Celebration Trips to Italy: Create Memories That Last a Lifetime

Why we’re choosing travel to celebrate life’s biggest moment

From milestone birthdays to silver, pearl and ruby wedding anniversaries, when we travel abroad for celebrations, over half (51%) of our respondents say that taking a celebration vacation turned their milestone into a life-long story.

Savoured with every sip of wine and bite of antipasti, every moment is more precious and exciting when you’re travelling. More than being somewhere new, it’s an opportunity to step outside of your routine, indulge in the culture around you and focus on the present.

Thanks to our survey results, we’ve uncovered the top three reasons for choosing to travel for a celebration rather than staying at home:

• Over a third (34%) say that travel makes memories more vivid

• Almost one in four (23%) say that travelling makes celebrations feel like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

• More than one in six (17%) say that being abroad makes moments more meaningful

It could be going on holiday in the Amalfi Coast to celebrate the first family holiday with the grandchildren, or a trip to Rome to start your retirement in style.

Our survey found that travelling deepens the emotional appeal of these moments, with two-thirds (66%) of respondents saying that these trips help create unforgettable moments. Meanwhile, 43% say they love that they now have photos or videos of these memories that they can cherish forever.

What travellers are looking for

According to our survey, today’s travellers value the following qualities when celebrating key milestones on holiday:

• Experiences over extravagance – These days, travellers want meaningful moments, not just luxury.

• Togetherness – Many travellers prefer small group trips spent with family or friends.

• Easy planning – From boutique hotels to private transfers, travellers value curated trips that allow them to relax.

• Bucket-list moments – From sunset dinners to once-in-a-lifetime tours, travellers are looking for unique and fulfilling experiences.

But how do we create the perfect moment? It’s so simple as stepping off the plane or train and capturing an everlasting memory. The ideal celebration vacation requires a few select ingredients. 

When asked, our keen travellers said that the most important factors when choosing the right destination to celebrate include:

1. Food and drink (42%)

To no one’s surprise, great food and drink is the most important factor travellers choosing the perfect destination for a celebration. And more than four in 10 (42%) people agree. 

According to our survey, the most appealing experiences include fine dining experiences (28%) and wine tasting and vineyard tours (27%). 

If you’re planning a romantic holiday in Rome this year, be sure to explore our escorted olive oil and wine tasting tours, tailor-made to make your trip one to remember. Embrace private tastings as you pair regional cheeses with spectacular countryside vistas. 

2. Beautiful scenery (39%)

From cities nestled in the mountains to coastal old towns, there’s no shortage of beautiful views when you travel to Europe and Italy. Beautiful scenery is the next top factor for travellers looking to plan a special trip, as voted by
almost two in five (39%) respondents. 

With the breeze in your hair and the view of the coast before you, one in three travellers (31%) find that the most appealing experiences include boat tours and sailing trips. Our escorted tours can take you from the sparkling shores of Lake Como to the island of Sicily. Meanwhile, the Alps await with our iconic train journeys on the Orient or Bernina Express

3. Weather (38%)

Basking in a pocket of sunshine is one of the most popular ways to enjoy a special celebration. Almost two in five (38%) respondents believe that one of the main draws of travelling abroad to celebrate is to escape somewhere with fantastic weather.

And nowhere does golden hour better than the colourful villas of the Amalfi Coast. Holidays to Amalfi are best spent soaking up the rays on a relaxing boat tour – trust us!

4. Culture and history (34%)

Over a third (34%) of travellers say that culture and history are the most enticing draws to celebrating abroad. As for activities, one in four (25%) respondents love to explore with cultural tours and guided excursions. 

Uncover ancient wonders with the likes of Greek ruins, temples, and majestic volcanoes. Our small escorted group tour of Sicily offers all this and more. Travel across the island and explore everything from the old town to local wineries and the foot of Mount Etna. 

From Opera tours to thermal spas and resorts, we have a wide range of experiences hand-picked by our experts, helping you experience authentic Italy for your special trip. 

