We drove Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Naples, and Tuscany — four people, our own car, peak summer — and tracked every euro. Here’s what an Italy road trip actually costs, broken down by category so you can plan yours honestly.
We stopped on the way back from southern Italy — the Val d’Orcia, Pienza, and a half-day in Florence — and that unhurried detour became one of the better memories of the whole trip. Here’s what’s actually worth stopping for on the drive through Tuscany.
Mid-range overnight on the Amalfi Coast costs €150–250. A well-planned day trip costs €40–65. Here’s exactly how to do it — entry point, parking, timing, and what you honestly give up.
Two to three hours walking a city frozen in 79 AD, then 25 kilometres north to the loudest, most alive city in Italy — this is the southern loop day that makes everything else on the road trip make sense.
A practical Rome + Vatican itinerary for one day — the right order, timing, and simple decisions that save hours and make the experience feel calm instead of rushed.
A practical guide to the St Peter’s dome climb — costs, crowds, tight stairs, the view from the top, and what to do nearby in Vatican City.
A real Rome on a budget guide with our 2-day cost breakdown, cheap food strategy, car-free transport tips, and the sights still worth paying for.
An honest guide to driving the Amalfi Coast — what the road actually feels like, how to plan the day, where to stop, and whether driving is worth it at all.
A calm, practical Rome in 2 days itinerary covering the Colosseum, Vatican dome, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain at night, and how to do it all without a car.
A first-hand drive through southern Italy — Rome on foot, the Amalfi Coast road, Pompeii ruins, Naples pizza, and Tuscany on the way home. The honest itinerary.
Seville in summer is a logistical exercise in surviving the heat. Seville in April — orange blossom in the air, Semana Santa on the streets, temperatures you can actually walk in — is the city at its most completely itself.
Six cities, one unforgettable southern Spain route — a calm, practical guide to planning an Andalusia summer road trip through Málaga, Ronda, Cádiz, Seville, Córdoba, and Granada.