Top 10 trips to Italy

When you start planning a trip to Italy, you may imagine yourself wandering the cobblestoned streets of Florence, deciphering the ancient ruins of Rome, or drifting along the canals of Venice. But, as our specialists will share with you, there are a myriad of additional experiences on offer in Italy that can fully immerse you into this sensorially enriching country.

Your Italy trip may include kayaking along the Amalfi coast, being guests on a private boat around Sardinia’s La Maddalena islands, staying in one of Matera’s cave hotels, or accompanying a volcanologist across the volatile landscape of Mount Etna.

Whatever your passions, our specialists can help you plan your own bespoke adventure. Below are some suggested Italy tour ideas to help inspire your own trip to Italy.

Pick your trip

1. Italy’s art cities: Venice, Florence & Rome

Italy embodies and inspires artistic mastery. Under the bluest of skies, you’ll see swifts swooping around the domes, bell towers, and ramparts of soaring architectural marvels, while masterpieces adorn the walls, ceilings, doors, and loggias of every palazzo. Venice, Florence and Rome are the ultimate triumvirate of Italy’s art cities and you can easily combine exploring all three cities in a two-week trip to Italy.

Where the trip could take you:

You can fly into Venice and out of Rome or vice versa, with Florence a two-hour midway point from each. You’ll use the train network to jump between the three, and private Venetian water taxis or personal drivers will transport you between each station and hotel.

Experiences you can have:

On an art-focused trip, expert guides will introduce you to some of the world's most important monuments and works of art, while giving you contextual background to the cities as you walk through them. From Roman to medieval, Renaissance to Baroque, you’ll be given a tour of Italy that allows you to track the country’s trailblazing role in the history of art.

Your guides will know the best time to explore the treasures of each city with you. From early mornings at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel or discovering the artwork of Florence, to private evening introductions to Rome’s highlights such as the Trevi Fountain and Piazza del Popollo.

Crucially, you’ll get whizzed around queues and into exclusive behind-the-scenes areas — from hidden chambers in the Venetian Doge’s Palace to queue-jumping entry to the Colosseum in Rome.

2. Cultural trip to Northern Italy & the Lakes

The north of Italy is a land of serene lakes, mist-topped mountains, ornate palaces, waterside towns, and the capital of couture, Milan. On this trip, you’ll explore its highlights, including viewing Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, following the footsteps of Shakespeare’s love-struck Romeo and Juliet in Verona, and exploring the Borromean Islands of Lake Como by boat.

Where the trip could take you:

Flying in and out of Milan, a personal driver will take you between Bergamo, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, and Verona. At Lake Como, private boats will lead you to the Borromean Islands, Villa Balbianello, and Bellagio. While the towns of Varenna, Tremezzo, and Menaggio are easy to visit using public ferries.

Experiences you can have:

Milan is the cultural hub of this region, and a privately guided walking tour shows you its highlights in detail, including The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the ornate shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the gleaming Duomo di Milano, and La Scala opera house.

Tranquil and elegant, the gentle waters of the Italian Lakes are surrounded by ornate villas, picturesque waterside towns, and the ever-present backdrop of the Dolomite mountains. You can board a private boat at Lake Como to tour the palaces and gardens of the Borromean Islands.

The Italian lakes have been the backdrop for numerous iconic films and your guide will take you by private boat to visit the lakeside retreat of Villa Balbianello, the setting of the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale. After which, you’ll head to the ‘pearl of the lake’, Bellagio, to wander its cobblestoned streets.

3. Tuscany & Umbria’s scenic landscapes

Hills painted golden with cereal crops, row upon row of heavily laden vines, and winding roads lined with Cyprus trees… The landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria are among the most celebrated in the world. You can set the pace with a self-drive tour and dip into immersive guided experiences along the way.

Where the trip could take you:

Linking flights into Florence and out of Rome, you can drive out to the hills of Chianti, meandering your way through the Val d’Orcia to Montepulciano. From here you can pass south to Pienza and cross into Umbria, heading for the town of Perugia before a visit to Assisi and Orvieto. Here, you may choose to visit Bagnoregio before heading south to Rome.

Experiences you can have:

You can slow your pace by exploring on foot or by bike in both Tuscany and Umbria. On foot, you can choose to have a private guided hike through the hills of the Val d’Orcia, or walking tours of Florence, Assisi, or Perugia. By bike, you can cycle around the hill towns surrounding Greve in Chianti, or take a gentle e-bike tour to the isolated hilltop community of Bagnoregio.

Wine and cheese are gastronomic highlights of the region, and you can sample both in atmospheric surroundings here. From cycling the vineyards of the Chianti hills, to sipping your way through a wine-tasting session within a 12th-century abbey, you’ll leave with a deep understanding of the Chianti terroir. In the Val d’Orcia, we can arrange for you to visit to a family-owned cheese maker’s farm, with a hands-on demonstration of cheese production followed by a sampling lunch.

