Italy Travel Guide: The land of varied and mystic landscapes!

Pack your backpacks to explore the Alps, the ancient culture, the castles, and the vineyards

ITALY LAKES EXPLORED

ITALY UNESCO SITES VISITED

ITALY NATIONAL PARKS VISITED

Why should you travel to Italy?

Often nicknamed the Bel Paese or the beautiful country, Italy is a land known for its tranquil landscape, sunny islands, beautiful vineyards, alpine lakes, and more. It is a bell-shaped peninsula in Southern Europe, located close to the Mediterranean sea. Italy, along with Greece, is a land that gave birth to western culture and civilization.

Sardinia in the West and Sicily in the South are two major tourist attractions in Italy apart from the places like Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples, and Milan. Through this travel guide on Italy, we will look into the best time to visit, things to know before traveling to Italy, and many more interesting facts.

Italy is a land of mesmerization for every traveler. From its castles to its 7600 km long coastline, most travelers would have Italy on their travel bucket list. The mountainous ranges of the Alps and the Apennines, the rivers in Italy like Po, Adige, Arno, and Tiber are other spots chosen by most travelers. The stone terraces of Cinque Terre, Po Valley, Etna volcanic source, and the hillside of Chianti are other major tourist hubs in Italy.

Italy has 55 UNESCO World Heritage Centres and 24 National Parks as well.

Through this Italy travel guide, you can find out the things that you can do in Italy, the best time to visit Italy, the most stunning places, and many more!

Interesting Facts Italy

Flag of Italy

Italy's National Animal

Italian Wolf

Italian National Dish
Ragu Alla Bolognese (pasta) and Pizza

Currency in Italy

Euro (€)

Italy Time Zone

Central European Time or CET (GMT+1 hour)

Travel to Europe: visit Cinque Terre in Italy

Vernazza in Cinque Terre Italy

Stunning Tuscany in Italy

Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia in Tuscany Italy

Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia Tuscany

Venice in Italy

Best time to visit Italy

Italy is one of the most expensive countries to visit in Europe. However, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world too.

People tend to visit Italy during May, June, September, and October. Though it is the busiest and the most expensive time to travel to Italy, it is a convenient time because of the pleasant weather.
In July and August, it is the summer season, and most Italians would be traveling during that time. It is also a suitable time to visit Italy if you are someone who likes to enjoy the serenity and quietness of the cities.
Between November and April, the temperature is pretty low, and it is cold. It is not much preferred by travelers, but if you're a winter person and love colder weather you can visit Italy too! It depends on your wishes and needs. Italy, for example, also has some great ski areas.

Things to know before you travel to Italy

Safety in Italy

Italy is a safe country for both solo travelers and others. However, petty theft and pickpocketing are common in most regions. The crime rates are comparatively high in Rome and Florence. It is always essential to take good care of your money, jewelry, camera, and passport. In most parts of Italy, strikes and demonstrations are usual. So, it is necessary to take the needed precautions. While traveling in Italy, you have to take care of your tickets on trains and buses. You have to confirm its validity as soon as you board the transportation facility. If your ticket is invalid, you would have to disembark the vehicle at an unknown station.

Visa requirements for Italy

When you are traveling to Italy, you have to get a Schengen Visa. With a Schengen Visa, you can travel to San Marino and the Vatican City as well. Italy permits citizens from certain countries to travel to Italy without a Visa. If you are from the European Union, you can travel to Italy with your identification card. For non-European citizens, a passport and visa are both mandatory. However, US citizens can travel to Italy without a Visa for 90 days concerning their work. Travelers can always apply for a Visa online through Farnesina, the official website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internationzale).

Responsible Travel and Tourism in Europe

Responsible Travel in Italy

Italians give much importance to sustainability. They focus on reducing air pollution as well. Overtourism and waste management are other problems faced by Italy. In Venice, the government employs different ways to control sewage flow. Many Places like Dolomite and Serio Falls follow sustainable measures. Many hotels in Milan include green practices. They encourage lodgers to reuse towels. They also provide vegetables and fruits organically cultivated.

