Italy Travel Guide

Ancient ruins, Renaissance art, pasta, and la dolce vita

Capital Rome
Population 60 million
Currency Euro (€)
Language Italian
Time Zone CET (UTC+1)
Visa Information

Many nationalities can visit Italy (and the entire Schengen Area) without a visa, always check current requirements for your passport for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Note: ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) launches mid-2025, a quick online pre-registration will be required.

Best Time to Visit

Spring Apr – Jun

Best time to visit. Mild weather, wildflowers in Tuscany, and pre-summer crowds. Rome in April is perfect. The Amalfi Coast opens up from May. Book popular sites well ahead.

Summer Jul – Aug

Peak season and very hot (35°C+ in Rome and southern Italy). The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are extremely crowded. Italians go on holiday in August, expect closures and less authentic dining.

Autumn Sep – Nov

Second best season. Harvest festivals across Tuscany and Umbria, truffle season, and fewer crowds. Venice in October is atmospheric. The Veneto and Piedmont wine regions peak in harvest season.

Winter Dec – Feb

Cold in the north, mild in Sicily and Calabria. Venice Carnival (Feb) is impressive. Rome and Florence have almost no queues in January. Skiing in the Dolomites from December.

Top Things to Do

Culture

Colosseum & Roman Forum, Rome

The 2,000-year-old amphitheatre that held 80,000 spectators. Book tickets online months ahead, queues are hours long without them. The adjacent Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are included in the same ticket.

Culture

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel is one of humanity's greatest achievements. Book a skip-the-line ticket, the queue without one stretches hours. Arrive at opening for the best experience.

Culture

Venice & the Grand Canal

The only city in the world built entirely on water. Vaporetto rides on the Grand Canal, St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and getting deliberately lost in the labyrinth of narrow calli.

Nature

Cinque Terre

Five pastel-coloured fishing villages clinging to dramatic cliffs above the Ligurian Sea. The coastal hiking trail connecting them is one of Europe's most beautiful walks. Go in spring or autumn, summer is overcrowded.

Nature

Amalfi Coast

Vertiginous cliffs, pastel villages, and impossibly blue water. Positano, Ravello, and the town of Amalfi are the highlights. Best explored by ferry between towns, the cliff road is impressive but narrow.

Culture

Florence & the Uffizi

The birthplace of the Renaissance. Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Botticelli's Birth of Venus at the Uffizi, and the Duomo's terracotta dome towering over red-tiled rooftops.

Nature

Tuscany & the Dolomites

Rolling cypress-lined hills, medieval hilltop towns (Siena, San Gimignano), and Chianti vineyards. Or head north for the UNESCO Dolomites, dramatic pink limestone spires, excellent skiing and hiking.

Food

Italian Food, Regional & Real

Pizza Napoletana in Naples, carbonara in Rome (no cream), risotto in Milan, bistecca Fiorentina in Tuscany, fresh pasta in Bologna. Every region has its own cuisine and will defend it fiercely.

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Staying Connected in Italy

Networks

TIM (Telecom Italia), Vodafone Italy, WindTre, Iliad

Speed

Good 4G LTE in cities and tourist areas. 5G in Rome, Milan, Naples, and major cities. Coverage can drop in rural Tuscany and Sicilian interiors.

Airport WiFi

Free WiFi at Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Venice Marco Polo airports. Registration required. Speeds vary, a local eSIM ensures reliable data.

Apps That Need Data

Google MapsCitymapper (Rome/Milan)Trenitalia or Italo (trains)Uber (limited cities)FREE NOW (taxis)Google TranslateThe Fork (restaurant bookings)

Travel Tips

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Useful Links

Did You Know?

Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world, 58 sites including Rome, Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast.
Italians consume around 14 kg of pasta per person per year. There are over 350 different pasta shapes, each region has its own.
The Vatican City, entirely surrounded by Rome, is the world's smallest country at just 0.44 km², smaller than most city parks.

Frequently Asked Questions

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