Italy Travel Guide, The Best Places to Visit and Stay

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Italy is, quite simply, one of the world’s most extraordinary travel destinations — a country where every region, every city, and every hilltop village offers something genuinely different and genuinely memorable. Ancient Rome and the Vatican. Renaissance Florence and the Uffizi. Venice’s impossible canals. The Amalfi Coast’s dramatic clifftop villages. Tuscany’s rolling vineyards. Sicily’s ancient Greek temples. The elegant shores of Lake Como. Italy rewards those who take their time — slowing down to linger over a long lunch, wandering without purpose through cobbled streets, and discovering that the best moments are never the ones you planned. Here is a complete guide to the best places to visit and stay in Italy.

Why Italy Is Perfect for Travellers Over 60

Italy has been one of the world’s great travel destinations for centuries — and for travellers over 60 with the time to experience it properly, it delivers an extraordinary combination of history, culture, food, wine, and beauty that is genuinely unlike anywhere else on earth.

No visa required for Australians Australian passport holders can visit Italy and the broader Schengen Zone for up to 90 days without a visa. No applications, no embassy appointments, no fees — just arrive and enjoy.

World class food and wine Italian cuisine is one of the world’s great food cultures — and experiencing it in Italy itself, from a bowl of cacio e pepe in Rome to fresh pasta in Bologna to the extraordinary seafood of Sicily, is one of the genuine highlights of any visit. Every region has its own distinctive food culture, and every meal is an event.

Extraordinary history and culture Italy contains more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country on earth — and the sheer density of extraordinary art, architecture, and history is genuinely overwhelming in the best possible way. For travellers who love history and culture, Italy is endlessly rewarding.

Excellent infrastructure Italy’s high-speed rail network connects all major cities quickly and comfortably — Rome to Florence in 90 minutes, Florence to Venice in 2 hours. Getting around Italy without a car is not only possible but often the most enjoyable way to travel.

The Italian pace of life Italy genuinely rewards those who slow down — the long lunch, the evening passeggiata, the afternoon coffee at a pavement cafe watching the world go by. For retirees and older travellers with the time to embrace this pace — Italy is simply extraordinary.

Visa Requirements for Australians in 2026

Australians do not need a visa for Italy — Italy is part of the Schengen Zone, which Australian passport holders can enter for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa.

What you do need:

• A valid Australian passport — valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure date from the Schengen Zone
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Return or onward ticket

ETIAS — coming soon: The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) — a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers — has been delayed multiple times and is expected to be introduced in the coming years. Check current requirements before travel as this may change.

The Best Places to Visit in Italy

Rome — The Eternal City

Rome is packed with palazzos, churches and relics spanning a plethora of eras — a veritable open-air museum. No other city on earth packs as much history into as compact an area — the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and dozens of extraordinary churches and piazzas are all within easy reach of each other.

What Rome offers:

• The Colosseum and Roman Forum — two of the world’s greatest ancient monuments
• The Vatican — St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums — genuinely awe-inspiring
• The Pantheon — one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in the world — still magnificent after 2,000 years
• The Trevi Fountain — Rome’s most famous baroque fountain — extraordinary regardless of the crowds
• Trastevere — Rome’s most charming neighbourhood — cobbled streets, ivy-covered walls, and extraordinary restaurants
• The Spanish Steps — one of Rome’s great people-watching spots

The honest consideration: Rome is busy — particularly in summer. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the best combination of comfortable weather and manageable crowds.

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Florence — The Cradle of the Renaissance

Florence is one of the world’s great art cities — a compact, walkable city where extraordinary Renaissance art and architecture is around every corner. The Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David, Brunelleschi’s Dome, and the Ponte Vecchio are all within easy walking distance of each other in one of the world’s most beautifully preserved historic city centres.

What Florence offers:

• The Uffizi Gallery — one of the world’s great art museums — Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo
• Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia — one of the world’s most extraordinary sculptures
• The Duomo — Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome dominates the Florence skyline
• Ponte Vecchio — Florence’s iconic medieval bridge lined with jewellery shops
• The Boboli Gardens — beautiful formal gardens behind the Pitti Palace
• Day trips to Tuscany — the rolling hills, vineyards, and hilltop towns of Tuscany are accessible by car or tour from Florence

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Venice — The Impossible City

Venice is unlike any other city on earth — a medieval city built on 118 islands connected by 400 bridges, with canals instead of streets and gondolas instead of taxis. It should not exist, and yet it does — and experiencing it is genuinely one of the world’s great travel moments.

What Venice offers:

• St Mark’s Basilica and St Mark’s Square — Venice’s extraordinary Byzantine cathedral and its famous piazza
• The Grand Canal — the main waterway through Venice, best experienced by vaporetto or gondola
• The Doge’s Palace — the extraordinary Gothic palace of Venice’s former rulers
• The Rialto Bridge and Market — Venice’s most famous bridge and the atmospheric fresh food market beneath it
• Murano and Burano — the nearby islands famous for glass-blowing and colourful fishermen’s houses
• The Venice Biennale — the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition, held in odd-numbered years

The honest consideration: Venice is extremely crowded in peak season — and the city has introduced entry fees for day visitors. Staying overnight in Venice rather than visiting as a day trip delivers a completely different and far more magical experience.

