Discover the best of Rome and Naples in 7 days with our carefully crafted itinerary.
Our Rome and Naples itinerary will guide you through the best of these Italian cities. Get ready for ancient wonders, mouthwatering food, and unforgettable experiences!
Rome And Naples In 7 Days
With our itinerary, you will see the best of the two cities, including the most important attractions.
Before we share the things to do and see daily, here’s the best of Rome and Naples in a nutshell:
Rome And Naples Itinerary At A Glance
Highlights:
- Colosseum and Roman Forum
- Vatican City
- Naples' vibrant streets and underground secrets
- Ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum
- Visiting Mount Vesuvius
How to get there:
Fly into Rome's Fiumicino Airport, then take a high-speed train to Naples (about 1 hour 10 minutes). We did this, and it was super easy!
What not to miss:
- Tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain (it worked for us - we came back!)
- Authentic Neapolitan pizza in its birthplace
- An underground tour of Naples
Days 1-3: Rome And Vatican City
Our Rome sightseeing tips and insider advice will help you avoid crowds and enjoy the best experiences.
Whether you’re visiting Rome for the first time or are a seasoned traveler, this Rome travel guide covers all the highlights and hidden gems in Rome.
If you want a detailed itinerary with suggested walking routes and tips on where to stay in Rome for three days, read our detailed 3 days in Rome itinerary.
Day 1 In Rome: Ancient Rome
Start your Roman holiday at the iconic Colosseum. Trust us and book tickets in advance for this ancient monument to avoid queues longer than the Roman Empire’s reign.
We booked our tickets here:
Speaking of superlatives, the Colosseum is also one of the World’s New Seven Wonders. To see the Colosseum from the inside, check out our essential tips for visiting the Colosseum.
Next up: Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Walking the ancient streets and ruins is like stepping into a time machine.
⭐ Pro Travel Tip: Allocate at least 3-5 hours for these three attractions. There’s so much to see!
If you’re short on time, consider joining a guided tour. We booked this tour including the Roman Forum and an underground tour of the Colosseum.
In the afternoon, head to the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II.
Climb the stairs for a panoramic view and see the Colosseum and Roman Forum from above while enjoying my favorite drink, a Limoncello Spritz, at the rooftop terrace.
End your day in the Trastevere district. This neighborhood is a foodie heaven! Make sure to try the Roman specialty Cacio e Pepe. It’s delicious!
Day 2 In Rome: Vatican City And Baroque Rome
No 7-day Rome and Naples itinerary is complete without visiting Vatican City, home to St. Peter’s Church and the Vatican Museums, where you can see masterpieces by Michelangelo and Raphael.
Get up early to visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel.
Book the tickets for the Vatican Museums as early as possible.
We booked these tickets and skipped the lines! It was an enormous time-saver!
> TICKET FOR VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL
Don’t miss St. Peter’s Basilica Dome. The view is worth every step. It’s one of the best places to see Rome from above.
⭐ Our Tip: Leave at least one hour between St. Peter’s Basilica and your Vatican Museums visit. It takes time to walk from one to the other!
After visiting Vatican City, head to St. Angel’s Bridge and Castel Sant’ Angelo.
End your day at the Ponte Umberto bridge, where you can take an amazing photo of St. Peter’s Basilica and the River Tiber at night.
Day 3 in Rome: Hidden Gems And Panoramic Views
Start Day 3 at the Knights of Malta Keyhole on Aventine Hill. It’s a unique peek at St. Peter’s Basilica and one of the most popular viewpoints in Rome.
Next, head to Campo de’ Fiori market. You can try delicious street food like Supplì or fried artichokes, and order coffee like an Italian.
From there, you’ll continue your self-guided walking tour in Rome to some of the main highlights like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain. Remember to toss that coin!
Wrap up your Rome trip with a sunset view from Pincio Terrace at Villa Borghese Gardens.
Days 4-7: Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum And Vesuvius
In the morning, take the high-speed train from Roma Termini to Naples. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there.
