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Italy (Central/South)
This sunny region is famous for incredible pizza, ancient Roman ruins, and stunning coastlines. You can explore the buzzing, historic streets of Rome or relax by the sea on the beautiful Amalfi Coast.
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Summary
Neighboring Countries
Did you know?
Underground Naples – Beneath the bustling streets lies a massive ancient network of Greek-Roman aqueducts and air-raid shelters deep underground.
Overview
Months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Vacation type
Beach, Couple, Family, Party, Mountains, Skiing, Diving/Snorkeling
Expenses
<100€, <150€, <200€, Over 200€
Temperature
10-20°C, 20-25°C
Rainfall
0-50mm, 50-100mm
Safety
Safe, Very safe
Continent
Europe
Currency
Euro
Languages
Italian
Currency Converter
When to visit
The best time to explore Central and Southern Italy is during the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to October. During these months, the weather is warm and golden, sitting comfortably between 20°C and 26°C (68°F to 79°F), which is perfect for exploring ancient ruins and walking through crowded cities.
Summer (July and August) is the peak season for the coastal areas and islands, but it is brutally hot. Temperatures in Rome, Florence, and Sicily frequently top 35°C (95°F) with high humidity, and the famous beaches of the Amalfi Coast and Sardinia are packed to maximum capacity.
Winter (November to March) is mild but damp. While winter is a great time to visit museums in Rome or Florence without the crowds, most southern coastal towns and island resorts shut down entirely, and ferry schedules are heavily reduced.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season: May to September (Summer & Beach Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 9 to 11 hours.
Rain Frequency: 2 to 5 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 0 to 1 hour.
Intensity: Very rare passing showers, mostly just intense dry heat.
Duration: Endless blue skies. The mid-day sun is incredibly strong, forcing many southern towns to observe a strict afternoon riposo (siesta) where shops close from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Off-Peak Season: November to March (Winter & Rainy Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 4 to 6 hours.
Rain Frequency: 9 to 13 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 2 to 4 hours.
Intensity: Steady, chilly rain and overcast skies.
Duration: Fronts can bring gray skies for several days. Snow is very rare on the coast and in Rome, but common in the central Apennine mountains and on Mount Etna.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: Global Historical Climatology Network
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: May-September
Budget Vacation ($50-90/day)
Accommodation: $25-45/night (hostel beds in Rome/Naples, basic rural farm stays).
Food: $12-20/day (slices of pizza al taglio, whole Neapolitan pizzas, supplì, street paninis).
Activities: $8-15/day (exploring the Pantheon, walking the Appian Way, public beaches).
Transportation: $5-12/day (local city buses, regional commuter trains).
Other Costs: $4/day (standing at the bar for espresso, bottled water).
Mid-Range Vacation ($130-260/day)
Accommodation: $75-150/night (comfortable boutique hotels, traditional Tuscan agriturismi with pools, cliffside guesthouses).
Food: $30-60/day (sit-down neighborhood trattorias, fresh seafood pasta, local table wine).
Activities: $25-50/day (Vatican Museum tickets, Pompeii entry, guided wine tastings in Chianti).
Transportation: $20-40/day (fast trains between Rome and Florence, ferry tickets to Capri).
Other Costs: $8/day (gelato, table cover charges, funicular rides).
Luxury Vacation ($400-1,000+/day)
Accommodation: $250-700+/night (5-star clifftop resorts in Positano, historic palace hotels in Rome, luxury villas in Tuscany).
Food: $90-200/day (rooftop fine dining overlooking the Colosseum, fresh lobster, premium Super Tuscan wines).
Activities: $100-250+/day (private boat charters along the Amalfi Coast, skip-the-line private Colosseum underground tours).
Transportation: $70-150/day (private drivers, premium SUV rentals).
Other Costs: $30+/day (artisan leather goods, spa treatments).
Off-Peak Season: November to March
Budget Vacation ($40-70/day)
Accommodation: $18-30/night (discounted hostel beds and budget city hotels).
