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The best of Italian trips unlocked for you

Experience Italy differently. Enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences and uncover local secrets when our friends across the country open their doors to you. Here’s just a sample of the rich experiences you can expect.

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“Uffizi Gallery in Florence is a world class museum with an incredible renaissance art collection. Enjoy a guided tour with a Local Specialist to make the experience more memorable, especially when in front of Botticelli’s stunning ‘Birth of Venus’ painting”

Pino, Travel Director

See Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel

One of the most important structures of the Catholic faith, the Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel is a must-see on a tour of Italy. Though the chapel walls have witnessed centuries of worship, it’s the renaissance ceiling paintings of Michelangelo that will leave you in awe.

Visit the glamorous Isle of Capri

Enjoy the classic Italian summer in Italy’s picture-perfect Gulf of Naples. Famed for its crystal grottos, dramatic coastlines and endless glamour, our trips to Italy are complete with a day of freedom spent under a striped umbrella, watching sailboats pass by.

Cruise your way through Venice

The charm found in the canals of Venice is nothing short of irresistible. Admire gothic palaces and postcard bridges whilst adrift in a gondola, gaining an understanding of life in a city that floats. Exploring a city by foot will never be the same after a trip to Venice.

Journey to the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii

An unfathomable history lesson is found in the archaeological ruins of Pompeii. Buried and preserved by the ash of a volcano eruption in the year 79, in this Italian town you will discover the progressive life of early Roman times as you walk within the parameters of an open-air time capsule of life on Earth.

Go shopping in Italy's fashion capital Milan

Armani, Gucci, Prada and Versace. These are some of the prestigious fashion brands that call the Italian city of Milan home. In between yearning through boutiques and department stores, stop to sample the city’s delicacies like breaded veal cutlet and ossobuco.

Our top 5 things to do in Italy

It's the moments of quiet stillness that take your breath away on a Trafalgar tour through Italy. Sitting in the calm halls of the Vatican. Floating on the canals of Venice. Standing beside the ruins of Pompeii.

Uffizi Gallery

The Tuscan capital is home to Uffizi Gallery, where the brushworks of art’s true masters are found. Names like Raffaello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo dress Uffizi’s grand pink walls, whilst internal courtyards leading to the Arno River will show you the building’s architectural brilliance.

Vatican Museums

A collection of Christian artwork that spans centuries and stirs the soul is found in Rome’s Vatican Museums. From the intricate ceiling by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel to the detailed Pope portraits from the 16th century to today, you will be lost for words once inside this blessed museum complex.

Doge's Palace

Home to the leader of Venice from its opening in 1340, Doge’s Palace summarizes the sparkle of this city. An opulent example of Venetian Gothic architecture and home to numerous historical works, this museum is a must when you visit Venice.

Best museums in Italy

The epicenter of the Catholic faith and the birthplace of art’s most renowned masters. Our guided tours of Italy will take you to the many museums found here, whether in the Sistine Chapel, by the canals of Venice or in the grand galleries of Tuscany.

The authentic carbonara experience will take place in Rome, covered in salty Pecorino Romano cheese. A simple dish inspiring heart-warming meal times, this pasta will connect you with Italy’s rich culinary customs - an impressive evolution from its supposed heritage as a coal-miner’s meal.

Pollo alla Cacciatora

Literally translating to ‘hunter’ in Italian, cacciatore offers an appreciation for Italy’s meals of days gone by. Typically a preparation of rabbit or chicken, it’s the simmering tomato stew that makes this dish so mouthwatering. Satisfy a genuine hunger and consume with hand-ripped bread.

Italy tours are best served with an oversized slice of tiramisu. Cementing this country's obsession with espresso, this cake of layered biscuits soaked in coffee is the perfect after hours pick-me-up before an evening stroll through the charming streets.

Best food in Italy

A date with Italian food will likely start and end with a slice of pizza. But it’s the menu items that we share with you in between that will take your appreciation to new heights; think cacciatore and Carbonara with a slice of tiramisu in between.

What to pack for Italy

A classic linen outfit

The Italians are famous for their equal parts glamorous and effortless dress sense. Look the part with a few ensembles featuring classic linens in navy and white.

A blank journal

With the wealth of inspiration tucked into every corner of Italy, you might find yourself compelled to write down notes or memories. At the very least to remember the traditional Italian recipes you learn.

With such a large expanse of space to explore, on some days, long journeys are unavoidable. The scenery will provide plenty of visual entertainment, while headphones can be used to listen to some local music or enjoy podcasts about Italian history, culture and politics when you're not enjoying the storytelling from your Travel Director.

A small blanket

When exploring the soul-stirring setting of Tuscany, a picnic may call. Come prepared with a small blanket to cover in wine and cheese.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

A classic memoir that brought the romance of Tuscany to the world, there’s no better time to read this book than when venturing through the country yourself.

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Introducing Italy

About italy.

• Images of Italy
• History, language & culture
• Weather & geography
• Doing business & staying in touch

Plan your trip

• Travel to Italy
• Where to stay

While you’re there

• Things to see & do
• Shopping & nightlife
• Food & drink
• Getting around

Before you go

• Passport & visa
• Public Holidays
• Money & duty free

Book your flights

• Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport
• Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport
• Cagliari Elmas Airport
• Catania Fontanarossa Airport
• Florence Airport
• Genova (Genoa) Cristoforo Colombo Airport
• Marche Airport (Ancona Falconara Airport)
• Milan Linate Airport
• Milan Malpensa Airport
• Naples International Airport
• Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
• Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport
• Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei
• Rome Ciampino Airport
• Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport
• Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport
• Turin Caselle Airport
• Venice Marco Polo Airport
• Verona Villafranca Airport

Ski Resorts

• Bardonecchia
• Sauze d’Oulx
• Aeolian Islands beaches
• Alghero beaches
• Amalfi beaches
• Bardolino beaches
• Capri beaches
• Cefalù Beach
• Garda beaches
• Isle of Ischia beaches
• Portofino and Paraggi Beach
• Rimini beaches
• Sorrento beaches
• Taormina beaches

Cruise Locations

Italy travel guide.

Travelling around Italy remains one of those rare experiences in life – like a perfect spring day or the power of first love – that can never be overrated. In few places do history, art, fashion, food and la dolce vita (“the good life”) intermingle so effortlessly. In Italy you'll find sunny isles, glacial lakes and fiery volcanoes, rolling vineyards and urban landscapes harbouring more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country on Earth. Few places offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return.

The artistic and architectural treasures of Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples draw visitors to them like moths to a flame. Not content with Romans conquering most of the known world, the Venetians dispatched Marco Polo to uncharted lands off the map, while Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo kick-started the Renaissance in Western art and architecture.

Look around at all the splendid palaces, paintings, churches and monuments and wonder at the centuries of hard graft and the unswerving devotion to traditional techniques. Like the local art, wine is also designed to elevate your spirits. From the neatly-banded stone terraces of the Cinque Terre, which snake from sea level to terrifying precipices, to the blousy hillsides of Chianti, the riverine plain of the Po valley and the volcanic slopes of Etna, Italian wines are lovingly made to complement the carefully-sourced regional cuisine on your plate.

Much like its food, this country is an endless feast of experiences. No matter how much you gorge yourself, you’ll always feel as though you're still on the first course. Do you go skiing in the Dolomites, or cycling in wine country? Do you dive the sun-split waters of Sardinia, climb Aeolian volcanoes or stalk market stalls in Naples? The choice is dazzling and bewildering. So take the advice of the locals. Slow down, sit back, tuck in that napkin and get ready to begin.

301,340 sq km (116,348 sq miles).

59,801,004 (UN estimate 2016).

201 per sq km.

President Sergio Mattarella since 2015.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since 2022.

Travel Advice

This travel advice page also covers the Vatican City.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all of the advice in this guide and and any specific travel advice that applies to you:  

• women travellers   
• disabled travellers   
• LGBT+ travellers

Follow FCDO travel on, Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities, and expenses in an emergency.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Italy set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how Italy’s entry requirements apply to you, contact Italy’s embassy, consulates in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Italy.

Public spaces and travel within Italy

If you are visiting a hospital intensive care ward or care home, you must wear a FFP2 mask.

Passport validity requirements

To travel to Italy, you must follow Schengen area passport requirements . 

To enter Italy (and all Schengen countries) your passport must: 

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive. Passports issued after 1 October 2018 are now valid for only 10 years, but for passports issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added if you renewed a passport early  
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave  

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. 

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including Italy) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to Italy and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Italian government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you may need with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Italian Consulates in London, Manchester or Edinburgh before booking an appointment .

If you are travelling to Italy for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in Italy with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

British citizens who cannot return to the UK before the expiry of their visa or permit, or the end of their visa-free limit should contact their local immigration office (‘questura’) .

Checks at border control 

Temporary border checks have been introduced at Italy’s border with Slovenia, allow extra time for crossing the land border. Be ready to show your passport or residency card if you are asked to do so by the border police.

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

If you’re a visitor, your passport must be stamped when you enter or leave the Schengen area (which includes Italy). Border guards will use passport stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for stays in the Schengen area. If your passport was not stamped, border guards will presume you have overstayed the visa-free limit.  

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.  

Read about passport stamping if you live in Italy . 

At Italian border control, you may need to: 

• show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if visiting your own property (for example, a second home) 
• show proof of insurance for your trip – check FCDO ’s travel insurance guidance 
• show a return or onward ticket 
• prove that you have enough money for your stay. The minimum amount required depends on your accommodation 
• follow procedures if you are hosting a guest at your property in Italy

Registering with the authorities 

Unless you are staying in a hotel or B&B, if you are entering from a Schengen area country (for example, France) you must declare your presence (‘dichiarazione di presenza’) to the local immigration authority (‘questura’) within 8 days of arriving. The ‘questura’ will provide a form to complete. 

You can find more information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Italian police force websites.

Accommodation and those aged 17 and under

Under Italian law, if you are aged 17 and under you cannot check into hotels or holiday accommodation without an accompanying adult.

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and vaccination certificates you may need on TravelHealthPro’s Italy guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Italy. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Italy

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries . There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food, and special food or pet feed required for medical reasons.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on  staying safe abroad  and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out  how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Italy

Terrorist attacks in Italy cannot be ruled out.

Events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories 

Italian authorities have increased security around some Jewish community sites due to events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Stay aware of your surroundings, stay away from demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities.

Political demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur with little or no warning in cities. Avoid any protests, political gatherings, or marches.

Crime levels are generally low but there are higher levels of petty crime (particularly bag snatching and pickpocketing) in the big city centres, such as Rome and Milan. Thieves can use a variety of methods to distract you.

Public transport

Take care on public transport and in crowded areas in city centres including main stations and particularly in and around Termini station in Rome, where incidents of street muggings have been reported.

Be particularly careful with your belongings on trains to and from airports and cruise ship ports in Italy (especially Fiumicino airport), as well as on the Circumvesuviana train between Naples and Sorrento, and when unloading your baggage from trains and coaches.

Theft from cars

Robberies from parked cars have been reported, in Rome, particularly the Colosseum area, Ostia, Milan and Pisa. Coastal areas and towns have been targeted as well as motorway service stations. Always lock your vehicle, never leave valuables in cars and avoid leaving luggage in cars for any length of time. Thieves may use a variety of methods to distract you or encourage you to stop your car, including asking for help or directions or pointing out a fictional fault with your car.

Use a hotel safe for valuables where possible.

Be drink aware

Drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. Be careful about taking drinks from strangers or leaving your drinks unattended. Victims of spiked drinks have been robbed and sometimes assaulted.

Laws and cultural differences

Personal id.

By law, you must always be able to show some form of identification. In most cases a photocopy of the data page of your passport should be enough, but you may also be asked for a second form of photo ID. The police will normally ask for your full passport if you are stopped while driving.

Tickets on public transport must be validated in a ticket machine before you start a journey. Officials patrol public transport and will issue an on the spot fine of 100 to 500 euros (reduced to 50 euros if paid immediately) if you don’t hold a validated ticket.

Tourist tax

Many major cities in Italy impose a small tax on tourists. The tax is paid at your hotel and is usually not included in any pre-paid arrangements or package deal. The rate of tax varies from city to city and can depend on the star rating of the hotel. Hotels often ask for payment in cash. Make sure you get a receipt. For more information, check with the local tourist information office.

If you are visiting Venice, you may need to pay an access fee. 

Visit Venice town hall for information on the dates access fees will be charged, exemptions and how to make a payment.

