Italy
The benchmark for food, history, and beauty.
Italy doesn't really need a pitch. The food is the best in Europe, the history is the best in the West, and the variety from the Dolomites to Sicily is bigger than people remember. Skip July-August if you can; the country is too good to share with crowds in 38°C heat.
At a glance
- Best time
- April, May, June, September…
- Climate
- Mild
- Budget
- Budget – Mid-range
- Trip length
- 1–4 weeks
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR (€)
- January: fine
- February: fine
- March: fine
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: peak
- July: fine
- August: avoid
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: fine
- December: fine
Avoid: August. Shoulder: January, February, March, July, November, December.
Highlights
-
Rome
Ancient sites layered under a working city.
-
Florence & Tuscany
The Renaissance city plus rolling wine country.
-
Amalfi & Puglia
South of Rome — coast, simpler food, stronger sun.
-
Venice
Best off-season. Get up early.
-
The Dolomites
Northern alpine region — hiking summer, skiing winter.
Practical info
- Visa
- Schengen — visa-free for most Western passports (90 days).
- Currency
- EUR (€)
- Language
- Italian. English in cities and tourism, less in the south.
- Safety
- Very safe. Pickpocketing in Rome, Naples, Florence.
- Getting around
- Trenitalia and Italo trains are excellent. Drive for Tuscany or the south.
- Tap water
- Tap water safe and good.
- Plug type
- Type C Type F Type L 230V
- Money
- Cards widely accepted; cash for small bars and family-run trattorias.
Not sure where to go
Take the 5-minute quiz
Answer a few honest questions and get matched to destinations that actually fit how you travel.
Start the quizCompare Italy with
Last updated 2026-05-04