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The Amalfi Coast — Italy’s Most Dramatic Coastline

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most breathtaking destinations — a 50 kilometre stretch of dramatic cliff faces plunging into the Mediterranean, dotted with colourful villages that cling to the rock face above the sea. Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello are the three most celebrated towns — each extraordinary in its own way.

What the Amalfi Coast offers:

• Positano — the most photographed village on the coast — colourful houses cascading down the cliff to a beautiful beach
• Amalfi — the coast’s largest town, with a beautiful cathedral and excellent restaurants
• Ravello — a hilltop town above the coast with extraordinary gardens and views
• Boat trips — the best way to experience the coast is from the water — day boats connect all the towns
• Capri — the glamorous island just offshore is accessible by ferry and offers extraordinary Blue Grotto cave tours

The honest consideration: The Amalfi Coast is hilly — steep steps and narrow winding roads are a constant reality. Staying in Positano or Amalfi and taking boats between towns rather than driving the cliff road is the most comfortable approach for older travellers.

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Tuscany — Rolling Hills, Wine, and the Italian Countryside

Tuscany is Italy’s most beloved region — and for good reason. Rolling hills dotted with cypress trees, medieval hilltop towns, world class wines, extraordinary Renaissance art, and a pace of life that feels genuinely removed from the modern world.

What Tuscany offers:

• Siena — one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval cities, with the extraordinary Piazza del Campo and the famous Palio horse race
• San Gimignano — a beautifully preserved medieval hilltop town famous for its towers and white wine
• Chianti wine country — the rolling hills between Florence and Siena, lined with vineyards producing some of Italy’s finest wines
• Montepulciano and Montalcino — hilltop towns famous for Vino Nobile and Brunello respectively — two of Italy’s greatest wines
• Val d’Orcia — UNESCO World Heritage landscape of extraordinary beauty — the rolling hills and cypress-lined roads that feature in every Italian postcard

Spring is extraordinary in the countryside. The light is soft, the crowds are manageable, and the landscape is at its most photogenic. It is the best time to explore regions like Tuscany, Umbria, and the Ligurian coast.

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Sicily — Ancient, Wild, and Extraordinary

Sicily has Greek temples older than Rome, Arab-Norman cathedrals, Etna looming over everything, the best street food in Italy and a food culture that belongs to no other region.

Sicily is Italy’s largest island and one of its most extraordinary destinations — a place where 3,000 years of history collide in a landscape of volcanic drama, ancient ruins, and a food culture that is genuinely unlike anywhere else in Italy.

What Sicily offers:

• The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento — one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek temple complexes — genuinely awe-inspiring
• Taormina — a beautiful hilltop town with an ancient Greek theatre offering views of Mount Etna and the sea simultaneously
• Mount Etna — Europe’s largest active volcano, accessible by cable car and jeep tour
• Palermo — Sicily’s vibrant, chaotic, and extraordinary capital — with extraordinary street food markets and Norman-era architecture
• Cefalù — a beautiful coastal town with a Norman cathedral and excellent beaches
• Syracuse — one of the ancient world’s greatest cities, with an extraordinary archaeological park and a beautiful baroque old town

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Lake Como — Elegant, Beautiful, and Timeless

Lake Como is one of Italy’s great natural treasures — a deep Alpine lake surrounded by dramatic mountains, elegant 19th century villas, and beautifully preserved lakeside villages that have attracted writers, artists, and the wealthy for centuries.

What Lake Como offers:

• Villa del Balbianello — one of the world’s most beautiful villas, on a promontory jutting into the lake
• Bellagio — the most celebrated village on the lake — elegant, beautiful, and genuinely charming
• Villa Carlotta — extraordinary botanical gardens and neoclassical sculpture on the lake’s western shore
• Ferries and hydrofoils — the best way to explore the lake — services connect all the major villages
• Como town — the lake’s main city, with a beautiful cathedral and excellent shopping

Lake Como has accommodation at 30–40% below comparable cities, making it an excellent value destination.

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Cinque Terre — Five Villages, One Extraordinary Experience

Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most iconic destinations — five colourful clifftop fishing villages perched dramatically above the Ligurian Sea, connected by hiking trails, ferries, and a coastal railway. The five villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — are each beautiful and each completely different in character.

What Cinque Terre offers:

• Vernazza — widely considered the most beautiful of the five villages — a perfect natural harbour surrounded by colourful houses
• Manarola — the most photographed village — the iconic image of colourful houses reflected in the harbour at dusk
• The coastal hiking trail — sections of the famous Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) are accessible at various fitness levels
• Fresh seafood — the villages’ restaurants serve extraordinary fresh-caught seafood from the Ligurian Sea
• The Ligurian Sea — swimming from the villages’ small beaches and rocks is a genuine pleasure

The honest consideration: Cinque Terre is very popular and can be extremely crowded in peak season. The villages are hilly — significant steps and slopes are a reality throughout. Staying in Monterosso — the largest village with the best beach — is generally the most comfortable base.

