This year, Italy’s tourism is expected to rebound from its pandemic-induced coma. In 2023, the travel industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP is projected to be at €194 billion— impressively in line with the country’s strong tourism numbers from 2019. From eternally popular attractions like the Colosseum and the Uffizi Gallery to recent interest in Sicily thanks to The White Lotus, it seems like everyone is planning a trip to Italy this year.
Whether you’ve already finalized your itinerary or are just starting to look into hotels, it’s helpful to be creative and flexible with your plans. Consider lesser-known destinations and seasonality to make the most of your time, and budget, on your next trip. Here are some tips and practicalities to help guide your planning process.
Questions to Consider
There’s a lot to see in Italy, so it’s important to be realistic about where you want to go and what you hope to do. If you plan to see the entire country in one week, this travel guide isn’t for you. But if you appreciate slower, thoughtful travel, consider the following questions:
- What is your travel style? Do you want to move around often, or stay put and do day trips? Will you rent a car, or do you prefer to use public transportation to move around (or private drivers)?
- Do you have a theme or focus for your trip? This could be food and wine, art and culture, outdoor activities, relaxation, shopping, or a combination.
Clarifying your priorities will help you assess what is, and isn’t, realistic to do during your trip.
How many days should I spend in each place?
A good rule of thumb is to give yourself at least three days in every location–although I think five is ideal. Many people worry that they’ll be bored, but when you factor in day trips and local experiences, this rarely happens. Plus, you want to leave time to enjoy la dolce vita!
Here’s how I like to look at timing per destination:
- The First Day: don’t plan too much for your arrival day to account for hiccups with transportation or lodging. If you’re visiting from the US, you’ll be jet-lagged and may want to rest. I usually recommend taking a walking tour to get the lay of the land and then enjoying dinner in a traditional restaurant.
- The In-Between Days: plan a couple of activities for each day, but don’t pack your schedule with too many experiences or reservations. There is so much beauty to experience in Italy’s landscapes and architecture, but it’s nice to have time to linger over a nice meal, do some shopping, and chat with locals throughout your day. Italians are storytellers, and they will usually recommend something to see or do nearby. Leaving some free time in your schedule means you can make these surprising, lesser-known discoveries, which often become the most memorable parts of a trip.
- The Last Day: you’re going to want to spend your last night in the city you’re departing from to avoid any problems or delays. Italy is prone to strikes, and there is reduced public transportation on Sundays and holidays, so plan ahead to avoid any surprises.
Where should I go? Choosing a Region
Italy may look small on the map, but it’s made up of 20 regions with their own unique traditions and attractions. It has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world and makes up 5% of UNESCO’s global list. The country is just over 116m2 (300,000km2), slightly larger than the state of Arizona and slightly smaller than Japan. A train from Milan to Lecce in southern Puglia, which travels the length of the boot, takes 9 hours. And Sicily is easiest to reach by a 1 to 2-hour flight from the mainland.
You’ll make the most of your time by sticking to one section of the boot: think north, central, south, or the islands. That makes it easier to get to each place with less time spent in transit. And, even staying in the same geographic area can mean longer transit in more rural areas. So make sure you really know the transportation aspect!
Highlights of Northern Italy
Northern Italy is comprised of 8 regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Aosta Valley, and Emilia-Romagna. Large anchor cities include Milan, Turin, Venice, Genova, and Bologna.
You could plan an entire northern Italy itinerary complete with the sea, mountains, vineyards, gastronomic treasures, and more. But it’s pretty spread out, and traveling east to west can be slow on the train system. Be sure to keep this in mind when designing your itinerary.
The Italian Riviera in Liguria is a go-to for sun and sea. While most people flock to the fabled “five fishing villages of the Cinque Terre,” don’t miss alternatives like Camogli, Finale Ligure, and Noli. Touristy places become touristy for a good reason, but during the high season (June to August) Cinque Terre is truly overrun. No matter where you decide to go in Liguria, book early for travel in late spring to early fall.
Discover the Road Less-Traveled
In the Veneto region, Venice is stunning but usually packed 11 months out of the year. For something a little quieter, stay on one of the islands like Giudecca or the colorful Burano. While Burano is packed during the day, once the day-trippers ferry away, you can quietly enjoy the beautiful scenery by staying overnight.
One of the most overlooked gems of Northern Italy is Venice’s neighbor, fair Verona. Oozing charm, vibrancy, and history, Verona makes a great home base for day trips to Venice, Bologna, Milan, Lake Garda, and more. And if you’re a wine-lover, you are right in the Valpolicella wine region.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Alto Adige boasts views of the natural beauty of the Dolomites. Hit the trails and slopes by day, and indulge in food and wine by night. Where to go: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio, Val Pusteria, Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, and Bolzano.
For a more affordable and less crowded alpine Italy, head further north to the Aosta Valley, Italy’s smallest region. Bordering France and Switzerland, it offers epic panoramas and ample outdoor sports. Where to go: Gran Paradiso National Park, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Cervinia, Cogne, Gressoney, and Aosta.
Highlights of Central Italy
Regions of Central Italy include Lazio, Le Marche, Tuscany, Umbria, and Abruzzo with anchor cities of Rome, Florence, and Pisa.
Although Rome steals the show in Lazio, the region has a lot to offer. Head north to the undiscovered Tuscia region to explore Central Italy’s Etruscan heritage via painted tombs in Tarquinia and funerary mounds in Cerveteri, along with noble palazzi including Villa Lante, Palazzo Farnese, and the Palazzo dei Papi (the Palace of the Popes). To the south, explore the gardens of the Parco dei Mostri (Park of the Monsters), and the seaside cities of Sperlonga and Gaeta are relaxing weekend getaways. Lazio also boasts a small archipelago off its coast: Ponza is a great alternative to Capri and is full of charm and crystalline waters.
