Category: Italy

I’ve been traveling to Italy for the better part of two decades, and I still get a little giddy on the descent into Rome or Venice. No country I know rewards a visit quite like this one — the food, the art, the light on a Tuscan hillside at six in the evening. But Italy can also overwhelm a first-timer, which is exactly why I wrote this Italy travel guide: to help you choose well, skip the tourist traps, and build a trip you’ll be talking about for years. Consider this the honest, opinionated advice I’d give a friend over an Aperol spritz.

Whether it’s your first trip or your fifth, my goal here is the same — to show you where to go, when, for how long, and how to travel like someone who’s done it many times rather than someone the touts can smell coming.

The short version: where to go in Italy

For a first trip, the unbeatable trio is Rome, Florence and Venice — the “big three,” all linked by fast trains and coverable in about ten days. Add Tuscany for countryside, the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre for coastline, and Naples and Pompeii for raw, real Italy. Got two weeks? Stretch south to Sicily or Puglia, or north to Lake Como and the Dolomites. Go in May, June, September or October, travel by train, and don’t try to see it all in one trip.

That’s the headline. Below, I break Italy down region by region, then cover the practical stuff that actually makes a trip work — when to go, how many days, getting around, what to eat, what it costs, and the local quirks (church dress codes, restricted driving zones, the dreaded coperto) that trip up first-timers. For the wider continent, this guide is part of our hub on the best places to visit in Europe.

Italy at a glance

A quick cheat sheet to the regions and cities in this guide — what each is best for, how long to give it, and when to go. Shortlist from here, then read on.

Destination	Best for	Nights	Best time
Rome	Ancient history, food, first-timers	3–4	Apr–May, Oct
Florence	Renaissance art, walkable charm	2–3	May, Sep–Oct
Venice	Canals, romance, the unique factor	2	May, Sep–Oct
Tuscany	Hill towns, wine, scenery	2–4	May–Jun, Sep
Cinque Terre	Coastal hiking, colourful villages	1–2	Jun, Sep
Amalfi Coast & Capri	Cliffside glamour, summer	3–4	Jun, Sep
Naples & Pompeii	Real Italy, pizza, ruins	2–3	Apr–May, Oct
Lake Como	Lakeside elegance, day trips from Milan	2	May–Sep
Sicily	Food, Greek temples, Etna	5–7	May, Sep–Oct
Puglia	Whitewashed towns, beaches, value	4–6	Jun, Sep
The Dolomites	Mountains, hiking, skiing	3–5	Jul–Sep, Jan–Mar

The big three: Rome, Florence and Venice

If this is your first time in Italy, start here. These three cities deliver the greatest hits — ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence, impossible Venice — and they’re stitched together by fast, frequent trains, so you can move between them in a couple of hours without ever touching a car.

Rome — three thousand years, all at once

Rome is my desert-island Italian city. Nowhere else does history pile up so casually: you’ll come out of a coffee bar and nearly bump into the Pantheon, a 1,900-year-old temple still roofed by the largest unreinforced concrete dome on earth. Give the Colosseum and Roman Forum a morning (book a timed ticket — the walk-up queue is punishing), spend an afternoon in Vatican City, and save the evenings for the streets: a coin in the Trevi Fountain after dark, a plate of cacio e pepe in Trastevere, a passeggiata around Piazza Navona. Three days is the minimum; four is better. Our deep dive on things to do in Rome has the detail.

Florence — the Renaissance in a walkable package

Florence is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes and dense enough to keep you busy for days. This is where the Renaissance was born, and the art is staggering: Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia, Botticelli in the Uffizi, and a candy-striped Duomo whose dome you can still climb for a view over the terracotta rooftops. Book the big galleries ahead — lines without a reservation routinely top two hours. Then climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the city and the Arno. Two days here, then spill into the countryside. See things to do in Florence.

Venice — go anyway, and go smart

People love to call Venice overrated; they just visited it wrong. The day-trippers who see a heaving St Mark’s Square at noon and leave by five never meet the real city. Stay at least two nights, and once the cruise crowds vanish you get silent canals, footsteps echoing off stone, and a hush that feels almost sacred. Get deliberately lost in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro, ride the number 1 vaporetto down the Grand Canal at dusk, and eat cicchetti standing at a bar. Our guide to things to do in Venice shows you how to do it right.

