Italy Travel Guide

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Rich with history, traditions, vineyards, and delightful rustic cuisine, Italy is the third most visited country in Europe and one of its most enchanting travel spots. Over sixty-one million sightseers voyage to Italy annually, drawn by its ancient landmarks and the art-filled places of worship and galleries in Rome,Florence,Venice, and Milan. If visual expressions and yesteryear arenโ€™t your factor, Italy offers everything from ski sites to Mediterranean beach towns (like the stunning Amalfi Coast) to relaxing waterside escapes in the Lakes Area. Italy is an excellent household destination, with children warmly welcomed everywhere. And for honeymooners, itโ€™s difficult to equal the love and beauty of Matera

The 2024 Italy Travel Guide

Where to Stay in Italy

Italy Travel Guides

Where to Go in Italy

When to Go to Italy

What to Do in Italy

Where to Eat & Drink in Italy

The Best Hotels in Italy

Getting To & Around Italy

Frequently Asked Questions about Italy

Where is Italy?

Italy is a large, boot-contoured peninsula extending off the southern coast of Western Europe into the Adriatic, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian Seas. It shares its northern land borders with the countries of France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Italy also has around 450 islands, the biggest being Sardinia and Sicily. Italy is the 72nd largest country in the world, with a land area of about 301,340 square kilometers. The western tip of Sicily lies about 146 km across the sea from Tunisia in north Africa. The population of Italy is 60.36 million.

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What is Italy famous for?

Renowned for its sites of antiquity (from the Parthenon to Pompeii) and the highly modern style of Milan, Italy is also known for rich, rustic cuisine (think pizza, pasta, and gelato), award-winning wine, and art from the Renaissance period. Travelers flock to Rome,Florence, and the waterways of Venice for old world charm and stunning design. The coastal areas of the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast are famous for their colorful villages of fishermen and resorts set against dramatic cliffs. The rolling countryside of the Tuscany and Umbria regions attract visitors for vineyard wine-tastings and idyllic stays on farms that provide lodging.

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When is the best time to travel to Italy?

Visiting Italy during the spring (April and May, except Easter week) or fall (September and October) offers some of the country`s most pleasant weather while experiencing fewer crowds and lower prices compared to peak seasons. The heat of summer in Italy can be intense, and destinations see large numbers of visitors that drive prices up. While some cities may have thinner swarms in August, temperatures remain scorching throughout the nation, leading many family businesses to close as owners vacation. Northern Italy commonly endures frigid, wet, and overcast winters though zones south of Rome experience more moderate conditions.

Shoppers will find good deals in midwinter and late summer, during the twice-yearly sales periods. Winter sales begin shortly after the New Year and continue until around mid-February, summer sales take place in July and August. Fashion Week occurs four times yearly in Milan, bringing supermodels, big names in the industry, and large crowds. Italian wine country is best to visit either in the spring, when itโ€™s at its most scenic, or in the fall during harvest season โ€“ though winter visits ensure more time to meet with winemakers, who are less busy during this time.

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The most crowded traveler areas in Italy, like the old town of Pompeii, can best be gone to throughout the later autumn and wintertime, when you`ll miss most of the group-transporting coach fleets. For the best probability of great climate throughout this period, plan your trip for November and April. Agriturismi โ€“ working Italian ranches with guest lodgings that can extend from fundamental to lavish, are open the entire year, but are best to remain in amid the spring and fall, when you`ll stay away from the high warmth of midsummer.

Where are the best places to go in Italy?

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Some of the most noteworthy places to visit in Italy incorporate massive, historically significant cities like Rome, Milan, Venice, and Florence, as well as charming smaller towns similar to Mantua and Assisi. The best areas in Italy ideal for a relaxing getaway include the beautiful resort-laden Lake Como, the Cortina dโ€™Ampezzo skiing destination located in the Dolomites, and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast.

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Attractive beaches line the Italian coastline in the east, on the west, and across the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, making it straightforward to combine a sightseeing tour with some relaxing time spent on the sand)..

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While most of the must-see sightseeing and best wine regions are found in the northern part of Italy, southern Italy offers truly unique experiences that are well worth a visit. Among the most distinctive places to visit in Italy are the conical stone town of Alberobello in the Puglia region, and the cave-dwelling community of Matera in nearby Basilicata.

a building with a clock on the side of it

What currency is used in Italy?

As part of the European Union, Italy uses the euro (โ‚ฌ). Most major shops and restaurants across Italy, particularly in larger cities, accept credit cards, sometimes with a minimum purchase required. ATMs are widespread in large Italian cities, and generally easy to find in most smaller towns, and it is prudent to have some cash on hand for small purchases, bottled water, and snacks.

optional gratuities at Italian restaurants are not anticipated, but are increasingly valued as an acknowledgement of good service; generally โ‚ฌ1 per diner or a basic rounding up of the bill to the closest โ‚ฌ5 mark. Tipping a taxi driver in Italy is only anticipated for exceptional service, or if they`ve assisted with luggage or directions; one to a few euros is appreciated. Housekeeping in full-service Italian hotels should be tipped โ‚ฌ1 per day. Tipping in Italy is always done with cash, even when a bill is paid via credit card).

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Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

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