If you’re looking for a perfect 10 Day Southern Italy itinerary, you’ve found the right post! We’ve been to Italy many times, and it is one of the most beautiful countries.
This South Italy road trip takes you through some of the most iconic and beautiful destinations. Including Naples, Alberobello, Matera and the Amalfi Coast. Southern Italy is one of those regions that feels like a constant contrast of experiences, dramatic coastlines, ancient cave cities and picturesque towns. Plus, some of the best food in the world!
In this guide, I will be sharing the exact road trip itinerary we took through Southern Italy. We did this road trip as a family.
However, you absolutely do not need to be travelling with kids to enjoy this itinerary. I will also advise on how to make this a faster-paced itinerary based on experiences from previous trips. This route is equally perfect for first-time visitors to Southern Italy!
Over 10 days, you’ll travel from Naples to the fairytale trulli houses of Alberobello, the ancient cave dwellings of Matera, and finally the breathtaking coastal towns of the Amalfi Coast. Each stop offers something completely different, making this one of the most diverse and rewarding Italy routes you can take.
- Your Perfect 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary
- Quick Look at Our 10 Day Southern Italy Road Trip Route
- How Many Days Do You Need in Southern Italy?
- Airports in Southern Italy
- 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary Route Map
- Our 10 Day Southern Italy Road Trip Route
- FAQ's on Spending 10 Days in Southern Italy
- Final Thoughts on Our 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary
Your Perfect 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary
In this guide, I’ll be sharing the exact 10 day Southern Italy road trip itinerary we took. Starting in Naples and looping through Puglia, Matera, and the Amalfi Coast. We did this trip as a family, and the route worked perfectly thanks to its relaxed pace and manageable driving distances. It also offers a variety of experiences, from historic cities and cave dwellings to coastal views and beach time.
Quick Look at Our 10 Day Southern Italy Road Trip Route
Here’s a quick look at the exact route we followed on our 10 day Southern Italy road trip itinerary. This gives you a simple breakdown of how the itinerary flows from city to coast, so you can easily see how each stop fits into the trip.
- Days 1–2: Naples
- Days 3–4: Alberobello & Puglia
- Days 5–6: Matera
- Days 7–10: Amalfi Coast
This route works really well to see the best of what Southern Italy has to offer. Starting with the energy of Naples, exploring the unique trulli towns of Puglia, and experiencing the dramatic history of Matera. Finally, finishing with several days along the Amalfi Coast to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
How Many Days Do You Need in Southern Italy?
For this itinerary, we spent 10 days in Southern Italy. I would say this is the minimum if you want to comfortably cover the highlights without feeling rushed. It gave us just enough time to experience each destination properly while still keeping the pace relaxed.
That said, we could have easily added an extra day (or even more) in most places. Especially in Puglia and the Amalfi Coast. These areas have so much to see that an extra night or two would have allowed us to explore more thoroughly. 2 days felt about right in Matera, which is compact and easy to explore in a shorter stay.
If you have more time, turning this into a two-week itinerary would allow you to spend longer in each region and add in a few extra stops along the way without needing to rush.
View of Matera from the Belvedere Murgia Timone hike.
Airports in Southern Italy
There are multiple airport options in the South of Italy. I started by looking at flight options to either Bari or Brindisi, which are both in Puglia. However, it worked out to be far more cost-effective to fly to Naples and hire a car. I always check Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights.
Initially, it wasn’t our plan to go to Naples, but, as we had explored this area pre-kids, we knew that some of the best food we’ve ever had was in Naples. So we decided to make this the start of our road trip. Find the best car rental prices here. This worked out to be a great decision, and we really enjoyed our time in Naples!
You could do this round trip from any of these airports (Naples, Bari or Brindisi). Alternatively, you could fly straight into Puglia and skip Naples.
10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary Route Map
The map below shows the road trip route we took. This is an interactive map. Simply click the blue “More Options” button in the top left-hand corner to open it in Google Maps.
Our 10 Day Southern Italy Road Trip Route
Here, I will share the exact road trip route we did, and tips to enjoy it. We also have detailed travel guides and itineraries, linked here, on all these destinations!