4. Highlights of Puglia & Matera

Cone-shaped stone houses, twisted olive groves, towns carved out of tufa, and a coastline of sheltered coves are highlights of this south Italian region. You can visit an olive-oil farm, indulge in some local gastronomic delicacies, and explore some of the region’s unusual stays with an immersive introductory visit.

Where the trip could take you:

Between the two airports of Bari and Brindisi, there are a multitude of destination highlights for you to choose between, all easily accessible with a private driver. From the caves and alleyways of Matera to the conical houses of Alberobello, the Baroque town of Lecce or the 13th-century frescoes of Galatina. Additionally, Fasano and Otranto are good bases for coastal adventures.

Experiences you can have:

The Pugliese people are proud of their distinct cuisine, so you can delve into its heritage with tasting tours in Bari and Lecce, as well as on drives along roads lined with olive groves between Castel del Monte and Ostuni.

You could also choose to stay in a hotel built entirely within the Sassi caves of Matera, or in traditional Pugliese trulli buildings, with their archetypal pointed roof tops.

For a visual treat, you can follow a guided cycling tour around the Baroque landmarks of Lecce. Or, opt for a privately guided walking tour to fully appreciate the whitewashed beauty of Ostuni, the 17th-century architecture of Galatina, or the conical roof tops of Alberobello with their decorative and symbolic markings.

5. Southern Italy & the Amalfi Coast

The home of taste-bud enticing street food, narrow alleyways with high-slung, criss-crossing washing lines, and a lively social scene, Naples is the heart of Southern Italy and a vibrant inclusion in a tour of Italy. You may choose to explore the omnipresent Mount Vesuvius, and the towns it buried at Pompeii and Herculaneum, indulge yourself in chic Capri, or unwind beside the dramatic Amalfi Coast.

Where the trip could take you:

Naples will form the beginning and end of any trip to this region, via its international airport. Beyond the city, private cars with drivers and accompanying guides can take you between highlights, including Sorrento, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi, and Positano. For a slice of luxury, take a private boat to the island of Capri.

Experiences you can have:

Steeped in haunting historical remnants, Pompeii and Herculaneum offer an insight into everyday life over two thousand years ago. Walking both sites in the company of a guide will provide you with expert perspectives on the archaeological findings, and bring to life the relics surrounding you.

For a culinary focus on the region, you may choose to explore Naples under the guidance of a local gastronome, who can lead you to some of the best food spots among the maze of narrow alleyways. If you want to learn the culinary tricks for yourself, we can arrange an individual cooking class in a local family home, where you’ll learn the secrets behind typical Southern Italian meals.

6. Sicily heritage tour

From the diversity of its landscapes to the myriad of different influences on its architecture, dialect, and cuisine, Sicily is culturally distinct from the rest of Italy. You can choose to climb the volatile Mount Etna, taste wine cultivated on volcanic soil, stroll around the ancient Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, or indulge in the chocolate capital of Modica.

Where the trip could take you:

Sicily has two international airports at Palermo and Catania, so it’s easy to experience the island’s highlights between the two. We can arrange for a private driver to take you from place to place. We like starting in Palermo and heading south to Agrigento, then east to Ragusa and Modica, on to Syracuse and Taormina, before finishing with a trip up Mount Etna.

Experiences you can have:

Peppered with archaeological remains and architectural treasures, you can easily spend an entire trip to Sicily awestruck by relics of the past. We can unlock these sites for you, with a private guide who will accompany you around Palermo, the Roman mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale, the classical Greek temples at Agrigento, and the Teatro Greco — core of the ancient Greek city of Syracuse.

You’ll find any trip on the eastern side of Sicily is dominated by the omnipresent Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe. Taking a guided tour up to its multiple craters with a volcanologist gets you as close as is safely possible to its alien landscape of steaming vents, hot stones, and black volcanic dust.

7. Culture & coast in Sardinia

Land of soaring peaks, outlandish rock formations, luxurious yachts, and crystalline waters, Sardinia has been a European playground for generations. But it was also an important Bronze Age settlement and has a traditional farming culture with a reputation for producing delectable cheese. The island is easy to self-drive, and we can arrange an array of experiences that allow you to connect with its people along the way.

Where the trip could take you:

Flying into Cagliari, you’ll find yourself right in the heart of this island’s glamorous capital city. The roads are of high quality here, and self-drive tours are the best way to cherry-pick your own highlights. They may include the Bronze Age remains at Su Nuraxi di Barumini or the multihued streets of Oliena, before heading north to the luxurious Costa Smeralda.

