Ancient Rome, Renaissance art, coastlines and great food
Italy packs more famous art, history and food into one country than almost anywhere else. Rome, Florence and Venice form the classic first trip, while the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Tuscany's hill towns and the Dolomites show its landscapes. Sicily, Puglia and Sardinia add beaches and slower southern life. It suits nearly every traveller, from art lovers and foodies to hikers and families.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
The giant amphitheatre of ancient Rome and the ruined civic heart beside it, with the Palatine Hill above. A combined ticket covers the area.
The papal art collections, ending in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. St Peter's Basilica is next door.
The Renaissance city of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery's masterpieces. Michelangelo's David stands in the Accademia.
A city of canals, palaces and bridges built on a lagoon. St Mark's Square and the Grand Canal are the classic sights.
A dramatic stretch of coast with villages such as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello clinging to cliffs. Boats and buses link the towns.
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, with streets, houses and frescoes preserved. Herculaneum nearby is smaller and better preserved.
Five colourful fishing villages on cliffs above the Ligurian Sea, linked by trails and trains. It is one of Italy's most photographed coasts.
Rolling hills of cypress and vineyards dotted with towns like Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano and Pienza. It is perfect for slow driving and wine.
The famous tilting bell tower in the Piazza dei Miracoli with the cathedral and baptistery. You can climb it with a timed ticket.
Jagged limestone peaks in the northeast with hiking, cable cars and ski slopes. Tre Cime and Seceda are iconic.
A long alpine lake lined with villas and villages like Bellagio and Varenna. Ferries hop between towns.
Milan's huge Gothic cathedral has rooftop terraces, and Leonardo's Last Supper is nearby. The city is Italy's fashion capital.
A big island with Arab Norman churches, Greek temples, Mount Etna and beach towns. Palermo's street food is famous.
An ancient town of cave dwellings called sassi, carved into a ravine. Many are now hotels and restaurants.
The heel of Italy, known for trulli houses with conical roofs, olive groves and whitewashed towns. Beaches and seafood fill the coast.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Ancient sites, Vatican and food.
history, art, gateway · Open the city guideRenaissance art and Tuscany base.
art, food · Open the city guideCanals and lagoon.
romance, history · Open the city guidePizza, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
food, history · Open the city guideFashion, design and lakes.
design, gateway · Open the city guideCoastal village base.
coast, romance · Open the city guideVillage and trail base.
hiking, coast · Open the city guideFood capital.
food · Open the city guideRomeo and Juliet city with Roman arena.
history · Open the city guideSicily's vibrant capital.
food, history · Open the city guideElegant northern city with museums and chocolate.
museums, food · Open the city guideMedieval hill town in Tuscany.
history, architecture · Guide comingAncient capital and the Vatican.
Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Tivoli
Renaissance cities and rolling hills.
Florence, Siena, Val d'Orcia
Lagoon city and mountains.
Venice, Verona, Dolomites
Lakes, Milan and colourful coast.
Milan, Lake Como, Cinque Terre
Pompeii, coasts and baroque towns.
Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Matera
Large islands with beaches and history.
Palermo, Etna, Sardinia beaches
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: April to June and September to October. Warm weather and long days without the peak summer heat and crowds.
The south and islands stay warm into October, the Dolomites are best for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and August is when many Italians holiday at the coast.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
52°F daily high, 45°F average, 2.9 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Italy Level 2 (exercise increased caution) because of terrorism, while pickpocketing in busy cities is the most common problem for visitors.
Fast trains link the major cities, and regional trains and buses reach most towns, though rural areas often need a car.
Costs are moderate, with Venice and the Amalfi Coast expensive and the south better value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visto per l'Italia website (https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/) and on your own government's travel advice before you go, as rules can change. |
| Plugs | Type C, F, L; 230 V |
| Tap water | safe |
| Tipping | Tipping is not expected, as a cover charge is often added, but rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated. |
| Payments | Cards and contactless are widely accepted, though some small places prefer cash. |
| Emergency | 112 police, 118 ambulance, 115 fire |
| Etiquette | Greet shopkeepers when entering. Cappuccino is usually a morning drink, and coffee at the bar is cheaper than at a table. Do not sit on monuments or eat on church steps in cities like Rome and Florence, where fines apply. |
| What to wear | Cover shoulders and knees in churches, including St Peter's Basilica. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Frecciarossa and Italo high speed trains link Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and Naples. Regional trains and buses serve smaller towns, and ferries reach islands. A car helps in Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily, but avoid limited traffic zones in city centres. |
| Main airports | FCO, MXP, VCE, NAP, FLR, BLQ, PMO, CTA |
| Ride apps | Uber, FreeNow |
Rome grew from a small city state into an empire that ruled the Mediterranean for centuries. After its fall, the peninsula split into city states, papal lands and kingdoms, and cities like Florence and Venice led the Renaissance. Italy was unified in the 1860s, with Rome as capital from 1871. After fascism and the Second World War it became a republic in 1946 and was a founding member of the EU.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.