Italy
Italy has arguably the highest concentration of world-class sights in Europe, but that popularity means the classic route (Rome–Florence–Venice) is crowded and expensive nearly year-round. Lesser-known regions like Puglia or Le Marche offer a calmer, cheaper version of the same food and history.
Quick facts
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Recommended trip length
- 7–14 days
- Best months
- May, Jun, Sept, Oct
- Climate
- Warm, Mild
- Crowd level
- Very high
- Travel difficulty
- Easy
- Value for money
- 55
- Public transport
- 70
Who it suits
- History, art and food travellers
- Romantic getaways
- First-time visitors wanting iconic sights
Who it may not suit
- Budget travellers in peak season
- Travellers who strongly dislike crowds
Estimated budget
Per person, per day — excluding flights.
Budget
€50–€75/day
Comfortable
€85–€125/day
Premium
€160–€240/day
Estimated from manually maintained destination data. Flights and accommodation prices may differ. Estimates last reviewed 2025-06-01.
What this destination is good for
- History95
- Food90
- Romance80
- City life75
- Beaches60
- Nature55
- Road trips55
- Nightlife50
- Relaxation50
- Family50
- Adventure35
- Multi-country20
Main strengths
- Unmatched depth of art, history and food
- Extremely varied landscapes in one country
- Excellent train network between major cities
- Romantic, world-famous scenery
Honest downsides
- Rome, Florence and Venice are severely overcrowded
- Peak-season prices are among the highest in Europe
- Major sights require advance tickets to avoid long queues
Essential places
- Colosseum and Roman Forum
- Florence's Duomo and Uffizi
- Venice canals
- Amalfi Coast
Worth adding if you have time
- Cinque Terre
- Tuscany countryside
- Pompeii
Transport guidance
- Public transport is a realistic way to get around most of this destination.
- A rental car is optional — most essential places are reachable without one.
Suggested itineraries
No curated itinerary for this destination yet.