Pastel-coloured villages perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the azure sea - it's this picture-postcard scenery that makes the Amalfi Coast so special.
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Italy’s appeal lies in its striking variety, offering a range of holiday styles within one country.
You can switch quickly from art-rich cities and historic landmarks to quiet, vine-covered countryside with a slower pace of life.
Landscapes change dramatically across regions, from lakes and volcanic scenery to cliff-edged coastlines.
Local culture varies from place to place, with dialects, traditions and regional dishes shifting as you travel.
Discovering the best regions to visit in Italy is easy with Travelsphere’s Italy tours, from our Italian lakes holidays to our complete range of Italian escorted tours, which offer well-paced itineraries that mix expert-led tours with free time to explore on your own.
Italy is a country of striking variety, which explains why it appeals to travellers who want more than one kind of experience from a single holiday. In one trip, you can move from art-filled cities shaped by emperors and Renaissance masters to quiet, vine-covered hillsides where the loudest sound is cicadas in the heat. You can spend a morning among marble churches and market stalls, then be looking out over glassy lakes, volcanic slopes or cliff-edged coastlines by the afternoon. Even the culture shifts as you go with dialects, traditions and local dishes changing from region to region, so Italy never feels like just one place.
If you’re wondering about the best regions to visit in Italy, it helps to think in terms of what you want most, from big-name sights and museum days, coastline and island life, to countryside landscapes with long lunches and leisurely strolls. And the good news is you don’t have to choose just one ‘type’ of Italy: with a Travelsphere escorted tour, you can enjoy a satisfying mix in a single, well-paced itinerary.
Below, we’ve pulled together 10 of the most rewarding regions of Italy, each one featured on a Travelsphere tour, with what to see and do, what to eat, and what sort of weather you can expect.
Along the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, Campania serves up southern Italy at its most vivid with lemon-scented air, steep terraces stitched with vines, and sunlit towns clinging to cliffs above the sea. On clear days, the horizon is punctuated by Capri’s pale limestone outline, while inland the mood shifts as Vesuvius looms quietly over the Bay of Naples. It’s a region built on contrast, from glamorous coastal viewpoints and island-hopping one day, then the absorbing stillness of the ancient world the next, as you walk the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum or stand among the monumental temples of Paestum.
What to see and do:
Exploring the Amalfi Coast – Hop between Amalfi, Ravello and Positano for terraces, lemon groves, and sea-view walks. An optional excursion on Travelsphere's Amalfi Coast, Pompeii & Capri itinerary takes you to Positano’s steep lanes and pebble beach. Ravello’s gardens and clifftop views are particular favourites.
Sorrento – This cliffside resort town is a delight, with ferries in the harbour, chances to taste limoncello, browse small shops, and enjoy views across the Bay of Naples.
Pompeii and Herculaneum – Walk Roman streets frozen in time, with perfectly preserved workshops, frescoes, and mosaics that offer an intimate window into daily life in ancient times.
Paestum – Three astonishing Doric temples rise from meadows near the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, it’s serene and wonderfully atmospheric.
Capri and Ischia – Capri blends grand villas and cliff paths. You could also spend time on the quieter island of Ischia, known for its gardens and thermal springs.
Food and drink – Expect pizza Napoletana, seafood pastas, gnocchi alla Sorrentina, mozzarella di bufala from the plains, and limoncello that tastes of sunshine and citrus zest. This is a region that eats late, loves its markets, and takes pride in big flavours and local produce.
Weather notes – Spring and early autumn are particularly comfortable for touring, with warm days and fresher evenings. Summer is bright and hot, especially along the coast.
Explore Travelsphere’s Amalfi Coast tour for a guided week-long holiday, or immerse yourself in ancient archaeological sites on the Pompeii, Paestum & Herculaneum with Island of Ischia add-on guided tour.
Discover more highlights of the Amalfi Coast, Italy.
Tuscany is the Italy of terracotta rooftops and cypress-lined roads, but it’s also a place where some of the country’s most famous art was created, and where some of the world’s most popular wines are made and enjoyed daily. Florence set the pace for the Renaissance, while Siena and smaller hill towns show off medieval architecture that feels lived-in rather than museum-like.
