Destinations / Italy
Italy Travel Guide
Most first trips to Italy try to fit five cities into ten days. I'd pick two or three bases, take the train between them, and leave time for three-hour lunches. Here's how the regions compare and what to book before you go.
Italy
Where I'm sending people now
Fast trains link Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice and Milan. Rent a car only for the Tuscan countryside, and never drive into a city center.
April to early June and September to October. July and August are hot and crowded, and the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como mostly close from November to March.
Top 5-star hotels run about $1,000 to $3,000+ a night in Rome, Florence, Venice, Positano and Lake Como, plus a city tax of a few euros up to €10 per person per night.
Since April 2026 the EU takes fingerprints and a photo at passport control, so expect longer lines when you land. ETIAS, a €20 online travel authorization, is expected to start in late 2026. Check for strikes before train days.
Places in Italy
Which one is right for you?
Rome
Great for
First trips to Italy, history and art lovers, food-focused trips
Skip it if
You want a quiet, slow trip, or you don't do crowds and summer heat
Florence & Tuscany
Great for
Art lovers, wine trips, couples, slow countryside stays
Skip it if
You don't want to drive at all, or you're after beach time
Venice
Great for
Couples, art and architecture lovers, a 2 to 3 night city stop
Skip it if
Bridges and steps with luggage are a problem, or you only have a day
Amalfi Coast
Great for
Honeymoons, couples, boat days, food with a view
Skip it if
Stairs are hard for you, you're going November to March, or you want sandy beaches
Lake Como
Great for
Honeymoons, couples, slow luxury stays, an easy add-on to Milan
Skip it if
You're going November to March, or you want beaches and nightlife
Know before you go
Getting there
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) get the most long-haul flights; Venice (VCE) and Naples (NAP) work well as an open-jaw so you don't backtrack. If there's no nonstop from your city, connect through a European hub like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam or Zurich, and expect the new EU biometric entry system to add time at passport control on your first Schengen arrival.
Getting around
Trains are the move between cities: Frecciarossa and Italo high-speed trains link Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and Naples, and Rome to Florence takes about 1.5 hours. Only rent a car for the countryside (Tuscany, Puglia), never inside cities, where ZTL restricted zones mean automatic camera fines.
Money and tipping
Euros everywhere, and tap-to-pay is common, but carry some cash for small cafes, taxis and the city tourist tax many hotels collect at checkout. Tipping isn't expected: a coperto (cover charge) is normal on bills, and I round up or leave 5-10% only for great service.
How I'd spend 10 days
Days 1-3 Rome, Colosseum and Forum, Vatican early entry, Trastevere dinner
Days 4-6 Florence and Tuscany, Uffizi, a Chianti or Val d'Orcia wine day
Days 7-9 Venice for the canals and islands, or the Amalfi Coast for summer sea days
Day 10 Fly home from Venice (VCE) or Naples (NAP) instead of backtracking to Rome
Hotels I'd book in Italy
Things to do in Italy
Where to eat in Italy
La Pergola
Pierluigi
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Osteria di Passignano
Quadri
Venissa
Zass
La Sponda
Il Gatto Nero
La Punta
Where I'm sending people now
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, and how to pick between them.
Italy
Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with the hotels and tours worth booking ahead.
Caribbean
Punta Cana, Turks and Caicos and Puerto Rico, all-inclusive and not.
Italy FAQ
How many places should I visit on a first trip?
Two or three for a week to 10 days. Rome plus Florence, or Rome plus the Amalfi Coast, is the classic first trip. Every move costs you half a day.
Should I take the train or rent a car?
Take the train between cities: Rome to Florence is about 1.5 hours and Rome to Naples about 70 minutes on high-speed trains. A car only makes sense in the Tuscan countryside. US drivers need an International Driving Permit, and city centers have camera-enforced zones that fine you for driving in.
Do I need a visa for Italy?
Not as a US citizen on a trip of up to 90 days. Since April 2026 the EU registers your fingerprints and photo at your first entry. ETIAS, a €20 online authorization valid for three years, is expected to start in late 2026 with a grace period.
What is the city tax?
Almost every city charges one per person per night, paid at the hotel and usually not included in the rate you booked: €10 at 5-star hotels in Rome, €8 in Florence and €5 in Positano, for example.
Do I tip in Italy?
It isn't expected. Many restaurants add a coperto, a cover charge of a few euros per person, which is legal and listed on the menu. Leaving a few euros for great service is plenty.
What about strikes?
Transport strikes are common but announced ahead of time. Check the Italian government strike calendar (scioperi.mit.gov.it) before train and flight days, and leave a buffer before international flights.
When are the Amalfi Coast and Lake Como closed?
Most big hotels in both places close from about November to March, and ferries cut back. For a winter trip, stick to Rome, Florence and Venice.
What should I wear to churches?
Cover your shoulders and knees at St. Peter's, the Vatican Museums and St. Mark's in Venice. It's enforced at the door.