Italy

Italy is easiest to plan by train. Frecciarossa and Italo high-speed services connect Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice and Milan, with Rome to Florence taking about an hour and a half, so a first trip can cover three cities without ever renting a car.

Our Italy guides start in the south with a five day Amalfi Coast itinerary by ferry and bus, and a guide to getting from Rome to the Amalfi Coast by train, ferry, bus or car. There are also guides to the Naples to Capri ferries, the best things to do in Positano and the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast, month by month.

For the cities, start with our three day Rome itinerary and the guide to where to stay in Rome, which compares seven areas by walking distance and metro access. Further north, where to stay in Florence covers the historic centre, the Oltrarno and the limited traffic zone. Venice and Cinque Terre will follow, with the same focus on where to stay, getting around and avoiding the worst crowds.