Travel in Italy: My Best Tips for Enjoying an Artsy Trip
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Traveling in Italy never disappoints. You’ll find so much variety, so much art, so much history, and so much food!
It’s pretty much impossible to get tired of Italy. There’s always something new to explore.
For the Artsy Traveler, Italy ranks high. Its churches, museums, and galleries are chock full of art treasures from the Etruscans and Romans, the Byzantines and the Middle Ages, and then on through the Renaissance and Baroque eras to the Futurists in the 20th century.
If you want to see an incredible variety of art, you’ve come to the right country.
On this page, you’ll find practical tips for visiting Italy, including quick facts about Italy, top ten highlights, an overview of each region, and practical tips for checking events & exhibitions, choosing transportation and accommodations, and traveling safely and comfortably.
Quick Facts About Italy
Quick Facts About Italy
- Country: Italy (Italian Republic)
- Capital: Rome
- Language: Italian (plus regional dialects)
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Time Zone: CET (UTC +1) / CEST (UTC +2)
- Population: ~60 million
- Geography: Peninsula with Sicily & Sardinia as major islands
- Top Attractions: Roman ruins, Renaissance art, medieval towns, rugged landscapes, lakes, coastline
- Best Seasons to Visit: April–June and September-October
- Travel Tip: Book major museums in advance to avoid lines
Decide Where to Go in Italy
To make the most of your visit to Italy, pick one or two regions and stay for a week (or more) in each. You can’t see all of Italy in a two-week trip so don’t try. It’s a big country with an enormous number of amazing artsy sights. You won’t run out of places to visit in a hurry.
For an overview of artsy sightseeing options in Italy, check my post Amazing Artsy Sightseeing Choices in Italy for the Independent Traveler.
I’ve been visiting Italy for decades (since I was 18!) and I still find new cities to visit and regions to explore. For such a relatively small country geographically, Italy has a LOT to offer.
Top Ten Highlights of Italy
- Explore Rome’s ancient wonders, including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Domus Aurea.
- Experience Florence’s Renaissance masterpieces and walkable historic center.
- Glide along the canals of Venice and admire its elegant palazzi and unique culture.
- Take in the rolling hills, vineyards, and medieval towns of Tuscany.
- Hike or relax along the dramatic coasts of the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre.
- Discover Sicily’s layered history—Greek theaters, Roman mosaics, and Norman cathedrals.
- Enjoy Umbria’s quieter medieval towns like Assisi, Perugia, and Orvieto.
- Visit Northern Italy’s lakes and mountains, from Lake Como and Lake Garda to the Dolomites.
- Indulge in regional Italian cuisine—from Neapolitan pizza to Piedmont truffles.
- Relax on Italy’s islands, including Sardinia and smaller, less-visited gems.
Regional Snapshot: What to See by Region
When you’re planning your trip to Italy, choose which regions you want to visit. Limit your itinerary to no more than two or three regions in a two-week period. Spending four or five days in one area with no more than two destinations is ideal.
Avoid one-night stays and too much city-hopping.
The map below shows many of the regions of Italy you may wish to visit and that are described below.
Venice & the Veneto
The Veneto offers a rich mix of art, architecture, and landscapes, anchored by Venice (#1 on the map above), one of the world’s most atmospheric and unforgettable cities. Explore the canals, palaces, and extraordinary museums of this magical city and then venture beyond the lagoon to discover elegant Verona (#2), Palladian villas, and charming towns like Padua (#3) and Vicenza (#4). Spend three nights in Venice to soak up its unique beauty, and add three nights in Verona or Padua if you want to explore more of the region.
Northern Italy
Alpine peaks, lakes such as Lake Garda (#5) Como and Lake Garda (#6), and elegant cities like Milan (#7) and Turin (#8) define Northern Italy, along with the Italian Riviera. Spend three nights in the Dolomites (#9) and two or three nights at one of the lakes, or spend two nights each in Milan and Turin for a big city hit. Don’t miss da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan and the Egypt Museum in Turin.
Marche & the Adriatic Coast
This region combines coastline with remarkable art and architecture. Spend two nights in Ravenna (#10 to enjoy its astonishing Byzantine mosaics and two nights in Urbania (#11) to get well off the beaten path.
Bologna & the Emilia Romagna
It’s all about food in this area of Italy between the towns of northern Italy and Tuscany. Bologna (#12) has a lot to offer the artsy traveler and is a mecca for foodies.
Tuscany
Rolling countryside, vineyards, olive groves, and medieval hill towns such as Siena and San Gimignano complement world-class art in Florence (#13). Spend three nights in Florence and two nights in Siena (#14). With more time, add two nights in San Gimignano (#15) and visit nearby Volterra (#16).
