Destinations · Europe

Italy.

History, beauty, culture: la dolce vita.

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The country

From the ruins of Rome to the canals of Venice, Italy is a journey through centuries of art, architecture and unforgettable flavor. Whether you’re exploring the rolling hills of Tuscany, discovering Renaissance masterpieces in Florence, or relaxing along the Amalfi Coast, we help you experience the best of Italy, your way.

With its roots in the Roman Empire and as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy’s legacy lives on through grand cathedrals, iconic ruins and masterpieces by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli. Each region tells its own story: through architecture, language, food and local tradition.

Italian hospitality is warm and welcoming, inviting travelers to slow down and savor each moment: a sense of beauty, passion and joy that stays with you long after you return home.

Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro (€)
Ideal trip: 8–12 nights
Best for: Art, food & coast

When to go

The best time to visit Italy.

Italy rewards the traveler who reads the calendar — the art cities are a different proposition in May than in August, and the harvest turns Tuscany into something else entirely. Here is how we'd sketch the year across the desk.

Prime season Shoulder Quieter & better value

April–June

Warm, clear days and gardens in bloom, before the summer heat and crowds arrive. Our favorite window for the cities and the countryside alike.

September–October

Harvest season: grape and olive picking in Tuscany, seas still warm on the coast, and softer light over the art cities.

July–August

High summer is hot and busy in the cities, and Italians decamp for the coast around Ferragosto in August. Ideal for the lakes and the sea; we book the best hotels well ahead.

November–March

Cool, quiet and atmospheric: the art cities without the lines, truffles and hearty food, and the best rates, though some coastal spots wind down.

Where to go

The regions of Italy.

Italy rewards travelers who choose a few regions and go deep rather than racing the whole peninsula. These are the areas we weave together most often, each with its own landscape, table and rhythm, from the art cities of the north to the sun-baked coasts of the south.

Region

Rome & Lazio

The Eternal City layers nearly three thousand years into a single skyline: the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican's galleries, and piazzas made for long evenings over pasta and wine.

Region

Florence & Tuscany

The cradle of the Renaissance, ringed by cypress-lined hills, walled hill towns and some of Italy's greatest vineyards and tables.

Region

Venice & the Veneto

A city built on water, all canals, palazzi and quiet backstreets, with the grand villas and vineyards of the Veneto an easy day beyond.

Region

The Amalfi Coast & Campania

Cliffside villages tumbling to the sea, lemon groves and unhurried lunches, with Pompeii, Naples and the islands of Capri and Ischia close at hand.

Region

Milan & the Italian Lakes

Italy's style capital paired with the serene beauty of Como, Maggiore and Garda, where grand villas and gardens line the shore beneath the Alps.

Region

Sicily

A Mediterranean world of its own: Greek temples, baroque towns, smouldering Mount Etna and a food culture shaped by every civilization that ever crossed the sea.

Signature experiences

Our favorite ways to experience Italy.

A sample journey

One way to spend a week in Italy.

1

Days 1–2
Milan & the Lakes

Open in Italy's style capital, then slip up to Lake Como for a day among grand villas, lakeside gardens and slow boat rides beneath the Alps.
2

Days 3–4
Venice & the Veneto

Lose yourself in the canals and backstreets of Venice, with the Grand Canal at dawn and a day among the villas and vineyards of the Veneto.
3

Days 5–6
Florence & Tuscany

Renaissance masterpieces in Florence, then out into the cypress-lined hills for vineyard lunches and a walled hill town or two.
4

Days 7–9
Rome & Lazio

The Eternal City at your own pace: the Colosseum and Forum, the Vatican, and long evenings in the piazzas over pasta and wine.
5

Days 10–11
The Amalfi Coast

Finish on the southern coast, with cliffside villages, lemon-scented terraces and a boat day out to Capri, plus Pompeii on the way down.

Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.

Getting around

By high-speed rail: Frecciarossa and Italo run up to 300 km/h, linking Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples city center to city center. Between the major cities, the train is almost always the smartest move.
By car & driver-guide: For the countryside and the coast we add a private driver-guide or a hire car. The freedom to stop at a roadside vineyard or a clifftop village is half the pleasure.
In the cities: The great art cities are walking cities — Venice has no cars at all. We book hotels so the centro storico is outside the door and the sights are a stroll away.
By boat: A private boat is the right way to see the Amalfi Coast and to reach Capri, and the lake ferries are half the charm of Como. We time the crossings around the day.

Where to stay

Rome: We favor characterful hotels in the historic centro storico, near the Pantheon, Piazza Navona or the Spanish Steps, with grande-dame addresses for a more classic stay.
Florence & Tuscany: A boutique palazzo hotel inside Florence's walls puts the art and the dining on your doorstep; pair it with a countryside wine estate or agriturismo for a few slower days.
Venice: Canal-side hotels in the quieter sestieri such as Dorsoduro or Cannaregio keep you away from the crush and close to the water at dawn, when Venice is at its most magical.
Amalfi Coast: Cliffside hotels in Positano and Ravello for the views, or a calmer base in Sorrento. We match the town to the pace you have in mind.

Rail tickets, transfers, driver-guides and private boat days on the coast are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.

Good to know

Italy travel questions.

How many days do you need in Italy?

Seven nights lets you pair two cities, say Rome and Florence, or Venice and the lakes, at a comfortable pace. Ten to twelve nights is the sweet spot for a classic north-to-south journey from the lakes or Venice down to Rome and the Amalfi Coast.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

Late April to June and September to October are ideal: warm, clear and either side of the summer peak. July and August are hot and busy in the cities but excellent for the lakes and coast, while winter is quiet and atmospheric, with the art cities at their calmest.

Is it better to travel Italy by train or car?

Both, and we usually combine them. The high-speed trains are the fastest, easiest way between the major cities, while a private driver or hire car earns its keep in the countryside, Tuscany, the wine roads and the Amalfi Coast, where the journey is part of the experience.

Is the Amalfi Coast worth it despite the crowds?

Yes, with the right timing and base. We favor shoulder-season dates, a stay in Ravello or another quieter town, and early or late starts to enjoy the famous spots before and after the day-trippers arrive.

Do we need to book major sites in advance?

For the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi, the Colosseum and Milan's Last Supper, absolutely. We reserve timed entries and private guides as part of your itinerary so you skip the lines.

From the journal

Reading on Italy.

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Ways to Explore

How to travel Italy.

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Escorted Tours

Expertly guided, end to end, with the world's finest local operators.

All-Inclusive

Effortless resort escapes; we cut through the haze to the right one.

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