Arrive in Rome and check into an Andrew Harper-recommended hotel, perhaps the legendary Hassler Roma or the elegant Hotel Eden. Start exploring Rome, visiting the Tridente neighborhood, home to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the magnificent churches of the Piazza del Popolo and high-end fashion boutiques.

On your first full day in Rome, see some of the best of the Eternal City, including the Colosseum, the Forum and the Capitoline Museums. A guide can really bring the history of the Colosseum and the confusing ruins of the Forum to vivid life.

The following day, wander the ancient heart of the city, viewing the Pantheon, the Piazza Navona and the Campo di Fiori neighborhood. If kids are in tow, have your travel advisor arrange a fun pizza-making class in a local pizzeria. In the afternoon, enjoy the remarkable art treasures in the Borghese Gallery.

Devote today to ecclesiastical Rome and explore the mysteries of the Vatican. It is possible to explore the Vatican Necropolis directly below St. Peter’s Basilica, which contains the tomb of St. Peter. Visitor numbers are limited, however. Your travel advisor can help you arrange that along with a reserved entry to the museums and Sistine Chapel, essential for avoiding the extra-long lines.

If you have been to the Vatican, there are numerous other attractions in Rome, and with fewer visitors. Other less-obvious sites include Ara Pacis, a jewel of a temple honoring Emperor Augustus; the Baths of Diocletian, completed in A.D. 306; Domus Aurea, one of Nero’s largest palaces; and Palazzo Altemps, a former cardinal’s residence, full of ancient sculptures. Read more on how to avoid the crowds in Rome.

Depart Rome with a driver (or rental car, if you’re brave) and head to the Amalfi Coast, 90 minutes south of Naples. Here the jagged Lattari Mountains plunge into the Mediterranean, providing some of the world's most dramatic scenery.

Spend the day meandering the vertiginous lanes of Positano. We recommend the Via Positanesi d’America, a spectacular coastal path that begins at the right of the Spiaggia Grande. (It was named for the town’s 19th-century emigrants to the United States, whose support helped Positano survive the ordeal of World War II.) If you have more time, tour a limoncello distillery, which can be a refreshing way to spend part of an afternoon. Or seek out the region’s wines; some of our favorites are the crisp, fruity whites of Marisa Cuomo.

Leave early and take a day trip to Pompeii, arguably the most enthralling ancient Roman ruins. With a private driver, it will take about an hour from Positano or an hour and 40 minutes from Amalfi. Break for lunch in the nearby Michelin-starred Il Principe.

Head by ferry or private motor launch to Capri, an island renowned for its beauty since Roman times. Capri’s most famous attraction is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave in which sunlight, shining through an underwater cavity, creates a mysterious radiance. It’s possible to visit on a day trip, but it’s much more fun to stay overnight. Settle into J.K. Place Capri.

Shop the charming boutiques in the town of Capri, walking past elegant estates and lemon trees to Villa Jovis, the dramatic ruins of the home of Emperor Tiberius, who was so taken with Capri's charms that, from A.D. 27 to 37, he ran the Roman Empire from here.

Head up to the commune of Anacapri, located high in the hills to the west and a perfectly tranquil contrast to chic Capri. A chairlift will whisk you to the top of Mount Solaro for unparalleled views of the island.

Return to the mainland and take residence in the cliff-top aerie of Ravello, staying either in the Hotel Caruso. Take the afternoon to enjoy the gardens of the Villa Rufolo and the Villa Cimbrone.

Make a day trip to evocative Paestum, where three impressively preserved Greek temples stand in a meadow (formerly a city), still surrounded by ancient defensive walls. Alternatively, relax in Ravello. Besides its natural beauty, there is a vibrant cultural scene.

Head north but bypass the city center of Rome in favor of the coast. Check into La Posta Vecchia, a remarkable 17th-century villa lavishly restored by J. Paul Getty, 45 minutes north of Rome.

Visit the haunting pre-Roman necropolis of nearby Cerveteri, where the tombs resemble Etruscan homes. The National Museum of Cerveteri, inside the 16th-century Ruspoli Castle, houses artifacts like urns and statues.

Make your way back to Rome’s airport and depart on your flight home.