Italian Concerto: Self-Launched Edition
11 days · Italy
Trafalgar charges £3,050
No-markup version: ~£845 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Trafalgar's 11-day "Italian Concerto" coach tour — Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Florence and Venice — done solo using trains, buses, ferries and public transport instead of a motorcoach. You keep the same headline experiences (Colosseum, Pompeii, Amalfi, Capri's funicular, Florence's Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, a Venice vaporetto arrival and Murano glassblowing) but book them yourself through GetYourGuide, Klook or direct, and stay in backpacker-friendly hostels and guesthouses rather than 3-4 star tour hotels. Costs are approximate, per person, and assume a solo traveller dorms or budget private rooms, eats mostly trattoria/counter food, and uses regional trains and buses. The original tour runs at roughly US$3,950 (£3,050) per person with group size 20-50, motorcoach transport and a full-time guide.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rome
Rome
Land at Fiumicino and take the Leonardo Express train into Termini (about €14, ~£12) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Termini or Monti — central and walkable. Spend the late afternoon on a free orientation walk: Piazza della Repubblica, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon (free to enter), then a cheap aperitivo and a plate of cacio e pepe in Trastevere. Evening is open — get your phone SIM/eSIM sorted and buy Roma travel passes.
🚌Leonardo Express train ~£12
🛏Hostel/guesthouse near Termini or Monti, dorm or budget single (~£30-45)
- →Leonardo Express train Fiumicino to Termini
- →Self-guided walk: Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
- →Aperitivo and dinner in Trastevere
Ancient Rome & Colosseum
Rome
Book a Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill timed-entry ticket online in advance (GetYourGuide/Klook or the official CoopCulture site, ~£18-25) — this covers the 'guided tour of Rome' and Forum/Temple of Apollo visits from the original itinerary, but you go at your own pace with an audio guide. Walk the Circus Maximus, then head to Vatican City to see St. Peter's Square and Basilica (free entry, modest dress code; queues are shorter late afternoon). Optional upgrade: a Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel skip-the-line ticket (~£30-40). Dinner: a Roman pizza or a market dinner near Campo de' Fiori.
🚌Rome metro/bus day pass ~£6
🛏Hostel/guesthouse near Termini or Monti (~£30-45)
- →Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill self-guided (pre-booked ticket)
- →Circus Maximus walk
- →St. Peter's Square and Basilica
- →Optional Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel entry
Rome free day / Tivoli day trip
Rome
Follow the original tour's 'optional Tivoli' idea independently: take the regional train or Cotral bus from Tiburtina to Tivoli (~£3-4 each way) and visit Villa d'Este's terraced gardens and fountains (entry ~£10-13). Back in Rome, explore the Aventine Keyhole and the Bocca della Verità, or do a food-focused Trastevere walk. Alternatively stay in Rome for the Capitoline Museums or a day trip to Ostia Antica (train + entry ~£16).
🚌Return regional train Tiburtina–Tivoli ~£8
🛏Hostel/guesthouse near Termini or Monti (~£30-45)
- →Tivoli day trip: Villa d'Este gardens
- →Aventine Hill & Giardino degli Aranci
- →Optional Capitoline Museums or Ostia Antica
Rome to Pompeii to Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast (Maiori/Minori)
Take the high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo train Rome to Naples (~£25-40, 1h10m), then the local Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi (~£3) and pre-book a Pompeii entry with audio guide (~£18-25) — covering the guided excavations, Forum and Temple of Apollo. Continue by Circumvesuviana to Sorrento and then a SITA bus down the coast to Maiori or Minori (~£4-6). These Amalfi towns are far cheaper than Positano and are where the original tour actually stayed (San Pietro Maiori). Check into a guesthouse/B&B.
🚌Trains + coastal bus ~£45
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Maiori or Minori (~£40-60)
- →High-speed train to Naples
- →Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii
- →Pompeii archaeological site self-guided with audio guide
- →SITA bus along the Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast: Amalfi & Positano
Amalfi Coast
Use the frequent SITA coastal buses (day pass ~£8) or, in summer, the ferries (faster, ~£8-15 per hop) to explore. Wander Amalfi town and the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea (free/crypt small fee), then take the bus/ferry to Positano for the pastel-houses view and a swim at Fornillo beach. Skip the pricey beach clubs. Optionally hike part of the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) from Bomerano to Nocelle if you want a coastal walk. Cheap dinner back in Maiori.
