Best Italy Tours from London

How to get from London to Italy

By plane

This is the fastest way to get from London to Italy, with major airlines offering direct flights from London to all the main Italian cities.

• London to Rome: Flights to Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) are frequent and take around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

• London to Milan: Flights to Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Milan Linate (LIN) take approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes.

• London to Venice: Flights from London to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) usually last about 2 hours.

• London to Florence: flights usually land at Florence Peretola Airport and take 2 hours and 15 minutes.

By train

There are currently no direct trains from London to Italy. You can first take the Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels, which will take around two hours.

• London to Rome train: After arriving in Paris, Gare du Nord briefly changes at a few Paris stations to Turin, Italy. Here you can arrive in Rome by direct train ITALO. This will take about 15 hours.

• London to Milan train: Again, change from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon for a direct TGV train to Milan. It takes 10-11 hours.

• London to Venice train: Again, arrive in Paris and change to Turin, Italy, then take a direct train to Venice. It takes a total of 14 hours.

• London to Florence train: The fastest way to get to Turin, Italy, is to arrive in Paris. A direct train will take you to Florence. This takes about 13 hours.

By bus

Long-distance bus services offer an economical way to travel from London to various cities in Italy. Routes are usually operated by companies such as FlixBus. It takes more time and can take 20-30 hours.

By car

Driving takes a lot of time and planning. For example, to drive from London to Rome, you will first need to use the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle or a ferry to cross the English Channel. This will take you through France, possibly Switzerland, and Germany before arriving in Italy. This usually requires at least two days of solid driving.

Classic London to Italy itinerary

If you are visiting Italy for 5-7 days, you can visit two or three major cities. For example, the first two days are spent in Rome visiting the main highlights and exploring Vatican City. On the third and fourth days, travel to Florence, where you can enjoy literary works. The last 2-3 days, I stayed in Venice for a beach vacation.

If you have plenty of time, 8-12 days allows you to travel to locations near Italian cities. The first two days remain in Rome, days 3-4 are spent sightseeing in Florence, and days 5 and 6 head to Cinque Terre to visit the towns there. Days 7-8, head to Venice to enjoy your time. Days 9-12, come to Milan to visit the fashion capital.

Top Attractions in Popular Cities

• Rome: Explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel) and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain.

• Venice: Enjoy a gondola tour, visit St Mark's Campanile and Cathedral, the Doge's Palace, and cross the Bridge of Sighs.

• Florence: Explore Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David), marvel at the Duomo, and stroll across the Ponte Vecchio.

• Milan: Visit Milan Cathedral, shop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and, if possible, see Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.

Weather Tips for Italy

Italy has warm summers and mild winters with regional variations. The peak tourist season is usually summer (June to August). Spring (April to May) and fall (September to October) are pleasant and less crowded. Always wear comfortable walking shoes, as Italian cities are best explored on foot. Stay hydrated, especially in the summer. Watch your belongings in crowded tourist areas.