What to see and do:
Florence – Enjoy famous Renaissance works by artists like Botticelli and Michelangelo in the city’s galleries, then sit in the shade of the cathedral’s dome in Piazza del Duomo.
Siena – Delivers Gothic beauty, with its shell-shaped main square and quiet, narrow streets.
Pisa – Best known for its Leaning Tower, but it’s worth taking time to admire the rest of the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) and then walking along the River Arno.
Chianti countryside – offers gentle drives past stone farmhouses, with plenty of chances to stop at vineyards for relaxed wine tastings.
Food and drink – The traditional ‘cucina povera’, simple, hearty dishes made from seasonal, local ingredients, is particularly delicious. Look out for ribollita (a hearty Tuscan soup), bistecca alla Fiorentina (for meat-eaters), and bold reds from the Chianti region.
Weather notes – Tuscany is at its best for touring in spring and autumn: warm, clear days that suit city exploration and countryside scenery.
Discover our Treasures of Tuscany & Florence tour and learn more in our guide to Tuscany.
Italy’s largest island is a melting pot of various cultures, including Greek, Roman, Spanish, and Arab-Norman. Its landscapes run from sandy coves to Mount Etna’s black lava flows, offering travellers the chance to explore as well as relax during its warm, breezy summers.
What to see and do:
Palermo and Monreale – Admire intricate Arab-Norman mosaics and wander through street markets scented with panelle and citrus.
Taormina – Overlooking two sweeping bays, Taormina is home to a Greek theatre with the sea and Mount Etna in the frame, elegant lanes and belvederes.
Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples – A ridge of Hellenic Greek columns that glow honey-gold at dusk, and is said to be the site of the largest temple built by the Greeks.
Mount Etna – Ascend Europe’s most active volcano by cable car for expansive views and a chance to walk among old lava fields, with vineyard-lined lower slopes below.
Food and drink – Come hungry! Adventures in Sicily are fuelled by fried arancini (fried rice balls), caponata (a sweet-and-sour aubergine dish), and just-caught oily fish, and meals are finished with ricotta-filled cannoli and fruity Marsala wines.
Weather notes – Sicily runs warmer than much of the mainland. Spring and autumn can be ideal for sightseeing without the height of summer heat.
You can visit these highlights on Travelsphere’s The Best of Sicily escorted tours. If you want to extend your trip, consider our The Best of Sicily with Aeolian Islands add-on tour.
Liguria is a slim arc that cuts between the Alps and the Ligurian Sea, home to sunlit harbours and terraced vines that have inspired painters for decades.
What to see and do:
Portofino – Famous for its petite harbour and smart waterfront, is the ideal spot for a stroll and a slow lunch.
The Cinque Terre – A chain of charming coastal villages that invites you to hop between them by rail and boat, taking in terraces, vineyards and sea views as you go.
Coastal towns and promenades – Settle into the Riviera ritual with a gelato, a bench, and time to watch the world drift past.
Genoa – A large port city, with grand old palaces, busy streets, and plenty of places to try freshly baked focaccia.
Food and drink – Liguria is pesto country, and pesto alla genovese is at its best here, fragrant with basil. You’ll also see plenty of seafood, focaccia, and crisp local whites. Try other local delicacies, including anchovies and farinata, a fried chickpea pancake often dusted with fresh thyme or chilli flakes.
Weather notes – Spring to early autumn are warm and bright during the day, while the refreshing sea tempers the summer heat.
Explore the area on our guided holidays to Portofino.
Italy’s second-largest island, Sardinia, has a distinct identity, shaped by centuries of seafaring history and influences that still linger in its language, architecture and traditions, particularly around Alghero, where Catalan roots remain part of everyday life. Along the coastline, the water shifts through clear shades of turquoise and emerald, while inland, you can explore granite hills, cork oak forests, and wide, open spaces that feel wonderfully unspoilt.
What to see and do:
Emerald Coast – Stunning coastal scenery, marinas, and easy-going seaside days.
Alghero – A handsome town with a character all its own and an inviting old centre for evening strolls.
