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Picture of Italy

Travel Guide for
Italy

Italy

Mediterranean, alpine in north, hot summers

Introduction

Italy, located in southern Europe, is a peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and known for its beautiful landscapes, from rolling Tuscan hills to the dramatic Amalfi Coast. With a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, Italy is full of fascinating ancient ruins and world-famous art cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice.

The culture is warm and family-oriented, with delicious cuisine and lively festivals suitable for all ages. Italy offers affordable options, such as pizza in Naples or exploring charming villages, making it perfect for families looking for memorable, budget-friendly vacations.

Customized for these preferences:

Travel StyleFamily friendly

DatesDate not specified

BudgetAverage budget

AccommodationHotel, apartment or house

Interests and Activities:

gastronomyarts and culturefamily activities

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Picture of Italy

Key Facts

Location

Southern Europe

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Religion

Roman Catholicism

Population

59,000,000

Language

Italian, regional languages

Electricity

230V, 50Hz, types C, F, L

Time zone

UTCCET (UTC+1)

Country code

+39

Internet access

Widespread, high-speed, affordable

Climate

Mediterranean, alpine in north, hot summers

See More Italy Facts

Language:

Italian

  • hello

    ciao (chow)

  • goodbye

    arrivederci (ah-ree-veh-DER-chee)

  • yes

    (see)

  • no

    no (noh)

  • how much

    quanto costa? (KWAN-toh KOH-sta)

  • please

    per favore (pehr fah-VOH-ray)

  • thank you

    grazie (GRAHT-see-eh)

  • excuse me

    mi scusi (mee SKOO-zee)

Map

Logistics

Most travelers reach Italy by air, with major airports in Rome, Milan, and Venice offering numerous international flights. Families on an average budget should compare flights from major hubs and consider flying into different cities for the best deals. When traveling within Europe, trains are a flexible and scenic option, connecting Italy to neighboring countries like France, Switzerland, and Austria.

Long-distance buses—such as FlixBus—are budget-friendly and serve many Italian cities. For a unique experience, ferries connect Italy with Greece, Croatia, and other Mediterranean destinations, though schedules can vary by season and weather. Book transportation in advance during peak seasons to secure seats and the best prices for your family.

Weather

Italy has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, especially in the south and along the coasts. Northern regions, like Milan and the Alps, experience colder winters and occasional snowfall, while spring and autumn are generally mild and pleasant throughout the country.

The best times to visit are late April to early June and September to October, when temperatures are comfortable and popular sites are less crowded. These seasons are ideal for exploring art, cuisine, and family activities. July and August can be very hot and crowded, especially in tourist hubs—many locals also vacation during August, leading to some closures.

Food & Drink

Italian cuisine is famous for its pizza, handmade pasta, gelato, and espresso. Don’t miss regional dishes such as Tuscan ribollita, Neapolitan pizza, and Sicilian arancini. Family-run trattorias and osterias offer authentic, affordable experiences, while bustling local markets, like Florence’s Mercato Centrale or Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori, are great places to sample fresh produce and street food.

Cafés (bars) are perfect for a quick cappuccino and pastry, and gelaterias are a must for sweet treats. In most restaurants, tipping is not required—service is often included, but you can leave small change for great service. Many eateries accommodate dietary needs, but it’s helpful to confirm vegetarian or allergy-friendly options in advance.

Keep in mind that Italians typically dine later than some families may be used to, and meal pace is relaxed. Booking ahead is wise in popular cities. Enjoy discovering the diverse flavors and friendly hospitality that Italian food culture offers!

A picture of Pizza

Pizza

Pizza is one of Italy's most famous and beloved foods. It features a thin, crispy crust topped with...

A picture of Lasagna

Lasagna

Lasagna is a classic Italian pasta dish consisting of layers of wide flat pasta, rich tomato sauce, creamy...

A picture of Risotto

Risotto

Risotto is a creamy and comforting Italian rice dish cooked with broth until it reaches a velvety consistency....

A picture of Tiramisu

Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a luscious and decadent Italian dessert made from layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone cheese, and...

A picture of Ossobuco

Ossobuco

Ossobuco is a traditional Milanese dish featuring braised veal shanks cooked with white wine, broth, and aromatic vegetables....

