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The Amalfi Coast looks compact on a map. In reality, the combination of traffic, ferries, narrow roads, parking restrictions, islands and archaeological sites makes this one of the easiest parts of Italy to plan badly.

The solution is not to drive everywhere.

For a 10-day trip built around the maximum number of worthwhile sights, I would use the car strategically, leave it parked for most of the Amalfi Coast, and create an open-jaw route from Naples to Bari rather than returning to Naples.

My recommended route is:

Naples → Pompeii → Vesuvius → Herculaneum → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Praiano → Furore → Conca dei Marini → Amalfi → Atrani → Ravello → Minori → Maiori → Cetara → Vietri sul Mare → Salerno → Paestum → Matera → Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni → Monopoli → Polignano a Mare → Bari.

That gives you Campania + the complete Amalfi Coast + Matera + a compact slice of Puglia without creating a ridiculous zig-zag.

The price of adding Matera and Puglia is that Caserta, Ischia and Procida cannot all fit properly. I would rather omit them than reduce Capri, Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast to rushed photo stops. A Campania-only alternative is included later.

The four accommodation bases

I would stay 2 nights in Naples, 3 nights in Sorrento, 2 nights in Salerno and 2 nights in Monopoli.

Naples gives you the city plus efficient access to Pompeii and Vesuvius. Sorrento is the best western base for Capri and the Positano–Amalfi side of the coast. Salerno is far better positioned for Ravello, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, Vietri and Paestum. Monopoli then becomes an ideal Puglian base between Polignano, Alberobello, Ostuni and Bari.

A particularly important point: I would not collect the rental car on Day 1. Naples does not reward having a car. Pick it up on Day 3 when leaving for Herculaneum and Sorrento.

Day 1 – Naples: The Historic Core, Seafront & Best Panorama

Start: Naples
Route: Spaccanapoli → Santa Chiara → Cappella Sansevero → Via dei Tribunali → Duomo → Spanish Quarter → Piazza del Plebiscito → Lungomare → Castel Sant’Elmo
Car: none
Total day: about 10 hours
Sleep: Naples

⭐ MUST SEE – Spaccanapoli & old Naples

Allow: 2–2½ hours

Begin early inside Naples’ dense historic centre.

Walk through Spaccanapoli, Piazza del Gesù, Santa Chiara and San Domenico Maggiore before heading into the streets around Via dei Tribunali.

⭐ MUST SEE – Cappella Sansevero

Allow: 45–60 minutes

The Veiled Christ is one of Naples’ most famous works of sculpture.

Pre-booking is strongly recommended.

⭐ MUST SEE – Via dei Tribunali & Naples Cathedral

Allow: 1½ hours

This is also your best place for a quick Neapolitan lunch rather than a long restaurant meal.

Eat pizza napoletana, pizza fritta or cuoppo, then grab a sfogliatella and espresso.

⭐ MUST SEE – Spanish Quarter

Allow: 1–1½ hours

Walk Via Toledo and the dense streets running uphill behind it.

⭐ MUST SEE – Piazza del Plebiscito & the seafront

Allow: 1½ hours

Continue past Galleria Umberto I and Teatro San Carlo to Piazza del Plebiscito, then walk the seafront towards Castel dell’Ovo.

⭐ MUST SEE – Castel Sant’Elmo panorama

Allow: 45–60 minutes

Take the funicular uphill for sunset.

This is the viewpoint I would prioritize above all others in Naples: the old city, Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples spread below you.

🟡 OPTIONAL

Naples Underground if archaeology interests you more than the waterfront.

⚡ IF YOU STILL HAVE TIME

Quartieri Spagnoli again after dark.

Dinner: seek out pasta alla Genovese, ragù napoletano or spaghetti alle vongole.

