Rome
The Eternal City — three thousand years of history at every street corner.
- Colosseum and Roman Forum
- Vatican City (St Peter's + Sistine Chapel)
- Pantheon and Piazza Navona
- Trastevere for dinner
🇮🇹 Destination guide
Italy
Ancient ruins, Renaissance cities and the food that conquered the world.
Visa fee
€90
Processing
15 calendar days standard, often longer in peak season
Apply earliest
6 months before departure
Currency
Euro (€)
Visa application
Getting your visa for Italy
Where to apply
Italian Consulate in your country (most outsource to VFS Global)
Submitted through: VFS Global is the main provider
When to apply
Earliest: 6 months before departure
Latest: at least 20 days before departure (Italy recommends earlier than 15)
Processing time
15 calendar days standard, often longer in peak season
Always plan with a 2–4 week buffer to be safe.
Fee
€90 for adults (€45 children 6–12, free under 6)
Service-provider fees (VFS, BLS, TLS) are extra.
Country-specific tips
- Italy's consulates run slow in May–August — apply in early spring if you can.
- Detailed day-by-day itinerary is especially appreciated by Italian consulates.
- Travel insurance certificate must explicitly mention 'Schengen Area' and €30,000 minimum.
- If you book Airbnbs, you need the host's CIR number on the booking confirmation.
Official source: Italian Foreign Ministry visa portal
Travel guide
Exploring Italy
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October. August is hot and many city locals are on holiday.
Language
Italian (English in tourist hubs)
Daily cost
€100–€160 mid-range; Venice and Capri are more expensive.
Currency
Euro (€)
Top cities & regions
Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance — small, walkable, drenched in art.
- Uffizi Gallery (book ahead)
- Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome
- Ponte Vecchio
- Day trip to Pisa or Siena
Venice
A city built on water — best visited slowly, on foot and by vaporetto.
- St Mark's Square and Basilica
- Doge's Palace
- Gondola at sunset (negotiate the price)
- Day trip to Murano and Burano
Practical tips
- Restaurants charge 'coperto' (cover) per person — usually €2–€4, normal.
- Trains (Trenitalia / Italo) are excellent; high-speed Rome-Florence is 90 minutes.
- Pickpockets are common around tourist sites — keep valuables out of back pockets.
Other destinations
Explore more Schengen countries
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