Italy travel guide

Piedmont gave birth to the Slow Food movement, sprinkling new ethics into global consumption and conception. Italian artistry is revered: the glory of Leonardo among a host of Old Masters; iconic architecture, from ancient Roman grandeur to the sublime elegance of Palladio; an array of chic, contemporary fashion and design.



Italy is...
Italy isn't...
Our Italy Holidays
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
Puglia small group tour, Italy
Puglia, whitewashed towns, traditional farmland and fine cuisine
Umbria cooking holiday, Italy
italian cooking in a farmhouse between Umbria and Tuscany
Tuscany tours, walking and wine tasting in Italy
Walking and wine tasting in Tuscany
Matera to Puglia cycle in Italy
Nestled between the Adriatic and Ionian seas
Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples holidays
One of Europe's most dramatic stretches of coastline
Sicily history tour, Italy
One of the most fascinating islands in Europe
Cycling holiday across Italy, Puglia to Sorrento
Ride across the boot of Italy
Puglia and Basilicata walking holiday in Italy
Unique regions between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas
Italy villa near Majella National Park, Abruzzo
Artist's award-winning riverside Majella mountain retreat
Tuscany walking holiday, Italy
Discover Tuscany hiking from town to town
Amalfi Coast budget walking holiday
The hidden trails of the Amalfi Coast
Cilento and Amalfi Coast cycling holiday, Italy
Rocky ridges set between small picturesque inlets
Short break pasta making & Italian food holiday, Tuscany
A Tuscan food adventure, learn to make pasta
Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
A gastronomic gem quietly tucked away
Prosecco Hills walking holiday, Italy
The Prosecco Road, Italy’s oldest wine route
Italian cooking holiday, small group
Immersive gastronomy & cooking trips in undiscovered Tuscany
Cinque Terre walking holiday
Walk the stunning coastal routes of the Cinque Terre
Bergamo circular walking tour in Italy
Begamo; start hiking at about 5 km distance from the airport
Sardinia and Corsica sailing holiday
The good life Italian and French style in one sailing trip!
Sicily cycling holiday in Italy
Ride through Sicily's UNESCO sites of Siracusa, Noto, Modica and Ragusa
Dolomites walking holiday in Italy
Sandwiched between the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites
Cycling holiday in the Prosecco Hills, Italy
A great variety of scenic roads and picturesque rolling hills
Volterra to San Gimignano walking holiday in Italy
Picturesque Volterra and soaring towers of San Gimignano
Tuscany cycling holiday through Siena & Chianti
Cycle the most evocative and romantic landscapes
Cycling tours in Italy, Dolomites to Venice
One of Europe's unique mountain landscapes
Umbria self guided walking holiday, Italy
Easy hiking tour, through vineyards and cultural heritage
Amalfi to Sorrento walking holiday in Italy
Explore the peninsula between Ravello and Sorrento
Snowshoeing holiday in the Dolomites
Michelin recommended cuisine & inspiring walks
Umbria self guided walking holiday, the North Valley
Along Saint Francis trails through the Green Heart of Italy
What we rate & what we don't
Inland Sardinia
Proper Italian meals
Farm stays
Underwater wonders
Amalfi Coast
Tuscany
Umbria & Le Marche
Coffee
Cruise ships in Venice
Dolphin shows
Costa Smeralda
Tourist tat
Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking in Italy
Drinking cappuccino after midday is a breach of Italian coffee etiquette!Aperitivi are early evening bar nibbles (free or cheap) – particularly popular in Milan, Rome, Turin, Naples and Venice (called cichetti there). They're a great way to eat - and meet locals - for the price of a drink.
Italy now boasts a growing number of lip-smacking artisan grappas - Poli, Nardini, Capovilla and Tosolini lead the way.


Our top Italy Holiday
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
2021: 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 16 Oct, 23 Oct, 30 Oct, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 20 Nov, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
2022: 12 Feb, 19 Feb, 26 Feb, 5 Mar, 12 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep ...
People & language
Impress the locals with dashes of style, and avoid slobbishness that might prompt mutterings of 'Che brutta!' ('how hideous!')
Ciao (hello/goodbye) is best used with people you know, not strangers.
If unsure, stick with the simple basic greeting Buongiorno (good day).
Gifts & shopping
Italian wine and food. For wine, look for DOCG and DOC designation as a sign of a good local appellation, while DOP is a similar sign of a genuine quality Italian food product.Olive wood is used for beautiful carved items - and it's sustainable too!
First compiled 50 years ago, The Silver Spoon is a classic book gathering over 2000 traditional Italian region recipes.
Religious paraphernalia can make beautiful presents, even for non-religious friends – rosaries perhaps, or prayer cards devoted to a particular saint.


How much does it cost?
Cappuccino: £1
1.5l bottle of water: 35p
Train fare from Naples to Pompeii: £2
Ferry from Palermo (Sicily) to Lipari
(Aeolian islands): £30