3-Week Italy Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-week Italy tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaItaly travel expert at TourRadar

• 20 Day Italy Itinerary, incl. Rome and Venice

  A grand 20-day Italian tour spans 44 destinations from Rome's ancient ruins to Venice's canals. Seven UNESCO sites await, including Alberobello's trulli houses and Matera's cave dwellings. Guided city tours in 5 major locations, with an internal Palermo flight and carefully selected hotels.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Rome

    Start your Italian journey in Rome. Use Day 1 to check in and explore your surroundings. On Day 2 take a morning tour combining bus and walking routes. Book your Vatican Museums tickets online before you go. As one traveler notes: "Get to the Vatican Museums right when they open at 9 AM—the Sistine Chapel is breathtaking without the crowds."

    
  • Days 3-4

    Puglia Region

    Take the scenic route east through the Apennines to Puglia. Stop at the beautiful San Giovanni in Venere Abbey from the 11th century before reaching Termoli. Next up is Bari with its authentic southern Italian feel. Spend the following day between Brindisi's historic port and Lecce's baroque buildings. A visitor suggests: "The best time to photograph Lecce's intricate baroque facades is during the 'golden hour' just before sunset."

    
  • Days 5-6

    Naples and Amalfi Coast

    Visit Naples before taking a 30-minute ferry to Capri. Use the funicular to get up to Capri town but buy tickets ahead to skip the lines. Next stop is Sorrento with an overnight in Salerno. One local tip: "Take the earliest ferry to Capri (around 8 AM) to beat both the heat and crowds at the Blue Grotto."

    
  • Days 7-9

    Sicily

    Take the quick 20-minute ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina. Stay in Taormina for the best views of Mt. Etna. Visit Caltagirone to see its famous ceramic staircase and stop at the UNESCO site Villa Romana del Casale. Explore Palermo's unique Arab-Norman architecture. A good tip: "The Monreale Cathedral gets extremely crowded—arrive before 9 AM to appreciate the golden mosaics in peace."

    
  • Days 10-13

    Central Italy and Florence

    Fly back to Rome and visit Orvieto in Umbria. Move on to Siena in Tuscany followed by San Gimignano and Florence. A recent visitor shares: "The Michelangelo Piazzale viewpoint in Florence is magical at sunset but bring a jacket—it gets windy up there even in summer."

    
  • Days 14-15

    Italian Riviera

    Start early in Pisa then head to Cinque Terre. Use local trains between villages but know they get busy in peak season. Visit Genoa and Portofino next. Remember this advice: "In Cinque Terre buy the day train pass first thing—individual tickets often sell out by midday."

    
  • Days 16-17

    Lakes Region and Venice

    See Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore including the Borromean Islands. Stop in Verona on your way to Venice. Take a boat trip to St. Mark's Square. Smart tip: "Venice's vaporetto (water bus) day passes are worth it if you're doing multiple trips—single tickets are expensive."

    
  • Days 18-20

    Umbria and Rome

    Visit the Saint Anthony Basilica in Padua and the tiny country of San Marino. Explore medieval Gubbio and Perugia before heading back to Rome. Good advice: "The moving walkways in Perugia's underground medieval city can be confusing—follow the yellow signs for the easiest route."

    

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• 18 Days in Italy, incl. Rome and Sicily

  An 18-day Italian adventure through 25 cities from Rome to Palermo reveals Cinque Terre villages, Venice's canals, and Sicily's Aeolian Islands. The route includes UNESCO sites, expert-led tours, and nights at selected hotels including AC Marriott Genova.

  

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  • Days 1-3

    Rome

    Get to the Vatican Museums by 8:30 AM to avoid the biggest crowds, especially during summer months. A traveler tip: "The morning light through the Sistine Chapel's windows makes the frescoes glow differently than afternoon visits." Take the panoramic tour of Imperial Rome but leave Trastevere for evening when the locals come out to fill the piazzas. If you're traveling November through March book the optional Pompeii day trip since southern Italy is quieter then.

    
  • Days 4-6

    Tuscany

    Travel through Umbria to Tuscany with stops in Orvieto and Siena. Use the escalators from the parking area straight up to Orvieto's medieval center. Visit the Uffizi Gallery in Florence right when it opens or a couple hours before closing to avoid the biggest crowds. Local insight: "Skip the long lines at popular gelaterias. The best authentic gelato is often at smaller shops away from tourist zones. Look for signs saying 'gelato artigianale'."

