🇮🇹 Country guide

Italy Travel Guide

Renaissance art, endless vineyards and la dolce vita on every corner.

Gateway

Rome · FCO

Capital

Rome

Best time

April–June · September–October

Budget

Moderate

Don't miss

Standing beneath the Pantheon's oculus in the rain

How to plan a route through Italy

Don't turn Italy into a high-speed-train race that ticks off Rome, Florence and Venice in one night each. Rome needs at least four days for the ancient city and the Vatican; Florence three for its packed museums; Venice two nights to see the rhythm of the lagoon. Milan is the north's gateway to art and design, Naples the centre of living history and Campanian cuisine, and the Amalfi Coast a separate logistical region with no railway station and seasonal sea transport.

The high-speed train is efficient on the Rome–Florence–Milan–Venice backbone; Naples connects to the south on the same network. The last step to the Amalfi Coast is solved via Salerno, Naples/Sorrento and a ferry–bus combination. Decide on the number of days before the number of cities: in 8–10 days no more than three main bases, in 12–14 days four stops are sustainable. Count the hotel–station link and the last ferry connection as part of the route decision, just like museum tickets.

What to know before travelling to Italy

Check visas and the 2026 border system with official sources

Whether you need a Schengen visa for tourist travel depends on your nationality; confirm your personal passport/visa situation with the Italian Foreign Ministry's Visa for Italy tool and the competent consulate. EES has been fully operational at the Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026. ETIAS is not yet accepting applications as of August 2026; it is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, and the exact date will be announced through official channels. Avoid early ETIAS sites that ask for a fee.

High-speed and regional trains work differently when it comes to tickets

On Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains, the ticket is tied to a specific train and time and usually to a seat; the change conditions of cheap fares can be limited. Validate a paper regional ticket before boarding. Trenitalia's current Digital Regional Ticket is validated automatically at the scheduled departure; still, follow the current instructions on the ticket screen and carry ID. On strike or maintenance days, check the official operator announcement.

ZTL cameras don't listen to your satnav

Rome, Florence, Milan, Naples and small coastal towns have camera-enforced limited traffic zones; hours and permit rules vary by municipality. Booking a central hotel does not automatically give you the right to enter. Don't pass the sign without written confirmation of how the hotel or garage will register your number plate in the authorised system. It is easier to pick up the car as you head out to the countryside rather than in the city centre.

Check whether you need an International Driving Permit

When driving in Italy on a non-EU licence, an international driving permit or an official translation may be required, and the vehicle category must match. A rental company handing over the car does not mean you meet every condition of traffic law and insurance. Read the ZTL, parking colours, motorway tolls and fuel policy together.

Coperto, servizio and tips are not the same thing

Coperto is a per-person charge for the table and bread, while servizio is a service charge added to the bill; both must be clearly shown on the menu. Tipping is not a mandatory percentage as in the US. First check the two lines on the bill; if you were happy, leave a small rounding-up or some extra cash. A terrace on the piazza may charge different prices from the bar counter.

Cards are widespread, but a little cash still helps

Cards are widely accepted in hotels, museums and restaurants; carry euro cash for small bars, markets, bus tickets, coastal boats and toilets. If an ATM or POS offers conversion to your home currency, choosing to be charged in EUR is usually more transparent; know your own bank's exchange rate and fees. Ask to see the terminal rather than letting the card be taken to a back room.

Tourist tax may be separate from the room price

The municipal accommodation tax varies by city, property class, age and number of nights; it may not appear as included on the booking screen and may be collected at the property. Don't use the fixed amount from an old blog. Ask the hotel for the current amount per person per night, how to pay and for a receipt.

Save the official ticket domains in advance

Around the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Duomo, the Last Supper, Pompeii and San Marco, look-alike domains pushed by ads can be expensive resellers. Go through to the sales channel from the museum's institutional site. On named tickets use the spelling in your passport; don't assume that free or reduced tickets apply automatically to non-EU visitors.

Don't assume EU roaming on your phone line

A non-EU phone line is not automatically covered by the EU's "roam like at home"; check your operator's Italy package. A travel eSIM provides data but usually not an Italian phone number. You can manage train, museum and restaurant bookings by email or WhatsApp; before changing your account country for an app, try the web or guest payment option.

Check strike and service notices the day before

Train, local transport and airline strikes can affect your plans; for some long-distance trains, lists of guaranteed services are published. Instead of rumour accounts, follow the Ministry of Transport strike calendar, Trenitalia/Italo and the local operator's notices. Leave a wide margin between separately ticketed flights, trains and ferries.

10–12 days

A first trip to Italy

Four nights in Rome, three in Florence, three in Venice. Travel along the high-speed backbone; don't pile the big museums and the Vatican onto the same days.

Rome →Florence →Venice →

7–9 days

Art and design in the north

Three nights in Milan, two to three in Venice, three in Florence. Make the Last Supper ticket the first booking, as it sets the dates of the route.

Milan →Venice →Florence →

10–13 days

Rome and Campania

Four nights in Rome, three in Naples and four to five on the coast. Put Pompeii into the Naples leg and plan coastal transport around Salerno or Sorrento as your gateway.

Rome →Naples →Amalfi Coast →

7–9 days

Food and sea in the south

Three days in Naples for history, pizza and MANN; four to five nights on the Amalfi Coast from a single base for villages, walks and ferries.

Naples →Amalfi Coast →

Cities and coastal routes to visit in Italy

The cities to visit in Italy form a natural route linking art, history, food and coastal scenery. Rome answers different expectations with its ancient heritage, Florence with Renaissance works, Venice with lagoon life and Milan with design culture. Naples and the Amalfi Coast bring out the cuisine and Mediterranean rhythm of southern Italy. On a first trip, choosing two or three main cities linked by high-speed train makes for a more balanced experience.

Original guides are live for all 6 cities