Tuscany may be synonymous with Italian wine country, but Umbria holds its weight in gastronomic traditions. Umbria’s powerful Sagrantino red wine pairs well with mouthwatering regional delicacies like cinghiale (wild boar) and black truffles. And although the region is landlocked, it is chock-full of pretty artistic cities such as Assisi, Orvieto, Bevagna, Perugia, and Todi.
For the white wine lover, explore the less traveled Le Marche region for its aromatic, crisp whites. And, if you make Central Italy your focus, you don’t have to forego the seaside with Le Marche and Abruzzo’s breathtaking beaches. Where to go: Sirolo, Francavilla al Mare, or Pineto degli Abruzzi.
Highlights of Southern Italy
Southern Italian regions include Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, and the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The big cities on the mainland include Naples, Matera, Bari, and Lecce. In Sicily, you’ll fly into Catania or Palermo, and in Sardinia, opt for Olbia in the north or Cagliari in the south.
Southern Italy tends to operate seasonally, with hotels opening during Easter and closing after the Christmas holidays. Although the weather is mild, the winter months can be quite slow and sleepy, so it’s best to plan your trip between April to November. Be wary of planning a trip in August, as this is when Italians flee the cities to take long vacations by the sea or mountains. Ferragosto, August 15th, is usually spent eating and relaxing with family and friends. Because of this services come to a standstill, so don’t plan to travel on (or around) this day.
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular destinations in Italy (and for good reason) but towns like Sorrento, Positano, and Ravello are expensive, crowded, and ideally require private transfers to move around with ease. For a more local experience, consider staying by the sea in Sicily or Puglia: these destinations are much larger, more affordable, and easier to drive around. Instead of Capri, you can opt for Ischia which has many sandy beaches, boutique hotels, and fewer crowds.
In Calabria, Tropea is another gem of southern Italy, and although it’s a little difficult to reach, you’ll be rewarded with some of the prettiest waters in Italy and honest cuisine. Another highlight of the south is the stunning neolithic town of Matera, a popular destination for films like No Time to Die and Wonder Woman. Stay overnight for the chance to sleep in a cave hotel.
Mapping out your Itinerary
You get the idea. There are infinite options for where to go in Italy. But now, let’s get into functional and practical Italy travel planning tips.
Drilling down your locations is a key step so you can figure out the best way to get around the country. Many airlines make multi-city bookings easy, so you can consider flying into one city and out of another. When you’re in Italy, you can fly between destinations via ITA Airways or Ryanair. For trains, look into Trenitalia (which covers big destinations and small towns) and Italo (which covers main routes).
These are some of my favorite tools for mapping out different travel scenarios and understanding how to move from place to place:
- Rome2Rio.com: gives potential routes, modes of transit (bus, train, car, air), estimated costs, and travel tips custom to each route.
- The Train Line: a great resource for train and bus travel with routes, providers, and prices.
- Google Maps: my go-to for evaluating long and short-distance travel. You can also use it for public transportation but I suggest confirming what it gives you.
Renting a Car in Italy
Some regions are not set up for easy train travel. Destinations like Puglia, the Tuscan countryside, the Dolomites, and more rural parts of Piedmont and Sicily require renting a car.
Rental car considerations when planning your trip to Italy:
- To drive in Italy, you need an international driver’s license. In the US, you can easily pick this up at an AAA. Be sure to bring proper documentation with you, and while driving. If you need an automatic car, book ahead (especially during the summer months). You’ll also want to buy travel insurance to cover any accidental damages or theft if your credit card doesn’t cover this.
- For pick-up/drop-off at different destinations in Italy, arrange this in advance so you are clear on costs and requirements. If you’re dropping your car off in another country, this can be quite costly—keep this in mind if you’re planning a European road trip.
- For costs on car travel, remember you have tolls on the autostrada and you are filling up by the liter (1 liter = 3.78 gallons) and distance is done by kilometers (1 kilometer = .62 miles). Taxes on gasoline are high in Italy (like the rest of Europe) so a gallon will cost around $6. Keep this in mind if you’re traveling on a budget.
Seasonality: Weather, Holidays & Annual Events
It’s impossible to break down general seasonality for Italy because it varies greatly by region and city, so try to get a sense of it based on weather, holidays, and cultural events. For example, in Verona, Opera season or Vinitaly (Italy’s international wine trade show), drives prices up significantly for lodging and makes dining reservations harder to find. Check the city or region’s website for notes on big events and plan your schedule accordingly.
Italians take holidays and rest very seriously. More touristy places like Rome and Florence will always have things open, but lesser-known areas and more rural regions shutter, particularly on key dates. These are good to keep in mind:
- March or April: Easter Monday (Pasquetta)
- Good Friday and Easter Sunday are celebrated, but Pasquetta seems to be the day when more places close, so keep that in mind if you are traveling during Easter weekend.
- April 25: Liberation Day
- May 1: International Workers’ Day
- June 2: Republic Day
- August 15: Ferragosto
- Most Italians plan their holiday travels around Ferragosto–some on the front end, some on the back end. As a result, the country is much slower, and you’ll find that less open. It’s also when the beaches are the most crowded.
- November 1: All Saints’ Day
- December 8: Day of the Immaculate Conception
- December 25: Christmas
- The Christmas holidays extend through New Year’s to the Epiphany on January 6th, so the country is quite crowded at this time. This is followed by many holiday closures from January to March to refurbish hotels and restaurants.
There is a lot to consider for Italy travel planning, so start with some of these tips to get the most out of your time and budget. For more help planning your trip, visit ValerieQuintanilla.com.
Buon Viaggio!
