Italy Tours in 2026

We recommend visiting the most iconic and historic cities on trips to Italy in 2025. Rome, Florence, and Venice are an excellent introduction to the old-world charm and romantic ambiance.

• Rome: As the capital and largest city in Italy, Rome offers an incredible mix of iconic ancient ruins, historic sites, museums, architecture, food, and culture. Rome is also very easy to get around, with a compact city center that allows you to see many of the main attractions on foot in just a few days.
• Florence: Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and is packed with beautiful works of art and architecture to discover around every corner, from the Duomo Cathedral to Michelangelo’s iconic David. With walkable cobblestone lanes along the Arno River, Florence offers a charming, quintessential Italian atmosphere that makes it easy to immerse yourself in culture, cuisine, wine, shopping, and history.
• Venice: With its intricate network of winding canals and alleyways, iconic gondolas, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, and lively Piazza San Marco, Venice offers enchanting Italian tours in 2025. Exploring Venice's car-free streets, getting delightfully lost among the bridges and waterways, and soaking in centuries of art, culture, and history makes for an unforgettable, bucket-list trip to Italy.

Beyond the classic cities, consider exploring the picturesque Tuscan countryside, coastal villages along Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, and the island charms of Sicily, a few of the best places to visit in Italy in 2025.

• Tuscany: With its postcard-perfect rolling hills, vineyards, medieval towns, and bountiful food and wine scene, Tuscany lets travelers sample the relaxed Italian countryside lifestyle at its best. From exploring Renaissance gems like Pisa and Lucca to wandering the Chianti Winelands, Tuscany has no shortage of stunning landscapes, mouthwatering cuisine, and charming villages to lose yourself in.
• Cinque Terre: Cinque Terre’s famous string of five colorful cliffside villages along the Mediterranean coastline offers some of Italy’s most breathtaking natural beauty, linked by scenic hiking trails. Cinque Terre gives visitors a quintessential taste of Italy's irresistible coastal charm in a uniquely picturesque setting.
• Amalfi Coast: With its towering cliffs plummeting into the sparkling Mediterranean, pastel-colored fishing villages, endless lemon groves, and postcard-perfect vistas around every turn, the jaw-dropping Amalfi Coast beckons travelers to indulge in Italy at its most stunning. Explore the coastal hamlets like Positano and Ravello, and soak up the glamorous atmosphere that makes the Amalfi Coast a memorable Italian escape.
• Sicily: As the largest island in the Mediterranean and with a culture all its own, Sicily gives visitors a taste of ancient history infused with Mediterranean flavors and island beauty. With Greek and Roman ruins dotting vibrant cities like Palermo and Catania, along with Mount Etna’s volcanic landscapes, sparkling beaches, delicious cuisine, and charming seaside villages, Sicily beckons with the chance to soak up a one-of-a-kind slice of Italian lifestyle.

If you're visiting Italy, this exciting country offers endless possibilities for creating memorable moments. From tours of ancient sites to gliding Venetian canals, here are the top experiences for Italy trips in 2025:

• Visit the breathtaking St. Peter's Basilica and discover the Vatican Museums.
• Tour the historic Colosseum and let your imagination run wild, picturing the gladiator battles once held there.
• Cruise Venice’s Grand Canal by gondola to admire the Doge’s Palace and Rialto Bridge.
• See Michelangelo’s renowned statue of David and other Renaissance masterpieces at the Galleria dell'Accademia museum in Florence.
• Learn traditional culinary techniques during an immersive pasta-making class in Rome or a pizza-making demonstration in Naples.
• Sample flavorful wines and olive oils at a working vineyard or farm in the rolling hills of Tuscany.
• Wander through the ruins of ancient Pompeii for a glimpse into daily life during Roman times.
• Visit medieval hill towns like San Gimignano in Siena for stunning valley views and boutique shopping.

With over 3,000 years of history, world-famous art, and a rich culinary heritage to savor, planning the perfect length for your first visit to Italy deserves careful consideration. While some try to squeeze Italy's treasures into just a few days, to truly soak up the atmosphere and experience the best of Italian culture, most travelers prefer to spend a minimum of 10 to 14 days on their vacation.

Popular itineraries often focus on Italy's star attractions in Rome, Florence, and Venice, which could be covered in a quick one-week visit. However, to allow time to fall in love with each destination, get a taste of local life alongside sightseeing, and take day trips to surrounding highlights, two full weeks provide ideal pacing. You’ll still need to be selective, as seeing all of Italy in one vacation would take months, but the best two-week trips make for magical memories.

Beyond the essential stops in Rome, Florence, and Venice, many travelers add a fourth location, such as the Tuscan countryside, Milan, the Amalfi Coast, or Sicily, to round out a two-week Italy vacation. Whether you adore food, wine, history, art, hiking, or slowing down, two weeks sets you up to discover top regions and experience the best things to do.

Learn more: How to Plan a Trip to Italy: Frequently Asked Questions

With so many incredible destinations to discover, planning your ideal Italy itinerary with our specialists means we can focus on the logistics and you can fully immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine. We recommend maximizing your time by considering these most popular trips for 2025:

• See the iconic sights, savor the essential flavors, and experience the local lifestyle that makes Italy an unforgettable destination on our Best of Italy for First-Timers tour.
• Our Italy Family Vacation for First-Timers is the perfect introduction for families seeking the sights, tastes, and adventures that make Italy an unforgettable destination steeped in culture, excitement, and, of course, incredible pasta, pizza, and gelato.
• Our Rome, Florence, and Venice: Highlights and Hidden Treasures of Italy Tour promises iconic Italia at its finest. It blends must-see sights, like the Roman Colosseum and the canals of Venice, with lesser-discovered gems for an authentic experience.

Explore more ideas with our best luxury Italy itineraries and inspiration in our Italy travel guide.