Destination Guide
Italy in 2026: itineraries, the best time to visit, and the practical bits
Updated May 2026
Italy’s tourist tax is real, the Colosseum tickets sell out, and the train from Rome to Florence is faster than driving. Below: everything we know about timing, planning, and not falling for the things that turn a great trip into a bad one.
The essentials
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October. Avoid August in cities — locals are gone, prices are up. |
| Need to book ahead | Vatican Museums, Uffizi, Last Supper, Colosseum — book 60 days out for peak season. |
| Costs | Mid-range trip runs €120–€180/day per person inclusive of trains, food, and museums. |
| Train passes | Trenitalia point-to-point usually beats Eurail for most Italy itineraries. |
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