holds the middle where the art deserves time.
Customize This Itinerary
- Add 2 Days: Venice after Milan, before Florence
- Swap Lake Como: Verona or Lake Garda instead
- Shorten Trip: Skip Capri, fly home from Naples
Seasonal Adjustments
- Summer: Book ferries and the Last Supper early; stay hydrated.
- Spring / Fall: Mild weather for lakes and coast; reserve ahead.