Need knowledgeable travelers to suggest 7 day Itinerary for southern Italy

The obvious question is "What interests you?" Why does Southern Italy appeal to you at the moment, and what do you consider to be Southern Italy? (some consider Rome to be in the South, some not).

I am very fond of Southern Italy - I would consider it to be the area around Naples and below, as well as the Puglia region. I also love Sicily, but you only have 7 days. My interests are mostly historical - so the remains of the Greek cities (primarily Paestum) and Roman ruins from the AD79 Vesuvius eruption (Pompeii, Herculanium etc) are among my favourite sites. Others might be more interested in the Scenery, The Amalfi coast, the Islands in the Bay of Naples - particularly Capri. Many people don't like Naples itself - I find it fascinating - it is a very vibrant city.

Without knowing your tastes, it is difficult to make any recommendations.

At the risk of sounding snarky, we are not travel agents. You are asking us to write a travel plan without any idea of what you like or don't like or size of budget, etc. This site works best if you lay out a schedule and we can make comments. Seven days is quite short given that you will need to deal with jet lag for a day or so. With seven days, I would pick one city and use it as a base since you really don't have a lot of time to waste changing locations or traveling between locations. Finally, what do you mean by "southern Italy"? Naples ? Amalfi coast ? Or more of the boot ? That covers a lot of ground. Where do you intend to fly into? You have to help us. We are not mind readers.

Another thought -- check https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/south-italy. It is 13 days but it might give you some ideas.

You have to give us more to go on. For one thing, "southern Italy" could mean anything south of Rome. Were you thinking Puglia (seven days would be tight) or Naples/Amalfi Coast (ditto, but doable). When you say you are outdoorsy, do you want that on the trip also? The Amalfi Coast is a dream for hikers. Or, perhaps you meant the deep south of Calabria, which is my dream for an outdoorsy trip one day, full of parks!

Is 7 days your entire trip? If so, I would try to find at least a few more days so you could have at least 10 days unless there is a very particular reason you are confined. We did once do a 7 day trip when our daughter was studying abroad in Spain. We had to have coverage for her younger brothers and that was what we could persuade a family member could do. We had four nights in Granada where she was living, three nights in Sevilla, and last night in Madrid where we were flying out of.

I know you are talking of Italy instead. I mention what we did because we had a good trip despite its extreme brevity because we did not move around a lot. I would suggest you do the same and take into account how long travel takes. This isn’t the trip to go somewhere that takes a long time to get to.

We had a 10 day trip to Amalfi coast flying in and out of Naples to save time. It would have been cheaper to have gone in and out of Rome but we felt like it would waste precious time.

Sorry to ask for just some general beginning guidance on planning a trip to southern Italy. Did not realize I would receive such hateful mean responses from just a general question. I have deleted many. I specifically stated. "beginning planning" and that we are active outdoors people, however many criticized my post and picked it apart. Such negativity instead of encouragement. Lesson learned, don't ask anything on this forum.

I'm sorry you have completely misread our intent, which is to help. We do tend to pick apart questions, and we do love specifics, as vague questions are not very fruitful (as you have seen). Please know that our asking you questions is a sign of interest and eagerness to help. I assure you if you participate in this conversation, you will get much out of it.
I recall my own vague question on a forum getting picked apart many years ago, and I ended up getting so much out of that exchange!

You obviously have a different definition of "hateful" to me - all I saw was requests from people trying to help you for more details on your travel style.

You deleted lots of them you say - could you let me know how you did that - I was unaware it was possible.

Wow -- we try to help and this is the thanks we get? I don't see any response that is mean or hateful. How about responding to the questions we asked so that we can give more meaningful responses? Generally discussions work better when it is two ways. Again, we really do not know what you want to do. Help us !!!

Let me ask you a few questions that will help us help you.

Have you been to Italy before? You mention that you are thinking of southern Italy but are open to other areas. Knowing where you have been will help.

Are you conisdering renting a car or using public transit? This is important as taking public transit will take longer than having your own car?

