Italy

Italy hits differently than anywhere else in Europe. Sure, everyone knows about Rome's Colosseum and Florence's Renaissance masterpieces, but it's the unexpected moments that stick with you – stumbling upon a tiny osteria in Trastevere where the nonna still hand-rolls gnocchi, or watching the early morning light hit the pastel houses of Cinque Terre from the coastal path between Monterosso and Vernazza. The country operates on its own delicious rhythm, where a proper lunch stretches past 3pm and evening aperitivo is a sacred ritual.

Skip the tourist traps in Venice's San Marco and head to Castello district for authentic cicchetti bars, or ditch overcrowded Positano for equally stunning but quieter Atrani on the Amalfi Coast. Italian trains are your best friend – the high-speed rail connects major cities effortlessly, though you'll want to rent a car for Tuscany's winding cypress-lined roads. Book restaurants ahead in Rome and Florence, but in smaller towns like Orvieto or Matera, the best meals often happen at places without websites, where the day's menu depends entirely on what looked good at the morning market.

Practical Information