Food: $12-18/day (local markets, hot pasta takeaways, bakeries).
Activities: $5-10/day (free museum days, uncrowded church visits).
Transportation: $5-10/day (local transit).
Other Costs: $3/day (coffee, pastries).
Mid-Range Vacation ($90-170/day)
Accommodation: $50-95/night (great rates on central boutique rooms in Rome and Florence).
Food: $25-45/day (cozy indoor dining, hearty winter stews and roasts).
Activities: $15-30/day (indoor art galleries, underground catacomb tours).
Transportation: $15-30/day (advance-fare high-speed train tickets).
Other Costs: $5/day (hot chocolate, cloakroom fees).
Luxury Vacation ($250-550+/day)
Accommodation: $150-350+/night (luxury city hotels running winter promotions).
Food: $70-130/day (fine dining with easy reservations).
Activities: $60-120/day (private museum guides, truffle hunting experiences).
Transportation: $40-80/day (private transfers).
Other Costs: $20/day (gourmet food shopping).
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Rome
- The sprawling, chaotic, and magnificent capital. It is an open-air museum where ancient Roman ruins sit directly next to Renaissance palaces and buzzing modern traffic.
2. Florence
- The birthplace of the Renaissance, located in the heart of Tuscany, packed with world-class art (the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David) and stunning architecture.
3. Naples
- A gritty, loud, and incredibly authentic southern port city. It is the birthplace of pizza and the gritty cultural soul of the south.
4. Siena
- A perfectly preserved medieval hill town in Tuscany, famous for its brick buildings, winding alleys, and the massive fan-shaped Piazza del Campo.
5. Matera
- Located in the southern region of Basilicata, this city is famous for its Sassi—ancient cave dwellings carved directly into the limestone canyon walls.
6. Lecce
- Often called the "Florence of the South," this city in Puglia is renowned for its incredibly ornate, golden-colored baroque architecture.
Siena
Did you know?
Matera Cave City – Matera features ancient stone houses carved directly into soft canyon rock where people have lived continuously for thousands of years.
Islands
1. Sicily
- The largest island in the Mediterranean. It offers a distinct culture, the active Mount Etna volcano, ancient Greek temples, and bustling cities like Palermo and Catania.
2. Sardinia (Sardegna)
- Famous for having the most beautiful, Caribbean-like beaches in Europe (especially the Costa Smeralda), alongside a rugged, mountainous interior.
3. Capri
- A glamorous, steep limestone island off the coast of Naples, famous for upscale boutiques, the glowing Blue Grotto, and dramatic rock formations.
4. Ischia
- A larger, more relaxed volcanic island next to Capri, celebrated for its natural thermal hot springs and the medieval Aragonese Castle.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
Sardinia
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. The Amalfi Coast
- A spectacular stretch of mountainous coastline south of Naples where colorful towns like Positano and Amalfi cling to vertical cliffs above the sea.
2. Val d'Orcia
- The iconic, postcard-perfect landscape of Tuscany, featuring rolling green hills, Cyprus tree-lined driveways, and golden wheat fields.
3. Mount Etna
- Europe's highest and most active volcano, dominating the eastern coast of Sicily. You can take a cable car and hike near the steaming summit craters.
4. Scala dei Turchi
- A brilliant white, stepped marlstone cliff on the southern coast of Sicily that drops directly into the Mediterranean.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. The Colosseum & Roman Forum
- The massive ancient gladiatorial arena and the ruined political heart of the Roman Empire, sitting right in the center of modern Rome.
2. Vatican City
- An independent city-state within Rome, home to the Pope, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums (featuring the Sistine Chapel ceiling).
3. Pompeii and Herculaneum
- Entire ancient Roman cities perfectly preserved under volcanic ash and mud after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
4. Valley of the Temples (Agrigento)
- A massive archaeological ridge in Sicily featuring some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek temples in the world.
Unique Experiences
1. Hiking the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
- Walking a high-altitude cliffside trail high above the Amalfi Coast, offering jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean and the island of Capri.