Local markets and small towns – Perfect for a leisurely browse of local ceramics and regional specialities.
Food and drink – Sardinian cuisine is hearty and unique. Take the opportunity to enjoy al fresco dining on island specialities, such as culurgiones (filled pasta), porcetto (slow-roasted suckling pig), fresh fish and octopus.
Weather notes – Summers are hot and sunny; shoulder seasons can be excellent for a mix of sightseeing and coastal time.
Discover our guided tours to Sardinia to explore the Emerald Coast.
A sparsely populated southern region featuring rugged architecture inspired by the surrounding mountain landscape and forests.
What to see and do:
Matera – Here you’ll find houses and churches carved into the rock in the ancient Sassi districts. With the help of an expert guide, you can learn everything there is to know about these striking dwellings that are unlike anywhere else in Italy. Viewpoints across the ravine reveal Matera’s full, sculptural profile, especially as the light softens.
Murgia plateau – Offers wild scenery, rock churches and big-sky walking trails above the gorge.
Food and drink – Cuisine here leans rustic and local, with a strong link to the land. Expect comforting flavours and simple dishes done well.
Weather notes – Inland areas can feel cooler than the coast in spring and autumn evenings, so layers are useful.
Explore both Basilicata and Puglia in comfort on Travelsphere’s Puglia & Basilicata 8-day guided tour.
Puglia forms the heel of Italy’s boot, with a landscape of ancient olive groves and bright whitewashed towns. Here, ornate Baroque details sit alongside a slower, coastal way of life. There’s a strong sense of regional pride and a warmth in everyday interactions that makes you feel welcome quickly.
What to see and do:
Alberobello – The town is known for its trulli houses, whose conical rooftops look like something from a storybook, but are rooted in local history.
Ostuni – The ‘white city’ is a maze of pale streets that catch the sun and glow in the evening.
Lecce – A city with beautiful Baroque buildings, elaborate church façades and a Roman amphitheatre just below the main square.
Food and drink – Enjoy a taste of Puglian life with orecchiette cime di rapa (a traditional pasta dish made with ear-shaped pasta and tender turnip tops), local olive oil, and seafood along the coast.
Weather notes – Puglia can be hot in summer. Spring and early autumn are often a sweet spot for touring.
Find out about Travelsphere’s Puglia tours to see the best of the region.
From the Adriatic marshes to the Alpine foothills, Veneto encompasses the floating city of Venice, Verona and the approaching Dolomite roads. Throughout this region, its artistic and trade histories are told through palaces and bridges.
What to see and do:
Venice – Explore St Mark’s Square and Basilica, the Doge’s Palace façades, and the Grand Canal.
Lake Garda – Italy’s largest lake boasts elegant lakeside towns, medieval castles and mountain scenery.
Historic towns and villas – Inland, places such as Bassano del Grappa, Marostica, Vicenza, and Padua feature arcaded streets and elegant buildings. Palladian villas and old stone bridges give these towns a distinct character.
Wine country – Veneto is known for its white and red wines, from crisp bottles along the so-called ‘White Wine Road’ to labels from the hills around Bardolino and Soave. Visits to local wineries often combine cellar tours and tastings.
Food and drink – Enjoy a glass of Prosecco with classic Venetian small plates (cicchetti) or a creamy seafood risotto.
Weather notes – Venice can be warm in summer and cooler with misty edges in winter. Spring and autumn in the region are often ideal for sightseeing.
You can explore this region on our A Taste of Italy’s Veneto tour. If you’d prefer to see Venice as part of a longer journey, the Grand Tour of Italy includes time in the city.
This central region is home to the country’s capital, Rome, a city that rewards repeat visits because its history isn’t confined to a single zone. You can turn a corner and find an ancient temple beside a café, or a fountain performing quietly in a small square while local life carries on around it.
What to see and do:
Ancient Rome – Start with the Colosseum and Roman Forum, then add the Pantheon for a masterclass in Roman engineering and atmosphere.
The Vatican – Set aside time for St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel.
Piazzas, fountains and streets – Dip into Piazza Navona, toss a coin at Trevi, and linger on the Spanish Steps.
