Italy
Between la dolce vita, ancient treasures, and the best food in the world: your guide to Italy.
Our Italy Snapshot
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Flair
Laid-back, sun-soaked, and culturally unbeatable.
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Best Time to Go
May/June or September/October.
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Trip Length
10 to 14 days for one region like Tuscany.
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Currency
Euro — card works in most places, but carry cash for small bars and cafés.
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Tipping
A euro or two is appreciated, though the "coperto" cover charge often takes care of it.
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Getting Around
Trains for city-hopping; rent a car to explore the countryside properly.
Italy Map: Where to Spend Your Italy Vacation?
Italy stretches from the Alps to the Mediterranean. The northern part borders Austria and Switzerland, while the western part borders France. To the east, Italy borders Slovenia.
Within its territory lie two small states: Vatican City and San Marino. And beyond the mainland, Sardinia and dozens of smaller islands are also part of Italy.
Italy is made up of 21 regions, with Rome as the capital.
What makes Italy so fascinating is just how much variety is packed into one country. Stretching roughly 1,000 miles from north to south, the cultural differences between regions are seriously striking — the cuisine of Milan tastes nothing like what you’d eat in Rome, and even language and traditions shift noticeably from region to region.
The climate is just as varied: in April, you can still ski in the Alps while people are already laying out beach towels on the shores of Sicily.
How to Find the Right Hotel in Italy
Dos & Don'ts in Italy
How to avoid giving yourself away as a tourist the moment you arrive
- Spaghetti Bolognese doesn’t actually exist in Italy. Locals eat Tagliatelle al Ragù — the spaghetti version is a foreign invention.
- Cappuccino is a breakfast drink. Order one after 11 AM and every Italian in the room will clock you as a tourist immediately.
- Parmesan on fish or seafood pasta is considered borderline offensive. Just don’t.
- A pizza with a slightly charred crust is not a mistake — that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. Eat it, don’t send it back.
- At a restaurant, one bill comes for the whole table. It’s split evenly — itemizing your order is not really a thing here.
FAQ
What's the best way to get around Italy?
If your arrival airport isn’t right next to your final destination — or you want to visit several cities — you’ll need to figure out how to get around. Here’s what works best:
By Rental Car
Rental cars are available at every airport, but prices vary a lot depending on the season, the airport, and how far ahead you book.
Companies with desks right inside the terminal tend to charge more than those located a short shuttle ride away. The free shuttle buses are easy to use, and going slightly off-terminal can save you real money.
Compare rental car prices at Check24
By Train
Trains are honestly one of the best ways to travel between Italy’s major cities — fast, affordable, and stress-free. Italy has a solid high-speed rail network, so city-to-city routes are super convenient.
Milan to Rome takes around three hours, despite the cities being nearly 600 kilometers apart.
Two companies run high-speed trains: the private Italo and the state-run Trenitalia. Since both operate many of the same routes, it’s always worth comparing prices on both sites before you book.
For rural areas and the south, though, the rail network gets thinner — that’s where buses come in.
By Bus
Long-distance buses are popular in Italy, especially for destinations in the south where trains don’t reach as easily. The two biggest operators are Itabus and Flixbus. You can book tickets on their websites or at the local bus station.
Where in Italy is it less crowded?
Head south or into the countryside, and travel outside peak season. If you visit Apulia, Sardinia, or Sicily in April, May, or June, you’ll have a proper summer vacation with a fraction of the usual tourist crowds.
If you want somewhere quiet year-round, the regions of Umbria, Basilicata, Abruzzo, and Molise see very little tourism — and all four are seriously beautiful.
Where is the sea most beautiful in Italy?
Definitely in the south, and especially on Sicily and Sardinia. Sardinia in particular is hard to beat — honestly, you can’t really pick a bad beach there.
Where is Italy most affordable?
Southern Italy is where your money goes the furthest. Accommodation, transport, and restaurants are all noticeably cheaper than in the north. In Sicily, for example, a really good restaurant meal will run you around 20 euros per person — in Milan, expect to pay roughly twice that.