5. Activities and experiences (18%)

Finally, almost one in five (18%) travellers said that they’re most drawn to locations with a range of activities and experiences to discover. Bring home stories as well as souvenirs, capturing the memory of your anniversary trip with cooking classes and walking tours. 

According to our survey, one of the most appealing experiences is hiking a famous trail (25%). But if you’re looking for other ways to satiate your taste for adventure, street food tours and Venetian gondola tours are just as exciting. 

Italy is a natural choice for celebrating life’s most special memories. Not only does it offer world-class food, wine, and scenery, but each region comes with its own unique flair for hosting unforgettable moments. 

Explore more ways to enjoy food, culture and experiences with an escorted tour in Italy – planned and guided by our experts.

Where to celebrate in Italy: Expert picks from Citalia

Follow on as our travel industry specialist Heather Green shares her top recommendations for every type of celebration.

Celebrate your wedding anniversary in Venice

Picture yourself exploring the ‘Floating City’ hand-in-hand with your sweetheart. Known for its picturesque canals and spectacular Venetian Gothic architecture, Venice is the perfect backdrop to celebrate your wedding anniversary. 

For travellers seeking a romantic holiday in Italy, Venice delivers on every front, offering key travel highlights such as culture & history (39%), food and drink (37%), and great weather (32%).

Let your curiosity guide you among the iconic canals and bridges. As voted by travellers, the most popular experiences in Venice include private boat tours (30%), cooking classes with a local chef (28%) and wine tasting (28%). 

For a truly memorable visit, our travel specialist Heather Green suggests adding these experiences to your Venetian holiday:

• “Take a private gondola or boat tour at sunset and drift through the canals with prosecco under the Bridge of Sighs.”

• “Explore hidden gems together. For a touch of culture, we recommend visiting lesser-known churches, artisan mask shops, or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.”

• “You can even join a mask-painting or glass-blowing workshop! Make your own anniversary memento with traditional Venetian crafts.”

• “If wine tasting is on the cards, make your way along the Prosecco Road. Take a day trip to the nearby Veneto wine region for vineyard visits and tastings of Italy’s best bubbly.”

• “For dinner, head to the Grand Canal and book a table at a romantic waterside restaurant, like Ristorante Lineadombra or Antiche Carampane.”

• “Next, attend an opera or classical concert. Enjoy a night at Teatro La Fenice or a Vivaldi concert in an ancient church.”

Plan the perfect Venetian getaway for your next trip with our handpicked Venice hotels. Or better yet, explore our multi-centre holiday offers and celebrate with a tour of Venice, Florence and Rome. 

Take a retirement trip to Tuscany or Sicily

Take your pick between the rolling countryside of Tuscany or the charming coastal towns of Sicily to ring in your retirement and celebrate a new chapter. 

Both Tuscany and Sicily align with many key travel priorities, including food and drink (39%), culture and history (37%), and scenery (35%). 

According to travellers, some of the most anticipated experiences in Tuscany and Sicily include hiking famous trails like those in Etna National Park (36%), vineyard tours (30%) and guided cultural excursions (25%).

Raise a toast to the start of your golden years in the Chianti region of Tuscany, or hop to the sun-kissed beaches of Sicily and sample fresh seafood and local specialities. With our multi-centre holidays, why not see both on our Ultimate Italy tour? 

To help you mark the occasion, our destination expert Heather Green recommends the following highlights for a Sicilian or Tuscany holiday:

• “Explore medieval Siena, Renaissance Florence, or the towers of San Gimignano on guided walking tours.”

• “Artisan food experiences are abundant in Tuscany and Sicily. Visit pecorino cheese farms or olive oil mills for tastings in authentic agriturismos (farm-stays).”

• “Take a vineyard tour with wine tasting in Chianti. Stroll through rolling vineyards and toast retirement with a glass of Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino.”

• “For a more hands-on experience, take a cooking class and learn to make handmade pasta and traditional dishes like pici cacio e pepe with a local chef.”

• “To wind down, relax in natural hot springs. We recommend the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni or Saturnia for ultimate wellness.”

