Italy for me From Italy with love
The itinerary is designed for 4 days and includes visits to Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Salerno, and Ravello (Amalfi Coast). It is suitable for independent tourists who prefer traveling through Italy by car. You can follow our exact route or customize it based on your preferences and suggestions.
Our day-by-day plan:
- Drive from Rome to the hotel with a stop for lunch at an authentic restaurant. Relax at the hotel, enjoy the pool, stroll around the town, and dine at the hotel’s restaurant.
- Day trip to Pompeii and hike up Mount Vesuvius. Dinner at the hotel.
- Drive to the Amalfi Coast and visit Ravello. Explore the enchanting Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity. Enjoy dinner at a reasonably priced restaurant with a stunning view.
- Lunch in Salerno and a walk around the town, then head back to Rome.
Page Contents
Day 1: Drive from Rome
Heading south of Rome, I prefer to travel with an empty trunk for safety. Our goal for the first day was to reach our hotel, which we used as the base for our journey.
The distance from Rome to our favorite hotel in Cava de’ Tirreni is 180 miles (290 km).
The road is good but requires tolls. We paid €15.20 and another €2.10, and the trip took 3.5 hours.
Lunch in Avella
We decided to have lunch at the restaurant La Fenice, located in the town of Avella. Each of us ordered appetizers (Antipasti) and pasta. We paid €50 for three people.
The appetizers alone would have been enough, as the portions were quite large.
The restaurant has free parking on private property. I specifically chose a small town to avoid worrying about items in the trunk. The restaurant also offers a fantastic view.
After lunch, we drove to the ruins of the Roman amphitheater (Anfiteatro Romano di Avella), built in 87 AD.
You can visit the theater on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Official website: www.avellarte.it.
Hotel
We stayed at the Hotel Scapolatiello for the third time, as it is perfect for exploring the region’s attractions. The hotel has a pool, restaurant, and free parking, making it an ideal and affordable option in this beautiful area.
Room rates range from €60 to €100 per night, while something similar would cost at least €200 on the Amalfi Coast.
The drive from the hotel to Salerno takes just 25 minutes, 40 minutes to Maiori, and 1 hour to Ravello and Amalfi via a scenic winding road. Pompeii is a 30-minute drive away.
Check out my video review of the hotel:
After checking in, we decided to stay put, relax for an hour by the pool, stroll around town, and have dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Exploring the Surroundings
Before dinner, we took a walk to work up an appetite. We walked up a narrow street from the hotel and, within 10 minutes, found ourselves at the town walls, with breathtaking views all around.
I always enjoy peeking into the courtyards of residents, noticing how they live and what they grow.
Every step offers photo-worthy scenes. The surroundings are beautiful and quiet.
We descended back to town and watched the sunset from a viewpoint just 328 feet (100 meters) from the hotel.
Dinner at the Hotel
For our first dinner, we decided to eat at the hotel’s restaurant. The menu was small, with dishes presented in a gourmet style.
The food was delicious, and the presentation was beautiful.
After dinner, we enjoyed another glass of wine and moved to the outdoor terrace with a view. The total bill was €100.
Day 2: Hike up Vesuvius and visit Pompeii
On the second day, we dedicated our time to hiking up Vesuvius and visiting the Pompeii archaeological site.
There was no mobile signal near the hotel, and we took a wrong turn, accidentally discovering the Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Trinity from the 11th century. Road signs in Italy can be unreliable, so plan your route in advance, such as in your hotel where there’s Wi-Fi, or download offline maps from Google.
The drive from the hotel took about 40 minutes.
Hiking up Vesuvius
I recommend starting early so you can descend before it gets too hot and still have time for lunch.
Check out the detailed photo report on how to hike up Vesuvius on your own.
The hike to the summit takes about 20 minutes, and the guided tour around the crater lasts about an hour. Access to the top is only allowed with a national park guide, who explains the history of the eruptions in English or Italian.
After our hike up Vesuvius, we headed to Pompeii for lunch and to explore the ancient city ruins.
Parking
The Pompeii complex covers a vast area and has several entrances. We chose a parking lot farther from the tourist buses but closer to the center of the modern town. Read more about it here.
