Activity Holidays in Italy

Overview

Welcome to Italy. Birthplace of western culture and art. Home to dramatic history and more UNESCO world heritage landmarks than the number of pizza slices you’ll inevitably consume on a trip here. A popular holiday destination with visitors from around the globe, whether you’re looking for an authentic Italian experience to add to your holiday itinerary or an invigorating activity holiday, Italy won’t disappoint.

When it comes to Italy, you have to mention its world famous cuisine. Simple recipes, made with fresh ingredients and a huge helping of love, make Italian food stand above the rest of the world and provides the backdrop for some incredible cooking holidays in Italy. Avid foodies will feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven on a cookery holiday in Tuscany, while exploring the street food in Rome or on a wine-tasting experience in Sorrento.

History buffs will stand in awe at the ancient well-preserved gems on every corner. On out Italian city tours you can uncover the history of Naples along its cobbled streets, visit the immense cathedrals of Florence, explore the trulli and caves of Puglia. A visit to Italy is like jumping headfirst into another century.

And Italy’s allure stretches even further than its riveting history and world-class cuisine. In fact, Italy’s nature is a masterpiece of its own. One day you could be painting the hilltop towns on a painting holiday in Le Marche or some other beautiful corner of Italy, the next you’re discovering the rolling, misty hills of Umbria by bike, before unwinding on a yoga retreat deep in the Italian countryside. All in all, Italy will capture your soul with the slow, pleasurable pace of life, and astound with its beauty.

Our unique Italian experiences and activity holidays will provide you with the best combination of culture and fun that the country has to offer. Discover the Italy that lies off the beaten track for enriching experiences and activities that will help you create an unforgettable trip.

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Our most popular experiences

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  • Intensive Cooking and Culture in Tuscany

    4 Nights / 5 Days Italy

    This fantastic 4 night Tuscan cookery and culture holiday near Arezzo is all about delicious locally produced food, grea..

    Price from

    £1019 pp
    Take me there
  • Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday

    3 Nights / 4 Days Italy

    Venture out into the Tuscan countryside to hunt and learn to cook one of the most sought after ingredients in Italian cu..

    Price from

    £834 pp
    Take me there
  • Chianti Wine Region Tour – Private group

    4 Hours Italy

    This unique half-day experience from Florence whisks you to the heart of Chianti and its world-renowned lush, rolling hi..

    Price from

    £453 per group
    Take me there
  • Wine Tasting at the Foot of Mount Vesuvius – Private Group

    Half Day Italy

    Sip wine and gaze up at the impressive and infamous Mount Vesuvius. Learn about the wine making process and take a strol..

    Price from

    £626 per group
    Take me there
  • Painting Holiday in Emilia Romagna

    7 nights/ 8 days Italy

    Come and join this unique 7 night painting holiday in the foothills of Italy near Bologna in the region of Emilia Romagn..

    Price from

    £1250 pp
    Take me there
  • Learn Italian and Painting in Florence

    14 days Italy

    Celebrated worldwide for its wonderful galleries and great architecture, Florence is the home of the Renaissance and the..

    Price from

    £426 pp
    Take me there
  • Yoga & Watercolour Painting Holiday

    4 nights / 5 days Italy

    Combine relaxing yoga with painting lessons on this unique 4 night yoga and watercolour painting holiday in Italy; stay ..

    Price from

    £866 pp
    Take me there
  • Learn Italian in Florence

    5 days Italy

    Learn Italian in Florence on this popular 1 week Italian course at this friendly language school suitable for all levels..

    Price from

    £260 pp
    Take me there
  • Learn Italian in Sorrento

    5 Days Italy

    Go learn to speak Italian at this friendly school in Sorrento on this 1 week Italian language course suitable for elemen..

    Price from

    £387 pp
    Take me there
  • Learn Italian and Cooking in Florence

    5 days Italy

    Combine Italian language lessons with an Italian cooking masterclass course and immerse yourself in the local culture..

    Price from

    £482 pp
    Take me there
    • Intensive Cooking and Culture in Tuscany

      4 Nights / 5 Days Tuscany

      This fantastic 4 night Tuscan cookery and culture holiday near Arezzo is all about delicious locally produced food, grea..

