Italy is known worldwide for its mouth-watering cuisine – pizza, pasta and gelato all call this nation home. You’ll also find the countryside crisscrossed with rows of vines that hint at the nation’s love of fine wine. Surely there’s no better place to try these local favourites!

Alongside these iconic flavours, Italy is renowned for its rich heritage. Indeed, the country is brimming with fascinating historic sites dating back to Roman times and beyond.

When it comes to culture, it’s not all about the Romans, though. Head to Milan, for instance, and you could see Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper or window shop famous designer brands in the country’s fashion capital.

Alternatively, follow in the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet when you visit Verona, the setting of Shakespeare’s tragic tale. Or, whisk yourself off to Venice, and you could glide through the city’s world-famous canals on a gondola.

Italy’s cultural treasures aren’t the only things waiting to wow you. The natural landscapes are also works of art. Picture the snow-topped peaks of the Italian Alps and the drama of the jagged Dolomites, not to mention the glittering turquoise waters of Lake Como and Lake Garda.

The best time to visit Italy depends on what you want to see and do while you’re there. We recommend going anytime from May to October if you want to explore on a road trip.

Travelling during spring, summer, or autumn means you’ll have plenty of daylight to soak up your stunning surroundings. This time of year is also best for outdoor activities like hiking and lake swimming, dining al fresco, and meandering around medieval cities.

There’s plenty to do year-round in Italy as well. That said, the winter months of November to April bring cold weather and snow to areas of Northern Italy. While this is ideal for snowsports like skiing, icy conditions can make driving difficult, and some scenic mountain roads will be closed.

If you want to travel in June, July or August, it’s worth bearing in mind that these months are most popular with visitors. So, book well in advance if you plan to take your trip at this time of year. Or if you want to see the sights when there are slightly fewer visitors, and it’s not as hot, we recommend travelling in May, September or October.

Nordic Visitor tours of Italy will take you to world-famous cities such as Milan, Venice and Verona. But as well as captivating culture, you’ll also experience areas of jaw-dropping natural beauty, like the Alps and the Italian lake district.

For now, you can choose from carefully crafted itineraries covering these areas of Italy: Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. But our travel experts are never far from the drawing board, so watch this space for more destinations coming soon!

Explore Northern Italy tours, or combine Italy with neighbouring nations like Austria, Germany and Switzerland on a multi-country Alps trip.

These are just some of the amazing places you could visit on a tour of Italy with Nordic Visitor:

Must-see cities
•  Milan
•  Venice
•  Verona
•  Como

Enchanting lakeside towns
•  Bellagio
•  Menaggio
•  Varenna
•  Bardolino
•  Malcesine
•  Riva del Garda
•  Desenzano del Garda

Top spots for natural beauty
•  South Tyrol
•  Lombardy
•  Aosta Valley

For more inspiration, check out these round-ups of the best places to go and top things to do in Northern Italy.

The best way to explore Italy depends on the type of travel experience you’re looking for.

For the most flexibility and freedom, a self-drive tour is ideal. You can explore at your own pace, stopping at scenic spots and hidden gems along the way. Travel with us and our regional experts will make sure your trip is seamless. They’ll take care of planning the route and booking your accommodation.

Your dedicated travel consultant will also arrange your car rental with a trusted local provider. Plus, you’ll receive a detailed road map marked with the best route and attraction recommendations. And with our 24/7 helpline, assistance is always just a call away.

Depending on your itinerary, you may not need to drive every day. For instance, you could take boat trips between charming towns on the shores of Lake Garda and Lake Como. Or, if you’re travelling to cities like Verona or Venice, take advantage of Italy’s excellent rail network.

If you’d rather travel with a knowledgeable guide, check out our Alps small group tours. These guided tours don’t include Italy yet, but keep an eye out!

With Nordic Visitor as your Italy travel company, you’ll get personal service from a regional expert. They’ve travelled the routes and visited the attractions you’ll experience in Italy and will make sure your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.

Book with us, and your dedicated travel expert will use their insider insight to plan your trip. If you have questions before booking, ask us for a travel consultation to find out more.

Share your interests with your dedicated expert, and they’ll be happy to recommend experiences you won't want to miss. Think wine tasting by Lake Garda, guided tours of cities such as Milan, or a private tour of Lake Como by boat. What’s more, you can relax knowing that we only work with trusted local tour companies.

Our itineraries are packed with inclusions, like a dedicated travel consultant to plan your tour. With the details taken care of, such as your accommodation, local transport and excursions, all you need to do is look forward to your trip.

