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Italy Travel Guide
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated July 2026
A country that invented the good life — ancient Rome and Renaissance Florence, the impossible canals of Venice, hill towns rising out of the vines and a coastline that unspools from Cinque Terre to the Amalfi cliffs. From an espresso at a marble bar to a slow evening passeggiata — this is the Guild's chapter on Italy.
The Colosseum, the great amphitheatre of ancient Rome. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Where to stay & when to go
Guild guides to the best places to stay in Italy's headline destinations — and the best time to plan your trip.
Where to Stay in Rome ›
Best neighbourhoods and hotels — Centro Storico, Trastevere, the Vatican and more.
Where to Stay in Venice ›
The best sestieri and hotels, from San Marco to quiet Cannaregio and the Grand Canal.
Amalfi Coast Hotels ›
Where to stay along the coast — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano and Sorrento.
Best Time to Visit Italy ›
Month-by-month weather, crowds and prices — and the shoulder-season sweet spots.
Why visit Italy
Few countries pack this much history, art, landscape and sheer pleasure into a single trip — or make it feel this effortless.
Layers of history
The Colosseum and the Forum, Pompeii under its volcano, medieval hill towns and the whole of the Renaissance — three thousand years, all still standing.
Art at every turn
Michelangelo's David and the Sistine Chapel, Botticelli in the Uffizi, mosaics in Ravenna — Italy holds more of the world's great art than anywhere else.
The food and wine
Every region cooks its own way: Roman carbonara, Neapolitan pizza, Tuscan bistecca, Bolognese ragù — paired with Chianti, Barolo and Prosecco.
Coast and countryside
The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, the Tuscan vineyards, the northern lakes and the peaks of the Dolomites — beauty in every direction.
The regions of Italy
Each region is its own trip. Full Guild city guides are on the way; for now, every city links straight to hotels through our Trip.com partner.
The eternal capital and the green heart of the peninsula — ancient ruins, the Vatican and the gentle hills of Umbria.
Renaissance art, walled hill towns and rolling vineyards — with foodie Bologna on the plain to the north.
Canals and palazzi, fashion-capital Milan, Romeo-and-Juliet Verona and the glassy northern lakes.
How the country divides up
Rome & the centre
Almost every trip begins in Rome, and it should. The Colosseum and the Forum by morning, St Peter's and the Vatican Museums, coins in the Trevi Fountain and carbonara after dark — the city layers three millennia into a few walkable days. East and north lie the green hills of Umbria, where Assisi keeps the basilica of St Francis and Perugia crowns its ridge above the valley.
Florence, Tuscany & the north-centre
Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance — the Uffizi, the Duomo, Michelangelo's David — and the perfect base for Tuscany, from the towers of Siena and the leaning campanile of Pisa to Chianti's vineyards. On the plain to the north, Bologna is Italy's food capital, all porticoed streets and ragù. Trains link them in under an hour.
Venice & the north
Venice is unlike anywhere on earth — a city of canals, gondolas and Byzantine gold, with no cars and no equal, best savoured over a night or two. West lies Milan, the fashion and design capital and home of Leonardo's Last Supper; Verona keeps its Roman arena and Juliet's balcony; and the mirror-calm shores of Lake Como and the Dolomites rise beyond.
Naples, the Amalfi Coast & the south
The south runs on a hotter, louder rhythm. Naples is raw, thrilling and the birthplace of pizza, with Pompeii and Vesuvius on its doorstep. From Sorrento you reach the cliff-clinging villages of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. Further out, Palermo opens up Sicily — Greek temples, baroque towns and Arab-Norman markets.
Top things to do in Italy
The experiences worth building a trip around.
Ancient Rome
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, then the Pantheon and a coin in the Trevi Fountain. Book timed tickets and go early.
The Vatican
St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, ending in the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo's ceiling. One of the great sights on earth.
Renaissance Florence
Botticelli and Leonardo in the Uffizi, the David at the Accademia, and the view over the terracotta rooftops from the Duomo's dome.
Get lost in Venice
St Mark's Basilica and the Grand Canal, a gondola or the cheaper vaporetto, and the quiet back-lanes once the day crowds leave.
The Amalfi Coast
Cliffside Positano and Ravello, a boat to Capri, and lemon groves above an impossibly blue sea — one of the world's great coastlines.
Eat your way through
Pizza in Naples, ragù in Bologna, bistecca in Florence, gelato everywhere — every region cooks its own way, paired with its own wine.
Best time to visit & getting there
When to go
April–June and September–October are the sweet spots: warm, bright and just before or after the peak crush, ideal for cities, coast and countryside alike.
July–August is hot and busy, and many city businesses close in mid-August for Ferragosto — though the beaches and lakes are in full swing.
November–March is low season: cooler, quieter and cheaper, perfect for museums, food and Christmas markets, with the Alps and Dolomites open for skiing.
Getting there
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) are the two main long-haul gateways, with direct flights from across the world.
Venice (VCE), Naples (NAP), Bologna (BLQ) and Pisa (PSA) also take international flights, and Italy's fast trains link the major cities so smoothly that many visitors skip domestic flying altogether.
The currency is the euro. Cards work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for small cafés and rural spots. Always check your current visa and passport-validity requirements before booking.
Italy travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Italy?
April to June and September to October are the sweet spots — warm, bright and just before or after the peak crush. July and August are hot and crowded, and many city businesses close in mid-August for Ferragosto, though the coast and lakes are in full swing. November to March is low season: cool, quieter and cheaper, ideal for the cities, museums and food, with the Alps open for skiing.
What currency is used in Italy?
The euro (EUR, symbol €). Cards, including contactless and phone payments, are accepted almost everywhere — hotels, restaurants, shops and even many market stalls. Carry a little cash for small cafés, tips and rural spots. ATMs (bancomat) are widespread and usually the best way to get euros, though watch for machines that offer to charge you in your home currency, which costs more.
Rome, Florence or Venice — which should I choose?
Rome is the grand all-rounder: ancient ruins, the Vatican, great food and enough to fill many days. Florence is compact and made for art and Renaissance architecture, and the perfect base for Tuscany's hill towns and vineyards. Venice is unlike anywhere else on earth — canals, palazzi and no cars — magical but small, and best savoured over a night or two. On a first trip most travellers link all three by fast train, which connects them in a few hours.
How many days do you need in Italy?
For a first trip, ten to fourteen days is ideal: a few days each in Rome, Florence and Venice, linked by high-speed train, with time added for Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast or the lakes. With only a week, pick two cities rather than trying to see the whole country — Rome and Florence, or Venice and Florence, make a natural pair.
Is Italy safe for travellers?
Italy is one of the most-visited countries in the world and is generally very safe for travellers. The main thing to guard against is petty theft — pickpockets and bag-snatchers work crowded stations, buses and tourist sights in the big cities, so keep valuables secure. Use licensed taxis or official apps, validate train tickets where required, and check your government's current travel advisory before you go.
Ready to plan your Italy trip?
Compare hotels, flights and tours across Italy — booked through Trip.com.
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