Italy

While Italy is beautiful all year around, June and September are particularly lovely months to visit. The weather is warm, but not as hot as it gets in July and August, and beaches and tourists aren't as busy as they are in the height of summer.

In two weeks, you can see some of the major tourist attractions in Italy, or explore a single region in more depth. Two weeks is enough to follow the most common tourist route through Venice, Florence and Rome, with a few days on the Amalfi Coast. For a less rushed experience, we suggest exploring one or two regions in more depth e.g. splitting your time between Florence, Rome and a village in Tuscany / Umbria or Milan, Verona and South Tyrol.

You don't need to speak Italian to visit Italy, although knowing a few simple greetings and common phrases definitely helps. In the larger cities and popular tourist spots, you can definitely get by with English. However, if you're venturing off-the-beaten track into more rural Italy, be prepared to practice your Italian (or resort to Google Translate and hand signals).