Christmas Holidays to Italy
Rome's Colosseum opened in AD 80 and still stands beside the Roman Forum, so ancient history sits within walking distance of your hotel.
A single stay can pair the canals of Venice with the shores of Lake Garda or Lake Como, or swap pastel Amalfi villages for Sicily's beaches and Mount Etna.
Pizza began in Naples, carbonara is a Roman classic and tagliatelle al ragu belongs to Bologna, so every region gives you a different reason to book a table.
High-speed trains link Rome, Naples, Bologna, Milan and Venice and are usually quicker than driving, so a two-city trip works without a hire car.
Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, Maggiore is quieter than Garda or Como, and the Alps and Dolomites bring snow in winter.
Sardinia has some of Italy's clearest water, while Sicily and Puglia add sandy beaches and rocky coves, so a few days by the sea fit into almost any trip.
Start with these six bases and you cover most of what Irish holidaymakers ask us for, from capital-city sightseeing to lake views and island coastline.
The capital: Rome puts the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon in one walkable city, with Vatican City, an independent state, inside its boundaries. A February mid-term break to Italy suits the capital well, because the big sights are easier to cover in cooler weather. Vatican City alone can fill a morning, so give it its own day rather than squeezing it between other sights.
City on water: Venice is built across a lagoon on more than 100 small islands, so canals replace roads and the vaporetto water buses are your main transport. St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and the Grand Canal are the headline sights, and a night or two lets you see the city after the day-trippers leave.
Southern gateway: Naples is the biggest city in the south, known for its historic centre, Neapolitan pizza and the National Archaeological Museum, and it is the gateway to Pompeii, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Expect it to be lively and loud, and keep an eye on your bag in crowds. The Circumvesuviana train runs from the city to Pompeii and Sorrento.
Coastal villages: The Amalfi Coast has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, with clifftop villages such as Positano and Amalfi reached by a winding coastal road or by ferry in season. Anyone weighing luxury holidays to Italy tends to compare these villages with Sorrento, the usual base at the western end. Ferries run in season, so check timetables before you build a day around a boat.
Water and peaks: Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, with Sirmione, Desenzano and Riva del Garda along its shores, and it combines beaches, boat trips, mountain scenery and family attractions. Those planning summer holidays to Italy should note that July and August are the busiest months, so ask us about May, June or September too. Verona is roughly 30 km from the southern shore, which suits a day trip.
Temples and volcano: Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, with Greek temples, Baroque towns, beaches and Mount Etna within reach. Taormina, Palermo, Syracuse and Cefalu are popular bases, while the Valley of the Temples near Agrigento is a UNESCO site. Allow several days if you want to see more than one of those bases.
From ancient arenas to volcano slopes, seven experiences give an Italian trip its shape, and most of them can be booked before you travel.
Gladiator-era Rome: The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built and shares one timed ticket with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Anyone planning a St Patrick's Day to Italy break should book a slot ahead, because availability tightens around Irish holidays, and booking ahead also lets you pick the cooler part of the day.
Michelangelo's ceiling: The Vatican Museums end in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512, and St Peter's Basilica is next door. Both need covered shoulders and knees, so pack a light scarf. Allow a few hours inside, and plan lunch afterwards rather than during the visit.
Rainy-day museum: Finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, including mosaics and wall paintings, fill the Naples National Archaeological Museum alongside the Farnese collection of classical sculpture. It is a good wet-weather stop on a Naples stay, and it combines well with a walk through the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Water-bus ride: A vaporetto along the Grand Canal passes palaces and the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge across it, for the price of a public transport ticket, while gondola rides are a pricier private alternative. Vaporetto line 1 stops along the canal, which makes it a useful first look at the city before you choose where to go.
Ancient ash town: Pompeii was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Families planning Easter holidays to Italy can visit as a day trip from Naples or Sorrento, and the Circumvesuviana train runs from Naples. The site rewards a full morning, so start early.
Villa-spotting afternoon: Public ferries and private boats link Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, showing the lakeside villas and mountain backdrop from the water, which makes the lake simple to explore on solo holidays to Italy without a car. Bellagio sits where the lake's three arms meet.
Volcano day out: Guided excursions go up Mount Etna's slopes by cable car, 4x4 and on foot, subject to current volcanic activity. Etna is among the world's most active volcanoes, so access to the higher craters depends on activity levels on the day, and booking ahead helps because plans can change at short notice.
Not really. December is cool to cold, with rain in the cities and snow in the Alps and Dolomites, and the beach season is closed. Sicily and the far south are milder, but still not beach weather. We suggest city breaks, spas and mountain stays.
Check out some of our most popular Italy destinations and holiday types
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