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  • Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower, Florence Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower, Florence
    Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower, Florence
  • Rural Tuscany Rural Tuscany
    Rural Tuscany
  • Amalfi Coast Amalfi Coast
    Amalfi Coast

Italy

Europe's masterpiece

Italy tailor-made & luxury holidays

Introduction

Welcome to Italy, the home of opera, the Renaissance, great art, fine wines, sumptuous food and dramatic landscapes, all wrapped up in the joy of la dolce vita – the sweet lifeAnd yes, life here really is sweet, from the sun-kissed islands of the south to the great alpine ranges of the north, from the sweeping farmlands of Tuscany to the great treasures of Florence, Venice and Rome. It's no wonder Italy is our clients' favourite destination. And, whether you choose to take it all in on a fly-drive, with stays in converted palaces and idyllic farmhouses, or aboard that icon of rail travel – the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – our specialists are on hand to help curate your perfect Italy holiday.

Italian landscapes

Italy's landscapes are as varied as they are spectacular. The cloud-piercing Alps spill down to the glassy serenity of the Northern Lakes before an Apennine bump sees you into Tuscany and Umbria’s rural idyll of vineyards and picturesque farmlands. It’s all lined with an impressive coastline where Amalfi’s Crayola-coloured villages cling to dramatic cliffs and the beaches of Puglia and Tuscany vie for attention.

Cefalu in Sicily, Italy
Cefalu, Sicily

Italy's island escapes

They’re the perfect piers to discovering the equally eclectic beauty of the Italian islands. There’s paradisiacal Elba, the Aeolians’ wild volcanicity, Sardinian adventures among hidden ruins and, of course, Sicily. Here, lemon trees perfume everything from pretty bays and volcanic foothills to Byzantine cathedrals and whole valleys of forgotten Greek temples.

Cefalu in Sicily, Italy
Cefalu, Sicily

Italy's urban treasures 

It’s all punctuated by some of the world’s most arresting cities, each with their own discrete charm. Florence gave the world the Renaissance, Venice stands – or floats – unique and Rome bears all the grandeur befitting a host of ancient, continent-conquering empires and the world’s most powerful – and largest – religious denomination. Many of our featured itineraries include stays in one or more of these cities, offering stays in their finest hotels and expert-led tours that take you right to the heart of each one's unique sense of style and artistry.

Rome skyline in Italy showing the Tiber river
Rome, Italy

To begin planning your next holiday to Italy, browse our suggested itineraries. From tailor-made fly-drives to city breaks, beach holidays and luxury rail journeys, they've all been tried, tested and enjoyed by our Italy specialists who visit the country regularly. 

 

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At a glance

Flying time from UK
2 hours

Time zone
GMT +1

Currency
Euro (€) = 100 cents

Language
Italian

Travel advice
Check the FCDO for visa & travel advice

See Italy travel guide

Special offers in Italy

Venice, Italy

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Venice to London

4-day tailor-made holiday from £4,425 pp incl. flights

Special
offer

Selected 2024 departures promotion – Save up to £845pp
Book by: 31 March 2024

After a stay in a canal-side palace, reached by private water taxi, indulge with bar-car drinks and fine dining as you sweep across the snow-dusted Alps and through the heart of western Europe.

Baglioni Hotel Luna

Baglioni Hotel Luna, Venice

3-night luxury holiday from £885 pp incl. flights & transfers

Special
offer

Early booking discount – Save up to £110pp
Book by: 31 March 2024

Just a stone’s throw from Piazza San Marco, this leading luxury hotel looks out towards the island of San Giorgio, across the lagoon and the San Marco Basin in Venice.

Strombolisuite (7) Therasia Resort

Therasia Resort & Spa, Vulcano

7-night luxury holiday from £1,460 pp incl. flights & transfers

Special
offer

Early booking savings – Save up to £235pp
Book by: 31 March 2024

Contrast the rugged volcanic beauty of the island of Vulcano with a sophisticated Italian style of a spa resort.

Exterior, Garden Villas Resort Ischia

Botania Relais & Spa, Ischia

7-night luxury holiday from £1,630 pp incl. flights & transfers

Special
offer

Early booking savings – Save up to £380pp
Book by: 31 March 2024

A collection of enchanting rooms and villas in the heart of Ischia, surrounded by extensive aromatic Mediterranean gardens and within easy reach of the volcanic island’s main attractions.