2. Eating Pizza in Naples
- Grabbing a classic Margherita pizza at a historic pizzeria like L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, where the dough is soft, charred, and perfectly simple.
3. Sleeping in a Trullo in Puglia
- Spending the night in a traditional, whitewashed stone hut with a conical roof, unique to the region of Alberobello.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Tuscany
Unique Accomondations/Foodspots
Accommodations
Hotel Santa Caterina
Location: Amalfi, Campania, Central/South Italy
A breathtaking cliffside Art Nouveau villa dating back to the turn of the 20th century, nestled amid terraced citrus groves overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the Amalfi Coast with a private beach club accessible by elevator.
Restaurants / Bars
Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890
Location: Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, Naples, Central/South Italy
A legendary Michelin-starred culinary institution that revolutionized Mediterranean gastronomy, celebrated for its farm-to-table philosophy utilizing organic produce from its own agricultural estate on the Sorrentine Peninsula.
Tours to do
1. The Classic Roman & Tuscan Route
- Start with three days in Rome exploring the Vatican and Colosseum, take the fast train to Florence for Renaissance art, and rent a car to drive through the vineyards of Chianti and Siena.
Best Time: April to May or September to October.
Average Cost: $500 – $1,100 per person.
2. The Southern Volcanoes and Coastlines
- Fly into Naples, eat pizza, explore the ruins of Pompeii, take a ferry to hike the thermal island of Ischia, and finish with a dramatic cliffside drive along the Amalfi Coast.
Best Time: May or September.
Average Cost: $600 – $1,300 per person.
Pompeii
How to get around
1. Domestic Flights
- Italy is well-connected by domestic flights, with major airlines like Alitalia, Ryanair, and EasyJet offering flights between cities and regions. Key airports include those in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Naples.
2. Trains
- Italy has an extensive rail network operated by Trenitalia and Italo. High-speed trains like the Frecciarossa and Italo connect major cities such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice. Regional trains cover local routes and smaller towns.
3. Public Buses
- Public buses are available in cities and for intercity travel. In major cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence, local bus services are operated by companies such as ATAC in Rome and ATM in Milan. For intercity travel, companies like FlixBus and Marino Bus offer routes between cities and regions.
4. Metro
- Several Italian cities have metro systems:Rome Metro: Comprises three lines (A, B, C) covering various parts of the city.
Milan Metro: Features four lines (M1, M2, M3, M5) and covers key areas of the city.
Naples Metro: Includes two lines (Line 1 and Line 6) serving Naples and nearby areas.
5. Taxis and Ride-Hailing Apps
- Taxis are widely available in cities and can be hailed on the street or booked by phone. Ride-hailing apps like Uber operate in cities like Milan and Rome, providing an alternative to traditional taxis.
6. Car Rentals
- Renting a car is a good option for exploring Italy’s diverse regions, including the countryside, coastal areas, and historical sites. Major car rental agencies like Avis, Hertz, and Europcar operate in cities and airports. Driving is on the right side of the road.
7. Motorcycles and Scooters
- Renting a motorcycle or scooter is popular in cities and tourist areas, particularly in places like Rome and Florence. Ensure you have a valid license and are familiar with local traffic conditions.
8. Bicycles
- Many Italian cities offer bike-sharing schemes and rental services. In cities like Milan and Rome, services like BikeMi and Roma Bike provide options for exploring urban areas.
9. Boats and Ferries
- For travel between islands and coastal regions, such as to the Amalfi Coast or the islands of Venice, ferries are available. Companies like Vaporetto in Venice and Snav offer ferry services.
10. Local Minibuses
- In some areas, local minibuses offer additional transportation options, particularly in tourist regions and rural areas.
For getting around Italy, domestic flights and trains are efficient for long-distance travel, while metro systems and public buses are practical for city transport. Car rentals provide flexibility for exploring different regions, and taxis and ride-hailing apps offer convenience. Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and ferries offer additional ways to enjoy Italy’s diverse landscapes and attractions.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
Underground River – The Fiumicello river in Rome's southern region slips entirely underground through historic vaulted brick tunnels.
