3-Day South Italy Tour Packages
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Insider tips: Recommended 3-day South Italy tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaSouth Italy travel expert at TourRadar
3 Days in Rome, incl. Colosseum and Vatican City
Rome's treasures await: Colosseum, Forum, Vatican Museums, and St. Peter's Basilica. Skip-the-line morning tours of ancient sites, afternoon Vatican visits, and free evenings to enjoy Trevi Fountain and local cuisine.
- Day 1
Arrival and Evening Exploration
Check in is from 3 PM, but you can store your luggage earlier. Start exploring the historic center around sunset when there are fewer tourists. Walk along Via dei Fori Imperiali toward the Colosseum which looks stunning when lit up at night. You can find great dinner spots in Monti, the neighborhood just north of the Colosseum where locals fill the trattorias from 8 PM onward. Visit the Trevi Fountain after 10 PM when it's quieter and better lit for photos.
- Day 2
Ancient Rome and Vatican City
Start your day with breakfast at 8:30 AM before meeting your guide at 9 AM near Via dei Fori Imperiali for the Colosseum tour. One visitor shared: "The skip-the-line access was crucial—the regular line was already huge by mid-morning." Your guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum runs until about 11:30 AM. Take the bus or metro to Trastevere for lunch. It's about 20 minutes away and puts you in a good spot for your 2:30 PM Vatican tour. Meet at Via Sebastiano Veniero, 21 and wear comfortable shoes. You'll spend about 3 hours walking through the museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Remember to wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees for the religious sites. After the tour ends at 5:30 PM you can climb St. Peter's dome for an extra €8. The sunset views over Rome make it worthwhile.
- Day 3
Final Morning
You'll need to check out by 10 AM but the hotel can store your bags. Visit any spots you missed like the Pantheon which opens at 8:30 AM and is free to enter. Go early to see the morning light through the oculus and beat the crowds that arrive after 9:30 AM. If you're flying out, set aside 45 minutes for the Leonardo Express train from Termini Station to the airport.
3 Day Southern Italy Itinerary, incl. Rome and Sorrento
South Italy's gems unfold over three days: from UNESCO-listed Pompeii's archaeological wonders to Sorrento's coastal charm at Grand Hotel Vesuvio. The trip features Capri island's Blue Grotto, Anacapri's mountain views, and authentic Neapolitan cuisine with skip-the-line archaeological access.
- Day 1
Rome to Sorrento
Start early with a 7:30 AM departure from Rome. Hotel pickup starts at 6:30 AM. "Communication about pickup times is essential, so confirm details the day before" advises a recent traveler. The 4-hour drive south through Lazio and Campania gets you to Sorrento by early afternoon. Your free afternoon is perfect for exploring Sorrento's historic center. Visit the winding streets around Via San Cesareo between 4-7 PM when locals take their traditional evening stroll.
- Day 2
Capri Excursion (April-October)
Take an early boat to Capri to visit the famous Blue Grotto, though sea conditions determine access. One visitor shared: "I wish I had known the likelihood of seeing the Blue Grotto was fairly slim due to sea height variability. Still, the boat ride around Capri was good and our guide showed us samples of the luminescent blue water." In the afternoon, visit Anacapri at 918 feet elevation for spectacular Bay of Naples views. If traveling during peak season (July-August), book your lunch ahead of time as restaurants fill up fast.
- Day 3
Sorrento to Pompeii to Rome
Spend your final morning in Sorrento before leaving at 1:15 PM for Pompeii. The guided tour includes skip-the-line access and radio headsets, which you'll appreciate in the crowded ruins. A TourRadar traveler commented: "The archaeology professor who guided us through Pompeii was truly outstanding!" Return to Rome in the evening, usually arriving around 9 PM depending on traffic. If you need to travel onward, book tickets for the next day since arrival times can vary.
3 Days in Naples, incl. Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius
Visit South Italy's treasures combining Pompeii's UNESCO site and Mount Vesuvius trek. Walk through Forum, Thermal Baths, and Lupanare with expert guides. Two nights Naples stay with breakfast and authentic pizza lunch included.