See all offers

Italy holiday ideas

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: London to Paris & Venice

5-day luxury rail journey from £4,385 pp incl. flights

Experience the ultimate in European luxury rail travel as you take the iconic southbound journey from Paris, reached via Eurostar, to Venice aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Ragusa, Sicily

Best of Sicily self-drive

8-day tailor-made self-drive from £1,460 pp incl. flights

With the flexibility to explore at your own pace, link Sicily’s highlights with spectacularly rural drives and stays in some of the island’s premier hotels. You’ll take in everything from Cefalù’s white-sand beaches to Agrigento’s temple wonders and Taormina's ancient grandeur.

Backstreet restaurant, Taormina

Gastronomy of Sicily

10-day tailor-made self-drive from £1,970 pp incl. flights

Sicily's rich past has given rise to a uniquely contrasting history and it's a similar story when it comes to its food and wine. You’ll take it all in with stays in boutique properties and pretty country drives, with the island’s famous gastronomy showcased in wine tastings and open-kitchen dining.

Capri, Italy

Capri & the Amalfi Coast

10-day tailor-made holiday from £2,985 pp incl. flights

Let stays in world-class hotels and the services of private drivers showcase the best of Capri’s island paradise, the Amalfi Coast’s dramatic beauty and Sorrento’s clifftop views. In between, there's plenty of time for some beach-side relaxation and independent exploration.

See all itinerary ideas

What our clients say about our Italy holidays

  • To meet my requirements, your agent Miranda had to fit in with a previous tour's flight plans and I was delighted with the hotel selected in Taormina, the Excelsior Palace Hotel was a step back in time with old world courtesy and excellent service. A night in Bari was added to fit in with flights and the hotel there was exceptional too but in such a different way as it was modern Italian design in its rooms and public places and really lovely to find in Bari. The hotel was on the seafront with easy access to the old town and was called the Grande Albergo delle Nazioni and part of a chain. I would love a stay in any other Italian City with this group as I found the hotel stunning.

    Mina M

  • We had a fantastic time thank you very much for all the help and advice. We would particularly like you to pass on our thanks to Miranda Berliand for making it all happen and for her excellent recommendations. We particularly enjoyed the long established family run, so tastefully decorated over the years, Hotel Poseidon in Possitano... they put on one of the breakfasts in the world! What impressed us so much was the effortless and smooth transitions at all stages of the trip. It was for us first time visitors to this magical part of Italy made all the better by your attention to detail. Faultless!

    John J

  • Excellent service and very good responses to the few questions I had about arrangements. Staff always got back to me with the required information either the same day or the day after. Changes that I wished to make regarding hotels were dealt with quickly and efficiently. Travel arrangements worked out perfectly and hotels were of the highest standard. A good service all round. Many thanks to the whole team.

    Colin C

  • I have booked through Wexas Travel for business and holidays for many years and have always found the service to be excellent and will continue to book through Wexas.

    A special thank you to Bert Hyatt for the last two years bookings to Italy and Madeira, always helpful with excellent knowledge of all aspects of travel and hotels.

    R R

  • As always Wexas provided us with a superb itinerary with informative guides. The hotels were exactly the standard we had requested and Miranda was very helpful in helping us find suitable dates, flights etc. We will certainly be using Wexas again in the future.

    David D

  • Since I had no knowledge of the destination we were seeking I had to trust the Wexas team entirely. As before we had no need to worry: the advice and arrangements were exactly what we needed.

    W B W

  • As always Tim Tan came up with the goods. Good hotels and the transfer arrangements throughout the holiday were superb. Recommend that you look no further for a travel expert.

    Peter Charles P

  • Thank you for organising a very enjoyable holiday in a first class hotel. Accommodation and transfers were excellent. We both enjoyed the experience.

    Edward E

  • Excellent contact with Allison Nicolle of Wexas who kept us up to date with changes to flights and schedules. Thew service received was first class.

    David D

  • Each time we go away the comments are the same. Excellent and professional service. it is the reason why we keep using Wexas. Long may it remain so.

    Stephen Conrad S

  • One of the best things about Wexas is that we have one agent (Tim Tan) who always looked after us and does so extremely well

    Anthony W A

  • I have used wexas a number of times and most recently dealt with Tim Tan and have always been delighted with the results

    Alexander A

  • Thank you to Bert at Wexas Travel for going that extra mile ........so important to feel a valued customer.

    Ann A

  • Amy did a really fantastic job, and managed to get us a room I had not been able to book myself.

    Andrew A

  • As usual Tim Tan provided us with excellent service and very knowledgeable recommendations.