Beyond the big three: Italy’s best regions

The cities are the headline act, but Italy’s soul is in its regions — the countryside, the coastlines, the south. Here’s where I’d go once (or instead of) ticking off Rome, Florence and Venice.

Tuscany — the Italy of your imagination

Rent a car and disappear into Tuscany and you’ll find the landscape that sells a thousand postcards: cypress-lined roads, golden hills, hilltop towns like Siena and the tower-studded San Gimignano, and the wine country of Chianti and the Val d’Orcia. A tasting at a family winery costs less than a cocktail back home, and the food — bistecca alla fiorentina, wild boar ragù, pecorino — is some of Italy’s best. Base yourself in a farmhouse agriturismo for two to four nights. Our Tuscany travel guide maps the towns and the wine roads.

Cinque Terre — five villages on the cliffs

The Cinque Terre — five fishing villages strung along the Ligurian cliffs and linked by hiking trails and a little train — is one of Italy’s most photogenic corners. Stay overnight in Vernazza or Monterosso to enjoy the villages once the day crowds thin, hike at least one stretch of the coastal path, and eat pesto (it was invented in this region) and fresh anchovies. One or two nights is plenty. See our Cinque Terre travel guide.

The Amalfi Coast & Capri — cliffside glamour

The Amalfi Coast is the screensaver made real: Positano tumbling down its cliff in pastel layers, lemon groves, and a corniche road so dramatic it’s almost stressful to drive (take the ferry between towns instead). Base in Positano or quieter Praiano, ride the boat to glamorous Capri for the Blue Grotto, and don’t miss Ravello’s gardens high above the sea. It’s busiest — and best — in June and September. Our Amalfi Coast guide has the logistics.

Naples & Pompeii — Italy at full volume

Gritty, chaotic, intensely alive, Naples is the antidote to polished Tuscany — and the home of the world’s best pizza, full stop (eat a margherita where it was invented and you’ll understand). It’s also the base for two of Italy’s great day trips: Pompeii, the Roman city frozen by Vesuvius in AD 79, and the volcano itself. Some travelers find Naples too much; I find it the most honest, rewarding city in the south. Give it two or three days.

Lake Como & the north

Up against the Alps, Lake Como is Italy at its most glossy — villa gardens, ferries gliding between Bellagio and Varenna, and mountains dropping straight into deep blue water. It’s an easy, beautiful add-on to Milan (Italy’s fashion-and-design capital, worth a day for the Duomo and Leonardo’s Last Supper). Our Lake Como travel guide covers the prettiest towns.

Sicily, Puglia & the Dolomites — for your second trip

Once you’ve done the classics, Italy really opens up. Sicily is a country unto itself — Greek temples better preserved than those in Greece, a smoking Mount Etna, baroque towns, and arguably Italy’s most exciting food; give it a week (our Sicily travel guide has routes). Puglia, the sun-baked heel, brings whitewashed towns, the conical trulli of Alberobello, beaches and brilliant value. And the Dolomites in the northeast are, to my eye, the most beautiful mountains in Europe — pale limestone spires glowing rose-gold at sunset, turquoise lakes, and a Germanic-Italian culture where you hike all morning and eat handmade pasta and apple strudel at a mountain hut. For more ideas, see the best places to visit in Italy.

Italy’s best islands and beaches

Italy has more than 7,500 kilometres of coastline, and once you’ve had your fill of art and ruins, its islands and beaches are a glorious second act. Sardinia has the most jaw-dropping water — think Caribbean-blue bays like those of the Costa Smeralda and the wild south coast. Sicily blends beaches with culture and the volcanic Aeolian Islands offshore. Capri and the Amalfi Coast deliver glamour and drama in equal measure, while Puglia and the region of Calabria in the deep south offer warm seas and serious value, with far fewer foreign tourists. For a calmer, classic beach holiday, the Tuscan and Ligurian coasts and the islands of the Bay of Naples (Ischia and Procida) are lovely. The sweet spot for all of them is June or September — July and August bring Italian holidaymakers and peak prices. Our roundup of the best beaches and islands in Europe puts Italy’s coastline in context.

