Best of Italy with Sicily — Self-Launched

Land at Fiumicino or Ciampino and take the Leonardo Express train to Termini (~£12) or the regional FL1 to Trastevere (~£7). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Termini or Monti. Do your own orientation loop: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain at dusk, then a trattoria dinner in Testaccio or Trastevere (~£12–15). Buy a Roma 48/72-hour transport pass if you're staying several days.

🚌Leonardo Express train airport–Termini ~£12; city metro/bus pass ~£6/day

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Termini/Monti (~£28)

• →Self-guided evening walk: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain
• →Dinner in Testaccio or Trastevere

Take a regional train Rome–Siena (~£18, 3h, often change at Chiusi) and drop bags at Siena's left-luggage near the station. Walk the UNESCO medieval centre: Piazza del Campo, the Duomo and the Contrade lanes — all free to explore on foot. Late afternoon bus or train Siena–Florence (~£8–12, 1h15). Check into a hostel in Santa Maria Novella or San Lorenzo. Cheap dinner at Mercato Centrale's upstairs food hall (~£10).

🚌Regional train Rome–Siena ~£18; Siena–Florence bus/train ~£10

🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in Florence (~£30)

• →Self-guided walk of Siena's UNESCO historic centre
• →Piazza del Campo and Duomo exterior
• →Mercato Centrale food hall

Book a small-group or pay-what-you-want Florence walking tour on GetYourGuide/Freetour (~£10–25) covering the Duomo exterior, Giotto's Bell Tower, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce. Climb the Duomo dome if you book the Brunelleschi Pass in advance (~£30), or just enjoy the free piazzas. Afternoon: Oltrarno workshops and Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. Optional Tuscan evening wine tasting (~£35) can be booked same-day at any agency near the Duomo.

🚌On foot; occasional city bus ~£2

🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in Florence (~£30)

• →Guided Florence walking tour (book via GetYourGuide ~£15)
• →Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo sunset walk
• →Optional Tuscan wine tasting ~£35

Regional train Florence–Lucca (~£7, 1h20). Walk or cycle the Renaissance walls (bike hire ~£5/hr). Then Lucca–Pisa (~£4, 30min), left-luggage at Pisa Centrale and walk 25 minutes (or bus ~£2) to the Leaning Tower and Campo dei Miracoli. Late train Pisa–La Spezia or Levanto (~£8–10), the gateway to Cinque Terre. Hostel or guesthouse in Levanto/La Spezia is cheaper than inside the park (~£25–30).

🚌Regional trains Florence–Lucca–Pisa–La Spezia ~£20 total

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Levanto or La Spezia (~£28)

• →Walk Lucca's Renaissance walls
• →Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower
• →Optional Lucca wine tasting ~£20

Buy the Cinque Terre Card (Trekking + train, ~£22 for one day) at Levanto or La Spezia station — it covers the coastal train between all five villages plus the Sentiero Azzurro trail sections that are open. Hike Monterosso–Vernazza–Corniglia in the morning, swim at Monterosso, then train-hop to Manarola for the sunset viewpoint. Focaccia and fried anchovies keep food cheap (~£12–15).

🚌Cinque Terre Card (train + trails) ~£22

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Levanto or La Spezia (~£28)

• →Sentiero Azzurro cliff hike
• →Swim at Monterosso
• →Manarola sunset viewpoint

Long travel day: regional/intercity train La Spezia–Milan (~£15–20, 3h), then a 40-minute Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni (~£5). Wander Como's lakefront and take the slow public ferry to Bellagio (~£10 one way, 2h) or just a short hop to Cernobbio. Return to Milan for a hostel near Centrale or Porta Venezia (~£28). Evening aperitivo in the Navigli district (~£10).

🚌Train La Spezia–Milan ~£18; Milan–Como return ~£10; ferry ~£10

🛏Hostel dorm in Milan (~£28)

• →Lake Como ferry ride
• →Como lakefront and Duomo
• →Navigli aperitivo in Milan

Morning regional train Milan–Verona Porta Nuova (~£13–18, 1h30–2h). Walk 15 minutes to the historic centre: Arena di Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, and the Casa di Giulietta courtyard (courtyard free, balcony ticket ~£5). Afternoon train Verona–Treviso or Padova (~£7–9). Hostels in Padova are usually cheaper and better-connected than Treviso if you're heading to Venice next.

