Country guide

Walking tours in Italy

Italy is where three thousand years of stone, art, and food sit side by side, and where a morning train moves you from an imperial arena to a Renaissance dome to a city built on water. Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan are the covered cities on Wayside, each with walking tours that get you past the ticket lines and into the streets. Rome carries the ancient and Baroque center; Florence carries the Duomo, Michelangelo's David and the Oltrarno workshops; Venice carries San Marco, the Rialto and the quieter canals; Milan carries the Duomo, Leonardo's Last Supper, and the Navigli canals. This page routes all four by high-speed rail, northbound, so you can walk the best of Italy without renting a car.

Photo by Ananthan Loggi on Unsplash

When to go

When is the best time to visit Italy?

Spring

Months: March to May
Weather: April runs about 14 to 18°C in central and northern Italy, and May warms to 20 to 24°C across much of the country.SourceLove Italy
Crowds: Shoulder season: crowds are moderate, but book hotels well ahead around Easter, when Italians travel and prices spike.

Summer

Months: June to August
Weather: July and August are the hottest months, with Rome and Florence regularly reaching 35°C and inland Sicily up to 40°C; the south averages 17.2 to 29.6°C across the summer.SourceLove Italy Italia.it
Crowds: Peak season with the biggest crowds and highest prices; Ferragosto on 15 August empties the cities and shuts many family-run businesses.

Autumn

Months: September to November
Weather: September cools to about 18°C in the north and 22 to 26°C in the south, and October stays around 16 to 22°C.SourceLove Italy
Crowds: Crowds thin sharply after the first week of September; the grape and truffle harvest fills the countryside through October.

Winter

Months: December to February
Weather: Winter averages run about -2.7 to 9.9°C in the north and 5.8 to 14.9°C in the south.SourceItalia.it
Crowds: The quietest season: coastal resorts largely close, while city museums are uncrowded and easy to enter.

When to visit Italy, by season
Season	Months	Weather	Crowds
Spring	March to May	April runs about 14 to 18°C in central and northern Italy, and May warms to 20 to 24°C across much of the country.SourceLove Italy	Shoulder season: crowds are moderate, but book hotels well ahead around Easter, when Italians travel and prices spike.
Summer	June to August	July and August are the hottest months, with Rome and Florence regularly reaching 35°C and inland Sicily up to 40°C; the south averages 17.2 to 29.6°C across the summer.SourceLove Italy Italia.it	Peak season with the biggest crowds and highest prices; Ferragosto on 15 August empties the cities and shuts many family-run businesses.
Autumn	September to November	September cools to about 18°C in the north and 22 to 26°C in the south, and October stays around 16 to 22°C.SourceLove Italy	Crowds thin sharply after the first week of September; the grape and truffle harvest fills the countryside through October.
Winter	December to February	Winter averages run about -2.7 to 9.9°C in the north and 5.8 to 14.9°C in the south.SourceItalia.it	The quietest season: coastal resorts largely close, while city museums are uncrowded and easy to enter.

What you'll see

Highlights across Italy

Cities to explore

Where to walk in Italy

6 tours

FlorenceTuscany, Italy

Questions about visiting

Planning a trip to Italy

Do I need a visa for Italy?

Italy is in the Schengen Area. Most visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism; citizens of many other countries need a Schengen visa before travel. Check your passport validity and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rules for your nationality before booking.

Is Italy expensive?

Italy is mid-priced for Western Europe. A realistic mid-range trip runs about €120 to €220 per person per day, and a budget week can run €900 to €1,200 excluding flights. Venice and central Florence run pricier for hotels; Rome has a wider spread of prices, and southern cities like Naples cost less. Book high-speed rail and big sights early to control the total.

SourceVisitarItalia 2026 budget guideLonely Planet

Which cities should I visit in Italy?

For a first trip, Rome, Florence and Venice are the strongest spine, with Milan as a bookend for flights and Leonardo's Last Supper. This page's route does exactly that, with covered walking tours in all four cities.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

May, June, September and October give the best balance of weather, prices and crowds. July and August are the hottest, busiest and most expensive months, while November to March brings lower prices and quieter museums in most cities.

SourceLonely Planet

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