# Things to do in Italy: best places to visit

> Italy's headline sights: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican in Rome, Brunelleschi's dome, David and the Uffizi in Florence, St Mark's Square and the Rialto in Venice, the Last Supper and the Duomo in Milan, Pompeii and Vesuvius near Naples, and the Arena and Juliet's House in Verona. Fast trains link them: Rome to Florence about an hour and a half, Rome to Naples just over an hour, Milan to Verona about an hour and a quarter.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy

## Cities

- [Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome.md): 66 places with the YesGo score
- [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan.md): 16 places with the YesGo score
- [Venice](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice.md): 22 places with the YesGo score
- [Florence](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence.md): 26 places with the YesGo score
- [Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples.md): 12 places with the YesGo score
- [Verona](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona.md): 5 places with the YesGo score

## Itineraries across the country

- [7 days in Italy: an itinerary by city](https://yesgo.io/italy/in-7-days.md): The Colosseum and the Vatican, the Duomo and the Uffizi, St Mark's Square and the Grand Canal: a week of art linked by fast trains, with no doubling back.

## Top places across the country

- [Pantheon](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/pantheon.md), Rome: YesGo score 82/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · ≈ €5. The Pantheon is a 2nd-century Roman temple whose concrete dome, 43.3 m across, is still the largest unreinforced one in the world, lit…
- [The Last Supper](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/last-supper.md), Milan: YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Paid, booking only. The Last Supper is Leonardo da Vinci's mural of 1495–1498 on the refectory wall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, one of the most…
- [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral.md), Florence: YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; dome paid. Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, is Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's red dome — the largest brick dome in the world. The…
- [Verona Arena](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona/verona-arena.md), Verona: YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · Paid. The Verona Arena is a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Verona and one of the best preserved in the world. By day you can…
- [St Mark's Basilica](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice/st-marks-basilica.md), Venice: YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Paid. St Mark's Basilica is Venice's great church on Piazza San Marco, built in the 11th century to house the relics of St Mark. Almost every…
- [Pompeii](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/pompeii.md), Naples: YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 5 h · Paid. Pompeii is a Roman town at the foot of Vesuvius that lay under volcanic ash for almost two thousand years and survives with its streets…
- [Trevi Fountain](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/trevi-fountain.md), Rome: YesGo score 79/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free; basin €2. The Trevi Fountain is Rome's largest Baroque fountain, finished in 1762. Viewing it from the piazza is free; since February 2026 stepping…
- [Milan Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/milan-cathedral.md), Milan: YesGo score 63/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid. Milan Cathedral, the Duomo, is the city's great symbol and Italy's largest church: a Gothic pile of pinkish-white marble nearly six…
- [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio.md), Florence: YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free. The Ponte Vecchio, the "Old Bridge", is Florence's emblem: a 14th-century stone bridge over the Arno lined with colourful little…
- [Piazza Bra](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona/piazza-bra.md), Verona: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free. Piazza Bra is Verona's largest square and its living room, right in front of the Roman Arena. Along one side runs the broad Liston…
- [Bridge of Sighs](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice/bridge-of-sighs.md), Venice: YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 15 min · Free outside. The Bridge of Sighs is a small enclosed bridge of white stone over a narrow canal behind the Doge's Palace, one of Venice's icons. Built…
- [Mount Vesuvius](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/mount-vesuvius.md), Naples: YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Paid, timed ticket. Vesuvius is the volcano above the Bay of Naples and the only active volcano on mainland Europe. A path leads up from a car park at about…
- [Colosseum](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/colosseum.md), Rome: YesGo score 73/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · ≈ €18. The Colosseum is ancient Rome's great amphitheatre, opened in AD 80. A standard 24-hour ticket costs about €18 and also covers the Roman…
- [Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/galleria-vittorio-emanuele.md), Milan: YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Milan's celebrated glass-domed arcade, linking Piazza del Duomo with Piazza della Scala. It holds the…
- [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria.md), Florence: YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free. Piazza della Signoria is Florence's main square, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio town hall and at the centre of civic life for seven…
- [Juliet's House](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona/juliets-house.md), Verona: YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid. Juliet's House is a medieval house in central Verona traditionally held to be the home of Shakespeare's heroine. In the courtyard are the…
- [Rialto Bridge](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice/rialto-bridge.md), Venice: YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free. The Rialto Bridge is Venice's most famous bridge and the oldest across the Grand Canal: a 16th-century stone arch with two rows of shops…
- [Castel dell'Ovo](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/castel-dell-ovo.md), Naples: YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free. Castel dell'Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples, set on a small island right off the city waterfront. Legend says the poet Virgil hid a…
- [St Peter's Basilica](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome/st-peters-basilica.md), Rome: YesGo score 71/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free; dome ≈ €8–15. St Peter's Basilica is the Catholic Church's principal church, built over 120 years from 1506 to 1626. Entry is free after a security…
- [San Siro Stadium](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan/san-siro.md), Milan: YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Paid. San Siro is Milan's legendary football stadium, shared by AC Milan and Inter and one of the largest in Europe, instantly recognisable by…
- [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio.md), Florence: YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid. Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's medieval town hall, its tall crenellated tower rising over Piazza della Signoria — and it's still the city…
- [Lake Garda](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona/lake-garda.md), Verona: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 8 h · Free; castle and ferries paid. Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, 25 to 40 minutes from Verona by train or bus. On the south shore, the Sirmione peninsula has the…
- [Piazza San Marco](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice/piazza-san-marco.md), Venice: YesGo score 55/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free. Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice and the only square in the city called a "piazza". Arcaded procuratie line its sides, St Mark's…
- [Galleria Umberto I](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples/galleria-umberto.md), Naples: YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free. Galleria Umberto I is a lavish 19th-century covered arcade in the heart of Naples, opposite the San Carlo opera house. Four wings of shops…