      Price from

      £1019 pp
      Take me there
    • Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday

      3 Nights / 4 Days Tuscany

      Venture out into the Tuscan countryside to hunt and learn to cook one of the most sought after ingredients in Italian cu..

      Price from

      £834 pp
      Take me there
    • Chianti Wine Region Tour – Private group

      4 Hours Florence

      This unique half-day experience from Florence whisks you to the heart of Chianti and its world-renowned lush, rolling hi..

      Price from

      £453 per group
      Take me there
    • Wine Tasting at the Foot of Mount Vesuvius – Private Group

      Half Day Sorrento

      Sip wine and gaze up at the impressive and infamous Mount Vesuvius. Learn about the wine making process and take a strol..

      Price from

      £626 per group
      Take me there
    • Painting Holiday in Emilia Romagna

      7 nights/ 8 days Emilia Romagna

      Come and join this unique 7 night painting holiday in the foothills of Italy near Bologna in the region of Emilia Romagn..

      Price from

      £1250 pp
      Take me there
    • Learn Italian and Painting in Florence

      14 days Florence

      Celebrated worldwide for its wonderful galleries and great architecture, Florence is the home of the Renaissance and the..

      Price from

      £426 pp
      Take me there
    • Yoga & Watercolour Painting Holiday

      4 nights / 5 days Casperia

      Combine relaxing yoga with painting lessons on this unique 4 night yoga and watercolour painting holiday in Italy; stay ..

      Price from

      £866 pp
      Take me there
    • Learn Italian in Florence

      5 days Florence

      Learn Italian in Florence on this popular 1 week Italian course at this friendly language school suitable for all levels..

      Price from

      £260 pp
      Take me there
    • Learn Italian in Sorrento

      5 Days Sorrento

      Go learn to speak Italian at this friendly school in Sorrento on this 1 week Italian language course suitable for elemen..

      Price from

      £387 pp
      Take me there
    • Learn Italian and Cooking in Florence

      5 days Florence

      Combine Italian language lessons with an Italian cooking masterclass course and immerse yourself in the local culture..

      Price from

      £482 pp
      Take me there

    What our travellers are saying...

    Fantastic experience cooking and learning more about the history, food culture and community around Arezzo and Tuscany. What I loved about this experience in particular is that this course runs if you are an individual or if you are a group of 4 people. Fantastic when you are a solo traveller!

    V Scarcella

    A wonderful experience set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Chef and guide Fabrizio certainly went the extra mile to ensure my holiday was personalised, informative and fun. The Truffle hunting walk in the hills was a fantastic experience I shall never forget.

    S Coulson

    Just returned from a wonderful week in the mountains of Villa Minozzo, Italy. A great location for a painting holiday. We were a party of three. We had daily tuition on any art skill we wanted to learn about. In our case it was watercolour. Also we had really interesting visits to the local regional Parmesan and balsamic vinegar makers. We enjoyed leisurely lunches and dinners made by our host with local produce and wine. We had our own rooms in

    Gillian H

    All as described in the information supplied. The group worked hard throughout the week. Pheona provided tutoring 6 hours each day, responding to individual needs, conducting structured classes with handouts for beginners and improvers and supporting those who preferred to work independently. Recommended.

    H Bennett

    H Sandmeier

    I have just returned from a fabulous week at this Retreat !! Apart from John being the perfect host and exceptionally talented, his method of teaching and organisation of our week was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and I was amazed at how much we covered and how much we all progressed in such a short time. Stunning scenery, fabulous food cooked by Jana and wonderful company made this a truly memorable experience for all. Cannot recommend

    Jess V

    We visited sunflower retreat in Casperia in September 2020, and it was an amazing experience. Allan and Lucy are the nicest people and we felt extremely welcome and taken care of. The surroundings of Casperia were so beautiful and Casperia is a very charming and old village with an amazing view and sunset! The restaurants in town serve delicious food. We had a holistic treatment including massage and it was wonderful and relaxing. The yoga teache

    Ida and Hannah

    The staff were brilliant! The location was stunning and the yoga was nourishing and rejuvenating. Even the locals went out of their way to make sure you have a good time. Highly recommend the retreat for anyone looking for a yoga holiday with a difference!

