Welcome to Italy

Italy post-pandemic
Some international visitors are unable to visit Italy right now, and others will be cautious of the potential complications and risks of travel. We are living in difficult and constantly-shifting times. For Italy, which suffered badly at the onset of the pandemic, and which has an economy heavily reliant on tourism (13% of GDP in 2019), the repercussions will be felt for a long time. For those of us who work in the travel industry, the situation has been close to desperate. The good news since 2020 is that travellers have been returning to Italian destinations, and while the pattern of tourism is different, some places have been seeing crowds over the last couple of summers - first Italy's domestic holidaymakers returned, and then visitors from other European countries and further afield. Travellers have been finding a warm welcome, some changes and some things reassuringly the same.

Those of us who are thankful to be travelling again, and those Italy-lovers considering a return will be considering new ways of travel. Maybe extended trips or visits to favourite Italian places will make up for what we have missed. Flying less often but staying longer is one way of lightening your environmental impact and minimising the complications and formalities of cross-border journeys and variations in Covid rules. It's more important than ever now to read the latest advice, check you have good travel insurance cover, and make sure that bookings are refundable. As time goes on we're all nearer to our next low-stress spring or summer holiday in Italy.
> Sunny Venice without the crowds, August 2020
> Flying in a time of Covid

Supporting this website

Have you found this website helpful over the years? When you next travel to Italy (or anywhere else in the world), please could you consider helping out Italy Heaven by making your accommodation bookings through the links on this site? For each booking, Booking.com will pay a small commission that helps to keep this website online. They offer a vast selection of hotels, B&Bs, villas and apartments, along with useful, genuine guest reviews, and provide an extra layer of confidence when you book. They also have a Price Match guarantee.
> Booking.com in partnership with Italy Heaven

Italy shopping

You can also support the website by shopping at the Italy Heaven Redbubble store where you'll find photographic prints, gifts, masks and slogan T-shirts all celebrating Italy. Redbubble is an international website shipping globally; for every Italy Heaven design purchased, Redbubble pay a percentage to this website.
> Italy Heaven Redbubble store

Italy Heaven

Italy - Bella Italia, the Bel Paese - is a country of extremes, with something to offer every visitor: from snow-iced mountains to hot lazy Mediterranean beaches, from unspoilt hill villages to cities that have bustled for thousands of years. This website is designed to help you plan a holiday in Italy, or to research Italian vacation options.

Italy travel forums on the internet are full of overwhelmed travellers asking 'I have two weeks in Italy, what should I see?' Responses range from: 'Everything: do Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome then Naples,' to 'Spend a fortnight in Tuscany'. The best answer, of course, is to do what suits you. Some people want to squeeze in as much as possible for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Others prefer to explore a culture at a slower pace. On Italy Heaven you can look around, and consider what your dream holiday might be. Learn more about selected destinations, and read advice on travel in Italy to make your stay easier, more fulfilling or more fun.

Nowadays planning your own holiday is a viable and economical alternative to booking a package. It's easy to organise your own journey and book online, and Italy Heaven offers you practical tips and assistance, from advice on choosing a hotel to suggested Italy travel itineraries.

Featured articles > Italy travel itineraries - ideas for a touring holiday > Hotels in Italy - how to choose a hotel > Italy airports - directory of destinations > Hot weather in Italy - how to cope in the heat > Italian beaches - general advice

Italian cities

Italy is a dream destination for city breaks, with three of the world's most beautiful cities: Rome, where antiquities bask in the sunshine in a colourful and lively metropolis, Florence, probably the art capital of the world, and unique Venice. Those in search of culture or vibrant modernity may prefer the charms of fashionable Milan or stately Turin, while the intrepid can dive into the colourful chaos of historic Naples.

Italy off the beaten track

As well as all the famous sights, this website also specialises in the less well-known treasures of Italy. Away from the famous cities, the Italian destinations featured on Italy Heaven include attractive villages, lakes and islands that are off the main tourist trail, like cave-town Matera, the unique volcanic Aeolian islands, lovely, little-known Lake Iseo and the ancient Greek city of Syracuse (modern Siracusa) in Sicily. You'll also find suggestions for interesting excursions in the overlooked area around Rome, with recommended daytrips including unusual spots like the cave of an emperor at Sperlonga and Terracina's temple above the sea?
> Italy off the beaten track

More about Italy

Italy Heaven has a blog for the latest website news, Italy stories, and random thoughts and anecdotes. Visit and comment at http://italyheaven.blogspot.com. You can also follow Italy Heaven on Facebook and Instagram for holiday ideas and photos from Italy.

More about Italy Heaven.