Road between green fields near mountains in Tuscany

🇹🇭 Southern Europe · 59M people

Travel to Italy: the complete 2026 guide

Eternal Rome, Renaissance Florence, watery Venice, Tuscan hills, Cinque Terre, Naples-Pompeii-Amalfi, Sicily and Puglia. Italy is the world's densest country in heritage. Our guide to plan your trip region by region, off-peak preferably.

📅 When to go? 🗺️ See itineraries

Italy at a glance

Capital

Rome

Language

Italian

Currency

Euro (€)

Time diff

None

Flight from Paris

~2h direct

Average / day

€80-200

Visa

Best season

April-June, September-October

Photo : Luca Micheli / Unsplash

In 30 seconds

Why visit Italy

1

World's highest heritage density

60 UNESCO sites (world record). Rome, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Cinque Terre, Sicily, Puglia… You can travel in Italy a lifetime without repeating.
2

The gastronomy that conquered the world

Pasta, pizza, gelato, espresso, regional wine. Authentic Italian food is eaten in neighborhood trattorias, not at Eataly Paris.
3

Ultra-accessible short-haul

2h flight, in the EU (no customs), euro, decent English. Ryanair Paris-Rome from €30. Easiest destination to organize from France.
4

20 regions = 20 different trips

Lakes in the North, Tuscany in the Center, Naples-Amalfi-Sicily in the South. Distinct climates, gastronomies and architectures. Better 3 regions thoroughly than 6 superficially.
5

Overtourism WARNING

Venice, Cinque Terre, Amalfi unbearable in July-August. Prefer April-May and September-October — or alternatives (Levanto vs Cinque Terre, Bergamo vs Venice).

Calendar

When to go to Italy

Mediterranean + alpine climate. Summer (July-August): stifling heat in the South (40°C), huge crowds, prices x2. April-June and September-October = ideal everywhere.

Full when-to-go guide →

Ideal Fair Avoid · Click for details

Jan

🌡 3-12 °C

Feb

🌡 4-13 °C

Mar

🌡 7-16 °C

Apr

🌡 10-20 °C

May

🌡 15-25 °C

Jun

🌡 19-29 °C

Jul

🌡 22-32 °C

Aug

🌡 22-32 °C

Sep

🌡 18-28 °C

Oct

🌡 13-22 °C

Nov

🌡 8-16 °C

Dec

🌡 4-12 °C

Detailed programs

Recommended itineraries

1 week

1-week itinerary

📅 1 week 💰 📍 Rome · Florence

See itinerary →

2 weeks Best-seller

2-week itinerary

📅 2 weeks 💰 📍 Rome · Florence · Siena · Cinque Terre · Venice · Verona · Lake Como

See itinerary →

1 month

1-month itinerary

📅 1 month 💰 📍 Venice · Florence · Rome · Naples-Pompeii · Amalfi Coast · Puglia · Sicily

See itinerary →

Destinations

Cities & islands of Italy

Must-see

Rome

Eternal capital

UNESCO

Florence

Renaissance + Tuscany

By traveler profile

Which trip suits you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Families

Rome (Colosseum + gelato), short Florence (kids Uffizi), Northern lakes. Avoid Venice in summer (unbearable crowds).

💑

Honeymoon

Amalfi Coast (Positano, Ravello), Tuscany (agritourismos), lakes (Bellagio, Villa d'Este). €4,000-8,000 for 10 days.

🎒

Backpacking

Italian hostels €25-40, pizza al taglio €5, regional train €10-30. 14 days backpacking €1,200-1,500.

🍷

Wine tourism

Chianti (Tuscany), Barolo (Piedmont), Etna (Sicily). Tastings €20-50, agritourismos with vineyards.

🥂

Luxury & refinement

Belmond Splendido (Portofino), Aman Venice, Le Sirenuse (Positano), Borgo Egnazia (Puglia). €800-2,000/night.