Italy with more time: a two-week add-on

If you can stretch the classic ten days to two weeks, you have wonderful options — and the second week is where Italy gets under your skin, because you finally slow down. The easiest add-on is heading south: from Rome, run down to Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast for four or five days of pizza, ruins and cliffside sun. Alternatively, pick one big region and go deep — a week in Sicily (Palermo, the temples of Agrigento, baroque Noto, and Etna), a week in Puglia (Bari, the trulli of Alberobello, the beaches of the Salento), or a slower loop through Tuscany and Umbria‘s hill towns. The mistake to avoid is using the extra week to add three more cities; use it to add depth, not distance. However you build it, you’ll leave already planning your return — Italy has a way of doing that. The best places to visit in Italy guide has more regional ideas.

The best time to visit Italy

Timing makes or breaks an Italian trip. Get it right and you’ll have warm days, manageable crowds and lower prices; get it wrong and you’ll be queuing in 38°C heat behind a tour group. Here’s how I think about the calendar.

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots — my favourite months are May and September. The weather is warm but not punishing, the countryside is green or gold, and the worst crowds haven’t arrived (or have just left). Summer (July–August) is for the coast and the mountains, not the cities: Rome, Florence and Naples are sweltering and packed, and in August many Italians close up shop and head to the beach themselves. Winter (November–March) is quiet and cheap, with the big sights almost to yourself — bring layers, accept some rain, and you’ll have Venice and Rome at their most atmospheric (plus ski season in the Dolomites). For the wider picture, see our guides to the best time to visit Italy and the best time to visit Europe.

How many days do you need in Italy?

Italy is bigger and slower than first-timers expect, so resist the urge to cram. As a rule, give Rome three to four days, Florence and Venice two each, and a full day for any countryside or coastal base. Here’s how the classic trip lengths shake out:

• One week: Pick two cities, done properly — Rome + Florence (with a Tuscany day), or Rome + the Amalfi Coast. Don’t try to add Venice too; you’ll spend the trip on trains.
• Ten days: The sweet spot, and the classic first-timer route — Rome (3–4) → Florence (2–3, with a Tuscany day) → Venice (2). Fly into Rome and out of Venice (an “open-jaw” ticket) so you never backtrack. Our 10-day Italy itinerary lays it out day by day.
• Two weeks: Add the south (Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast) or a slower Tuscany leg, or swing to one big extra region like Sicily or Puglia.
• Three weeks: A proper grand tour — north to south, cities and countryside and coast — but even then, fewer bases and longer stays beat a frantic checklist.

For multi-country trips that fold Italy into a wider route, see our Europe itinerary guide — a Rome-to-Athens or Venice-to-the-Alps run works beautifully.

Getting around Italy

Here’s the good news: Italy is one of the easiest countries in Europe to travel without a car, and for a city-focused first trip I’d actively recommend going car-free.

• Trains are the heart of it. The high-speed network (Frecciarossa and Italo) links Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and Naples at up to 300 km/h, city centre to city centre — Rome to Florence is about 90 minutes. Book a week or two ahead for the cheapest fares, and you’ll wonder why anyone drives. Our train travel in Europe guide explains passes and booking.
• Rent a car only for the countryside — Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily, the Dolomites — where it unlocks the hill towns and back roads. But keep it out of city centres: Italy’s ZTL (limited traffic) zones are camera-enforced and the fines arrive by mail months later, often several at once. Park outside the walls and walk in.
• Ferries connect the Amalfi Coast towns, Capri, the Sicilian islands and Venice’s lagoon — often the most scenic and least stressful way to move.

For the bigger picture on flights, buses and car hire, see our getting around Europe guide.

Italian food: how to eat well (and like a local)

Let’s be honest — for many of us, the food is the trip. The single most important thing to know is that Italian cooking is fiercely regional: you eat differently in every part of the country, and that’s the joy of it. Have cacio e pepe, carbonara and supplì in Rome; bistecca and ribollita in Tuscany; cicchetti and seafood in Venice; pizza and ragù in Naples; arancini and cannoli in Sicily. A few rules I live by: eat where the menu is short and seasonal (and in the local language), never order a cappuccino after lunch (it’s a breakfast drink, and ordering one marks you as a tourist), stand at the bar for your morning espresso like the locals, and save room for gelato from a place that hides its tubs under metal lids (a sign it’s made fresh, not pumped full of air). Our guide to Italian food by region is a delicious rabbit hole, and the wider European food guide sets it in context.

