Italy

Timeless art, cuisine, and history — from Renaissance cities to rolling countryside, a dream for culture-loving expats.

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Traveler Snapshot: Italy

A quick reference for planning your trip: visas, weather, health, and the essentials.

Visa & Entry

For US passport holders

Schengen^*: 90 days visa-free within 180 days for US, UK, Canada, Australia. ETIAS expected.

^* Schengen Area: a group of 29 European countries that share one border-free travel zone. US passport holders can visit the whole area visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and that limit is shared across all Schengen countries (not counted separately per country).

Weather & Climate

Mediterranean south, continental north. Hot summers 86°F+ (30°C+), cool wet winters; Alpine areas get snow.

Best Time to Visit

April–June and September–October for pleasant weather and lighter crowds.

Health & Vaccinations

No special vaccines required. Routine vaccinations recommended.

Safety

Very safe. Pickpocketing and scams around major attractions in Rome, Florence, Naples.

Fast Facts

Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro (EUR, €)
Languages: Italian (English in tourist hubs)
Time zone: CET (UTC+1), summer UTC+2
Power: Type C/F/L plugs, 230V
Emergency: 112

Visa and entry notes here are written for US passport holders on typical short-stay tourism. Requirements vary by nationality, so if you hold a different passport your rules may differ. Guidance can change frequently. Always confirm current requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or a licensed travel-health provider before you travel.

Top Destinations in Italy

6 featured cities to explore

Featured

Florence

Renaissance art capital

1-bed rent from $800/mo

Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild wet winters.

Safety: High Safety

Explore Florence

Featured

Rome

The Eternal City, where ancient ruins, Renaissance art, and everyday Italian life share the same sun-warmed streets.

1-bed rent from $1100/mo

Rome has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Spring and autumn are long and pleasant, making them ideal for exploring on foot.

Safety: Generally Safe

Explore Rome

Featured

Venice

A car-free city of canals and courtyards where daily life still moves by boat and on foot.

1-bed rent from $900/mo

Venice has a humid subtropical climate with warm, muggy summers and cold, damp winters. Autumn and winter bring acqua alta, periodic high tides that flood low-lying squares and walkways, though the MOSE flood barriers now hold back the most extreme events.

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Venice

Lecce

The Florence of the south, carved in golden Baroque limestone

1-bed rent from $400/mo

Mediterranean with hot dry summers and mild wet winters

Safety: Very Safe

Explore Lecce

Milan

Italy's business and design capital, where fashion, finance, and aperitivo culture meet the best rail access in the country.

1-bed rent from $1250/mo

Milan has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers, cold, foggy, damp winters, and pleasant spring and autumn months. Air quality dips in winter when the Po Valley traps pollution.

Safety: Generally Safe

Explore Milan

Naples

Southern Italy's raw, operatic capital, with the best food in the country and the lowest big-city costs.

1-bed rent from $600/mo

Naples has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Sea breezes moderate the summer heat along the coast, while the upper districts of Vomero stay noticeably cooler than the centre.

Safety: Use Normal Caution

Explore Naples

Scenic Routes

Iconic drives in Italy

Legendary road trips worth building a trip around, with tolls, timing, and the stops that make them special.

All scenic routes

Europe

Challenging

Amalfi Coast Drive (SS163)

The Strada Statale 163 threads a narrow cliff ledge above the Tyrrhenian Sea, linking pastel towns like Positano and Amalfi below the Sorrentine peninsula.

31 mi3 daysTolls apply

View route guide

Europe

Challenging

Stelvio Pass

One of the highest paved passes in the Alps, the Stelvio stacks 48 numbered hairpin bends up to 2,758 m, a legendary drive between Lombardy and South Tyrol.

Chianti Wine Road (SR222)

The Chiantigiana (SR222) rolls through the heart of Tuscany between Florence and Siena, past cypress-lined lanes, hilltop wine towns, and endless vineyards and olive groves.

43 mi2 daysToll-free

View route guide