Tuscany to the Amalfi Coast: Italy by Land & Sea (Self-Launched)
13 days · Italy
G Adventures charges £3,390
No-markup version: ~£843 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 13-day Florence-to-Naples trip, swapping the group tour and crewed sailing yacht for trains, ferries and affordable guesthouses. Wander Florence's Centro Storico, hike the Cinque Terre coastal trails, sip Chianti in the Tuscan hills, then hop down the Tyrrhenian coast to Capri, Positano and Ravello — all booked on your own, for roughly half the operator's price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Florence
Florence
Land in Florence and settle into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Centro Storico (Santa Maria Novella and San Lorenzo are well-connected, good-value areas). Spend the late afternoon getting oriented: cross the Arno to the free Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint for the classic sunset panorama over the Duomo, and wander the Ponte Vecchio. Eat a cheap, excellent dinner at a trattoria off the tourist drag or grab a lampredotto panino from a street stall.
🚌Airport bus or tram from Florence airport into the centre, ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Centro Storico
- →Piazzale Michelangelo sunset walk
- →Ponte Vecchio stroll
- →Orient around the Centro Storico
Florence to Lucca to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore/Manarola)
Do a self-guided morning walk of Florence's highlights (Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi exterior) before taking a regional train to Lucca — the medieval walls are free to walk and the town is wonderfully walkable. Continue by train toward the Cinque Terre and check into a guesthouse or hostel in Riomaggiore or Manarola. Buy the Cinque Terre Card for trail and train access.
🚌Regional train Florence–Lucca (~£8, 1h20) then Lucca–La Spezia/Cinque Terre (~£9, 1h30)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Riomaggiore/Manarola
- →Self-guided Florence highlights walk
- →Walk Lucca's medieval walls
- →Settle in to a Cinque Terre village
Cinque Terre coastal hiking
Cinque Terre
Take the local train to Monterosso and hike the coastal trails linking the five villages — the Monterosso–Vernazza–Corniglia sections are the classic stretches (check current trail status and pay the small trail fee via the Cinque Terre Card). Choose your distance and pace, swim at a sheltered cove, and follow it up with a hands-on pesto-making class in Manarola or a scenic boat ride along the coast, both bookable locally or via GetYourGuide.
🚌Cinque Terre local train between villages, covered by the Cinque Terre Card (~£12/day)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Riomaggiore/Manarola
- →Monterosso–Vernazza–Corniglia coastal hike
- →Swim at a village cove
- →Optional pesto-making class in Manarola
Cinque Terre free day
Cinque Terre
A full self-directed day: take the ferry or train to the colourful harbour town of Portovenere, kayak along the cliffs, or wine-taste and cafe-hop your way through the villages. Inland trails toward Corniglia's terraced vineyards reward you with fewer crowds. Book boat trips and kayaks direct or through Klook/GetYourGuide the day before in high season.
🚌Local train or seasonal ferry (Portovenere ferry ~£10)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Riomaggiore/Manarola
- →Day trip to Portovenere
- →Kayaking or boat tour
- →Vineyard trails and wine tasting
Pisa and on to the Chianti hills
Chianti / Greve in Chianti
Travel south by train, stopping in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli (free to view; cathedral/tower entry extra). Continue to Florence and then by bus into the Chianti region around Greve or Panzano. Base in a rural guesthouse or agriturismo dorm and unwind with an easy dinner and a glass of local Chianti Classico.
🚌Train Cinque Terre–Pisa (~£9) and Pisa–Florence (~£9); local bus Florence–Chianti (~£4)
🛏Rural guesthouse or agriturismo in the Chianti hills
- →See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- →Travel into the Chianti wine region
Chianti wine and village day
Chianti / Greve in Chianti
Explore the Tuscan hills on foot or by rented bike between hill towns. Visit a family winery for a cellar tour and tasting (book direct or via GetYourGuide, ~£25-35), stroll Greve's market square, and eat a long, lazy lunch of ribollita and pecorino. This replaces the operator's guided Chianti day with self-booked, more affordable equivalents.
