The 10 Bus Day Trips in Italy Travellers Rate Highest

1.Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 262 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $18Our pick

From Stresa’s Piazza Marconi, use a shared boat service to visit three Borromean Islands in one day. See Isola Madre’s gardens, eat beside the water on Isola dei Pescatori, and tour Isola Bella’s palace and terraces. Palace admission and a small island landing fee cost extra.

“No information about the tour and the extra costs associated with the castles/palaces on each island. We really enjoyed Isolar Bella but only found out after visiting the first Island. The hop on hop off boats didn’t turn up when scheduled so waited for near an hour for pick up. My advice would be to pick an island on the day and go to it. Pay for a ticket to go there and back. We spent 3 hours at Isolar Bella which was well worth the visit.”

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2.From Taormina: Syracuse and Noto Guided Day Trip by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 101 reviews · 10 hours · from $68

Travel from Taormina by private coach to Syracuse and Noto. Guide Christy or Cristy leads the day in several languages, covering Greek ruins, Ortigia, the Cathedral, and Sicilian Baroque. Expect substantial walking, paid monument tickets, limited free time, and a long but rewarding day.

“The tour and guide was amazing and he went way out of his way to explain the history. He was very attentive and extremely efficient to keep us on track. It would have been a perfect day if it wasn’t for the weather as it rained all morning and we weren’t able to enjoy the ruins but after lunch the weather had cleared and we weren’t able able to enjoy Noto. Also the bus driver was excellent at driving.”

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3.CAPRI – DIY Day Trip Package – BoatTour, BlueGrotto,Bus&Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · from $131

Set your own pace on Capri with a boat tour around the island, a Blue Grotto stop, buses to Anacapri, a chairlift to Mount Solaro, a three-course lunch at La Giara, and a funicular back to Marina Grande. You supply the ferry and Blue Grotto rowboat fee.

“Overall great. The 2 hour boat tour was just right. Chair lift was fun with amazing views. Only thing to be aware of is the lunch is 3 courses and takes about 1-1/2 hours. If you are coming on the ferry just for the day, that takes a big chunk of time and we had very little time to check out the city centers and do any shopping.”

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4.From Livorno: Guided Day Trip to Florence and Pisa by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 49 reviews · from $182

Travel from Livorno to Florence and Pisa by air-conditioned bus, with a licensed Florence guide for the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio. You’ll also have free time in Piazza della Repubblica and visit Pisa’s Square of Miracles. Guides may include Claudia, Jakamo, Sara, or Francesco.

“Excursion worth doing. Actually, this was two treasures in one day! Both Florence and the Pisa tower. Great guide and driver. All on time. Looking back at happy memories.”

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5.Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence: Guided Round-Trip Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $70

Leave Florence at 7:00 a.m. by air-conditioned coach with a tour escort such as Marta, Sandro, or Marco. After an orientation, explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso independently, using trains or weather-dependent boats before returning from La Spezia.

“If you don’t take the full package with the Tour Guide, you get left at the train station. At the train station, we experienced a harassment from one of the other people that were on the tour a guy and his mother apparently. They didn’t have money to take the train into the towns and they were lounging towards us while we were buying our train tickets. They had asked us if they could travel with us because they didn’t know the area however we could hear them speaking Italian so they would’ve been more familiar than us when we returned. Their name wasn’t called out on the list at…”

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6.Lake Maggiore: 1-Day Boat, Bus & Cable Car Travel Pass

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 18 reviews · from $44

Use a self-guided one-day pass to circle Lake Maggiore by public ferry, bus, and Laveno cable car. Visit Santa Caterina del Sasso, stop at lake towns and islands, and choose a clockwise or counterclockwise route. Your boarding point and direction are fixed when you book.

“The tickets for the N18 bus were refused, we had to pay 22 euros to be able to take it. We kept the tickets”

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7.Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi Day Trip by Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 15 reviews · 1 day · from $90

Travel by bus from Naples to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and possibly Ravello with a multilingual guide, coastal photo stops, a Sorrento limoncello tasting, and free time in Amalfi. Guides such as Martina, Chris, Greta, Peppe, and Giovanni have earned praise for clear commentary and friendly service.

“Veľmi pekný výlet, výborný šofér a sprievodca. Ak by sa dalo dostali by 10 hviezdičiek”

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8.From Bari: Matera Day Trip with Guided Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9 reviews · 6 hours · from $65

Travel from Bari to Matera by air-conditioned GT bus, then spend about 90 minutes walking through the Sassi with a local guide. Use the five-language audio guide and digital maps before enjoying free time for views, shops, photos, and a typical Apulian biscotti.

“Wyjazd i powrót na czas, przewodnik opowiedział kluczowe informacje o mieście, a pieszo przeszliśmy sporą trasę, mimo kilku punktów, które mogłyby być opcjonalne (odwiedzenie trzech sklepów pod hasłem degustacji lokalnych produktów) wycieczka interesująca, zdecydowanie za krótka. Warto rozważyć zwiedzenie Matery na cały dzień jeśli ktoś chce dodatkowo przejść się mostem tybetańskim i zwiedzić jaskinie. Nam trochę zabrakło czasu na te atrakcje, które były poza oferowanym pakietem. Polecam jeśli ktoś ma pół dnia i chce szybko zwiedzić miasto.”

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9.Pompeii Positano Amalfi Day Trip from Rome by Car, No Bus!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $243Top rated

You’ll leave Rome early with local host Zahir or a member of his team, ride in a luxury car or van, tour Pompeii with official guide Romano, then visit Amalfi and Positano for coastal views, photos, lunch, shopping, or summer swimming.

“Our driver Zahir was excellent. There was nothing that can be improved. His knowledge is amazing and learnt so much more about all where he drove us. He was very attentive and there wasn't anything we asked help for, did he once say he couldn't do it. I would recommend him very highly..”

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10.Polignano, Alberobello & Locorotondo : Day Trip w/ Coach, from Bari

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $78

Travel from Bari by air-conditioned coach to Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, and Locorotondo. You get about two hours in each town, digital maps, audio guides in five languages, and free time to explore. No guide rides along, so this suits independent visitors who value transport and flexibility.

“Lousy, there was no guide, the driver didn't speak English, and the charge was high. I don't recommend it.”

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