Day 2 – Pompeii + Mount Vesuvius

Route: Naples → Pompeii → Vesuvius → Naples
Road distance if driving: roughly 60–70 km
Driving: about 1½–2 hours without traffic
My recommendation: train + pre-booked Vesuvius transfer
Sleep: Naples

Do not try to add Herculaneum to today. Pompeii deserves more than two hours.

⭐ MUST SEE – Pompeii

Arrive: 09:00
Allow: 4–4½ hours

Prioritize:

Forum
Basilica
House of the Faun
Via dell’Abbondanza
baths
theatres
amphitheatre
selected decorated houses

Pompeii now limits admissions to 20,000 visitors daily, tickets are nominative, and in the March 16–October 14 period the site is open from 09:00 with final entry at 17:30. The 2026 Pompeii Express ticket costs €20, while Pompeii+ costs €25. Buying in advance allows you to go directly to the turnstiles.

Find places to stay in Pompeii Car hireAffiliate

Lunch

Keep it to about 45 minutes near the site.

⭐ MUST SEE – Vesuvius Gran Cono

Allow: 2–2½ hours including access and walk.

Schedule a mid-afternoon entrance after Pompeii.

Tickets for the Gran Cono trail are online-only. In 2026 the park releases regular inventory 30 days ahead, with timed allocations every ten minutes; the official adult ticket is €11.68.

The hike is not technical but is uphill on loose volcanic ground.

📸 Best photographs

Crater rim
Bay of Naples below the volcano
Somma-Vesuvius landscape on the descent

🟡 OPTIONAL

Villa of the Mysteries if you buy Pompeii+ and move efficiently.

⚡ WEATHER ALTERNATIVE

If Vesuvius is clouded in or access is suspended, add Oplontis instead and give Pompeii more time.

Day 3 – Herculaneum → Sorrento

Route: Naples → Herculaneum → Sorrento
Distance: approximately 50–60 km
Driving: roughly 1½–2 hours depending on traffic
Total day: 9–10 hours
Sleep: Sorrento

Pick up the rental car early, preferably outside central Naples.

⭐ MUST SEE – Herculaneum

Allow: 2–2½ hours

Herculaneum is substantially smaller than Pompeii, but many buildings, upper floors, wooden elements and decorative details survived better.

Visit:

ancient shoreline
House of Neptune and Amphitrite
baths
Decumanus
House of the Deer

The park’s 2026 summer hours are 08:30–19:30, with last admission at 18:00.

This is exactly why Pompeii and Herculaneum deserve separate visits: they tell the same disaster from very different perspectives.

Drive to Sorrento and leave the car at your accommodation.

⭐ MUST SEE – Sorrento historic centre

Allow: 1½–2 hours

Walk:

Piazza Tasso
Vallone dei Mulini viewpoint
Via San Cesareo
Sedile Dominova
Cloister of San Francesco

⭐ MUST SEE – Villa Comunale viewpoint

Sunset: 30–45 minutes

One of the best views across the Bay of Naples towards Vesuvius.

🟡 OPTIONAL – Marina Grande

Allow: 45–60 minutes

Excellent for an early seafood dinner.

⚡ BONUS – Bagni della Regina Giovanna

Add 1–1½ hours if you reach Sorrento early enough.

It is one of the prettiest swimming spots on the Sorrento peninsula.

Day 4 – Capri & Anacapri

Car: parked in Sorrento all day
Ferry: Sorrento → Capri → Sorrento
Road driving: 0 km
Total: 10–11 hours
Sleep: Sorrento

Take one of the earliest ferries.

NLG’s current Sorrento–Capri service runs several daily departures; its published 2026-style fare is €44 adult return plus the Capri landing contribution, which is €5 per person from April through October.

⭐ MUST SEE – Anacapri

Go here first before most day-trippers spread across the island.

Allow: 1–1½ hours.

Walk the centre and then head upward.

⭐ MUST SEE – Monte Solaro

Allow: about 1½ hours including chairlift.

This is the island’s best high panorama.

