Italy

Where to Go

Rome

The Vatican, the Forum, the Pantheon and the neighborhoods around Piazza Navona and Trastevere.

Tuscany

Florence, Siena and the vineyards and hill towns of Chianti and the Val d'Orcia.

Lake Como

Villas, gardens and boat trips between Bellagio, Varenna and Cernobbio.

The Amalfi Coast

Positano, Ravello and Capri, with cliffside towns and boat days on the water.

Portofino and the Ligurian coast

A small harbor town with coastal walks to San Fruttuoso and boats to the Cinque Terre.

What to Do

• See the Vatican Museums early or after hours with a private guide
• Taste Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino at the vineyards
• Hire a boat for a day on Lake Como or around Capri
• Walk the coastal paths between Portofino and San Fruttuoso
• For wildlife, add a few days in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, home of the Marsican brown bear and the Apennine wolf

Best Time to Go

April to June and September to October are the best months for most of Italy: warm, green and less crowded. July and August are hot and busy, and many Italians are on holiday in August. The lakes and the Amalfi Coast are mostly summer-season destinations, and many hotels there close in winter, while Rome and Florence are good all year. Our shoulder season guide covers timing in more detail.

Getting Around and How Long to Stay

High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains link Rome, Florence and Milan, with Rome to Florence taking about an hour and a half. For Tuscany, the lakes and the coast we use private drivers. We suggest ten days to two weeks for Rome, Tuscany and one water stay, and longer if you want both the lakes and the coast.

Where We Like to Stay

For a fuller comparison, read our guide to Italy's lakes and coasts.

Rome: Hotel de Russie sits between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, with a large terraced garden that is rare in central Rome.

Tuscany: Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel is a restored castle on a large estate near Casole d'Elsa, good for families and longer stays.

Lake Como: Villa d'Este in Cernobbio is a 16th-century villa set in big lakeside gardens. Passalacqua in Moltrasio is a smaller 18th-century villa with terraced gardens down to the water.

Amalfi Coast: Le Sirenuse in Positano is a former family home of the Sersale family, looking across the town to the sea.

Portofino: Splendido, A Belmond Hotel sits on the hillside above Portofino harbor.

Pairing Italy

Italy pairs well with France along the Riviera, or with Switzerland from the lakes.