But that’s not all, these Italy tours also include:

•  Accommodation
•  Daily breakfast
•  Local transport as detailed in your itinerary
•  Personalised itinerary
•  Hand-marked map highlighting the route and must-see sights
•  Printed travel guide with information about attractions and travel tips
•  Access to our 24/7 helpline for on-trip support should you need it

Pick a self-drive tour, and you’ll also get:

•  Car rental with a trusted supplier
•  Unlimited mileage
•  CDW insurance
•  Authorisation for 2 drivers

If you want to customise your trip with extra nights or optional excursions, ask your travel consultant for recommendations. They’ll be happy to suggest activities to try and advise on where to extend your stay.

Yes, Nordic Visitor offers optional Cancellation Protection, which protects your payment and covers financial losses that might occur if you need to cancel your tour. Depending on the terms and conditions, you’ll receive a partial refund and travel credit you can use with us in the future.

What’s more, with our Cancellation Protection we’ll rebook your entire tour once if you need to change dates, without additional fees. Learn more about this risk-free, flexible booking policy in our Cancellation Protection terms.

If you don’t have Cancellation Protection with us, check out our normal booking terms. And we always recommend taking out personal travel insurance to cover you on your trip.

Plan a trip with Nordic Visitor and we’ll save you time and effort by organising your getaway for you.

If you arrange your Italy trip yourself, you’d have to do all the research and book each part of your tour. And if you need to adjust your itinerary, you’d have to make all the changes yourself.

With travel consultants based in neighbouring Switzerland and Germany, Italy is on our doorstep. In other words, when you choose us, you get a tour booked by travel experts with in-depth knowledge of the region.

Our travel consultants have designed your itinerary to ensure you take the most convenient and scenic route between stops. They’ll also book your accommodation and share insider insights with you. You can rely on them to recommend must-see places to go and the best day trips to take.

You’ll also get a detailed guide packed with travel tips, plus information on the top attractions and some hidden gems you might not know about.

During your trip, you’ll also have access to our 24/7 helpline. This way, if something unexpected crops up, you can contact us at any time.

Let us take care of the details so you can look forward to exploring Italy.

We understand that having somewhere to relax after a day of sightseeing is important. So you can rest easy knowing that the places you’ll stay on your trip meet our high standards of quality and comfort.

All tours come with Comfort Plus level accommodation as standard. Or, if you prefer, you can treat yourself by upgrading to Superior accommodation.

Choose a self-drive tour of Italy, and you can pick a date that suits you anytime between May and October.

If you’d like to travel at a specific time of year, book early to secure your spot. Check the online calendar for the tour you’re interested in to see what dates are available.

Flights aren’t included in Nordic Visitor tour packages. This gives you more flexibility around your travel plans. For instance, you won’t be restricted to certain airports, and you can pick the flight times that suit you.

We recommend checking available flights before picking your dates and booking a trip. That said, it’s best to hold off on purchasing them until your travel consultant emails you your tour confirmation.

If you visit Italy during the height of summer – June to August – you’ll experience warm and sometimes humid weather.

While this is good for sightseeing and dining al fresco, we also recommend travelling in May, September, or October for outdoor activities like hiking. You can still pack light clothes at this time of year, but bring a warm layer or two for when the sun goes down.

Here are the average temperatures in Venice to give you an idea of what to expect during your trip:

• May: 15–22°C (59–72°F)
• June: 18–26°C (64–79°F)
• July: 19–29°C (66–84°F)
• August: 19–29°C (66–84°F)
• September: 15–24°C (59–75°F)

Good to know: Occasional heatwaves from June through August mean temperatures can get up to about 35°C (95°F).

What you’ll need to pack for your Italy vacation depends on when you visit and the activities you’ve got planned.

For example, we recommend light layers and sandals to stay comfortable in the warm summer months. Swimwear and a travel towel are also a good idea for swimming in lakes or outdoor pools during your trip.

Some smart outfits will also be handy when you’re dining out and exploring Italy’s cities. Plus, come evening, you’ll notice the locals like to dress up and head out for an aperitivo. Why not join them for a drink before you have dinner?

It’s also worth knowing that you must cover your shoulders and knees when visiting most cathedrals or churches in Italy. So we recommend having a scarf in your day bag ready to drape over your shoulders.

These essentials will cover you for a range of activities during spring, summer and autumn in Italy:

• • Comfortable shoes or sandals
• • Short and long-sleeve shirts
• • Light trousers or shorts
• • Warm jumper or fleece
• • Day bag or rucksack
• • Swimwear and travel towel
• • Sunglasses, sun hat and suncreams
• • Umbrella or waterproof jacket
• • Reusable water bottle
• • Two-pin EU adaptor
   

Top tip: If you plan to hike or visit neighbouring Alpine countries like Switzerland, we recommend preparing for cooler temperatures and changeable weather in the mountains. For instance, warm and waterproof layers, including a hat, scarf and gloves, are essential if heading to higher altitudes.