Italy Travel Guide 2026: Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast and Where to Go

The essentials, updated for 2026

Entering Italy

Schengen rulesItaly is in the Schengen Area. Europe's Entry/Exit System, which records fingerprints and a photo of non-EU visitors at the border, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.

ETIAS travel authorisation

No start date yetVisa-exempt visitors will eventually need an online ETIAS authorisation, but the EU has dropped its late-2026 target and will announce a date months ahead. No applications are being taken yet.

Venice access fee, day visitors

€5 to €10Charged on 60 busy days between April and July 2026, from 8.30am to 4pm: €5 if booked at least four days ahead, €10 after that. Overnight guests are exempt but must register. Check the official site for next year's dates.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

€2Since 2 February 2026 to go down to the basin, from 9am to 10pm. Rome residents and children under 5 are free. Only cards are accepted at the entrance.

Colosseum tickets

Named, timed entryTickets carry your name and an entry time, and you must show ID. They go on sale 30 days ahead. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.

Money and plugs

Euro (€), Type C/F/LCards are widely accepted. Italy uses round two-pin plugs and its own three-pin Type L, so bring a universal adapter.

Where to go

Ancient and modern

Rome

The Colosseum and the Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel. Plan at least three days, and book the big sights ahead.

Two airports: Fiumicino and Ciampino

Our Colosseum guide →Rome tourism ↗

Colosseum & Ancient Rome tour →Partner link

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel tickets →Partner link

Art and hill towns

Florence and Tuscany

The Uffizi, the cathedral dome and Michelangelo's David in Florence, then Siena, San Gimignano and the vineyards of Chianti in the countryside around it.

About 1.5 hours from Rome by fast train

Visit Tuscany ↗

Canals

Venice

St Mark's Square and Basilica, the Grand Canal by vaporetto water bus, and the islands of Murano and Burano. Staying overnight avoids the day-visitor fee and the busiest hours.

Day visitors pay on peak days

Venice access fee ↗

Cliffs and coast

The Amalfi Coast and Naples

Positano, Amalfi and Ravello on the cliffs, boats to Capri, and the Roman ruins of Pompeii near Naples, with Mount Vesuvius behind.

Ferries are often easier than the narrow coast road

Amalfi Coast on Italia.it ↗

Mountains

The Dolomites

Jagged limestone peaks in the north-east, with mountain huts, cable cars and some of Europe's best hiking in summer, and skiing in winter.

Hiking season is roughly June to September

Our Dolomites guide →

Lakes

Lake Como and Milan

Villas and gardens around Lake Como, linked by ferries, an hour from Milan, where you can see the cathedral and Leonardo's Last Supper (book well ahead).

Milan has the main airports for the north

Milan tourism ↗

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best times for the cities; summer suits the coast and the mountains.

Spring and autumn

April to June and September to October bring warm weather and slightly smaller crowds in Rome, Florence and Venice.
Easter is very busy in Rome; book rooms early.
Autumn is harvest time in Tuscany's vineyards.

Summer and winter

July and August are hot and crowded in the cities, but the best months for the Amalfi Coast and hiking in the Dolomites.
Many Italians take their holidays in mid-August, when some city shops and restaurants close.
Winter is quieter and cheaper in the cities, and ski season in the Dolomites.

What to pack

Pack for long days on foot, church dress codes and the summer heat.