Planning a trip to Italy and not sure where to start? Let us help you!
On this page, you can find an overview of destination guides, itineraries, and authentic and experience-based travel tips for visiting Italy. Whether you are looking for information about the most popular cities, lesser-known places, or stunning nature destinations, our articles will give you a better idea of what to expect and help you plan a truly unforgettable trip.
We also include lots of practical tips on where to book tickets to the most popular attractions and where to find some of the most exclusive tours that will show you the best of Italy without the crowds.
Italy is one of our all-time favorite destinations in the world, a place where we gladly return to again and again… It’s one of those countries that you can visit ten times and still feel that you only scratched the surface.
We have been to Italy more times than I can remember. After each trip, we share stories, experiences, and tips on this blog. This page is an ever-growing collection of travel guides to some of our favorite destinations from our recent trips all over Italy.
From the top landmarks of Venice to hidden gems of Rome, and from road trip itineraries in Tuscany to the most beautiful hikes in the Italian Dolomites – get inspired to visit Italy and plan your dream trip with our travel tips and advice.
In addition, you can also find all the info that you need for visiting San Marino, a tiny country completely surrounded by Italy. Take a look!
Italy Travel Guides – OVERVIEW:
- Travel Inspiration & General Guides
- Itineraries
- Tickets & Tours (+exclusive experiences & best city cards)
- Getting Around
- Where to Stay
- Best Time to Visit
- Destination Guides per Region:
- Campania (Amalfi Coast, Naples,…)
- Emilia Romagna (Bologna, Ravenna,…)
- Lazio (Rome)
- Liguria (Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera,…)
- Lombardy (Milan & the Lakes)
- Trentino-South Tyrol (Dolomites)
- Tuscany (Florence, Pisa, Siena,…)
- Veneto (Venice, Verona,…)
- + San Marino
PRO TIP: If you are planning a multi-city trip around Italy (or Europe in general), don’t miss the page listing our hand-picked recommendations for all the must-see attractions in major European cities. It will save you lots of time and research!
*This page contains affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a qualifying purchase. More info: Disclosure.
Italy Travel Inspiration & General Guides
- Best Places to Visit in Italy
- Most Beautiful Cities in Italy
- Most Beautiful Churches & Cathedrals in Italy
- Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast
- Italian Food by Region
Itineraries
- Italy Itinerary (2-week itinerary that covers all the musts – perfect for the first trip)
- Naples, Amalfi Coast & Capri Island Itinerary
- Tuscany Itinerary
- Dolomites Itinerary
- Emilia Romagna Itinerary
- Amalfi Coast Itinerary
- Lake Garda Itinerary
- 1 Day in Rome
- 1 Day in Florence
- 1 Day in Venice
- 1 Day in Naples
- 1 Day in Cinque Terre
- 1 Day in Milan
- 2 Days in Rome
- 3 Days in Venice
- 4 Days in Rome
Tickets, Tours & Day Trips
Important to know: Many tourist attractions in Italy are so popular that it’s absolutely essential to book skip-the-line tickets in advance, or you risk not being able to visit at all. The most visited landmarks, like the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums, always sell out, but it’s also the case for many smaller museums and other tourist attractions.
We personally use and recommend the GetYourGuide website for all tickets, guided tours, and day trips for your trip to Europe (and beyond). It’s our favorite one-stop shop for all tickets and activities worldwide. They have the most complete inventory, amazing customer service, and the most flexible cancellation policy on the market.
In addition, Tiqets is a great website for some of the best digital city cards and bundle deals. For example, their Rome Tourist Digital Pass makes it easy to secure tickets and book time slots for all the top sights in Rome in one spot. You can also click on the pictures below to check their city cards for the most popular destinations in Italy.
INSIDER TIP: If you are looking for unique local experiences or exclusive-access tours that bring you to the most special places before or after they are open to the general public, check out the Take Walks website. They have lots of incredible tours all over Europe and Italy in particular. We have done dozens of tours with them over the years and they never disappoint.
