Italy brings together art, fashion, coastlines, and historic cities in one compact, characterful country. You can explore ancient sites, elegant piazzas, and dramatic landscapes, all woven together by a rich cultural heritage.
Discover Italy
Discover Italy
Why visit Italy?
What to expect
From Rome's grand monuments to Milan's design and style, Italy offers bustling cities, charming hill towns, and sun‑drenched shores. Distinct regions provide a varied mix of museums, galleries, historic streets, and scenic countryside.
Plan your trip
Italy is easy to explore by rail and road once you arrive, with Rome and Milan acting as major gateways to the rest of the country and wider Europe. Plan time to combine iconic cities with at least one quieter coastal or rural stay.
Top experiences in Italy
Walk through ancient Rome
Spend time around the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill to trace the city’s imperial past in one compact historic district.
Discover the Vatican Museums
Admire masterpieces, grand galleries, and the Sistine Chapel, then pause in St Peter’s Square to take in the scale of the setting.
Soak up Milan’s fashion and design
Explore stylish streets around the Quadrilatero della Moda, visit design districts, and enjoy gallery‑lined avenues and courtyards.
Admire the Duomo in Milan
Climb or ride up to the rooftop terraces of Milan’s cathedral for close‑up views of its spires and a sweeping city panorama.
Stroll Italian piazzas at dusk
Join the early evening passeggiata in city squares, when locals gather for a gentle walk, a drink, and conversation outdoors.
Experience Italy’s way of life
Getting around
High‑speed trains link Rome, Milan, and other major cities efficiently, while regional rail and coaches reach smaller towns. Renting a car gives you flexibility in countryside areas, lakes, and coastal regions where public transport is less frequent.
Local life & culture
Italian daily life moves between lively streets, neighbourhood cafes, and social piazzas, with strong regional identities in language, traditions, and festivals. Expect a relaxed rhythm that often peaks in the evenings when locals gather outdoors.
Where to unwind
Unwind along lakeshores, coastal promenades, and landscaped city parks, from Milan’s green spaces to Rome’s historic villas and gardens. Across the country you will find spa towns, quiet countryside retreats, and scenic walking paths to slow the pace.
A taste of Italy
National dishes & specialties
Italy is known for regional pastas, risotti, and baked specialties, with Rome, Milan, and other cities each offering their own interpretations of classic dishes and seasonal produce.
Casual & modern dining hubs
Across Rome and Milan you will find relaxed trattorias, contemporary bistros, and neighbourhood cafes that serve a wide variety of Italian and international flavours, from quick lunches to leisurely meals.
Signature & scenic dining
Enjoy memorable meals in historic palazzi, rooftop terraces overlooking domes and skylines, or refined dining rooms where carefully curated menus highlight regional ingredients and Italian hospitality.
Retail therapy in Italy
Malls & lifestyle hubs
In Milan and Rome, large shopping streets and mall‑style complexes bring together international labels, Italian designers, and lifestyle stores, often combined with cafes and cultural spaces.
Markets & local crafts
Browse city markets and independent boutiques for leather goods, textiles, and handmade accessories, especially in historic districts of Rome, Milan, and other art‑rich towns across the country.
Evening retail scene
After dark, major shopping streets in cities such as Milan and Rome stay lively with late‑opening boutiques, window‑shopping, and illuminated facades that create a relaxed evening atmosphere.
Best time to visit Italy
Peak season runs from June to August, with warm to hot conditions across much of Italy, typically around 24–30°C (75–86°F) in many cities and hotter in the south, ideal for coastal stays but with busier attractions. Shoulder season falls in April to May and September to October, with comfortable temperatures of about 15–24°C (59–75°F), fewer crowds, and pleasant conditions for city sightseeing and countryside trips. Low season generally spans November to March, when many areas see cooler weather from about 5–13°C (41–55°F), quieter cities, and shorter days, though alpine regions can be colder and attract winter visitors.