🚌Coastal bus/ferry day pass ~£8-15
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Maiori or Minori (~£40-60)
- →Amalfi town and Cathedral of Sant'Andrea
- →Positano and Fornillo beach
- →Optional Path of the Gods coastal hike
- →Coastal bus/ferry hopping
Capri day trip
Capri / Amalfi Coast
Take the morning ferry from Amalfi or Salerno to Capri (~£18-25 each way) — cheaper and often simpler than from Sorrento. Ride the funicular up to Capri town (~£2), do the Piazzetta, and walk the Gardens of Augustus for the Faraglioni view. Join a self-bookable boat trip around the island or visit the Blue Grotto if sea conditions allow (shared boat ~£15-25). Return by ferry to the Amalfi Coast in the late afternoon.
🚌Return ferries ~£40
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Maiori or Minori (~£40-60)
- →Ferry to Capri
- →Capri funicular
- →Piazzetta and Gardens of Augustus
- →Optional island boat trip / Blue Grotto
Amalfi Coast to Florence
Florence
Travel back via Salerno or Naples and take a high-speed train to Florence Santa Maria Novella (~£40-60, 3-4h). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Oltrarno or near Santa Maria Novella. Evening walk to Piazzale Michelangelo for the sunset view over the Arno and the Duomo skyline — the same landmark from the original itinerary, minus the coach.
🚌Coastal bus + high-speed train ~£55
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Oltrarno or near SMN (~£35-50)
- →High-speed train to Florence
- →Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
- →Evening stroll along the Arno
Florence: Duomo, Ponte Vecchio & Tuscan dinner
Florence
Self-book a Florence walking tour (GetYourGuide ~£20-30) covering the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio exterior, Ponte Vecchio and the Baptistery, or DIY it with a free walking tour (tip-based). Pre-book Duomo dome climb or Giotto's Bell Tower entry if you want the views (~£20-30). In the evening, replicate the 'Be My Guest' Tuscan dinner by booking a small-group countryside dinner-with-transfer experience or a cooking class just outside the city (~£45-70) — often cheaper than the original's fully private version.
🚌Walkable city ~£0
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Oltrarno or near SMN (~£35-50)
- →Florence walking tour / free walking tour
- →Duomo and Ponte Vecchio
- →Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio
- →Optional Tuscan countryside dinner or cooking class
Florence to Venice
Venice
Take the high-speed train Florence to Venice Santa Lucia (~£35-50, 2h) — the station sits directly on the Grand Canal. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in Cannaregio or Santa Croce (cheaper than San Marco). Spend the afternoon getting deliberately lost in the back lanes, cross the Rialto Bridge, and optionally take a vaporetto to Burano for the colourful fishing village and a lagoon-side dinner, mirroring the original optional excursion (~£15-18 for the day pass).
🚌High-speed train ~£45 + vaporetto day pass ~£16
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Cannaregio or Santa Croce (~£35-50)
- →High-speed train to Venice
- →Rialto Bridge and Cannaregio lanes
- →Optional vaporetto trip to Burano
Venice: Grand Canal by vaporetto & Murano glass
Venice
The original tour uses a 'private launch cruise'; do the same route for pennies on the Line 1 vaporetto (~£8/day ticket for residents-style multi-ride options or €9.50 single). Drift past the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and the Grand Canal. Book St. Mark's Basilica skip-the-line (~£3-5) and optionally the Doge's Palace (~£25). Take the vaporetto to Murano and watch a free glassblowing demonstration at one of the furnaces — the same demo the tour includes, minus the sales pitch. Farewell dinner: cicchetti and a spritz in Cannaregio.
🚌Vaporetto day pass ~£8
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Cannaregio or Santa Croce (~£35-50)
- →Grand Canal vaporetto route past Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace
- →St. Mark's Basilica entry
- →Murano glassblowing demonstration
- →Cicchetti farewell dinner in Cannaregio
Depart Venice
Venice
Take the ATVO or ACTV bus from Piazzale Roma to Marco Polo Airport (~£8) or the Alilaguna water bus (~£14) for a more scenic exit. No group transfer needed — book your own flight and factor in the usual arrival buffer. Before you leave, grab a final Venetian pastry and espresso near Rialto.
🚌Airport bus or Alilaguna ~£8-14
🛏—
- →Airport bus/water bus to Marco Polo
- →Final espresso and pastry near Rialto
Self-launched vs. Trafalgar
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Trafalgar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£845 | £3,050 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,205 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Trafalgar-style trips? Check them out here.~£845
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 Italian Concerto: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £845 per person for 11 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 Trafalgar?+
Yes — Trafalgar charges around £3,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £845 — a saving of roughly £2,205 (72%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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, city-breaks, foodie 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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