Public offences

Some Italian towns and cities have specific laws, which you may be fined if you break. For example, there may be laws to prevent you from:

• dropping litter
• sitting on monument steps
• eating and drinking next to main churches, historic monuments and public buildings
• defacing historic monuments

It’s also an offence to enter or bathe in public fountains in many towns and cities, including Florence and Rome. A fine of up to 10,000 euros can be imposed for urinating in a public place.

On the island of Capri, you must not use or bring onto the island any disposable plastic objects such as bags, cutlery, plates, cups, food packaging, trays and straws. If you do, you can be fined up to 500 euros.

Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities. It is illegal to buy items from unlicensed street traders. If you do, you could be stopped by the local police and fined.

It’s illegal to remove sand, shells or pebbles from coastal areas in Italy. Doing so may result in large fines. It’s also forbidden to collect various species of flowers, plants and herbs from mountain and wooded areas. For more information, check with the regional authorities of the area you’re visiting.

Winter sports

If you are planning a skiing holiday, take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before you travel and familiarise yourself with local skiing laws and regulations.

You can contact the Italian State Tourist Board for advice on safety and weather conditions before you travel.

Regulations for the ski season include:

• third party liability insurance is a legal requirement and can be purchased locally with a ski pass
• you must wear a helmet if you are under 18
• you must not eat or drink on ski lifts or boarding areas
• you must not climb a slope with snowshoes unless in a case of emergency
• you must not ski under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Off-piste skiing is very dangerous. Follow all safety instructions meticulously given the dangers of avalanches in some areas and go with a qualified guide. For more information about the avalanche risk, visit the European Avalanche Warning Service website.

Check your insurance covers off-piste activity. It is a legal requirement for skiers and snowboarders to carry tracking equipment, a snow probe and a shovel if they go off-piste.

Find more information about staying safe while skiing and preparing for winter sports abroad .

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

Hiking, mountaineering and other adventure sports have specific risks.

If you’re taking part in these activities, check that the company is well- established in the industry and that you’ve arranged for your insurance to cover this specific activity.

For sports activities like skiing, potholing and mountaineering, and for sports classed as particularly dangerous (for example off-piste skiing, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding or BASE jumping), your insurance should include:

• mountain rescue services
• helicopter costs
• repatriation to your country of residence or possible transfer to neighbouring countries for treatment

Check weather forecasts and conditions and make sure you’re properly equipped for the worst-case scenario with items such as a map, compass, GPS and telecommunication equipment.

Risks are greater if you undertake any activity alone. You may want to hire a guide for expert advice. Always leave copies of your itinerary with someone.

Local travel

Only use officially licensed taxis. These will have a taxi sign on the roof and a taxi company name and number written on the side. Taxis should be called or taken from an official rank rather than hailed in the street.

Transport strikes are often called at short notice. You can find information on the Ministry of Transport website (in Italian).

Traffic can be busy, fast and chaotic, especially in the larger cities. Take care when crossing roads. Pedestrians should cross roads using a crossing. You can be fined for crossing the road if you are within 100 metres of a pedestrian crossing but do not use it. Drivers don’t always stop, even though they are required to. The green pedestrian crossing signal also allows cars to turn right onto the crossing, so cross with caution.

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Italy, see information on driving abroad and read the RAC guide .

You may also want to look at the European Commission , AA and Italian Police guides on driving in Italy.

Licences and documents

If you are visiting Italy, you can drive on a full, valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents. If you’re living in Italy, or planning to live there check the living in Italy guide for information on requirements for residents.

Driving a British car abroad

You may need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK. Since 2021, UK stickers have replaced GB stickers. Check the government guidance on displaying number plates for more information on what to do if you are driving outside the UK.

Traffic restrictions

Private and hire cars must not enter the historic centre of many Italian cities without an official pass. You can buy a pass from most car hire companies. The boundaries of historic centres are usually marked with the letters ZTL in black on a yellow background. If you pass this sign, your registration number is likely to be caught on camera and you will be fined.

There is a congestion charge for Milan city centre. For more information see the Milan Municipality website.

To reduce pollution, city authorities in Rome sometimes restrict traffic on specific days so vehicles with odd or even number plates are not allowed on the roads in the green band (fascia verde) area, which covers most of Rome. For more information, including exceptions, see the Rome Municipality website .

Extreme weather and natural disasters

For severe weather warnings, visit the European Meteorological Services website .

Forest fires

Forest fires are a risk during the extended summer months. They are highly dangerous and unpredictable. Check latest alerts and weather forecast and follow advice of local authorities if you’re considering travelling to affected areas. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas and report fires to the emergency services.

For information on what to do in the event of a forest fire, visit the Civil Protection Department website .

Heavy rainfall is common throughout Italy in winter, which can cause local flooding. Monitor local media, weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities in affected areas.

High waters are a common occurrence in Venice during the winter months and can cause flooding in parts of the city.

Earthquakes

Many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line, which means that minor tremors and earthquakes are a regular occurrence. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake .

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 118 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

For more information, read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe .

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccination recommendations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Italy guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Italy, including the Alps and the Dolomites. More information about altitude sickness is available from TravelHealthPro .

There have been cases of the mosquito-borne disease, dengue fever, in Italy. You should take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes  .

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

TravelHealthPro explains best practice when travelling with medicines .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad .

Health insurance cards

Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ) before leaving the UK. If you already have a European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ) it will still be valid as long as it remains in date.

The GHIC or EHIC entitles you to state- provided medical treatment necessary during your trip. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Italian nationals. If you don’t have your EHIC with you or you’ve lost it, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team .

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. A GHIC or EHIC does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment. Read more about what your travel insurance should cover .

You can find details of English-speaking doctors in Italy on our list of healthcare providers .

GHIC and or EHIC cover state healthcare only, not private treatment. You will be responsible for the cost of any treatment provided by a private doctor or private clinic.

Pharmacies and doctors

Unlike in the UK, you will need to go to a pharmacy to get most over-the-counter medicines. Pharmacies are widely available and are usually identified by a green cross. UK prescriptions are not accepted, though you may be able to buy an equivalent medication from the pharmacy. Alternatively, you can visit an Italian GP to obtain a local prescription. Prescription medicines are not free in Italy, but with an EHIC or GHIC , and an Italian prescription, you will pay a reduced rate.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Italy

If you need to contact the emergency services, call these numbers:

Ambulance: 118

Police: 112

You can also download the 112 Where Are U app , the official European emergency number app. It is only available in some parts of Italy.

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers , funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Italy
• dealing with a death in Italy
• being arrested in Italy
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you are affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Find more support for British nationals abroad .

Contacting FCDO

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Help abroad in an emergency

If you are abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission .

You can also contact FCDO online .

FCDO in London

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

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© Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved 2024

Italy: a first-timer’s guide

Feb 28, 2024 • 8 min read

One of the best things to do in Italy? Spend time on the water (coast, lake or canal) © Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

With its iconic monuments, timeless landscapes and irresistible food,  Italy is one of Europe’s most alluring destinations. Its historic cities promise thrilling art and architecture at every turn while its varied coastlines and Alpine heights provide a stunning outdoor playground.

In fact, the country is so packed with possibilities that it can seem almost overwhelming. Where should I go? How do I get there? How much will it cost? This planning guide tackles these questions and provides clear practical advice on how to get the most out of your first Italian trip.

When should I go to Italy?

The short answer is anytime. Spring and fall are best for sightseeing , touring and seasonal food. It’s warm without being stifling and nature is in full color. But with the glorious blue-sky weather come crowds and high-season prices in the main cities.

Summer sees cities empty as holidaymakers head to the coast. Prices skyrocket in popular areas, peaking in mid-August when beaches are packed and resorts full. Meanwhile, the festival season swings into gear with high-profile events such as Il Palio di Siena, featuring a wild bareback horse race around Siena 's Piazza del Campo , and Spoleto’s Festival dei Due Mondi , with musicians, artists and actors performing to passionate throngs.

Winter is generally quiet – except in ski resorts – and it can be wet and cold. But low season rates and empty museums make it a decent option for a city break.

How much time do I need to visit Italy?

Realistically, you’ll need at least two or three days in top cities such as Rome , Florence and Venice . That won’t give you enough time to cover everything, but it will allow you to get a feel for the place and explore some of the headline attractions.

If you’re happy to move fast, you could cover Italy’s highlights on a whistle-stop 10-day tour. That would give you a couple of days each in Venice and Florence, a day in Bologna , Pisa and Naples , and three days in Rome. Alternatively, you could focus on a particular area. For example, with a week you could explore southern Tuscany and parts of neighboring Umbria , or cut a swathe through Sicily’s baroque southeast .

Is it easy to get in and around Italy?

Italy is well served by air with flights from across the world. Major airports include Rome Fiumicino (officially Leonardo da Vinci) and Milan Malpensa , the two main intercontinental gateways, Venice Marco Polo , Pisa International (for Florence and Tuscany), Naples International  and Catania (Sicily’s busiest airport). There are also excellent rail and bus links, especially to northern Italy, and ferries to Italian ports from across the Mediterranean.

Once in Italy, you've got transport options . Trains are best between major cities and along the coasts, while buses are better for the mountains and hilly inland areas. For more remote parts you’ll really need your own wheels. Most major cities have decent public transport, though you can often cover their historic centers on foot.

Top things to do in Italy

Tour rome’s greatest hits.

First port of call for many travelers is Rome, Italy’s charismatic capital. You’ll never be able to cover all of its monuments and masterpieces, but there are some you won’t want to miss. The Colosseum and Pantheon are obvious highlights, along with the Roman Forum and Palatino . Then there’s the Vatican where you’ll find St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican Museums ). And, of course, you’ll want to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure you return to the Eternal City.

For a taste of authentic Roman cuisine, try a slice of pizza from Forno Roscioli or a pasta carbonara at Flavio al Velavevodetto in the Testaccio neighborhood.

Marvel at masterpieces in Florence

One and a half hours north of Rome by train, Florence is the second of Italy’s ‘big three’ (Venice completes the trio). Visitors have been rhapsodizing about the city for centuries and still today it thrills with its Renaissance palazzi (palaces), frescoed churches and artworks such as Michelangelo's David at the Galleria dell'Accademia , Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Galleria degli Uffizi , and Brunelleschi’s red dome atop the landmark Duomo . Art apart, there are markets and boutiques to explore and Negroni cocktails to be sampled, including at the historic Caffè Rivoire .

With more time, you could add a day-trip to Siena or a tour of the Chianti wine country .

Get lost in Venice’s backstreets

As soon as you set foot in Venice you know it’s special. And confusing. To get your bearings take vaporetto (water bus) No 1 along the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco where you’ll find several landmark sights. Chief among these are the Basilica di San Marco and the Gothic Palazzo Ducale , former residence of the ruling Doge. Elsewhere, you can catch modern art at the world-class Peggy Guggenheim Collection and browse colorful produce at the centuries-old Rialto Market .

To fuel your wanderings, Venice is famous for its cicchetti (bar snacks). A top spot for these is the canal-side Bracaro ae Bricoe bar in the Cannaregio sestiere (neighborhood).

Feast on pizza, art and street life in Naples

With Mt Vesuvius brooding on the horizon, Naples is sprawling, loud, sometimes edgy and often magnificent. Its Dickensian backstreets are a joy to explore and its regal palaces showcase world-class collections of Greco-Roman antiquities and baroque art – check out the Museo Nazionale Archeologico and Cappella Sansevero for a glimpse. Then, of course, there’s the city’s revered pizza, served at historic pizzerias such as Da Michele .

Beyond the city, Pompeii is an easy day trip and the Amalfi Coast is within striking distance via the sunny resort town of Sorrento .

Cruise the Italian Lakes

Ringed by brooding Alpine summits and steep wooded slopes, the Italian Lakes have been a popular holiday spot since ancient times. At Lake Maggiore , you can explore the Isole Borromee with their ornate palaces and lavish gardens, while further east you can go celeb-spotting on Lake Como , cruising around its exquisite villas and villages.

To reach the lakes you’ll often have to pass through Milan , Italy’s northern powerhouse. A day here would be enough to take in some of its signature sights: Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper , the fairy-tale Duomo , the Quadrilatero d’Oro shopping district.

My favorite thing to do in Italy

Italy’s obvious beauty and blockbuster sights abound, but what I love are its simple pleasures: a leisurely lunch in a favorite trattoria, the sight of pine trees towering over Roman ruins, a glass of prosecco on a Venetian canal-side.