Lunch in Pompeii
We decided to have lunch at the restaurant Le Delizie, which I found based on reviews.
Address: Via Roma, 83 80045 Pompeii.
This restaurant-pizzeria is conveniently located near the parking lot and is always busy. It’s famous for its tasty and affordable pizza. For example, a Margherita pizza and a cola together cost only €5.
The restaurant’s interior is simple but cozy.
We ordered two pizzas, which turned out to be incredibly delicious.
The total bill for three people came to €20.
Exploring Pompeii
Visiting the archaeological site of Pompeii made a deep impression on me. I’d wanted to come here for a long time and had read a lot about it, but I wasn’t expecting such a massive site.
The ticket costs €16, and you must purchase it in advance for a specific time slot on the official website ticketone.it. We selected the 3:30 PM to 3:45 PM slot for our visit.
To enter, you need to scan the barcode on your ticket at the turnstile. There’s no need to print the ticket—you can simply use your phone.
I recommend allowing at least 2.5 hours for the visit. Ideally, book a Guided Tour with an Archaeologist in advance to get the most out of the experience.
After exploring the archaeological complex, we visited the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Rosary, conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from our chosen parking lot.
Happy and tired, we returned to the hotel around 7:00 PM. The drive from Pompeii took 30 minutes, and we paid another €2.10 for the toll.
Dinner at the Hotel
The day was packed with activities, so we decided to have dinner at the hotel again.
The total bill for three people was €88.50, with €36 spent on alcohol (two beers and a bottle of wine).
Day 3: Ravello and the Amalfi Coast
On the third day, we decided to visit the famous Villa Cimbrone in Ravello and take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast.
Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, with views of the mountains, we set off on our journey.
The Road
The road is a winding coastal route, so it takes about an hour to cover 19 miles (30 km).
Be sure to bring motion sickness tablets, and remember that the smaller your car, the easier it will be to navigate the curves and pass other vehicles.
Before reaching Maiori, we made a stop at a scenic viewpoint.
If your goal is a beach vacation, Maiori has the largest beach area on the Amalfi Coast.
Check out my photo selection on Instagram, as well as the story highlights.
See this post on Instagram
We didn’t immediately find parking in Ravello, but you can read more about it here. Parking costs €2 per hour.
The walk to Villa Cimbrone takes about 20 minutes.
Traditional souvenirs from the Amalfi Coast—ceramic items—are sold at every step.
I recommend reading: what to bring back from Italy.
On the way, you’ll pass some very photogenic spots, like the Villa Maria Hotel. If your budget allows (€200–€250 per night), I recommend staying here for at least one night to explore Ravello’s attractions in more detail.
As you approach Villa Cimbrone, you can photograph Villa Rufolo from a beautiful angle.
Villa Cimbrone
Villa Cimbrone, with its famous Terrace of Infinity, is one of the most beautiful spots on the coast. It is open to tourists daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and tickets cost €7.
Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours exploring the villa, and make sure your camera has enough free space for photos.
Lunch in Ravello
It’s often said that it’s impossible to eat cheaply and well on the Amalfi Coast. Save this address: Viale Parco della Rimembranza, 39, 84010 Ravello SA—Nino’s Pizza, an affordable and delicious pizzeria, is just a 10-minute walk from the parking lot and Ravello’s main square.
It’s open from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with Tuesdays off.
The prices are very reasonable, about half what you’d pay at most restaurants. Our lunch for three cost just €22.50.
We spent about four hours exploring the villa, taking a short walk around town, and having lunch. In the afternoon, we decided to relax by the hotel pool.
Alternatively, you could spend the afternoon exploring Villa Rufolo or strolling around Amalfi.
A Magical Dinner
Near the hotel, there are three restaurants:
- Maximum
- La Foce
- Vecchie Fornaci
After reading reviews, we chose Le Vecchie Fornaci for dinner.
How much do you think a meal at a restaurant with such an incredibly beautiful view could cost?
