You can immerse yourself in history, architecture, bustling cities, stunning coastal scenery, beautiful beaches, and medieval towns in a single trip.
There's a wide selection of food to sample and ancient Roman culture to feed your tourist appetite. But with so many options and potential places to go, how should you draft a two-week trip and where should you visit?
Here are our recommendations how to plan the ultimate break to Southern Italy including the best places to add to your itinerary.
Getting to Southern Italy
If you are planning a break to Southern Italy then Naples International Airport (Capodichino) is probably the best airport to fly to.
You can catch flights from a number of European destinations including London (Gatwick, Stansted and Luton), Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly), Basel, Geneva, Berlin (Schönefeld), Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Bucharest, Warsaw (Modlin) and Athens.
Airlines which fly to Naples include Alitalia, British Airways, Lufthansa, easyJet, Ryanair and Wizzair.
Other airports to consider include:
- Karol Wojtyła Airport, Bari
- Salento Airport, Brindisi
- Lamezia Terme Airport, Cosenza
- Falcone-Borsellino Airport, Palermo
- Fontanarossa Airport, Catania
- Vincenzo Florio Airport, Trapani
Use a flight comparison website like Skyscanner to get the best deals.
Tips for Traveling Around Southern Italy
The best part about traveling around southern Italy is that each location is rich in tourist attractions.
There are a diverse number of activities you can do in each place, from small towns to larger cities. You can make the most out of your time by trying to see as many places as possible hopping from one town or city to another in a short space of time.
Here are some tips for planning your first break:
- Travel out of summer to get the best deals on travel, transport and accommodation. The weather in March, April, May and September and October is still good and tourist numbers are lower
- Check flights in advance for the best prices
- Book accommodation for each place you’re planning to visit well in advance, places can get booked up months in advance especially during high season. Use Booking.com or HostelWorld for cheap prices.
- Work our your budget, this will help you to see how much money you have to spend daily and can help decide activities
Now let's get started with our itinerary ideas which include the main tourist destinations in the region.
Please note this is only a rough intinerary and if you are flexible or have more or less time you will be able to pack more places in. Also if you have spare time, you could also sneak a visit to Venice and Rome depening on your interests.
Day 1-4: Capri, Sorrento & Amalfi
The first days you’ll spend in Italy will be your gateway to an incredible 14-day adventure.
Here are some of the best attractions in Italy you must visit in this region:
- Capri – Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro, and Villa Jovis
- Sorrento – Piazza Tasso, Old Town, Bellevue Syrene, Museum Correale, and Villa Comunale
- Amalfi – Amalfi Coast, Amalfi Cathedral, Museum of Paper, and Villa Rufolo
It’s up to you how you’ll choose to divide your time between these three beautiful destinations but be sure to visit each location. You can see stunning scenery, famous locations and buy lots of souvenirs.
No trip would be complete without a visit to the beautiful island of Capri. This is one of the most popular islands and attractions lots of famous faces from around the world.
It is also a popular stop offer for people travelling on cruises to Italy. You can choose to stay in Capri for another day or take a boat straight to Sorrento.
Sorrento is a scenic coastal town close to the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. The views here are stunning and there are so many local shops, cafes and squares.
Amalfi is a small town (as seen in the photo above) which is world famous. The coast is breathtaking and will leave you awestruck!
There are several ways to get between each location but bus is usually cheapest.
Day 5-7: Pompeii and Naples
The next two days can spend exploring the city of Naples and ancient Pompeii. There’s so much to explore in these two cities that two days might not be enough.
Naples is a must stop city destination in Southern Italy. Here you can see important art, architecture, the Duomo di San Gennaro cathedral, the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle.
Located close to Naples is Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that destroyed nearby Roman town Pompeii.
You can take the bus to move from Naples to Pompeii - lots of local tour companies offer short trips too.
Some top tourist destinations to visit in both locations include:
- Naples – Mount Vesuvius, Royal Palace, National Archaeological Museum, and Ovo Castle
- Pompeii – Temple of Apollo, House of the Vettii, Pompeii Amphitheatre, Temple of Jupiter, and House of the Tragic Poet
Second Week: Into the Southern Municipalities
From Naples, you can take a flight straight down to Palermo. If you’re staying in Naples, it would be best to visit Palermo on the last few days and visit first the nearby cities.
Day 8-11: Paestum, Maratea, and Tropea
There's a mix of things to do in Palermo. From beaches to museums, it’s up to you to choose where you want to spend the most time.
Some locations to visit:
- Paestum – Temple of Athena, Temple of Hera, and Archaeological Park of Paestum
- Maratea – Spiaggia Nera and Monte San Biagio
- Tropea – Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Isola and Tropea Beach (as seen in the picture above)
Day 10-14: Catania to Palermo
Three days is enough to enjoy Sicily even if you only explore two major destinations. Make sure to allocate time for your transportation. If you have enough time, you can go back to Naples or continue exploring Sicily as there are lots of different sites and places of interest.
Some locations you must visit in Sicily include:
- Catania – Mount Etna, Cathedral of Sant’Agata, Fontana dell'Elefante, and Castello Ursino
- Palermo – Norman Palace, Cattedrale di Palermo, Massimo Theater, and Cattedrale di Monreale
Plan a Trip to Southern Italy
Hopefully our guide to the best places to visit in Southern Italy has given you some ideas of where to add to your itinerary. Now go explore this beautiful region for yourself!