• “And for those with a sense of adventure, there’s nothing like the scenic hikes in Val d’Orcia. Take peaceful countryside walks through cypress-lined roads and hilltop villages.”

Enjoy a show-stopping birthday on the Amalfi Coast

With its colourful coastline coated in sunshine, an Amalfi Coast holiday offers something for everyone – but it’s especially perfect for unforgettable birthdays. 

Ticking off some of the top priorities as highlighted by travellers, destinations like Sorrento, Ravello and Amalfi offer the ultimate holiday trifecta: beautiful scenery (51%), food and drink (49%), and sunny weather (48%).

Some of the most popular experiences in Amalfi include fine dining (37%), boat and sailing trips along the coast (36%), and cultural excursions such as visits to Ravello and Positano (31%).

To help you make the most of your holiday in the Amalfi Coast, our destination expert Heather Green recommends adding these experiences to your itinerary:

• “Explore charming towns like Ravello, Amalfi and Positano on guided cultural excursions. Sail along the coastline on a private boat tour, stopping at hidden coves and swimming spots.”

• “Indulge in fine dining at cliffside restaurants with sea views, like Ristorante Il Refettorio or La Sponda in Positano. For a digestivo (digestif), visit a local limoncello distillery and sip the coast’s iconic lemon liqueur.”

• “Celebrate your birthday with a local Delizia al Limone (lemon cream sponge cake) or Sfogliatella Santa Rosa to mark the day in true Amalfi style.”

• “Finally, enjoy the glow of golden hour with photos in Positano. Make sure to catch the sunset behind the pastel houses that cascade to the sea – perfect for capturing memories.”

See more breathtaking coastal scenery with our combined Amalfi Coast and Cilento trip. Get to know southern Italy on your next celebration.

Celebrate a romantic engagement in Rome 

Planning to pop the question on a romantic holiday in Rome? With its iconic landmarks and effortlessly romantic atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a proposal. 

Rome hits all the right notes for a spectacular couples’ holiday, boasting top traveller priorities like beautiful weather (37%), food and drink (33%), and gorgeous scenery (31%). 

As the sunset slips behind the majesty of the Colosseum, let the historic ruins and cobbled streets take you on an unforgettable journey together. According to our survey, some of the most popular experiences in Rome include cooking classes for two (33%), wellness spa days (22%) and scenic hikes and cliffside dinners (22%). 

Will you find your forever in the Eternal City? Our travel specialist Heather Green recommends these must-try experiences on your holiday in Rome:

• “Leave a love lock at Ponte Milvio. Follow tradition by placing a lock on this historic bridge and throwing the key into the Tiber River.”

• “Stroll through the Aventine Keyhole. Peek through the famous keyhole on the Aventine Hill to see the dome of St Peter’s Basilica perfectly framed.”

• “For an unbeatable dining experience, dine in a Michelin-star restaurant. We recommend booking a table at La Pergola, Rome’s most famous fine dining spot with panoramic views, or Il Pagliaccio for an intimate, two-Michelin-star experience.”

• “Soak up Rome’s cultural cuisine with a Roman street food cooking class. Make traditional Roman street eats like Supplì (fried risotto balls) and Carciofi alla Romana (Roman-style artichokes). Held in a local chef’s home kitchen in Testaccio – Rome’s foodie district.”

• “Finally, don’t forget to take a day trip to Tivoli Gardens in Tivoli, or Castel Gandolfo by Lake Albano. Escape the city bustle for romantic gardens, scenic walks, and peaceful lakeside views.”

From city escapes to relaxed, countryside excursions, travelling enhances special moments and makes them unforgettable. Now you know our top celebration destinations in Italy, it’s time to plan the holiday of a lifetime. Treasure these special moments with your loved ones as you get to know authentic Italy. 

For more inspiration, explore our top Italian foodie destinations, or our guide to the best hidden gems in Italy. Choose from a wide range of Italy experiences, escorted tours and tailored multi-centre holidays and explore Italy like never before.

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