I also love wandering around Rome and seeing how its life plays out against a backdrop of ancient monuments and historic palazzi . There’s always something going on and even without trying I usually come across something special, an amazing baroque fountain or a teeming market in a medieval square. The city’s streets really are an experience in themselves. I mean where else can you wait for a tram just yards from where Julius Caesar was stabbed?

How much money do I need for Italy?

Italy isn’t cheap. Accommodation rates vary enormously between places and seasons but prices are universally high in popular destinations. That said, you can still find deals if you book early and avoid peak periods. Sightseeing can also add up with top sites charging top dollar. On the plus side, eating out doesn’t have to cost the earth, especially if you stick to pizza and gelato.

Some average daily costs:

• Double room in an agriturismo (farm stay) €40-80
• B&B room €60-140
• Coffee (standing at a bar) €1.10
• Midrange meal €25-35
• Glass of wine €5-8
• Museum admission €10-20
• Public transport ticket (Rome) €1.50 for 100 minutes unlimited travel (but only one metro ride)
• High-speed train ticket Rome to Florence €55

Frequently asked questions

This is italy, so do i have to dress up all the time.

In a word, no. When sightseeing go for comfort, especially when it comes to shoes – you’ll be walking a lot and cobbled streets can be murder on the feet. Note also that major religious sights often enforce dress codes, so make sure you can cover your shoulders, torso and thighs. For going out in the evening, smart casual is the way to go.

What’s the score with tipping?

Tipping is not strictly necessary in restaurants as most places add servizio (service) to the bill. If they don’t or if you want to leave something, a few euros is fine in pizzerias and trattorias; 5% to 10% in smarter restaurants.

What’s this about not drinking a cappuccino after 11am?

Italy has a whole (unwritten) rule book on the dos and don’ts of drinking. As a foreign visitor you’ll get a pass if you order the wrong drink at the wrong time, but it helps to know that Italians regard cappuccinos as breakfast drinks, call an espresso un caffè , and drink beer with pizza.

What’s the card vs cash situation?

Businesses are legally obliged to accept digital payments but it’s always best to have some cash on you. You probably won’t have any problems but it’s not unheard of for payment machines to be mysteriously broken in smaller bars, shops, museums or restaurants. Major credit cards are widely accepted (Amex less so).

This article was first published May 2019 and updated February 2024

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A travel guide to Italy

What’s not to love about the boot-shaped Mediterranean country of Italy? Located in Southern Europe, Italy received 64 million tourists in 2019, making is the fifth most visited country in the world (after France, Spain, the USA and China). Travelers mainly visit Italy for its rich culture, world-class cuisine, passionate people, trendy fashion, ancient monuments, and picturesque villages. Besides its art treasures, Italy also features magnificent landscapes, which include spectacular coastlines, Alpine lakes and breathtaking mountains. The country is also home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. From the Italian Riviera and Grand Canal of Venice in the North to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and Pompeii ruins in the South, Italy offers something for everyone.

Get the most out of your (luxury) trip to Italy with my travel guide. Find out more about:

• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Travel requirements
• Getting around
• Inspiration, highlights, & travel tips
• Suggested itineraries
• Recommended luxury hotels (+ reviews)

BEST TIME TO VISIT – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

The best time to visit Italy are the months of May, June, and September. Compared to the peak summer months of July and August, these months offer more comfortable temperatures and there are fewer crowds (except around Easter). The country experiences four classic seasons per year, although there is a marked difference between the wetter, cooler North and the drier, warmer South. The rainiest months pretty much everywhere are usually October and November.

• Spring (April-June): temperatures start to warm up, although it’s still advisable to wear layers in case of colder spells. It’s a fantastic time to go to Italy for most travel interests and destinations. Spring makes up part of the shoulder season, lying just before the busy peak season.
• Summer (July & August): the heat can be grueling, particularly in the South. August is also when many Italians take their summer vacations, so big cities tend to be quiet (with discounted hotel prices), while beach and mountain resorts are jammed (with higher hotel prices).
• Fall (September – November): temperatures cool down gradually, although September is usually still very pleasant. Expect crisp fall leaves and some sunnier days, but plan for wet weather too. Fall carries many of the same benefits as spring, but with slightly less predictable weather.
• Winter : temperatures in the South remain mild in winter, while Northern Italy is normally wet and cold. Winter in the Italian Alps is fantastic though for skiing and snowboarding, but the ski resorts do get crowded so book early.

HOW TO GET THERE – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

Travelers wishing to visit Italy can use a bus, train, plane, or boat to get there. Most tourists arrive by plane though, often landing in Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, the country’s busiest airport. This is the preferred point of entry in Italy when you want to visit Rome, or tour the entire country. Click here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Rome.

Although Rome is the main getaway for most visitors to Italy, it’s often easier and cheaper to fly directly to/from one of the country’s other airports . It can also save you a lot of time to book a multi-city ticket, hereby arriving in one airport and leaving from another (for example fly in via Milan in the north and fly out via Naples in the south). The following airports are of interest for most tourist itineraries:

• Milan Malpenza Airport (north) is the largest international airport in the Milan metropolitan area in northern Italy (and also the main getaway to the Italian Lakes). Click  here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Milan.
• Venice Marco Polo airport (north) is the international airport of Venice. It offers flights to many European metropolitan areas as well as some partly seasonal long-haul routes to the United States, Canada, South Korea and the Middle East. Click  here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Venice.
• Naples Airport (south) is the international airport serving Naples and the Southern Italian region of Campania (which is also home to the Amalfi Coast). Click  here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Naples.
• Catania Airport (Sicily), also known as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is the main getaway to Sicily and the the sixth busiest in Italy. Click  here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Catania.

Before you buy your plane ticket to Italy, consider reading my tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket  so that you can save a few bucks.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

Requirements for entry into Italy differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest Italian embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Greece.

• Citizens of the European Union are required to present a valid ID for entry into Italy.
• Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States, and almost all non-E.U. countries are required to have a valid passport valid for at least 90 days beyond the intended date of departure.
• For stays longer than 90 days, all non-E.U. citizens will need a visa.

Make sure you read my  10 tips to plan a worry-free trip .

GETTING AROUND – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

Once in Italy, you’ll have a good choice of affordable and efficient transport options:

• To best way to get around in Italy is by car . All major car rental agencies have offices in the main cities and airports. To rent a car in Italy, you must be at least 20 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Overall, renting a car in Italy is more expensive than using the public transport (see below), unless you are traveling with a larger group. When driving in Italy , especially in the busy cities, you really do need to keep your nerve about you as the Italian style of driving is chaotic. Tip: on most motorways or autostrade (singular: autostrada) there is a toll to pay — cash or by credit card — but superstrade an other major national roads are free.
• Italy’s railway system is good and inexpensive. Owned by the state, it’s called Ferrovie dello Stato (abbreviated FS), but trains are operated under the brand name “Trenitalia”. Most trains carry first and second class. First class seats often recline, there are fewer seats per car, and there is more space for luggage. On some Premier Trains, the price of a first class ticket includes a meal. Second class accommodations are less expensive, but not as spacious, as there are more seats per car. Seat reservation is now compulsory on faster trains ( i.e. Eurostar, EuroStarCity, and InterCity). On other, slower categories of trains (Regionale, Suburbano) it is not possible to reserve seats. To book your train ticket online, visit the Trenitalia website.
• If you are travelling around Italy by train, it is more than likely you will need to use a bus at some point. Nearly all places are connected by some kind of bus service, but in remote towns and villages schedules can be sketchy and are reduced, or even non-existent, at weekends. Bus terminals (autostazione) are often conveniently located next to the train station. In smaller towns and villages, most buses pull in at the central piazza.
• Air Dolomiti
• Blue Panorama

INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS, & TRAVEL TIPS – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

There are so many reasons why you should put Italy on top of your bucket list and visit the country at least once during your lifetime. Here are just some of Italy’s highlights:

• Touring historic cities like Rome, Florence and Venice
• Hiking in the Dolomites
• Relaxing on the beaches of Sardinia and Sicily
• Exploring the Vatican
• Visiting the Amalfi Coast & Capri
• Getting lost in Tuscany’s villages and countryside
• Admiring the scenery of the Italian Lakes (e.g. Lake Como)

My following, in-depth articles may also inspire you and help you plan your holiday to Italy:

• Top 10 most beautiful villages in Italy
• Top 10 best things to see & do on the Amalfi Coast
• Tips & tricks for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel
• Tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES – ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

It’s impossible to suggest one itinerary for Italy, but based on my own frequent holidays in the country, I hereby share a schedule which is great if you want to take in the country’s highlights in three weeks:

• Recommended hotel: Aman Venice
• Recommended hotel: Forestis
• Recommended hotel: Il Sereno
• Recommended hotel: Four Seasons Florence
• Recommended hotel: Portrait Roma
• Recommended hotel: Belmond Caruso

If you have more time, I suggest you also explore the country’s islands Sardinia or Sicily.

For the planning of your own travel itinerary in Italy, I highly recommend the excellent itineraries as provided by Frommers ,  The Lonely Planet  and  Rough Guides .

RECOMMENDED LUXURY HOTELS (+ REVIEWS) 

Read my top 10 lists if you are eager to know how I rank Italy’s top hotels, based on my own experience:

• Top 10 most fabulous luxury hotels in Italy
• Top 10 most stunningly beautiful hotels on the Amalfi Coast
• Top 10 best hotels on the the Italian Lakes

Below, you find my reviews of hotels in Italy (with pros, cons, and tips to save money per hotel).

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Fearlessly Italy

The Ultimate Italy Travel Guide – A Local’s Guide To Traveling To Italy

Even though a popular tourist destination, when planning a trip to Italy , there are several things to keep in mind, especially if it’s your first time. Our extensive Italy travel guide will cover the most important steps to organizing the trip and all the useful information that you need to save in order to avoid surprises and know what to do if a problem arises.

From how to get to Italy, to how to get around to a detailed cost breakdown, this is a complete checklist that allows you to start planning right away.

Being a very tourist-friendly country, the planning process is pretty straightforward. But like for every trip out of your comfort zone, careful preparation will make things easier and smoother once you are here.

Apart from the necessary planning tips, our Italy travel guide will cover essential information including the important numbers you need to save, how to get to Italy, how to move around the country, and a detailed cost breakdown.

Table of Contents

Travel Guide To Italy – What To Know Before Planning Your Italy Trip

What do you need to know before traveling to Italy? Apart from basic facts like currency, how to apply for a visa, and deciding whether you should visit Northern Italy or Southern Italy , we suggest you start booking hotels and transportation in advance to find better prices and more places. This is particularly important if you are traveling in the high season.

With our Italy travel guide, we give you the tools to organize a trip on your own. But if you’d rather sit and relax and delegate all things logistics, below you will find also a choice of the best companies for top Italy tours , including Italy bike tours and Italy food tours , both complete packages and day trips.

Italy Facts

• Language: Italian plus German and French in some regions and local dialects that change depending on cities, towns, and small villages.
• Population: Around 60 million according to 2019 stats.
• Size: 331.338 km².
• Government: Republic, EU member, Schengen area.
• Currency: Euro.
• Borders: France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino, Vatican.
• Regions: 20.

How To Get To Italy

The most common way to reach Italy is by far by plane. All airlines fly to Italy from all over the world, both flag carriers such as British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air China, Air India, and low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air, RyanAir, EasyJet, Vueling.

Apart from the major international airports of Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s Malpensa, there are flights from other European hubs to Italian cities like Florence, Venice, Naples, Cagliari, Alghero and Olbia in Sardinia, Palermo and Catania in Sicily, Bologna and more.

Click here for the prices and to book your flight

You can reach Italy by railway both with day and night trains from several European countries such as Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland, and with a few changes and also connections to cities in Spain and Eastern Europe.

Recently there has been a revival of night trains as they are seen as a more sustainable way of traveling by many and an alternative to airplanes. After a steady decline in the past decades, now all over Europe, long-distance rides and night trains are becoming a new favorite, like the scenic ride you can enjoy on the Paris to Switzerland train .

Booking a train trip is perfect especially for slow travelers, because you can stop in several places and also enjoy cities originally not on your bucket list.

Click here to check the timetables and book your train

By ferry/cruise

You can reach Italy also by ferry from different countries such as France, Greece and Spain. In the high season, meaning summer and close to Christmas, there certainly are more ferries and cruises, but you can book trips pretty much all year long.

