Holiday destinations

Clear blue water, mountain backdrops and grand villas make the Italian lakes some of the most romantic landscapes in Europe.

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful destinations in Lombardy, with steep mountains dropping straight into the water and villages tucked along the shore.

Italy has around 450 islands, but most travellers only ever set foot on a handful of them. Once you step away from the celebrity favourites, you find places that are still largely the domain of fishermen, hikers and those in the know.

Ischia is one of those places that quietly gets under your skin.

Once you have done the classic Murano and Burano loop, the Venetian lagoon starts to open up in more interesting ways.

Venice looks like a single fairy‑tale city floating on the water, but it is really a whole cluster of little islands stitched together by bridges.

Verona is often treated as a quick stop between Milan and Venice, but it really deserves a bit more love. The historic centre is wrapped in a loop of the Adige River, full of Roman ruins, medieval towers and soft terracotta tones that look good even on a grey day.

Milan at Christmas hums with festive buzz, lights draped over grand arcades and the Duomo standing as a living symbol of the season.

This southern city in Italy is finally having its moment without the Amalfi circus. Think a lived‑in southern city with a real seafront, serious food and quick hops to the coast and ancient sites.

The Christmas lights in Turin in 2025 form the famous Luci d’Artista, a long‑running open‑air collection by Italian and international artists.

Italy does festive glow with a bit of theatre. Big switch‑ons usually roll out late November, and most displays stay up through Epiphany.

Travellers in Italy face several strike actions in November that could affect city transport, long-distance rail and flights.

Winter in Italy runs from candlelit piazzas in the north to sunlit promenades in the south. Crowds thin out after the holidays, museum lines shrink, and prices ease up, though daylight is short and the odd storm rolls through.

Italy isn’t just famous for its incredible cuisine and rich history—it’s also home to some of the most stunning natural hot springs and thermal baths in Europe.

If you’re craving a bit of balmy weather while the UK is grey, Italy’s south can be wonderfully sunbaked in winter. Find the best holiday destinations for winter sun in Italy, with the warmest picks by the sea, plus milder city breaks.

Planning a winter holiday in Italy sets you up for an intimate, atmospheric season: twinkling piazzas, wood‑panelled trattorie and mountains glittering under cold blue skies. With time‑honoured traditions and shorter hours, matching your dates to the mood you want keeps things smooth.

Italy in winter is quietly dazzling: snow‑dusted peaks, misty canals, piazzas enlivened by fairy lights and the soft glow of trattorie windows.

Autumn in Italy is a season of magic. As the leaves change into vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, Italy’s forests transform into breathtaking landscapes that are perfect for hiking, photography, and reconnecting with nature.

Rome doesn’t end at the city walls. Within an hour, you’ve got imperial showpieces, quiet lakeside towns, medieval hilltops and a stretch of Tyrrhenian coast.

Italy is home to countless medieval towns and villages, each steeped in history and bursting with charm. From hilltop villages in Tuscany to coastal gems along the Amalfi Coast, these towns transport visitors back in time, offering a glimpse of life as it was centuries ago.

The Almalfi Coast is a dramatic meeting of mountains and sea along the Sorrentine Peninsula, where towns painted in terracotta and pink tumble down steep cliffsides to the water's edge.

Planning a trip to Lake Garda, Italy's largest and most scenic lake? From charming medieval streets to waterfront promenades, the villages surrounding Lake Garda are among the most beautiful in Northern Italy.

During a summer heat wave, Rome's famous sunshine can feel incredibly intense, and the humidity really doesn't help matters. It’s easy to feel like the heat might get in the way of seeing everything you wanted to.

Planning a beach holiday in Italy with your dog? You're in luck – Italy is increasingly dog-friendly, with many of its beautiful beaches welcoming four-legged visitors.

Benevento sits in Campania with a population just over 60,000. The city is perched on rolling hills inland from the Tyrrhenian coast, surrounded by a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves and farmland.