    Marg

    The course provided and excellent basic introduction to Italian in a friendly environment. Having been out of learning for some time I was a little concerned about my ability to fit in and to keep up. The worries soon disappeared as the staff were friendly & encouraging - would certainly go again.

    F Thomas, UK

    Top class in all respects. A very enjoyable and educationally worthwhile week. I wish I could have stayed longer. Bravissimi!

    I Gartner, UK

    Great school in a fantastic location. Absolutely loved it.

    C B, UK

    The college was in the lovely town of Sorrento and the course in beginners Italian was excellent with first rate teachers. I would recommend it to anyone and am very glad I decided to do it.

    R Williams, UK

    It was wonderful! I’d do it again!

    M Marsay, USA

    Best Time to Visit Italy

    Spring Summer Autumn Winter

    From March to May, expect temperatures between 7-20 degrees in the North and 12-21 degrees in the South.

    You’ll do well to squeeze in a visit to Italy in spring. It’s possibly Italy’s best season. Temperatures across the country are ideal and local piazzas and bars come to life as the locals emerge from the winter. Later in the season, you might also want to take advantage of the beaches before the summer hits while everything is still quiet.

    From June to August, expect temperatures between 13-29 degrees in the North and 16-30 degrees in the South.

    Beware of those average temperatures in summer time – especially if you are planning a visit to one of Italy’s historic cities. Summer in Italy is very hot and humid and temperatures can reach nearly 40 degrees in some parts. It’s also peak season and both the cities and beaches will be crowded. Italians usually take August off and head to the beach so expect businesses in the towns and cities to be closed up for this month.

    From September to November, expect temperatures between 7-25 degrees in the North and 15-27 degrees in the South.

    If you want to avoid the summer crowds but not the warm summer temperatures, early September is a perfect time to visit Italy. Summertime vibes are still very much in the air but without the intense heat, making your holiday time very pleasant indeed. From mid-October, things will start to change drastically up North and the Italians will officially swap their summer wardrobe for their winter one.

    From December to February, expect temperatures between 0-8 degrees in the North and 11-16 degrees in the South.

    When it comes to travelling to Italy, the off-season (November-March), is quite possibly the best time to visit the cities. It can be a little chilly, but you dodge the queues and the stifling heat that threatens to overwhelm at times. In February, Venice holds its annual Carnival and the city is buzzing for about two weeks so watch out for that.

    Best Places to Visit

    1. Rome
    2. Ponza
    3. Siena
    4. Dolomites
    5. Lake Como
    6. Venice
    7. Naples
    8. Rome
    9. Umbria
    10. Florence

    Tuscany

    With rolling hills & iconic cities, the only issue you'll have is deciding where to start in this id

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    Tuscany

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    Puglia

    The sunny, whitewashed heel of the boot, is home to an abundance of amazing beaches and hidden gems.

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    Puglia

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    Rome

    Rome needs no introduction. Charismatic, charming and captivating, from its history to vibrant stree

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    Rome

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    Verona

    Made famous by Romeo & Juliet, Verona itself is an open-air museum with many hidden paths.

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    Verona

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    Sorrento

    Nestled in the historic Bay of Naples, it’s the perfect base for exploring the picturesque Amalfi

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    Sorrento

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    Naples

    Naples is all about the raw & the spontaneous, it bubbles with volcanic drama and infectious energy.

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    Naples

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    Umbria

    A lush green paradise, landlocked Umbria is a magical region of truly authentic Italy.

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    Umbria

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    Lake Garda

    Enjoy its glistening waters, from quaint harbor towns in the south, to dramatic mountains in the nor

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    Lake Garda

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    Sicily

    One of Europe's most seductive destinations, Sicily sits at the heart of the Mediterranean and deliv

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    Sicily

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    Venice

    A truly unique, magical city, born out of a marble palace on a lagoon, and developing into a stunnin

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    Venice

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    Top tips for visiting Italy

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