🚌On foot, rented bike (~£15/day) or local bus between villages
🛏Rural guesthouse or agriturismo in the Chianti hills
- →Winery tour and Chianti tasting
- →Cycle or hike between hill towns
- →Greve in Chianti market and lunch
Chianti to Rome
Rome
Take the train south to Rome for an overnight staging point. Drop bags near Termini and spend the evening on a free self-guided loop of the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Trevi Fountain, with dinner in Trastevere. (If you'd rather travel direct to the Amalfi gateway, book Chianti/Siena–Naples instead and skip the Rome night.)
🚌Train Florence/Siena region–Rome, ~£25-35 (2-3h)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Termini, Rome
- →Self-guided evening walk: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain
- →Dinner in Trastevere
Rome to Sorrento
Sorrento
Ride the high-speed train from Rome to Naples, then take the Circumvesuviana local train or a shared shuttle down to Sorrento. Settle into a hostel or B&B and spend the afternoon wandering Sorrento's old town and seafront, with a limoncello tasting and a sunset view over the Bay of Naples.
🚌High-speed train Rome–Naples (~£20-30), then Circumvesuviana Naples–Sorrento (~£4)
🛏Hostel or B&B in Sorrento
- →Sorrento old town and seafront
- →Limoncello tasting
- →Bay of Naples sunset
Capri day trip
Capri (from Sorrento)
Take the ferry from Sorrento to Capri and explore independently: the Marina Grande, the Gardens of Augustus, and the chairlift up Monte Solaro for panoramic views. Swim in the Blue Grotto area or the Faraglioni if sea conditions allow, and catch the ferry back by evening. Book ferries direct or via GetYourGuide; the ferry is the biggest single cost of the day.
🚌Return ferry Sorrento–Capri, ~£35-40
🛏Hostel or B&B in Sorrento
- →Capri island day trip
- →Monte Solaro chairlift
- →Faraglioni views and swimming
Positano and the Amalfi Coast
Positano / Amalfi
Travel the coast by SITA bus (or a shared boat) to Positano, the pastel cliffside village. Spend the day on the Spiaggia Grande, hike a section of the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) for spectacular views, and continue to Amalfi to see its duomo. Base yourself in Amalfi or Praiano, which are cheaper than Positano itself.
🚌SITA bus Sorrento–Positano–Amalfi, ~£3-6 per leg
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Amalfi/Praiano
- →Explore Positano's cliffside lanes and beach
- →Path of the Gods hike
- →Amalfi Duomo
Amalfi Coast and Ravello
Ravello / Amalfi
Head up to Ravello, perched high above the coast, to see the Villa Cimbrone gardens and Villa Rufolo (small entry fees). The rest of the day is yours: a coastal boat trip, more beach time, or a lemon-grove walk. This covers the operator's optional Ravello side trip as a self-booked day.
🚌Local bus Amalfi–Ravello, ~£2-3
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Amalfi/Praiano
- →Ravello and Villa Cimbrone/Rufolo gardens
- →Coastal boat trip or beach time
- →Lemon-grove and old-town walks
Amalfi Coast to Naples
Naples
Travel back up the coast and into Naples by bus or ferry plus local train. Spend the last full day exploring Naples: the historic centre (UNESCO-listed), the Duomo, and a proper Neapolitan pizza (Sorbillo or Da Michele). If time allows, add a quick visit to Pompeii or Herculaneum on the Circumvesuviana en route.
🚌SITA bus Amalfi–Sorrento (~£4) then Circumvesuviana to Naples (~£4); optional Pompeii stop (~£4)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Naples
- →Naples historic centre and Duomo
- →Authentic Neapolitan pizza
- →Optional Pompeii or Herculaneum visit
Depart Naples
Naples
Final morning for a coffee and a pastry before heading to Naples airport or central station for onward travel. Note: allow time for check-in — aim to leave the city centre at least 3 hours before an international flight.
🚌Alibus or Metro to Naples airport, ~£4-5
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Departure from Naples
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£843 | £3,390 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,547 per person (75%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£843
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tuscany to the Amalfi Coast: Italy by Land & Sea (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £843 per person for 13 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,390 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £843 — a saving of roughly £2,547 (75%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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, foodie, hiking 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.