Italy holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Italy holiday in Europe
Italy is the country where food is art, history awaits at every corner, and the Dolce Vita is not an empty phrase. From the canals of Venice to the hills of Tuscany and the beaches of Sardinia – Italy enchants all the senses.
Capital
Rome
Language
Italian
Currency
Euro (€)
Time zone
UTC+1
Flight time from DE
approx. 1.5–2.5 hours
Entry requirements
EU Identity Card
Deals for Italy:
Which hotels in Italy are recommended?
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in Italy — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga
Gargnano, Italien
San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice
Venedig, Italien
Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz - The Leading Hotels of the World
Brunico / Bruneck, Italien
Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti
Carisolo, Italien
Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany, Autograph Collection Hotels
Monsummano Terme, Italien
Hotel L'Ea Bianca Luxury Resort
Cannigione, Italien
MarePineta Resort
Milano Marittima, Italien
Villa Crespi
Orta San Giulio, Italien
What are the highlights of Italy?
The best-known highlights of Italy include Rome, Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Venice, Cinque Terre.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Rome
Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain – 3,000 years of history to touch.
Amalfi Coast
Steep cliffs, colorful fishing villages, lemons, and the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea.
Tuscany
Gentle hills, cypress trees, vineyards, Florence, and Siena – Italy's romantic heart.
Venice
The floating city: gondolas, St. Mark's Square, Murano glass, and a unique atmosphere.
Cinque Terre
Five colorful villages on the Ligurian cliffs, connected by hiking trails.
Hotels in Italy
Compare thousands of hotels, apartments and resorts on Expedia – with price guarantee, free cancellation and reward points.
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Handverlesene Hoteldeals, Kurztrips und Erlebnisgutscheine zu Sparpreisen. Perfekt zum Verschenken oder selbst Genießen.
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Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Hotelgutscheine & Kurzreisen
Deals ab 29 € p.P. auf touriDat.com
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Italy?
The best time to visit Italy is April–June, September–October. In summer: 25–35°C. In winter: 5–12°C.
Recommended travel time
April–June, September–October
Summer
25–35°C
Winter
5–12°C
How much does a holiday in Italy cost?
A holiday in Italy costs roughly 60–90€ per person per day (excluding flights) on a budget, 90–160€ mid-range and 160–350€ for luxury travel.
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
60–90€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
90–160€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
160–350€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
How long is the flight from Germany to Italy?
From Germany you reach Italy in approx. 1.5–2.5 hours.
What travel tips are there for Italy?
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Cappuccino is only drunk in the morning – never after a meal
Coperto is the table fee, not a tip
Beware of overpriced tourist traps near attractions
In Osterie and Trattorie, you eat more authentically and cheaper
Tickets for the Vatican and Uffizi must be booked in advance
What do people eat in Italy?
Typical dishes in Italy are Pizza Napoletana, Pasta Carbonara, Risotto, Gelato, Tiramisù, Ossobuco.
These dishes you must try!
Which regions and places in Italy are worth visiting?
89 regions, cities and highlights in Italy
Cities
Alberobello
Alberobello is one of the most unusual places in Europe and the capital of the Trulli - those unique, cone-shaped stone houses with white walls and gray dome roofs, which exist in …
Amalfi
Amalfi is the radiant heart of the eponymous Amalfi Coast and was once a powerful maritime republic that competed with Venice, Genoa, and Pisa for supremacy in the Mediterranean. …
Assisi
Assisi is one of the most spiritual cities in Europe and the home of Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscan Order and the patron saint of Italy and animals. The small …
Bellagio
Bellagio is located at the tip of the peninsula where the two arms of Lake Como meet and is considered one of the most beautiful places in Italy. The "Pearl of Lake Como" enchants …
Bolzano
Bolzano is the fascinating capital of South Tyrol — a city where Mediterranean and alpine cultures merge in a unique way. Here, one orders cappuccino in German and dumplings in …
Cagliari
Cagliari is Sardinia's vibrant capital and an underrated gem of the Mediterranean — a city on seven hills that combines beach, culture, and culinary delights in Sardinian style. …
Caorle
Caorle is a charming fishing village on the upper Adriatic coast that has preserved its Venetian charm over the centuries. While neighboring towns Jesolo and Bibione are primarily …
Catania
Catania is the black pearl of Sicily — a baroque port city at the foot of Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano (3,357 m), built from lava stone and existing in its …
Cefalù
Cefalù is one of the most picturesque coastal towns in Sicily, combining everything that the island has to offer in a compact space: a golden sandy beach right in front of the …
Gallipoli