And for an off-the-beaten track experience, explore the wilder side of Tuscany (between Florence and the Mediterranean coast. I recently spent a week at an art retreat north of Lucca amind this spectacular landscape. Check out my experience at the art retreat: Get Inspired at a Writing and Art Retreat in Tuscany
Umbria
Often called the “green heart” of Italy, Umbria offers peaceful hill towns, deep religious heritage in Assisi, and rustic agritourism. Spend two nights in Perugia (#17) and two nights in Assisi (#18) to enjoy the towns after the tour buses leave.
Rome
Rome (#19) offers ancient ruins, vibrant neighborhoods, and the Papal city of the Vatican. Spend five nights in Rome and consider a day trip to Villa d’Este (#20) and Villa Adriana (#21) (Hadrian’s Villa).
When in Rome, steer clear of the busy tour areas around the Colosseum and the Piazza Navona and instead seek out quiet side streets where you’ll be alone with your thoughts and the ghosts of 2000 years of history.
Campania & the South
Vibrant southern culture, dramatic coastlines, archaeological sites like Pompeii, and fantastic food define this region. Spend three nights in Naples (#22) and two nights in Sorrento (#23) or Positano (#24). If you have extra time, add Paestum (#25) for another night or two.
Sicily & Sardinia
These large islands offer distinctly different cultures. Sicily (#26) features layered history including Greek theaters, Roman mosaics, and Norman cathedrals, while Sardinia (#27) provides rugged landscapes and beautiful beaches. Spend at least a week in each place for a fuller experience.
There are many more regions of Italy to explore including Puglia (#28) in the southeast and the Cinque Terre (#29) on the west coast south of Genoa. You won’t run out of places to visit in Italy in a lifetime.
Traveling as a Temporary Local
Of all the countries in western Europe, I think Italy is the most diverse, both culturally and geographically. From the jagged peaks of the Dolomites to the sun-soaked coastline of Siciliy, Italy changes dramatically from region to region.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Italy consisted of numerous city states, often at war with each other. In fact, the country was not united into what we know of as modern Italy until 1861.
The culture, the architecture, the landscapes and the food of the many regions of Italy are still very distinct. Don’t limit yourself to the heavy hitters such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. Get off the beaten track to explore smaller towns, islands, coastal areas, and countryside regions such as Umbria, the Marche, or Puglia.
You’ll experience a quieter, more authentic Italy with fewer crowds and richer local character. On a recent trip to the charming town of Piacenza, for example, I saw only a handful of tourists during a five-day stay.
Embrace Slow Travel
Spend more time in fewer places to reduce stress and let you connect with locals. Instead of rushing from city to city and site to site with a tour group, seek out unique experiences like attending an opera performance at a palazzo near the Trevi Fountain in Rome or going on a photography tour.
Support small businesses, eat at family-run trattorias, and seek our regional artisans. Use refillable water bottles, choose train travel over domestic flights, and be mindful of preserving Italy’s fragile historic sites.
Your goal, even on a short trip, is to live like a local. Shop in neighborhood markets, stop for a coffee or an aperitif at a café where most of the othe patrons are speaking Italian, and in the evening, join the locals in the passeggiata (stroll).
Checking Events and Exhibitions
Before you travel to the major cities in Italy–Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence, Venice–check online for exhibitions and performances. Art museums such as the Uffizi in Florence and the Guggenheim in Venice often host special exhibitions. Go to the websites of the museums you plan to visit and see what’s on.
More than once, I’ve changed my itinerary so I could go to a special exhibition.
Also check for performances. Classictic is a good source of information about classical music concerts in the cities you’re traveling to.
Be on the lookout for local festivals. Every time I’ve traveled in Italy, I’ve come across either a festival where the whole town turns out in medieval garb to participate in processions and other medieval-inspired activities, or at the very least a demonstration of medieval flag-waving.
The Italians pay a great deal of loving attention to their remarkable past.
On a day trip to the Appian Way outside Rome, we joined a festival celebrating ancient Rome. Local people dressed as centurions and legionnaires marched in formation, sock-clad feet in imitation ancient sandals slapping the cobblestones, swords clanging, leather tunics creaking.
Scattered around a field were tables worked by people dressed in various Roman costumes and demonstrating Roman crafts—matrons and merchants in simple white tunics; vestal virgins dressed in alluring green togas, hair fashioned into elaborate braids and swirls; the occasional toga-clad aristocrat; even a priest carrying incense and intoning prayers.
When you’re traveling, check local posters, ask your server at dinner, and chat with other travelers about their experiences. In addition to the artsy sights you’ve planned to visit, you may discover several more you might never have heard of that will enrich your visit.
Choose Your Transportation
Italy extends from the Alps in the north all the way south to Sicily, a distance of more than 1,600 kilometers. Driving the length of Italy requires at least three days unless you’re a maniac, and even then, you’ll see nothing more than Autostrada cafés which I don’t recommend.