Some of the main ferry companies are Grimaldi, Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), and Tirrenia. You can reach Genoa from Barcelona with Grandi Navi Veloci, and from several Greek cities, you can reach Venice, Brindisi, Ancona, and Bari with companies like Blue Star Ferries, Superfast Ferries, and Fragline Ferries. Grimaldi and Tirrenia connect Italy also to Tunisi while Marmara Lines to Cesme in Turkey, Virtu Ferries connects Sicily to Malta and Jadrolinija connects Dubrovnik to Bari in Puglia, southern Italy.

Click here to check the prices and book your ferry

Best Time To Visit Italy

Any time is good to visit Italy, where to go in Europe with kids for a dream holiday. Each season has its own perks. Summer is usually hot everywhere, so you might prefer to visit the coast and be close to the sea or a lake, or maybe be in the mountains where the air is fresh. Summer is also the most crowded season, so you will always need to queue to enter major landmarks. Obviously, it’s also the season when the weather is more stable and you will need to pack fewer clothes.

Fall and Spring are lovely seasons to visit the cities as they are not too crowded nor too hot or cold. Bot Fall and Spring can give you some showers, but then the nice weather comes back. Usually, fall is rainier than April or May , which are among the best months to choose if you are booking a walking holiday in Italy .

Winter is the season for skiing, so Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige are pretty busy. However, in many Italian regions , winter is quite mild and properly dressed, you can visit big cities and small towns without problems.

How To Get An Italian Visa

Italy is in the Schengen area, so if you are doing a European road trip and were granted a visa to another Schengen country, you can also visit Italy. If you are applying just for Italy, you need to check with the Italian embassy or consulate in your country to make sure what are the requirements and what documents you need to submit.

First of all, inquire if you need a visa because not all nationalities do. To find out if you do need a visa and what procedure you need to follow, answer a few easy questions on the Italy Foreign Ministry’s website . I always recommend checking with the local consulate in your country as the time it takes to issue the visa depends a lot on where you are located and also on your nationality.

How long should you stay In Italy?

The duration of your Italy trip really depends on how many holidays you have, how much you want to visit and ultimately, also on your budget.

If it’s your first trip and you really want to visit all the major cities, I suggest no less than ten days. With ten days at your disposal, you would ideally be doing a Venice-Florence-Rome itinerary with no time for day trips. If you spend two weeks in Italy , it’s more likely that you can take some day trips from the main cities or include other places such as Naples or the Cinque Terre, also very touristy.

All a different matter is if it’s not your first time in Italy and you have already visited the main destinations. This way, you can even devote a week to a single region or a few days for a city break, especially if you live in another European country a few hours plane away.

How To Get Around Italy

If you are planning a road trip, you can rent a car wherever you land in Italy. With a navigator that is now included in many rental cars or even your Google Maps app, it will be easy to find your way. Around Italy, from a region/city to another, you will likely enter high-speed highways with a toll. Sardinia is the only region without highways. Although, the navigator will tell you when you are going to a paid highway and sometimes will also give you the option to choose a toll-free route.

Something you need to pay attention to is the ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) imposed in many cities including Rome and Florence, but also small towns like Bracciano, near Rome. If you are renting a car, make sure you pick your hotel out of the ZTL because fines are pretty high. Some day and some hours, ZTL gates are open, so you can get through, but when they are closed, only authorized vehicles can. Check out the municipality website of each city you are driving to.

To rent a car in Italy, you need to be 23 or 25, depending on the agency, and extra-EU citizens also need an international license, which you can get in your home country.

Click here to rent your car

If you’d rather not drive and visit mainly the biggest cities, traveling by train in Italy is easy and straightforward. The railway network in Italy is pretty widespread, especially going northward. Trains stop in all the big cities, most towns and also many smaller villages. If you are visiting smaller villages, chances are that you will need a car (or a tour) for the surroundings, unless you are interested in the village itself.

Traveling by train is easy also because from one city to the next, you will directly get to the historic center so ready for sightseeing. This will make it also possible to stay less in each place and still visit a lot.

Click here to check timetables and book your train

Another way to travel around Italy is by plane. You can find most cities connected through the flag carrier Alitalia but also other regional airlines such as Meridiana for Sardinia, and low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet.

While traveling by railway is easy and can take you to many cities, if you are in the north and want to reach the south, a flight is the fastest way. Or also if you want to travel to Sardinia, you can either choose the ferry or the plane.

There are several flights every day from and to Rome Fiumicino, Milano Malpensa, and Milano Linate, being among the biggest airports. But also airports like Cagliari-Elmas, Olbia-Costa Smeralda, Palermo, Venezia and Bologna are pretty busy.

The tickets are not too expensive and it applies the general rule that by booking in advance you can find better offers and promotions. Sometimes it’s also possible to find last-minute offers and plan some detours from your original itinerary or add more places to visit.

Click here to check the prices and book your flight

This is probably the cheapest option but also a slow and, sometimes, limiting one. There are several extra-urban coaches that connect different cities and different regions. For example, you can book a bus from Rome to Sicily, but it will obviously take much longer than the plane and also the train.

Sita – www.sitabus.it (soprattutto per le tratte da Veneto, Toscana, Campania, Basilicata e Puglia), Arpa – www.arpaonline.it in Abruzzo, Sais – www.saistrasporti.it in Sicilia, Busweb – www.busweb.it, Saj – www.saj.it in Calabria, Marino – www.marinobus.it in Puglia e Basilicata, Arst in Sardegna, Sena – www.sena.it in Toscana, Autostradale – www.autostradale.it in Lombardia, Busitalia in Umbria.

Click here to check timetables and book your bus

To reach the islands you can opt for the ferry instead of the plane. Some of the companies operating the ferry routes to and from Sardinia are Tirrenia, Grimaldi, GNV and Sardinia Ferries, with Tirrenia being the one that operates the whole year.

To reach Sicily, there are also Caronte & Tourist, Liberty Lines and TTTLines. You can reach Sicily from Cagliari, Civitavecchia, Naples, Salerno, Livorno, Reggio Calabria, Genoa.

The Italian ports from where you can board to reach Sardinia Civitavecchia near Rome, Livorno, Genoa, Naples and Palermo.

How Much Does A Holiday In Italy Cost? Expenses Breakdown

Your Italy trip doesn’t have to be expensive. The overall budget depends on many factors, such as the season, the places you want to visit, the type of hotel you want to book and the type of restaurants you want to try.

Ideally, a holiday in Rome would be more expensive than a trip to Sardinia. But this is not always the case. For example, if in Sardinia you are aiming at a 5-star resort in the exclusive Costa Smeralda, your holiday will certainly be more expensive than booking a guest house or an apartment in Rome, even those in the city center.

Here I’m going to do a costs breakdown for a typical trip to Italy of medium budget. Choosing a higher or lower lifestyle, will make your costs go up or down.

Travel Insurance

A very popular travel insurance is World Nomads . Their rates vary depending on the options, how long is the trip, and how many people are traveling. As per some examples, for 10 days in Italy for one 30-year-old traveler, the standard coverage costs about 75$, while for a 2-week Italy trip for a family of three with a mother, father, and 4-year-old toddler, the standard coverage will be around 275$.

Transportation from the airport

This depends on where you land and where you are going from the airport. But since one of the most common airports is Rome’s Fiumicino, you can already take note of some 50/60 euro Roman taxi fare to the city, while from Ciampino is a bit cheaper, around 30 euro. The price from the local airport to Florence is less than 25 euro, while in Milan, from Malpensa airport to the city is almost 100 euro. You can also check Uber services in different Italian cities if they are more convenient than regular taxis.

Obviously, you can opt for public transportation, either train or coach, and it would be much cheaper. From Fiumicino to Roma Termini train station is 14 euro for the direct train called Leonardo Express, while if you want to get off at other minor stations, you can take the train to Ostiense that costs 8 euro and stops in stations such as Trastevere and Ostiense. Check out Omio for timetables and tickets.

Transportation around Italy

The costs of moving around in Italy vary according to your transportation choices. As mentioned above, the cheapest way to move around is by bus, but if you are short in time, this might not be ideal.

Train travel in Italy is not too expensive especially if you plan your trip, and purchase your tickets, in advance. As an example, a train ticket from Rome to Milan is about 80 euros if you buy it a couple of weeks in advance, while it can cost you some 100 euros if you purchase it the days before the journey.

The ticket from Rome to Florence costs around 40/45 euros. Sometimes you can also find offers for 25 euros. If you are interested in taking some day trips from Florence, tickets to Pisa, Siena or Lucca are all less than 10 euros. If you are going south, a trip to Naples from Rome is about 40 euro, and from Naples to reach Pompeii is around 4 euros. Prices change also depending on the season.

Renting a car is not necessarily more expensive but obviously you also need to consider the price of petrol. Check out Discover Cars for rates and promotions.

Depending on the city and on the season, your hotel rates will vary enormously. Booking in advance can make quite the difference and also choosing an apartment instead of a hotel can be much cheaper.

Cities like Florence and Venice are usually more expensive when it comes to accommodation, while smaller towns and lesser-visited regions like Marche or Basilicata offer less costly options.

To mention some examples of what we paid during our trips, in Florence , we booked a guesthouse we didn’t particularly love some half an hour walk from the historic center in May and we paid 62 euros per night for a double room. On our two-day trip to Milan , we booked and enjoyed Delle Nazioni Milan Hotel , very close to the main train station Stazione Centrale, and we paid 122 euros for two nights in June.

In Turin , we booked an apartment for 202 euros for 4 nights and we loved our stay there. Although it wasn’t in the city center, it was easy to reach by tram and the flat was comfortable and equipped with everything we needed.

When it comes to Sardinia, on the other hand, we stayed in Mamoiada, Nuoro province, for the Mamuthones festival and a B&B cost us 80 euro per night, while in Olbia in August, we paid 120 euro per night for a double room comprehensive of baby’s cot.

Apart from the city center of the major tourist destinations, especially Venice, eating in Italy is not too expensive. In average restaurants, a starter, a side dish and the dessert range around 5 to 6 euros, the first course of pasta or rice can be prices between 10 to 18 euros, while the main course is usually between 15 and 25 euros. Wines make the price go up whether you order a bottle or just a glass.

A sandwich ( panino ) in a bar or coffee shop is usually around 2 to 5 euros, a salad maximum of 10 euros. Sometimes you can also buy one of the always more popular Buddha bowls take-away for some 10 euros and have it in your hotel room.

Gelato can cost around 2 to 4 euros depending on how many scoops and what type of cone or cup you choose. High-quality artisan gelato is not more expensive than an industrial ice-cream, but the taste and experience are much different, so make sure you know what and where to buy yours.

What To Visit In Italy

Let’s face it, this is a bit tricky because there are just too many places to visit in Italy. If you have never been, you might want to visit major cities or popular areas. Some of the places to visit in Italy if it’s your first trip:

No need for an introduction here. Italy’s capital and an unmissable destination, there are so many things to do in Rome that even if you stay two weeks only here, you won’t run out of places to see. With something for everyone, in Rome, you can spend the whole day sightseeing and never have enough of it. If you are on a classic Italy tour for first-time visitors, you can easily book a Florence to Rome train to reach the capital in an hour and a half.

Explore its ancient ruins such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Baths of Caracalla, the main sights of the Christendom in the Vatican City , famous landmarks such as Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps in the historic center, quaint neighborhoods such as Trastevere, and trendy and former working-class districts filled with colorful murals such as Ostiense and Testaccio. Obviously, don’t forget to try some of Rome’s hearty traditional dishes .

Make sure you read our article on the best places to visit near Rome if you can afford more time in the city!

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a must-see for everyone visiting Italy for the first time. Or even the second and the third. If you are into art and beauty, hardly any city can compete.

Start your Florence tour from the Santa Maria del Fiore complex and carry on to see landmarks such as Michelangelo’s David, the Uffizi Gallery, Santa Maria Novella Basilica, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Garden and more. All without forgetting to try the traditional dishes in the best Florence restaurants .

If you have limited time and are forced to make a choice, our article will help you decide whether you should visit Rome or Florence !

They call it the most romantic city in Italy. Whether you agree or not, Venice is a must-visit. Stroll around its canals and bridges, take a gondola ride, and try the local food. If you are traveling to Italy in winter, try to see Venice Carnival, it’s a beautiful parade of posing, camera-loving masks.

Some of the places to see in Venice are San Marco Piazza and Basilica, the Doge Palace, the Bridges of Sighs and of Rialto, the Jewish Quarter, and the nearby colorful island of Burano.

