Select A Territory

Start in Rome, then discover the less touristed regions of Lazio, Le Marche, Molise and the Abruzzo as well as two regions teeming with visitors, Tuscany and Umbria. The heart of Italy has a lot going for it, from good wine and olive oil to the sunny climate and a good percentage of the world's fine art. On either coast there are numerous beaches; Italians flock to them when the mercury soars in summer. Explore Rome, then head for the isolated hill towns, monasteries and religious shrines in the rural countryside.

Select A Region

Italy can be summarily divided into four main areas: the Northern regions, the Central regions, the Southern regions and the main Islands.

Italy is a country of extraordinary beauty, for several reasons, namely for its food, landscapes, sea, monuments and history. Through the centuries, various populations such as the Greeks, the Arabs, the Normans, the Bourbons, took turns in colonizing the country, leaving an incredible cultural heritage behind them, creating a rich melting pot that is Italy today. 

We service every port in Italy and can completely customize each port itinerary according to your needs. Our drivers are professional, friendly, English speaking locals. Our fleet are all luxury Mercedes ranging in size from sedans to private coach busses. In each area we will additionally provide an English speaking expert guide. All of our guides are hand selected for their exceptional character, knowledge and professionalism – ensuring you get the most out of the limited time you have in each area. Choosing to do your shore excursion with us means you will always be on time, in comfort and style - no matter where you are going. Please be sure to tell us where and when you will be docking at each site, and we will give you a detailed suggestion for each excursion.

We partner with incredible wineries in every region in Italy. Enjoy excursions from Florence to the countryside, where our private chauffeurs will whisk you away through the rolling hills to a breathtaking winery with a panoramic view. There enjoy 5 premiums reds, the owner himself will walk you through their process while his wife will cook you homemade pasta. Or, enjoy a crisp bottle of prosecco in a castle a little north of Venice. If you prefer the south, perhaps a bottle of Grillo on the side of Mt. Etna? That’s just the tip of the ice burg, the options are limitless.

Inquire with us about private luxury transportation. Our drivers are professional, friendly, English speaking locals. Our fleet are all luxury Mercedes ranging in size from sedans to private coach busses. Choosing transportation with us means you will always be on time, in comfort and style - no matter where you are going.

Your Custom Travel Planning Package Includes:

Full Itinerary Planning -

• We Book All:
  • Tours + Private Guides
  • Museum/culture Tickets
  • Dining Reservations
  • Train + Ferry Tickets
  • Airport Pick-ups And Transfers
  • Private Car Service
  • Helpful Insider Information And Tips
  • Send You An Italy Handbook For You For Your Travel
  • 24-7 On Call Service While You Are In Italy

Your bookings and travel plans are taken care of by us, so all you have to do is purchase your flight to Italy and pack your bags!

Pricing depends on the length and stay of your trip. Here at L&B Italian Tours, we charge a one-time planning fee which covers our service cost to plan. The remainder of the trip will be based on your budget. 

We cater to solo travelers, couples, families, wedding parties, and groups of all sizes. 

If you are a self-planner or already have the trip booked and are looking for a few insider tips and unique tours, please give us a call and find out more about our tours and services to enhance your already planned itinerary.

MUST KNOW ITALIAN!

If you make even the slightest effort to communicate with your Italian hosts as you enjoy their country, you will get SO MUCH MORE out of your experience than you would have otherwise. Like most native populations, Italians are proud of your language and culture, and although many of them do speak English*, and quite well, they truly appreciate when visitors learn the basics before visiting. Not only will they be more likely to smile and help you out, but you will sound so sophisticated as you order your caffe macchiato (coffe with milk) or bicchiere di vino (glass of wine)!

*A note on English: Yes, many Italians, especially those in the big cities, do speak or at least understand English quite well. Keep this in mind as you walk around, observing out loud to your fellow travelers. Already a foreign language being spoken is conspicuous and even more so when it is spoken loudly. So just bear in mind that you are probably being understood by those around you.

