Things to do in Italy
Cultured histories
The very fabric of Italy seems woven from a cloth of distinctive history, from ancient Phoenician to Palladio's 16th century villas scattered around the Veneto. Everywhere you strike treasure. In Sicily alone, the Valley of the Temples is a paean to classical Greece, Palermo oozes Arabic style, while Siracusa and Noto are Baroque gems. Island neighbour Sardinia boasts 7,000 sites linked to the mysterious Nuraghe dating back 6,000 years.
Rome draws the crowds with plentiful reminders of 2,000-year-old imperial grandeur. The medieval and Renaissance fabric of Florence is complemented by other Tuscan wonders: Gothic Siena, Renaissance Lucca and San Gimignano’s high medieval towers - rivalled by lovely Alba, Piedmont's 'town of 100 towers'. Add the famous tower in Pisa, from where Galileo dropped things to prove his ideas on gravity. Amid the jagged rose-tinted peaks of the Dolomites, enjoy a unique blend of Austrian and Italian culture and architecture in towns like Bolzano and Merrano.
Rome draws the crowds with plentiful reminders of 2,000-year-old imperial grandeur. The medieval and Renaissance fabric of Florence is complemented by other Tuscan wonders: Gothic Siena, Renaissance Lucca and San Gimignano’s high medieval towers - rivalled by lovely Alba, Piedmont's 'town of 100 towers'. Add the famous tower in Pisa, from where Galileo dropped things to prove his ideas on gravity. Amid the jagged rose-tinted peaks of the Dolomites, enjoy a unique blend of Austrian and Italian culture and architecture in towns like Bolzano and Merrano.
Our Italy Holidays
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
£1099 to £1599
8 days
inc UK flights
Cilento and Amalfi Coast cycling holiday, Italy
Rocky ridges set between small picturesque inlets
From
£1579 to £1899
8 days
inc UK flights
Sicily history tour, Italy
One of the most fascinating islands in Europe
From
£1429 to £1749
9 days
inc UK flights
Italian cooking holiday, small group
Immersive gastronomy & cooking trips in undiscovered Tuscany
From
£1400 to £1450
7 days
ex flights
Short break pasta making & Italian food holiday, Tuscany
A Tuscan food adventure, learn to make pasta
From
£700 to £750
4 days
ex flights
Italian food tours
Flavours of northern Italy on this special food-lovers journey
From
£2105 to £2200
10 days
ex flights
Cycling tours in Italy, Dolomites, Lake Garda & Venice
One of Europe's unique mountain landscapes
From
£1469 to £1719
8 days
inc UK flights
Tuscany tours, walking and wine tasting in Italy
Walking and wine tasting in Tuscany
From
£999 to £1499
8 days
inc UK flights
Umbria self guided walking holiday, the North Valley
Along Saint Francis trails through the Green Heart of Italy
From
€800 to €900
7 days
ex flights
Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples holidays
One of Europe's most dramatic stretches of coastline
From
£1249 to £1579
8 days
inc UK flights
Volterra to San Gimignano walking holiday in Italy
Picturesque Volterra and soaring towers of San Gimignano
From
£1539 to £1805
9 days
inc UK flights
Umbria self guided walking holiday, Italy
Easy hiking tour, through vineyards and cultural heritage
From
€680 to €700
7 days
ex flights
Mont Blanc Circuit trek, with hotel accommodation
Classic Tour, using small inns and guesthouses
From
£2849
15 days
inc UK flights
Amalfi Coast small group holiday, Italy
Discover the Amalfi coasts villages, trails & local customs
From
£999 to £1159
8 days
ex flights
Umbria cooking holiday, Italy
italian cooking in a farmhouse between Umbria and Tuscany
From
€1440 to €1650
7 days
ex flights
Dolomites walking holiday in Italy
Sandwiched between the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites
From
£1099 to £1799
8 days
inc UK flights
Bergamo circular walking tour in Italy
Begamo; start hiking at about 5 km distance from the airport
From
€658 to €829
8 days
ex flights
Snowshoeing holiday in the Dolomites
Michelin recommended cuisine & inspiring walks
From
£1349 to £1799
8 days
inc UK flights
Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
A gastronomic gem quietly tucked away
From
£2155 to £2345
9 days
inc UK flights
Mont Blanc holiday, Tour du Mont Blanc
The best of the Tour du Mont Blanc
From
£1049 to £1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Mont Blanc Circuit walking holiday
Probably the most dramatic walk in Europe
From
£1779
15 days
inc UK flights
Cross country skiing holiday in the Dolomites, Italy
A famously beautiful range of jagged peaks
From
£1279 to £1699
8 days
inc UK flights
Tuscany walking holiday, Italy
Discover Tuscany hiking from town to town
From
€780 to €950
8 days
ex flights
Sardinia walking holiday, Italy
Superb daywalks amid rich and charming scenery
From
£1249 to £1399
8 days
inc UK flights
Venice and Verona family holiday
Explore two of Italy's finest cities with family
From
€1975
10 days
ex flights
Venice kayaking holiday
Discovery Venice and the Lagoon by kayaking, small group.
From
€1200 to €1600
4 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in Italy and Switzerland
Cycling with the spectacular scenery of the Italian Lakes
From
£1849 to £1949
8 days
inc UK flights
Southern Italy small group holiday, Amalfi to Bari
Experience the Amalfi Coast and explore Southern Italy
From
£1510 to £1615
10 days
ex flights
Chianti cycling holiday in Tuscany, self guided
Rich scenery, fantastic hotels, local cuisine & exceptional wines
From
£1749 to £2025
9 days
inc UK flights
Italian gusto extends to getting active.
