Italy holidays and travel guide
Ancient Rome, island glamour on Capri, colourful villages in Cinque Terre and Alpine peaks in the Dolomites. These are the places in Italy we keep going back to.
St Peter's Square, Rome
Most Italy stories start in Rome. The Eternal City is the perfect first stop before you head for the coast, the hills or the mountains.
Italy holidays for every kind of traveller
Italy holidays can mean almost anything: a long weekend of ruins and espresso in Rome, a week of swimming off the rocks on Capri, or a slow road trip through vineyards and medieval hill towns. The country stretches from the Alps to the Mediterranean, and every region has its own food, dialect and pace of life.
This Italy travel guide gathers the places Picolo has visited and written about, from Rome and the island of Capri to the colourful villages of Cinque Terre and the rolling hills of Tuscany. Use it to decide where to go first, and where to go next time. For more ideas across the continent, see our guide to Europe.
Rome: the Eternal City
Rome is where many people fall for Italy. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain are all within walking distance of each other, and in between you will find trattorias, gelaterias and small piazzas where life is lived outdoors.
Stay centrally so you can walk everywhere. Our writer fell totally in love with Rome on a first trip, with tips on a hotel by the Spanish Steps, vintage shopping and unforgettable pasta. If you want somewhere grander to sleep, browse our historic hotels in Rome.
Fontelina, Capri
Capri has few sandy beaches, so you swim from rocky platforms like these. Book a lounger well ahead in high season.
Capri and the Amalfi Coast
Capri is where rural Italian charm meets international glamour. Take the ferry from Naples or Sorrento, then spend your days between lemon groves, cliffside beach clubs and the narrow lanes around the Piazzetta.
Book lunch and sun loungers early in summer, as the best spots fill up fast. Our guide to warm and cosy restaurants in Capri covers everything from seaside pizza to a Michelin-listed tasting menu, plus a boat trip across to Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
Corniglia, Cinque Terre
Corniglia is the quietest of the five villages, perched high above the sea instead of down by the water.
Cinque Terre: five villages on the Italian Riviera
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore cling to the cliffs of the Ligurian coast, linked by hiking trails and a local train. Cars are kept out of the villages, so you arrive by rail or on foot.
Read our guide to travelling from village to village in the Cinque Terre for hiking routes, the local Sciacchetrà wine and how to get there from Genoa, Pisa or La Spezia.
Pitigliano, Tuscany
The tufa towns of southern Tuscany seem to grow out of the rock. Pitigliano appears suddenly as you round a bend in the road.
Tuscany and the hill towns of central Italy
Tuscany is the Italy of postcards: cypress-lined roads, vineyards, Renaissance Florence and the medieval squares of Siena. Many visitors rent a farmhouse and spend their days driving between wine estates and hilltop villages. For ideas, see our pick of enchanting villas in Tuscany.
Head south and the landscape turns volcanic. Pitigliano, the little Jerusalem built from red tufa, is one of our favourites, and you can read its story in Little Jerusalem: the red-hot rocky city in the heart of Tuscany. About an hour east, just across the border in Lazio, Civita di Bagnoregio sits on an eroding pinnacle reached by a footbridge. Meet two of its residents in the dying city clinging to the cliffs.
The Dolomites in winter
The Dolomites are a year-round playground, with a vast ski area in winter and hiking, climbing and mountain biking in summer.
The Dolomites, Verona and the north
In the far north, the Dolomites rise in jagged limestone towers above green valleys. In winter they offer one of the largest ski areas in the world, and in summer you can hike from hut to hut, climb via ferratas or ride mountain bike trails. Find out more in our guide to the Dolomites, an Alpine holiday for nature lovers.
On the way, stop in Verona. The city's Roman arena still hosts opera in summer, and there are plenty of things to do in Verona, from Juliet's balcony to walks along the River Adige. Lake Garda is a short trip away, so it is easy to combine city, lake and mountains in one holiday.
Taormina, Sicily
Taormina has roots in ancient Greece and a theatre with views of Mount Etna. It is also where much of The White Lotus season two was filmed.
Sicily and the south
Further south, Sicily has Greek temples, Baroque towns and the smoking cone of Mount Etna. Taormina, Cefalù and Noto all appeared in the second season of the HBO series, and our guide to where The White Lotus was filmed takes you through the locations.
Looking for somewhere to stay? Browse our exclusive partner offers in Italy before you book.
When is the best time to visit Italy?
The best time to visit Italy for most travellers is spring, from April to early June, and early autumn, in September and October. The weather is warm but not scorching, and the cities and coastal villages are less crowded than in July and August.
Summer is peak season for beach holidays, when Capri and the Cinque Terre are at their busiest and Rome can be very hot. Winter is the time for skiing in the Dolomites and for quieter city breaks, although many island and coastal hotels close for the season.
Frequently asked questions about Italy holidays
What are the best places to visit in Italy?
The best places to visit in Italy on a first trip are Rome, Florence and Tuscany, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, and the Cinque Terre. With more time, add the Dolomites for mountains, Verona and Lake Garda in the north, or Sicily in the south. Each region feels different, which is why so many travellers keep coming back.
Do I need a visa for Italy from the UK?
UK citizens can usually visit Italy without a visa for short holidays, as Italy is part of the Schengen area. Rules on passport validity, length of stay and the new EU entry systems change from time to time, so check the latest official UK government travel advice for Italy before you travel.
What currency does Italy use?
Italy uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and larger restaurants, but it is wise to carry some cash for small cafés, markets, rural villages and local tourist taxes. Cash machines are easy to find in towns, though fees vary, so check what your bank charges before you go.
Where are the Dolomites in Italy?
The Dolomites are in north-eastern Italy, spread across the regions of Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The mountains are part of the Southern Alps and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Popular airports for reaching them include Venice, Verona and Innsbruck in Austria, followed by a drive or bus into the valleys.