Gallipoli is one of the most fascinating coastal towns in Apulia and a gem on the Ionian Sea that still flies under the radar of most German vacationers. The name derives from the …
Grado
Grado is the sun island of the Adriatic – a charming coastal town on a lagoon island in the far northeast of Italy, which once served as a summer retreat for the Austro-Hungarian …
Jesolo
Jesolo is the favorite beach of Germans and Austrians – and for good reason. Just a short hour's drive from Venice, this seaside resort on the upper Adriatic coast offers a …
Lecce
Lecce is the Florence of the South — a city located in the Italian province of Apulia (Puglia) on the Salento peninsula, known for its exuberant Baroque splendor and considered …
Matera
Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — a place that seems so prehistoric that Mel Gibson chose it as the backdrop for the crucifixion scenes in …
Meran
Meran (Merano) in South Tyrol combines alpine flair with a Mediterranean lifestyle like no other place in the Alps. Palms and cypress trees line the Passer promenade, while …
Monopoli
Monopoli is the best-kept secret of the Apulian Adriatic coast - an authentic, whitewashed harbor town that has largely escaped mass tourism despite its breathtaking beauty. While …
Orvieto
Orvieto is one of the most dramatic cities in Italy - a complete medieval town perched on a plateau of volcanic tuff stone that rises steeply up to 50 meters from the Umbrian …
Ostuni
Ostuni is the white city of Apulia and one of the most photogenic places in southern Italy. Perched on three hills and completely painted in dazzling white, the city shines like a …
Otranto
Otranto is the easternmost point of Italy and a sparkling jewel on the coast of Apulia, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea. The small town on the Salento peninsula impresses …
Perugia
Perugia is the secret queen of central Italy — a majestic hill town that stands as the capital of Umbria on a ridge 450 meters high, offering one of the best-kept alternatives to …
Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is one of the most spectacular coastal towns in Italy and the jewel of the Apulian Adriatic coast. The old town perches on rugged limestone cliffs that drop …
Portofino
Portofino is perhaps the most beautiful fishing village in the world and has been a synonym for Mediterranean elegance, jet-set glamour, and Ligurian lifestyle since the 1950s. …
Positano
Positano is the epitome of Italian Dolce Vita on the Amalfi Coast — a village that hangs like a colorful painting on steep cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Pastel-colored houses …
Ravello
Ravello sits 350 meters above the sea on a cliff of the Amalfi Coast and has been revered for centuries as the "City of Music." Richard Wagner composed parts of his Parsifal here, …
Ravenna
Ravenna is the mosaic capital of the world — an unassuming city in Emilia-Romagna that hides the greatest early Christian and Byzantine mosaics of humanity behind plain brick …
Rimini
Rimini is the undisputed capital of the Italian Adriatic coast and has been one of the most popular travel destinations for German tourists for decades. The city on the Romagna …
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is the Manhattan of the Middle Ages and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Italy. The small town in the Tuscan hillside is famous for its fourteen noble …
Sorrento
Sorrento towers on dramatic cliffs above the Bay of Naples and offers one of Italy's most iconic views - across the deep blue sea to the mighty Vesuvius. The town has been a …
Stresa
Stresa on the western shore of Lake Maggiore is an elegant spa town of the Belle Époque and a starting point for the world-famous Borromean Islands. The magnificent lakeside …
Taormina
Taormina, perched high on a rocky terrace on the east coast of Sicily, is the epitome of Mediterranean beauty. The combination of ancient ruins, the active volcano Etna as a …
Vieste
Vieste is the pearl of Gargano and one of the most beautiful seaside resorts on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Located at the very tip of the Gargano Peninsula, the spur of the …
Rome
Rome, the Eternal City, is a vibrant open-air museum with over 2,700 years of history, where ancient ruins, baroque splendor, and the pulsating life of a modern metropolis …
Florence
Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance and a city that resembles a walkable art museum. Beneath the massive dome of Brunelleschi's cathedral, which has dominated the skyline …
Venice
Venice floats like a dream on 118 islands in the midst of a lagoon — a city without streets and cars, where gondolas and vaporetti are the means of transport and behind every …
Milan
Milan is Italy's secret capital — an economic powerhouse, fashion mecca, and cultural metropolis all in one. The Gothic cathedral, which took 600 years to build, is the city's …
Naples
Naples is rough, chaotic, loud — and absolutely irresistible. The birthplace of pizza (the Margherita was created here in 1889 for Queen Margherita) pulses with an energy that …
Bologna
Bologna has three nicknames: La Grassa (the Fat) for its outstanding cuisine, La Dotta (the Learned) for the oldest university in Europe (founded in 1088), and La Rossa (the Red) …
Turin
Turin surprises: The elegant Baroque city in Piedmont is much more than FIAT and Juventus. Strolling under the longest arcades in Europe (18 kilometers!), one passes magnificent …
Verona
Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, has far more to offer than the legendary (albeit fictional) love story. The best-preserved Roman arena in Italy — an amphitheater for 22,000 …
Genoa
Genoa, the proud port city on the Ligurian coast, was once one of the most powerful maritime republics in the Mediterranean and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Today, the …
Palermo
Palermo is a kaleidoscope of cultures: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Hohenstaufen, and Spaniards have left their marks, giving the Sicilian capital a unique …
Siena
Siena is a time capsule of the Middle Ages — a city that has remained virtually unchanged since the 14th century and transports visitors to another era with its unique …
Pisa
Pisa is much more than the Leaning Tower — although this naturally remains the highlight. The Torre Pendente has been leaning at an angle of 3.97 degrees since its completion in …
Lucca
Lucca is perhaps the most charming city in Tuscany — a hidden gem away from the hustle and bustle of Florence and Siena. The fully preserved Renaissance city wall (4.2 kilometers) …
Bergamo
Bergamo is a city of two faces: The medieval Città Alta (Upper Town) sits atop a hill, surrounded by 16th-century Venetian fortress walls (UNESCO World Heritage), while the Città …
Trieste
Trieste, located at the northeastern tip of the Adriatic Sea, is a city of borders and contrasts — Italian at heart, Habsburg in architecture, and Slavic influenced in cuisine. As …
Beaches
Alghero
Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia is affectionately called "Barceloneta" due to its Catalan heritage — a Catalan dialect is still spoken here today. The medieval old town …
Bibione
Bibione is the most family-friendly beach resort on the upper Adriatic coast and a true classic among holiday destinations for German and Austrian families. The …
Lignano Sabbiadoro
Lignano Sabbiadoro is the quintessential Italian family beach - an eight-kilometer long golden sandy beach on the upper Adriatic, which has been the favorite beach of German and …
Costa Smeralda
The Costa Smeralda in northeastern Sardinia owes its name to the emerald green water that washes over the granite rocks and white beaches. Since Aga Khan IV. developed this …
Riviera di Ponente
The Riviera di Ponente stretches from Genoa westwards to the French border and offers over 150 kilometers of Ligurian coastline with a mild climate, colorful coastal towns, and a …
Tropea
Tropea sits atop a 50-meter-high cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and is considered the pearl of Calabria. The small town on the Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods) enchants …
Islands
Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands (Isole Eolie) are Sicily's volcanic jewel — seven UNESCO World Heritage islands north of Sicily, each with its own character. From the glowing Stromboli to the …
Favignana
Favignana is the main island of the Egadi Islands off the west coast of Sicily and a hidden gem of the Mediterranean that even many Italy enthusiasts are unaware of. The …
Lampedusa
Lampedusa is Italy's southernmost point — geographically closer to Tunisia than to Sicily and home to a beach that is regularly voted the most beautiful in Europe. The Isola dei …
Pantelleria
Pantelleria is Italy's most African island — closer to Tunisia than to Sicily, shaped by volcanic activity and characterized by a rugged, wind-swept beauty that captivates …
Ponza
Ponza is the best-kept secret of the Roman upper class — a tiny volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Lazio, hardly known outside Italy. The crescent-shaped …
Capri
Capri, the glamorous rocky island in the Gulf of Naples, has fascinated since antiquity: Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire from here, and the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) — …
Elba
Elba, the third largest island in Italy, is inextricably linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, who spent his short exile here in 1814/15 — his residences in Portoferraio are now museums. …
Ischia
Ischia, the largest island in the Gulf of Naples, is Italy's volcanic wellness paradise. Beneath the surface, it bubbles: Over 100 hot springs, fumaroles, and thermal baths are …
Lipari
Lipari is the largest and liveliest of the seven Aeolian Islands off the northern coast of Sicily and the ideal starting point for exploring this volcanic archipelago, which is a …
Procida
Procida is the smallest and most authentic of the three islands in the Gulf of Naples — a hidden gem that came into the spotlight as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2022. The …
Regions
Basilicata
Basilicata is Italy's wild south – a region that long stood in the shadow of its neighbors Apulia and Calabria and only came into the international spotlight with the designation …
Calabria
Calabria is the toe of the Italian boot and one of the last great secrets of the Mediterranean. While tourists crowd the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, Calabria offers endless beaches, …
Marche
The Marche – or Le Marche, as the Italians say – is Italy's best-kept secret. Nestled between the Adriatic coast and the Apennines, this region combines everything that makes …
Trentino
Trentino is the perfect symbiosis of alpine grandeur and Italian lifestyle – a region where you can hike through mountain forests in the morning, enjoy polenta with wild boar ragù …
Umbria