Moving Targets
Sea and land offer adrenaline playgrounds here. On Sardinia, dive into – or kayak across – the dazzling Gulf of Oresei, or discover a new side to Tuscany orienteering and canyoning. Italy's tapestry of brilliant cycling routes takes in Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily, Liguria, Veneto, Tuscany and Piedmont – plus the gorgeous lakes. Or try a different kind of saddle for horseback jaunts through soft Tuscan hills or Chianti castle country.
Living to eat!
In Italy, people truly live to eat rather than eat to live. But don't think of chewy pizza and over-sauced pasta - proper Italian food is diverse, distinctive and rooted in regionality and seasonality. Just try fresh pesto sauce in its Ligurian birthplace or a pizza in Naples to see the difference. Explore the HQ of the Slow Food movement in Piedmont, sampling its specialities: arborio rice, white truffles, Castelmagno cheese, Barolo wine.
In Umbria, try norcineria (cured pork produce) or warming spelt and barley soups. In Sicily, tuck into Arab-infused delights or striking nose-to-tail street food. Discover new seafood flavours on Sardinia: sea urchin, salty botarga (dried roe) and tart scabecciu fish dishes. Toast it all in atmospheric bars serving tempting nibbles (aperitivi), while sipping superb artisan grappa or a glass of Franciacorta – Italy's fine riposte to champagne.
In Umbria, try norcineria (cured pork produce) or warming spelt and barley soups. In Sicily, tuck into Arab-infused delights or striking nose-to-tail street food. Discover new seafood flavours on Sardinia: sea urchin, salty botarga (dried roe) and tart scabecciu fish dishes. Toast it all in atmospheric bars serving tempting nibbles (aperitivi), while sipping superb artisan grappa or a glass of Franciacorta – Italy's fine riposte to champagne.
Our top Italy Holiday
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
£1099 to £1599
8 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 21 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2020: 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec
2019: 21 Sep, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2020: 15 Feb, 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Italy or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Consume Italy's delicious calories - then walk them off!
The roamin' empire
Italy's famous trails include the aptly-named Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast, plus idyllic routes linking Liguria's Cinque Terre villages. Add stunning mountain hikes in the Dolomites or roam the wolf territory of the secluded Apennine mountains. Explore Sardinia's wild inland peaks and valleys, unspoilt island hikes on Elba and Capri, plus little-explored national parks like Umbria's Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini and Le Marche's coastal Parco del Conero.
More about Italy
The best time to visit Italy will no doubt depend on whether you’re a lover of snow-capped mountains and winter sports or sun-drenched beaches and alfresco dining however, for those in the know, our month by month guide unveils a whole host of alternatives as to when to visit Italy & when not to.
Explore our Italy travel guide like a wild boar snuffling for truffles in a sun dappled oak orchard deep within the eternally undulating Etruscan countryside.
If you’re searching for where to go in Italy and how to make the most of your time then why not check out our interactive highlights map that will take you all the way from the Dolomites and the Italian Alps in the north down to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, further south.
Sicily is a Russian doll of an island. The closer you look, the more you’ll realise that everything from the food to the architecture is a puzzle of Greek, Roman, North African and Anglo influences. Sky-high Mount Etna is just the smoking cherry on top. Read our Sicily travel guide to find out more.
The Amalfi Coast jags along the underside of the Sorrentine Peninsula, dealing out cliffside villages and tiny polished pebble beaches along the way.
Travel to Puglia, and you’re diving into Italy’s deep south. Here, rural ways rule the roost. You can stay in masseria agriturismo and conical trulli farmhouses, and spend your days driving (or walking or cycling) from farm to vineyard to whitewashed city in search of some the best food and wine Italy has to offer.
The sheer mountains of the Dolomites aren’t just for winter. Cross country skiing and snow shoeing are the themes when the snow falls, but come spring you’ve got a region creased with impossibly scenic alpine walking routes and WWI-era cycle paths – plus a good serving of vineyards. Read our Dolomites travel guide to find out more.
Most feel feel like they’ve got the measure of Tuscany before they’ve seen it. Florence, Chianti, medieval citadels and poppy fields, right? Well…yes. But there’s also everything in between, from the mountainous Apennines to hiking paths between vines that haven’t made it out of Italy yet. Read our Tuscany travel guide to find out more.
Find out what Responsible Travel recommends if you’re hell bent on travelling in Italy with kids.
Our Italy travel advice page is just perfect for those who love to learn from the local experts with Marta Marinelli, Marina Caldera and Andrea Monti all imparting their pearls of wisdom in addition to our thoroughly worthwhile health & safety in Italy section.
From slow food and sealife centres to preserving rural communities and ancient traditions read our responsible tourism in Italy page if you’ve got plans to find out what you can do to travel right in Italy.
Find all of our Italy guides in one place, for Italy holidays in particular places such as the Tuscany or Sicily, or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Italy holidays such as walking or cycling.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Rostislav Glinsky] [Cultured histories: Berthold Werner]
[Moving Targets: Austin Adventures]
[Living to eat!: Artur Rutkowski]
[The roamin' empire : Christopher Czermak]
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