Holiday rentals and lettings in Italy

• Choice of properties: From coastal villas to hillside farmhouses and city-centre apartments, Italy offers self-catering options for all kinds of holidaymakers.
• Best areas to stay: Tuscany suits wine lovers, Sardinia and Sicily draw beach-goers, whilst Venice, Florence and Rome reward those after art and culture.
• What guests say: Our top-rated Italian lettings are regularly praised for their lake and mountain views, private terraces and warm, attentive hosts.
• When to visit: Late spring and early autumn bring warm weather and thinner crowds, whilst summer is best for the coast and winter for Alpine skiing.
• Things to do: Walk the Cinque Terre, tour Tuscan vineyards, explore Milan's Duomo and unwind on the Adriatic coast, all within one varied holiday.

Italy's self-catering choice is as varied as its landscapes. You can book spacious villas in Italy with private gardens, traditional farmhouses among the vineyards, or smart apartments in Italy in the heart of historic cities. A villa with a pool is ideal for families or groups in search of total relaxation, whilst couples can have a holiday to remember with luxury rentals. Most homes are well equipped for an independent stay, with favourite amenities including:

• Private swimming pools
• Air conditioning
• Fast Wi-Fi throughout
• Furnished terraces, gardens and balconies
• Pet-friendly homes

For a spontaneous escape, browse our last-minute deals in Italy and book within days of travelling.

What are the best areas to stay in Italy?

The best area depends on your kind of holiday: choose Tuscany for wine and rolling hills, the islands for beaches, and the northern lakes for cool, scenic calm. The table below details regions for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests love the warm welcome they receive from Italian hosts, the spotless interiors and those unbeatable views - whether over a northern lake, an Alpine valley or the Adriatic coast.

Here are our top-rated holiday lettings from the past year:

1. Holiday Home 'Belvedere36' - 10.0: A lakeside retreat at Brezzo di Bedero in the Northern Lakes, praised for its lake views, e-bikes and welcome air conditioning.
2. Suite 'Masseria Latorre' - 10.0: A garden suite near the Adriatic coast at Locorotondo with wifi and air conditioning, perfect for a relaxed couple's escape.
3. Apartment 'Waldele Bichl Hauserhof' - 9.9+: A mountain-view apartment in Algund, Trentino-Alto Adige, with a private terrace and wifi, ideal for an Alpine summer.

Italy sits at the heart of southern Europe, a long, boot-shaped peninsula reaching from the Alps in the north down to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia in the south.

✈️What is the best way to get to Italy?

Getting to Italy is straightforward, with options by air, rail and road. Here are the most common ways to get to the country:

• Plane: Italy is well served by airlines from across the UK, with direct flights to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo, Pisa, Naples and the islands. Budget and full-service carriers fly all year round, so fares stay competitive. Most airports have train or coach links to nearby cities.
• Train: For a slower, scenic approach, take the Eurostar to Paris and connect onto a high-speed or overnight service towards Turin and Milan. Once in Italy, the Frecciarossa and Italo networks link Milano Centrale, Roma Termini, Venice and Florence in a few hours.
• Car: From the UK, cross by ferry or the Channel Tunnel and head south through France, joining Italy's autostrada motorway network. Tolls and petrol stations are frequent, and a car is especially handy for rural villas in Tuscany or Umbria where public transport is limited.

🥗Where to eat in Italy?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Dal Pescatore is among the best-rated restaurants in Italy. Below is a table showing five highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers Amy and Rob recommend Gelateria dei Neri in Florence: this tiny gelateria serves some of the city's creamiest pistachio and stracciatella, the perfect treat after a morning exploring the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

Italy is a year-round destination, but the best months overall are May, June and September, when the days are warm and sunny yet the crowds and prices are gentler than at the height of summer. July and August are ideal for the coast and islands, whilst December to March brings reliable snow to the Alps for skiing and mountain walks.

Spring (April to June)

• Best for: Sightseeing, hiking and city breaks before the summer rush.
• Weather: Mild and increasingly warm, with long, bright days and the odd spring shower.
• Atmosphere: Fresh and relaxed, with blossoming countryside and quieter attractions.

Summer (July and August)

• Best for: Beach holidays on the islands and the Adriatic coast.
• Weather: Hot and reliably sunny, especially in the south, with warm seas.
• Atmosphere: Lively and busy, with festivals, late dinners and a real holiday buzz.

Autumn (September and October)

• Best for: Wine harvests, food festivals and walking in the hills.
• Weather: Warm early on and cooling gently, with golden light over the vineyards.
• Atmosphere: Calm and authentic, as the summer crowds thin and prices ease.

⭐Our hosts' recommendation: Our Italy local expert, Sofia of Apartment 'Waldele Bichl Hauserhof', recommends visiting the vineyards and apple orchards of the South Tyrol in early autumn, when the harvest is in full swing. You can read more local tips on Sofia's page.

1. Tour the vineyards of Tuscany
2. Glide along the canals of Venice
3. Walk the Cinque Terre coastal path
4. Discover ancient Rome
5. Relax on Sardinia's beaches

1. Tour the vineyards of Tuscany

   Spend a day among the rolling hills, olive groves and dark-red vineyards of Tuscany to discover la dolce vita. Follow the wine roads of Chianti, sample a glass of Brunello di Montalcino and pair it with wild boar ragù or truffle ravioli at a family-run trattoria. Hilltop towns such as San Gimignano and Montepulciano make easy stops between tastings, whilst Florence and Siena add Renaissance art and architecture to the trip.

2. Glide along the canals of Venice

   No trip to Venice is complete without time on the water. Take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal, lose yourself in the quiet back lanes, then admire the mosaics of St Mark's Basilica and the view from the Rialto Bridge. A short hop across the lagoon brings you to the colourful houses of Burano and the glassmakers of Murano.

3. Walk the Cinque Terre coastal path

   The five fishing villages of the Cinque Terre are strung along the Ligurian Riviera and linked by scenic footpaths. Walk between Monterosso, Vernazza and Riomaggiore for sweeping sea views, terraced vineyards and pastel houses tumbling down to the harbour. Reward yourself with fresh anchovies, pesto pasta and a chilled glass of local white wine by the water.

4. Discover ancient Rome

   Italy's capital is an open-air museum. Stand inside the Colosseum, wander the ruins of the Roman Forum and toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Cross the river to Vatican City for St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, then refuel with a plate of cacio e pepe in Trastevere.

5. Relax on Sardinia's beaches

   For pure beach bliss, head to Sardinia. The island's coastline ranges from the glamorous Costa Smeralda to hidden coves with powder-soft sand and impossibly clear water. Snorkel in the protected waters of the La Maddalena archipelago, hire a boat for the day, or simply settle in with a book under a parasol.