Day 1: Naples
Naples was a great place to start our vacation as we flew into Naples International Airport. This is only around a 20-minute bus journey from the town, so it’s very convenient. We stayed at Angioino Apartments, which is a lovely apartment in a great location. Or, if you prefer a hotel stay, NH Napoli Panorama would have been my choice.
Our flight landed in the evening, so our first day was a full one, which we spent exploring Naples. Naples is such an interesting city, offering everything from scenic waterfront walks to loud, chaotic streets of shops and restaurants.
We ate at Antica Pizzeria Di Matteo on our first trip to Naples (over 10 years ago). I just knew we had to go back there with our kids. Other highlights include Castle Sant’Elmo, Galleria Umberto I and wandering along the waterfront.
Exploring Naples at the start of our Southern Italy itinerary.
We only planned a day here as Napes want the main place we wanted to visit. However, we enjoyed Naples as a family (read our full guide here) a lot more than I thought we would with kids. While a day was enough to see the highlights at a fairly relaxed pace, we would have loved another, or at least an extra half day!
We have a detailed Naples itinerary, linked here. This itinerary spends two days in Naples and one day in Pompeii, combining what we did on this trip with previous experiences. I wrote it as two days, as I think this would be the optimal amount of time for families. However, if you’re visiting without kids and go at a faster pace, you could do Naples in a day.
Enjoying delicious pizza in Naples.
Day 2: Pompeii
On the second day, we went back to the airport and picked up a hire car (find the best prices here) and started our road trip. The first stop being Pompeii.
As I mentioned, we were tempted to delay going to Pompeii until the afternoon, allowing an extra half day in Naples. However, Pompeii gets incredibly busy, and it is nicest to explore in the morning without all the crowds.
This was the right decision. The Archeological site of Pompeii opens at 10 am, and we arrived shortly after. It wasn’t too busy to start with, but by 12, it was starting to get very crowded.
Plan to spend at least 3 hours at Pompeii. You could easily spend longer, but this was enough to see the main highlights. As we have two young children, and Pompeii is not suitable for pushchairs (strollers) after 3 hours of exploring, we were all starting to get tired!
We have a full guide to visiting Pompeii with kids. This also includes other useful information, such as where to park. Make sure to read that before your trip!
A fun day trip to Pompeii.
Day 3–4: Alberobello & Puglia
After our morning in Pompeii, we drove on to Puglia, the next stop on our 10 day Southen Italy itinerary. Some people think Alberobello is touristy and overrated, but for me, it is one of the coolest, most unique places. I really wanted to take our kids to this fairytale town while they were still young enough to believe it was truly magical.
This drive here takes around 3 and a half hours and goes through some tolls. It is best to have cash for tolls (currently €2.30) as the machine rejected our card. We ended up having to find a post office to pay the fee, plus an additional €2!
Exploring beautiful Alberobello in the rain.
Where to Stay in Alberobello
I spent a long time looking at accommodation in this area. Staying in a trulli (or fairytale house, as we called it) was a bucket list activity for us. Usually, we try to stay in a central location, but in Alberobello town, many of the trulli are very small and do not have parking, which is not ideal for families on a road trip.
We picked Trulli Arborea, which was about a half-hour walk from the main town. I chose this stay as it is a beautiful, spacious home. It also came with free parking and had a beautiful outside area. I knew my kids would love to play.
The other options I considered were Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso, which is perfect if you’re looking for accommodation right in the heart of Alberobello. Or if you’re visiting in the summer, Trullo Atena is a gorgeous rental, which has a swimming pool!
Trulli Arborea was a perfect stay in Alberobello.
Alberobello & Puglia Itinerary
My Puglia itinerary didn’t quite go to plan, due to torrential rain. We had planned full days in this area, which should be enough to see the highlights; however, one or two extra days here would be ideal. We were working around my kids’ school Easter holiday break, so a 10-day trip was what we could fit in!
The Puglia itinerary I planned was as follows:
- First Day – Morning: Alberobello
- First Day – Afternoon: Monopoli
- Second Day – Morning: Ostuni
- Second Day – Afternoon: Martina Franca
Alberobello is a very small place and can easily be explored in a couple of hours. We wanted to explore at a relaxed pace, so I planned a morning here. We decided to just brave the rain and get wet so we could go here, and I’m so pleased we did. Read our full Alberobello guide here.