On a clear day you see:

Capri
Faraglioni
Sorrento peninsula
Amalfi mountains
Bay of Naples

⭐ MUST SEE – Capri town

Allow: 1½ hours

Explore the Piazzetta and streets leading away from it.

⭐ MUST SEE – Gardens of Augustus

Allow: 30–45 minutes

Excellent Faraglioni views.

⭐ MUST SEE – Circumnavigation by boat

Allow: approximately 1–2 hours.

For a first visit I prefer an island boat circuit to spending half the day waiting for the Blue Grotto.

🟡 OPTIONAL – Blue Grotto

Do it only when the sea is calm and the queue is reasonable.

It sometimes closes because of sea conditions.

🟡 OPTIONAL – Marina Piccola

Good short swimming stop.

⚡ BONUS – Villa Jovis

Excellent historically, but it consumes time because of the walk.

Food: ravioli capresi, seafood and torta caprese.

Return to Sorrento by evening.

Day 5 – The Western Amalfi Coast: Positano → Praiano → Furore → Conca → Amalfi → Atrani

Car: leave it parked
Transport: ferry + local bus
Total day: 11–12 hours
Sleep: Sorrento

This is why I would not drive the SS163 during the sightseeing days.

In 2026 the Amalfi Coast operates alternate-plate restrictions on the SS163 during peak periods. The restriction applies 10:00–18:00; it is active on selected spring holidays, weekends/holidays in June and July, every day in August and September, and weekends/holidays again during October.

Use the sea and buses instead.

⭐ MUST SEE – Positano

Allow: 2–2½ hours.

Start from the upper town and walk downhill through the lanes.

Visit:

Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Spiaggia Grande
Fornillo path/beach if moving quickly

Find places to stay in Positano Car hireAffiliate

📸 Essential viewpoint

Upper Via Cristoforo Colombo looking across the stacked pastel buildings.

⭐ MUST SEE – Praiano

Allow: 45–60 minutes.

Praiano has fewer crowds and some of the best west-facing coastal views.

🏖️ Marina di Praia

If you want a short swim, spend 30 minutes here.

🌅 View

Gavitella side of Praiano gives superb views back toward Positano.

⭐ MUST SEE – Fiordo di Furore

Allow: 20–30 minutes.

Treat this as a scenic stop rather than a beach afternoon.

Do not attempt to improvise roadside parking on the SS163.

🟡 OPTIONAL – Conca dei Marini / Grotta dello Smeraldo

Allow: 45–60 minutes.

The Emerald Grotto is worth including if sea conditions and opening arrangements align with your day.

If access creates a long wait, skip it.

⭐ MUST SEE – Amalfi

Allow: 2 hours.

Visit:

Piazza Duomo
Cathedral of Sant’Andrea
historic lanes
waterfront

Find places to stay in Amalfi Car hireAffiliate

🏖️ Amalfi beach

A short 20–30 minute stop is enough on this itinerary.

⭐ MUST SEE – Atrani

Walk there from Amalfi.

Allow: 45 minutes.

Atrani is tiny, steep and much more intimate than Amalfi.

The central square and beach sit almost underneath the road and surrounding cliffs.

Find places to stay in Atrani Car hireAffiliate

🟡 OPTIONAL HIKING SWAP – Path of the Gods

If hiking is a higher priority than maximizing villages, replace Praiano + Conca with the classic Bomerano → Nocellehike.

Allow roughly 2½–3 hours.

For your stated goal of seeing the maximum number of towns, I would keep it for another visit.

Return from Amalfi by ferry.

Day 6 – Ravello → Minori → Lemon Path → Maiori → Cetara → Vietri → Salerno

Morning drive: Sorrento → Salerno via the inland/motorway route
Distance by car: approximately 55–65 km
Driving: 1½–2 hours
Then: ferries, bus and walking
Sleep: Salerno

Do not relocate your luggage by driving Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi → Salerno.

