Photo credit: Mathew Schwartz
Italian city breaks
Current deals
FROM £89pp | 2-night Venice city break with flights - 23% OFF
The £89pp package includes return flights and a 2-night hotel stay at either the Smart Hotel Holiday or Hotel Aaron (both hotels have solid 4/5 ratings on Tripadvisor). We found quite a few dates at this price in November. If you're happy to pay a supplement, there's availability throughout 2024.
Books
Our hand-picked selection of books to get you in the mood for a city break in Italy
Philip Gwynne Jones
With redundancy and an uncertain future in Edinburgh looming, Jones and his wife took a huge leap and moved to Venice to live. Through often-hilarious exploits and an enormous passion for the beautiful city and all things Italian, this is a really enjoyable read.
Posts and articles
7 things to do in Venice, Italy
19th April 2016 by Emma's Travel Tales
Venice is definitely one of the cities that I love and that I try to return to often. I'm actually going to be spending four days there at the end of June with my family before we head to Sorrento and I cannot wait to get back to a city I adore so much. Having been to the city probably around 20 times (told you I like to take advantage of being so close by flight!) here are some of the best things to do in Venice… 1. Get lost If you're a first time visitor to Venice, or even if...
The Scoop: Rome
28th June 2023 by Andy
Rome serves up history, fine art and food like nowhere else in the world. Italy’s capital city is famed for its historic city centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its inhabitants live and breathe La Dolce Vita and to top it off, The Eternal City is regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world.Unrivalled rich history has seen Rome become a top destination for visitors with an average of 7-10 million per year. Dating back to 753 B.C., it’s history spans more than 2000 years...
Venice on a budget
22nd January 2021 by Paul
Venice is incredibly beautiful; it is just one of Europe’s many treasures. But it is also very expensive. Knowing this is the first step so that you can take the time to research your trip and create a plan, allowing you to have fun without emptying your bank account. Today I will be explaining a few of the key ways to save a few extra bucks when travelling through Venice.Package dealsIt goes without saying, but search for travel deals on a comparison website like Travelscoop. Our Venice...
Venice - Love it or hate it?
19th July 2012 by Emma's Travel Tales
Whenever the subject of the Italian city of Venice comes up in conversation there’s always a split in the proverbial camps. There are always people who say they’ve been to Venice and adored it and would love to return and then there are always people who say something along the lines of ‘oh isn’t Venice smelly and dirty?’ I’ve found that a lot of the time the people who are in the latter camp haven’t actually even been to the city and yet have preconceived ideas about it.I’m...
10 tips for a great holiday in Rome
8th February 2022 by Travel on Inspiration
A first time visitor in a big city might have a relatively hard time trying to figure out a couple of things and settle in the flow of the city. It's advisable to memorize a few tips so that they won’t be caught off-guard. These tips are quite helpful as they can both save money and time; making the holiday hassle free.Once you are equipped with these, all that is left is to enjoy yourself with the peace of mind that everything is taken care of.Most tourists are taken advantage of or even...
Romantic destination ideas for Valentines Day
23rd February 2021 by Andy
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and you may start feeling like you’re scrambling for ideas to make this day a special one with your significant other. And you are just in luck! V-Day in 2022 falls on a Monday meaning you can extend the celebrations into a long weekend and make it all the more romantic. So, how exactly should you spend your romantic couple of days this year? We’ve picked out the best destination ideas for this Valentine’s Day right here for you:Paris, FranceParis is...
Visiting the Venetian islands of Murano and Burano, Italy
19th January 2021 by Stuart
For any stays in Venice longer than a couple of nights you’re definitely going to want to venture out to the islands of Murano and Burano. Two of the many small islands located in Venice's northern lagoon, both are world-famous in their own right. They can be reached with ordinary vaporetto (water bus)/ferry tickets and are free to explore. You will have to pay for entry into any of the island's museums or factories. Murano vs BuranoMurano - of the two islands I’d only ever really heard...
Visiting gorgeous Burano, Venice
28th July 2016 by Emma's Travel Tales
I’d wanted to visit Burano on a few of my previous trips to Venice but hadn’t managed to fit it in for whatever reason. On my trip to Venice last month I resolved that I *had* to get myself to Burano once and for all, to see the gorgeous colourful buildings for myself. All of the houses in Burano are painted a different, striking colour. It’s said that this was so that sailors who returned from sea in the evening exhausted could easily find their homes, and wouldn’t stumble into the...
Chic hostels that might surprise you
23rd February 2021 by Andy
Searching for fabulous hostels can be a bit of a hit and miss affair. You want a great location, clean and spacious rooms and onsite facilities that make your backpacking experience comfortable. But, is it too much to ask for a little style to be thrown in without blowing the budget? Absolutely not! We’ve found these 'chic' hostels that combine all your needs with ultra-cool surroundings.The Gallery HostelPorto, Portugal: Perfect for art fanatics, The Gallery Hostel is located smack bang in...
Best beaches in Florida
12th February 2021 by Andy
With beautiful weather, lively cities and exciting theme parks that cater to all ages, it’s clear to see why Florida has been increasing in popularity in recent years. One more thing makes this a great getaway destination: the excellent beaches that line the sandy coast of Florida. But with such a long coastline, it can be hard to find which of them really are the best beaches to sunbathe. So we’ve put together a list of the best beaches in the Sunshine State.South BeachEach beach in...
Cheapest places to holiday in May
12th February 2021 by Andy
May is, arguably, one of the best months of the year to take a break, across the globe. Mainly, because you can take advantage of the May Bank Holidays, but you’ve just missed the rush of the Easter season. Then, there’s absolutely gorgeous weather, from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.You’re likely to find bargains too, for hotels, flights, cruises and all-inclusive deals, as prices drop after April. Get ready to pack your beach towel, don’t forget your flip flops and make the most...
Climbing the Florence Duomo
13th June 2012 by Emma's Travel Tales
It was a perfect mid-summers day in Florence and at least a million degrees (okay, around 30, but I’m Scottish!), and we crazily decided to tackle the 460 something steps that stood between us and the top of the Florence Duomo. Whilst waiting in the shaded queue to begin our climb it didn’t seem too hot, but once we got to the front and started the first 30-or-so steps, boy was it warm.Everyone who visits Florence admires the green, pink and white marbled exterior of the Duomo, but not...
Blogs
Looking for more? The following top UK travel bloggers have covered the city breaks the length and breadth of Italy in the following blog posts