Getting there from Britain
The easiest way to get to Italy from Britain is to fly; and the prices of the cheapest tickets can even be cheaper than those for the long train journey. Deals change all the time, and prices depend on where you want to fly to and often on how far in advance you can book. The majority of flights go to Milan and Rome, with Bologna, Pisa, Naples, Turin and Venice in the second tier; frequent onward connections are possible from these gateway cities to smaller regional airports. Costs broadly reflect the distance and popularity of the place you're travelling to - flights to Milan, for instance, can be a great deal cheaper than those to Palermo. 

Getting there from Ireland
Both Aer Lingus and Alitalia have direct flights from Dublin to Milan daily, from where connections to regional airports are frequent; flights to Rome are less often, usually around three times a week. It's possible to find deals for around IR£250/?288.00 if you book a long time in advance, but prices are usually significantly higher (IR£300-450/?346.00-518.00), and unless you're in a hurry it's likely to make more sense to pick up an inexpensive flight to London, Brussels or Paris especially if you are heading for the south of Italy.

There are many daily flights from Dublin to London, operated by Ryanair, Aer Lingus and British Midland: the cheapest is Ryanair - which also flies from Kerry, Cork and Knock - starting at around IR£60/?76.18 for a return to Stansted (sometimes as low as £IR30/?38.09), though the cost of the journey across London, added to Britain's high airport taxes, may in fact make the total as much as Aer Lingus or British Midland fares straight to Italy. Avoiding these costs, Virgin Express now flies from Shannon to Brussels twice a day and budget deals can be found on Ryanair from Dublin to Brussels or Paris, from where connections to the major Italian airports are frequent.

From Belfast , British Airways and British Midland fly to Heathrow, but the cheapest options are the British European flights to Gatwick and Stansted, starting at around £60 return, though prices depend very much on availability. For the best youth/student deals from either city, contact Usit 

Getting there from the USA and Canada
You can fly to Italy direct from a number of US and Canadian cities: the main points of entry are Rome and Milan, although there are plenty of connecting flights on to other Italian cities from those two gateways. Prices are quite competitive, making Italy a feasible entry-point for Europe as a whole. Many airlines and agents also offer "open-jaw" tickets, enabling you to fly into one Italian city and out from another, travelling overland in between. Another good option is to travel via elsewhere in Europe (particularly Britain or Germany), since there's a broad range of well-priced flights from all over North America. A Eurail pass may be a useful option if Italy is part of a longer European trip, since you can use it to get from any part of Europe to Italy.

Getting there from Australia & New Zealand
There are no direct flights to Italy from Australia or New Zealand. All flights require either a transfer or stopover en route - often a welcome break as flying time is upwards of 21 hours. Several airlines fly to both Milan and Rome via an Asian or European city. Fares are highest between mid-May and August and at Christmas; low season is October to mid-November and mid-January to February; while the rest of the year is classed as shoulder season. Tickets purchased direct from the airlines tend to be expensive; travel agents generally offer much better deals, and have the latest information on special offers and stopovers. They can often also help with accommodation packages, tours and car rental, as well as organizing your visa and travel insurance.

Italy guide

Getting there
When to go
Where to go
Italy general info
Italy
Average costs
Credit and debit cards
Cost, money, banks
The euro
Insurance, health cover
Embassies, consulates
Red tapes, visas
Banks and exchange
Travelers with disabilities
North-South divide

Festivals:
Ø Religious, traditional
Ø Diary festivals
Ø Food festivals
Ø Arts Festivals
Ø Ferragosto

Italy food and drink
Ø Italian cuisine
Ø Italian pizza
Ø Lunch and dinner
Ø Drinking

Getting around
Ø Trains
Ø Flights
Ø Driving
Ø Cycling, motorbiking
Ø Ferries, hydrofoils
Ø Hitchhiking

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