Southern Italy: Amalfi Coast, Capri, Puglia & Sicily
Positano and Ravello above the Amalfi Coast, Capri's Faraglioni rocks, Pompeii beneath Vesuvius, the trulli houses of Puglia and the cave city of Matera, and Sicily's Greek theatre at Taormina facing Mount Etna.
- Best time to go
- Late April to June and September to mid-October. July and August are hot and very busy; many Amalfi Coast hotels close from November to March.
- Flying from India
- Fly to Rome (limited non-stop services from Delhi) and take the train to Naples, or fly to Naples, Bari or Catania with one stop via the Gulf or Europe.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Schengen short-stay visa: one visa covers every Schengen country on the route. Apply at the consulate of the country where you spend most nights, up to six months ahead; spring and summer appointments fill early. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at your first border under the EU Entry/Exit System.
- Currency
- Euro. Cards are accepted in hotels and most restaurants; carry cash for beach clubs, boats and small cafés.
Southern Italy at a glance
The Amalfi Coast is the classic first stop: a cliff road linking Positano, Amalfi and Ravello above the sea. Spend a day on the water by private boat, walk the Path of the Gods above Positano, and take the ferry to Capri for the Faraglioni, the gardens of Augustus and, when the sea allows, the Blue Grotto. Pompeii and Herculaneum, buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, are an easy day from the coast or from Naples.
Further south and east, Puglia offers a quieter Italy: the white trulli of Alberobello, whitewashed Ostuni, the clifftop town of Polignano a Mare and stays in fortified farmhouses called masserie. Matera's ancient cave dwellings are a short drive away. Sicily rewards a separate week or a few nights at the end: Taormina's Greek theatre, a guided walk on the slopes of Etna, and the baroque towns of the south-east.
Must-see
- Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
- Capri and the Blue Grotto
- Pompeii
- Alberobello and Matera
- Taormina and Mount Etna
Food to try
- Pizza in Naples, where it was born
- Spaghetti alle vongole and fresh seafood
- Limoncello and lemon desserts on the Amalfi Coast
- Burrata and orecchiette in Puglia
- Cannoli and granita in Sicily
Where to shop
- Ceramics in Vietri sul Mare
- Handmade sandals in Capri and Positano
- Limoncello and lemon soaps in Amalfi
- Lecce's papier-mâché workshops
- Sicilian ceramics in Caltagirone and Taormina
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Positano and Amalfi
Cliffside hotels above the sea
Terraced hotels stepping down the cliffs, with sea-view balconies, lemon-tree terraces and steps to the beach. Ideal for boat days and evenings in town.
Ravello
Villa hotels in the hills
Quieter hotels in historic villas 350 metres above the sea, with gardens, concerts in summer and views along the whole coast.
Puglia, Valle d'Itria
Masserie and trulli stays
Restored fortified farmhouses and trulli among olive groves, with pools, farm-to-table cooking and easy drives to Alberobello, Ostuni and the coast.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Southern Italy journeys around
The Amalfi Coast by private boat
A day on a traditional wooden gozzo: swim stops in coves, the Emerald Grotto and lunch in a fishing village only reachable from the sea.
Pompeii with an archaeologist
Three hours through the Forum, villas, bakeries and baths of the city buried in AD 79, with Vesuvius looming behind. Daily visitor numbers are capped and tickets are named.
Ravello's Terrace of Infinity
Walk through the gardens of Villa Cimbrone to the belvedere lined with marble busts, with the coast spread out far below.
Polignano a Mare
A clifftop town in Puglia with houses built on the rocks above the Adriatic; swim at the tiny Lama Monachile cove and dine in a restaurant set into a sea cave.
Taormina's Greek theatre
The 3rd-century BC theatre looks out over the sea to Mount Etna and still hosts concerts and festivals in summer.
Walking on Mount Etna
A jeep and cable car up Europe's most active volcano, then a guided walk among recent lava flows and craters, conditions permitting.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Southern Italy traveller
When to visit
Late April to June
Warm days, wildflowers in Puglia and swimming from late May, before the summer crowds.
July and August
Hot and crowded on the Amalfi Coast and Capri; Puglia and Sicily's beaches are at their liveliest. Book months ahead.
September to mid-October
Warm sea, harvest season and calmer villages. Many coast hotels close in early November.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Fly into Rome or Naples. Positano is about 1½ hours from Naples by car; Bari is the gateway for Puglia and Catania for eastern Sicily.
Between regions
Naples to Bari is about 3 hours by road, and Sicily is a short domestic flight from Naples or Rome.
Insider notes
Use boats, not the coast road
In summer the Amalfi road jams for hours. Ferries and private boats between Positano, Amalfi and Capri are quicker and more pleasant.
The Blue Grotto depends on the sea
It closes when waves are too high, often at short notice. Go in the morning and keep a back-up plan on Capri.
Pick Positano or Ravello for your style
Positano for beaches and buzz; Ravello for peace and views. Many travellers split their nights between the two.
Steps everywhere
Positano and Capri involve many steps. Tell us about mobility needs and we choose hotels with lifts and road access.
Southern Italy: Common Questions
Four nights is a good minimum: a boat day, a Capri day, Ravello and Pompeii. Add nights if you want slow beach days.
Plan your Southern Italy journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Southern Italy specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Southern Italy
Journey · Coastal & Culinary
Amalfi Coast & Capri
Journey · Culture & Heritage
Paris & The Amalfi Coast
Ready to plan Southern Italy?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.