Experiences you can have:

Punctuating your self-drive trip with private guided tours gives you the best chance to really understand the sights on this island. You may choose to have a private walking tour of the old town of Cagliari, or be lead through the Su Nuraxi di Barumini archaeological site by an expert in Bronze Age history. For some down-time, you can sit back and relax as a qualified skipper sails you out over the translucent waters that surround the island.

Cheese tasting is a quintessential experience on Sardinia. For a behind-the-scenes look, you could spend time with a flock of sheep and goats in the company of their shepherd. There, you’ll learn the traditional culture behind cheesemaking, giving you a far more profound understanding of each variety’s nuances.

8. Italy’s great outdoors

Not simply a country of architectural marvels, fabulous food, and notable galleries, Italy’s landscapes cry out to be explored. From kayaking the caves of Sorrento to hiking the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast and learning the art of truffle hunting in Tuscany, we can find activities to match all of your interests on an outdoor based Italy trip.

Where the trip could take you:

The choice of routes is almost endless. It may be that you want to start in the north of Italy, flying into Milan before heading to Lake Como, where you can use exclusive boats and public ferries to explore. Trains can whisk you down to Tuscany to venture through the Chianti region or onto Naples, where private drivers will take you to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. Kayaks are the perfect way to gently paddle between caves here before heading back to Naples for your international flight.

Experiences you can have:

We can arrange for private guides to accompany you on many different walking tours. From exploring picturesque towns such as Bellagio on the edge of Lake Como, or the hilltop sanctuaries of San Gimignano and Siena in Tuscany, to rural trails that take advantage of the sweeping scenery, like the Path of the Gods, high up above the Amalfi Coast.

If food is your passion, you may choose to spend the morning walking through the woodlands of Tuscany with a local truffle expert and his dog, as they search for these illusive treasures buried in the ground.

For a remote adventure, the secluded beaches and hidden caves of the Bay of Ieranto on the Sorrento Peninsular lie at the heat of the marine protected area of Punta Campanella and we can arrange for you to have a guided kayak tour around these pristine waters.

9. Lakes & mountains of Northern Italy

While many trips to Italy focus on the highlights of the culture-rich towns and cities, those seeking more remote treasures might enjoy heading north into the lake district that borders the alpine hinterland of the Dolomite Mountains. From a walking tour of Verona to hiking up Val di Genova to the Nardis waterfall, or relaxing on the shores of Lake Garda, you can choose a rural respite that meets your interests.

Where the trip could take you:

Verona’s international airport is the gateway to a trip exploring the mountains of Northern Italy. From there, we can arrange a private driver to take you up into the Dolomites and transfer you between destinations for your whole trip. Once in the lake district, Lake Garda’s Sirmione, Bardolino, and Garda are all easily accessible by local ferry.

Experiences you can have:

Not just a starting point, Verona is also a destination city in its own right, and you can explore it on a walking tour that takes in the frescoes of Basilica di Santa Anastasia. You may also wish to sample some of the region’s highly regarded amarone wine here, or visit the house inspired by Shakespeare’s Juliet.

With fresh mountain streams, flower-laden meadows, and soaring mountain backdrops, the walking trail at Val di Genova is well known for its numerous waterfalls that cascade into the Sarca River. We can arrange for guides to go with you or recommend the best routes to explore it on your own.

At Lake Garda, you can enjoy a wine tasting tour of a boutique vineyard, a guided visit to Vittoriale degli Italiani, once owned by the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, or a trip to the historic town of Sirmione.

10. Naples & the island of Ischia

If you have read Elena Ferrante’s trilogy, the Neapolitan Novels, you’ll have a good sense of the island of Ischia, just off the coast of Naples. It has long been a respite destination for Neapolitans and is slowly becoming more popular with inquisitive visitors from further afield. Combining the heady, cultural excitement of Naples with the calm, thermal beauty of Ischia will give you a well-balanced trip in the south of Italy.

Where the trip could take you:

Flying in and out of Naples International Airport, you’ll spend some time in the city before taking the ferry to Ischia for some relaxation. You’ll have a private driver for your time in Naples and on the island.

Experiences you can have:

Naples is a hive of energy, best explored on foot, from its narrow alleyways to its bustling piazzas. You can enjoy a private guided walking tour of the city to help find your sense of direction among the labyrinthine streets. We can also arrange a guide to accompany you through the Naples Archaeological Museum, where you can examine original relics from Pompeii.

While on Ischia, you may want to soak in one of the island’s bubbling, curative thermal pools. They’re fed by the volcanic fault line linked to nearby Vesuvius, and we can lead you to the best of its many restorative springs.

The island is also a renowned hiking destination, and we can recommend trails that climb over volcanic rock, across verdant vineyards, and through remote chestnut woodlands to viewpoints high above the shimmering coastline.