Travel Guide To Italy

Italy is a special country. I’ve been to a few areas and am always blown away by its beauty, food and people. I can’t wait to share all of the travel tips and experiences I have had with you in the travel guide to Italy. Giving you all you the information you need, so that you can also see and experience this stunning country.

There’s a reason that this is one of the most visited countries in the world.

So far I have been hiking in the Dolomites, visited Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, traveled through Tuscany, and stayed in the stunning cliffside villages of Cinque Terre.

This May, I’m returning to Italy and meeting some friends in Rome. We will spend a few days exploring the city before heading to Sorrento and exploring the Amalfi Coastal Region. Keep your eyes peeled for more Italy content after that trip!

When To Visit Italy

Tre Cime - one of the best hikes in the Dolomites
Tre Cime, The Dolomites

When to go to Italy depends on what region you are visiting. The weather and the activities in the mountains will be very different than the city streets of Rome or the island of Sardinia.

I’ve only been to a few destinations in Italy, so that is where my expertise lies. As I visit more Italian destinations, I will expand this page to those regions.

Peak Season

Since Italy is such a popular travel destination, it is important to know when the peak season is. Peak season will draw huge crowds. If you want to avoid those crowds, visiting in the off-season is best.

Even during the shoulder season, you will find big crowds in Venice, Rome, and Florence.

For all travel destinations, peak season brings more visitors and higher prices. It is also usually the best weather conditions.

Dolomites: Peak travel period for the Dolomites is in the summer, July & August, and in the winter between December and March. The summer months are the best time to hit the trails and the huts are open for the season. The winter is ski season.

Tuscany and Bologna: The high season in Tuscany is June – September. This time of year the temperatures are warm and the towns are packed with visitors. It can still be enjoyable, but there is a lot more planning and preparation that needs to happen!

We stayed in Bologna in August, and it was much calmer than the busy Florence which was only a 30 minute train ride away!

Cinque Terre: The busiest time of year is July and August in Cinque Terre with it starting to pick up in June. It is when the temperatures are hot and the crowds are thick. Hiking is not as enjoyable as it is so warm, but the sea will cool you down.

I was there in August, and I have never sweat as much as I did while hiking in Cinque Terre!

Off Season

To visit destinations with less tourists and to save a little money, off-season travel is the way to go. There are, however, trade offs to visiting in the low season though. One is that the weather usually doesn’t line up with the things you would like to do that time of year.

For me, off-season travel is great for going to bigger cities, as there are many cafes, restaurants, museums or other attractions that are easy to go in if the weather isn’t ideal. After living in the Netherlands for the past couple of years, I’ve learned that it isn’t so bad to walk around in the rain, and I don’t mind the snow!

Dolomites: The off-season in the Italian Alps coincides with hiking conditions. In April and May, and as well as in October and November, the trails in the Dolomites can become less accessible and many of the huts are closed down. It’s not that it is impossible to go hiking during the off-season, but the weather is more unpredictable. Planning a whole trip around volatile weather is a big risk.

Tuscany and Bologna: The low season in Tuscany and Bologna lies between November and March, with the December holidays being an exception. This time of year you will experience cooler temperatures and less tourists. If you want to experience this region of Italy like a local, this would be a great time to go.

Cinque Terre: The off season in Cinque Terre is in the winter months, usually between November and March. This time of year many of the restaurants aren’t open and tourist attractions, such as boat tours, aren’t running and some hiking trails are closed. If you aren’t picky about where you eat and want to experience the 5 villages at a calmer time of year, the low season may be for you. Prices for hotels will also be cheaper which is a nice bonus too.

Shoulder Season

One of the best times to travel to Italy is the shoulder season when you have a good mix of nice weather and fewer crowds with slightly lower costs. While the busiest cities like Rome, Florence and Venice will still be busy, most of the country’s tourism starts to slow down.

Dolomites: The shoulder season in the Dolomites is in June and September. June can be a bit muddy and snowy in higher elevations depending on how much snow the Alps got the winter before. The highlights of June are the wildflowers and green valleys. While in September, there’s a higher chance of dry trails.

Tuscany and Bologna: Go to Tuscany in October to experience the harvest season after many of the tourists have gone home for the season. Florence and Pisa will still be quite busy during this time. In Bologna, pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds can be found during April – May and September – October. A perfect time to explore the city.

Cinque Terre: Many attractions and restaurants start reopening in Cinque Terre in mid-March which is the start of the shoulder season. April and May are best for hiking and exploring the towns as it isn’t too hot yet. The water will be chilly, though, so swimming is out.

September to early October is also a good time to visit Cinque Terre. The weather is starting to cool down and the trails are still open. Late October there is a chance that the trails might start closing, so be aware of that. Also, in September and early October the ocean will still be warm enough for swimming. Restaurants don’t close down until November 1.

Plan Your Trip To Italy

Best view of Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy

Below you will find my posts related to each region of Italy that I have personally visited. These blogs will give you all the detailed information you need to plan an exciting trip to Italy.

The Dolomites

Tuscany

Bologna

Cinque Terre

Where To Go In Italy

Piazza Maggiore - must see during a weekend in Bologna
Bologna, Italy

There is so much more to Italy too. Next up for me is to visit Rome, The Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and maybe Capri. I’ll be flying in and out of Naples, so hoping to catch a glimpse of this city and grab a pizza!

Other popular destinations to visit are Venice, Puglia, Milan, Sardinia and Sicily. We actually went to Venice at the end of our Dolomites trip. Mike and Isaac visited for the afternoon while Levi and I stayed at the hotel. That is a story for another day. We’ll just have to return at some point.

Italy Travel Blogs

Read our latest travel blogs to Italy.