
Between the Alps and the Mediterranean, Italy combines ancient sites, Renaissance art, wine regions, and around 7,500 kilometers of coastline, plus a cuisine that differs significantly from region to region.
by Felix Gillen
Pick a region. The highlights, road trips and places below follow your choice.








Unique experiences that make Italy unforgettable.
From the guide to the road: here is what comes next.
Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.
Explore the diverse regions of Italy.
Discover the best routes through Italy.

The route starts in Catania, leads to Taormina and Mount Etna, then south via Syracuse and Noto to Agrigento, and along the north coast via Cefalù to Palermo. For a good two weeks, you'll need a rental car. The longest leg from Noto to Agrigento takes approximately three hours.

From Florence, via Siena and Montepulciano on the edge of Val d'Orcia, to Umbria and the old towns of Perugia and Assisi. Stages rarely exceed an hour's drive. In the old towns, ZTLs apply; park outside.

The route starts in Naples, takes you to the excavations of Pompeii and via Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast, to Positano and Ravello. On the SS163 coastal road a car is more of a burden than a help in summer. Ferries from Sorrento and the public buses connect the towns more reliably.

The route leads from Bari via Polignano a Mare, Alberobello and Ostuni into the Salento region to Lecce, Otranto and Gallipoli. The stages are short and rarely last more than an hour's drive. In August, beaches and accommodations are heavily booked.

The tour begins in Olbia, taking a ferry from Palau to the La Maddalena Archipelago, crossing the north to Alghero, then continuing down the west coast via Bosa and Oristano to Cagliari. Without a rental car or campervan, you'll barely reach the bays. From La Maddalena to Alghero, the drive is about three hours.

From Milan, head to Lake Maggiore to Stresa, then on to Lake Como to Bellagio and Lake Garda to Sirmione, concluding in Verona. Between the lakes, each trip takes just under two to a little over two hours. Locally, ferries replace the car.
Essential info for your trip planning.
Land and PeopleItaly is home to around 59 million people (ISTAT).
From Antiquity to the RenaissanceThe Roman Empire, at its greatest extent, dominated the entire Mediterranean region;…
Italian cuisine is strongly regional: what ends up on your plate largely depends on where you are.
Italy is easily reachable by train, plane and car, and you can travel there without much advance planning.
By TrainFor routes between major cities, the train is usually the best choice.
Suitability and InfrastructureItaly is well-suited for RV travel.
Italy is a child-friendly destination. Children are a natural part of restaurant and piazza life, even late in the…
When is the best time for your trip?
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sun (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.0 | 65 | 3.5 |
| February | 8.0 | 60 | 4.5 |
| March | 11.0 | 60 | 5.5 |
| April | 14.0 | 65 | 6.5 |
| May | 19.0 | 55 | 8.5 |
| June | 23.0 | 35 | 9.5 |
| July | 26.0 | 25 | 10.5 |
| August | 26.0 | 30 | 9.5 |
| September | 21.0 | 65 | 7.5 |
| October | 16.0 | 85 | 5.5 |
| November | 11.0 | 95 | 4.0 |
| December | 8.0 | 75 | 3.5 |
Safety, entry requirements and health: the official, up-to-date advice for Italy is published by the UK government on GOV.UK.
Go to GOV.UK
Who's behind Fernweh?
I love to travel, and I love planning even more. Fernweh.guide is my attempt at building a really good online travel guide.