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Accommodation and costs
There is a vast choice of accommodation styles and prices in Italy, from glitzy five-star city hotels to country house retreats and rural farm stays (known as Agriturismo), which specialise in superb cooking using locally-grown produce and cookery classes. Boutique and historic properties abound, and you may find yourself staying in a converted monastery or a five hundred-year-old palace, furnished with antiques. Villa rental is also a popular option particularly in Tuscany and Umbria, with options to suit any group size. The cost of five star properties especially in very up-market regions of Sardinia and the Amalfi Coast can be a little eye-watering, especially in peak season, but there is a host of charming and quirky accommodation which won’t break the bank too. With the low cost of getting there, a plethora of free and inexpensive museums and attractions and plenty of options to eat cheap, delicious local food from street carts, trattorias and alimentary (delis), Italy can still be excellent value. Private transfers can reduce hassle but compared to outside of Europe, they are fairly costly. Car hire usually works out to be a cheaper option if you are brave enough to try it, although prices are quite a bit more than you may expect if you’ve previously hired cars in Spain and Portugal. Trains and buses are an inexpensive way of getting around and work well if you aren’t carrying too much luggage. Our expert consultants know how best to allocate your budget to make the most out of every visit, whether you want to live the high life or keep things simple and simply soak up the atmosphere.

How long to stay
Italy is so easy to reach that weekend city breaks are wonderful fun, although the longer you have, the more you will get out of this diverse and endlessly fascinating country. In 7 days you could attempt two major cities such as Rome and Florence, perhaps adding Pisa or Venice. Alternatively, you could combine Naples, Pompeii and Ravello, or explore two or three sections of the Amalfi Coast. It’s lovely also to combine city and rural stays; for example, a city stay in Florence to explore piazzas, historic sites and art galleries, then three or four days relaxing at a country house hotel in the rolling Tuscan countryside, sampling local wines and popping in to see picturesque hill towns such as San Gimignano or Cortona. In two weeks, depending on the pace you prefer, multiple major cities can be tackled, but to avoid cultural overload we recommend keeping the pace relaxed and considering adding time at the Lakes or a coastal or island resort at the end to unwind. To see nearly everything, you would need several months, but the joy of Italy is that it’s possible to dip in and out with whatever time you have available, even if that’s just for a weekend.

Weather and when to go
The best time to visit the country is April to June and mid-September to mid-October, with comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds than in the peak summer months, although hotel prices can still be high. During the European summer holidays prices and crowds at coastal cities and islands reach their peak, whilst simultaneously many urban Italians take the month off (from mid-August), and some family-run hotels, restaurants and shops close and even top restaurants in cities like Milan may go on hiatus. Oppressive heat can render cultural sightseeing exhausting unless taken in small chunks. Venice is especially susceptible to over-crowing in peak season, as well as smelly canals and mosquitoes in high summer. We recommend May or early June for this city if possible. For hot beach weather (for example if considering Sardinia), although it boasts a ‘six month summer’ you may not feel like swimming earlier than June or later than September. There’s plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures for exploring as early as April and as late as October though. Winter in Italy sees shorter daylight hours and poor weather at times, but lower visitor numbers. If visiting purely for culture, several Italian cities can be visited at any time of year, especially Rome, where it rarely drops below 10C even in winter. Spa and beach destinations often ‘close’ for winter, but cities are of course all-year round attractions, albeit with curtailed opening hours. Venice has its famous Carnivale in February – quite a spectacle. Northern Italy experiences harsher winters and Milan, Turin and Venice can all be subject to a biting wind which renders outdoor sightseeing less enjoyable from October to April. Rain is most likely to affect your visit anywhere in Italy in October and November.