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Verona — Shakespeare’s City and Gateway to the Dolomites

Verona hosted the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026 — putting it in international headlines and on travel wishlists it previously struggled to reach. The city has excellent train connections (45 minutes from Venice, 1h20m from Milan) and accommodation at 30–40% below comparable cities.

Verona is one of Italy’s most beautiful and most underrated cities — famous as the setting of Romeo and Juliet, home to one of the world’s best-preserved Roman arenas, and the gateway to both the Valpolicella wine region and the extraordinary Dolomite mountains.

What Verona offers:

• The Arena di Verona — a magnificent Roman amphitheatre still used for opera performances — the summer opera season is one of Italy’s great cultural events
• Juliet’s House — the famous balcony where Romeo supposedly serenaded Juliet — more charming than it sounds
• Piazza delle Erbe — Verona’s beautiful central square, surrounded by medieval buildings and a daily market
• Valpolicella wine region — 20 minutes from Verona, producing Amarone — one of Italy’s greatest red wines
• Excellent value — significantly more affordable than Rome, Florence, or Venice

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The Best Time to Visit Italy

The best months to visit Italy are April to June and September to October. These seasons offer pleasant weather and lighter crowds.

Spring — April to May: Spring is extraordinary in the Italian countryside. The light is soft, the crowds are manageable, and the landscape is at its most photogenic. Temperatures are comfortable throughout the country and the famous poppy fields of Tuscany and Umbria are at their peak.

Summer — June to August: In the peak summer months of July and August, days are blisteringly hot, sites are overcrowded and prices soar — try and travel in shoulder season if you can.

Autumn — September to October: One of Italy’s best seasons — the summer crowds have thinned, temperatures are still warm, and the harvest season brings extraordinary food and wine festivals throughout the country. The grape harvest in Tuscany and Umbria is particularly beautiful.

Winter — November to March: Cold in northern Italy — but Rome, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast remain relatively mild. Christmas markets in northern Italian cities are extraordinary. Significantly fewer tourists and lower prices throughout.

Getting Around Italy

High-speed trains are the most comfortable and most enjoyable way to travel between Italy’s major cities. Trenitalia connects major cities quickly and comfortably. Book in advance for the best prices — particularly for popular routes like Rome-Florence and Florence-Venice.

Car hire is ideal for exploring the Italian countryside — Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, and the Amalfi hinterland are best explored by car. Renting a car is useful for countryside regions like Tuscany or Sicily.

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Getting There — Flights from Australia to Italy

Direct flights do not operate from Australia to Italy — all routes connect via Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other Middle Eastern and Asian hubs. Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) is Italy’s main international gateway.

Departure city	Route	Approx flight time
Sydney	Via Singapore or Dubai	22-24h
Melbourne	Via Singapore or Dubai	22-24h
Brisbane	Via Singapore or Dubai	23-25h
Perth	Via Singapore or Dubai	18-20h

Airlines: Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Qatar Airways

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Practical Tips for Travellers Visiting Italy

Currency Italy uses the Euro — approximately AUD $1 = EUR 0.58. Credit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. Always carry some cash for smaller restaurants, market stalls, and rural areas.

Language Italian is the official language — English is widely spoken in tourist areas and major cities, but less common in rural areas and smaller towns. A few words of Italian — grazie, per favore, scusi — are always appreciated.

Accessibility Italy’s historic cities — with their cobbled streets, steps, and ancient buildings — can present genuine challenges for travellers with mobility issues. Rome, Florence, and Venice in particular have significant cobblestone surfaces. Research specific accessibility needs before booking accommodation and activities.

The Italian meal culture Lunch is the main meal of the day in Italy — a long, leisurely affair that typically runs from 1pm to 3pm. Dinner begins late by Australian standards — most restaurants don’t fill until 8pm or later. Embrace the rhythm and you’ll eat extraordinarily well.

Tipping Tipping is not mandatory in Italy — a small tip (rounding up the bill or leaving a euro or two) is appreciated at restaurants but never expected. Service charges (servizio) are sometimes included in the bill.

Travel insurance Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical treatment and emergency evacuation is essential for Italy — particularly for older travellers managing health conditions.

The Complete Italy Accommodation Guide

All the best destinations with direct booking links:

Destination	Booking Link
Rome	Book here
Florence	Book here
Venice	Book here
Amalfi Coast	Book here
Tuscany	Book here
Sicily	Book here
Lake Como	Book here
Cinque Terre	Book here
Verona	Book here

The Bottom Line

Italy is one of the world’s truly great travel destinations — and for travellers with the time to experience it properly, it delivers extraordinary history, world class food and wine, breathtaking natural beauty, and experiences that stay with you for the rest of your life.

The classic route — Rome, Florence, Venice — is classic for a reason. But Italy rewards those who go further — into the Tuscan countryside, down to Sicily, along the Amalfi Coast, and up to the elegant shores of Lake Como.

Start planning your Italy trip today:

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