Where to stay and what it costs

Italy runs the full range from backpacker to blow-out, and where you go matters as much as how you travel. In the big cities, staying in the historic centre costs more but saves you hours of commuting — worth it on a short trip. In the countryside, an agriturismo (farm stay) is often the best value and the most memorable. As a rough daily budget per person, excluding flights:

• Budget (€80–120/day): hostels or simple B&Bs, pizza and market food, trains, mostly free sights and churches.
• Mid-range (€150–250/day): a comfortable 3-star or a nice apartment, restaurant dinners, the odd guided tour. This is where most travelers land.
• Luxury (€350+/day): boutique hotels, fine dining, a driver in Tuscany or a cliffside room on the Amalfi Coast.

You’ll save most by travelling in shoulder season, booking trains and headline sights early, and staying in fewer places for longer. For more, see our guides to Europe on a budget and where to stay in Europe.

Practical tips for visiting Italy

The little things that smooth out an Italian trip — most of which I learned the hard way.

• Dress for churches. Major churches (St Peter’s, the Duomos) enforce a modest dress code: shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Pack a light scarf or wrap and you’ll never be turned away at the door. Our Europe packing list has the rest.
• Expect the coperto. Most restaurants add a small per-person cover charge (€1.50–3) for bread and service. It’s normal and printed on the menu — not a scam. Tipping beyond that is modest: round up, or leave a euro or two for good service.
• Validate regional train tickets. For slow regional trains with open tickets, stamp the ticket in the green-and-white machine on the platform before boarding, or risk a fine. High-speed tickets are tied to a specific train, so no stamping needed.
• Beware the ZTL. As above — never drive into a historic centre’s restricted zone. The fines are real and they stack up.
• Mind your bag in crowds. Pickpocketing, not violent crime, is the main risk, especially on Rome’s metro and around big sights. A zipped bag worn in front is all it takes. See our Europe travel tips.
• Learn a few words. Buongiorno, per favore, grazie — a little Italian goes a long way and is warmly received.
• Entry rules. Italy is in the Schengen Area, so most visitors can come visa-free for up to 90 days; from late 2026 you’ll likely need an ETIAS authorization. Check the current rules in our Schengen & ETIAS guide before you book.

Italy by traveler type

The “best” Italy changes depending on who you are. Here’s how I’d steer different travelers.

For first-timers

Stick to the big three plus one region (Rome–Florence–Venice with a Tuscany day), travel by train, and go in spring or autumn. It’s the classic for a reason: maximum payoff, minimum friction.

For couples and honeymooners

It’s hard to beat the Italian coast and lakes for romance — the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, Capri, or a Venice–Tuscany pairing. Our Europe honeymoon guide has more romantic ideas.

For families

Kids do well with variety: gladiator history in Rome, gondolas and mask-making in Venice, pizza in Naples, and beach time on the coast. Keep sightseeing days short and build in gelato breaks. See our Europe with kids guide.

For food and wine lovers

Build the trip around the table — Bologna (Italy’s pasta capital), Tuscany and Piedmont for wine, Naples for pizza, Sicily for the most surprising food of all.

For beach lovers

Italy’s coastlines are world-class: Sardinia for turquoise water, Puglia for value, the Amalfi Coast for drama, Sicily for variety. Our roundup of the best beaches in Europe ranks the best.

A perfect 10-day Italy itinerary at a glance

To make all this concrete, here’s the classic first-timer route I recommend most — an “open-jaw” trip that flies into Rome and out of Venice so you never double back. It’s relaxed enough to actually enjoy, not endure.

• Days 1–3 — Rome. Ancient Rome (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine), Vatican City, and the centro storico (Pantheon, Trevi, Piazza Navona), with evenings in Trastevere.
• Day 4 — Rome to Florence. Morning train (90 minutes); afternoon easing into Florence with a sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Days 5–6 — Florence & Tuscany. The Uffizi and Accademia, the Duomo climb, then a full day in the Tuscan countryside (Siena and San Gimignano, or a Chianti wine tour).
• Day 7 — Florence to Venice. Train north (about two hours); afternoon getting pleasantly lost in Venice’s quieter districts.
• Days 8–9 — Venice. St Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace early, the Grand Canal by vaporetto, cicchetti crawls, and a day to the lagoon islands (Murano and Burano).
• Day 10 — Depart Venice. A last espresso and a slow morning before flying home.

Want it spelled out hour by hour, with where to eat and stay? Our dedicated 10-day Italy itinerary does exactly that, and the Europe itinerary guide shows how to fold Italy into a longer trip.