Question Words

How? Come? Ko-me

What? Che? Ke

When? Quando? Kwan-do

Where? Dove? Do-ve

Who? Chi? Kee

Conversation Essentials

Hello Buon giorno bwon jor-no

Goodbye Ciao (informal) chow

Arrivederci a-ree-ve-der-chee

Yes Si see

No No no

Please Per favore per fa-vo-re

Thank You Grazie grat-syay

You’re Welcome Prego pray-go

Excuse me Mi scusi me sku-zee

What is your name? Come si chiama (formal) co-may see kya-ma

Come ti chiami (informal) co-may tee kya-me

My name is… Mi chiamo me kya-mo

I (don’t) like (Non) Mi piace (non) me pya-che

Just a second Un momento oon mo-men-to

Language Difficulties

Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? Par-la een-gle-ze

How do you say … in Italian? Come si dice … in Italiano? Ko-may see dee-che … een ee-ta-lee-ah-no

What does … mean? Che vuol dire…? Ke vwol dee-re…

I (don’t) understand (Non) capisco (non) ka-pee-sko

Times and Dates

What time is it? Che ore sono? Key o-ray so-no

Today Oggi o-gee

Tomorrow Domani doh-mah-nee

Yesterday Ieri ye-ree

In the morning di mattina dee ma-tee-na

In the evening di sera dee se-ra

Shopping

I would like to buy… Vorrei comprare… vo-ray kom-pra-ray

How much is it? Quanto costa? Kwon-toe co-sta

I’m just looking Sto solo dando un’occhiata stow so-lo dan-doe oon ok-ya-ta

It’s too expensive Costa troppo kos-ta tro-po

Do you accept credit cards? Acettate carte di credito? A-che-ta-te car-te dee cre-dee-toe?

Around Town

The church La chiesa lah kye-za

The city center Il centro il chen-tro

The embassy La ambasciata la am-ba-sha-ta

A Supermarket Il supermercato il soo-per-mer-ca-toe

The museum Il museo il moo-say-o

The post office La posta la po-sta

The bathroom il bagno il bahn-yo

The tourist office l’ufficio di turismo loo-fee-cho dee too-reez-mo

Emergencies

Help! Aiuto! Ay-oo-to

I’m lost Mi sono perso/a Me so-no per-so/sa

The Police la polizia la po-lee-zee-a

So you’ve decided you are GOING TO ITALY! How Exciting! Many people dream of visiting Italy and experiencing la bella vita, and while you certainly can’t avoid it anywhere in the country, there are some things to think about before you take off that will make your time that much more enjoyable.

First, Italy is a large, and very diverse country. Traveling across regions is almost like traveling across countries themselves. The Italian people are very attached to their City, Region, and Country, in that order, so be sure to talk to locals wherever you go to get to know the intricacies of the very different regions of Italy.

Planning your trip’s itinerary won’t be easy since there is SO much to see and do, but a little background on the country’s layout is helpful when decided what it is you want to get out of your time: are you looking for sports? history? art? food? beaches? mountains? fashion? design? Italy has it all, but some places have it better than others!

Italy can best be divided into three geographical areas: north, middle and south, although again across those areas culture, food and tradition varies greatly.

Northern Italy: Alta Italia

Northern Italy is made up of the Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino Alto-Adige. It boasts such famous cities as Milan, Venice, Turin, Genoa and Bologna. The weather is cooler than the rest of the country due to the northern location and proximity to the Apennines and Alps. This area is traditionally the more wealthy part of Italy, and houses most of the country’s industry. Cities like Milan and Venice can be slightly more expensive than some cities in the central or southern parts of Italy. However, public transportation and tourism services are much more developed and functional than in other parts of the country!

The major airport for the northern region is Milan’s Linate International Airport. There are many other airports in the region however, including Bologna, Venice and Genoa, so do some price comparisons before booking your ticket. The climate in this region varies considerably, both depending on time of year and location. Venice gets extremely hot in the summer, while Turin and the Lake District (Cuomo) stay much cooler and tend to be flocked by Italians trying to beat the heat during the summer months. The Italian Alps begin their ski season as early as November in some places.

Northern Italy has many attractions and offers activities for everyone. Those who enjoy sport and the outdoors may want to visit the lakes for water sports, or go hiking in the Italian Dolomites. Everyone should see Venice at least for a day while they still can! Milan is great for anyone interested in design or fashion, and also has a wide selection of galleries and museums for those interested in both Renaissance and contemporary art. One can also visit the Italian Riviera for some great beaches.

The cuisine of this region is also quite variable, but generally tends to be no the heavier side of some of the traditional Italian specialties we normally think of. This is where Italians eat risotto with saffron, polenta, LOTS of parmigiano reggiano (from the Emilia Romagna province – an area that all foodies must visit), heavy meat dishes and stews, etc. Closer north near the Austrian border we see a lot of Austrian or Slovenian influence in the cuisine, as well as the wines. Prosecco is from the Veneto, and Gewürztraminer is from Trentino Alto-Adige. Think lots of nice white wines, and a LOT of grappa!

