Italy — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Tour Highlights
- Marvel at the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome.
- Head to Siena and watch the annual horse race.
- Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Explore Venice on a gondola ride.
- Dine a margherita pizza in Naples.
Travel Tips
- For authentic Italian cuisine, look for a restaurant with a full Italian menu instead of those catering only to tourists.
- Italians take great pride in their food, so do not make any special food requests.
- Make sure you are full before 7 PM. Italian restaurants rarely open after that.
- Keep your belongings safe as some Italian cities have a bad reputation for pickpocketing.
- Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting churches and other holy sites.
- The best tourist spots are less crowded in the mornings.
Popular tour types in Italy
- Italy budget tours: Traveling on a shoestring budget? See all the big hitters on one of our Italy budget tours. Take a ride along the canals of Venice, hike the Amalfi Coast, or gaze in wonder at the Colosseum in Rome. Designed to suit tight budgets, these tours give you the most bang for your buck.
- Italy guided tours: Looking for a more structured experience? Our Italy guided tours have been designed to make you feel safe and informed while giving you the pleasure to take in some of the country’s most beloved sights, including Cinque Terre, the Trulli huts of Puglia, Tuscan vineyards, and more.
- Italy luxury tours: Sometimes you just want to treat yourself to the finer things of life. We have you covered with our Italy high-end tours. Staying in four- and five-star accommodations, you can wake up refreshed and in the heart of the action. Whether that is exploring the Uffizi in Florence, wandering around Pompeii, or learning more about the Vatican.
- Italy private tours: We get it, sometimes you need something that’s just for you. That’s why we have created our Italy private tours. Book safe in the knowledge that it will just be your family or friend group traveling around this beautiful country, learning more about the cities and towns, like the intriguing modern history of Palermo.
- Italy group tours: Some of our most popular trips are our Italy group tours. Designed to bring people together with newer travelers in mind, you can explore vineyards, islands, and cobbled streets with like-minded people who will soon become your lifelong friends.
- Italy customized tours: Know exactly what you want but cannot quite find it? Want to combine a ski trip in Bardonecchia with a culinary jaunt around Bologna? We can make it happen. Create a trip to your exact specifications with our Italy tailor-made tours. Simply give our experts a few details and we will make the perfect Italian tour for you.
Activity-based Italy Tours
- Italy culture tours: With Italy being so jam-packed with history, it is no wonder that there are so many Italy culture tours to choose from. Learn as you travel, taking in the culture of the towns and cities around you, all the while admiring the historical sites like the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Forum in Rome, or Pompeii.
- Italy hiking tours: Want to explore Italy on foot? With the Dolomites, Appian Way, and plenty of gorgeous coastal trails, our Italy hiking tours range in location, duration, and comfort level to give you the flexibility you need. Think of all the pasta you can eat at the end of each day.
- Italy bicycle tours: If you want to cruise around Italy on a two-wheeler, our Italy cycling tours are a great place to start. With different itineraries ranging from mountain trails in the Dolomites, to flatter Roman trails like Sentiero della Bonifica, to a combination of the two, you can be active and explore this beautiful country.
- Italy cruise tours: If you prefer to explore Italy at a more leisurely pace, our Italy cruise tours are just the thing for you. These tours are designed to take all the logistical hard work out of the equation. Sit back as you are dropped at your next outstanding destination, from Venice, to Rome, to Naples and beyond.
- Italy city sightseeing tours: With more UNESCO heritage sites than any other country in the world, there is a reason we have so many Italy city sightseeing tours. Rome alone has dozens of attractions to experience. We will take care of the logistics so that you can focus on your tour.
- Italy food tours: One of the main reasons many of us visit Italy is because of the food. On our Italy food tours, you may be sampling limoncello on the Amalfi Coast, tearing into a traditional pizza in Naples, or going on a gastronomic Balsamic journey in Modena. Bring your appetite and perhaps some baggier clothing.