- Day 1
Naples
Check into your hotel in the historic center and spend your first afternoon exploring the Spanish Quarter (Quartieri Spagnoli). The narrow alleys here offer a real slice of Neapolitan life. If you arrive before 3 PM, visit the Naples National Archaeological Museum. It's less busy in late afternoon and gives you good background information for your Pompeii visit tomorrow.
- Day 2
Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius
Your guide picks you up at 8:10 AM. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with good grip. The streets in Pompeii are uneven and Vesuvius has loose volcanic terrain. You'll spend 2-3 hours in Pompeii seeing the main spots like the Forum, thermal baths and the House of Vetti. A recent visitor shared: "The frescoes in the wealthy homes are incredibly well-preserved—bring a hat and water bottle as there's little shade among the ruins." After a quick Italian lunch you'll head up Mt. Vesuvius. The bus takes you to 1,000 meters but you'll need to walk the last part to the crater. It's about a 25-30 minute uphill walk. The path gets dusty and steep so take it slow. Bring a light jacket since it's usually windy at the top. You'll be back in Naples around 4:30 PM. Perfect timing for authentic Neapolitan pizza in the historic center.
- Day 3
Naples
Start with breakfast at your hotel. If time allows before you leave visit Castel dell'Ovo by the water. It's Naples' oldest castle and opens at 9 AM. You'll get great views of the bay without the crowds that come later.
South Italy 3 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Rome City Break - 3 Days/2 Nights
La Dolce Vita Experience
Naples, Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius: 'O Sole Mio
Marvellous Amalfi
3-Day Pompeii, Capri & Sorrento Mini Tour
Capri Island & Blue Grotto (from Rome) - 3 days
Discovery of Naples, Pompeii & Sorrento - 3 Days
Amalfi Coast by Luxury Sailing Boat - Walking with the Gods
Beautiful Campania
Capri and Amalfi Coast by Catamaran
What people love about 3-day South Italy tours
- Rome City Break - 3 Days/2 Nights
((REVIEW IS FOR VENICE CITY BREAK, WHICH WAS NOT LISTED AS AN OPTION)) I (32 year old solo male traveler from NJ, USA, attorney by trade) had the distinct pleasure of dealing with Veronica from Italy on a Budget when I travelled to Italy this past July/August 2021. She was personable, knowledgeable, above-and-beyond helpful, responsive, and was absolutely instrumental in making my Italian vacation as great as it was. Before my trip, she helped as I had to reshuffle my plans due to my changing personal calendar as well as the effect of Covid on travel, and she patiently answered all of my questions over the phone and via chat in a straightforward manner. I also had various specific requests of how I wanted my trip to be personalized (adding certain activities to the itinerary, adding a day, upgrading my hostel stay), and she was able to complete every one. While in Italy, she kept in contact with me to ensure that I was happy with the trip, and she even provided helpful tips when I independently travelled to other parts of Italy outside of my Italy on a Budget itinerary. She deserves a 12/10. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
- 3-Day Pompeii, Capri & Sorrento Mini Tour
I took the 3 day tour from Rome to stay in Sorrento for 2 nights, in January 2025. Tuesday to For going to Pompeii, I was collected from my hotel in a taxi and taken to a meeting point, where everyone hung around until the bus a arrived. It's a long distance in the bus, which was full of people from everywhere. The guide at Pompeii was excellent. Then I was taken in another taxi to Sorrento. It sounds like a lot of transfering but I can see how it works. I had door-to-door service. The accommodation in Sorrento was clearly 3* but I received the best of Italian personal service and attention. During January there is no Capri trip, and this time there was no Napoli either. Also I had signed up for 4* accommodation but I was given 3*. So I had, included, a tour on the Wednesday to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, which was quite a surprise and very enjoyable. It involved 6 of us (we didn't know each-other) in a big taxi. The driver spoke excellent English. Sorrento is ok, so it was exciting to visit another 3 towns along such a spectacular coastline. Returning to Rome, in reverse, there was the same arrangement with bus and taxis, but it was all so well managed that it wasn't a problem. Rome seems very disorganised compared to this Tourradar trip !