Holiday destinations

Italy’s holiday-home market continues to draw strong interest from overseas buyers.

Without spending a cent, you can leave Rome and reach Tuscia or southern Lazio on selected days. The schedule includes 18 free tourist trains on the Rome-Viterbo and Rome-Cassino routes through December 10, 2026, with connections designed for major regional routes. The route to Viterbo also includes dedicated buses to Civita di Bagnoregio, Bolsena, and the Mandela area. Seats must be booked in advance through Trenitalia channels, and tickets with a reserved seat are issued for €0.

Veneto and the Aeolian Islands have been named among Lonely Planet’s 50 Best Places to Go in 2027. One opens up Italy beyond Venice; the other puts Sicily’s volcanic coast firmly in view.

Walking through an autumn forest is like immersing yourself in poetry: nature, whose colors fade from gold to brick red and offer the scents of mushrooms and chestnuts, gently falls asleep in a silent, enveloping atmosphere...

The Tremiti Islands sit in the Adriatic Sea, around 22 kilometres off the Gargano coast in Puglia.

Italy is home to small places with a special feel, where history, architecture and scenery come together in almost fairytale-like settings.

October is a great month for visiting Italy. Destinations are quieter, the weather is mild rather than cold, and the autumn calendar brings plenty of events. There are many places worth packing for across the country.

A mountain bivouac is a small shelter, usually unmanned, intended to provide a safe roof for hikers and mountaineers at high altitude. Unlike a staffed mountain hut, there is no host to welcome visitors and no hot menu. A bivouac is basic and spartan and, for many people, one of the most authentic experiences the mountains can provide. Here is what a bivouac is and what to expect.

Italy is one of the few countries where sunset can look completely different each evening, depending on where you are. A sunset in the Dolomites bears little resemblance to one in Positano, or to the late light over Sicily’s Scala dei Turchi. That remarkable variety of scenery makes Italy a sought-after place for anyone hoping to make the most of the day’s final light.

The traditional Italian holiday calendar has long revolved around July and, above all, August.

September is an ideal month to visit Italy and explore new places and landscapes. With mild weather, fewer tourists and a wide variety of events and festivals taking place across the country, travelling in September is certainly a good idea. If you prefer the coast, the mountains, a city, an island or a budget-friendly destination, there is bound to be a place that suits your holiday. Here, then, is where to go on holiday in Italy in September.

There is no need to travel as far as England to see a genuine English-style garden in Italy. Liguria has one overlooking the sea, with blooms that have few rivals in the country. On the hillside above Alassio, the Gardens of Villa della Pergola combine Mediterranean views with exceptional botanical collections, including iconic wisteria and a record-breaking collection of agapanthus.

With more than 7,500 km of coastline, Italy has seafront promenades that are far more than simple walks beside the sea. For a sunset stroll or an evening wander, here is a selection of the most scenic seafront promenades in Italy, spanning the country from north to south, along with the features that set each one apart. Some, including Bari and Caorle, still tend to sit outside the usual tourist radar.

A car-free mountain trip can be surprisingly simple: no traffic, no need to hunt for a seat, and a view that changes with every tunnel. In many Alpine resorts, the train is already the most direct way to reach the heart of the towns and enjoy the cool air, even in August. A real advantage for Gen Z and Millennials seeking flexible, sustainable, and highly free-spirited experiences. Here's where to set your sights for a truly effortless high-altitude getaway.

The last weekend of August is the perfect time for many to get away: the beaches are a bit emptier and prices are more reasonable. It's the perfect window to indulge in a two- or three-day getaway without the chaos of Ferragosto, but with all the light and warmth that only this period can offer.

Are crowds really necessary to feel as though you are on holiday?

Dreaming of escaping the stifling heat? While the sea and crowded coastlines are the choice for many, there are surprising alternatives for those truly seeking relief: destinations immersed in nature where you can breathe in fresh, pure air!

One of Salento’s most recognisable scenes has changed pace. Entry to Grotta della Poesia and the archaeological area of Roca Vecchia now requires a ticket.

A car-free village reached only by cable car, a queen’s castle overlooking glaciers, a village reshaped around esoteric symbols, and crotti where cold air blows out from deep inside the rock. The Italian Alps hold small worlds with strong identities, where the setting is not merely a backdrop: it finds its way into homes, food and daily habits.

Welcome to the south, a deeply evocative part of Italy steeped in history and tradition, where art and architecture tell the story of a rich and layered past.

Summer 2026 could be the perfect opportunity to choose Italian islands where mass tourism doesn't dictate the agenda. These are destinations that still thrive on authenticity, offering essential services but memorable experiences. Here, then, are five "off-the-beaten-path" destinations for those seeking a truly carefree vacation, with helpful tips for arriving prepared and enjoying every day without the crowds.

August is holiday time for many people, but for others it is also a chance to view a few properties and gather information ahead of a future purchase. According to data from the REMAX Italia Research Centre, property sales in mountain locations reach their peak in the months between December an

Paying more than €300 a week for a parasol and two sun loungers is no longer unusual. In 2026, beach club prices have risen again. Codacons estimates a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, while Altroconsumo reports a 6% rise compared with 2025 and a 24% increase over five years. It is a sizeable cost for holiday budgets, with major differences between resorts and even between rows of parasols. A price comparison based on 222 beach clubs across 10 destinations shows where costs are highest and where a better deal may still be found.

One place in Italy has been ranked Europe’s happiest tourist destination. The village on the Amalfi Coast achieved a perfect score of 100 out of 100 in a study measuring where travellers experience the most genuine joy. But how is a place’s happiness measured? A recent study by JustCover attempted to answer that by analysing more than one million reviews left by tourists at all kinds of venues: attractions, national parks, viewpoints, resorts and iconic destinations across 155 of the world’s most popular places.

Elba Island sits off the Tuscan coast in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a short ferry ride from Piombino.