Milan is often the city where international flights land so you can easily make it the first leg of your itinerary. If you don’t have much time, you can see Milan in one day , while if you can afford a longer stay, you can explore more of its landmarks, nightlife, and restaurants.

Some of the places you should see, whether you stay one or two days in Milan , are the gorgeous Gothic-style Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, Castello Sforzesco, and La Scala Opera House.

Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Famous all over the world for its landscape and dolce vita lifestyle, the Amalfi Coast, Costiera Amalfitana in Italian, never fails to impress. With places like Positano, Ravello and the same Amalfi, it attracts thousands of tourists every summer.

If you are in Campania, however, you shouldn’t miss its capital, Naples. Gorgeous and historical city, Naples is also the home town of the pizza and many other delicacies. If you are on a weight loss diet, here you will likely cheat on it.

From Naples, you can also take a day trip to see the spectacular ruins of Pompeii and the town of Sorrento on the Bay of Naples.

Cinque Terre

Always more famous and popular among tourists, the Cinque Terre of the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region is a great destination for hikers and sea lovers. Italian for Five Lands, the Cinque Terre are Vernazza, Monterosso Sul Mare, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, and Manarola.

They are picturesque towns on the Ligurian coast in La Spezia province. You can go from one to the next by hiking or by taking the frequent local train. You can either stay in one of the five towns overnight or make it a day trip from Genoa, the capital of the Liguria region.

The Alps and the Dolomites

If you like the mountain, some of the places you should visit are the Dolomites of Trentino Alto Adige or the Alps of Valle d’Aosta.

Your door to the Dolomites can be the cities of Trento and Bolzano , fantastic destinations to explore and where to spend a few days, or other towns in Trentino Alto Adige such as Bressanone and Merano.

You can reach the Dolomites also from the Veneto and Lombardy regions, while a great place to visit high peaks of the Alps is the scenic Valle d’Aosta region on the border with France. Here, you can hike and ski the gorgeous Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Cervino and Gran Paradiso, apart from wandering its quaint towns such as Vens.

The Islands: Sardinia and Sicily

Are you coming in summer and want to hit the beaches? What better places than the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily? Both islands boast stunning coastline and beautiful beaches all around. It’s the summer holiday paradise for swimming, sunbathing and breathing some fresh air compared to the inland areas far from the sea.

Both Sicily and Sardinia are not known only for their beaches. There are many towns and villages to see if you are a fan of offbeat travel, such as Cabras, Pula, and Fordongianus in Sardinia, or Taormina and Ragusa in Sicily, to name a few.

Don’t miss our guide to the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia .

What To Eat In Italy

With each region and each city boasting its own recipes, deciding what to eat in Italy really depends on where you are traveling to. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, you can experience the typical Italian dining style and try the most popular and traditional dishes in every area.

So if you are in Rome, enjoy your tonnarelli cacio e pepe, bucatini all’amatriciana or spaghetti alla carbonara. In Naples, try their delicious pizza, in Bologna tortellini or lasagna, in Turin, polenta or bagna cauda and in Florence meat-eaters will sure order the Fiorentina steak at least once in their trip.

Some of Italy’s most famous dishes?

• Pizza . No need for an introduction here. You find it all over Italy and everywhere in different ways and shapes. The round on the plate mainly for dinner, except for tourist areas or some restaurants. By the slice with the most different toppings is pretty much all over Italy and it’s a favorite street food.
• Pasta. This, too, in Italy is everywhere. Short, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli, tortellini, fettuccine, you name it. Each region has its own shape, way to make it and sauce to season it.
• Stews. Made it using different types of meat from lamb to sheep to beef, and different herbs and seasonings. Also the stews you are likely to find them in every region. They mainly are winter dishes, but in tourist areas, you can find them also in summer.
• Pastries and sweets. Don’t even get me started here. From north to south, if you are on a diet when visiting Italy, you will have a hard time refusing a pastry at every occasion. Croissants, bombe, crostata, cakes, tiramisu, panna cotta, gelato, you name it. From breakfast to all throughout the day, you can close off every meal with a dessert.
• Soups. Made with veggies or meat, they sometimes are used as first courses or as a consommé to open the meal.

Shopping in Italy

Whether you are looking for gifts or for something for yourself to remember your trip by, there are plenty of things to buy in Italy .

While clothes and shoes might be too personal, some of the most favorite gifts to bring home to friends and family are a bottle of good wine, some jewelry, accessories like bags (ask for Pollini or Coccinelle), or a piece of local handicraft which can ceramic, glass, or textile.

Some nice and much-appreciated gifts certainly are to be found in the food department. You won’t get it wrong if you buy artisan chocolate, traditional pastries, good-quality Italian pasta, or a good pasta sauce.

Italy tour packages and city day tours

While our Italy travel guide gives you plenty of tools to organize a trip your own, if you want your holiday to be just relaxing and free from all the planning hassle, here are some tour companies and websites providing great expeditions and day trips.

G Adventures

G Adventures organizes 2-week or 10-day tours to Italy striving to give an in-depth experience of the country and its society. With G Adventures, you can either book a classic tour to all the major destinations or some more location-specific trips.

Intrepid Travel

With small group tours, Intrepid Travel promises “real-life experiences”. Their tours go from 14 to as little as 4 days and cover a different range of places and activities such as a retreat in Veneto, a trip to the south from Rome to the Amalfi Coast

Take Walks – Former Walks of Italy

Take Walks is one of my favorites, I took many tours with them and all delivered plenty. They don’t organize full packages around Italy but only day tours or themed tours lasting a few hours in different cities such as Rome , Florence , Venice , and more.

With Take Walks, you can join different types of tours, from cooking classes to day trips to cultural tours to the most important landmarks of a city.

Get Your Guide

Get Your Guide (GYG) is not exactly a tour company but a website where you can book a tour from many different companies and agencies. This is why you will find a huge variety of experiences as well as ticket sales and taxi transfers.

TourRadar is similar to GYG with the difference that they feature companies offering full-package tours so trips of 2 weeks, ten days, one week, or even a month.

Useful sentences when you travel to Italy

No Italy travel guide is complete without some useful expressions you might need in Italy, especially in non-touristy areas. Here are some to remember:

• Buongiorno – Good morning
• Buonasera – Good evening
• Buonanotte – Goodnight
• Arrivederci – Goodbye
• Grazie – Thank you
• Sì/No – Yes/No
• Ciao – Hi

Check out our guide to greetings in Italian

Daily-use phrases

• Che ora è? – What time is it?
• Come stai? (informal)/Come sta? (formal) – How are you?
• Scusa/scusi/mi dispiace – I’m sorry
• Non lo so – I don’t know
• Permesso – Excuse me

Eating/At the restaurant

• Colazione – Breakfast
• Pranzo – Lunch
• Cena – Dinner
• Ristorante – Restaurant
• Forno, fornaio – Bakery
• Pasticceria – Pastry shop
• Sono vegetariano/vegano – I’m vegetarian/vegan
• Non mangio carne – I don’t eat meat
• Sono intollerante al glutine – I’m gluten-intolerant
• Sono allergico a X – I’m allergic to [whatever ingredient/food]
• Posso avere il menu per favore? – Can I have the menu, please?
• Posso avere il conto per favore? – Can I have the bill, please?
• Mancia – Tip
• Posso avere un bicchiere d’acqua per favore? – Can I have a glass of water, please?
• Liscia/Gasata – Still/Sparkling
• Dov’è il bagno? – Where is the toilet?

Don’t miss out guide to the most common Italian words for foods and drinks .

• Che strada devo prendere per raggiungere X? – How do I get to X?
• Dritto – Straight
• Destra – Right
• Sinistra – Left
• Macchina – Car
• Bici, bicicletta – Bike
• Treno – Train
• Aereo – Airplane
• Metro – Metro, subway
• Parcheggio – Parking lot
• Solo andata – Single ticket
• Andata e ritorno – Return ticket
• Dov’è il rifornitore di benzina più vicino? – Where is the closest petrol station?
• Dov’è la stazione ferroviaria/dei treni? – Where is the train station?
• Binario – Platform
• Dov’è la stazione degli autobus? – Where is the bus station?
• Questo treno/autobus ferma a X? – Does this train/bus stop at [your destination]?
• Biglietto – Ticket
• Bancomat – ATM
• Non funziona – It’s broken, it doesn’t work
• Polizia/Carabinieri – Police
• Parla inglese? – Can you speak English?
• Mi può aiutare per favore? – Can you help me, please?
• Albergo, hotel – Hotel
• Camera singola/Camera matrimoniale/Camera doppia con due letti – Single room/Double room/Twin room
• Bagaglio, valigia – Luggage, suitcase
• Contanti – Cash
• Bancomat – Debit card
• Carta di credito – Credit card
• Caro, costoso – Expensive
• Economico – Cheap
• Mercato, supermercato, negozio – Market, supermarket, shop
• Edicola – Newsagency, kiosk
• Vorrei, sto cercando – I would like, I’m looking for
• Quando costa? – How much is it?
• Ospedale – Hospital
• Pronto Soccorso – ER
• Farmacia – Pharmacy
• Febbre – Fever
• Vertigini – Dizziness
• Nausea, vomitare – Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrea – Diarrhea
• Dolore – Pain
• Ferita – Injury
• Infiammato – Inflamed/inflammation
• Bruciore di stomaco – Heartburn
• Gastroenterite – Stomach flu
• Medico, dottore – Doctor
• Pediatra – Pediatrician
• Dentista – Dentist

Important numbers to know in Italy

Here are some of the most important Italian emergency numbers :

• Police: 113
• Carabinieri: 112
• Ambulance – Health emergency: 118
• Firefighters: 115
• Street assistance – ACI: 116
• Guardia di Finanza: 117
• Viaggiare informati – information on street traffic: 1518

Do you need to book hotels and restaurants? Learn everything about the days of the week in Italian !

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Explore Italy like a local

From iconic attractions to amazing experiences, your journey begins here, like a local, how to go to, hidden gems, itineraries, unconventional sardinia, latest news, best places to visit in italy, art and culture, food and flavours, places and tours, unesco sites, history and traditions, best tours and experiences, best to visit in italy, destinations.

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Italy Travel Guide

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Chances are, once you’ve experienced the joys of travelling in Italy, you might never want to visit anywhere else. Its cultural legacy is awe-inspiring, with remnants of the Roman Empire manifest at (pretty much) every turn. Then there’s the diverse landscapes, and the fabulous food - all underpinned by an unmistakeable character of living life to the full.

Travel Facts about Italy

Where to go in italy - regions and areas, top attractions - what to see in italy, best things to do in italy, when is the best time to visit italy.

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How to get around Italy

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• Language: Italian, with a whopping 34 dialects.
• Population: just under 60 million, with around three million residing in Rome, the capital.
• Politics: Italy has been a democratic republic since 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum.
• Heritage: Italy is home to a staggering 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 50 cultural and five natural. Tuscany alone has more classified historical monuments than any other country in the world.
• Food and drink: the average Italian eats 23 kilos of pasta annually, and the nation drinks an astounding 14 billion cups of coffee every year.

For more Italy travel tips, read our facts about travelling in Italy article .

Every trip to Italy is unique and that's why it's essential to stay protected. With our go-to travel insurance provider, Heymondo , you get great value and 24/7 support wherever you are.

Figuring out where to go when you visit Italy is no mean feat. From ancient hilltop towns to modern bustling cities, dramatic mountain landscapes to sweeping coastal scenery, each pocket of Italy delivers something different.

Rome , Italy’s capital, is the one city in the country that owes allegiance neither to the north or the south. It’s quite unlike any other city, and in terms of historic sights it outstrips everywhere else by some way.

Rome from above aerial view of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum © Calin Stan/Shutterstock

Piemonte and Lombardy

The northwest regions of Piemonte and Lombardy make up the country’s most cosmopolitan region, and the two main centres, Turin and Milan , are its wealthiest cities. In the north, the presence of the Alps makes skiing and hiking prime activities, while Lombardy’s lakes and mountains are time-honoured tourist territory.

Liguria , the small coastal province to the south, has long been known as the “Italian Riviera” and is accordingly crowded with sun-seekers for much of the summer. Its capital, Genoa , is a vibrant port town with a long seafaring tradition.

The Veneto and Friuli Giulia

The Dolomites stretch into the northeastern regions of the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia , but the main focus here is Venice . This unique city is every bit as beautiful as its reputation suggests.

Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna ’s coast is popular among Italians, and Rimini is Italy’s brashest (and trendiest) seaside resort. Then there’s the ancient centres of Ravenna , Ferrara , Parma and regional capital, Bologna , one of Italy’s liveliest cities, and traditionally its gastronomic and academic capital.

Central Italy represents perhaps the most commonly perceived image of the country. Tuscany , with its classic rolling countryside and the art-packed towns of Florence , Pisa and Siena , is one of Italy’s most visited regions.

Neighbouring Umbria is similar in all but its tourist numbers, though it gets busier every year, as visitors flock to towns like Perugia and Assisi .

Campania ’s capital, Naples , is a unique, unforgettable city, the spiritual heart of the Italian south, and close to some of Italy’s finest ancient sites in Pompeii and Herculaneum, not to mention the country’s most spectacular stretch of coast around Amalfi.

Puglia , the “heel” of Italy, has underrated pleasures, notably the landscape of its Gargano peninsula, the souk-like qualities of its capital, Bari , and the Baroque glories of Lecce in the far south.

The island of Sicily is a place apart, with a wide mixture of attractions ranging from some of the finest preserved Hellenistic treasures in Europe, to a couple of Italy’s most appealing beach resorts in Taormina and Cefalu, not to mention some gorgeous upland scenery.

The stage of Taormina's Greek Theater with the Etna in the background, Taormina, Sicily © K. Roy Zerloch/Shutterstock

Sardinia feels far removed from the mainland, especially in its relatively undiscovered interior, although you may be content just to laze on its beaches, which are among Italy’s best.

Discover more places in Italy

• Friuli-Venezia Giulia Travel Guide
• Le Marche Travel Guide
• Liguria Travel Guide
• Lombardy and the Lakes Travel Guide
• Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Travel Guide
• Puglia, Italy
• Rome Travel Guide
• Sardinia, Italy: What To Do, Weather & More
• Sicily Travel Guide
• Trentino-Alto Adige Travel Guide
• Tuscany, Italy
• Umbria Travel Guide
• The Veneto Travel Guide
• Venice Travel Guide

Picking landmarks and attractions in Italy everyone should see in a lifetime is a nigh impossible task, but we’ve taken a stab at selecting some of the best places to travel in Italy; sights that will enhance every Italy trip experience.

• The Colosseum is perhaps Rome’s most awe-inspiring ancient monument, an enormous structure that despite the depredations of nearly two thousand years of earthquakes, fires, riots and wars, remains relatively intact.
• Venice’s magnificent Piazza San Marco houses the Basilica di San Marco, Italy’s most lavish cathedral.
• Hemmed in by lush hillsides and dramatic mountains, Lake Como’s captivating landscape is best enjoyed by zigzagging between shores by boat.
• When in Florence , it’s impossible not to gravitate straight towards the square at its hears, Piazza del Duomo, beckoned by the iconic form of the cathedral’s extraordinary dome.
• Romain remains at Pompeii and Herculaneum - these two sites, buried by the volcanic debris of Vesuvius in AD 79, afford an unparalleled glimpse into ancient Roman daily life and architecture.
• The Amalfi coast - this rugged stretch of coastline has to rank as one of Italy’s most breath-taking routes. Secluded coves and picturesque towns punctuate the scenic journey.

Discover more great places to see in our ultimate list of things not to miss in Italy .

Grand Canal, Venice, Italy © Apple Kullathida/Shutterstock

History and culture

Rome alone has enough historic attractions to warrant dozens of visits (and that’s no exaggeration). Discover more about the Eternal City’s ravishing ruins and architectural treasures, from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum , to the Spanish Steps and the Vatican .

Florence is an exquisite city of exquisite art, the jewel in its elegant crown Italy’s finest art gallery, the Uffizi, home to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and Caravaggio’s “Medusa”, to name but a few of its masterworks. Though meandering Venice’s winding alleys and canals feels like you’re exploring a museum (such is the city’s beauty and uniquely curated vibe), the Accademia museum is an absolute must-visit for art-lovers.

Water-sports

The extensive Italian coast offers plenty of opportunities for sailing and windsurfing. Scuba diving is popular in Sicily and off most of the smaller islands. Water-sports aren’t just restricted to the coast - they can be found in places such as lakes Como and Garda in the north, and Trasimeno and Bolsena further south towards Rome, while river canoeing, canyoning and rafting are popular in the mountain areas of the north of the country. Discover more about sports and outdoor pursuits - our Italy guide to all things active.

Of course, Italy’s coast isn’t all about high energy pursuits. Its beaches are stunning places to soak up the sun; people watch and pose; eat, drink and generally be very merry. Discover the best beaches in Italy , spanning secluded coves, lively seafronts, and dramatic cliff-backed harbours.

Skiing and snowboarding

With the Alps on the doorstep, it’s easy to spend a weekend skiing or snowboarding from Milan, Turin or Venice. Some of the most popular ski resorts are Sestriere and Bardonecchia in Piemonte, and Val di Fassa in the stunning Dolomite mountains. Find out about the best winter resorts for skiing .

Hiking and biking

All these mountain resorts are equally ideal as bases for summer hiking and climbing. The dramatic, spiky landscape of the Dolomites , for example, is perfect hiking country, with its trails often subject to snow, ice and scorching sun in the same day - this is Italy travel at its most epic. For less strenuous treks, the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria make perfect walking and mountain-bike country - consider booking a tour in the company of an Italy travel guide who has local hiking or biking know-how.

Varenna old town in Como lake © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock

Italy is a truly year-round destination, so the answer to the question “what’s the best month to go to Italy?” will depend on what you want from your Italy travel experience. 

Generally speaking, though, the best time to travel to Italy is spring ( April , May and June ) or autumn ( September and October ). emperatures are warm and you’ll skirt the stifling heat of the summer months - top Italy travel advice if you want to avoid the crowds, too.

Visiting Italy in November , December , January , February and March is doable, but keep in mind that it can be cold. Especially in the north.

Find out more about the best time to visit Italy .

The best way to travel to Italy is to fly. Regular direct flights serve most of Italy from the UK, and you can fly direct from various cities in the US to Rome and Milan. Alternatively, if you travel to Italy by train, you’ll limit your carbon footprint and get to see incredible scenery too. An Interrail (European residents) or Eurail pass (non-European residents) is good value if you plan to make stops en route.

Read on for the best ways to get to Italy .

If you’re wondering how to travel around Italy, the extensive rail system is inexpensive, pretty reliable and quick, apart from regional trains, which tend to be slow and don’t necessarily extend to everywhere you might want to go, though regional buses cover the corners the trains don’t reach. For trips to the islands, you can hop on a ferry or hydrofoil, and the northern lakes region operates frequent ferries outside the winter months.

Learn more about transportation and how to get around Italy .

When you visit Italy, an immeasurable variety of accommodation awaits - boutique hotels, youth hostels, self-catering villas, family-run B&Bs, rural farmhouses, mountain monasteries. While rarely particularly cheap, standards are reliable and accommodation is well regulated. Bear in mind, though, that while accommodation is plentiful, you’ll need to book ahead to bag your ideal bunk down spot in popular resorts and major cities.

Discover how to find the best accommodations in Italy .

One of the joys of travel to Italy is sampling the variety of quality food and drink. Italian cuisine is region specific - the northwest brings a French influence, with its rich butter and cream sauces, while Umbria specialises in salamis, hams, and black truffles, and the southern diet features Mediterranean vegetables. Naples is considered to be the home of the humble pizza, all along the coast seafood dominates, and pasta is prevalent pretty much everywhere. When it comes to drink, Italians take their coffee seriously, and Italian wine is world-renowned, with Tuscany producing classic Chianti, and Veneto’s Prosecco an effervescent delight.

Read more about local food and drink in Italy .

Florence cityscape © Bob Hilscher/Shutterstock

If you travel to Italy, chances are you’ll come across a festival of one kind or another. The Italians love a party, and there are thousands of festivals throughout the year. Religious processions are widespread, Good Friday being particularly well celebrated, and carnival (the big party before the sobriety of Lent). Then there are traditional events, such as the Palio horse race in Siena , food festivals, often celebrating regional cuisine, as well as arts festivals, often taking place against a backdrop of Roman or medieval architecture.

Read more about public holidays in Italy .

The resort area of Rimini is arguably the clubbing capital of Italy, mainly concentrated on the seafront itself, and in the fashionable enclave of Misano Monte (15km south of Rimini and about 5km inland). Also home to legendary nightclubs, cosmopolitan fashion powerhouse Milan does things a little differently. Milanos like to start their evenings early, with an extended “Happy Hour” that begins around six with an aperitivo - a pre-dinner drink that typically lasts until 9pm.

Though not short of night clubs, Roman nightlife is more focussed on al fresco food-based activities. Bustling, bohemian Trastevere comes up trumps for hearty homecooked food and, while Naples lays claim to inventing it, Roman pizza is something to write home about.

The saying goes that Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you shouldn’t expect to see more than a fraction of the city’s attractions in a short visit. That said, if you’re looking for ideas for a few days in Italy, a (preferably long) weekend in Rome will deliver in magnificent style. The same goes for city breaks in Venice, Florence and Milan, and lesser-visited Bologna and Genoa.

As for ideas for a week (or more) in Italy, you might consider touring the Italian Lakes , or soaking up southern Italy , taking in Naples, Pompeii, Vesuvius, the island of Capri , and Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Alternatively, exploring the island of Sicily makes for an idyllic longer break.

For more inspiration see some of the Italy itineraries from our Italy travel guide and local travel experts.

• Dining do’s and don’ts - always wish your table mates “Buon appetito!” before eating, never start to eat until everyone is seated, and always serve others before yourself.
• Be mindful that tucking into takeaway treats on the move isn’t always welcome (or legal). Florence, for example, has banned eating on the streets around All’ Antico Vinaio, on account of the mess incurred by the popularity of the areas’s takeaway eateries.
• Be respectful (quiet, and observe any rules around photography) when visiting churches and other religious sites.
• Say “Permesso” when you need to pass someone on the street, as you’d say “excuse me” in English.

Positano, italy. Amalfi Coast © iacomino FRiMAGES/Shutterstock

Practical travel tips for Italy

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Italy

• Eating and drinking in Italy
• Getting around Italy: Transportation Tips
• Shopping tips for Italy
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Italy
• Travel Tips Italy for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Italy
• How to spend 7 days In Italy - 8 unique itineraries
• How To Spend 10 Days In Italy - 8 Unique Itineraries
• How To Spend 14 Days In Italy - 5 Unique Itineraries
• How to get from Rome to Florence
• Electricity - the supply is 220V, though anything requiring 240V will work, and plugs either have two or three round pins.
• Italy’s currency is the euro (Italians pronounce it “eh-uro”).
• Banks give the best exchange rate. Banking hours are normally Monday to Friday mornings from 8.30am until 1.30pm, and for an hour in the afternoon (usually 2.30–4pm).
• Most towns and villages have at least one ATM.
• Opening hours - most shops and businesses open Monday to Saturday from 8am until 1pm, and from about 4pm until 7pm, with additional closures on Saturday afternoons, though an increasing number remain open all day. Traditionally, everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though in large cities and tourist areas, Sunday shopping is more common.

For advice about practical matters when travelling in Italy, check the travel advice for Italy .

In general, you’ll find the south of Italy less expensive than the north. As a broad guide, expect to pay most in Venice, Milan, Florence and Bologna, less in Rome, while in Naples and Sicily prices drop quite a lot. As an indication, you should be able to survive on a budget of about €50–60 per day if you stay in a hostel, have lunchtime snacks and a cheap evening meal. If you stay in a mid-range hotel and eat out twice a day, you’ll spend closer to €130–140 per day. Transport and food are relatively inexpensive, and room rates are in line with much of the rest of Europe, but bear in mind that in July and August, when Italians take their holidays, hotel prices can escalate.

• Comfortable shoes - yes, even if you’re strutting around fashionable Milan. Exploring Italy on foot is fabulous fun, so you won’t want to be hindered by inappropriate footwear.
• That said, Italians are known for their style, so even if you’re setting off for a beach or adventure holiday, you’ll want to pack something smart for the evenings.
• Travelling from outside mainland Europe? Bring multi-plug adapter.
• While English is widely spoken, pack an Italian phrasebook . Attempting to speak little lingo is polite, plus it could come in handy in remote rural regions.
• Italian summers are hot, hot, hot - don’t forget the sunscreen.

Italy is relatively safe for visitors, though you can reduce the chance of petty theft by taking sensible precautions - don’t flash anything valuable, and make sure bags can’t be snatched. You’re most at risk in busy areas, where pickpockets and scippatori or “snatchers” on scooters are most likely to operate.