🏛️

History & culture

Rome (3 days min), Florence (3 days), Pompeii-Herculaneum (1 day), Ravenna (mosaics). Roma Pass + Firenze Card recommended.

In pictures

Italy in photos

Italy

Rome

Florence

Must-do

Signature experiences

✨

Aperitivo in Milan

Spritz + cicchetti

✨

Tuscan cooking class

Homemade fresh pasta

✨

Chianti wine tasting

Wine cellars

✨

Vespa in Rome

Scooter tours

✨

Gondola in Venice

€80 for 30 min

✨

Cinque Terre hike

Sentiero Azzurro 12 km

✨

Etna excursion

3,326 m summit

✨

Agritourismo

Farm + local dinner

Plan your trip

Practical info

📄

Italy visa

No visa for EU nationals. Valid ID card or passport.

Read guide →

🚄

Trenitalia / Italo

Excellent main lines. Book Frecciarossa 2-3 weeks ahead for low prices.

Read guide →

🛡️

Travel insurance

European Health Insurance Card sufficient for routine care. Travel supplement useful.

Compare →

💳

Travel card

Cash always useful. Wise/Revolut avoid fees on small purchases.

Compare →

How much

Italy budget

💰 Calculate my budget →

Backpacker

€1,200

✈️ Flight: €100
🏨 Hostel/B&B: €30/night
🍕 Pizza al taglio: €15/day
🚆 Regional trains: €150

Recommended

Comfort

€2,400

✈️ Flight: €150
🏨 3-4★ hotel: €100/night
🍽️ Trattorias: €40/day
🚆 Frecciarossa: €300

Premium

€8,000

✈️ Business flight: €500
🏨 Palaces (Aman, Belmond): €600/night
🍽️ Starred restaurants: €120/day
🚖 Private driver: Included

Our picks

Prepare your trip to Italy

Our tested and updated comparisons for a smooth trip to Italy.

🏢

Best travel agency for Italy

Tailor-made agencies, organized tours, free quotes. Our selection for Italy.

See comparison →

🛡️

Travel insurance for Italy

Medical coverage, repatriation, cancellation. The best insurance for Italy.

See comparison →

📡

eSIM for Italy

Data plans, network coverage, pricing. The best eSIM to stay connected in Italy.

See comparison →

Combine with

White and blue houses of Santorini facing the Aegean Sea

🇬🇷

Greece

2h flight, Mediterranean

Aerial view of the walled old town of Dubrovnik and its orange roofs over the Adriatic

🇭🇷

Croatia

Ferry or 1h30 flight

View of Seville and the Guadalquivir river

🇪🇸

Spain

2h flight, same vibe

Yellow and white tram on a Lisbon street

🇵🇹

Portugal

3h flight, Iberian road trip

White houses with blue doors of Sidi Bou Said overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

🇹🇳

Tunisie

Vol 1h30 vers la Sicile

FAQ

Best time to visit Italy? +

April-June and September-October. Avoid July-August: stifling heat in the South (Naples, Sicily, Puglia: 40°C), huge crowds in Venice and Cinque Terre, prices doubled.

How long to visit Italy? +

Minimum 10 days for classic Rome + Florence + Venice + Cinque Terre. Ideal 2 weeks. 3 weeks for full North-Center-South.

Car or train? +

Frecciarossa train for big cities (Rome-Florence 1h30, Venice-Milan 2h30). Car essential for rural Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily. Combo train + occasional rental.

Venice without the crowds? +

Come between Nov and Feb (except carnival). Otherwise: very early morning (6-8am), Cannaregio and Castello neighborhoods, Burano and Torcello islands.

Budget for 2 weeks in Italy? +

Backpacker: €1,200-1,500 flight included. Comfort: €2,400-3,000. Premium: €6,000-12,000.

Puglia or Sicily for first Southern Italy trip? +

Sicily: more diverse (Etna, Palermo, Taormina, Syracuse). Puglia: more authentic, Alberobello Trulli, turquoise sea (Salento). 7-10 days minimum each.