🚌Regional trains Milan–Verona–Padova/Treviso ~£25

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Padova/Treviso (~£26)

• →Arena di Verona and Piazza delle Erbe
• →Juliet's House courtyard
• →Verona riverside walk

Train Padova/Treviso–Venezia Santa Lucia (~£4–6). Skip the private lagoon boat — the public vaporetto Line 1 down the Grand Canal is the same view for ~£8 with a 24h ACTV pass (~£18, worth it if you hop on/off). Explore San Marco, the Rialto, Cannaregio and the free Dorsoduro alleys. Optional gondola share (~£30/30min, cheaper shared with others at a traghetto for ~£2) or a Burano vaporetto trip. Eat cicchetti standing at a bacaro (~£10).

🚌Train ~£5; ACTV 24h vaporetto pass ~£18

🛏Hostel or budget B&B in Padova/Treviso (~£26)

• →Grand Canal vaporetto ride
• →San Marco and Rialto self-guided walk
• →Cannaregio cicchetti crawl
• →Optional Burano island trip

Train to Bologna Centrale (~£6, 1h). Walk the UNESCO-listed 38km of porticoes up to San Luca, browse the Quadrilatero food market, and grab a cheap piadina or tagliatelle al ragù (~£10). Late afternoon Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train Bologna–Rome (~£20–35 if booked early, 2h15). Back to a hostel near Termini.

🚌Train Padova–Bologna ~£6; high-speed Bologna–Rome ~£28

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Rome (~£28)

• →Bologna porticoes and San Luca walk
• →Quadrilatero food market
• →Optional underground wine-cellar dinner ~£30

Book the official Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill ticket direct on colosseo.it (~£18) — or a small-group guided version on GetYourGuide (~£35) that includes the arena floor. Spend 3–4 hours on the ancient sites, then walk to the Capitoline Hill, Circus Maximus and Aventine Keyhole. Evening: cheap pizza al taglio and gelato (~£12).

🚌Metro/bus day pass ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Rome (~£28)

• →Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (official ticket ~£18)
• →Optional guided ancient Rome tour ~£35
• →Aventine Keyhole and Circus Maximus walk

High-speed Frecciarossa Rome–Naples (~£15–20 if booked ahead, 1h10), then Circumvesuviana local train Naples–Pompei Scavi (~£3, 35min). Pompeii entry ~£16; either self-guide with the free app or join a 2-hour small-group tour booked on GetYourGuide (~£25). Afternoon return to Naples, hostel in the historic centre, then walk Spaccanapoli and eat pizza margherita at a classic pizzeria (~£7).

🚌High-speed Rome–Naples ~£18; Circumvesuviana return ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm in Naples' centro storico (~£24)

• →Pompeii archaeological site (~£16 entry)
• →Optional small-group Pompeii tour ~£25
• →Spaccanapoli walk and pizza

Early hydrofoil Naples–Capri (~£18 each way, 50min). Take the public bus or funicular up to Capri town, walk to the Faraglioni viewpoint and the Gardens of Augustus (~£2). Private boat cruises cost £60+, so instead swim at Marina Piccola or take a shared boat tour from Marina Grande (~£18). Afternoon ferry Capri–Sorrento or Naples then train along the coast to Salerno (~£8–12). Hostel or guesthouse base in Salerno is far cheaper than Positano (~£30).

🚌Hydrofoil Naples–Capri ~£18; ferry/train to Salerno ~£15; local buses ~£5

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Salerno (~£30)

• →Capri Faraglioni viewpoint and Gardens of Augustus
• →Marina Piccola swim
• →Optional shared boat tour ~£18

The SITA Sud bus along the coast road is the budget classic (~£3 per hop; buy a 24h Unico Costiera pass ~£8). Start in Amalfi — the Duomo and Paper Museum — then bus to Positano for the beach and the famous stacked-house views from the coastal path. Optional lemon-farm or limoncello visit near Amalfi (~£10–15). Return to Salerno by bus or ferry (~£8).

🚌SITA bus day pass ~£8; optional ferry ~£8

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Salerno (~£30)

• →Amalfi Duomo and town
• →Positano beach and coastal viewpoints
• →Optional lemon farm visit ~£12

Morning train Salerno–Rome (~£18–25, 2h on Frecciarossa to Termini). Afternoon free in Rome: book a small-group pasta-making class in Trastevere on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£35–45) or just explore the Monti vintage shops and Piazza del Popolo. Re-stock snacks for tomorrow's flight south.

🚌Frecciarossa Salerno–Rome ~£22; city transport ~£6

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Rome (~£28)

• →Optional pasta-making class ~£40
• →Monti and Piazza del Popolo wander

Fly Rome–Catania (Ryanair/ITA, ~£30–50 booked ahead, 1h20) or take the overnight ferry from Civitavecchia if you have time (~£40 berth). Alibus from Catania airport to the centre (~£4). Explore the UNESCO-listed baroque core: Piazza del Duomo with the elephant fountain, the fish market (La Pescheria), and Via Crociferi. Dinner of pasta alla Norma (~£12).