Accommodation

Italy offers excellent family-friendly hotels and apartments, especially in cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Look for central neighborhoods such as Rome’s Trastevere, Florence’s San Lorenzo, and Venice’s Cannaregio for easy access to attractions, restaurants, and public transport. These areas typically feature both comfortable hotels and modern vacation rentals with flexible amenities.

Booking.com and Airbnb are reliable sites for securing family-friendly apartments and hotels across Italy. Popular mid-range hotel chains like NH Hotels and Starhotels offer spacious family rooms. For a more authentic experience, consider renting an Italian “agriturismo”—a countryside apartment or house that provides both comfort and a taste of rural life, ideal for families seeking peace and space.

Itinerary

Ease into your Italian journey by enjoying authentic local cuisine, bonding as a family, and experiencing the warm hospitality of Italy's vibrant cities.

Gelato-Making Workshop for Families

Kick off your Italian adventure with a hands-on gelato workshop in Rome. Kids and adults alike will learn the secrets behind Italy’s favorite sweet treat, sample fresh flavors, and bond as a family in a fun, interactive environment. Great for easing into the culture!

Evening Piazza Navona Stroll & Family Photo Session

Take a gentle stroll through Piazza Navona’s vibrant square. Enjoy buskers, artists, and fountains, and capture beautiful family moments with a relaxed photo session amid the baroque architecture. Perfect for soaking in the city’s warm welcome.

Family Dinner at a Traditional Roman Trattoria

Enjoy a hearty Italian dinner at a local trattoria where you can taste homemade pasta and pizza. Many trattorias welcome families and offer kid-friendly menus, ensuring a warm hospitality experience for all ages.

Milan Cooking Class: Authentic Pizza & Gelato Making

Milan Cooking Class: Authentic Pizza & Gelato Making

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

"Italians do it better"... certainly true if we're talking about tasty pizza and creamy gelato. Well finally so can you, learning to make genuine pizza and gelato in a unique location: a brand new (and very hip!) cooking studio in downtown Milan. Entertaining, instructive and easygoing our gelato and pizza making class is perfect for families seeking an activity where children can learn about local culture in a fun and relaxed way.

4.9 (336 reviews)

From $92 USD

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Attractions

4.9 (1118 reviews)
Bologna Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Bologna Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

MANUAL
Free Cancellation

On our Secret Food Tour Bologna: we'll provide you with an unforgettable taste experience. We'll start with a traditional welcoming sweet. Then, we'll visit one of the oldest Salumeria of the city to learn more about the local meat products and the famous pastas. You'll enjoy: Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella di Bologna and many more regional cold cuts in the oldest Osteria in the world with a glass of our local wine. Next we have planned a taste of fresh, handmade pasta made just for us at a local Trattoria, always with a glass of local wine (and a coffee, if you like it) Then we will visit the main local food market, called Quadrilatero, and we'll enjoy a tasting of different types of balsamic vinegar from Modena (8-12-25 years of aging) to discover how this amazing tradition is still deeply rooted in this region. Please note that we are not able to offer any gluten-free or vegan option yet.

From $110 USD

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4.7 (454 reviews)
Milan: Sunset Navigli Food & Drinks Tour by Do Eat Better

Milan: Sunset Navigli Food & Drinks Tour by Do Eat Better

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

The Do Eat Better Experience food tour is a walking tour around the Navigli and Porta Ticinese area. The tourist is guided by a "Foodie", a local "buddy" able to explain every detail of the selected bars, their beverages and preparations, and the relevant history/curiosities. Do Eat Better Experience tours are a mix of high-quality gastronomy as a way of showing Italian culture and lifestyle and a walking experience together with a local friend. This is the reason why we accept small groups only: we want to focus on a genuine exchange and give to each tourist the highest attention possible. Please, note that the tour is always run in English and Italian; other languages upon request.

From $104 USD

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4.4 (44 reviews)
Taste Bologna Food Walking Tour

Taste Bologna Food Walking Tour

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

This tour will allow everyone to discover the gastronomy of Bologna with a walk inside the Quadrilatero market, the true beating heart of local specialties. Enjoy 3 tastings in the company of a local guide and discover all the anecdotes about Bolognese cuisine! Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the city center and its flavours. At the end of the tour, treat yourself to a small sweet treat.

