Things to do and where to stay in Italy
Where to stay · Italy

Italy — find the right stay, from deciding to booking

“Eternal Rome, romantic Venice, and world-class food”

Italy is the greatest open-air museum on earth — the Colosseum and the Vatican in Rome, the canals of Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Renaissance art in Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany, all paired with the original pizza, pasta, and gelato that taste wonderful in every town.

🏛️ColosseumVatican🛶Venice🗼Leaning Tower of Pisa🌊Amalfi🍕Pizza
13Cities reviewed
13Ranked guides
120Hotels reviewed
11Sights · dishes
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · 📅 Updated 2026 · based on real reviews · 3-site price comparison · affiliate links openly disclosed How we review →

Italy at a glance

💶
CurrencyEuro (EUR)
🔌
Power plugType C/F/L · 230V
🚄
Getting aroundHigh-speed rail · metro · vaporetto
🗣️
LanguageItalian (English workable in tourist cities)

Choose a city in Italy

Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.

1

Decide — is Italy right for you?

Why people love Italy, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you

🏛️

Roman history

The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon — walk streets that are 2,000 years old.

🎨

Renaissance art

Michelangelo's David in Florence and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

🛶

Romantic Venice

Canals and gondolas, and St. Mark's Square — the one and only floating city.

🌊

Gorgeous coastlines

Amalfi and Cinque Terre — colorful villages clinging to seaside cliffs.

🍝

Authentic food

Neapolitan pizza, pasta, gelato, and real espresso.

Italy vs its neighbors

ItalyFranceSpain
Daily budget (per person)$65–115$70–130$50–100
Visa (Thai passport)SchengenSchengenSchengen
Getting around citiesTrenitalia trains + metro · walkable old quartersTGV trains + Paris metro is excellentAVE trains + metro · Barcelona is convenient
EnglishWorkable in tourist areas, less so in the countrysideLimited except in tourist areasWorkable · the younger crowd is good
Known forHistory · food · artFashion · wine · ParisBeaches · architecture · value

Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.

2

Plan — stay, eat, see

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.

Signature dishes across Italy

  1. 1🍕

    Pizza Napoletana

    Puffy-crust pizza from a wood-fired oven — the original Margherita.

    📍 Naples
  2. 2🍝

    Pasta

    Roman carbonara, Emilian bolognese — every region has its standout recipe.

    📍 Nationwide
  3. 3🍨

    Gelato

    Silky Italian ice cream — pick a genuine artigianale shop.

    📍 Nationwide
  4. 4

    Espresso

    Strong coffee taken standing at the bar; cappuccino is a morning-only drink.

    📍 Nationwide
  5. 5🧀

    Parma ham & cheese

    Authentic prosciutto and Parmesan from Parma.

    📍 Emilia

Top sights across Italy

  1. 1🏛️

    Rome

    The Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and Vatican City.

    📍 Lazio
  2. 2🛶

    Venice

    Canals, gondolas, and St. Mark's Square — a romantic city on the water.

    📍 Veneto
  3. 3🎨

    Florence

    The cradle of the Renaissance, the Duomo cathedral, and the Uffizi Gallery.

    📍 Tuscany
  4. 4🗼

    Pisa

    The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in the Square of Miracles.

    📍 Tuscany
  5. 5🌊

    Amalfi Coast

    Positano and the cliffside villages along the Mediterranean.

    📍 Campania
  6. 6🏘️

    Cinque Terre

    Five candy-colored cliffside villages with trails along the sea.

    📍 Liguria

🚆 Getting around Italy

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High-speed rail

Frecciarossa/Italo link Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan fast — book ahead for cheaper fares.

🚇

City transit

Metros, trams, and buses run in the big cities — always validate your ticket before boarding.

🛶

Vaporetto

The water buses in Venice run along the canals and to nearby islands.

🚗

Beware the ZTL

Old-town ZTL restricted zones fine you for driving in — park outside the zone and walk.

🛂 Etiquette & culture in Italy

🇪🇺

Schengen/euro

Italy is in the Schengen area and uses the euro.

Church dress code

Cathedrals and the Vatican require covered shoulders and knees — carry a shawl.

🛂

Schengen visa

Thai travelers must obtain a Schengen visa in advance.

🕐

Afternoon break

Many small shops close in the afternoon (riposo), and dinner starts around 7:30 pm.

💸 Daily budget — a rough guide

🎒

Budget

$45–65/ day / person

🛏️ Hostel / B&B $20–35

Grab lunch from market shops and ride Trenitalia at Early Bird prices booked in advance.

🧳

Comfortable

$85–145/ day / person

🛏️ Central 3–4★ hotel $50–100

Mix local restaurants with markets, and buy museum tickets online ahead to skip the queues.

Premium

$200+/ day / person

🛏️ Luxury / heritage boutique hotel $145+

Stay at a Tuscan villa, take a Venice gondola ride, and book a private Vatican Museums tour.

🗓️ When to visit Italy

🌸

Spring

Apr – Jun

Pleasant weather and flowers in bloom — the best time to travel.

☀️

Summer

Jul – Aug

Very hot and crowded, especially in August when locals take their long holiday.

🍇

Autumn

Sep – Oct

Cool, comfortable weather, grape-harvest season, and fewer crowds — excellent for traveling.

🎄

Winter

Nov – Feb

Cold and quiet, great for cities and museums, with skiing in the north.

3

Book — hotels our team picked

Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Italy — compare prices across 3 sites.

Grand Hotel Vesuvio★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip

Grand Hotel Vesuvio

From ~$474

See the full ranked review →
Relais Luce Florence★ 9.5💑 Great for your trip

Relais Luce Florence

From ~$1,114,500

See the full ranked review →
Violino d'Oro Venezia★ 9.5💑 Great for your trip

Violino d'Oro Venezia

From ~$11,428,886

See the full ranked review →

Want to see every option in Italy?

Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.

View the top city guide →

FAQ — visiting Italy

How many days do I need in Italy?+

8–10 days is about right for Rome, Florence, and Venice (the three classics); add 3–4 days for the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre.

Which Italian city should I visit first?+

For a first trip we suggest the classic triangle: Rome (history) – Florence (art) – Venice (romance), linked by high-speed rail.

Do Thai travelers need a visa?+

Yes, you need a Schengen visa in advance, which lets you visit several European countries within the same zone.

Tips before you go to Italy

  1. Apply for a Schengen visa in advance
  2. Book high-speed rail and the Colosseum/Uffizi online ahead of time
  3. Validate your train/bus ticket before boarding or you'll be fined
  4. Watch for the ZTL if you rent a car, and pickpockets at tourist hotspots

Explore more

🏨 Our top hotels in Italy Compare 3 sites →