Country guide
Flights to Italy
A long country, fast trains between the cities, and a summer worth avoiding
Italy is longer than it looks on a map, and the single most common planning mistake is underestimating the distances. Rome to Venice or Rome to Sicily are not day trips, and an itinerary trying to include everything spends most of its time in transit.
The high-speed rail spine between Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan and Venice is excellent and makes the classic circuit genuinely easy. It is everything off that spine — the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, the Dolomites — that takes real time.
Cities we have guides for
Where to go beyond the obvious
Tuscany
Florence is ninety minutes from Rome by fast train. Siena, San Gimignano and the wine regions need a car and repay two or three days rather than a rushed day trip.
Venice and the north-east
Venice is about four hours from Rome by rail. Verona, Padua and the Dolomites are close by, and the mountains are a completely different Italy with their own seasons.
The Amalfi Coast and Naples
Naples is just over an hour from Rome by fast train; the coast beyond it is slow going on narrow roads. Allow far more travel time than the distances suggest, especially in summer.
Sicily and Puglia
Both need a domestic flight or a long train, and both deserve several days. Adding either to a first trip built around Rome, Florence and Venice usually breaks the itinerary.
When to go
April to early June and late September to October are the best windows: warm, long days and noticeably lighter crowds than midsummer at the major sites.
July and August are hot and extremely busy. Rome, Florence and Venice in August are uncomfortable and expensive, and many city restaurants close while their owners take holidays.
November to March is quiet and cheap, and the major museums and galleries are genuinely pleasant. The trade-off is short days and cold, wet weather in the north.
Getting around
High-speed trains connect the main cities quickly and arrive centrally. Book ahead for the cheapest fares, and validate regional tickets before boarding where required.
A car is worth it for Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily, and a liability in every city. Note that many historic centres are restricted traffic zones with automatic fines for entering.
Domestic flights only make sense for Sicily, Sardinia and Puglia, where the train journey becomes very long.
The basics
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Italian; English is common in tourist areas, less so in the south
- Time zone
- CET, or CEST from late March to late October
- Power
- Types F and L, 230V
- Driving
- On the right, with restricted traffic zones in most historic centres
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free, but the EU is introducing an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. Confirm the current requirement with Italian or EU authorities.
Before you book
Do not drive into a historic centre
Most are ZTL restricted zones monitored by camera, and the fines arrive months later via your rental company. This catches out a remarkable number of visitors every year.
Book major sites ahead
The Vatican Museums, the Uffizi and the Accademia sell timed entry that goes well in advance in season. Queuing on the day can cost hours.
Three cities in a week is the realistic maximum
Rome, Florence and Venice work as a first trip. Adding the Amalfi Coast or Sicily to the same week turns it into a travel schedule rather than a holiday.
Fly into one city and out of another
Rome in and Venice or Milan out avoids retracing the length of the country at the end, and open-jaw fares are usually competitive.
Routes to Italy
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to Italy — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
Which Italian airport should I fly into?
Rome and Milan have the most transatlantic service and are the practical arrival points. Rome suits an itinerary heading south or through Tuscany; Milan suits the north and the lakes. Venice has some direct service seasonally. For a classic Rome–Florence–Venice trip, flying into Rome and out of Venice avoids a long backtrack and usually costs little more.
How many cities can I see in a week in Italy?
Three, comfortably — Rome, Florence and Venice is the standard circuit and the high-speed trains between them are quick. Adding a fourth, or trying to include the Amalfi Coast or Sicily, means spending most of the week travelling. The country is longer than it appears and the sights off the rail spine are slow to reach.
Do I need a car in Italy?
Not for the cities, where it is an active liability — historic centres are restricted traffic zones enforced by camera, and fines reach you months later. A car is genuinely useful for rural Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily, where the sights are dispersed. Many people hire one for that portion of the trip only.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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