    Ian I

Top places to stay in Italy

Baglioni Hotel Regina

Baglioni Hotel Regina, Rome

Guide price from £1,190 pp

Located on the central Via Veneto, moments from Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna and Via Condotti, the 5-star Baglioni Hotel Regina is supremely well situated.

Hotel Danieli

Hotel Danieli, Venice

Grand & elegant hotel

Spread over three palaces – 14th, 17th and 19th century iterations – art and antiques ensure a historically luxurious stay worthy of the Venetian aristocracy.

Ca'Sagredo Portego Hall

Ca’Sagredo, Venice

3-night luxury holiday from £820 pp incl. flights & transfers

This 15th century private palazzo is a favourite among discerning travellers and Condé Nast’s judges alike.

Istanbul Grand Suite

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Luxury train

Hark back to the golden age of travel with opulent private berths, fine dining experiences and stunning scenery.

See all places to stay

Where to go in Italy

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Experience the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a journey of timeless elegance, unchanged for decades. Guests are transported to a time more refined, enjoying the finest service, opulent bars and three exquisite restaurants as they travel to Europe's most romantic cities.

Rural Tuscany in autumn

Florence, Tuscany & Umbria

Tailor-made for both fly-drive holidays and short breaks, the stunning scenery, artistic heritage and delicious cuisine of Tuscany and neighbouring Umbria truly enchant.

Ravello, Campania, Italy

The Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast stretches along the Sorrentine Peninsula in the south of Italy and is famous for its tantalising combination of historical cathedrals, grottoes and ancient villas, fine Neapolitan cuisine and the outstanding natural beauty of its scenery.

Venice, Italy

Venice & islands

Venice, on the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy, is a floating treasure-trove containing more works of artistic and historical significance per square metre than any other city in the world.

See all places

What to do in Italy

Colosseum, Rome

History and Culture

Italy is a treasure trove of Mediterranean history and culture; a country of crumbling ruins and gilded palazzos; of revered artworks and religious seats. Explore Italy's history and culture holidays here.

Vineyard in Piedmont, Italy

Food & Wine Holidays

If you're seeking a holiday to tantalise your tastebuds, Italy should be on your radar. In fact, eating is one of the greatest pleasures of being there.

Road through the tuscan countryside

Self-drives

Italy is the home of the European self-drive, its scenic interior and coastal beauty best seen at your own pace. From the rolling Tuscan countryside to Sicily's charming backcountry, the open road awaits.

See all experiences

When to go to Italy

Florence, Tuscany & Umbria
Average temperature (℃)
Average rainfall (mm)
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Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

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Max temp Min temp Rainfall

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Italy is between April and June or September and October. These shoulder seasons avoid the crowds along with the worst of the heat – Sicily has been known to reach the mid forties. In fact, given its favourable latitude, you can expect favourable temperatures year round with southern waters warm enough to swim even outside the May to September period. That said, winter will see snowfall in the north, with ski resorts opening up.

See regional weather

Italy articles

  • Vivosa Apulia Resort

    Just back from: Salento & Vivosa Apulia Resort

    Having recently returned from Vivosa Apulia Resort in southern Puglia, Wexas Travel's Norire Arakelyan shares his experience of this all-inclusive eco-resort in a lesser-known part of Italy.

  • A cultural guide to Italy

    The art, music, food and festivals that have helped make Italy one of the world's most enduring holiday destinations. Read our guide to living the sweet life, and how to make the most of this beautiful country.

  • Rocky Mountaineer

    The world’s best journeys by rail

    Travel in style with the ultimate collection of train journeys, chosen by our rail experts reporting back from the tracks. There’s everything from such old favourites as the Orient Express to new classics as Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer.

  • Venice, Italy

    Just back from: Cruising Italy on the S.S. La Venezia

    Wexas travel’s European specialist Angela Perro spent a week navigating northern Italy’s rivers on board Uniworld’s elegant S.S. La Venezia. Here she details how her most recent adventure changed her perspective on this incredible region.

See all articles

Meet our Italy experts

Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7590 0796

Meet the team

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0796 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

Expert advice & support

Visit us in our London office

Let our travel specialists curate the perfect holiday:

  • Inspirational ideas based on experience
  • Established for over 50 years
  • Tailor a holiday to your precise requirements
  • Personalised quotes and documentation

Every step of the way

Every step of the way

Our services are with you from start to finish:

  • Dedicated personal consultants
  • Free airport lounges on qualifying bookings
  • Care and guidance pre, post and during holiday
  • Full financial security: ABTA & ATOL protected