Drive around the peninsula instead, park in Salerno and attack the eastern coast without your car.

Travelmar’s 2026 schedule connects Salerno, Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, Praiano, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri sul Mare, making this kind of one-way coastal day practical.

⭐ MUST SEE – Ravello

Ferry Salerno → Amalfi, then bus uphill.

Allow: 2½ hours.

Visit:

Villa Rufolo
Villa Cimbrone
Duomo
historic centre

Find places to stay in Ravello Car hireAffiliate

📸 MUST SEE – Terrace of Infinity

One of the finest viewpoints on the entire Amalfi Coast.

⭐ MUST SEE – Ravello → Minori walking descent

Distance: about 3 km
Time: roughly 1 hour
Difficulty: easy/moderate, but many stairs

This is much more memorable than taking the bus back down.

⭐ MUST SEE – Minori

Allow: 45 minutes.

See the promenade and Roman Villa area if time allows.

This is also the correct place to try delizia al limone.

Find places to stay in Minori Car hireAffiliate

⭐ MUST SEE – Sentiero dei Limoni: Minori → Maiori

Distance: roughly 2.5–3 km
Time: 1–1½ hours
Difficulty: moderate because of stairs

The trail climbs through lemon terraces and gives superb coastal views.

Travelmar even operates dedicated connections for the Lemon Path experience.

⭐ MUST SEE – Maiori

Allow: 45 minutes.

Maiori has the longest broad beach on this section of coast.

Find places to stay in Maiori Car hireAffiliate

⭐ MUST SEE – Cetara

Use the ferry from Maiori.

Allow: 1 hour.

This little fishing village is where you should try:

colatura di alici
anchovies
tuna
seafood pasta

Find places to stay in Cetara Car hireAffiliate

⭐ MUST SEE – Vietri sul Mare

Continue by ferry.

Allow: 1 hour.

Explore the colourful ceramic shops and lanes before returning to Salerno.

Travelmar’s 2026 fares illustrate why ferries are worth using: Salerno–Amalfi is €12 one-way, Salerno–Maiori €10 and Salerno–Cetara €7.50 per adult.

Find places to stay in Vietri sul Mare Car hireAffiliate

⚡ BONUS – Salerno waterfront after dark

Walk the Lungomare and historic centre once you return.

Day 7 – Paestum + Buffalo Mozzarella + Salerno

Route: Salerno → Paestum → Salerno
Distance: roughly 90–100 km
Driving: around 2 hours
Total: 9–10 hours
Sleep: Salerno

⭐ MUST SEE – Paestum

Allow: 3–3½ hours.

The three monumental Greek temples make this one of southern Italy’s essential archaeological sites.

Visit:

Temple of Neptune
Temple of Hera
Temple of Athena
Roman forum area
Archaeological Museum

Through September 21, 2026, the Paestum archaeological site and museum operate 08:30–19:30; the standard March–November ticket is €15.

⭐ MUST SEE – Buffalo mozzarella experience

The plains around Paestum are famous for Mozzarella di Bufala Campana.

Spend about 1 hour on lunch at an agricultural dairy/farm in the Capaccio area rather than eating generic pizza beside the ruins.

🏖️ RECOMMENDED – Paestum beach

Allow: 1–1½ hours.

It is broad, sandy and very different from Amalfi’s tiny coves.

⭐ MUST SEE – Salerno historic centre

Return by late afternoon.

Walk:

Via dei Mercanti
Cathedral
Lungomare

🟡 OPTIONAL – Castello di Arechi

Allow: 45–60 minutes.

Excellent elevated view over the Gulf of Salerno.

Day 8 – Salerno → Matera → Monopoli

This is where the itinerary becomes a genuine southern-Italy road trip.

Route: Salerno → Matera → Monopoli
Distance: approximately 260–280 km
Driving: roughly 4 hours
Total day: 11–12 hours
Sleep: Monopoli

Leave around 06:30–07:00.

