Italy holidays

It’s not all urban life in the north, though. This is dreamy lake country, too, and Lake Garda and Lake Como are the big names. Garda’s the largest and is all about pretty lakeside villages, medieval castles and fresh limoncello straight from Limone’s citrus groves. If boujie waterfront villas and celeb-spotting sound like a bit of you, Como is all yours – George Clooney is a big fan. Then there’s also Lake Maggiore and Lake Molveno, two smaller spots perfect for swerving the crowds. The mega mountain backdrop makes this part of Italy extra beaut, and you can easily daytrip into the Dolomites from here for alpine hikes or even some skiing if there’s snow.

Postcard coastlines

Campania’s the Italy you see in retro Audrey Hepburn films. We’re talking the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and super chic Capri. Expect Insta-ready cliffside villages, pastel buildings and sweet sandy bays lined with stripey parasols and fishing boats. Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius are right there for a bit of culture, and towns like Positano and Amalfi have been given UNESCO status. Further south, Calabria and Puglia move at a much slower pace. The lifestyle’s a lot more laidback down here – spend mornings visiting Baroque towns followed by a wholesome beachy afternoon and seafood as fresh as it gets for dinner.

Sardinia and Sicily

Look on a map and Sicily’s the island being kicked by the boot. It’s only a short ferry ride away from the mainland, but it’s got its own vibe. There’s a real combo of cultures – you’ve got Greek temples and Roman villas next to Norman cathedrals, and Palermo – the capital – has a mix of architecture from the Med and a North African aesthetic. The beaches are some of the best, too – Cefalu’s sandy stretch is a stunner and Pozzallo is home to half of the islands Blue Flag sweeps.

You’ll find Italy’s finest beaches further south on Sardinia, though. They’ve been compared to ones you’d expect to see in the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands – Costa Smeralda is even known as ‘little Tahiti’. The locals are super proud and it’s easy to see why they call themselves Sardinian rather than Italian – they’ve even got their own language, AKA Sardo. You’ll still hear Italian, but places like Alghero have a huge Catalan influence after being ruled by the Spanish for 400 years. It’s been given the nickname Barceloneta, so don’t be surprised if you see tapas and sangria sat alongside pizza and Aperol spritz on the menus.

Fancy seeing Italy by train?

We also offer flight-free trips to Italy, in partnership with Byway. Relax en route to Italy’s picturesque lakes, or stop on a city break to the fashion capital of the world, Milan. Browse flight-free trips to Italy >

Get a free first class rail upgrade on Byway trips departing between September 2025 and April 2026 when you book on or before the 25th June 2025. T&Cs apply.