Southern Italy encompasses a big area. Does the 7 days you mention include travel days? If it does, that cuts down on what to recommend.

For most travelers, the most popular areas of "southern" Italy are on the west side of Italy--Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Pompei and Capri--among others.

On the Eastern side of "southern" Italy you have Matera, Alberobello, Lecce and other areas.

I don't recommed further south than those as there is not much to see. (Except Sicily which is wonderful.)

If this is your first trip to Italy, I would suggest waiting to visit Southern Italy and stick to the north as the northern part of Italy is the mountains and has much better hiking as well as art, music, food, etc. (You'll feel at home.)

OK mom2co3, this is my suggestion based on the highlight of my sister-in-law's and my 21-day trip to southern Italy and Venice which included the RS South of Italy tour. We rented a car in Naples to drive south to visit grandparents-in-law's village from which they emigrated in 1909. It's Mongrassano in Calabria, so small that it doesn't have a hotel. We stayed overnight in San Marco Argentano at B&B del Borgo. The people were lovely and friendly but didn't speak English and we don't speak Italian. We could have easily spent several days exploring the region around Cosenza for a taste of pre-hyper-tourist Italy but we didn't have time and needed to catch a train from Naples to Venice. Lovely green valleys, small family farms, derelict houses in small villages and history that goes back to the Albanians settling in the area.

Not to be snide, but you can see we each will have our own favorites and opinions. We don't know what you want to see, what your interests are, what your experience is. I can only give you my best reminiscences. Matera with its cave dwellings was unusual and interesting, as were the tulli houses in Alberobello. Amalfi Coast was so-so, felt too touristy. The history of Pompeii engulfed us as we walked through with our guide. I hadn't traveled in 25 years and SIL never so I did a lot of research myself and asked a lot of clarification questions from the forum.

Edit: I see that in 2018 you posted an itinerary for a Germany trip and in 2019 additional post for days in Paris. Did you get what you consider much more favorable critiques? Your input really does help everyone answer your questions.

Whoa!
I’ve been following this thread all day and don’t recall what I would consider any “hateful” posts. if you were able to delete posts then do share how you accomplished that, I don’t think anyone here realized that was an option.

You asked “knowledgeable travelers” advice on visiting “southern Italy”.
Everyone who posts here is a knowledgeable traveler for the most part and no one here is a mind reader. “Southern Italy” could be anywhere south of Rome.
You’ve received lots of advice on various locations that would be considered southern Italy anyway. The suggestions of course are "general" because your question has no specifics other than a hopeful time of travel and a vague reference to a rather large area.

I’ve recently been to Amalfi area which I would consider southern Italy and could probably offer a nice 7 day itinerary but I won’t bother now.

Lesson learned, don't ask anything on this forum.

You have participated here since 2018; do not understand your comment.

And we are hoping to travel next spring, 2022.

Spring runs from the 3rd week of March to the 3rd week of June. Lots of variability in the weather in that time span and what areas might be 'appropriate' for outdoor activity in 'Spring'

Certainly do not see any 'hateful' comments; just questions trying to better define/understand your goal, so useful suggestions could be made.

Seems a long way to go for so few days.

I’m editing my original post because you said seven days and to do all that I suggested you need more time.
I would spend a minimum of three nights in Palermo and take a taxi to Monreale Cathedral for a couple hours. Palermo is an old city and the architecture is beyond spectacular. I would still take a train to Cefalú for the day.
I would then work my way to Siracusa via train that’ll require one connection at Messina Centrale (6h 15m). I would sleep in Siracusa the remainder of the time. From Siracusa you can take day trips to Ragusa (2h 15m by train) and Catania (1h 15m).

We are in our mid-50's and very active. Love sight seeing, not really shoppers. From Colorado so we do a lot of outdoor activities.

We too are from Colorado mid 50s also have been all over Italy including all of southern Italy.

Please define what is "southern Italy"- is it the heel and toe of the boot or Sicily? Some people consider southern Italy to be anywhere around Naples and south including the Amalfi coast. Be prepared to rent a car and drive, that is the best way to maximize your trip.

