Italy is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations and delights holiday-makers year-on-year with its rich history, iconic landmarks and laid-back atmosphere, not to mention the decadent food! One of the best things about Italy is its diversity, with historic cities and sublime coastal resorts to enjoy, leaving many to ask which are the best city and beach holidays in Italy.
If you’re thinking about a multi-centre holiday to Italy from Australia and want to know which are the best city and beach holidays in Italy, then here is our guide to the ultimate city and coast combinations in Italy.
Florence and Viareggio
Tuscany is one of our favourite holiday resorts in Italy and, although known for its rolling country landscapes, it is also the perfect destination for city and beach holidays in Italy.
Florence brings with it a rich heritage of art and culture, and there are several famous art galleries that you can visit, such as the Uffizi and Accademia. From Florence, you can also enjoy several Tuscany day trips to explore the surrounding regions, such as a day trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower or a wine-tasting experience in the famous Chianti wine region.
Once you’ve enjoyed the art scene in Florence, we will whisk you by high-speed train to the Tuscan coast and the glorious beach resort of Viareggio. This little-known beach resort in Italy has a beautiful seafront promenade and a selection of exclusive hotels offering sublime sea views. It also has a wonderful shopping area with designer boutiques and charming Italian cafes and bars.
Venice and Portofino
If you’re looking for romantic city and beach holidays in Italy, perhaps for a honeymoon in Italy or as a special anniversary trip, we love the combination of Venice and Portofino – two of Italy’s most exclusive resorts.
Venice is known as the Floating City and boasts a magical atmosphere and decadent architecture that you can’t help but fall in love with. Popular attractions include St Mark’s Square and the Golden Basilica, Doge’s Palace and, of course, the famous Grand Canal. However, we do recommend taking some time to explore the other regions of the Venetian Lagoon, such as the islands or even Venice’s secret vineyards. For something particularly special, we can arrange a tasting experience in the Prosecco Hills – the ultimate Venice day trip for someone who loves this Italian fizz!
For this romantic city and beach holiday in Italy, we think the exclusive luxury of Portofino on the Italian Riviera combines perfectly with the decadence of Venice. Here, you can relax in the Mediterranean sunshine and enjoy the charm of this small Italian fishing village. As well as a stunning harbour, the town boasts some of Italy’s best beaches, such as Paraggi, Camogli, Chiavari, Lavagna and Sestri Levante.
Sicily
If you have already visited Italy’s main cities and want to explore a little more of this part of Europe on your city and beach holiday in Italy, put Sicily at the top of your holiday list. This laid-back island off Italy’s “toe” is known for its relaxed culture and fascinating history, and has many diverse sights to enjoy. For the best city and beach combinations, we recommend:
- Palermo and Cefalu: Palermo is Sicily’s capital and is an ideal destination if you enjoy architecture as it has several Gothic and Baroque buildings to enjoy. Meanwhile, Cefalu offers pretty beaches with sublime views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, allowing you to completely relax and rejuvenate on your city and beach holiday in Italy.
- Catania and Giardini-Naxos: This combination is perfect for those looking for vibrancy and nightlife on their city and beach holiday in Italy, as Catania is known for its late-night bars and modern atmosphere. The city is also close to Mount Etna – one of Italy’s active volcanoes – giving you the unique chance to see volcanic craters and lava fields. From Catania, you can easily visit Giardini-Naxos, which is known for its panoramic sea views and wonderful beaches, where you can enjoy watersports or simply relax in the sun.
Rome and Sorrento
One of our most popular city and beach holidays in Italy is Rome and Sorrento as this twin-centre Italy holiday combines the rich history and vibrancy of Rome with the peaceful serenity of Sorrento.
In Rome, you can visit iconic landmarks, such as the Colosseum and Vatican City, and explore underground Rome with a tour of the Catacombs – all of this can be arranged on one of our custom-made Italy holidays.
Meanwhile, Sorrento, which sits on Italy’s south coast, offers an altogether different way of life that contrasts perfectly with the vibrancy of Rome on this city and beach holiday in Italy. Technically, Sorrento doesn’t have a beach and instead has a beautiful port; however, this town’s stunning coastal landscape and range of nearby attractions certainly make up for its lack of sand. For a day lounging on the beach, we recommend heading to the islands of Capri and Ischia, which are just off the mainland coast. Not only will you discover a unique way of life on these islands, you will also be able to relax in the sunshine and enjoy watersports.
If you would like to know more about our city and beach holidays in Italy, why not chat to an expert member of our team by calling 61 2 9056 7018. Alternatively, please click here to send an online enquiry and we will get back to you right away with a personalised and hand-crafted holiday quotation.