🚌Flight Rome–Catania ~£40; airport bus ~£4

🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in Catania (~£26)

• →Catania Duomo and elephant fountain
• →La Pescheria fish market
• →Via Crociferi baroque walk

Local Circumetnea or Trenitalia train/bus Catania–Taormina-Giardini (~£4, 1h), then the Interbus up to Taormina town (~£2). Walk the Corso Umberto, the Greek Theatre (Teatro Antico, ~£12) and the Villa Comunale gardens. Afternoon swim at Isola Bella via the cable car (~£5 return). Hostel or budget B&B in Taormina/Giardini Naxos (~£30).

🚌Train/bus Catania–Taormina ~£5; cable car ~£5

🛏Hostel/budget B&B in Taormina or Giardini Naxos (~£30)

• →Teatro Antico di Taormina ~£12
• →Corso Umberto walk
• →Isola Bella beach

Book a half-day Etna tour from Taormina on GetYourGuide (~£45–60 including transport to the Rifugio Sapienza at ~1,900m) or DIY with the AST bus to Rifugio Sapienza (~£5 each way) plus the Etna cable car and 4x4 up to 2,900m (~£55). Bring a jacket — it's cold up top. Alternatively, do a winery visit on Etna's slopes (~£25 with tasting). Evening back in Taormina for arancini and cannoli (~£8).

🚌AST bus or tour transport ~£10–60

🛏Hostel/budget B&B in Taormina or Giardini Naxos (~£30)

• →Etna cable car and crater excursion ~£55
• →Optional Etna winery tasting ~£25
• →Optional Sicilian cooking class ~£40

Train Taormina–Siracusa (~£8, 2h), then a local bus or train detour to Noto (~£3). Noto's baroque Corso Vittorio Emanuele and cathedral are free to walk. Continue to Syracuse and base yourself in Ortigia, the island old town. Visit the Duomo and the Fountain of Arethusa, and eat at the evening market. Optional organic farm tasting lunch near Noto (~£20).

🚌Train Taormina–Siracusa ~£8; local bus to Noto ~£3

🛏Hostel/budget B&B in Ortigia, Syracuse (~£28)

• →Noto baroque centre walk
• →Ortigia old town and Duomo
• →Optional organic farm tasting ~£20

Long transfer day. Early bus or train Syracuse–Agrigento (~£12–15, 3–4h). Visit the Valley of the Temples (~£12 entry) — the Temple of Concordia is the best-preserved Greek temple outside Athens; allow 2.5 hours and bring water and a hat. Then bus/train Agrigento–Palermo–Cefalù (~£15, 3.5h) or an evening bus direct. Check into a guesthouse in Cefalù (~£28).

🚌Buses/trains Syracuse–Agrigento–Cefalù ~£27

🛏Guesthouse/budget B&B in Cefalù (~£28)

• →Valley of the Temples, Agrigento ~£12
• →Temple of Concordia and the archaeology museum

Slow day. Climb La Rocca for the view over the town and coast (~£4), wander the Norman cathedral and the medieval laundry basins, then swim at the sandy town beach (free) or the quieter Kalura cove. Optional boat trip along the coast (~£20) or a hike partway up to the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna. Dinner of fresh sardines and pane cunzato (~£14).

🚌On foot; optional local bus ~£2

🛏Guesthouse/budget B&B in Cefalù (~£28)

• →La Rocca climb ~£4
• →Cefalù cathedral and old town
• →Town beach swim
• →Optional coastal boat trip ~£20

Regional train Cefalù–Palermo (~£5, 1h). Join a Palermo anti-Mafia and historic-centre walking tour (GetYourGuide, ~£20–30) covering the Teatro Massimo, the Ballarò or Vucciria market and the Addiopizzo story. Visit the Cappella Palatina and the Cathedral (free/low-cost entry). Farewell dinner at a Palermo trattoria or at the well-known social-enterprise bistro in the centre (~£18).

🚌Regional train Cefalù–Palermo ~£5; city transport ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Palermo centre (~£27)

• →Anti-Mafia walking tour ~£25
• →Cappella Palatina and Palermo Cathedral
• →Vucciria/Ballarò market
• →Farewell dinner ~£18

Morning at the Mercato di Ballarò or a last sfincione and cannolo before heading out. Presto bus or Trinacria Express train to Palermo airport (~£4–6). If your flight is late, drop bags and visit the Monreale cathedral mosaics by bus (~£2 each way).

🚌Airport bus/train ~£5

🛏— (departure day)

• →Ballarò market breakfast
• →Optional Monreale cathedral mosaics