⭐ MUST SEE – Matera

Allow: 4½–5 hours.

Park outside the historic Sassi zone and enter on foot.

Explore:

Sasso Caveoso
Sasso Barisano
Piazza Vittorio Veneto
rock-hewn churches
Casa Grotta
cave lanes and stairways

Find places to stay in Matera Car hireAffiliate

📸 Best viewpoint

Belvedere Luigi Guerricchio for the classic urban view.

If time allows, cross to the Murgia side for the more dramatic panorama back toward the Sassi.

Lunch

Try:

Pane di Matera
peperoni cruschi
cialledda
local pasta with breadcrumbs

⭐ MUST SEE – Matera at late-afternoon light

Do not leave immediately after the monuments.

The stone city changes completely as the shadows deepen across the ravine.

Drive roughly 75–85 km east to Monopoli.

⭐ MUST SEE – Monopoli old harbour after dark

Allow: 1–1½ hours.

Walk Porto Vecchio and the sea walls.

Monopoli’s tourism material emphasizes its fisherman-quarter character, old harbour, fortifications and whitewashed historic centre.

Day 9 – Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni

Start/end: Monopoli
Route: Monopoli → Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni → Monopoli
Distance: approximately 100–115 km
Driving: about 2 hours
Sleep: Monopoli

⭐ MUST SEE – Alberobello

Arrive early.

Allow: 2½ hours.

Explore:

Rione Monti
Aia Piccola
Trullo Sovrano
Belvedere Santa Lucia

The trulli have been UNESCO-listed since 1996, and Alberobello’s two most characteristic districts are Rione Monti and Aia Piccola.

Find places to stay in Alberobello Car hireAffiliate

📸 Best photograph

Belvedere across the trulli before the centre fills with visitors.

⭐ MUST SEE – Locorotondo

Allow: 1–1¼ hours.

The circular white hill town is quieter than Alberobello and gives you a very different Valle d’Itria atmosphere.

Lunch

This is a good point for:

bombette
capocollo
burrata
local focaccia

🟡 OPTIONAL – Cisternino

Add: about 45 minutes.

It fits geographically between Locorotondo and Ostuni and is worth adding if you left Alberobello on time.

⭐ MUST SEE – Ostuni

Allow: 2–2½ hours.

Walk:

Piazza della Libertà
Arco Scoppa
Cathedral
whitewashed lanes
old defensive walls

Ostuni’s old centre climbs a hill around 218 metres high and provides broad views over centuries-old olive groves toward the Adriatic.

🌅 Sunset

Stay in Ostuni until golden hour.

The warm evening light against the white buildings is considerably better than midday.

Return to Monopoli.

Day 10 – Monopoli → Polignano a Mare → Bari

Route: Monopoli → Polignano a Mare → Bari / Bari Airport
Distance: approximately 60–80 km
Driving: 1–1½ hours
End: Bari

⭐ MUST SEE – Monopoli in daylight

Allow: 1½ hours.

Walk:

Porto Vecchio
Cathedral
Castello Carlo V
old sea walls
Cala Porta Vecchia

🏖️ Cala Porta Vecchia

Good for a short morning swim.

⭐ MUST SEE – Polignano a Mare

Allow: 2½–3 hours.

Explore:

Lama Monachile
Roman bridge viewpoint
Arco Marchesale
historic centre
cliff terraces

Polignano is built directly above limestone cliffs and is known for its sea caves, Lama Monachile and dramatic coastal viewpoints.

Find places to stay in Polignano a Mare Car hireAffiliate

🏖️ MUST SEE – Lama Monachile

Even if you do not swim, walk down to sea level.

⛵ RECOMMENDED – sea-cave boat tour

Allow: 1–1½ hours.

If you have a late flight, this is one of the best final experiences of the trip.

Seeing Polignano’s caves from the sea gives you a completely different perspective.

