Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at the Colosseum when your timed entry begins; book ahead through the official ticketing site, since walk-up availability can be limited. Allow about two hours, including security. Then go straight into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill—they’re adjacent, but the archaeological area is extensive, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Set aside around two hours here too; check what your ticket includes and its validity before booking.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to the Pantheon in the Centro Storico. Allow about 45 minutes, plus time to get there and queue. Entry requirements and hours can change, so check the official information on the day and arrange any required ticket in advance. For lunch, keep it simple near the route rather than adding a lengthy sit-down stop: this is a full day on your feet.
Finish at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina, a short walk from the Pantheon. Reserve ahead, especially for dinner, and budget roughly €35–60 per person for Roman pasta and cured meats. With the visits and transitions, this plan takes most of the day; if you want a more relaxed meal or time to linger among the ruins, trim your time at the sites rather than trying to rush the whole route.
Take an early train so the roughly 2.5–3 hours door to door still leaves time to explore. From Napoli Centrale, the Naples National Archaeological Museum is about a 10-minute taxi ride or a few Metro stops away. Give its exceptional finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum around two hours; tickets are typically about €20, and booking ahead is sensible. The museum is generally open Tuesday–Sunday and closed Mondays, but check its current hours and ticket availability before you travel.
From the museum, walk about 15–20 minutes downhill into the Centro Storico for Spaccanapoli and its surrounding lanes. Allow around 1.5 hours to wander: the lively street is best enjoyed without a strict route, with time to duck into churches and small shops as you go. Finish at Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali for classic Neapolitan pizza; budget €15–25 per person and expect a queue at busy times, especially around dinner. If you arrive later than planned, keep the museum visit focused and leave yourself enough time to eat.
Allow 3–4 hours door to door from Naples, plus time to reach your first stop from the Campobasso arrival station. Coach services can be limited, so check the timetable and confirm the exact station before setting off; if you arrive later in the day, keep the sightseeing flexible. Head uphill to Castello Monforte for about 1.5 hours. The climb is steep in places, but the views over Campobasso and the surrounding hills are worth the effort. Check locally whether the castle is open for visits that day.
Walk back down into the historic center to Cattedrale della Santissima Trinità for a quiet 30–45-minute visit; dress modestly and check for service times, when sightseeing may be restricted. Finish at Ristorante Miseria e Nobiltà, an easy choice for a leisurely introduction to Molisan cooking. Budget around €25–40 per person and allow about 1.5 hours; reserve ahead if you can, and confirm opening hours, which may vary by day.
Allow 4–5 hours door to door from Campobasso, then leave a little breathing room before sightseeing: the drive is usually the most practical option, while bus connections can take longer and involve a change. If driving, don’t take a car into Bari Vecchia—the old town has restricted-traffic streets and tight lanes. Use a paid garage outside the historic centre and walk in; if you arrive by bus, take a taxi or local bus toward the old town.
Visit the Basilica di San Nicola first, allowing 45–60 minutes. Entry is generally free, but check visitor access around services and dress modestly; donations are welcome. From there, wander to Strada delle Orecchiette, where you may see residents shaping pasta by hand. It’s a lived-in lane, not a staged attraction, so be considerate about photographs and avoid blocking doorways.
Settle in for dinner at La Tana del Polpo in Bari Vecchia—budget about €25–45 per person and allow roughly 1.5 hours for seafood and Puglian specialties. It’s popular, so booking ahead is sensible, especially in the evening; afterward, enjoy an unhurried stroll through the surrounding lanes before heading back to your accommodation.
Choose an early direct flight if one is operating: allow roughly 5–7 hours door to door once you include getting to the airport, check-in, and the transfer into town. If the schedules don’t leave enough time, the much longer train-and-ferry alternative won’t fit comfortably with today’s sightseeing; plan to add a night or reduce the scope rather than count on a full afternoon. From the airport, the Prestia e Comandè shuttle to the city takes around 50 minutes, traffic permitting. Head to Palermo Cathedral in the Centro Storico and give it about an hour. The church is generally open daily, but visitor access and hours can vary; check before you go. Entry to the cathedral is typically free, while the roof and other areas require a ticket.
Walk about 10–15 minutes along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to Quattro Canti, the ornate Baroque crossroads. It’s free to see, and 30–45 minutes gives you time to admire the façades and wander the surrounding lanes without rushing. Continue toward the Kalsa for dinner at Osteria Ballarò; allow about 1.5 hours and budget roughly €25–€45 per person. It’s a good place to try Sicilian dishes—reserve ahead if you can, and check that the restaurant’s hours match your arrival, especially if your flight runs late.
Allow 3–4 hours door to door from Palermo by coach, including getting to the departure station and onward from Catania’s bus station. Check the current SAIS Autolinee timetable and aim for an early departure: the fish market is liveliest in the morning, so a later arrival may mean fewer stalls are trading. From the bus station, it’s roughly a 15–20-minute walk to Piazza del Duomo, or a short taxi ride. Give the square about 45 minutes to take in the Elephant Fountain and the surrounding Baroque façades.
From the piazza, walk a few minutes to Pescheria di Catania, the historic market just behind the cathedral. Spend about an hour browsing the fish counters and nearby food stalls; activity varies by day and tapers off as the morning goes on, so don’t count on the full market scene if your coach arrives late. Then settle in at Trattoria da Antonio, near the market, for Catanese and Sicilian cooking. Allow around 1.5 hours and budget roughly €20–35 per person; check opening hours and reserve if possible, especially if you’re arriving outside the usual lunch window.
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