Italy blends ancient history, art, and fashion with relaxed everyday life, from grand piazzas to peaceful countryside villages.
Discover Italy
Discover Italy
Why visit Italy?
What to expect
You will find landmark cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice, framed by coastlines, lakes, and mountains that invite slow, scenic journeys.
Plan your trip
Italy works well for both first-time city breaks and longer multi-city itineraries, and is a natural gateway for exploring wider Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Top experiences in Italy
Walk through ancient Rome
Explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and surrounding neighbourhoods where layers of history sit beside lively modern streets.
Cruise the canals of Venice
Glide past palaces and bridges on a vaporetto or gondola, and wander quiet back alleys that reveal hidden churches and artisan workshops.
Admire art in Florence
See Renaissance masterpieces in galleries such as the Uffizi and Accademia, and climb viewpoints for sweeping views over terracotta rooftops.
Drive or ride along the Amalfi Coast
Travel between cliffside towns linked by winding roads and sea views, stopping for coastal walks and relaxed hours on the beach.
Explore the lakes and Alps
Visit Lake Como or Lake Garda for boat rides and lakeside promenades, then head into the Italian Alps for hiking and winter sports.
Discover Milan's style districts
Combine visits to the Duomo and historic sights with time in fashion and design districts filled with galleries, showrooms, and boutiques.
Taste wines in the countryside
Join vineyard tours in regions such as Tuscany, Piedmont, or Veneto to sample local wines and learn how they are produced.
Experience Italy's way of life
Getting around
High speed trains connect major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice, while regional trains and buses reach smaller towns and coastal areas. Domestic flights and car hire are useful for covering longer north–south routes or exploring rural regions at your own pace.
Local life & culture
Daily life in Italy often centres on the piazza, with locals meeting for coffee, evening strolls, and relaxed conversations. You will notice strong regional identities, with local festivals, family-run businesses, and a shared focus on craftsmanship, design, and the arts.
Where to unwind
You can relax on Mediterranean beaches, in hillside villages surrounded by olive groves, or at spa towns with thermal baths. National parks and mountain trails offer quiet walks, while city parks and landscaped gardens provide calm green corners close to museums and shops.
A taste of Italy
National dishes & specialties
Pasta, risotto, pizza, and gelato appear across the country, with each region offering its own variations and local ingredients. Rome, Naples, Bologna, and Sicily are just a few of the many areas known for distinctive flavours and long culinary traditions.
Casual & modern dining hubs
You can find relaxed trattorias, family-run eateries, and contemporary bistros in most neighbourhoods, often with seasonal menus and regional wines. City centres such as Rome, Milan, and Turin offer everything from quick counter service to stylish modern dining in former industrial spaces.
Signature & scenic dining
Enjoy terrace dinners overlooking city rooftops, lakeside restaurants on Como or Garda, or coastal venues in Liguria and the Amalfi Coast. In larger cities, fine dining restaurants and chef-led kitchens highlight creative interpretations of traditional Italian ingredients.
Retail therapy in Italy
Malls & lifestyle hubs
Milan, Rome, and Turin feature large shopping streets and malls where you can browse international brands alongside Italian labels. Many centres combine fashion, homeware, and dining, making them easy places to spend a full afternoon.
Markets & local crafts
Florence, Venice, and Rome host markets where you can look for leather goods, textiles, glassware, and handmade accessories. Smaller towns throughout Tuscany, Umbria, and Puglia are known for ceramics, woven fabrics, and other regional crafts.
Evening retail scene
In major cities, shopping streets stay lively into the evening, with illuminated window displays and late opening hours on selected days. Around central piazzas, independent boutiques, galleries, and artisan shops sit close to cafés and wine bars, making it easy to combine browsing with a relaxed night out.
Best time to visit Italy
Italy has varied climates from north to south, but three broad travel seasons help you plan. Peak season runs from June to August, when many destinations are warm to hot, with average temperatures around 25–32°C (77–90°F), especially in central and southern regions and along the coasts. Shoulder season covers April to May and September to October, bringing milder days of roughly 15–24°C (59–75°F), ideal for city sightseeing and countryside trips with fewer crowds than in summer. Low season typically falls from November to March, when many areas see cooler weather of about 5–13°C (41–55°F), particularly in the north, while mountain regions experience winter conditions suitable for snow sports.