    
  • Days 7-8

    Italian Riviera & Milan

    Get around Cinque Terre by train but buy your Cinque Terre Card ahead of time. A past traveler noted: "The trains get packed by midday. Start early and hike between villages while it's cool." If boats aren't running to Portofino due to weather you can walk there from Santa Margherita in about 15 minutes. Get your Milan Duomo rooftop tickets online for first thing in the morning.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Venice Region

    Start with Verona's Roman arena then get to Venice by early afternoon for your boat to San Marco. Book the optional gondola ride around sunset for the best light. Stay in Mestre where hotels cost less. Trains run to Venice every few minutes and take just 12 minutes.

    
  • Days 11-13

    Northern Sicily

    Take the included flight to Palermo but give yourself extra time at Venice airport since summer security lines can be long. Visit Palermo's street markets early before it gets too hot. In Cefalù join the locals for their sunset passeggiata along the seaside promenade.

    
  • Days 14-15

    Aeolian Islands & Taormina

    Take morning hydrofoils when the sea is calmest. A traveler shares: "Bring water shoes for Vulcano's thermal beaches. The sulfur sand gets very hot." Stay in Taormina but make dinner reservations since good restaurants fill up fast.

    
  • Days 16-18

    Southern Sicily

    Start at Agrigento's Valley of Temples when they open at 8:30 AM for the best morning light photos. Finish in Palermo and visit the Vucciria market in late afternoon when it's most lively. A traveler tip: "The rooftop terrace at Rinascente department store offers amazing sunset views over the city. Perfect for your final evening."

    

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• 17 Days in Southern Italy, incl. Rome and Bari

  A 17-day Italian excursion winds through 13 cities from Rome to Bari for approx. $290 daily. The trip features 16 hotel nights, 15 breakfasts, and visits to Pompeii ruins, Amalfi Coast's Path of Gods, and Matera's sassi caves, complemented by guided tours.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Rome & Naples

    Begin in Rome's historic center before taking the 2.5-hour train to Naples. "Get to the Forum before 9am to avoid crowds and harsh midday sun." In Naples, walk through the Spanish Quarter's narrow alleys and stop for authentic Neapolitan pizza at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Take the 35-minute evening train to Pompeii.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius

    Spend a full day exploring Pompeii's ruins. Start early to beat the summer heat, which often reaches 40°C by midday. "Wear sturdy shoes. The ancient Roman streets are uneven and slippery when wet," a local guide suggests. On Day 4, hike Mount Vesuvius for incredible Bay of Naples views. Take a 45-minute private transfer to Sorrento afterward.

    
  • Days 5-9

    Sorrento & Amalfi Coast

    Stay in peaceful Minori instead of busy Amalfi town. Local buses run every 15 minutes along the coast. "The Path of Gods hike from Agerola to Positano is strenuous but the coastal views are unmatched. Bring plenty of water and start by 8am to avoid the heat." Take a day trip to Capri on the hydrofoil, just 40 minutes from Sorrento.

    
  • Days 10-11

    Trani

    Take the 4.5-hour train east to Trani. Visit the white limestone cathedral and medieval Jewish quarter. "The evening passeggiata along the marina watching locals enjoying aperitivo is quintessentially Italian. Try the local Moscato di Trani wine."

    
  • Days 12-13

    Lecce

    Travel 2.5 hours south by train to Lecce, nicknamed the "Florence of the South." See the Roman amphitheater and Basilica di Santa Croce in the morning before it gets too hot. "The best local food is found in the side streets away from the main square. Look for orecchiette pasta and burrata cheese."

    
  • Days 14-15

    Alberobello & Matera

    Visit an olive farm to see traditional production methods, then explore Alberobello's trulli houses. In Matera, book a cave hotel overlooking the ancient sassi dwellings. "The stairs in Matera are steep and numerous. Pack light and wear good walking shoes."

  • Days 16-17

    Bari

    Finish in Bari's maze-like old town. Visit the morning fish market by the port. "Try the local specialty of raw sea urchins at the market stalls, but get there before 11am when the best items sell out."

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