Country Overview
Italy doesn’t need an introduction, which is exactly what makes it hard to travel well — everyone has an opinion on where to go, and most of it is aimed at a two-week grand tour rather than the trip you’re actually taking.
Renaissance art in Florence, a fashion capital in Milan, silk-lake villas on Como, and Rome doing what Rome always does — this is where a little planning turns a checklist into an actual trip.
- Capital: Rome
- Language: Italian
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Best time to visit: April–June & September–October
- Time zone: GMT+1 (GMT+2 in summer)
- Visa: Schengen visa required for many nationalities — check requirements before booking
City Overview
Florence is the Renaissance compressed into a walkable old town — the Duomo’s dome, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David, and some of the best steak and gelato in Italy, all within a 20-minute walk of each other.
Best time to visit: April–May & September–October, to skip both the summer heat and the peak crowds
Getting There
- Florence Airport (FLR) — direct flights from major European hubs
- High-speed train from Rome (~1.5 hours) or Milan (~1.5–2 hours)
Getting Around
- Historic center is entirely walkable
- Buses for anything outside the old town walls
Where to Stay
- Near the Duomo — central, walk to everything
- Oltrarno — quieter, across the river, local feel
City Overview
Milan is Italy’s business and fashion capital — less about ruins and postcard views, more about the Duomo’s rooftop, world-class shopping, and using it as a base for day trips to Lake Como.
Best time to visit: April–June & September–October
Getting There
- Malpensa (MXP) or Linate (LIN) airports — both well connected internationally
- High-speed train from Rome, Florence or Venice
Getting Around
- Metro — fast and covers the whole city
- Walkable center around the Duomo and Galleria
Where to Stay
- Near the Duomo — central, walk to the main sights
- Brera — boutique, artsy, good restaurants
City Overview
Lake Como is Milan’s glamorous backyard — pastel villages stacked up the hillsides, villas with gardens running down to the water, and a ferry network that makes hopping between towns part of the appeal.
Best time to visit: May–June & September, for warm weather without peak-summer crowds
Getting There
- Train from Milan to Como (~1 hour)
- Malpensa Airport (MXP), then train or transfer (~1 hour)
Getting Around
- Ferries between lakeside towns — the main way to get around
- Trains connect Como, Varenna and a few other stops directly
Where to Stay
- Como town — best transport links, easiest base
- Bellagio or Varenna — smaller, more postcard-pretty, book ferries around it
City Overview
Rome is layers of empire, papacy and modern city stacked on top of each other — the Colosseum and Forum a short walk from the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican, with some of the country’s best food in between.
Best time to visit: April–May & September–October
Getting There
- Fiumicino (FCO) — main international airport
- Ciampino (CIA) — budget airlines
- High-speed train from Florence, Milan or Naples
Getting Around
- Historic center is walkable, but spread out — budget the time
- Metro and buses for longer hops
- Book skip-the-line tickets for the Colosseum and Vatican ahead of time
Where to Stay
- Centro Storico — walk to the Pantheon, Trevi and Piazza Navona
- Trastevere — nightlife, restaurants, across the river
Guides
Travel with intention, not just a map pin.
7 Days in Italy: The Free Insider Guide
Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Lake Como in one week: the route, the trains, the food and what it all costs.
48 Hours in Florence: The Free Insider Guide
Gelato, truffles, the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, and the tips we learned the hard way.
24 Hours in Lake Como: The Free Insider Guide
Colourful fishing villages, a ferry across the lake and a villa straight out of the movies, with prices.
24 Hours in Rome: The Free Insider Guide
The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, plus the best pastry, pizza and tiramisu, with prices and skip-the-line tips.
48 Hours in Florence: The Free Insider Guide
Gelato, truffles, the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, and the tips we learned the hard way.
24 Hours in Lake Como: The Free Insider Guide
Colourful fishing villages, a ferry across the lake and a villa straight out of the movies, with prices.
24 Hours in Rome: The Free Insider Guide
The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon, plus the best pastry, pizza and tiramisu, with prices and skip-the-line tips.
Video Blogs
Italy Travel Guide
7 Days in Italy: What to Know Before You Book
3 Free Things to Do in Florence, Italy
24 Hours in Milan, Italy
5 Mistakes to Avoid in Lake Como
Don’t Travel to Rome Without Watching This
Guide by Mayar. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.