⚡ BONUS – Bari Vecchia

If your flight is in the evening, use the remaining 2 hours for:

Basilica di San Nicola
old streets
seafront

Return the car at Bari Airport.

This is why the open-jaw trip matters.

Driving back to Naples from Puglia would add roughly another half-day and destroy the efficiency of Day 10.

The complete 10-day route

Naples → Pompeii → Vesuvius → Herculaneum → Sorrento → Capri/Anacapri → Positano → Praiano → Fiordo di Furore → Conca dei Marini → Amalfi → Atrani → Ravello → Minori → Maiori → Cetara → Vietri sul Mare → Salerno → Paestum → Matera → Monopoli → Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni → Polignano a Mare → Bari.

10-Day Road Trip Summary

Day	Route	Road km	Driving	Sleep
1	Naples	0	0	Naples
2	Naples → Pompeii → Vesuvius → Naples	~65	~1½–2h	Naples
3	Naples → Herculaneum → Sorrento	~55	~1½–2h	Sorrento
4	Capri & Anacapri	0	0	Sorrento
5	Positano → Praiano → Furore → Conca → Amalfi → Atrani	0 by car	Ferry/bus	Sorrento
6	Sorrento → Salerno + Ravello → Minori → Maiori → Cetara → Vietri	~60	~1½–2h	Salerno
7	Salerno → Paestum → Salerno	~95	~2h	Salerno
8	Salerno → Matera → Monopoli	~270	~4h	Monopoli
9	Alberobello → Locorotondo → Ostuni loop	~105	~2h	Monopoli
10	Monopoli → Polignano → Bari	~70	~1¼h	End

Road total is approximately 700–750 km, which is remarkably reasonable considering how much territory the itinerary covers.

Every major attraction included

Naples: Spaccanapoli, Santa Chiara, Cappella Sansevero, Duomo, Spanish Quarter, Piazza Plebiscito, Lungomare, Castel Sant’Elmo.

Vesuvius area: Pompeii, Gran Cono, Herculaneum.

Sorrento: historic centre, Marina Grande, Villa Comunale, optional Bagni Regina Giovanna.

Capri: Capri town, Anacapri, Monte Solaro, Gardens of Augustus, Faraglioni boat views, optional Blue Grotto.

Amalfi Coast: Positano, Praiano, Marina di Praia, Furore, Conca dei Marini, Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, Minori, Lemon Path, Maiori, Cetara, Vietri sul Mare.

Salerno/Cilento edge: Salerno, Paestum.

Basilicata: Matera and the Sassi.

Puglia: Monopoli, Alberobello, Locorotondo, optional Cisternino, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare.

Beaches & coves included

Place	Why stop
Bagni Regina Giovanna	Natural swimming cove near Sorrento
Spiaggia Grande	Iconic Positano view
Fornillo	Quieter Positano beach
Marina di Praia	Dramatic cove below Praiano
Fiordo di Furore	Narrow fjord-like inlet
Amalfi beach	Easy quick swim
Atrani beach	Tiny and atmospheric
Minori beach	Central village beach
Maiori beach	Longest broad beach on the Amalfi side
Cetara beach	Fishing-village atmosphere
Paestum coast	Long sandy beach
Cala Porta Vecchia	Beach directly beside Monopoli old town
Lama Monachile	Famous Polignano cove

Top 15 places not to miss

Pompeii
Capri + Monte Solaro
Positano
Amalfi & Atrani
Villa Cimbrone in Ravello
Vesuvius crater
Matera
Paestum
Naples historic centre
Herculaneum
Fiordo di Furore
Sentiero dei Limoni
Alberobello
Polignano a Mare
Ostuni

Very close behind: Sorrento, Cetara and Monopoli.

The most spectacular viewpoints

Castel Sant’Elmo – Naples: Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.

Villa Comunale – Sorrento: Bay and Vesuvius.

Monte Solaro – Capri: 360-degree island panorama.

Upper Positano: classic vertical village view.

