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
Matera to Puglia cycle in Italy
Nestled between the Adriatic and Ionian seas
Sicily history tour, Italy
One of the most fascinating islands in Europe
Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples holidays
One of Europe's most dramatic stretches of coastline
Tuscany tours, walking and wine tasting in Italy
Walking and wine tasting in Tuscany
Umbria cooking holiday, Italy
italian cooking in a farmhouse between Umbria and Tuscany
Cross country skiing holiday in the Dolomites, Italy
A famously beautiful range of jagged peaks
Bergamo circular walking tour in Italy
Begamo; start hiking at about 5 km distance from the airport
Cycling tours in Italy, Dolomites to Venice
One of Europe's unique mountain landscapes
Dolomites walking holiday in Italy
Sandwiched between the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites
Rural villas in Tuscany, Italy
Traditional apartments in the heart Tuscany
Puglia cycling tour
Reasonable easy cycling. Excellent bikes. Good weather.
Sardinia and Corsica sailing holiday
The good life Italian and French style in one sailing trip!
Sicily small ship cruise, food & culture
Experience the flavours, landscapes and history of Sicily
Rome to Sicily holiday in Italy
Discover the secrets of Italy’s vibrant south
Puglia and Basilicata walking holiday in Italy
Unique regions between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas
Cinque Terre walking holiday
Walk the stunning coastal routes of the Cinque Terre
Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
A gastronomic gem quietly tucked away
Italy photography holiday in the Dolomites
Spring and autumn photography in the Italian Dolomites
Prosecco Hills walking holiday, Italy
The Prosecco Road, Italy’s oldest wine route
Tuscany culture holiday, tailor-made
Capture the true spirit of Tuscany
Italy villa near Majella National Park, Abruzzo
Artist's award-winning riverside Majella mountain retreat
Walking holiday in Tuscany
A variety of daywalks in the beautiful Tuscan countryside
Umbria to Tuscany cycling & cooking holiday
Cycling and cooking holiday between Umbria and Tuscany
Volterra to San Gimignano walking holiday in Italy
Picturesque Volterra and soaring towers of San Gimignano
Amalfi coast small group walking holiday
This walking holiday explores the spectacular Amalfi Coast.
Dolomites cycling holiday in Italy
The Dolomites, while avoiding the need to ride up any long climbs
Umbria self guided walking holiday, Italy
Easy hiking tour, through vineyards and cultural heritage
Mont Blanc Circuit trek, with hotel accommodation
Classic Tour, using small inns and guesthouses
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: 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 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, 7 May, 14 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun ...
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