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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  • Last few spaces £300 off!

    Cooking Holiday in a Castle in Italy

    5 nights Italy

    £300 OFF LAST REMAINING SPACES ON 11 SEPTEMBER! Immerse yourself in Italian cooking and wine in the glorious surround..

    Price from

    £1980 pp
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  • Painting Holiday in Emilia Romagna

    7 nights Italy
    • All of your meals with wine and beverages
    • Daily morning and evening art sessions and personalized tuition
    • All art supplies needed during your holiday
    • Cultural excursions

    Price from

    £1500 pp
    Take me there
  • Cooking and Wine-Tasting in Tuscany

    7 Nights Italy
    • 4 x 3-4 hour hands-on Italian cookery
    • Day trips to Barga Castelnuovo, Pisa, and Lucca
    • Wine tasting and lunches at local Vineyards
    • All transport during the excursions

    Price from

    £1591 pp
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  • Florence Off The Beaten Track

    3 Nights Italy

    This tailor made tour of the beautiful Italian city will be a truly unforgettable experience. Explore the city like neve..

    Price from

    £607 pp
    Take me there
  • 4 Day Tuscan Gastronomy and Cooking Retreat

    3 Nights Italy

    Get to know Italy's most famous staple on a unique 3-night Italian gastronomy and cooking holiday that takes you on a jo..

    Price from

    £957 pp
    Take me there
  • Rome Off The Beaten Track

    3 Nights Italy

    Discover Rome like a true Italian. Enjoy visiting the hidden gems of Rome and taste the local food and wine. You will al..

    Price from

    £849 per person
    Take me there
  • Intensive Cooking and Culture in Tuscany

    4 Nights Italy
    • Cooking lessons from a train Italian chef
    • Daily cooking lessons
    • Private Tuscan wine tasting tour

    Price from

    £910 pp*
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  • Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday

    3 Nights Italy
    • Truffle hunting
    • Tuscan Cooking Lessons
    • Prosecco tasting

    Price from

    £1000 pp*
    Take me there
    • Last few spaces £300 off!

      Cooking Holiday in a Castle in Italy

      5 nights Italy

      £300 OFF LAST REMAINING SPACES ON 11 SEPTEMBER! Immerse yourself in Italian cooking and wine in the glorious surround..

      Price from

      £1980 pp
      Take me there
    • Painting Holiday in Emilia Romagna

      7 nights Emilia Romagna
      • All of your meals with wine and beverages
      • Daily morning and evening art sessions and personalized tuition
      • All art supplies needed during your holiday
      • Cultural excursions

      Price from

      £1500 pp
      Take me there
    • Cooking and Wine-Tasting in Tuscany

      7 Nights Tuscany
      • 4 x 3-4 hour hands-on Italian cookery
      • Day trips to Barga Castelnuovo, Pisa, and Lucca
      • Wine tasting and lunches at local Vineyards
      • All transport during the excursions

      Price from

      £1591 pp
      Take me there
    • Florence Off The Beaten Track

      3 Nights Florence

      This tailor made tour of the beautiful Italian city will be a truly unforgettable experience. Explore the city like neve..

      Price from

      £607 pp
      Take me there
    • 4 Day Tuscan Gastronomy and Cooking Retreat

      3 Nights Tuscany

      Get to know Italy's most famous staple on a unique 3-night Italian gastronomy and cooking holiday that takes you on a jo..

      Price from

      £957 pp
      Take me there
    • Rome Off The Beaten Track

      3 Nights Rome

      Discover Rome like a true Italian. Enjoy visiting the hidden gems of Rome and taste the local food and wine. You will al..

      Price from

      £849 per person
      Take me there
    • Intensive Cooking and Culture in Tuscany

      4 Nights Tuscany
      • Cooking lessons from a train Italian chef
      • Daily cooking lessons
      • Private Tuscan wine tasting tour

      Price from

      £910 pp*
      Take me there
    • Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday

      3 Nights Tuscany
      • Truffle hunting
      • Tuscan Cooking Lessons
      • Prosecco tasting

      Price from

      £1000 pp*
      Take me there

    What our travellers are saying...

    Henry and Laura had researched (and sourced) local produce to demonstrate regional recipes, alongside teaching hands-on techniques in making pasta, gnocchi and focaccia. The small group of 11 of us enjoyed great camaraderie and joy in such beautiful surroundings. A memory to treasure. Highly commended!”

    Michele Barrett

    “What a wonderful few days in Castel Campo! It truly was a magical experience staying in the castle and preparing meals outside in front of the farmhouse in such spectacular surroundings - I learnt loads of new recipes and top tips and thoroughly enjoyed the trips out. We were so well looked after- I truly felt I was away for so much longer and would thoroughly recommend this retreat.”

    Alison Cloote

    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

    Excellent Tuscan cookery holiday with the family and their boyfriends near Barga. Mixed levels of cooking skills from 18-year old beginners about to head off to university, to experienced cooks, but we all learnt something. And all the recipes are things that we will do at home.

    Tanya H

    I have to recommend the Italian cooking course in Tuscany with Rita. This was a fabulous way to unwind and Rita's hospitality knew no bounds. Perfect for the single traveller as you will meet like minded people who love food, good company, and plentiful wine. The wine was locally made and didn’t give you a hangover which for me is no bad thing. In between cooking lessons we went on day trips to the local villages and the more impressive towns o

    Robert M

    Just returned from a Cooking and Wine tasting holiday in Tuscany. Due to Covid and cancelled flights changed the dates from last year. Not a problem for Not In The Guidebooks. Went as a solo traveller. Host Rita was waiting for me at Pisa airport and my reception was warm and friendly. Stayed at Rita’s home La Mezzaluna along with six other guests. It’s a bit rural, rustic and traditional but Rita in between cooking lessons took us out and

    Sylvia Harris

    I had a wonderful week with everyone. It was my first solo holiday and Rita put me right at ease and made it feel like a home from home. The week was really relaxed but we still managed to cram a lot in! We learnt so much in the cookery lessons and I think the fact that most of the people in my group started to cook the recipes in the same week as arriving back home sells the course itself. Rita took us to some wonderful places and hearing about

    R Filby

    Real home from home. Loved Rita. Made us feel like one of the family. Girls loved making pasta and pizza. A wonderful week x

    J Seymour

    Was privileged & honoured to be part of this Incredible, Unique retreat! Thank you for making the experience soo special and every detail thought out with such excellence. Highly recommended, the food, wine, excursions, accommodation and how you are cared for is a trip like no other!

    Nichola Foreman

    We had a brilliant time and the course hugely surpassed our expectations. The classes were great fun and informative, the excursions interesting and beautiful, the location incredible and the food some of the best we’ve ever eaten. We enjoyed Oli and Flo’s company so much and we highly recommend!

    C McCurrach

    I cannot recommend this holiday highly enough. Oli and Flo were more than perfect hosts - their attention to all the little details was very much appreciated. The Italian culinary tuition was extremely well presented and understandable. I have new skills and what's more, I am using them now. High 5!

    D Summers

    Incredible holiday! Oli is passionate chef with an intimate knowledge of Italian cooking and the Tuscany region. Both he and Flo made sure we were well looked after and entertained for our entire stay and showed us the best of the breathtaking scenery and local produce. Worth every penny.

    M Bingham

    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

    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

    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

    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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    Trentino

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    Trentino

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    Things to Know About Italy

    Learn more about Italy

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