## Italy travel guide

What to know before you go: where to go, getting between cities by train, entry rules, money and tipping, beaches and the best time to visit.

## Trip essentials

- Entry: Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
- Money: Euro; contactless almost everywhere
- First trip: Rome, then Florence and Venice
- Between cities: High-speed trains: Rome — Florence ≈ 1.5 h
- Best time: April–June and September–October
- Beaches: Swimming season June–September
- City tax: Per person per night in most cities
- Tipping: Not expected; a cover charge is common
- Churches: Shoulders and knees covered
- Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer

## Key facts

- **60+** — UNESCO World Heritage Sites — more than any other country (source: UNESCO World Heritage List)
- **2** — independent states inside Italy: the Vatican and San Marino (source: Wikipedia, Italy)
- **≈ 7,600 km** — of coastline on five seas (source: Wikipedia, Geography of Italy)
- **Euro** — the currency since 2002 (source: Bank of Italy)

## Best places to visit in Italy

Most first-time visitors to Italy start in Rome — ancient ruins, the Vatican and Baroque piazzas in one city. The classic route adds Florence and Venice, all linked by high-speed trains. Every city below has its own page with YesGo scores for each sight, plus ready-made day itineraries.

| City | Why go | Days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Rome](https://yesgo.io/italy/rome) | Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon | 3–4 |
| [Florence](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence) | Renaissance art, the Uffizi, the Duomo | 2–3 |
| [Venice](https://yesgo.io/italy/venice) | Canals, St Mark's | 2 |
| [Milan](https://yesgo.io/italy/milan) | The Duomo, The Last Supper, shopping | 1–2 |
| [Naples](https://yesgo.io/italy/naples) | Pizza, Pompeii, Vesuvius | 2–3 |
| [Verona](https://yesgo.io/italy/verona), Bologna, Pisa | Smaller cities en route | a day each |

A ready-made 7-day route through Rome, Florence and Venice is further up this page.

## Italy itinerary: one or two weeks

A one-week Italy itinerary usually covers Rome, Florence and Venice: three or four days in Rome, two in Florence and two in Venice, travelling by high-speed train. With two weeks, add Naples with Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, or Milan and Lake Como in the north.

- **Days 1–4** — Rome: the Colosseum, the Vatican, the historic centre.
- **Days 5–6** — Florence: the Uffizi, the Duomo, a day trip to Pisa or Siena.
- **Days 7–8** — Venice: St Mark's, the Grand Canal, the islands.
- **Week two** — south to Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi, or north to Milan and the lakes.

## Getting around Italy by train

Trains are the easiest way between Italian cities: high-speed Frecciarossa (Trenitalia) and Italo services link Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Venice and Naples. Tickets are cheaper booked ahead on the operators' sites. Regional trains and buses serve smaller towns and the coast; a car is useful for Tuscany and the south.

- **Rome — Florence** — ≈ 1.5 h by high-speed train.
- **Rome — Naples** — ≈ 1 h 10 min.
- **Rome — Milan** — ≈ 3 h; **Rome — Venice** — ≈ 4 h.
- **Regional trains** — no seat reservations; validate paper tickets before boarding.
- **Driving** — historic centres are restricted zones (ZTL); fines arrive by post.

## Money, tipping and entry rules

Italy uses the euro, and contactless cards work almost everywhere, even on the Rome and Milan metros. Tipping isn't expected — restaurants often add a coperto (cover charge) for bread and service. Italy is in the Schengen area; visa-free visitors will need ETIAS once it launches, so check the rules before you go.

