I spent a month backpacking through Italy, traveling from north to south and exploring a mix of cities, coastal towns, and island destinations. From fast-paced city breaks to slow coastal days in Sicily, Italy completely changed how I experience travel.
This Italy Travel Guide brings together everything I’ve learned along the way, full city guides, regional overviews, personal ratings, photo spots, and hidden gems. It’s a mix of practical tips and real experiences to help you explore Italy beyond the usual highlights.
Still wondering if Italy is actually worth visiting? Read my honest take on what I love, what I don’t, and whether I think Italy is worth the trip.
Explore Italy by Region
Planning your Italy trip
Best Time to Visit Italy: When to Go for Good Weather & Fewer Crowds
So, when is the best time to visit Italy? After travelling around Italy in different seasons, I’d choose spring or early autumn for the best…
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How Many Days in Italy Do You Need? My Honest Itinerary
Wondering how many days you need in Italy? Find realistic itineraries for 7 days, 10 days, 2 weeks and 3 weeks, plus how long to…
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How to Travel Around Italy: Trains, Buses, Cars & More
Learn how to get to Italy and travel around the country by train, FlixBus, car or plane, with practical tips for booking transport and exploring…
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Italy Backpacking Budget: How Much Does It Cost?
Wondering how much it costs to backpack Italy? Here’s my realistic Italy backpacking budget, with tips for saving money on hostels, food, transport, activities and…
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Italy Packing List: What to Pack for Every Season
Planning a trip to Italy? This Italy packing list covers what to pack for summer, winter, spring and autumn, plus practical tips on clothes, shoes,…
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Hostels in Italy Ranked: My Honest Backpacker Ranking
I’ve stayed in a lot of hostels around Italy, from social Ostello Bello locations to quiet stays and a few I definitely wouldn’t book again.…
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Not sure where to go in Italy?
I’ve travelled around quite a few Italian destinations, and not every place was equally my vibe. From my absolute favourite, Rome, to Sicily, Florence, the Italian lakes and the places I liked a little less, here are my honest ratings and experiences to help you decide where to go next.
Best Places to Visit in Italy: My Honest Ratings of 11 Destinations
Wondering where to go in Italy? These are my honest ratings of 11 Italian destinations, based on my own experiences travelling around Italy.
Italian City Guides
Want to dive deeper into each destination? Check out my Italy city guides for detailed tips, local favourites, the best things to do, where to eat, where to stay, and everything you need to know before your trip.
Safety in Italy
My honest experience as a solo female traveller in Italy.
Is Italy Safe? My Honest Experience Travelling Around Italy
Is Italy safe? I share my honest experiences travelling around Italy, including safety in Rome, Verona, Sicily, Milan, Lake Como and more, plus practical tips for solo travellers.
Italy City Comparisons
Rome vs Florence: Which Should You Visit?
Rome vs Florence? I’ve visited both and honestly love them for completely different reasons. Here’s how I’d choose between Italy’s two iconic cities.
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Milan vs Rome: Which City Should You Visit? (2026)
Milan vs Rome? I’ve visited both and had very different experiences. Here’s my honest comparison of prices, sights, food, nightlife, crowds and atmosphere.
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Milan vs Turin: Which City Should You Visit?
Milan vs Turin? I’ve visited Milan three times and Turin surprised me completely. Here’s my honest comparison of prices, sights, nightlife, crowds and atmosphere.
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Florence vs Verona: Which City Should You Visit? (2026)
Florence or Verona? I visited both while travelling through Northern Italy. Here’s my honest comparison of history, beauty, things to do, nightlife, crowds and how long I’d stay in each.
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Florence vs Venice: Which City Should You Visit? (2026)
Florence or Venice? I’ve visited both Northern Italian cities, and this is a surprisingly difficult choice for me. Here’s my honest comparison of history, beauty, crowds, prices, things to do…
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Genoa vs Turin: Which City Should You Visit? (2026)
Genoa vs Turin is a difficult choice. I loved both for completely different reasons: Turin for its underrated city-trip vibes and Genoa for the sea, beaches, boat trips and Ligurian…
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Lake Como vs Lake Maggiore: Which Lake Should You Visit? (2026)
Lake Como or Lake Maggiore? I visited both Italian lakes and, honestly, Lake Como was my favourite. But Lake Maggiore has some big advantages if you want a quieter trip…
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Venice vs Verona: Which City Should You Visit? (2026)
Venice or Verona? I visited both during my Northern Italy travels and, honestly, I preferred Venice. But that doesn’t mean Verona isn’t worth visiting. Here’s my honest comparison of crowds,…
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Explore Italy
Malta vs Sicily: Which Should You Visit? My Honest Comparison
Malta vs Sicily? I’ve travelled to both and compared them based on my own experience, from solo travel and safety to beaches, food, transport and atmosphere.
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Palermo vs Taormina: Which Should You Visit?
Palermo vs Taormina? Compare the two very different Sicily destinations based on my own trip, including things to do, beaches, nightlife, prices, transport and atmosphere.
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10 Best Things to Do in Taormina, Sicily
Looking for the best things to do in Taormina? Discover 10 places and experiences I loved, from Isola Bella and the Ancient Theatre to Castelmola sunset and Giardini Naxos.
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Why Travel Italy Like This
Backpacking through Italy made me realize how different each region really is. The north feels structured and polished, while the south is more chaotic, warm, and expressive. Both are worth experiencing, but in completely different ways.
This Italy Travel Guide is built from real travel experience, not just highlights, but also small moments, hidden places, and local recommendations discovered along the way.
Final Note
Whether you’re planning a full backpacking trip or just exploring one city at a time, these Italy travel guides are meant to help you travel more intentionally and discover places beyond the obvious tourist paths.