READ ALSO: Europe Attractions You Must Book in Advance
Getting Around
If you are visiting Italian cities, do yourself a favor and do not rent a car. You can easily visit all the main towns by train. It’s fast and easy. In addition, there are many amazing guided tours that can bring you to places that aren’t simple to visit by public transport. See our Italy itinerary for inspiration on how to plan a trip without a car.
However, if you are traveling in smaller towns and villages, often, having a car is so much easier. So it’s important to plan well and know what kind of trip you want to make. You can also travel by train for most of the trip and only rent a car for a few days when you really need it.
In general, driving in Italy is comparable to driving in other European countries: traffic jams and tolls on the highways, crazy busy traffic in towns, and shortage of car parking spaces… This never stopped us from exploring Italy by car, however. There are so many amazing regions and smaller towns in Italy that would be very difficult to see otherwise.
If you need a car for (part of) your trip, check out Booking.com for the best deals for car rental. We always book our rental cars through this website. I highly recommend their full insurance option as well – it’s a must in Italy and is incomparably cheaper than directly at the counter.
Where to Stay
The best places to stay in Italy will depend highly on your destination and how you travel around. In general, in the main cities, it’s best to stay in the heart of the city center. Most cities are very walkable so staying centrally often means that you don’t need to worry about transportation.
If you are making a road trip and have a car, avoid having to drive/ park in the biggest cities. Also, be sure to book accommodations with parking!
Below, you can find our lodging guides for some popular destinations:
- Best Area to Stay in Rome
- Where to Stay in Cinque Terre
- Where to Stay in Lake Como
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites
- Where to Stay in Val Gardena
- Best San Marino Hotels
Good to know: If you are visiting Italy in the high season (from Easter to October), be sure to book your accommodation well in advance. Best price/quality accommodations are always gone first. But even in the low season, the biggest cities are always busy nowadays.
Good to know: Booking.com is the best website for accommodation in Italy. It has the best selection of hotels, B&Bs, and privately owned accommodations AND the most transparent booking system with the biggest flexibility in terms of cancellations. We book all our holiday accommodations through this website.
TIP: You can also use the map below to find the best accommodations for your trip to Italy. Simply insert your destination and travel dates and you will see the best deals from various hotel booking websites in one place (it might take a while to load all the options though).
Best Time to Visit
There is no bad time to visit Italy and all seasons have something special and unique. In general, the best time to visit Italy is from April to October. That’s when the weather is at its best and everything is open everywhere.
However, it can get really hot in the summer months. So if you are visiting in June, July, and August, try to avoid big cities and visit smaller places at the coast or in the mountains.
My personal favorite time to be in Italy is spring and autumn. The weather is perfect for sightseeing and there are fewer people. This is one of the best times to travel in Europe!
We also love visiting Italy in the lower season. That’s when you can experience a truly authentic side of this beautiful country.
Here you can find some inspiration and information on what it’s really like to visit Italy in November and here for November in Rome. I recently visited Venice in December and fell in love with the city – it’s absolutely magical without the crowds!
Destination Guides Per Region
Below, you can find an overview of all our Italy articles per region, sorted alphabetically.
Campania (Naples/ Amalfi Coast/ Capri)
Naples:
- Best Things to Do in Naples
- Where to Stay in Naples
- 1 Day in Naples
- Best Day Trips from Naples
- Mount Vesuvius (complete guide on how to visit)
Amalfi Coast:
- Essential Travel Tips for Visiting the Amalfi Coast
- Amalfi Coast Itinerary (Suggestions from 1 to 5 days)
- Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast
- How to Get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples
- Path of the Gods Hike
Capri Island:
- Capri Island: Things To Do & Tips For Your Visit
- Where to Stay in Capri
- Anacapri
- How to Visit Capri from Sorrento
Emilia Romagna
- Best Things to Do in Bologna
- Best Things to Do in Rimini
- Bologna & Florence Itinerary
- Emilia Romagna Itinerary (this region is a true hidden gem of Italy)
- Best Things to Do in Ravenna
Lazio (Rome)
Rome – best places & experiences:
- BEST Places to See & Things to Do in Rome
- Colosseum: Tickets, Tours & Levels Explained
- Hidden Gems of Rome (that most tourists never see)
- Best Views and Viewpoints in Rome (most are really easy to visit)
- Rome Underground Sites, Crypts & Catacombs
- Ancient Rome Landmarks (the oldest places to see in Rome)
- Rome Street Food Tour (our favorite!)
