How Much Does a Trip to Italy Really Cost? A Real Breakdown for Couples

You want to go to Italy, but you also want to know how much you are going to spend? Jon and I had the most incredible 10 days in Italy spending time between Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. We traveled with another couple, which definitely helped reduce some costs. We had a personal budget for the trip, but there were areas we knew we would prioritized: private experiences, comfort, and good food. Here’s a detailed look at what we spent, what was worth the splurge, and where you can save if you're planning a similar adventure.

The Roman Colosseum was a stop on our Golf Cart Tour

Chocolate and Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato in Sorrento

Food : $180/day

The hotels that we stayed all had a complimentary breakfast. The spread included all of the usual American breakfast items along with Italian specialities like meats, cheese, pastries and coffee. We selected nice, high quality restaurants for lunch and dinner. There were only a couple times that we grabbed something quick for lunch. At meals we enjoy alcohol and often split a bottle of wine. Daily gelato stops were a must—sometimes twice a day!

How to do it cheaper? You could easily save by grabbing a simple sandwich or pizza for lunch or dinner. Sweets and desserts can add up, but are so good. Keep in mind that mom and pop won’t necessarily mean less expensive. One of the easiest ways to keep your daily food budget in check is by booking a hotel that includes breakfast.

Tours & Experiences

We put a big emphasis on guided tours because we wanted to truly understand what we were seeing. Our private golf cart tour of Rome, a guided walk through Pompeii, a sunset boat ride around Capri, and a full-day Amalfi Coast driver were all highlights—and absolutely worth the money.

Cooking Mama Cooking Class Sorrento, Italy

We did participate in group tours (20ish people) for the Vatican and Colosseum, which were fine but a little lack lustre. When we return, we’ll likely skip the Colosseum and book a smaller or private tour of the Vatican to see more of it. Our group food tour was a lot of fun, but at $150 per person, I’m not sure I’ll spend that much again.

We also rented chairs at a beach club ($100 for two chairs, and another $280 in food and drink). Our cooking class was $150 a person. While it was a good time, we had expected to make pasta and ended up making gnocchi which was still tasty, just not what we thought.

How to do it cheaper? You could opt to do more group tours… but we also didn’t enjoy those as much. For some places I would purchase skip the line unguided tickets and download an audio tour. I will note the ticket companies/guides were extremely helpful ensuring we were using the right entrances. Beach club prices vary widely, so with a little research, you could easily find a more affordable option.
Splitting private tours with another couple will also save a lot of money. A private boat/car is often the same price regardless if there are 2 or 4 people.

Transportation: $85/day

Ubers and taxis were common in Rome, and taxis mostly in Sorrento and Amalfi. A local guide recommended using Uber in Rome so we’d always know the price up front. We took high speed trains between Rome to Naples, and choosing upgraded seats. We hired a private driver from Naples train station to Sorrento and back - something we’d absolutely do again. We’d heard horror stories about the regional train between Naples and Sorrento, and we were glad we avoided it. Ferries from Sorrento to Capri and Sorrento to Positano were cost efficient way to travel.

How to do it cheaper? We walked A LOT, but we could have walked more. We also value our time and legs - we are no longer 20 years old. There is public transportation in most towns, but they are often crowded and where a lot of pickpocketed happens. If you’re confident about your travel schedule, book train tickets in advance for better rates. We paid more than necessary by buying ours just a week out. Also, skipping first-class train seats would save a little. Sharing rides with another couple also helped us significantly—splitting a $25 cab ride means it’s only $12.50 per family, which really adds up over the course of a trip.

Hotels

We’re loyal Hilton members, so we stayed at the Hilton DoubleTree Monti in Rome and the Hilton Sorrento Palace . Both hotels were booked entirely on points, which saved us a lot. The Rome hotel would have cost about $480 a night, and the Sorrento hotel around $530.

If you're not using points, you can still find excellent hotels in Rome and Sorrento for closer to $300 a night. In general, I think Hilton properties tend to be on the pricier side in Italy. I’d be cautious about booking an Airbnb unless you’ve done thorough research—many require LOTS of steps and lack parking. Ask friends for recommendations if you're leaning that way. One thing we really appreciated about our hotels was the concierge service—they were great at making dinner reservations and calling taxis for us. And if you are using hotel points, book as far in advance as possible. Our last two nights in Rome cost significantly more points than the five nights in Sorrento simply because we booked them closer to our arrival.

How to do it cheaper? Points are definitely the cheapest way, but there are lots of amazing hotels that you can get around $300 a night in both Rome and Sorrento. Overall, the Hilton brand seems a little more expensive in Italy. I would caution doing an airbnb unless you had done a lot of research. They often require a LOT of steps and have no parking. Ask friends that have done airbnbs for their recommendation. I loved that both our hotels were great at making dinner reservations and calling for taxis. If you are using points still book as far advance as possible. Our two nights in Rome at the end of the trip were more points than the five days in Sorrento because we booked them much closer to our arrival date.

Shopping

Surprisingly we didn’t do a ton of shopping. We picked up a few keepsakes—a Christmas ornament, perfume, and some limoncello. I did make a planned luxury handbag purchase, which was a splurge, but one I had budgeted for.

How to do it cheaper? Many will tout how much money you’ll save by buying luxury goodies in Europe. While it is true, you are still spending a lot of money. Give yourself a budget before you go, and know that this is something that you do not have to purchase. I often think we get caught up in seeing what influencers on Instagram are dropping all of their money on.

Also, don’t feel like you need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your trip. Every piece of clothing I brought on my trip were pieces I have worn previously and are still staples in my wardrobe. Booking an appointment with House of Colour to learn your best colors and the kinds of clothing that fit your style is the best investment you can make. Doing carry on only for my husband and I was a breeze since we both know our colors and clothing personalities, and saved on paying for checked bags.

Conclusion

Our Italy trip was unforgettable, and while we spent more in some areas, those were the things that mattered most to us. I will say how I see most influencers doing Italy wasn’t in our budget, and I felt like we had a fairly good budget. Italy offers something for every budget—you just have to be intentional with your choices. I am not sure we would have saved anything by using a travel agent since we were using points for hotels and flights, but might be something you look into. Don’t. hesitate to reach out with your questions. You can see all the highlights from our trip on Instagram: Italy 1, Italy 2, and Italy Q&A.