Read more on travel safety in Italy , and for up to date information about safety and travel requirements for Italy, check government guidelines. UK nationals should heed Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice , while travellers from the US should check governmental travel advisory guidelines for Italy .

Statue of Apollo, Pompeii © BlackMac/Shutterstock

• Don’t sit down for a coffee if you’re going to down it in one - the cost of a coffee drunk at a table can be double that of drinking it at the counter.
• Don’t ask for a cappuccino as lunchtime approaches - in Italy, the frothy stuff is only supped with breakfast.
• Common sense this one, but steer clear of restaurants that try to usher folks inside. Italy has an abundance of excellent eateries - you don’t need to pay over the odds at joints that hustle for business.
• Avoid depending on debit and credit cards. Lots of gelateria, street food vendors and trinket stalls only take cash - you wouldn’t want to miss out on that ice cream of a lifetime by being beholden to cards.
• Check out The Rough Guide to Italy - our exhaustive, in-depth Italy travel guide that covers everything you need to know before you go, and while you’re on the road.
• You can pick up regional Rough Guides to Italy too, and city guides. Explore the full range .
• Our expert-curated (fully customisable) Italy itineraries are packed with inspiration.
• Given that enjoying Italy’s food, glorious, food is an essential Italy travel experience, taking a food tour is a great way to sample authentic cuisine, whether you’re in Rome , Naples , or Venice .

Top image: Amalfi coast, Italy © proslgn/Shutterstock

The Rough Guides to Italy and related travel guides

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 21.03.2024

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Fully Guided Tours & Trips in Italy

Find the right fully guided tour for you in Italy. There are 875 trips to choose from, that range from one day in length, up to 25 days. The month with the most departures is September, making it the most popular time to visit Italy.

250+ Fully Guided tour packages in Italy with 12,269 reviews

• Train & Rail
• Sightseeing

Highlights of Italy

Exactly how I like with the itinerary, you’re able to visit most of the place’s must-see destinations and heaps of time to know the place more on your own.

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Sicilian Landscapes: Catania-Catania (8 days/7 nights)

Meals need to be improved, especially dinners. Stop at the mall was waist of time. We were not informed about swimming opportunities so we left our swim attire on the bus.

• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Christmas & New Year

Classical Italy

The trip was enjoyable with friendly tour guides. The structure at times did feel slightly rushed, but I appreciated how one half of the day is dedicated to the history and tour of the cities with the other half being optional walks or wandering and shopping. Overall, I enjoyed my time with the tour in Italy and I do recommend it.

• Hiking & Trekking

Hiking in the Dolomites

Great value for money. Good tour guide. Excellent travel company. Some days the hiking was a bit light. Would have given it 5 stars if the hiking was every day. Also tourradar/intrepid could also consider providing a higher cost tour where we stay at different refuges every day. This will reduce the transportation constraints and time and increase the Dolomites amazing experience.

• Food & Culinary

Small Group Tour of Sicily: Highlights (Maximum 8 Guests)

Good communication, excellent guides, easy access to paid sites. Loved the tour and would recommend

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Best of Sicily - 8 Days (Small Group Tour)

We were a group of 3 couples who took this trip together. With the exception of problems with airport pickup and transportation to the airport at the end of the trip, we were satisfied with the hotels, meals and guides. In Siracusa, the famous ancient theater was not on the itinerary and with advance information we could have arranged that ourselves. Overall, we enjoyed a successful round trip in Sicily.

Small Group Sicily Food & Wine Tour (Maximum 8 Guests)

A fun tour. The group I travelled with made quick friends. Most of the accommodations were acceptable. Taormina was a treat staying at the Splendid hotel. Marcus our guide in Palermo was exceptional. I felt the food and wine experiences were average.

Sail Italy: Procida to Amalfi

The tour was wonderful! The boat was comfortable and spacious. The tour was well organized for timing and itinerary. We also had an unexpected surprise: we saw dolphins! Paolo was the perfect guide: he was always available, funny and responsible. He showed us the best of the Amalfi Coast! I would suggest this tour for everyone who needs to rest.

Italy from North to South

I am giving this review 4 stars because I did enjoy my time in Italy because I am the type of person who would not let disappointments hinder my enjoyment of a trip. To start with I was not picked up at the airport as promised, I realize my flight was approx. 45 minutes late ( the lateness was due to the airline while we were already sitting on the runway). I arrived at 10:15, collected my luggage and headed to the meeting point, there was no one there with my name on a placard, I walked around checking different places close to my meeting point, finally at 11:25 I took a taxi that cost me 57 euros(82 CAD) for the trip to the hotel that took about 45 minutes, when I arrived the guy on the desk told me they were looking for me at the airport ??? My itinerary did disclose that the day excursion to Capri is not included between certain months, although I don't remember paying less than someone who went in October and did get this excursion. While travelling to Sorrento the representative we had on the bus informed us we could book a trip to Capri for 165 euros (wow), so I am wondering why this tour group could offer the trip but my booking agency could not, I wandered around Sorrento on the main street and came across 2 companies offering the trip to Capri for 60 euros, remember that folks if you have the time to find a local company, I would highly recommend it. Another contention with me was the solo supplement, while I was investigating this trip there was no mention of extra supplement until I hit the Book Now button, I found this to be deceiving. I paid $945 for solo supplement for a 12 day trip, of course you meet people while travelling and someone shared with me that she was doing the 9 day portion of the trip and was paying $400 USD, now I totally understand the exchange rate between CAD and USD but I really think another $445 for 3 extra days is extravagant to say the least, this is a Canadian company taking advantage of Canadians. When we returned to Rome during our travels we stayed at the same hotel I was at on my first night in Rome where I had a double room, it was comfortable by most standards. I cannot say the same for my return stay, I was in a single room and may as well been sleeping on the floor, the bed was ROCK hard. I really enjoyed Rome and have plans to return but definitely not with this company and will not use this company to book any further trips. You have disappointed me Wingbuddy and I won't give you the opportunity to do so in the future, so this is good-bye.

Cycle Tuscany

The Cycling Tour of Tuscany trip balances the athletic aspect of cycling with the sightseeing / food / wine highlights of Tuscany.

Italy City Break - 5 Days

Clara and Luigi were excellent as host and driver. This is an ideal tour to see Italy fast and all planed out for you. We even made some wonderful friends among the tour group. Highly recommend it.

• Local Living

Local Living Italy—Amalfi Coast

This was my first hiking tour and I'm happy to say it exceeded all my expectations. It was exactly the type of holiday I wanted, hiking in beautiful scenery with good company and fabulous food. The food was absolutely fantastic - homemade and some homegrown. The hosts at our accommodations were wonderful and wend above and beyond for us. Our tour guide Elisa was perfect for this trip, she helped to make a great itinerary even better. She was very knowledgeable , accommodating and fun. The best kind any group can only dream of.

Italian Holiday (7 Days)

The ease of travel, opportunity to see different cities and a mind blowing amount of top tourist sites makes this guided tour a great option. There's one major miss on the trip...food and wine. When you think of Italy, you think of great pasta and wine, but the options included were lack luster. If the travel guide would provide details on the selected options it would have driven us to find alternative eats and drinks.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Coastal Walks

Walking the Amalfi Coast

Great mild walking tour (<15km per day). Roberta (guide) is awesome! Location is fine, hotel is "ok", but there's almost nothing to do during free time.

Splendor of Sicily 8 Days Tour - from Catania

The guide Placido was excellent. The driver was great as well. Tour was enjoyable with full days and decent hotels. The meals that were included were just ok. I would suggest that the servers go the extra mile and introduce each service rather than just placing them on the table. That small gesture would add a little more "class" and appreciation. Nice to know what we are eating!!! The especially bad eating experience was on day 5. Etna. The lovely restaurant presented 8 of us with 2 meager platters of eggplant and

What people love about Fully Guided Tours in Italy

The tour itself was amazing! A lot of value for money. The tour guide did seem to be a bit annoyed at us at the end when we wanted to get transport back to the hotel, after walking over half a marathon. This is notable considering a few members had lower body injuries/ health concerns. Other than that, I really loved my trip. I made friends for life, memories I’ll cherish for years

Generally speaking the tour was good. Hotels, foods, itinerary, tour guide were all satisfied. the only thing made me unhappy even panic was no taxi driver waiting at Catania airport arrivals although I booked in advance. It's about 22:30, I phoned the emergency number, the lady replied in Italian, we could not understand each other, so she shouted and put down phone. Then I asked an Italian for help. He made a call and got one can speak English. I was told the driver was in a airport bar, then I found the bar was closed and the driver was at outside of the bar, eventually he took me to the hotel, that was very late. The people responds emergency number cannot speak English?! The taxi driver 'with a sign with your surname on it' was not waiting at the arrivals as I was told. What was a shock for a person arrived in Catania first time at late evening and start a tour next morning?!

Did the Classic Italy tour with my 90 year old mum. Eva our tour guide is very helpful and funny.I think Rome needs to be 2 days. Roman Forum and Batican and walking tour in a day is just too much.

Regions in Italy

• South Italy (348)
• Northern Italy (154)
• Sicily (142)
• Central Italy (142)
• Tuscany (84)
• Campania (80)
• Amalfi Coast (79)
• Puglia (68)
• Apulia (56)
• Prosecco (52)
• Italian Alps (43)
• Veneto (40)
• Italian Lakes District (36)
• The Dolomites (29)
• Lombardy (25)
• Lazio, Marche & Abruzzo (20)

Travel Styles

• Fully Guided
• Italy Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Itinerary Ideas for 10 Days in Italy, 2022-2023
• Best 7 Day Italy Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Discover the Best Italy Vacation Packages 2024/2025
• What is the best time to visit Italy in 2024/2025?

International Versions

• Deutsch: Geführte Rundreisen in Italien
• Français: Italie : Circuits entièrement guidés 2024/2025
• Español: Totalmente guidado Circuitos en Italia
• Nederlands: Volledig begeleid Rondreizen in Italië

Rome was called the “ Eternal City ” by the ancient Romans because they believed that no matter what happened in the rest of the world, the city of Rome would always remain standing . Exploring the city center by foot surrounded by glorious monuments and colossal remains takes you back in time to the “glory that was Rome”.

Rome Travel Guide

• General Information
• Top Attractions
• Getting to Rome
• Public Transport
• Money-saving tips
• Where to Eat
• Where to Stay
• 3-Day Itinerary

Why visit Rome?  

With its unparalleled history, Rome is the third most visited city in Europe and the fourteenth worldwide. It attracts visitors from all over the world who are impatient to discover the city’s impressive monuments and archaeological sites ; not to mention its renowned cuisine and its lively atmosphere.

When exploring the Colosseum , visitors will easily imagine how the gladiators fought for their lives in the arena, cheered by the crowd. In the Circus Maximus , travelers will picture the chariots crashing into each other in order to be first in the race, and in the Roman Forum visualize what the Roman public life was like.

Looking for accommodation?

If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, we suggest visiting our search engine , where you’ll find all types of hotels, hostels, and apartments with the best rates guaranteed . You can get up to a 75% discount and pay once you get to your destination.

• Accommodation in Rome - find the best deals​

top activities

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour On this guided tour of Vatican City, you'll visit the Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel . As an added bonus, you won't have to wait in endless queues!

Colosseum Tour + Gladiator's Entrance When in Rome, don’t miss the eternal Colosseum! Access the arena through the Gladiator’s Gate, the entrance used by the ancient Roman fighters.

Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums + St Peter's Basilica On this tour, you'll get access to the Sistine Chapel first thing in the morning, avoiding all the crowds . We'll also visit  St Peter's Basilica .

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Tour Travel back in time to Ancient Rome and discover the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on this guided tour with priority access !

Pompeii & Naples Day Trip Set off on a full day trip and discover the ruins of Pompeii , followed by a panoramic tour of Naples , one of the world's oldest constantly populated cities.

Rome Ciampino Airport Shuttle Bus With this shuttle service between Ciampino Airport and Rome, you'll be in the centre of the Italian capital in less than an hour. The eternal city awaits you!

Audience With Pope Francis An audience with Pope Francis is a unique spiritual experience . Your guide will take care of everything, so you can go relaxed.

Borghese Gallery Guided Tour Discover the extraordinary collection of paintings and sculptures housed in the Borghese Gallery , one of Rome's must-see art museums .