The best day trips in Italy

If you’re basing yourself in one city, Italy rewards the day trip. A few of my favourites:

• From Rome: Pompeii and Naples (high-speed train, an hour each way), or the gardens and fountains of Tivoli.
• From Florence: Siena and San Gimignano, Pisa and Lucca, or a Chianti wine tour.
• From Venice: the colourful lagoon islands of Burano and Murano, or romantic Verona.
• From Naples: Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius, or the island of Capri by ferry.
• From Milan: Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, both under an hour by train.

Money, language and staying connected

A few last practicalities. Money: Italy uses the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small cafés, markets and that coperto — and always choose to be charged in euros, not your home currency, to dodge poor exchange rates. Language: English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but a handful of Italian words (buongiorno, per favore, grazie, il conto) opens doors and earns smiles. Connectivity: a travel eSIM is the cheapest, easiest way to stay online — handy for train apps, maps and restaurant bookings. For the full pre-trip checklist, our Europe travel tips and packing list have you covered.

Common mistakes to avoid in Italy

Sidestep these and your trip will run smoother than most first-timers’:

• Trying to see too much. The classic error. Five cities in a week means you’ll remember train stations, not Italy. Pick fewer places and stay longer — it’s the single best decision you can make.
• Driving into cities. Between ZTL fines, impossible parking and pedestrianised centres, a car in Rome or Florence is pure stress. Take the train and rent a car only for the countryside.
• Eating at the tourist traps. Restaurants with photo menus, a tout outside, and a view of the main monument exist to part visitors from their money. Walk five minutes into a residential street and eat where the locals do.
• Skipping reservations. The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, Florence’s Uffizi and Accademia, and Milan’s Last Supper all sell out — sometimes weeks ahead. Book timed tickets the moment your dates are set.
• Visiting in peak August. The cities are hottest, most crowded and most expensive, and many family-run places close. Aim for May–June or September–October.
• Underestimating the south. First-timers often stop at Rome. Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia and Sicily are where some of Italy’s best food and warmest welcomes are.

Unmissable Italian experiences

Beyond ticking off cities, these are the moments I’d build a trip around — the ones that still give me goosebumps:

• The Colosseum on a night tour, when the floodlights come on and you walk the arena floor with the crowds gone.
• A sunset aperitivo — Aperol spritz and snacks as the day cools — in a piazza, watching a town be itself.
• Drifting the Grand Canal on the number 1 vaporetto at dusk in Venice, palazzi glowing gold.
• A Tuscan wine tasting at a family vineyard, with the Val d’Orcia rolling away below.
• Pizza in Naples, eaten where it was invented, blistered and folded in your hand.
• Standing in Pompeii with Vesuvius behind you, a whole Roman city frozen mid-life.
• Hiking the Cinque Terre between villages, the Ligurian Sea sparkling far below.

Italy region by region: a quick reference

Still narrowing it down? Here’s what each part of Italy does best.

• Rome & Lazio — ancient history and the perfect first-timer base.
• Tuscany — Renaissance art, hill towns and wine country.
• Veneto — Venice, plus romantic Verona and the Prosecco hills.
• Campania — Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Capri.
• Liguria — the Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera.
• Lombardy — Milan and the northern lakes (Como, Garda, Maggiore).
• Sicily — Greek temples, Etna, baroque towns and standout food.
• Puglia — whitewashed towns, trulli, beaches and great value.
• Trentino–Alto Adige — the Dolomites, hiking and skiing.
• Emilia-Romagna — Bologna and Italy’s culinary heartland.

For where Italy sits among the continent’s highlights, circle back to our best places to visit in Europe hub, or pair Italy with neighbouring Greece or Spain for an unforgettable Mediterranean trip.

Italy travel guide: frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Italy?

For a first trip, ten days is the sweet spot — enough for the big three (Rome, Florence, Venice) plus a taste of Tuscany. A week works if you stick to two cities; two weeks lets you add the south or a region like Sicily. Whatever you do, don’t try to see it all at once.

What is the best time of year to visit Italy?

May, June, September and October are ideal — warm weather, lighter crowds and lower prices than peak summer. Avoid July and August in the cities, when it’s hot, crowded and expensive. Winter is quiet and cheap, with the big sights nearly empty, though some coastal spots wind down.

What are the best places to visit in Italy for the first time?