Praiano: westward toward Positano and Capri.

Villa Cimbrone: Terrace of Infinity above the Amalfi Coast.

Sentiero dei Limoni: lemon terraces above Minori and Maiori.

Castello di Arechi – Salerno: gulf panorama.

Matera’s Sassi viewpoints: stone city and ravine.

Ostuni walls: olive plain stretching towards the Adriatic.

Polignano terraces: cliffs and Lama Monachile.

The most beautiful roads

SS163 – Amalfi Coast Road

It is the most spectacular road on the trip.

Ironically, it is also the road I recommend not using for everyday sightseeing in peak season.

Ride it on buses or view it from the ferry.

If you travel outside the busy season and want to drive it, do so very early in the morning, after checking restrictions.

Sorrento Peninsula roads

Excellent views around Meta, Piano di Sorrento and the approaches to Sorrento.

Salerno → Matera

Not postcard-pretty throughout, but fascinating because the coastal Campanian landscape gradually becomes the empty, rugged interior of Basilicata.

Valle d’Itria

The roads between Alberobello, Locorotondo and Ostuni pass through:

trulli
olive groves
dry-stone walls
masserie

For driving enjoyment, this may actually be the easiest scenic section of the trip.

Where to use the car — and where not to

Area	Best transport
Naples	Walk / metro / funicular
Pompeii	Train or car
Vesuvius	Pre-booked shuttle/transfer
Herculaneum → Sorrento	Car
Sorrento	Walk
Capri	Ferry + bus + chairlift
Positano–Amalfi	Ferry + bus
Ravello	Bus + walking
Minori–Maiori	Walk Lemon Path
Cetara/Vietri	Ferry
Salerno–Paestum	Car
Matera	Car, then park and walk
Puglia	Car

Travelmar states that its timetable runs daily, including holidays, although services can be altered or cancelled for adverse sea conditions.

What about Caserta, Ischia and Procida?

They are worth visiting.

But I would not include them in the Puglia version.

Why Caserta is omitted

It lies north of Naples, while your route needs to move south and east.

The Royal Palace alone deserves several hours: its official site recommends about 2 hours for the palace plus 4 hours for the Royal Park and English Garden.

It is not a quick one-hour stop.

Why Ischia is omitted

Ischia deserves virtually an entire day and is much larger than Capri or Procida.

Doing it properly means choosing between:

Aragonese Castle
Sant’Angelo
thermal parks
beaches
island viewpoints

You cannot reasonably add that to an existing Amalfi day.

Why Procida is omitted

Procida is smaller, but ferry logistics still consume most of a day.

Alternative: 10 Days Entirely in Campania

If your priority becomes depth rather than geographical variety, keep Days 1–7 exactly as written and replace the Puglia/Basilicata section.

Day	Campania-only replacement
8	Salerno → Royal Palace of Caserta → Naples
9	Full-day Ischia trip
10	Full-day Procida or half-day Procida + Naples

What you gain

Caserta
Ischia
Procida
more Naples time
less long-distance driving

What you lose

Matera
Alberobello
Locorotondo
Ostuni
Monopoli
Polignano a Mare

Which version would I choose?

For a first intensive road trip through southern Italy, I would choose the Matera + Puglia version.

The visual variety is extraordinary: volcano → Roman cities → islands → vertical Amalfi cliffs → Greek temples → cave city → trulli → white Adriatic towns.

For someone specifically interested in Campania, choose the second version.

Budget for two people

These are planning ranges, not fixed quotes.

Accommodation – 9 nights

For good B&B / 3-star accommodation with sensible locations:

May, June, late September, October: €1,400–€2,200

July–August: €2,000–€3,200+

Sorrento is usually the most expensive base.

Rental car – around 8 days

Collect Day 3 and return Day 10 in Bari:

€400–€700 shoulder season
€550–€900+ peak summer

A one-way drop fee may apply, so compare it against the time and fuel saved by not returning to Naples.

