Italy by campervan – Tuscany, Amalfi Coast & Dolce Vita…
With the Campervan tour through Italy – from Tuscany via the Amalfi Coast to Calabria. Italy was the second leg of our journey. Van Life Europe Road Trips and delighted us with a mix of world-class food, dramatic coastlines, and a chaotically charming lifestyle. In this Italy Road Trip Travelogue I share the best stops, campsites and honest tips for van life in Italy.
Tuscany by campervan – cypress trees, vineyards & medieval villages
The Tuscany It's the epitome of Italian romance – and with a van, you'll experience it more intensely than any hotel tourist. The rolling landscape with its iconic cypress avenues, vineyards, and olive groves is a dream from a drone. Our highlights: San Gimignano (the „Manhattan of the Middle Ages“ with its family towers), Siena (Piazza del Campo!) and the Chianti wine region, where you can taste wines directly at the winemaker's.
Parking tip: In Tuscany, there are many "agriturismos" that offer camping – farms with pitches, often with a pool and wine tasting. €15-25 per night; it doesn't get much more authentic than that.
Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre – Italy's most dramatic coastlines
The Amalfi Coast The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world – and one of the most challenging to drive in a van. The narrow SS163 winds its way between cliffs and sea, with oncoming buses that barely fit through the tunnels. Honest recommendation: If your van is wider than 2 meters, park it in Salerno and take the bus. The coast is worth the hassle – but not with a wide vehicle.
Positano, Amalfi and Ravello They are breathtakingly beautiful, but also extremely touristy and expensive (espresso: €5, parking: €30/hour). My tip: The lesser-known ones Cilento Coast South of the Amalfi Coast, similarly spectacular scenery is offered at a fraction of the price and with fewer tourists.
Practical tips for campers in Italy
ZTL zones: Many Italian city centers have restricted traffic zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato). Driving into one of these zones results in an automatic fine (80-100 €) triggered by a camera. Google Maps doesn't always warn you! Tip: The Park4Night app shows safe parking spaces outside the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone).
Cost: Italy is more affordable than its reputation suggests (except for Amalfi and Cinque Terre). Pizza: €6-10, campsites: €20-35/night, diesel: ~€1.70/L. Highway tolls: ~€10/100km.
Free standing: In southern Italy (Puglia, Calabria, Sicily) the rules are much more relaxed than in the north. On the Amalfi and Cinque Terre coasts: forget it, they're strictly controlled.
FAQ – Campervan road trip through Italy
Is it possible to travel to the Amalfi Coast with a campervan?
Technically yes, but not recommended for vehicles over 2m wide. The SS163 is extremely narrow. Better to park in Salerno and take the SITA bus.
Where are the best campsites in Italy?
Tuscany: Agriturismos. Coast: official "Aree di Sosta" (motorhome parking areas). Southern Italy: more freedom, use Park4Night.
What does van life cost per day in Italy?
Realistically, €50-80 for 2 people (camping + food + diesel). Significantly cheaper than hotel trips.
After Italy, the journey continued to Southern France. Back to Van Life Europe Overview. | Request Collaboration
Our first summer destination on this trip - and also the country with the smallest and narrowest streets. 😂 With our 7-meter Sprinter, we had a hard time in some cities/villages and actually got our first scratches on the car. 🙄
As we crossed the border, we were curious if we would face a control due to Corona, as it was described in the media everywhere - but there was no one there. 😂 So we also entered Italy without any problems. However, in everyday life, you could still very well perceive Corona, as some Italians even wear an FFP2 mask alone in the forest. Of course, they don't give up wearing it even when cycling or jogging, no matter how steep the hill is. 😆
What did we do first in Italy? Of course, eat pizza! 🥰 Then we left the beautiful Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como behind and drove to the charming city of Verona, where we first familiarized ourselves with Italian aperitif culture. 😅🥂
Deserted: Venice
With grey skies and our umbrella, we took the train to Venice - cars are completely prohibited here, except for residents. Then we took the famous water taxi to the Rialto Bridge - one of the main landmarks of Venice. We were lucky with the weather, and the rain only briefly set in as we ate our pizza for lunch - together with my family, who were also visiting Venice at the same time.
Right after lunch, the rain stopped, and we visited the Piazza San Marco, which was completely deserted thanks to the weather and Corona - Venice has certainly not seen this few people in decades. 😁
The best pizza of our trip: Milan
Since we didn't really like our parking spot in Milan, right in the middle of a large parking lot, we only stayed for one night in Milan. Nevertheless, we visited the entire city center, ate the best pizza of our trip, and ended the evening at the endlessly long bar promenade with a cocktail. Milan is really one of the most beautiful cities in Italy - especially in terms of all the possible activities!
Along the Mediterranean coast
The next morning, we set off early, right in the middle of rush hour, heading towards southern Italy. Specifically, we went to Genoa, with a brief overnight stop in the village of Crocefieschi, where we did a beautiful via ferrata and had to seek refuge in the refuge from the approaching thunderstorm. 😳😬 In Genoa, we stayed on a mountain with a fantastic view over the entire city. From there, we continued towards France, with stops in numerous small, charming fishing villages.
The last villages before the border
Halfway to the French border, we tested the outdoor suitability of our Sprinter again, on the way to the Degli Artisti via ferrata. With a length of 7 meters, the potholes and bumps on the small forest path were quite a challenge, but we made it to our overnight spot without touching the ground - would we have made it up with "normal street tires"? 🤔
But as soon as we arrived, we set off again for the via ferrata, which was about a 30-minute walk away. Halfway up, we suddenly could only see 10 meters ahead of us because we were in the middle of the clouds. The highlight was the 50-meter-long suspension bridge, which we couldn't even see halfway across. After a 90-minute descent over scree, we were finally back at the camper and could put our feet up.
Our last stop in Italy was the beautiful city of Imperia, which has an impressive harbor and a beautiful campsite right by the sea. We set off on the e-scooter to explore the city center and had delicious all-you-can-eat sushi for lunch. 😍In the evening, we watched the dreamy sunset over the harbor."
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