7 days is pretty short for 'southern Italy'.
7 days could work for Naples/Amalfi and a little bit south to the ruins
7 days could work for Pulia
7 days could work for Sicily but really just focusing on 2 areas, Palermo and then one other.

I would say to decide what is southern italy to you Sicily, Naples/Amalfi or Pulia? Another 'southern italy' area would be the toe of the boot across from Sicily but I would not recommend that area unless you've seen a lot of Italy already.

Answer some of these questions for more help

I highly recommend that you visit the Italy part of the Explore Europe section of this Rick Steves website. Here's the link: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

I use the Explore Europe section when I'm beginning my planning for a trip and find it very helpful whether I have a guidebook or not. I learn a lot, especially about the stuff I don’t know that I don’t know. ;-)

The very short amount of time you said you have will severely limit your options. The Italy information linked above can help you focus on your specific interests and prioritize what's most important to you so that you make the best use of that time.

Planning any trip is an iterative process that will change as you begin to solidify your dates and location(s). It would be great if you could find a location where you could rent an apartment and use it as a hub from which you could do or see the things that are your priorities, once you know what those are.

Assuming Day 7 isn't the day you have to fly home....
For ferries from Sorrento> Amalfi>Salerno, this would need to be late enough in the spring for the ferries to be fully running along the coast. Otherwise, it would involve SITA buses or private drivers. Ferries do run to Capri all year, weather permitting.

Day 1/Arrival Day - Fly into Naples; transfer to Sorrento via Curreri airport shuttle bus or private driver
https://www.curreriviaggi.it/en/naples-airport-shuttle
https://www.sorrentoinsider.com

Day 2 - Pompeii via Circumvesuviana commuter train
http://pompeiisites.org/en/

Day 3 - Ferry to Capri, hike Capri; skip the Blue Grotto
https://www.capri.com

Day 4 - Ferry to Amalfi
https://www.amalficoast.com

Day 5 - Amalfi/Ravello

Day 6 - afternoon bus or ferry to Salerno, train to Naples

Day 7 - Explore Naples, including National Archaeological Museum (treasures of Pompeii are here):
https://mannapoli.it/en/home-english/

Day 8 - fly home from Naples

Puzzled about the "many" responses you say that you've deleted?: We are not able to delete other posters' responses, only our own. I'm also puzzled about "hateful" responses as all I'm seeing are well-meaning attempts to help. Sometimes we need more information than what has been given to drill down to best advice for the individual. A good travel agent would ask the same questions.
(Edited a typo)

Hello mom2co3 ... 7 days is like 6 full days .. to short for italy or any european country .. best airfares we've found usually is Milan .. but ours coming up very soon was $525 ... open jaw flying into venice and back home from Rome! ... we look at it as any extra days after say 7 ... 14 ... 21 ... depending on your etc. Makes extra days cost say using apartments and cook your own food basically...would be like $150 - $200 ... so if you stay an extra week that's only $1000 - $1500 ... (We find a 3 week is our comfort zone as a week flys by ... and 2 weeks does also ... this trip will be 6 towns & 31 days ) we have it down to a science nowadays ... one could fly into Venice for a few days then train to Verona? Bolzano?end up on lake Garda (way bigger and better then lake Como in our opinion one could spend a week there! ) youtube these towns ... huge 5 day wine fest in Bardolino on lake Garda end of September ... Italy keeps pulling us back ... Sicily is the least vaccinated so I'd skip it this year ... we research and fine tune our next trip as soon as we get back home ... we never know if it'll be our last trip to places in Europe ... enjoy the people & culture tremendously... so little time in ones lifetime .... GO

Very kindly, usedpartnc, but the OP is wanting to travel Southern Italy.
Milan, Verona, Lake Garda, Venice, Bolzano... all of those are in Northern Italy.
And maybe they just don't have another week or another $1000 - $1500 to spend.

LOL, I do NOT cook on vacation. Great way to ruin a good time, IMHO.
(Not to mention that I sorta suck at it.)