Where you go in Italy depends upon the time you have available and how you plan to travel. You have two choices—use public transit or rent a car.
Public Transit
I’ve often taken trains in Italy with no problems. The high-speed trains are fast and comfortable, and ideal for reaching major cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Naples.
For most travelers, taking trains between cities is much easier than driving. On one solo trip to Italy, I flew to Rome, took the high-speed train to Florence, and then the bus to San Gimignano and Siena. From Siena, I caught the train back to Rome.
Each leg of my journey was on time and efficient.
Reserve in advance for popular routes such as Rome to Florence and Florence to Milan and if you want first class. Website such as Trainline work well for planning your route and purchasing tickets.
TIP: If you prefer not to drive in Italy, I recommend combining train and bus travel with the occasional small group tour. You’ll get to see much more of the countryside and have the benefit of a knowledgeable guide.
You can book your train tickets before you leave home. Check the Rail Europe website for schedules and prices.
Renting a Car
The benefit to driving in Italy is that you can get to places in the countryside that are difficult to access by bus or train. A good strategy is to fly or take the train to a central hub such as Milan or Rome and then rent a car.
TIP: Do not arrange to pick up your rental car in the center of the city! Take a taxi to the airport and pick up the car there.
Driving Tips in Italy
Driving in Italy is a challenge because of heavy traffic and because GPS is not always reliable. Take along paper maps and learn patience. I’ve gotten lost almost as often using GPS in recent years as I used to when I had only maps.
The drivers in Italy are capable but fast. After all, this is the country that makes Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
Speed limits sometimes feel like guidelines but don’t ignore them. Speed traps exist and you won’t know you’ve crossed the line until you get a bill in the mail after you arrive home.
SUPER TIP: Never (and I mean never!) attempt to drive into the centro (center) of an Italian town, particularly a medieval hill town. First, you risk getting a stiff fine (being a tourist is no excuse) for driving into a ZTL (Traffic Limited Zone), second, you risk ripping one or both of your side mirrors off your rental car, and third, you risk never again speaking to your partner.
Find the parking lot outside the town and walk. If you’re in Tuscany or Umbria, you’ll likely be walking uphill because most towns are hill towns. Fortunately, some towns such as San Gimignano and Orvieto thoughtfully provide an elevator to take you from the car park to the town. Others don’t, but if you’re going to travel in Italy, even by car, you need to be up for some good, stiff walking.
Driving into Italy from Austria, Switzerland, and France
Thanks to the Alps, you don’t have many options for driving into Italy from the north. The three main options for travel from northern Europe south into Italy from Austria, Switzerland, and France are:
- Drive through Austria and enter Italy through the Brenner Pass. Then tour the Dolomites and Bolzano before carrying on to Venice (see the green numbers on the map below).
- Drive through Switzerland, cross the Italian border at Lugano and then head south to Lake Como and Milan (purple numbers on the map).
- Drive through France via Mont Blanc into Italy, then spend a day or two in Turin (see the blue numbers on the map).
From the south of France, drive the extremely scenic route from Nice to Genoa (see the red numbers on the map) and then on to Florence and Rome.
Choosing Where to Stay While Visiting Italy
With one notable exception, I’ve always enjoyed wonderful accommodations in Italy. From modest two-star pensions to apartmentsa, country villas, and four-star splurges, I’ve experienced excellent service, comfortable rooms, and good breakfasts.
Accommodation Budget
Budgetwise, Italy is creeping into the expensive range, particularly in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Prices have definitely risen over the years. On average, I now pay €150 a night for a comfortable three-star hotel and about €250 to €350 for a four-star hotel or an apartment in a city.
While you can find budget accommodation, I suggest spending the extra money to get a nice place in a good location that’s close to the action. Sure, you can get bargains at hotels on the outskirts of the cities, but who wants to commute an hour each way to see what you came all the way to Italy to see?
Recommended Places to Stay in Italy
Stay within or very close to the historic center. This makes sightseeing easy. Also, strolling the cobbled streets in the center of an Italian tourist town after the tourists have left can be a magical experience. If you’re driving, park outside the center and take a taxi to your hotel to avoid driving in a ZTL (Traffic Limited Zone).
For a slower, more scenic experience, consider agriturismi (farm stays) or rural villas where you can enjoy local food, beautiful landscapes, and a quieter pace.
In cities, choose small boutique hotels or guesthouses for a more personal, local feel.
For my accommodation recommendations in Italy, read Recommended Places to Stay in Italy That Will Make Great Memories. You’ll find wonderful properties in all the areas described on this page and in the related posts.
I recommend you use services such as booking.com and Expedia to book your accommodations in Europe. All your reservations are kept together in one place when you download the service’s app. Zom into the map below for options in the places you’re traveling to.