From $66 USD

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4.9 (118 reviews)
La Spezia: Taste Cinque Terre on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better

La Spezia: Taste Cinque Terre on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

The Do Eat Better Experience food tour is a walking tour around the historical center of La Spezia. The tourist is guided by a "Foodie", a local "buddy" able to explain every detail of the selected restaurants, their preparations, and the relevant history/curiosities. Do Eat Better Experience tours are a mix of high-quality gastronomy as a way of showing Italian culture and lifestyle and a walking experience together with a local friend. This is the reason why we accept small groups only: we want to focus on a genuine exchange and give to each tourist the highest attention possible. Top 4 food stops in La Spezia for a memorable and rich dining experience! Please, note that the tour is always run in English and Italian; other languages upon request.

From $93 USD

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4.9 (99 reviews)
Segway Tour Caruggi - 2.5 ore

Segway Tour Caruggi - 2.5 ore

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

The best way to visit the most important places in the largest medieval historical center in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the amazing Segway! The most effective, fast, easy and fun way to not miss anything of the beauties of the city, experiencing an exciting adventure. From the hidden alleys of the old town, to the beautiful noble streets, our staff will guide you through magnificent palaces and fascinating views, breathing ancient atmospheres, scents and flavors of the whole world, in complete safety. A mix of culture, art, tradition, gastronomy and lots of fun ... a stone's throw from the sea!

From $70 USD

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4.7 (7 reviews)
Gastronomy tasting through oil, wine and cheese in Turin

Gastronomy tasting through oil, wine and cheese in Turin

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

The oil of Eva is the place for those who love Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO). Here you can taste and buy different varieties of oil, all strictly made in Italy. You can get in touch with the work, experience and family tradition of our passionate producers. You can enrich your gastronomic culture and open yourself to new frontiers of taste. Perhaps by trying our delicious bruschetta or savouring an oil that evokes the scent of cut grass, almond, green tomato or apple. Here you can ask for any information and curiosity about this rich and fascinating food. And also find an original, unexpected and valuable idea for a tasteful gift.

From $57 USD

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5.0 (12 reviews)
Private Tuscan Cooking Class And Wine Tasting in Radda in Chianti

Private Tuscan Cooking Class And Wine Tasting in Radda in Chianti

MANUAL
Free Cancellation

Enjoy a private and authentic cooking class in a local Radda in Chianti farmhouse with your hosts Giorgia and Luigi. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. Your cooking class will take place in a local home on the outdoor patio where Giorgia will teach you 2-3 traditional Italian dishes including handmade pasta. After cooking, you will enjoy your meal together in their beautiful home. • Pasta making and cooking lesson in a local home • Wine and olive oil tasting • Introduction to Italy's culture and cuisine • 100% private activity • Experience Italian hospitality in a residential Radda in Chianti countryside neighborhood • Vegetarian and vegan options available

From $166 USD

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5.0 (72 reviews)
Campo dè Fiori Market and Trevi Fountain Food and Wine Tour in Rome

Campo dè Fiori Market and Trevi Fountain Food and Wine Tour in Rome

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

Curious to know how is a local market in Rome? That's the right tour for you! On this food tour you will visit one of the most famous local fresh markets of Rome and some of the most beautiful monuments of the city! This 4 hours tour experience is very informative, with LOTS of eating, sightseeing and drinking!  Explore one of Rome's most visited neighborhoods with a great combination of food tasting and sightseeeing that will keep you away from tourist traps with our local and expert guide!!

From $104 USD

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4.7 (9 reviews)
Modena Private Walking Tour

Modena Private Walking Tour

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

A two-hour private tour to discover Modena: a city famous for its historic center with Unesco sites, its gastronomy, its cars, and for the friendliness of its inhabitants. Pleasant in every season, Modena offers the visitors extraordinary beauties, all concentrated in its gracious historic centre, which tell the story of the splendor of a city for a long time the capital of a duchy, the one of the Lords of Este, who resided there since 1598. Unesco has recognized the universal value of its treasures by declaring the Cathedral, Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina Tower a World Heritage Site. Discover these great architectural beauties with our certified tour guide.

From $134 USD

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4.9 (33 reviews)
Private or semi-private tour of the historic center of Bologna

Private or semi-private tour of the historic center of Bologna

INSTANT
Free Cancellation

Visit the red streets of the historic center of Bologna, visiting the symbolic places of the city and discovering their secrets Art, history and gastronomy, but also secrets, legends and suggestions of contemporary life: discover everything that has made Bologna one of the most popular destinations for tourists in recent years with a certified guide, as well as a true Bolognese DOC, on a tour private dedicated to you

From $128 USD

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