Italy

Italy's high-speed rail network makes a city-based trip effortless. The mistake most first-timers make is covering too much ground — Rome, Florence and one region is a better ten days than five cities.

• Dense concentration of art and architecture
• Fast, affordable intercity trains
• Regional food that genuinely changes every 100km

April–June and September–October

• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Sep
• Oct

Budget

€90/ day

Mid-range

€180/ day

Luxury

€450/ day

Plan for 10–14 days. Fewer days works if you stay in one region.

Rome

Layered history you can walk through in an afternoon.

Florence

Compact Renaissance core and gateway to Tuscany.

Amalfi Coast

Dramatic but slow — build in transport time.

Bologna

The food capital most itineraries skip.

Book major sites ahead

Uffizi, Vatican and Colosseum sell out weeks in advance.

Rent a car in Tuscany only

Cities have restricted ZTL zones with automatic fines.

Rome — Monti / Trastevere

Walkable, characterful, well connected.

Florence — Oltrarno

Quieter side of the river.

Regional pasta

Cacio e pepe in Rome, tagliatelle al ragù in Bologna.

Aperitivo

Early-evening drink with food, strongest in Milan and Turin.

• High-speed trains between major cities — book early for cheap fares
• Avoid driving into historic centres (ZTL)

• Schengen area rules apply
• EU entry/exit system changes are rolling out — check before travel

Entry rules change. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate before booking.

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