Getting in

• Rome Fiumicino: Italy’s broadest long-haul gateway and the best open-jaw start for a Rome-to-north or Rome-to-south itinerary; it has strong domestic connections too.
• Milan Malpensa: The practical northern arrival point for Milan, the lakes, the Alps and rail itineraries continuing toward Venice or Florence.
• Venice Marco Polo: A good direct entry for Venice and the Veneto when fares work; useful for starting a north-to-south rail trip.
• Naples International: The sensible gateway for Campania, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, avoiding a needless Rome backtrack.
• Catania–Fontanarossa: A practical direct gateway for eastern Sicily, including Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and Ortigia; use Palermo instead for western Sicily.

Getting around

Use high-speed trains for the Milan–Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples spine: Frecciarossa and Italo make city-to-city travel faster and less painful than driving, and advance purchase usually lowers fares. Regional trains are the right tool for Cinque Terre and many secondary cities, but are slower. Rent a car for rural Tuscany, Puglia, much of Sicily, the Dolomites and Sardinia; in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Naples and Venice it is mostly a liability, with traffic restrictions and parking pain.

Money

Italy uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but carry some cash for small purchases, rural places and occasional card-machine failures. Service is usually included or reflected in a modest coperto; tip only for genuinely good service rather than applying North American percentages.

Getting in

• Rome Fiumicino: Italy’s broadest long-haul gateway and the best open-jaw start for a Rome-to-north or Rome-to-south itinerary; it has strong domestic connections too.
• Milan Malpensa: The practical northern arrival point for Milan, the lakes, the Alps and rail itineraries continuing toward Venice or Florence.
• Venice Marco Polo: A good direct entry for Venice and the Veneto when fares work; useful for starting a north-to-south rail trip.
• Naples International: The sensible gateway for Campania, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, avoiding a needless Rome backtrack.
• Catania–Fontanarossa: A practical direct gateway for eastern Sicily, including Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and Ortigia; use Palermo instead for western Sicily.

Getting around

Use high-speed trains for the Milan–Bologna–Florence–Rome–Naples spine: Frecciarossa and Italo make city-to-city travel faster and less painful than driving, and advance purchase usually lowers fares. Regional trains are the right tool for Cinque Terre and many secondary cities, but are slower. Rent a car for rural Tuscany, Puglia, much of Sicily, the Dolomites and Sardinia; in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Naples and Venice it is mostly a liability, with traffic restrictions and parking pain.

Money

Italy uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas, but carry some cash for small purchases, rural places and occasional card-machine failures. Service is usually included or reflected in a modest coperto; tip only for genuinely good service rather than applying North American percentages.