Italy & Austria: Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzburg & Vienna
Ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence and the canals of Venice, then over the Alps to Innsbruck, Mozart's Salzburg and the lakes of the Salzkammergut, ending among the palaces and coffee houses of Vienna.
- Best time to go
- May, June and September for both countries. July and August are hot in Italy and busy everywhere; December brings Vienna's and Salzburg's Christmas markets.
- Flying from India
- Fly into Rome and home from Vienna. Vienna has non-stop flights to Delhi; Rome is usually one stop via the Gulf or Europe, with limited non-stop services.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Schengen short-stay visa: one visa covers every Schengen country on the route. Apply at the consulate of the country where you spend most nights, up to six months ahead; spring and summer appointments fill early. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at your first border under the EU Entry/Exit System.
- Currency
- Euro in both countries.
Italy & Austria at a glance
The Italian half moves from Rome, with the Colosseum, Forum, Vatican Museums and Trastevere, to Florence for the Uffizi, the Duomo and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, and then to Venice by fast train. A boat across the lagoon, a guided walk through St Mark's and a gondola or water-taxi ride complete the classic Italian circuit.
From Venice the route crosses the Alps by road through the Tyrol, with lunch in Innsbruck and a stop in Kitzbühel, to Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace and the setting of The Sound of Music. A day through the Salzkammergut lakes takes in St Wolfgang and a cruise on the Traunsee, or Hallstatt on longer trips. Vienna ends the journey with Schönbrunn Palace, the Ringstrasse, the State Opera and the city's famous coffee houses.
Must-see
- The Colosseum and Vatican Museums, Rome
- The Uffizi and the Duomo, Florence
- St Mark's Square, Venice
- Salzburg's old town and Mirabell Gardens
- Schönbrunn Palace and the State Opera, Vienna
Food to try
- Cacio e pepe and supplì in Rome
- Gelato and Tuscan bread soups in Florence
- Cicchetti in Venice
- Apple strudel and Kaiserschmarrn
- Sachertorte with coffee in a Viennese café
Where to shop
- Via Condotti, Rome
- Leather goods at Florence's San Lorenzo market
- Murano glass in Venice
- Getreidegasse, Salzburg
- Kärntner Strasse and the Naschmarkt, Vienna
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Florence, along the Arno
Riverside palazzo hotels
Hotels in Renaissance palazzi on or near the Arno, a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Duomo.
Salzburg old town
Historic townhouse hotels
Small hotels in the old town below the fortress or along the Salzach river, close to Mozart's birthplace, the cathedral and the Mirabell Gardens.
Vienna, the Ringstrasse
Grand hotels on the Ring
Classic hotels on and inside the Ringstrasse, steps from the State Opera, the Hofburg and the coffee houses.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Italy & Austria journeys around
The Uffizi with a guide
Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, with timed entry to skip the long queues.
Venice by water taxi
A private water taxi along the Grand Canal under the Rialto Bridge, the best way to arrive at or leave a canal-side hotel.
Innsbruck and the Nordkette
Lunch in the Tyrolean capital's old town by the Golden Roof, then the funicular and cable car up the Nordkette for views over the city and the Alps.
Salzburg's Mirabell Gardens
Formal gardens with the fortress behind, famous from The Sound of Music's 'Do-Re-Mi' scene, then Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse.
St Wolfgang and the lakes
A day through the Salzkammergut: the pilgrimage village of St Wolfgang on the Wolfgangsee and a cruise on the Traunsee past its castles.
An evening at the Vienna State Opera
Opera or ballet in one of the world's great houses, with seats booked ahead, or a backstage tour by day.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Italy & Austria traveller
When to visit
April to June
Pleasant in both countries, with gardens in bloom and opera season in full swing in Vienna.
July and August
Hot in Rome and Florence, busy everywhere. The Salzburg Festival runs from late July.
September to December
Golden autumn in the Alps and, from late November, Christmas markets in Salzburg and Vienna.
Getting there and around
Open-jaw flights
Fly into Rome and home from Vienna to avoid backtracking.
Between stops
Fast trains link Rome, Florence and Venice in 1½ to 2 hours each. Venice to Salzburg by road via Innsbruck takes a full day with stops; Salzburg to Vienna is 2½ hours by train.
Insider notes
Book the big three early
The Vatican Museums, Colosseum and Uffizi sell out in season. We reserve timed entries as soon as your dates are confirmed.
Dress for churches
St Peter's and many Italian churches require covered shoulders and knees. Carry a light scarf.
Vienna's coffee houses
Sit as long as you like over one coffee. Café Central and Café Sacher are famous; locals often prefer Café Sperl or Hawelka.
Sundays in Austria
Most shops close on Sundays; museums, cafés and restaurants stay open.
Italy & Austria: Common Questions
It covers the highlights at a brisk pace. Ten or eleven days allows two nights in each Italian city and an extra day in Vienna.
Plan your Italy & Austria journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Italy & Austria specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include Italy & Austria
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Journey · Scenic Rail
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Ready to plan Italy & Austria?
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