Umbria is the green heart of Italy – a hilly region in the center of the peninsula that has largely remained untouched by the mass enthusiasm for Tuscany. However, Umbria is in no …
Tuscany
Tuscany is the epitome of Italian lifestyle — a region where gentle hilly landscapes with cypress avenues, golden wheat fields with medieval Borghi, and world-famous art cities …
Lombardy
Lombardy is Italy's economic powerhouse and at the same time a region of surprising scenic beauty — from the fashion empire of Milan to the romantic lakes of Northern Italy and …
Veneto
Veneto is the region of a thousand faces — from the canals of Venice to the romantic streets of Verona, the Prosecco hills, and the peaks of the Dolomites, this northeastern …
Campania
Campania is the heart of southern Italy — a region where ancient world history, dramatic volcanic landscapes, the most famous coastline in Europe, and the birthplace of pizza …
Sicily
Sicily is the epicenter of Mediterranean culture — the largest island of Mare Nostrum, where Greek temples stand beside Arab domes, Mount Etna smokes over lemon groves as the …
Sardinia
Sardinia is a world of its own — the second-largest Mediterranean island combines turquoise bays that overshadow any Caribbean beach with a millennia-old culture that continues to …
Piedmont
Piedmont is Italy's culinary insider tip, which is no longer a secret — a region at the foot of the Alps, where Barolo wine matures in foggy hills, white truffles from Alba fetch …
Liguria
Liguria is Italy's narrow coastal strip of superlatives — wedged between the Ligurian Alps and the deep blue Mediterranean, where pastel-colored villages cling to steep cliffs, …
South Tyrol
South Tyrol is the fascinating melting pot where alpine mountain scenery meets Mediterranean ease — a region where dumplings sit alongside pasta on menus, where apple orchards …
Apulia
Apulia is Italy's sun-kissed heel — a region that, with its white towns, ancient olive groves, turquoise coastal waters, and hearty cuisine, ranks among the most authentic travel …
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is Italy's culinary epicenter — a region that has gifted the world Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, balsamic vinegar from Modena, and fresh pasta in a …
Lakes
Lake Como
Lake Como (Lago di Como) is the deepest lake in Italy and one of the most beautiful in the world — a dramatic Y-shaped body of water framed by steep mountains, magnificent villas, …
Pragser Wildsee
Pragser Wildsee (Lago di Braies) in South Tyrol is the lake that made the internet famous — and you can't blame it. The emerald green water, framed by the rugged Dolomite walls of …
Lake Garda
Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, stretches over 52 kilometers from the rugged foothills of the Dolomites in the north to the gentle hills of the Po Valley in the south. This …
Lake Como
Lake Como, shaped like an inverted Y, has been a retreat for the wealthy and creative since ancient times. The steep shores, lined with magnificent villas featuring botanical …
Lago Maggiore
Lago Maggiore is shared between Italy and Switzerland, combining alpine drama with Mediterranean flair. The Borromean Islands in the center of the lake are the jewel: Isola Bella …
Lake Iseo
Lake Iseo is the hidden gem among the northern Italian lakes — smaller and quieter than Lake Garda and Lake Como, but with a trump card that no other can offer: Monte Isola, the …
Areas
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is the epitome of Mediterranean drama — a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, the only 50-kilometer-long coastal road winds between Positano and Vietri sul …
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre, five colorful fishing villages on the rugged coast of Liguria, are among the most iconic landscapes in Italy and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since …
Dolomites
The Dolomites are one of the most spectacular mountain ranges on Earth — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, their pale rock towers, rugged ridges, and vertical walls rise …
Chianti
Chianti is the dream landscape of Tuscany in its purest form: Gentle hills with vineyards and olive groves, dark cypress avenues leading to stone villas, and medieval villages …
Prosecco Road
The Prosecco Road (Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene) winds through the picturesque hilly landscapes of Veneto between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene — …
Complete guide for Italy
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
Open guideHow do I plan a holiday in Italy?
Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe, offering Culture, Food, Romantic and much more. The best time to visit Italy is April–June, September–October, when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 60–90€ (Budget) to 160–350€ (Luxury), Italy is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Rome, Italy can be excellently explored. The official language is Italian, and the currency is Euro (€). From Germany, you can reach Italy in approx. 1.5–2.5 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Pizza Napoletana, Pasta Carbonara, Risotto, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Italy has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Italy holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Italy is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
Suitable holiday types for Italy:
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