Fuel

For roughly 700–750 road kilometres:

about €100–€140

Tolls

Approximately:

€30–€60

Parking

Sorrento and Salerno are the expensive part.

Budget:

€160–€250 total

A hotel with parking can save a great deal of hassle.

Ferry transport

For two people, including:

Sorrento–Capri return
Sorrento/Amalfi Coast connections
Salerno/Amalfi Coast ferries

Budget approximately:

€200–€300

NLG currently lists Sorrento–Capri at €44 return per adult before Capri’s landing contribution.

Optional boat trips

Capri island circuit + Polignano caves:

€100–€220 for two, depending on whether you choose shared or small-group boats.

Attractions

Pompeii
Vesuvius
Herculaneum
Capri chairlift / villas
Ravello villas
Paestum
Matera rock churches and museums

Budget:

€220–€330 for two

Food

A mix of quick lunches, street food and proper dinners:

€90–€130 per day for two

or roughly:

€900–€1,300

Total for two, excluding flights

Shoulder season: approximately €3,400–€4,900

Peak summer: approximately €4,300–€6,300+

Best time for this road trip

May

One of my favourite choices.

Comfortable temperatures, green landscapes and a good chance of useful ferry services without July-level crowds.

Sea temperature can still be cool.

June

Probably the best overall month.

Long daylight, warm weather, regular ferries and more manageable crowds than August.

The alternate-plate system on the Amalfi SS163 applies on relevant June weekends and holidays, another reason to use ferries.

July

Excellent for boats and beaches, but crowded.

Start everything early.

August

I would avoid it if your dates are flexible.

Heat + traffic + expensive hotels + packed beaches.

The alternate-plate restrictions operate daily on the SS163 throughout August.

September

Excellent.

Warm sea, slightly better temperatures for Pompeii and Matera, and strong ferry coverage.

However, alternate-plate restrictions are still daily throughout September.

October

Very attractive for archaeology and road-tripping.

But sea conditions become less reliable and some ferry frequencies reduce.

Best windows

May 15 – June 25

September 15 – October 10

If swimming is important, choose September.

What you should reserve in advance

Pompeii: definitely. Daily admissions are capped and tickets are nominative.

Vesuvius: definitely. Gran Cono tickets are online-only.

Capri ferry: strongly recommended in summer.

Capri boat trip: recommended.

Sorrento / Amalfi ferries: reserve the key morning and evening legs during July–September.

Sorrento hotel with parking: very important.

One-way rental car: book early because you need Naples pickup and Bari drop-off.

Matera accommodation? You are not staying overnight in this version, so reserve parking rather than a room.

Polignano boat trip: book ahead in summer if you want it.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not drive the Amalfi Coast every day. You will spend your trip staring at brake lights and hunting for parking.

Do not trust Google Maps driving times on the SS163. A 15 km journey can take dramatically longer in summer.

Do not show up at Vesuvius without a ticket. The official park sells Gran Cono access online.

Do not give Pompeii only two hours. Four is already an efficient visit.

Do not dedicate half your Capri day to the Blue Grotto queue. Treat it as optional.

Do not take the rental car to Capri.

Do not plan ferries with zero buffer. Weather can change the schedule; Travelmar explicitly warns that services may be delayed or suspended in adverse sea conditions.

Do not return to Naples after Puglia unless your flights force you to. Ending in Bari saves several hours of unnecessary driving.

And most importantly, do not make the Amalfi Coast only Positano + Amalfi. Praiano, Furore, Atrani, Ravello, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri are what turn this from a standard tourist itinerary into a proper exploration of the coast.

With the route above, ten days takes you from the streets of Naples and the crater of Vesuvius to Roman Pompeii, Capri’s cliffs, every major section of the Amalfi Coast, the Greek temples at Paestum, Matera’s cave city and the white towns of Puglia—without turning the trip into an endless series of backtracks.