Discover the taste of Italy
Italy is abound with natural beauty, incredible food and wine, spectacular art and architecture, charming villages, rich history and fascinating cities. Combined with the unmatched warmth and friendliness of Italians, Italy is one of the most popular European destinations for good reason!
Explore Italy by clicking on a region
Italy at a glance
WHY GO
- Italy is a history lover’s paradise and boasts more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world. Its cultural heritage has an inescapable presence due to the multitude of museums, palaces, ruins and architecture that spans thousands of years from the ancient Roman Empire to modernity. History buffs will love exploring ruins of ancient Rome like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the preserved city of Pompeii on the Amalfi Coast or the incredible Valley of the Temples in Sicily to name a few.
- Considered the cradle of the Renaissance, the artistic tradition is deeply rooted in Italian culture. It is one of the top art destinations in the world and has the world’s highest ratio of artwork per capita. Italy is known for being home to some of the greatest artists the world has ever seen like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli and Donatello. Art is displayed throughout the country in museums, galleries, and public and religious buildings. Art aficionados should head to Florence to marvel at Michelangelo’s famous statue of David at the Accademia Gallery or visit the Uffizi Gallery which has one of the best collections of Renaissance art in the world. Visit the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to be awed by Michelangelo’s spectacular ‘The Last Judgment’ and explore the Vatican Museums which house the world’s largest privately owned art collection!
- Italy features diverse and wondrous landscapes. From the romantic canals of Venice and the dramatic cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre to the lush rolling hills of Tuscany and the gorgeous lakes of Northern Italy, Italy is overflowing with natural wonders that will take your breath away. Every region has its own beautiful landscape and stunning scenery that will delight even the most jaded traveler.
- The Italian peninsula has a jaw-dropping 5,000 miles of coastline dotted with secluded bays, long stretches of fine sand, charming pebbly coves and picturesque seascapes. Sun worshippers can head to the glamorous Amalfi Coast to bask in the Mediterranean sun at a chic beach club in Positano, get some R&R along the heavenly white-sand beaches of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, or take a dip in the crystal clear waters that lap the exotic black sand beach in the Aeolian Islands.
- Italy is one of the world’s top culinary destinations and a foodie paradise. The 20 different regions of Italy all have their own specialties but no matter where you go, you are sure to find fantastic food made from the best local ingredients. Indulge in a traditional cacio e pepe (pasta dish) in Rome, try the finest parmigiano reggiano cheese in the Emilia-Romagna region, enjoy a juicy bisteca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) in Florence, savor mouthwatering cannoli in Sicily and taste the world’s best extra virgin olive oil in Tuscany.
- Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine and a wine lover’s dream destination. Wine has been an integral part of Italian culture for thousands of years and its rich and dynamic viticultural heritage boasts over 350 varieties of wine. Wine connoisseurs can head to the scenic Piedmont region to sample two of the country’s most famous red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco; the breathtaking vineyards of Tuscany to sip on Italy’s best known wine, Chianti; or to the Veneto region to celebrate La Vida Dolce with a glass of its fantastic sparkling Prosecco.
WHEN TO GO
- Italian cities are great places to visit all year round, but many other areas of Italy, like Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, are only open seasonally, typically from March through November.
- We recommend going in ‘shoulder season’ which is April through May or September when the weather is nice but it isn’t too crowded. If heading to coastal regions or Italian islands, the weather will still be warm enough to swim.
- It can get very hot in the peak summer months of July and August, and beaches can be crowded.
- As with many other places in Europe, the month of August is the time when locals typically take vacation. So you will find that some restaurants and shops may be closed in the cities.
- The best time to visit if you’re interested in wine is the fall. Note that some wineries may be closed around harvest time which is usually in September.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Currency: Euro
- Language: Italian
- No visa required
- Food is affordable
- Trains are a reliable and affordable way to traverse the country, but it is best to rent a car to explore the countryside like Tuscany and Puglia.
- Cars drive on the right side of the road (same as US). We would recommend obtaining an international drivers license if you are going to rent a car.
- Driving in major cities and the Amalfi Coast is not suggested as traffic and driving can be overwhelming!
- In tourist areas, most people speak at least a little bit of English, though it is good to know a few Italian phrases like please/thank you, hello/goodbye, do you speak English.
- If you go to more off-the-beaten-path areas like Puglia, not many people speak english, including hotel staff, so it would be best to brush up on your Italian or have a good translation app on your phone.
- Opening hours at most Italian restaurants is limited – they typically open for lunch between 12.00pm – 2.00pm and close until 7.00pm or 8.00pm when they reopen for dinner. You can head to a bar or cafe any time of day for a drink, meal or a snack. Bars are more like cafes in Italy and are very family friendly.
- It is cheaper to drink coffee while standing at a bar (al banco) rather than sitting down – you could pay up to four times for sit down service as much in touristy areas.
- Some museums are closed on Mondays so make sure to plan accordingly if you only have a couple days in one location.
GALLERY
