Venetian gondolier punting gondola through green canal waters of Venice, Italy
Venetian gondolier punting gondola through green canal waters of Venice, Italy

Italy Experiences

Italy is all about experiences, from the littlest things like a quiet coffee in the sunshine, right up to the grande, like a behind-the-scenes museum tour or tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime event. We can arrange cooking classes and market tours for foodies (we even have itineraries for gourmet getaways in Rome, Sicily and Tuscany); tastings and vineyard visits for wine connoisseurs; even language lessons for anyone looking to brush up on their Italian. Below, you’ll find 10 of our favourite Italian experiences – for even more inspiration for things to do in Italy, take a look at our excursions and opera & events pages.

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Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

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Wine-tasting

Whether you’re a fan of red, white, rosé or sparkling, it’s not hard to find a local winery to guide you through its vino. We’ve got all sorts of options, from cellar tours in Sicily to tastings among the vines in Chianti. There’s even a two-week wine-themed itinerary for real devotees.

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Il Palio

Twice a year, the Tuscan city of Siena hosts one of the most exciting horse races in the world, Il Palio. Riders representing 10 of the city’s contrade (districts) race around Siena’s shell-shaped Piazza del Campo – our Palio di Siena short breaks include grandstand tickets so you can cheer them on in comfort.

Fresh Homemade Italian Pizza Margherita with buffalo mozzarella and basil
Sample street food

Graze your way around markets and delis with a food-focused walking tour. In Rome, you could opt for a tasting tour around Campo dei Fiori and Trastevere or a visit to a local farmers market; if you’re headed for the Neapolitan Riviera, try the street food tour of Naples.

Traditional canal street with gondola in Venice, Italy
Venetian gondolas

Gondolas have been a part of life in Venice for centuries – and they’re the perfect way to explore the city’s network of canals. Stick to the central waterways to see the grandest palazzi, or go for a quieter route to see a more peaceful side of Venice.

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Take an iconic train journey

There are some fantastic rail journeys we can arrange for you. Head up into the Alps on the Bernina Express (one of the world’s most scenic trains), or treat yourself by travelling to or from Italy on the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Verona, Italy. Night picture of the famous Arena
The opera

Italy is the birthplace of opera, so there’s nowhere better to watch a performance. We can book tickets for the big-name opera houses (La Fenice, Teatro alla Scala), but for the ultimate opera experience, it’s got to be the Verona Opera Festival, where performances take place in the city’s open-air amphitheatre.

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What our customers think

We have been helping our customers discover the real Italy for 95 years now. Our experience and expertise, together with our attention to detail and personal touch, really does make us the leading Italian holiday specialist.

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