The menu is only two pages long, with the most expensive dish costing just €13. To avoid overeating, we each ordered one dish. Locals usually order an appetizer, first course, second course, and dessert, but I’m still puzzled about how they manage to eat it all.
Flower pots are placed around the tables, making it feel like you’re in paradise.
I chose the cheese and salami appetizer (Affetato misto di salumi e formaggi) for €8, while my companions ordered beef with arugula, tomatoes, and cheese (tagliata con rucola pomodorini e scaglie) for €12 and porcini mushroom ravioli (raviolo ai funghi porchini) for €8.
As a complimentary snack, they brought us six bruschettas with tomatoes, free of charge.
With two beers, two bottles of water, and a €2 service charge per person, the total cost for dinner was just €43.50 for three people. I’ve never eaten so cheaply, deliciously, and with such an incredible view before!
Day 4: Salerno
On the Fourth day, after breakfast and some sunbathing by the pool, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, located just five minutes from the hotel.
After visiting the abbey, we descended to the river out of curiosity. Six interesting trails, ranging from 1.2 to 3.7 miles (2 to 6 km) long, are located there.
Italy is full of surprises, and every time you discover something new and interesting. I’ll have to come back here for the fourth time.
Since we had already planned lunch and a walk around Salerno, we returned to the abbey.
On the trail, I met a shepherd dog, walking its goats by itself.
Lunch in Salerno
For lunch, I reserved a table at Mariterraneo Ristorante di Mare in Salerno. The drive from the hotel to Salerno took 20 minutes.
Read about the nuances of parking in Salerno—learn why you’ll need a pen, paper, and mobile internet.
We took about an hour-long walk along the seafront and through the narrow streets. Salerno left the impression of a very charming and cozy town, one we’d like to visit again.
Return to Rome
The distance from Salerno to Rome is 172 miles (277 km), and the drive took us just over three hours.
I’ve marked all the places mentioned in this guide on a map, which you can access for free.
Expenses
To replicate this trip independently, you’ll need €899 for two people.
We traveled as a group of three and split all expenses except for the hotel evenly. For example, if lunch costs €60, each person pays €20, regardless of what they ate or drank. Your group may have different rules and agreements for splitting costs.
- Hotel: €156 for 3 nights, including a tourist tax of €1.50 per person per day. We could have splurged on a suite with a view for €100 per night, but we decided to save money this time.
- Lunches: Day 1 (Avella) – €50, Day 2 (Pompeii) – €20, Day 3 (Ravello) – €23, Day 4 (Salerno) – €35.
- Dinners: Day 1 and 2 (at the hotel restaurant) – €190, Day 3 (restaurant with a view) – €44.
Total for lunches and dinners – €362; for two people – €241. - Tickets: Pompeii – €16 per person, Vesuvius – €12 per person, Villa Cimbrone – €7 per person.
- Toll roads: €50.
- Fuel: €72. We drove 497 miles (800 km) at 1.5 €/liter with a consumption rate of 6 liters/100 km.
- Car rental with an automatic transmission: €100 for 4 days.
How to Save
By planning carefully and booking everything in advance online, you can rent a car with a manual transmission for less than €20 per day.
If we had dined at Le Vecchie Fornaci instead of the hotel and avoided alcohol, we could have saved another €100.
What Else You Can See
Our route can be enhanced with the following activities:
- Villa Rufolo in Ravello—plan to visit in the afternoon.
- Day trip to the towns of Amalfi and Positano—expect a full day. You’ll get tired and possibly carsick, but you’ll see a lot of beauty.
- Visit to Herculaneum—spend the first half of the day here, similar to Pompeii.
- Easy hiking along the trails near the Abbey of the Holy Trinity—dedicate a full day to this. For example, go on one trail after breakfast, then another after lunch, or sunbathe by the pool.
- Visit the Royal Palace of Caserta—plan for at least three hours, and consider stopping here on your way back to Rome.
After your trip along the Amalfi Coast, you can return to Rome, drop off your car at the airport, get to your hotel, and spend another week in the Eternal City. You won’t need a car to explore Rome—read about the ZTL zone.
Wishing you the perfect journey along the Amalfi Coast!