Green space – When you want a breather, take a stroll around the gardens of Villa Borghese.
Food and drink – Try classic pasta dishes like cacio e pepe and carbonara, and enjoy a slice of crisp Roman-style pizza.
Weather notes – Spring and autumn are ideal for on-foot adventures, and summer evenings in Lazio are lively and long.
Lazio and Veneto are both stops on Travelsphere’s Grand Tour of Italy guided holiday.
Lombardy’s lakes shimmer beneath the Alps’ serrated peaks. Como and Maggiore are the best-known, while quieter Idro, Iseo and Ledro are perfect for slower days by the water.
What to see and do:
Lake Como – Elegant towns, villa gardens and easy boat-hopping.
Lake Maggiore – Palm-lined promenades and excursions to the Borromean Islands.
Lake Iseo, Idro and Ledro – These smaller lakes deliver a calmer pace, nature-led scenery and gentle lakeside walks.
Food and drink – Expect risotto, lake fish, and Franciacorta sparkling wines.
Weather notes – Late spring to early autumn often brings pleasantly mild temperatures, with cool mountain air tempering the summer heat.
Discover Lombardy on Travelsphere’s tours of the Italian lake regions, or learn more about our Italian lakes tours and holidays.
Italy’s Piedmont region stretches to the Alps and extends along the shorelines of Lake Maggiore.
What to see and do:
Lake Maggiore – Expect Belle Époque promenades, refined cafés for sociable lunches, and stunning island gardens.
Baveno and Stresa - These pretty lakeside towns make convenient bases for exploring the surrounding lake area.
Borromean Islands – Explore Lake Maggiore’s showpiece islands, including Isola Bella’s baroque palace and tiered gardens, Isola Madre’s botanical gardens, and Isola dei Pescatori’s neat lanes.
Food and drink – Meals here lean towards northern Italian comfort such as risottos, lake fish and local cheeses.
Weather notes – Warm springs and golden early autumn trips suit relaxed garden visits, while summer brings a festive air to Piedmont’s shores.
See Piedmont on our 8-day Magnificent Maggiore & Lake Como tours.
With Travelsphere, exploring Italy’s regions feels relaxed and well organised.
You’ll see the main sights and enjoy thoughtful touches that help each destination come to life. Your Holiday Director shares local stories and practical advice throughout the trip, so you always know what to expect and how to make the most of your time.
Comfortable, well-located hotels are included in your holiday, and flights, transfers, timed entries, and coach travel are taken care of, so you can simply settle in and enjoy.
Browse our full selection of escorted Italy tours and read our guide on the best time to visit Italy.
Enjoy some of the best experiences Italy has to offer – request a brochure or contact a member of our friendly customer team.
Pastel-coloured villages perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the azure sea - it's this picture-postcard scenery that makes the Amalfi Coast so special.
These two spectacular regions in Italy’s heel abound with incredible sights. Look out for traditional Trulli houses, Sassi cave dwellings and ornate Baroque buildings.
Brooding Mount Etna forms a dramatic backdrop to your discoveries as you revel in Greek and Roman history and uncover medieval treasures.
Discover the allure and mesmerising natural beauty of Lake Maggiore and be wowed by the captivating charm of Lake Como.
Uncover captivating stories, marvel at majestic ruins and wander the well-preserved streets of some of Italy’s most fascinating archaeological sites.
Revel in the glamour and scenic highlights of the Italian Riviera as you explore by road, rail and boat.
Discover the allure of Sardinia, where turquoise waters wash white-sand beaches and medieval towns sit beside elegant resorts and luxurious marinas.
Discover the scenic beauty of northern Italy’s secret lakes, where tranquil waters, unspoiled nature and delicious cuisine await.
This relaxing tour takes in the iconic monuments of Pisa and Florence, beautiful medieval towns, and the stunning vineyards of Chianti.
Part of the Royal Geographical Society collection, travel from top to toe and explore Italy’s famous landmarks. Visit iconic cities Venice, Florence and Rome and discover the hidden gems of Pompeii, Sicily and more.