Vaccinations & anti-Malaria tablets for Italy

Required vaccinations for Italy depend on where you come from, the length of stay, and what you will be doing in Italy. Most Europeans don't require any vaccinations for Italy, but the CDC and the WHO recommend vaccines for Measles, Yellow Fever, Polio, and Rabies. They also recommend some routine vaccines for Chickenpox, Diphtheria, Flu, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B. It is also essential to carry some of the common supply of medications with you while traveling to Italy. It's best to consult a travel clinic, they can advise in which situations the vaccinations are recommended or not.

Spoken languages in Italy

93% of the people in Italy speak Italian. However, there can be differences in their dialects. Most travel guides can communicate in both Italian and English. It is always better to learn some key phrases in Italian while traveling to Italy. There are several applications available that can guide you in Italy. You can also depend on Google Translator if necessary.

Things to do in Italy to cross off your bucket list

Visit Cinque Terre Unesco World Heritage Site in Italy (Europe)

Cinque Terre, UNESCO site!

It is famously known as Five Lands. It is because it has five little villages on the hillside lining of the Mediterranean coast. You can reach the places by boarding a train from Pisa, Rome, or Genoa. In the ancient days, people used to travel from one village to another by walking. The hiking path, which is nine km long, is still one of the favorite roads for many travelers. Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza are three villages in Cinque Terre. They are known for their vineyards and spectacular ocean views.

Travel to Europe: visit Tuscany in Italy

Romantic Val d'Orcia in Tuscany

With several castles, farmhouses, and roads with cypress trees on their sides, Val d'Orcia has a fascinating landscape that can enchant every traveler. Located in Southern Tuscany, Val d'Orcia is a valley surrounding the Orcia river. It has many vineyards and olive groves as well. Sienna and Grosseto are two world heritage centers of UNESCO situated in the region. Some of the must-visit places in Val d'Orcia include Pienza, which is a picturesque town with wheat fields, Castiglione d'Orcia, which is a fortress, and several other gently cultivated hills.

The scenic Como Lake

Located in Northern Italy in the Lombardy region, Como Lake is the third largest and the deepest lake in Italy. It is like an inverted Y in shape. The melting of glaciers has led to the formation of the lake. It is against the foothills of the Alps. Bellagio is a city in the central part of the lake. It is famous for Villa Serbelloni, Villa Melzi, and Dunta Spartivento Pescallo. Other places to visit nearby Como Lake are Como city, which is known for its natural scenery and hills. Como city is also one of the best places to photograph. Tremezzina is another location that is known for its neoclassical villas like Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbianello. Varenna is a place with botanical gardens and other spots like Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi Castello di Vezio.

Lago Maggiore and Garda Lake

Lago di Garda and Maggiore are the largest and the second-largest lakes in Italy. Lago Maggiore is in Verbano on the south side of the Alps. It is just an hour's drive from Milan. There are a plethora of beautiful houses, gardens, orchards, and villages in the region.

Laveno is a point near the river that provides a mesmerizing view of both the lake and the Alps. Angero is another location near the lake with fortresses and a doll museum.

Garda Lake is famous for its crystal clear water. Located in the North of Verno, the region of Garda Lake has several picturesque towns and castles. Sirmione and Castello Scaligeri are two such tourist attractions. Grotte di Catullo consists of the ruins of the villa of a 54 BC Roman poet, Catullus.

City trip to Milan

Milan is a land of several historical and cultural heritages. There are many churches with gothic and mysterious architecture. It is the land where St Augustine received baptism. It is also the place where Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci were born. Piazza de Basilica, Piazza del Duomo, Eleven Duomo are some religious places worth a visit in Italy. Santa Maria Delle Grazia, the place where Da Vinci had his last supper, Castello Sforzesco, and Teatro Alla Scala are other places you can include in your Milan city trip.

Travel to Europe: visit Lago di Carezza in Dolomites

Turquoise Lago di Carezza

The Dolomites is the Italian section of the Alps with 18 peaks. It is 500 miles from Northern Italy. The Dolomites became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2009 with several lakes. It is one of the best spots for hiking, cycling, and climbing. Lago di Carezza or Karersee is a tourist attraction in Italy that focuses on responsible tourism. The areas near the lake are conserved. Visitors are not permitted to enter the lake. However, it is a mesmerizing picturesque view no traveler would like to miss.

Pack your backpacks, and you can always come back to our Italy travel guide for any clarifications!