What to eat
1. Pasta alla Carbonara (Rome)
- The king of Roman pastas. It features spaghetti or rigatoni tossed in a rich, creamy sauce made entirely from raw egg yolks, sharp Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and crispy, fatty pieces of cured pork cheek (guanciale). There is absolutely no cream in an authentic carbonara.
2. Pizza Napoletana (Naples)
- A protected culinary tradition. A soft, airy, high-hydration dough is stretched thin, topped simply with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella, and basil, and blistered in a 480°C (900°F) wood-fired oven for just 60 to 90 seconds.
3. Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Tuscany)
- A massive, thick-cut T-bone steak sourced from the local Chianina cattle breed. It is grilled over wood coals, seasoned only with coarse salt and olive oil, and served strictly rare (al sangue).
4. Arancini (Sicily)
- A beloved street food. Large balls of risotto rice are stuffed with meat ragù, peas, and mozzarella, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until perfectly crisp and golden.
Arancini
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) - Rome
Flight Prices and Seasons:
From Europe
- Average Round-Trip Cost: €50 to €150.
- Cheapest Months: November to March.
- Peak Prices: Summer (June to August) and December holidays.
From North America
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $400 to $800.
- Cheapest Months: March to May and September to November.
- Peak Prices: Summer and December holidays.
From Asia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $400 to $800.
- Cheapest Months: February to March and October.
- Peak Prices: December holidays and summer months.
From Australia
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,000 to $1,500.
- Cheapest Months: February to March and September.
- Peak Prices: December holidays and summer months.
From Africa
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $300 to $600.
- Cheapest Months: February to March and September.
- Peak Prices: Summer and December holidays.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
- Many travelers, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, do not need a visa to enter Italy for short stays, as it is part of the Schengen Area.
2. Visa-Free Entry
- Citizens from several countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
3. Visa Application
- Travelers from countries that require a visa must apply for a Schengen visa at an Italian embassy or consulate before traveling.
4. Types of Visa
- The most common visa is the Schengen short-stay visa (type C), valid for tourism, business, or family visits for stays up to 90 days.
5. Processing Time
- Visa processing can take from 15 days to several weeks, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance.
6. Duration of Stay
- Visa-free visitors can stay for up to 90 days; Schengen visa holders have the same allowance.
7. Health Requirements
- No specific vaccinations are required for entry, but travel insurance is recommended, especially for Schengen visa applicants.
Important things to know
1. Visa Requirement
- Many travelers, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, do not need a visa to enter Italy for short stays, as it is part of the Schengen Area.
2. Visa-Free Entry
- Citizens from several countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
3. Visa Application
- Travelers from countries that require a visa must apply for a Schengen visa at an Italian embassy or consulate before traveling.
4. Types of Visa
- The most common visa is the Schengen short-stay visa (type C), valid for tourism, business, or family visits for stays up to 90 days.
5. Processing Time
- Visa processing can take from 15 days to several weeks, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance.
6. Duration of Stay
- Visa-free visitors can stay for up to 90 days; Schengen visa holders have the same allowance.
7. Health Requirements
- No specific vaccinations are required for entry, but travel insurance is recommended, especially for Schengen visa applicants.
Souveniers
1. Florentine Leather
- Florence is globally renowned for its leatherworking tradition. The markets (like San Lorenzo) and small artisan shops sell high-quality, handcrafted leather jackets, belts, and bags.
2. Deruta Ceramics (Majolica)
- Brightly painted, tin-glazed pottery crafted in the Umbrian town of Deruta, featuring intricate Renaissance patterns on plates, bowls, and vases.
3. Limoncello
- A sweet, intensely lemon-flavored liqueur produced along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, made by steeping the zest of massive, locally grown Femminello St. Teresa lemons in neutral spirits.
Limoncello
Location
Reviews
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