Italy Travel Guide
Whether you’re looking to explore Italy’s historical sites, take in its stunning views, indulge in its delicious cuisine, or simply soak up its culture and atmosphere, a trip to Italy should definitely be on your bucket list.
Explore why this amazing country is an unforgettable destination and one of the main places where we provide our travel planning services. Here are our top articles and tips to help you plan a Italy travel experience.
Italy Travel Tips
First things first, you’ll want to do your Italy travel right. As in choosing a destination that matches your style, learning about local culture, and heeding local tips so you know what not to do!
A few classic 10 to 20-day itineraries that our food-first travel lovers adore are those that provide a cross-section of the country. We encourage them to include a mix of farm visits, wine tasting, Italian cities, small towns, and outdoor adventures in:
- Northern Italy: Piedmont wine country, Milan, & the Lakes
- The Veneto: Venice, Verona, & The Dolomites
- Central Italy: Bologna, Florence, & Val D’Orcia
- Southern Italy: Rome, Naples, & The Amalfi Coast
- Sicily: Palermo, Taormina, Catania, and Val di Noto
Italy Dining Customs
As a food-first travel company, we plan the majority of our travels around what and where to eat. And key to making the most of that is knowing a bit about Italian customs as they relate to all things dining:
Italy Food Travel Tips
From cooking classes to market visits and street food to fine dining, there are a lot of ways to dive into food during your Italy travels. Start here for Italy food travel tips:
Italian Wine Travel
As one of the world’s largest and most prestigious producers of wine, we highly encourage you to sip some vino during your Italy travels. Get to know the famed region of Chianti, the beloved region of Sicily, and loads about the under-appreciated Italian sparkling wine culture:
Northern Italy Travel
Head to Northern Italy to get a feel for the culture that is more akin to France and Switzerland than Sicily yet distinctly Italian.
This area is known for the drama of the Alps, the canals of Venice, the chic city of Milan, the Italian lakes, and world-renowned wine and cheese. Head here in the winter for skiing and Carnival, in the spring and summer for hiking and lake time, and in fall for wine harvest and the celebrated truffle auction.
Central Italy Travel
As the home to romantic Florence, central Italy is usually where first-time visitors to Italy head. But beyond the Renaissance charms of Florence, there is also the culinary capital of Bologna, the local spot of the Tuscan coast, the idyllic Tuscan countryside, and the off-the-radar region of Umbria.
Southern Italy Travel
Head to the Italian capital of Rome to get to know Italian history, politics, and the famous “four pastas of Rome.” But then explore this area by diving deeper into the unique city of Naples, the stunning Amalfi coast, or the up-and-coming destination of Sicily.
Italy Travel Planning Resources
Starting to plan Italy travel? Check out these helpful links:
- Apartments: Use code SaltandWindTravel/AM when booking apartment stays with Plum Guide
- Hotels: Book High-Quality Hotels at Booking.com
- Tours: Book in-depth tours with Context Travel
- Travel Tips: Join our FREE Facebook group to get travel tips from like-minded travelers
- Shop: See our favorite travel essentials in our Amazon store
Have Us Plan Your Italy Trip
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency that specializes in Italy vacation planning? If you’re looking to plan a trip to Italy, our Italy trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary