Buonasera Italia, Your Way: Naples to Rome in 10 Days
10 days · Italy
Italy on a Budget Tours charges £2,290
No-markup version: ~£1,015 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Italy on a Budget Tours' "Buonasera Italia" — Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, Chianti, San Gimignano, Venice and Rome — rebuilt for independent travellers using Italian trains, regional buses, ferries and self-bookable tours. The original is only "partially guided" and travellers routinely commute themselves between cities, so going fully independent is barely a downgrade and saves a big chunk of cash. Travel between April and October for the best coastal weather; book Pompeii, the Colosseum and Vatican online in advance. All costs are approximate per-person estimates from a UK backpacker/budget-traveller perspective.
Day-by-day
Naples arrival, Pompeii and on to Sorrento
Naples → Pompeii → Sorrento
Arrive at Napoli Centrale and stash your bag in the station luggage lockers (about £5 for the day) or head straight to Pompeii. Take the Circumvesuviana regional train from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (about 25 minutes, €3.30/~£3). Pre-book a timed Pompeii entry ticket online (€18/~£16) — the site is huge and unshaded, so go early and bring water. Optional: add a 2-hour local guide through GetYourGuide (about £35) for the context. In the afternoon continue on the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento (about 40 minutes, €2.40/~£2), pick up your accommodation near the centre, then take yourself on a wander through the old town alleys and artisan shops around Via San Cesareo. Grab a cheap margherita or a plate of gnocchi alla sorrentina for dinner (about £12).
🚌Circumvesuviana train Naples–Pompeii–Sorrento, approx £5 total
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel private room in Sorrento (about £30-40/night)
- →Walk Pompeii archaeological site at your own pace with a pre-booked entry ticket
- →Self-guided evening wander through Sorrento's old town and artisan shops
Capri by ferry
Sorrento → Capri → Sorrento
Walk down to Sorrento's Marina Piccola and buy a return ferry ticket to Capri — the fast hydrofoil is about €40/~£35 return and takes roughly 20-25 minutes. On Capri, skip the expensive organised boat trip and use the island's cheap buses (€2-3 a ride) or walk: head to the Faraglioni viewpoints, the Gardens of Augustus, and the Bagni di Tiberio area for a swim in clear water. Optional extras: the Blue Grotto rowboat (about €18 plus entry) if the sea is calm, or the chairlift from Anacapri to Monte Solaro (€14/~£12) for the island's best view. Eat a picnic lunch from a Capri or Sorrento deli to keep costs down, then ferry back in the late afternoon and cook or eat cheaply in Sorrento (about £12).
🚌Return hydrofoil Sorrento–Capri approx £35; island buses approx £5
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel private room in Sorrento (about £30-40/night)
- →Faraglioni viewpoint walk and Gardens of Augustus
- →Swim at Bagni di Tiberio or Marina Piccola
- →Optional: chairlift to Monte Solaro or Blue Grotto visit
Amalfi Coast: Positano, Amalfi and back
Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi → Sorrento
Take the SITA Sud coastal bus from Sorrento to Positano (about 40 minutes, €2.20/~£2) — sit on the left for the views — and explore Positano's steep winding lanes and beach before continuing to Amalfi (about 30 minutes, another couple of euros). In Amalfi, climb the steps to the cathedral (free entry to the church, small fee for the cloister) and swim off the town beach. If you want one splurge, a short ferry hop between Positano and Amalfi (about €12) gives a different angle on the cliffs. Return to Sorrento by bus in the evening. A SITA day ticket or buying singles both work; singles usually win for this route.
🚌SITA coastal buses Sorrento–Positano–Amalfi, approx £8 total
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel private room in Sorrento (about £30-40/night)
- →Explore Positano's lanes and beach
- →Visit Amalfi Cathedral and swim off the town beach
- →Cliffside coastal bus ride along the SS163
Sorrento to Florence via Naples
Sorrento → Naples → Florence
Take the Circumvesuviana or Campania Express back into Naples (€4.50/~£4) and spend a few hours in the city before your train north: the free orientation loop through Piazza del Plebiscito, Teatro di San Carlo and the Spaccanapoli lanes is all on foot, and a sfogliatella and an espresso cost about £3. Optional: a Naples street-food crawl (pizza fritta, frittatina) for about £8. Then take a high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo train from Napoli Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (about 3 hours, booked in advance from €30-45/~£26-39). Check into a hostel near Santa Maria Novella or in the Oltrarno, then do a free evening wander: Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio. Optional: a spritz and bites for aperitivo (about £10).
🚌Circumvesuviana Sorrento–Naples approx £4; high-speed train Naples–Florence approx £30
🛏Hostel dorm in Florence near Santa Maria Novella (about £25-35/night)
- →Self-guided Naples historic centre walk (Piazza del Plebiscito, Teatro di San Carlo, Spaccanapoli)
- →Evening walk through Florence's historic centre — Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio
- →Optional: Florentine spritz and aperitivo
Chianti wine tasting and San Gimignano
Florence → Chianti → San Gimignano → Florence
Book a small-group Chianti wine-tasting day trip through GetYourGuide, Viator or directly with a local Chianti winery (roughly £55-70 including transport from Florence, a winery tour, tastings and often a stop in San Gimignano) — this is the cheapest realistic way to do the Tuscan countryside without a car. Alternatively, take a bus to Siena or Greve in Chianti (SITA/Tiemme, €5-8 each way) and book a winery tasting yourself (€20-30). San Gimignano's medieval towers, the Rocca viewpoint and the Collegiata are free or cheap to explore. Back in Florence, grab dinner from a trattoria or the Mercato Centrale food hall (about £12).