- **Coperto** — a per-person cover charge listed on the menu; it isn't a tip.
- **Tipping** — round up or leave 5–10% for great service.
- **City tax** — charged per night by hotels in most cities.
- **Tax-free shopping** — non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT above a minimum spend.

## Best beaches in Italy

Italy borders five seas — the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic and the Mediterranean around Sicily and Sardinia. Swimming season runs from June to September, with the warmest water in August. Favourite beach areas are Rimini on the Adriatic, the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento near Naples, Liguria's Cinque Terre, Sicily and Sardinia.

- **Adriatic** — Rimini and Riccione: wide sandy beaches, good for families.
- **Amalfi Coast** — cliffs, hillside towns, small beaches.
- **Liguria** — Cinque Terre and Sanremo, pebble coves.
- **Sardinia** — the clearest water and white sand.
- **Sicily** — Taormina, warm sea into October.
- **Near Rome** — Ostia's beaches, 30 minutes by train.

## Best time to visit Italy

Italy's weather varies by region: the north — Milan and Venice — has colder winters, while the south and islands are warm most of the year. The best time for cities is April–June and September–October; for the beach, June to September. Below is Rome's climate as a guide to central Italy.

- **January in Rome**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 3°C, sea ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 7. Cool; ski season.
- **February in Rome**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 4°C, sea ≈ 13°C, rainy days: 7. Crisp; Venice Carnival.
- **March in Rome**: day ≈ 16°C, night ≈ 6°C, sea ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 7. Spring, some rain.
- **April in Rome** (best time): day ≈ 19°C, night ≈ 8°C, sea ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 8. Warm; Easter is busy.
- **May in Rome** (best time): day ≈ 24°C, night ≈ 12°C, sea ≈ 18°C, rainy days: 5. A superb month for cities.
- **June in Rome** (best time): day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 16°C, sea ≈ 22°C, rainy days: 4. Beach season begins.
- **July in Rome**: day ≈ 31°C, night ≈ 18°C, sea ≈ 25°C, rainy days: 2. Hot; peak beach time.
- **August in Rome**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 19°C, sea ≈ 26°C, rainy days: 3. Peak heat, holidays.
- **September in Rome** (best time): day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 16°C, sea ≈ 24°C, rainy days: 6. Warm sea, fewer crowds.
- **October in Rome** (best time): day ≈ 22°C, night ≈ 12°C, sea ≈ 21°C, rainy days: 8. Mild; harvest time.
- **November in Rome**: day ≈ 17°C, night ≈ 8°C, sea ≈ 18°C, rainy days: 9. Wet and cool.
- **December in Rome**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 4°C, sea ≈ 16°C, rainy days: 8. Mild; Christmas.

Ski season in the Alps and Dolomites runs from December to March.

## Rules for tourists in Italy

Churches in Italy turn away bare shoulders and knees, and some cities ban sitting on monument steps or wading in fountains. Most cities charge a per-night tourist tax at your hotel, and Venice charges day-trippers an access fee on set dates.

- **Dress** — shoulders and knees covered in churches.
- **Fountains and steps** — no sitting or bathing; on-the-spot fines.
- **Riposo** — small shops close for 2–3 hours in the afternoon.
- **Pickpockets** — on metros, trains and at major sights.

## Tips

- Book high-speed trains ahead — fares rise closer to the date.
- Reserve the big museums — the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Uffizi, The Last Supper — weeks in advance.
- Coffee standing at the bar costs less than at a table.

## Questions

### What are the best places to visit in Italy?

Rome, Florence and Venice for a first trip, then Milan, Naples with Pompeii, Verona, Bologna and Pisa.

### How many days do you need in Italy?

7–9 days for Rome, Florence and Venice; two weeks to add the south or the coast.

### When is the best time to visit Italy?

April–June and September–October for cities; June to September for beaches.

### How do you get around Italy?

High-speed Trenitalia and Italo trains between major cities; regional trains, buses or a car for smaller towns.

### Do I need a visa for Italy?

Italy follows Schengen rules: many nationalities visit visa-free for up to 90 days, and ETIAS will apply once it launches. Check your own requirements.

### What currency does Italy use?

The euro.

### Do you tip in Italy?

It isn't expected; restaurants may add a coperto. Rounding up or 5–10% for great service is appreciated.

### What is the coperto?

A per-person cover charge for bread and table service, shown on the menu.

### Where are the best beaches in Italy?

Sardinia, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Liguria's Cinque Terre and the Adriatic around Rimini.

### Is Italy good for families?

Very: children are welcome in restaurants, cities are compact, and Adriatic beaches have gentle shallows.

## Sources

- UNESCO World Heritage List — properties in Italy
- Wikipedia, Italy; Geography of Italy; Rome climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Trenitalia and Italo — high-speed timetables
- European Union — ETIAS and Schengen entry rules

Facts checked: 10.11.2026

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