Central Italy: Tuscany and Rome

Central Italy is made up of the regions Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria. Geographically it also contains Abruzzo and Molise, but they are traditional grouped with Southern Italy due to cultural similiarities. This is where the rolling hills of Unbria and Tuscany call to mind Napa Valley. This is wine country. Central Italy is home to cities like Florence, Siena, Perugia, and of course Roma. Still quite wealthy, but more varied wealth across regions, central Italy is also extremely easy to explore via bus or train, so you can visit some little hill towns in the Val D’Orcia, or take a train and ride up and down the coast. This section of Italy is full of tiny medieval towns, and if you do your research ahead of time, you could get to participate in one of their on-going traditional medieval festivals!

Rome and Florence both have international airports, as does Pisa. Flying into Bologna is also an easy way to get to Florence as they are connected via both fast and regional trains. The weather in the region is quite temperate, with clearly distinct seasons similar to the weather on the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. The winters are cold, and although snow is uncommon it is not unheard of. The summers get quite hot, going up to one hundred degrees, and the air tends to be humid, especially inland.

Florence and Rome are the dominating destinations in Central Italy, and rightfully so. Rome as the capital and Florence as the birthplace of the Renaissance are not to be missed if possible. I would argue each city really deserves its own trip to truly get the most out of what they have to offer. Rome is a massive metropolitan center, filled with tourists all year round. The Vatican is a major destination, its museums housing some of the most beautiful and famous Renaissance artwork, as well as the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The City of Rome of course has many ancient Roman ruins that would excite anyone remotely interested in human history: the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Catacombs, just to name a few. Florence on the other hand is the must-visit for anyone interested in Renaissance art or history, and is also a good base to explore some of the smaller towns in the region that will have you thinking of Under the Tuscan Sun. The Chianti region is full of tiny gems to visit and have an amazing meal at, as is the area between Siena and Rome. You’ll have to get to know the regional bus lines though!

Again, each region has its own traditional cuisine, but Central Italy has some of the healthiest, heartiest, what traditionally would have been peasant food but has now been elevated to an incredible level of International renown. Bistecca alla Fiorentina can only be truly enjoyed in Tuscany, just as Rome is the place to eat Saltimbocca or Osso Buco. Siena is famous for its sweets, traditionally eaten at Christmastime, and the Umbrian town of Norcia, in the Appennine foothills is where the best black truffles can be found, as well as some of the best pork products like prosciutto and salame. The hills are home to wild boar, which is cooked into many traditional stews or sauces. This is also wine country, so look out for Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. I could write a whole article about Tuscan cuisine, and I probably will, so check our blog frequently!

Southern Italy: Untouched

Southern Italy is where many Italian Americans origins are. It is the poorest part of the country, and encompasses the “foot” part of the boot of Italy, as well as the island of Sicily and some other Islands off the coast of Naples. It is made up of the regions of Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise and Sicily. Due to traditional poverty and well-known corruption, transportation to many less-frequented yet extremely beautiful areas is difficult without a car of your own. The trains are regional and buses connecting cities are infrequent. We’ll talk more about renting cars in Italy later, but this may be the area to do so if you are up for the challenge!

The nearest major international airport is Rome, but there are two smaller airports on the east coast: Bari and Brindisi, both in Apulia. Naples has an international airport, and the island of Sicily may be reached via Palermo in the north or Catania in the south. The climate in the South is Mediterranean, so again variable across seasons but markedly warmer than the north or center of the country. The area is frequently overlooked as a tourist destination, so it is a nice respite from the throngs of Florence or Venice if you have the chance to visit. The beaches are spectacular, overlooking truly crystalline water. On clear days you can even see Africa from certain points along the coast.

While Sorrento, the Amalfi coast and the island of Capri are all beautiful places to visit, they are also the most famous tourist destinations in this area. If you are looking for beautiful vistas and country club style and treatment, these resort towns are a perfect place to pamper yourself or take a boat out. If you are more on the adventurous side, continue south and explore the towns of Calabria, famous for its spicy peppers and warm inhabitants. From Naples you can climb Mount Vesuvius and eat a traditional Neapolitan pizza. Matera, in the Basilicata region, is slated to be the European Capitol of Culture in 2019, and boasts what are thought to be among the first ever human settlements in Italy carved out of the rocks that make up its ancient city center. Those interested in architecture will enjoy the cities along the southern coast of Sicily, where due to volcanic and seismic damage, many buildings were rebuilt in a new Sicilian Baroque style.