St Peter's Basilica Guided Tour + Dome Climb Enjoy the best views of Rome by climbing the 320 steps leading up to the dome of St. Peter's . We'll also visit the interior of the Basilica!

Trastevere Food Tour Feast your eyes and stomach during a 3-hour food tour in Trastevere, one of Rome’s most bohemian neighborhoods and sample the delicious Italian gastronomy.

Day Trip to Venice by High Speed Train Experience a day trip from Rome to Venice on a high-speed train and explore its beautiful canals and historic centre at your own pace.

Rome Fiumicino Airport Shuttle Bus Are you travelling to Rome? Book this shuttle bus between Fiumicino Airport and Rome so you can get into the city centre comfortably and quickly.

Rome Catacombs Tour & Appian Way Visit the catacombs of Rome with an expert English-speaking guide during a 3-hour half day-trip, also discovering the fascinating Villa di Massenzio.

Ostia Antica Half-Day Tour from Rome Discover the legacy of the Imperial City on a guided tour of Ostia Antica, an ancient harbor town only 30 km from Rome. Travel back in time with this tour!

Papal Audience & Vatican Museums Tour Enjoy this unique experience of the Holy See with this combination tour which includes an  audience with Pope Francis and a visit to the Vatican Museums .

Rome Sightseeing Cruise on the Tiber River Take a sightseeing cruise along the Tiber River and enjoy spectacular 360º views of Rome from the water. You can hop on and off as many times as you want!

Rome Bike Tour Tour the Italian capital on two wheels whilst you enjoy an electric bike tour of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and much more .

Private Walking Tour of Rome Explore the Eternal City's most iconic sights accompanied by an expert guide just for you and your partner, family or friends.  Discover the best of Rome !

Set off on a day trip from Rome across the Italian countryside to discover the birthplace of St Francis  in the charming town of Assisi .

La Traviata with Ballet Entrance Ticket Enjoy one of the most famous operas of all time in the magical setting of the St Paul's Within the Walls Church with this La Traviata Ballet Entrance Ticket.

Welcome to Rome Tickets Immerse yourself in Rome's thrilling history when you buy a ticket for the fascinating Welcome to Rome multimedia experience .

Castel Sant'Angelo Ticket + Audio Guide Explore the intriguing history of Castel Sant'Angelo with this admission ticket + audio guide. Uncover the mysteries of one of Rome's most cryptic monuments !

Visit the largest Roman amphitheater in the world on this guided tour of the Colosseum. An absolute must if you're in the Italian capital!

This tourist bus is the perfect way to discover Rome . You can choose different routes with numerous stops and hop on and off as many times as you want!

The Three Tenors Concert The church of  St. Paul's Within the Walls in Rome opens its doors to you to offer you the show The Three Tenors. Enjoy an unforgettable opera concerto.

Lake Albano Kayak Tour If you're in Rome and want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city , join us on this kayak tour on Lake Albano .

Italian Pasta & Tiramisu Workshop If you love Italian cuisine, then don't miss out on this  Italian Pasta and Tiramisu Workshop . You'll learn how to make some staple Italian dishes!

Rome Night Tour On this night tour of Rome ,   we'll visit the most iconic piazzas , streets and monuments of the Italian capital when the city comes to life at dusk.

Palazzo Santa Chiara Opera Concert Treat yourself to a unique experience during your stay in Rome when you attend a fantastic opera concert at the Palazzo Santa Chiara .

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi With this classical music concert, you'll experience all Four Seasons of the famous Antonio Vivaldi . An unforgettable concert in an incomparable setting!

Castel Sant'Angelo Tour + Terrace Access A refuge for popes and an ancient Roman mausoleum , Castel Sant'Angelo harbours great secrets. On this guided tour we'll unveil its most hidden mysteries.

Florence & Pisa Day Trip Discover two incredible jewels in Tuscany on our Florence & Pisa Day Trip from Rome. You'll see the Duomo , the Ponte Vecchio and the Leaning Tower .

Rome Mysteries & Legends Free Tour Wandering ghosts and enigmas in Caravaggio's works ... Discover the hidden side of the city with this free tour of Rome's mysteries and legends.

Rome Squares and Fountains Guided Tour Set off on a walking guided tour of Rome and discover some of its iconic landmarks, such as the Fontana di Trevi, Piazza di Spagna, and Piazza Navona .

Mostra di Leonardo Ticket Discover some of the most amazing inventions by the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci with this ticket to the Mostra di Leonardo museum.

Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto Tour Enjoy a walking guided tour of Trastevere and the Jewish Ghetto and soak up the neighborhood’s bohemian atmosphere with numerous landmarks to visit.

OMNIA Rome & Vatican Card The OMNIA Card is a sightseeing pass that includes priority access to Rome’s main attractions like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican City .

Go City: Rome Explorer Pass The Go City: Roma Explorer Pass  tourist card gives you access to the  main attractions in the Italian capital, such as the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.

The impressive dome of the Pantheon of Agrippa has fascinated the whole world for centuries. Discover it with this guided tour of Ancient Rome .

St. Peter's Basilica Tickets: Dome Access + Audioguide Secure your ticket to St. Peter's Basilica for an experience that includes access to its magnificent dome and a self-guided tour with an English audio guide .

Baths of Caracalla & Circus Maximus Guided Tour Go back in time on this walking tour of the Bath of Caracalla, the most luxurious thermae of the Roman Empire . Then marvel at the remains of the Circus Maximus.

Capitoline Museum Guided Tour Marvel at one of Rome’s most important museums , the Capitoline Museums, followed by a visit to Piazza del Campidoglio on top of the Capitoline Hill.

Italian Pizza Workshop Visit Rome and enjoy a delicious pizza made with your own hands . Try this Italian Pizza Workshop and learn how to make one of the country's most famous dishes.

Day Trip to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti On this tour to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti , we'll discover the beautiful region of Tuscany - including medieval towns, and a visit to a wine cellar!

Basilicas Tour and Secret Underground Catacombs Discover some of the most symbolic sites in Christian history: the Catacombs and two of the world's most important Basilicas on this tour of the Eternal City.

Tiber River Cruise with Appetizer Discover Rome from a privileged perspective as you relax with this Tiber River Cruise with Appetizer. You'll see symbolic places such as the Umberto I Bridge.

Rome Photo Tour Discover the most Instagrammable locations in the Italian capital and show off your trip with this Rome Photo Tour.  Benvenuti a Roma !

Rome Tuk Tuk Tour Tour Rome in the most comfortable way on this tuk tuk tour. We'll explore its seven hills and learn tons of historical fun facts about the eternal city.

Rome Private Tour with Driver Fall in love with Rome with this private tour with driver. Choose your route, and enjoy a comfortable tour solely for you and your travel companions.

Rome Hard Rock Cafe Come to the Rome Hard Rock Cafe and enjoy an exquisite menu of American food in an emblematic place where the rhythm of rock is felt in every corner. 

Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Day Trip Visit the two treasures of Tivoli on this day trip: Hadrian's Villa, Roman Emperor's retreat, and Villa d'Este, a Renaissance mansion with magnificent gardens.

Rome Fascist History Tour discover the architecture designed in Rome at the time of Benito Mussolini's fascist dictatorship with this Rome Fascist History Tour.

Wine Tasting in Rome Italy is world-renowned for its tradition of wine-making. Indulge your senses on this wine tasting tour of Rome with an expert sommelier!

Bioparco di Roma Ticket With your ticket to the Bioparco of Rome you will discover this zoo located in the heart of the city, inside Villa Borghese, an ideal plan for families!

Janiculum, Trastevere and Jewish Quarter Guided Tour On this fascinating tour of the Gianicolo , Trastevere and   the Jewish Quarter  in Rome, we'll gain a truly unique perspective of the Italian capital.

Rome Street Art Tour Discover secrets and the most interesting glimpses throughout the most colourful district with this Rome Street Art Tour. Explore the captivating capital city!

Entrance to IKONO Rome Looking for a unique plan in the Italian capital? With a ticket to IKONO Rome , you'll get to explore this creative space and become a part of the art!

Roma World Entrance Ticket Don't miss out on your ticket to Roma World , a theme park in which you'll travel back in time to the ancient and powerful Roman Empire .

Rome Private Day Trips Explore the beautiful Italian cities of Naples, Pompeii, Ostia or Assisi with these Rome Private Day Trips. You'll have an exclusive guide just for your group.

Cinecittà World Ticket With this entrance ticket to Cinecittà World you can visit real film sets and travel to the imaginary worlds of movies and TV series .

Rome Layover Tour Take advantage of your time at Rome airport to explore the Italian capital with this Rome Layover Tour. You'll discover the charm of the beautiful Eternal City.

Roam the underbelly of Rome on this tour of its underground system . Walk  the Appian Way and Caffarella and   dive into the lesser-known side of the Eternal City !

Naples to Capri Tour: 2/3 Days Relax in southern Italy with this Naples to Capri Tour lasting 2/3 days. Discover Pompeii's incredible history, Sorrento's cuisine and Capri's beauty .

Rome Electric Tuk Tuk Tour Explore the Eternal City through an eco-conscious lens with our electric tuk tuk tour of Rome  and roam the Italian capital's streets in a zero-emission vehicle!

Private Tuk-Tuk Tour of Rome Would you like to see the Eternal City in the most comfortable way ? On this private tuk-tuk tour of Rome , we'll tour the capital of Italy in an exclusive group.

Ischia 5-Day Tour Are you in Rome? Join us to visit the most beautiful islands in the Napolitan archipelago  on this  5-day tour of Ischia . You'll love it!

Florence Excursion by High Speed Train Known as the "City of Art", Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. On this day trip, we'll tour its historic centre and the Uffizi Gallery.

Trevi Fountain and its Underground World On this  tour of the Trevi Fountain and its underground world , we'll reveal the hidden treasures and history of the most  fountain in Rome . 

Private Photoshoot outside of the Colosseum Remember your trip to Rome forever with this private photoshoot outside the Colosseum - we'll make sure you look your best beside the iconic monument!

Rome Pub Crawl Are you ready to discover the vibrant nightlife of the Italian capital ? Join us on this pub crawl through Rome and experience it for yourself!

5 Day Tour: The Best of Italy The best of Italy in just 5 days! Asisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice and Montepulciano  are the cities we take in on the tour.

Puzzle Hunt: Angels and Demons, the Illuminati Hunt Impersonate Robert Langdon himself for a day in this puzzle hunt in Rome: Angels and Demons , the Illuminati Hunt. The best way to explore the city!

Capri Day Trip Like the writers and artists before you, you'll fall in love with Capri on this unmissable tour. Discover the island's myths, legends and Blue Grotto .

Free Walking Tour of Rome The city of the Caesars, of Baroque and, of course, The Eternal City. Discover Rome with this free walking tour of the Italian capital .

Pompeii & Minori Tour: 3 Days Discover the impressive ruins of Pompeii , explore the Almafi Coast  & enjoy 2 nights in Minori on this incredible 3-day tour.

Vatican Gardens + Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Ticket Discover the green lung of Vatican City on this tour of its gardens. You'll also visit the Sistine Chapel and take a self-guided tour of the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Museums Private Tour Step into the legacy of the Italian city-state on this Vatican Private Tour. Visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with just your family or friends!

Colosseum Private Tour Discover the World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World with this  Colosseum Private Tour . Explore the Roman site with an exclusive guide.

Ponza Island Day Trip Enjoy a  day trip from Rome to Ponza Island . Cruise along the waters, feel the breeze in your hair and cool off with a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea!

Colosseum Guided Night Visit Visit one of Rome's most iconic monuments all lit up at the most magical time of day on our  Colosseum Guided Night Visit at dusk .

Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Day Trip From Pope Alexander VII to Benedict XVI , numerous popes have spent the holidays at the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo . Explore its links with the Vatican!

Capri Tour: 2/3 Days Be captivated by the glamour of the Italian island with this Capri Tour lasting 2 or 3 days. Explore the fascinating Mediterranean cave, the Blue Grotto.

The most complete guide of Rome

This guide has been written by travelers like yourself and it's designed to help you plan your stay in Rome, so that you get the most out of the city as possible, whether you're staying for 2 days or a month. Find out what the top attractions  and the best places to eat are, which museums are worthwhile, and where to stay in Rome. If you’re traveling on a budget, we have also an article on how to save money while visiting this fascinating city, and the daily costs , so that you're prepared before getting to Italy.

The information provided in this guide was updated in  January 2023 . If you find a mistake or would like to make a suggestion, please do not hesitate to  contact us .

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