Rome itineraries:
- 1 Day in Rome (see all the musts in a day)
- 2 Days in Rome (best places + a few hidden gems)
- Rome 4 Days Itinerary (see all the main landmarks + hidden gems)
Practical information for visiting Rome:
- Tips for Planning Your Trip to Rome
- Rome Airport Transfers
- Where to Eat and How to Find The Best Food in Rome
- Where to Stay in Rome (the VERY BEST area)
- Rome in November (what to expect and seasonal tips)
Liguria (Italian Riviera)
Cinque Terre:
- Complete Guide to Visiting Cinque Terre (Tips for first-time visitors)
- How to See the Best of Cinque Terre in One Day
- Where to Stay in Cinque Terre (Ultimate Guide to 5terre Hotels)
Italian Riviera:
- Most Beautiful Small Coastal Towns of the Italian Riviera
- Portovenere (Hidden Gem near Cinque Terre)
Lombardy (Milan and the Lakes)
Milan:
Lake Como:
- Best Things to Do in Lake Como
- Lake Como Travel Tips & Useful Info
- Most Beautiful Towns to Visit in Lake Como
- Como
- Bellagio
- Varenna
- Villa del Balbianello
- Where to Stay in Lake Como: Best Towns & Hotels
- Most Beautiful Villas and Gardens of Lake Como
Lake Garda:
- Best of Lake Garda – Places You Shouldn’t Miss
- Lake Garda Itinerary (suggestions for any trip duration)
Trentino-South Tyrol (Italian Mountains)
Dolomites:
- Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites
- Dolomites Itinerary (suggestions for any trip duration from 1 day to a week and more)
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites (2 best areas & tips)
- Most Beautiful Lakes in the Dolomites
- Marmolada, the Queen of the Dolomites
- Lago di Braies – Pragser Wildsee (the most beautiful lake in the Dolomites)
- Lago di Dobbiaco – Toblacher See (a less touristy alternative to Lago di Braies)
- Val Gardena Hotel Guide
Hiking in the Dolomites:
- Most Beautiful Hikes in the Dolomites
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
- Lago di Sorapis Hike
- Cinque Torri Hike
- Lago di Limides Hike
- Lago Federa Hike
Trentino:
- Best Things To Do in Trentino with Kids (adventure family summer vacation in Italy)
- Val di Fumo Hike (one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in Italy)
Tuscany (Florence & beyond)
Florence:
- Best Things to Do in Florence
- 1 Day in Florence
- Florence Rooftop Bars & Hotels with Rooftop Terrace
- Florence to Bologna: Travel Info & Itinerary
Siena:
More of Tuscany:
- Most Beautiful Towns of Tuscany
- Best Things to Do in Montepulciano
- Tuscany Itinerary
- How To See Tuscany From One Central Location
Veneto (Venice, Verona & beyond)
Venice:
- Best Things to Do in Venice
- 1 Day in Venice: Things to Do & Itinerary
- 3 Days in Venice
- Tips for Visiting Doge’s Palace in Venice
- Venice Gondola Ride (Tips for a better experience)
- Venice by Car
- Visiting Venice with a Baby or a Toddler
- What It’s Like to Visit Venice in December
Verona:
San Marino
While the Republic of San Marino is an independent country, this tiny gem is completely surrounded by Italy. I, therefore, included all our guides to San Marino in this Italian travel guide.
- San Marino Travel Guide (ALL the information you need!)
- Three Towers of San Marino (what to expect & tips for your visit)
- Best Hotels in San Marino
READ ALSO: How to Plan a Trip to Europe
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