The main islands of Italy are excellent holiday destinations and most of them have excellent beaches that are especially popular in summer. These Italian islands can be visited almost all year round, although winter can be very cold and some services close in winter.
Sicily
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the fifth largest in Western Europe. Unless you have more than a week to visit Sicily, it is better to visit one or two parts rather than trying to see the whole island. Sicily’s highlights include the seaside resorts of Taormina and Cefalu, the Greek temples in Agrigento, the cities of Palermo and Syracuse, the baroque cities of the Noto Valley, and Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Sicily can be reached by plane reaching the airports of Catania or Palermo, by ferry, by train or by car crossing the bridge that connects the mainland from Calabria to Messina in the northeast of the island.
Sardinia
The island of Sardinia, the second largest in the Mediterranean, is known for its beautiful beaches, but the interior of the island has many interesting sights and is full of traditions. Its beaches, the prehistoric stone towers called nuraghi that dot the island, the mountain villages such as Orgosolo whose walls are covered with murals, the coastal city of Alghero and Cagliari, the largest city on the island, stand out. Sardinia can be reached by plane reaching Cagliari or Alghero or by ferry from the mainland, Sicily or Corsica.
Capri
The island of Capri has been a popular holiday destination since Roman times and continues to draw large crowds, mainly in the daytime. Spend a couple of nights to better appreciate its charm at night when the tourists have left. Highlights of a visit include the famous Blue Grotto, Villa San Michele, the towns of Anacapri and Capri, and picturesque rock formations off the coast. Capri, just off the Amalfi Coast, can be reached by hydrofoil or ferry (more frequent in summer) from Naples, Sorrento or Positano. The nearby island of Ischia, known for its thermal spas, is also worth a visit and sees far fewer tourists than Capri.
The islands of Venice
There are several islands that can be visited as day trips from Venice. Murano, the most popular, is known for its glass making and you will find glass in stores across the island. Some factories allow tours and there is a glass museum. The island of Burano is known for its handmade lace and colorful houses. Torcello is a nature reserve and its 7th century cathedral has spectacular Byzantine mosaics from the 11th and 12th centuries.
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Elba
Elba is the largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and the third largest island in Italy. Elba is known as the place where Napolean was exiled. Highlights include more than 70 good beaches along the coast, good places for hiking and trekking, picturesque villages, boat trips in the archipelago, and many activities and events during the summer. Ferries run between Piombino on the mainland and the port city of Portoferraio on Elba.