It was our plan to visit Monopoli in the afternoon. This is around a 30-minute drive from Alberebello and is on the coast. I knew my kids especially would enjoy the beach, but unfortunately, the weather had other ideas!
For our second day in Puglia, I had planned to visit Ostuni in the morning before going on to Martina Franca in the afternoon. Ostuni was a place we hadn’t explored before, but we stayed in Martina Franca on a previous trip to Italy, and I remember it as a hidden gem. It’s only small but very pretty.
The beautiful Centro Storico area of Martina Franca.
We decided to skip Ostuni, mainly due to the weather, and it would have also added a bit more driving. We got lucky with a break in the rain that meant we could stop for a couple of hours in Martina Franca. (Read our full guide to Martina Franca here), before continuing to Matera.
My children exploring the unique streets of Martina Franca.
Day 5–6: Matera
Matera is a hidden gem in Italy. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about it! It was absolutely incredible, and for me, a must-visit on any Southern Italy itinerary.
Matera is one of the oldest cities in the world. Once described as the ugliest place in Italy, it has been revived by dramatically building the city itself into a rocky hillside. It is now famous for its ancient cave dwellings, known as the Sassi.
Walking through Matera feels breathtaking. It has winding stone alleyways, historic churches carved into the rock, and beautiful panoramic viewpoints around every corner.
Although incredible, it is not at all suited to families with babies or toddlers who require a stroller. Luckily for us, our 3-year-old is an incredible walker, and we were able to explore on foot. Read more in our full Matera guide, linked here.
2 days, or 1 and a half if you’re short on time, is a perfect amount to see the best of Matera.
Watching the sun setting over beautiful Matera.
Where to Stay in Matera
We booked an AirBnB in Matera, I’ve linked it here. This was located just outside the main Sassi area of Matera, and another unique stay, as the main bedroom felt like it was in a cave!
One of the main reasons I chose this AirBnB was because it said there was free parking. However, it actually doesn’t have its own space. There is some street parking, but the hours you can park there are quite restricted. There is a free car park a few minutes’ walk away; however, it was hard to get a space there!
If you’d like to stay right in the heart of Matera, there are some beautiful boutique hotels available. My choices would be Gradelle San Nicola for a budget-friendly stay, or PIANELLE RESORT looks like a gorgeous luxury option.
Do note, Matera is a maze, and we struggled to navigate it, even with Google Maps. I saw people carrying suitcases up and down the many steps, and it looked like hard work!
A cave hotel in Matera.
Day 7–10: Amalfi Coast
The final part of this 10 day Southern Italy itinerary explores the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Getting here is around a 3-hour drive from Matera, depending on which town you choose to stay in.
I have written a detailed Amalfi Coast itinerary, which you can read here, but I will outline it below. Or if you’re travelling with children, read our full Amlafi Coast with kids guide, here.
Breathtaking views from Ravello on the Amalfi Coast.
Where to Stay in the Amalfi Coast
Again, after a lot of research, we chose to base ourselves in Maoiri. This was a really great choice, and I would recommend it, especially for families.
There aren’t many stairs there like you would find in other Amalfi Coast towns, and there are lots of restaurant options. The beach was also the best out of all the towns we visited.
We chose Residence Hotel Panoramic for our stay and really enjoyed our time there. It’s located just steps from the beach and a short walk from the ferry port (which is the best way to get around the coast).
The rooms all come with kitchen areas, which are really useful, especially for families. There is also a lovely terrace area with sun loungers for guests to enjoy.
Gelato and views from our balcony at Residence Hotel Panoramic.
Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Below is the ideal way to spend your time on the Amalfi Coast
- First Day –Afternoon: arrive in Maiori
- Second Day – Ferry ride to Amalfi and Antrani
- Third Day – Morning: Hike or drive to Ravello
- Third Day – Afternoon: Explore Maiori and enjoy the beach. Read our full Maiori guide linked here.