🚌Organised minivan day trip from Florence (included in activity cost)
🛏Hostel dorm in Florence near Santa Maria Novella (about £25-35/night)
- →Winery tour and Chianti wine tasting
- →Explore San Gimignano's medieval towers and Rocca viewpoint
Florence to Venice
Florence → Venice
Book an early Frecciarossa or Italo from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Venezia Santa Lucia (about 2 hours, from €25-40/~£22-35 if booked ahead). Once out of the station you're on the Grand Canal — skip the €80 gondola and use the vaporetto instead: a single ride is €9.50, but if you'll ride more than three times buy a 24- or 48-hour ACTV pass (€25/€35). Walk to your hostel in Mestre (cheaper, connected by train or bus, about £22-32/night) or in Cannaregio. Then do the classic free orientation walk: Ponte degli Scalzi, along the canals to the Rialto, then Piazza San Marco and the outside of St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Dinner: cicchetti and a spritz in Cannaregio (about £12).
🚌High-speed train Florence–Venice approx £25; airport-style bus/train Mestre–Venice island approx £3
🛏Hostel dorm in Venice Mestre or Cannaregio (about £25-32/night)
- →Self-guided walk from Ponte degli Scalzi to Rialto and Piazza San Marco
- →Cicchetti and spritz evening in Cannaregio
Venice islands and free day
Venice: Cannaregio, Castello, or Murano/Burano
With a 24-hour ACTV vaporetto pass (€25/~£22) you can reach Murano and Burano independently in about 45 minutes — no need for the orchestrated boat tour. Murano for glass workshops, Burano for the coloured houses and lace, Torcello for the old basilica if you have time. Alternatively stay on the main island: the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (about €16/~£14), the Ca' Rezzonico museum (about €10), or the free Dorsoduro, Castello and Cannaregio backstreets. A cheap lunch is a tramezzino or pizza slice (about £5); dinner in Mestre is significantly cheaper than San Marco (about £12).
🚌24-hour ACTV vaporetto pass approx £22
🛏Hostel dorm in Venice Mestre or Cannaregio (about £25-32/night)
- →Self-launched vaporetto day trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello
- →Optional: Peggy Guggenheim Collection or Ca' Rezzonico
- →Optional: mask-making workshop in Venice (book direct, from about £35)
Venice to Rome
Venice → Rome
Take a Frecciarossa from Venezia Santa Lucia to Roma Termini (about 3h45; book ahead for €35-55/~£30-48). Check into a hostel in Termini, San Lorenzo or Trastevere (about £28-40/night). Spend the afternoon on a free self-guided historic walk: Piazza Navona, the Pantheon (now ticketed, about €5), the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps — all free on foot. Get dinner in Trastevere (about £13) where trattorias are cheaper than in the centre, and consider joining a free walking tour for orientation (tips only, about £5-10).
🚌High-speed train Venice–Rome approx £35
🛏Hostel dorm in Rome (Termini/San Lorenzo/Trastevere), about £28-40/night
- →Self-guided walk: Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps
- →Optional: Rome free walking tour (tip-based)
Colosseum, Vatican and Rome at your own pace
Rome
Pre-book your two big tickets online the moment they open — the official Colosseum/Forum/Palatine combined ticket is about €18/~£16 (booked direct via the Parco Colosseo site) and the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel about €20-27/~£17-23. Add an audio guide rather than a guided tour and you'll save £30-40. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill make a full morning; the Vatican Museums and St Peter's fill an afternoon (dress modestly, expect queues even with a timed slot). Optional: a pasta-making cooking class in the evening (from about £45) or a Trastevere bar crawl. Eat cheaply at a pizzarium or market (about £12).
🚌Metro/bus day ticket approx £6
🛏Hostel dorm in Rome (Termini/San Lorenzo/Trastevere), about £28-40/night
- →Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with pre-booked ticket and audio guide
- →Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with pre-booked ticket
- →Optional: cooking class or Trastevere night out
Last morning in Rome and departure
Rome
Check out by 10:00 and use the morning for whatever you missed — the Capitoline Hill terraces are free, and the Monti or Testaccio neighbourhoods are great for a last coffee and pastry (about £4). If you're flying out of Fiumicino, the Leonardo Express from Termini takes 32 minutes (€14/~£12); Ciampino is served by Terravision/coaches (about €7/~£6). Buy a final gelato and head to the airport.
🚌Leonardo Express or airport coach approx £6-12
🛏None (departure day)
- →Free morning walk on Capitoline Hill or Monti
- →Last Italian coffee and gelato
Self-launched vs. Italy on a Budget Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Italy on a Budget Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,015 | £2,290 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,275 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Italy on a Budget Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,015
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Buonasera Italia, Your Way: Naples to Rome in 10 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,015 per person for 10 days in Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Italy on a Budget Tours?+
Yes — Italy on a Budget Tours charges around £2,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,015 — a saving of roughly £1,275 (56%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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