We booked our train tickets from Rome to Naples at the comparison site Omio.
The advantage of booking with them is that your train tickets are already validated and you get notifications in case the train is late.
Alternatively, you can book train tickets at Trainline, RailEurope, Italotreno, or the train station.
Make sure you validate them at the green validation machines inside the train stations, or you’ll have to pay a fine.
Day 4: Underground Naples And Street Food
After dropping your luggage off at your accommodation in Naples, one of the best cities in Southern Italy, head to Centro Storico.
Here, you can descend into Napoli Sotterranea. It’s cool, it’s eerie, and it’s fascinating!
We booked this underground tour and loved every minute:
> NAPOLI SOTTERRANEA TICKET WITH GUIDED TOUR
In the late afternoon, it’s street food time!
Naples was voted the best food city in the world. There’s so much to taste here, and you can get to know the most important delicacies on a guided tour.
The Via dei Tribunali street is a foodie paradise. We took this guided street food tour, which was the highlight of our trip.
Pizza fritta, babà, sfogliatella, limoncello from the only workshop in Naples, and gelato!
> NAPLES STREET FOOD AND SIGHTSEEING TOUR
End your Day at the Duomo di Napoli. It’s huge, and a perfect place to end day 4 of this Italy itinerary.
Day 5: Naples Best Things To See
Start at Naples’ port for those postcard-perfect views. Don’t miss Castel Nuovo.
Stroll through Galleria Umberto I (it looks similar to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan) and peek into the Royal Palace of Naples.
Afternoon: It’s time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Centro Storico.
⭐ Don’t miss Via San Gregorio Armeno, also known as “Christmas Alley”.
Check out our one-day in Naples itinerary for a more detailed version, including hidden gems and places you shouldn’t miss.
Day 6: Pompeii
Dedicate the whole day to visiting Pompeii. From Naples, you can take the train to the famous archeological site.
⭐ Our Tip: Book the tickets in advance. If you want to dive deeper into the history, consider booking a guided tour.
⭐️ Our tip: Take some time to explore the city of Pompei. From the train station Pompei Santuario (Pompei Scavi), you will pass by the impressive church.
We were highly impressed by the frescoes and the atmosphere inside the cathedral.
You don’t want to spend a whole day in Pompeii? Read more about how you can visit Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day.
Day 7: Herculaneum and Vesuvius – The Grand Finale
In the morning, take the train from Naples to Herculaneum. It’s Pompeii’s little sister, but don’t underestimate it.
The preservation here is incredible. We enjoyed it even more than Pompeii.
We’re talking about intact wooden structures from 79 AD!
In the afternoon, you can visit Mount Vesuvius.
From the parking spot and the entrance to the national park, you have to hike up about 492 vertical feet (150 vertical meters).
The view from the top over the Gulf of Naples and into the crater is phenomenal. At the end of the pathway, we enjoyed a glass of white wine while taking in the view.
You can even see the island of Capri and the backside of the Amalfi Coast from atop.
Here’s a short video about how to visit Mount Vesuvius:
⭐ Pro Tip: Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
We booked a guided tour to Mount Vesuvius at Tiqets. You can also book a combined tour of Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius, so you don’t have to worry about transportation.
> HERCULANEUM AND VESUVIUS TICKETS
Conclusion About The Best Rome And Naples Itinerary
These are our tips and our 7-day Rome and Naples travel itinerary.
With our tips, you can enjoy an extended week in Italy while seeing the main attractions of Roma and Napoli.
We have even more tips to ensure your seven days in Rome and Naples are a success!
Check out our Rome travel guide and Naples travel guide.
If you want to extend your trip to see the island of Capri (you can take a ferry from Naples), and the Amalfi Coast, we highly recommend you add at least 3 to 5 days to this itinerary.
From Naples, you could also start an Italian road trip to see the best of Southern Italy. We enjoyed this road trip in Southern Italy immensely.
Before you leave, did you check out our free, online Italy trip budget calculator? Simply enter your estimated costs and see how much to save for your trip.
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