Popular durations for an Italy trip
While you can explore certain cities, such as Milan or Venice, over a long weekend (4 days). To take in most of what the different cities have on offer, we recommend you spend at least 10 days in Italy. You can of course stay longer. With three weeks to spare, you will be able to afford a more leisurely jaunt around the countryside, rather than hopping from city to city.
Italy tours — Top destinations to visit
- Dive into the culture in Tuscany: Greeted by the Tyrrhenian sea in the west coast, Tuscany is a land of cultural awakening. From superbly crafted fine wine in the vineyards to the incomparable Renaissance art of Florence, a trip to Tuscany will feel like paradise to a culture nut. The region presents one of the most authentic tastes of Italy and is one of the most fascinating and popular tourist destinations in the country.
- Enjoy the beautiful coasts of Puglia: Highlighted by traditional countryside villages and a beautiful coastline, Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, is an amazing tourist destination. Whether you choose to take a dip in the swimming coves or the clear waters of the Adriatic, explore traditional trulli culture in old villages and cottages, or feast with the locals in the many bars in Piazzas, there is something for everyone in Puglia. Head to the olive groves where you can enjoy plenty of sunshine to cap off your vacation in Puglia.
- Relax on the beach in Sicily: Coastlines and beaches make Sicily a nature lover’s dream. This popular island on the Mediterranean sea is home to some marvelous archeological sites and fine Italian cuisine. But that is not all, the ancient Roman amphitheater and the ruins of the temple of Athena also allow visitors a peek into the country’s history. Add the churches and cathedrals in Palermo, black-sand lava beaches in Aeolian islands and the majestic Mount Etna and you have a perfect Sicilian vacation.
- Follow the hiking trails in Cinque Terre: A landscape covered in beautiful terraced hillsides, Cinque Terre is a popular walking destination. Here, you can enjoy gorgeous views of the colorful villages built on cliffsides while exploring the interconnected hiking trails in the region. A holiday in Cinque Terre can also give visitors a glimpse of the medieval era, as it is home to ancient seaside villages along the Italian Riviera.
- Go skiing in the Dolomites: Home to the Italian Alps, the Dolomites is a hiking and skiing haven for adventure seekers. This is where you will get to familiarize yourself with the Ladin culture and discover a blend between Italian and German cultures. Stay in luxury resorts, visit open-air museums, and dine on delicious cuisine every night. These are some of the reasons why the Dolomites are popular not just in Italy but the whole of Europe.
- Bask in the sun in Amalfi Coast: If you are seeking out sunshine, lemons, and time relaxing on the beach, you are going to want to visit the Amalfi Coast. Famed for its stunning coastlines with accompanying clifftop hiking trails, zingy limoncello, and archeological wonders, such as Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast has something for everyone. From Capri's classy elegance to Naples's winding side streets, to Sorrento's sandy beaches, no two days on the Amalfi Coast are ever the same. Popular with travelers of all ages and from all over the world, there are plenty of reasons why visitors come back here.
Peak Season and Low Season Tours in Italy
- Peak season: There are two high seasons in Italy. The first kicks in from March-July and the second from September-October. Spring and early fall months provide ideal temperatures for beach holidays and exploring cities. For the best time to visit Italy, check out our guide.
- Low season: The low season in Italy is considered to be between November and February due to the lower temperatures. However, northern Italy benefits from a great ski season during these months. So, if you are looking for some Alpine powder away from the expensive French and Swiss resorts, consider hopping the border.
Popular Italy trip travel guide
If you are planning a trip to Italy, you will want to know about the best time to visit Italy as well as checking out all the available Italy tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Italy. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Italy, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Italy. We generally recommend to stay at least 10 days in Italy, but to get the most out of your trip to Italy you can stay 2 weeks in Italy or more.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Italy. If you are in doubt, check all our Italy tours at the top of this page.
Italy is an amazing country to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our “Italy travel guide” which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Italy.