The Awe-Inspiring Amalfi Coast

Book a flight to arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) by midday. (Or come a day early if you'd like to rest, relax, and adjust to the local time). Either way, grab one of the many taxis at the airport taxi stand and head to your 4-star hotel, the Grand Hotel Santa Lucia in central Naples. It has a glorious sea view.

Take time to settle in and freshen up. We'll meet in the early evening for a drink and to discuss our week together. Then, we'll take a walking tour of downtown Naples with an expert guide.

We'll enjoy dinner in Naples tonight as we get to know each other better.

Today, we’ll visit Vulcan – or Hephaestus if you prefer his Greek incarnation. Vulcan ruled fire and volcanoes in ancient times, and today, we’ll discover Pompeii, the volcano that stopped time in 79 AD. Prepare to explore one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Italy. An expert guide will lead us through the ancient city. It was buried under 20 feet of volcanic ash when Vesuvius erupted. This natural disaster made it possible to look upon life as it was almost 2,000 years ago. 

From Pompeii, we’ll hop back into our private transport and zip off to lunch and a wine tasting on Mt. Vesuvius. We’ll sample wines from this volcanic area before heading to Sorrento and checking into our seaside accommodation, the Hotel Continental.

This is our base for the next few days, so relax and get to know the hotel.  

In the evening, we’ll have dinner together in Sorrento.

Prepare to taste the best of the Amalfi region today.

Our first stop is a local olive oil mill. Here, you'll discover how this essential Italian ingredient is made. We’ll explore the mill, taste local olive oil varieties, and buy some if we like it.

Next, we’ll tour a limoncello factory. We'll walk through lemon groves and explore how this golden sunshine digestive is made. We'll also discover why the regional lemons are central to liqueur production.

Lunch is served at a farmhouse among the lemon groves.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to Sorrento. Take time to relax with a drink on the terrace, go shopping and explore this charming seaside town, or read a great book with an Aperol spritz in hand as you gaze at the Tyrrhenian Sea's jaw-dropping view.

We'll dine together this evening.

Sip your cappuccino at the hotel, then grab your sunglasses and swimsuit – we’re off to Capri in a private boat. This a thrilling way to see the Amalfi Coast. Weather permitting, we'll visit the famous Blue Grotto.

We’ll dock for lunch on the island and enjoy a meal at a seaside eatery, waves lapping nearby.  Tuck into a Caprese salad and delicious pasta, but leave room for dessert.

We’ll stop in Capri Town for gelato and take time to explore and shop.

The captain will take us back to the hotel in Sorrento at the end of a great day.

Enjoy dinner alone or with friends in town, or order room service and relax.

A driver will pick us up after breakfast to explore Amalfi Coast highlights. This is the Amalfi you’ve seen on postcards and travel shows. The curling coastline features dramatic cliffs and colorful villas juxtaposed against the azure sea.

We’ll visit Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, three villages guaranteed to fill your camera with snapshots of La Dolce Vita! Fragrant lemon groves line the hillsides, and darling shops and cafes hide along cobblestone alleyways. Getting from Positano to Amalfi is part of the fun because we’ll take a mini-cruise in a boat from one beach town to the next. The rest of the tour is by minibus.

We’ll stop for a traditional lunch along the way.

This is our last night in Sorrento. Enjoy this beautiful place for one more spring night before we leave for Naples tomorrow. You'll have dinner on your own this evening.

We say arrivederci to Sorrento today. Enjoy a light, leisurely breakfast at the hotel and take another long look at the seaside. We’ll have free time this morning to relax or explore.

We're going to put you to work for your lunch today. We'll slice and dice with a local chef and then dig into the fruits of our labor for lunch!

After lunch, we'll hop into the mini-bus to return to Naples. It's about a 90-minute drive.

We’ll check into our hotel in Naples, the Hotel Royal Continental, and take time to relax.

Tonight, we'll head out for our last dinner together and toast to a great trip shared.

To quote one famous fictional Italian, “parting is such sweet sorrow.” Alas, our adventure has come to an end.

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to say farewell to all your new pals. Take a taxi to the airport and fly out of the Naples International Airport. We can help you arrange this at the hotel. It is a quick ride to the airport from Naples.

If you'd like to spend more time in Italy, consider Eating Your Way through Puglia. The trip begins on May 9, and it's just a short drive away!