Southern Italian cuisine is what most Americans think of as Italian cuisine: eggplant parmigiana, pizza, calzone, spaghetti, maccheroni, and the list goes on. The region is big on short, dry pasta, as opposed to the soft egg pastas of the northern, wealthier regions. Mozzarella is from this area, as is ricotta, made light and fresh. San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the volcanic soil under mount Vesuvius, and are used ubiquitously. Many of the dishes served in the south have Italian-American counterparts due to generations of Italians emigrating to the US from these regions due to extreme poverty. This part of Italy also of course produces much of its own wine, but the wine tends to be drunk young and domestically, rather than bring preserved and shipped. So come here if you are okay with some chilled red table wine or a beer with your pizza!

This has just been an EXTREMELY brief overview of what you might expect as you plan your trip to Italy. Every part of the country has its own secrets, cuisines, and traditions, but if you can’t move there, these generalized descriptions should help you tailor where you want to start and end your visit to the big boot. Once you determine your itinerary, be sure to check seasonal weather charts so you can pack accordingly to where you will be visiting. Read on for more about the items that you will need to bring with you to get the most out of your Italian vacation!

Unless you are coming to Italy with a butler, packing light is essential. Part of Italy’s charm is its old-worldliness, but that comes with some uncomfortable compromises to your comfort sometimes. Many hotels do not have elevators, and if they do they are extremely slow and small, so cramming a suitcase in isn’t always an option. That being said, try to pack things that are multi-use, and only bring clothes that you know you will want to wear to avoid adding bulk to your luggage.

The next thing to keep in mind is that you will be walking, a lot! Even if you’ve hired a private driver to take you from town to town, many small beautiful towns and cities are not accessible via private car unless you live in them. Which means your driver will have to park. And you will have to walk. That being said, Italy is not the place to wear your stilettos from morning to night. It’s nice to dress up and go out, but flats and comfortable walking shoes are crucial. Asics makes nice, lightweight slip-on sneakers, and Toms are great too. Sandals are tempting but be sure you will be able to rinse your feet off after a day out walking around because city-walking can be quite dirty!

Voltage in Italy is significantly higher than it is in the United States, so plugging your American hairdryer in an Italian socket will most likely result in disaster and melted plastic. Power comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at 50 cycles per second. In the US, the power is 110 volts, 60 cycles per second. So if you do want to use your laptop, battery charger, or other electrical appliances in Italy you will definitely need plug adaptors, and possible a step-down power converter or transformer. Plug adaptors are good for many of today’s small electronic devices and laptops, but you will need a converter if you plan on using your hair dryer or curling iron. If you buy a power converter, make sure its power rating meets or exceeds the power rating of the single device you will use with it. This information is usually found on the body of the device near the power cord.

It is also worth mentioning that Italian power sockets come in two different sizes. There are normal power sockets, and Schuko Grounded sockets for larger appliances. An adaptor plug will work in either socket, but if you are using a product purchased elsewhere in Europe, you may need a larger plug adaptor to make use of the larger plug sockets.

A corkscrew may be helpful if you plan on buying wine and picnicking! Save the 20 Euro you would have to spend on a junky opener in the small hill-town local grocery store (which may or may not even exist!) and pack a good metal corkscrew in your carry on for when you find yourself with a beautiful view, a nice bottle of wine, and nobody to open it for you. Most wines in Italy are not equipped with screw-tops, like they are in the United States. So embrace the old world and pop some corks!

For women visiting Italy in the summer, you will need to bring some kind of cover-up or shawl in case you plan on visiting any churches. Most churches won’t allow women in with very short shorts, or their shoulders exposed. Some churches may provide you with some kind of cover-up, but having your own balled up in your bag is much more hygienic and you can pick one that matches your outfit!

Be sure to bring some photocopies of your passport. Italy is a very safe country, but there is a lot of poverty and a lot of pick-pocketing going on, especially during the summer months near bus or train stations. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times, and be sure to leave your passport in a secure place while you are out sightseeing. A copy of your passport should be sufficient in most situations where an Italian authority may ask for official identification. So make a copy, stick it in your wallet, and leave your passport at the hotel!

Be sure to check up on the different weather conditions where you will be traveling. With its temperate Mediterranean climate, variations are frequent and despite being reputed as “sunny Italy” there do tend to be heavy downpours at certain times of year. Packing an umbrella however is not essential, as you will soon notice that they are for sale on every street corner if drops start falling!

On that note, please read on to the Seasons and Weather in Italy. We’ve already done a lot of the research for you!