Country guide · Italy
Best places to visit in Italy
10 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
For a first trip to Italy, start with Florence: Renaissance masterpieces, Brunelleschi's dome and Tuscan food on foot. For beaches, look at Naples, Venice and Amalfi Coast. Palermo is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 10
- Best months overall
- April–June and September–October
- Start with
- Florence
- Least expensive here
- Palermo
10 places to visit in Italy
Best: April–May and September–October · 4 days
Florence
Renaissance masterpieces, Brunelleschi's dome and Tuscan food on foot
Best: April–June and September–October · 3 days
Milan
Gothic Duomo, The Last Supper, fashion streets and canal-side aperitivo
Best: April–June and September–October · 4 days
Naples
Pizza's birthplace, baroque churches, Vesuvius and Pompeii next door
Best: April–May and September–October · 4 days
Rome
Ancient ruins, Vatican art, Baroque piazzas and long trattoria lunches
Best: April–May and September–October · 3 days
Venice
Canals, Byzantine mosaics and lagoon islands with no cars at all
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Best: May–June and September–October · 5 days
Amalfi Coast
Cliffside villages, lemon terraces and boat days on the Gulf of Salerno
Best: April–June and September–October · 3 days
Bologna
Porticoed streets, medieval towers and the home of tagliatelle al ragù
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Best: May–June and September–October · 3 days
Cinque Terre
Five cliff villages linked by trains, terraced vineyards and coastal paths
Best: April–June and September–October · 4 days
Palermo
Arab-Norman mosaics, street-food markets and Baroque piazzas by the sea
Best: May–June and September · 3 days
Verona
A Roman arena, Romeo and Juliet lore and the gateway to Lake Garda
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | Renaissance art and Brunelleschi's dome | April–May and September–October | 4 days | $180–$320 |
| Milan | Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper | April–June and September–October | 3 days | $180–$330 |
| Naples | Pizza and Pompeii | April–June and September–October | 4 days | $120–$220 |
| Rome | Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel | April–May and September–October | 4 days | $170–$300 |
| Venice | Grand Canal and Gondolas | April–May and September–October | 3 days | $200–$350 |
| Amalfi Coast | Positano and Lemons and limoncello | May–June and September–October | 5 days | $220–$400 |
| Bologna | Tagliatelle al ragù and Porticoes | April–June and September–October | 3 days | $150–$260 |
| Cinque Terre | Five cliff villages and Sentiero Azzurro | May–June and September–October | 3 days | $180–$320 |
| Palermo | Arab-Norman architecture and Street food | April–June and September–October | 4 days | $110–$200 |
| Verona | Arena di Verona and Opera festival | May–June and September | 3 days | $150–$270 |
When to visit Italy
Across these destinations the most reliable months are April–June and September–October. Timing still varies by place: Florence is best in April–May and September–October; Milan is best in April–June and September–October; Naples is best in April–June and September–October.
Signature dishes across Italy
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Florence | Bistecca alla fiorentina | Lampredotto and Ribollita |
| Milan | Saffron risotto | Breaded veal cutlet and Ossobuco |
| Naples | Neapolitan pizza | Fried pizza and Sfogliatella |
| Rome | Spaghetti alla carbonara | Cacio e pepe and Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Venice | Cicchetti | Sarde in saor and Baccalà mantecato |
| Amalfi Coast | Limoncello | Delizia al limone and Scialatielli ai frutti di mare |
| Bologna | Tagliatelle al ragù | Tortellini in brodo and Mortadella Bologna |
| Cinque Terre | Trofie al pesto | Focaccia and Monterosso anchovies |
| Palermo | Arancine | Pane e panelle and Pani ca' meusa |
| Verona | Risotto all'Amarone | Risotto al tastasal and Bigoli |
Events through the year in Italy
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Florence: Winter sales — shop discounts across the city (usually from early January); Milan: Winter sales (usually from early January) |
| February | Florence: Carnival — costumes for children and Carnival pastries (February or early March); Milan: Women's Fashion Week (usually late February) |
| March | Florence: Capodanno Fiorentino — historic procession for the old Florentine New Year (25 March); Rome: Rome Marathon (usually March) |
| April | Florence: Scoppio del Carro — a cart of fireworks set off outside the Duomo (Easter Sunday); Milan: Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week (usually April) |
| May | Florence: Giardino dell'Iris opens below Piazzale Michelangelo (usually May); Naples: Feast of San Gennaro — blood liquefaction ritual (Saturday before the first Sunday of May) |
| June | Florence: Calcio Storico Fiorentino — costumed historic football in Piazza Santa Croce (June, final on 24 June); Milan: Men's Fashion Week (usually June) |
| July | Florence: Estate Fiorentina — summer programme of open-air cinema and concerts (usually June–September); Milan: Summer sales (usually from early July) |
| August | Florence: Ferragosto public holiday (15 August); Milan: Ferragosto — public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Florence: Festa della Rificolona — paper-lantern procession (evening of 7 September); Milan: Women's Fashion Week (usually late September) |
| October | Florence: Olive harvest and new-oil tastings begin (late October into November); Rome: Rome Film Fest (Festa del Cinema di Roma, usually October) |
| November | Florence: Florence Marathon (usually late November); Milan: Christmas lights and markets begin (late November) |
| December | Florence: Christmas tree and nativity scene in Piazza del Duomo (usually from early December); Milan: La Scala season opening and the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! market (7 December, Sant'Ambrogio) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Florence | Milan | 249 km |
| Florence | Naples | 408 km |
| Florence | Rome | 231 km |
| Florence | Venice | 204 km |
| Florence | Amalfi Coast | 444 km |
| Milan | Naples | 658 km |
| Milan | Rome | 477 km |
| Milan | Venice | 244 km |
| Milan | Amalfi Coast | 694 km |
| Naples | Rome | 188 km |
| Naples | Venice | 534 km |
| Naples | Amalfi Coast | 37 km |
| Rome | Venice | 394 km |
| Rome | Amalfi Coast | 226 km |
| Venice | Amalfi Coast | 566 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to Italy?
Florence: Florence fits the Duomo, the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David and the Ponte Vecchio into a historic centre you can cross on foot in about 25 minutes. Most visitors stay between Santa Maria Novella station and Santa Croce…
+When is the best time to visit Italy?
Generally April–June and September–October, though it varies by region.