- Fourth Day – Ferry ride to Positano
This is a pretty relaxed pace itinerary that will allow you to explore the best of the Amalfi Coast.
Hiking to Ravello from Maiori is not for the faint-hearted, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with small children. We chose to do the hike as driving on the coast is also not for the faint-hearted, and my youngest was getting very travel sick.
What Google Maps said would be an hour and twenty-minute hike, took us around 3 hours. This meant we didn’t explore Maiori in the afternoon as we had planned.
On the final day, my children were really keen for a beach day, so we stayed in Maiori rather than going to Positano. Read our full Maiori guide here.
We have been to Positano pre-kids, and it is one of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast. It is also full of stairs, letting my children have fun on the beach was the right decision for us, but if you’re visiting as a couple or solo traveller, definitely try to make it to Positano!
Outside Amalfi Cathedral, a must-see sight on your Amalfi Coast itinerary!
Returning to Naples
This 10 day Southern Italy itinerary finishes back where it started. From Maiori, it’s around an hour’s drive back to the airport.
The drive isn’t along the coast, so you don’t have to deal with the crazy traffic that plies up there. However, it is still a winding route, just to warn anyone who suffers from travel sickness!
FAQ’s on Spending 10 Days in Southern Italy
Yes, 10 days is enough time to see some of the highlights of Southern Italy. This itinerary gives you enough time to experience the energy of Naples, visit Pompeii Archaeological Park, explore the unique towns of Alberobello and Matera, and relax along the Amalfi Coast without feeling constantly rushed. While you could easily spend longer in each destination, 10 days is a great amount of time for a first Southern Italy road trip.
For this Southern Italy itinerary, I would definitely recommend renting a car. While it would be possible to explore Naples and the Amalfi Coast without a car, places like Alberobello and Matera are not very easy to access by public transport. Driving in Southern Italy can feel chaotic at times, but overall, we found it manageable, and it gave us far more flexibility throughout the trip.
The best time to visit Southern Italy is usually late spring or early autumn, particularly May, June, and September. During these months, you’ll generally find warm weather, fewer crowds, and more comfortable temperatures for sightseeing. Summer can be beautiful, especially along the Amalfi Coast, but July and August are also the busiest and hottest months, with higher prices and crowded towns. We found that visiting outside peak summer made the trip much more enjoyable.
Southern Italy can actually be surprisingly affordable, depending on where you visit. Cities like Naples and parts of Puglia are usually much cheaper than places like Rome, Florence, or Venice when it comes to food, hotels, and daily costs. However, destinations along the Amalfi Coast can be very expensive, especially during summer, with luxury hotels and high restaurant prices. Overall, this itinerary balances both affordable and more luxurious destinations quite well.
Yes, Southern Italy is an incredible choice for a first trip to Italy, especially if you want a mix of history, beautiful scenery, amazing food, and a more relaxed atmosphere. You could even add Rome to the start of this route as it is only around an hour’s train away from Naples.
Final Thoughts on Our 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary
A 10 day road trip through Southern Italy is the perfect mix of historic cities, dramatic coastline, beautiful countryside, plus the unforgettable food. From the chaotic energy of Naples and the ancient ruins of Pompeii Archaeological Park to the Trulli-lined streets of Alberobello, the cave dwellings of Matera, and the stunning scenery of the Amalfi Coast, this itinerary gives you a little bit of everything that makes Southern Italy so special.
While you could easily spend longer in every destination, 10 days is enough time to experience the highlights without feeling too rushed, especially if it’s your first time visiting this part of Italy. This route worked incredibly well as a road trip and offered a great balance of sightseeing, slower afternoons, incredible food, and scenic drives.
Having been there before, we knew we would love exploring the South of Italy and experiencing it as a family. It’s the kind of trip that stays with you long after you return home.
So, if you’re planning your own Southern Italy itinerary, hopefully this guide helps you create an unforgettable trip of your own.
Our family looking over the magical Trulli town of Alberobello.
Thank you so much for reading our 10 day Southern Italy itinerary. We hope you have the most amazing road trip. Don’t forget to read our other Italy guides, linked here!
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Happy Exploring,
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.