Italy Holidays
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Italian
Italy holds more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country — 58 at last count — and several of the most visited are free to walk around, including the historic centres of Florence, Siena, and the Cinque Terre villages.
No other country in the Mediterranean offers this range within a single trip — Alpine lakes, Baroque cities, volcanic islands, and sandy coastline are all accessible without a connecting flight.
The ragù in Bologna tastes nothing like the ragù in Naples. Each region protects its own dishes and its own pace at the table — and that specificity rewards travellers who pay attention.
Flights to Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples operate from Dublin, Cork, and Shannon throughout the season, which keeps transfer times manageable and allows split itineraries without backtracking.
The Amalfi Coast delivers drama and clifftop villages. Sardinia gives you white sand and Caribbean-clear water. Sicily offers a wilder, less-packaged alternative. The Adriatic coast suits families wanting calm water without the price tag of the west.
Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice each deliver a full three-night break without any need to hire a car — which makes Italy one of the few destinations where a long weekend feels genuinely satisfying rather than rushed.
The range of italy holiday destinations is wider than most people realise — and choosing the right one for your group makes an enormous difference to the trip.
Rome: Two thousand years of history within walking distance of each other — the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican, and the Pantheon all sit within a compact centre. A Rome holiday of four nights covers the essentials without feeling rushed; longer stays reward those who venture into Trastevere and Testaccio.
Lake Garda: Italy's largest lake runs 52 km north to south, with southern shores calm and family-friendly and the northern end reliably popular with windsurfers and kite sailors. Lake Garda holidays suit a wide range of travellers, from families based in Sirmione to active couples using Riva del Garda for cycling and hiking.
Sicily: The island is larger than most first-time visitors expect — roughly 300 km across — and rewards a longer stay. Greek temples at Agrigento, Baroque towns around the Val di Noto, and the active slopes of Mount Etna sit within reach of the eastern coast. A Sicily holiday of ten nights gives a proper introduction.
Lake Como: Consistently among Italy's most requested destinations, Como combines genuine Alpine scenery with some of the country's most elegant waterfront properties. Lake Como holidays work best from late April to October; the lake itself never loses its appeal, though July and August are the busiest.
Venice: The crowds concentrate on a small area around San Marco and the Rialto — and the quieter sestieri of Cannaregio and Dorsoduro offer the same architecture with a fraction of the foot traffic. Venice holidays of three to four nights hit the sweet spot, particularly in shoulder season.
Sorrento sits on a clifftop above the Bay of Naples and divides opinion — it is genuinely lovely and genuinely busy in August. The honest advice on Sorrento holidays is to treat it as an access base: the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and the island of Ischia are all within an hour, making it one of the most practically useful bases in southern Italy.
Naples is the city most first-time visitors underestimate. The historic centre is UNESCO-listed, the National Archaeological Museum holds the finest collection of Roman artefacts outside Rome, and the street food — particularly the fried pizza and sfogliatella — is worth the trip independently. Naples holidays suit travellers who are comfortable with a city that is unpolished and entirely itself.
Genoa is Italy's largest port city and one of its least-visited by international tourists. The caruggi — the medieval alleyways of the old port — run for kilometres and contain some of the finest Renaissance palazzi in northern Italy. Genoa holidays work well as a base for the Ligurian Riviera, with Portofino 35 km east and the Cinque Terre an hour by train
Between the major cities, the coastal parks, and the hill towns, the activity list for Italy runs long — the challenge is choosing.
The Vatican and Sistine Chapel: Book timed entry well in advance — walk-up queues reach three hours in high season. The Sistine Chapel ceiling remains the thing most visitors say they wished they had allowed more time for.
Cinque Terre coastal walking: Five clifftop villages connected by a trail above the Ligurian Sea. The most-walked section runs between Vernazza and Corniglia — around an hour and a half at a comfortable pace. Trains link all five villages for those who prefer not to walk.
Amalfi Coast by road and sea: The SS163 coast road between Sorrento and Salerno is one of the most photographed drives in Europe. A boat from Positano to Amalfi gives the same views without the hairpin bends, and is worth doing at least one direction.
Pompeii and Herculaneum: Both sit on the same train line south of Naples and combine in a single day. Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved, and quieter — worth prioritising if time is tight.
Hill towns and wine country: Tuscany holidays built around a Florentine base give easy access to Chianti wine country, the medieval towers of San Gimignano, and Montepulciano by hire car — a very different Italy from the coastal resorts, and one that rewards slower travel.
Explore Pesaro – Stroll through the historic centre, relax on the Adriatic beaches, and visit the birthplace of Rossini. Pesaro holidays offer great value and a quieter seaside escape than nearby Rimini.
Unwind on Ischia – Soak in the island's natural thermal springs, unwind on scenic beaches, and enjoy its laid-back atmosphere. Ischia holidays are perfect for travellers seeking a peaceful alternative to the busier Capri.
Relax in Montecatini – Unwind in the town's historic thermal baths, which have welcomed visitors since the 18th century, and use it as a peaceful base for exploring Tuscany. Montecatini holidays offers an authentic experience away from the crowds of Florence.
May, June, and September are the months most of our customers return recommending. Temperatures sit between 22°C and 28°C, attractions are open, and the crowds are manageable. July and August suit beach holidays in Sardinia and Sicily well, but make city sightseeing in Rome and Florence uncomfortable in the afternoon heat. October remains excellent for the lakes and Tuscany.
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Rome, Italy
From €482
€299per person
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