Itinerary
Naples · Italy
Southern Italy Itinerary: Naples, Puglia and the South
The Mezzogiorno: Naples, Pompeii, Matera's cave city and Puglia's trulli — southern Italy on its own terms.
7 min read · 7 days · Updated September 10, 2026
- italy
- itinerary
- southern italy
- puglia
- Destination
- Naples, Italy
- Duration
- 7 days
- Best time
- Apr-Jun
- Style
- Food · History
- Daily budget
- 95 EUR
Southern Italy — the Mezzogiorno — is the country's rawer, warmer, cheaper half: Naples' pizza chaos, Pompeii's frozen streets, Matera's cave city carved from stone, and Puglia's trulli cones and whitewash. A week or ten days by train, at half the Amalfi's prices and twice its character.
Budget: Naples ~€95/day, Puglia ~€90 — call it €95/day blended. May–June and September–October are ideal; July–August is hot and local.
What this guide covers
The Southern Week
Naples (1–2), Matera (3–4), Puglia (5–7).
Day 1
Naples — Pizza & Chaos
Both pizza shrines; the Spanish Quarter at dusk.
Day 2
Pompeii Day
The frozen streets; the museum's originals after.
Day 3
Train to Matera
The cave city's first sunset from the viewpoint.
Day 4
Matera — Sassi
The rock churches and the cave dwellings.
Day 5
To Puglia — Bari
Bari vecchia's orecchiette-making nonnas.
Day 6
Alberobello & Ostuni
The trulli cones; the white hill town.
Day 7
Lecce & Departure
The baroque capital; BRI or BDS airport.
The Route
Naples (2 nights) — the pizza shrines and the archaeology museum. Pompeii or Herculaneum as the day trip. Then the long train across to Matera (2) — the cave city of the Basilicata borderlands. Finish in Puglia (3): Bari's old town, Alberobello's trulli, Ostuni's white hill, Lecce's baroque.
Why Skip the Amalfi (This Trip)
The coast is glorious and priced accordingly. The south done on its own terms — Naples, Matera, Puglia — costs half as much and feeds twice as well. Save the cliffs for the classics trip; this is the connoisseur's Mezzogiorno.
What to know before you go
Transit
- Naples–Matera needs a bus leg (or a Bari connection); Puglia's towns need regional trains or a car.
- Rent a car for the Puglia days — the towns are spread.
Budget
- About €650 for a week at planning figures, excluding flights.
Turn this guide into a trip
The trip planner opens pre-filled with Naples — adjust the dates and interests to fit your trip.
Plan around this destination
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Ready-made trips
Frequently asked questions
Is southern Italy worth a dedicated trip?
For travelers past their first Italy — yes: half the prices, twice the character, and Matera alone justifies the journey.
Matera or the Amalfi Coast?
Different trips. Matera for the cave city's gravity; the coast for the cliffs. This itinerary is the Matera one.
How much does a southern Italy week cost?
About €650 excluding flights at planning figures — half the Amalfi's tab.