Start with Rome, Florence and Venice — the “big three” — linked by fast trains and coverable in about ten days. Add Tuscany for countryside and the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre for coastline. It’s the classic route because it delivers Italy’s greatest hits with the least hassle.

Is Italy expensive to visit?

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Expect roughly €150–250 a day per person for a comfortable mid-range trip, less if you favour the south, eat at local trattorias and travel in shoulder season. The biggest costs are city-centre hotels in peak summer; book early and travel off-peak to save.

Do you need a car in Italy?

No — for a city-focused trip, trains are faster and far less stressful. Rent a car only to explore the countryside (Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily, the Dolomites), and keep it out of historic centres, where camera-enforced ZTL zones issue fines by mail. Park outside the walls and walk in.

What is the best way to travel between Italy’s cities?

High-speed trains (Frecciarossa and Italo). They connect Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and Naples city-centre to city-centre at up to 300 km/h — Rome to Florence in about 90 minutes. Book a week or two ahead for the cheapest fares, and you’ll never miss having a car.

Is Italy safe for tourists?

Yes, Italy is very safe. The main risk is petty theft — pickpocketing on crowded metros and around major sights, especially in Rome and Naples. Keep your bag zipped and worn in front, stay aware in crowds, and you’re very unlikely to have any trouble.

Do I need a visa to visit Italy?

Visitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can currently visit Italy (part of the Schengen Area) visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. From late 2026, you’ll likely need an ETIAS travel authorization — a quick online form and small fee. Always confirm current rules before booking.

What should I not do in Italy?

Don’t order a cappuccino after lunch, don’t drive into restricted city centres, don’t expect dinner before 7:30pm, and don’t wear shorts into major churches. None are deal-breakers, but getting them right marks you as a savvy traveler rather than an obvious tourist.

What is the most beautiful part of Italy?

It’s subjective, but the Amalfi Coast, the Dolomites, Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia, Venice and the Cinque Terre top most lists — and mine. For sheer drama it’s the Amalfi Coast or the Dolomites; for classic Italian landscape, Tuscany; for the unique factor, Venice.

Is Italy good for solo travelers?

Very. Italy is safe, sociable and easy to navigate by train, and its cafe-and-piazza culture makes eating alone feel natural rather than awkward. Cities like Florence, Rome and Bologna are especially welcoming for solo trips, with walkable centres, lively food scenes and plenty of group tours and cooking classes if you want company.

What is the cheapest part of Italy to visit?

The south offers the best value — Naples, Puglia, Calabria and much of Sicily are noticeably cheaper than Rome, Florence, Venice or the northern lakes, with great food and warm welcomes for less. Travelling in shoulder season (spring or autumn) and eating at local trattorias stretches any budget further.

Final thoughts: planning your trip to Italy

If there’s one thread running through this whole guide, it’s this: slow down. Italy isn’t a country you conquer in a checklist — it’s one you sink into, over long lunches and unhurried evenings, until a place starts to feel a little bit like yours. The travelers I know who come home truly besotted aren’t the ones who saw the most; they’re the ones who lingered, who let an afternoon dissolve into an aimless wander and a second espresso.

So pick your two or three regions, give them the time they deserve, and leave room for the unplanned discoveries that always turn out to be the highlight. When you’re ready to turn this into a booking, our 10-day Italy itinerary, best-time-to-visit guide and the wider best places to visit in Europe hub are here to help. Buon viaggio — I’m a little envious of your first plate of pasta in a sun-warmed piazza.

Last updated: June 2026. Prices, opening hours and entry requirements change — always check current official sources (the Italian national tourism board and the EU’s official ETIAS pages) before you travel.

Photo credits

All images are used under their respective free licenses, with thanks to the photographers.

• The Colosseum in Rome, the classic opening to any Italy travel guide — Photo: Wilfredor (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy — Photo: Didier Descouens (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• The cliffside town of Positano on Italy’s Amalfi Coast — Photo: Wiki.Bianco / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• Cypress trees and hills in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany — Photo: Teseo / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• The colourful cliffside village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre, Italy — Photo: WikiLucas00 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• Lake Como and the village of Varenna in northern Italy — Photo: Ray in Manila / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• St Peter’s Basilica and Square in Vatican City, Rome — Photo: Wouter Engler / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• The ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius behind, Italy — Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• Florence and its Duomo in Tuscany, Italy — Photo: Max_Ryazanov / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source