Why visit Italy?
Italy brings together art, history, and dramatic landscapes in a compact, easy-to-explore country. From ancient ruins to Renaissance masterpieces, you experience centuries of culture at every turn.
What to expect
You can wander Roman forums, admire Florentine galleries, and stroll Milanese boulevards in a single trip. Coastal villages, alpine lakes, and vineyard-covered hills add striking scenery between the major cities.
Plan your trip
Many travellers combine Rome and Milan with side trips to regions such as Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, or the lakes in the north. Italy also acts as a convenient starting point for exploring neighbouring countries across Europe.
Discover Italy
Discover Italy
Top experiences in Italy
Explore ancient Rome
Walk between landmark ruins and grand piazzas, experiencing the city where imperial history and modern Italian life overlap.
Admire Milanese style
Discover Milan's design districts, elegant arcades, and striking architecture around the Duomo and nearby streets.
Tour Tuscan hill towns
Spend unhurried days in medieval towns and countryside, surrounded by rolling vineyards and olive groves.
Cruise the Italian Lakes
Take a ferry across mirror-like waters framed by mountains, grand villas, and manicured gardens.
Stroll along coastal villages
Follow walking paths and seaside promenades that link colourful cliffside towns and small harbours.
Visit world-class galleries
See influential works of European art in museums and churches spread across Italy's major cities.
Enjoy Italian café culture
Pause at pavement cafés to watch local life unfold over a coffee, pastry, or early evening drink.
Experience Italy's way of life
Getting around
High-speed trains link key cities such as Rome and Milan in just a few hours, offering a straightforward way to cross the country. Regional trains, buses, and local metros help you reach smaller towns and neighbourhoods once you arrive.
Local life & culture
Daily life moves between historic streets, local piazzas, and modern cultural venues. You may find neighbourhood festivals, street performances, and evening gatherings in squares that highlight the Italian focus on community and conversation.
Where to unwind
Italy offers quiet corners in city parks, lakefront promenades, and coastal paths where you can slow your pace. Spa towns, countryside retreats, and gentle hiking routes in the hills provide additional space to relax between days of sightseeing.
A taste of Italy
National dishes & specialties
Each region has its own well-known dishes, from pasta and pizza traditions to rice, seafood, and hearty mountain food. Cities like Rome and Milan showcase these local styles alongside recipes drawn from across the country.
Casual & modern dining hubs
You can dine at informal trattorias, contemporary bistros, and neighbourhood cafés that keep food at the centre of daily life. Menus often highlight seasonal produce, with flavours that shift as you move between northern, central, and southern regions.
Signature & scenic dining
Many restaurants and bars offer views over rooftops, lakes, or coastlines, adding atmosphere to your meal. In larger cities, you also find refined venues that reinterpret classic flavours in modern, design-led settings.
Retail therapy in Italy
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Major Italian cities feature shopping districts and centres that bring together international labels and Italian designers. In places like Rome and Milan, you can move easily between flagship stores, department stores, and lifestyle boutiques.
Markets & local crafts
Open-air markets and artisan streets are ideal for browsing textiles, leather goods, and locally made items. Cities and regions across Italy showcase different strengths, from crafted accessories to homeware and regional products.
Evening retail scene
Many shopping streets and central areas come alive in the early evening, with lit façades and people taking relaxed walks. Some districts combine late-opening stores with cafés and bars, so you can mix shopping with time to linger.
Best time to visit Italy
Peak season: June to August, when many parts of Italy are warm to hot, with average temperatures around 25–30°C (77–86°F), especially in central and southern regions.
Shoulder season: April to May and September to October, with mild to warm days around 15–24°C (59–75°F), ideal for city walks and countryside visits.
Low season: November to March, when temperatures drop to roughly 5–13°C (41–55°F) in many cities, with cooler conditions in the north and fewer crowds.