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Canadians don't need a visa to visit Italy for stays under 90 days, return flights from Toronto (YYZ) to Rome (FCO) typically run $750–$1,100 CAD in shoulder season, and a comfortable two-week trip costs roughly $4,500–$7,000 CAD all-in depending on your pace and taste in wine. Italy is one of the most-searched European destinations for Canadian travellers, and for good reason: the food alone is worth the flight.
Here's what you actually need to know before booking.
Photo: Davi Pimentel / Pexels — free to use
Do Canadians need a visa for Italy?
No. Canadian passport holders can enter Italy (and the entire Schengen Area) without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. That 90-day clock covers all Schengen countries combined, so if you spend three weeks in Portugal before heading to Italy, those days count against your total. You don't need to register with local authorities for tourist stays. Starting in 2026, Canadians will need an approved ETIAS travel authorization (roughly $10 CAD, valid for three years) before boarding a flight to any Schengen country. Apply online before your trip. It's not a visa, but you won't board without it.
What's the best time of year for Canadians to visit Italy?
May, June, September, and early October. That's the honest answer. July and August are hot (35C+ in Rome and Florence), packed with tourists, and more expensive across the board. Shoulder season gives you warm weather (20–28C), shorter queues at the Uffizi and the Vatican, and hotel prices 25–40% lower than peak summer. If you're after the Amalfi Coast or Sicily, late September is ideal: the sea is still warm, the summer crowds have thinned, and restaurants stop running on autopilot. Spring (April–May) is gorgeous for Tuscany and the Italian Lakes, though evenings can still be cool. Winter works for Rome and southern Italy if you want low prices and empty museums, but expect rain and some seasonal closures along the coast.
The catch: Shoulder season is no longer a secret. May and September in popular spots like Cinque Terre and Positano are getting busier every year. Book accommodation 2–3 months ahead for those months.
How much does a flight from Canada to Italy cost?
From Toronto (YYZ) to Rome (FCO), expect $750–$1,100 CAD return in shoulder season, $900–$1,400 CAD in peak summer. Air Canada flies non-stop YYZ to FCO (about 9 hours) and seasonally to Venice (VCE). Air Transat offers direct seasonal routes from YYZ and YUL to Rome and sometimes Milan. WestJet doesn't fly direct to Italy, but code-shares can get you there with one stop.
From Montreal (YUL), return fares to Rome run $700–$1,000 CAD in shoulder season — sometimes cheaper than Toronto thanks to Air Transat's Montreal hub. From Vancouver (YVR), add a connection through Toronto, London, or Frankfurt; expect $950–$1,300 CAD return and 14–18 hours of travel time. From Calgary (YYC), similar routing through European hubs at $900–$1,200 CAD.
The catch: Non-stop flights from Canada to Italy are almost exclusively from YYZ and YUL. If you're flying from Western Canada, you're connecting somewhere, and that adds 4–6 hours to your day.
Find the best fares from YYZ to Rome on Expedia
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How long is the flight from Toronto to Rome?
Non-stop from YYZ to FCO: about 9 hours eastbound, 10–10.5 hours westbound. Air Canada operates this route year-round. With one connection (London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Zurich), total travel time runs 12–16 hours depending on the layover. From Vancouver, budget 14–18 hours with one stop.
Is Italy expensive for Canadians?
It depends where you go and how you eat. Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast are the priciest. A mid-range daily budget in those cities: $180–$250 CAD per person (hotel, meals, transport, one activity). In southern Italy (Puglia, Calabria, Sicily) or smaller Tuscan towns, that drops to $120–$170 CAD per day.
Here's a realistic two-week budget for two people from Toronto:
| Category | Budget Tier | Mid-Range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights (2 people) | $1,500 CAD | $1,800 CAD | $2,400 CAD |
| Accommodation (13 nights) | $1,300 CAD | $2,200 CAD | $3,500 CAD |
| Food & drink | $900 CAD | $1,400 CAD | $2,100 CAD |
| Transport (trains, local) | $400 CAD | $500 CAD | $700 CAD |
| Activities & entrance fees | $200 CAD | $400 CAD | $600 CAD |
| Total (2 people) | $4,300 CAD | $6,300 CAD | $9,300 CAD |
The catch: The CAD-to-EUR exchange rate is the silent budget killer. At roughly $1 CAD = 0.65 EUR (typical 2024–2026 range), everything feels about 50% more expensive than the sticker price. Venice is the worst offender: a basic hotel room near San Marco runs 180–250 EUR/night, which hits differently in Canadian dollars.
Browse Italy hotels on Booking.com — sorted by guest rating
What's the best way to get around Italy?
Trains. Italy's rail network is excellent for the major routes. Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa trains connect Rome to Florence in 1.5 hours, Rome to Naples in 1 hour 10 minutes, and Rome to Venice in 3.5 hours. Book on trenitalia.com 2–4 weeks ahead for the best prices (as low as 19–29 EUR one-way for advance fares).
For the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, or rural Tuscany, you'll need buses or a rental car. Renting costs $45–$70 CAD/day for a compact car. Italian drivers are aggressive and city parking is a nightmare, so stick to trains for city-to-city travel and rent only for countryside stretches. Domestic flights within Italy are rarely worth it. By the time you factor in airport transfers and security, the train is faster for anything under 4 hours.
Which Italian cities should I visit on a first trip?
For a 10–14 day first trip, this is the classic route that works: Rome (3–4 days) → Florence (2–3 days) → Cinque Terre or Tuscany countryside (2 days) → Venice (2 days). You can do it entirely by train.
Rome gives you ancient history (Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon), Vatican City, and the best neighbourhood food scene in the country (Trastevere, Testaccio). Florence is Renaissance art and architecture: the Uffizi, the Duomo, and the best gelato I've had anywhere. Venice is Venice. Absurd, beautiful, expensive, and worth two days but probably not four. If you have extra time, add Naples and a day trip to Pompeii, or swap Cinque Terre for the Amalfi Coast (Positano, Ravello).
Book Italy walking tours and skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide
Do I need travel insurance for Italy?
Italy doesn't legally require Canadians to carry travel insurance, but you'd be foolish to skip it. Your provincial health plan covers almost nothing abroad. A two-week policy for a Canadian aged 55–65 typically runs $80–$200 CAD depending on coverage limits and pre-existing conditions. Look for policies that cover at least $2 million CAD in emergency medical, plus trip cancellation and interruption. Manulife, Allianz, and Travel Guard all offer plans sold through Canadian brokers. If you have pre-existing conditions, read the stability clause carefully: most policies require conditions to be stable for 90–180 days before departure.
The catch: Travel insurance premiums jump significantly once you pass 60, and again at 65. Shop around, and buy before you book your flights — some cancellation coverage only kicks in if the policy is purchased within a set window of booking.
Photo: Alina Garcia / Pexels — free to use
Can I use my Canadian credit card in Italy?
Yes, almost everywhere. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops in cities and tourist areas. Tap-to-pay works at most terminals. Smaller trattorias, rural shops, and market stalls may still be cash-only. Withdraw euros from ATMs (called "bancomat" in Italy) using your debit card. Your bank will charge a foreign transaction fee of 1.5–2.5%, which is still better than airport currency exchanges. Avoid Euronet ATMs, the ones on every tourist corner. They push bad exchange rates through "dynamic currency conversion." Use a bank ATM from a recognized Italian bank (Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit) instead.
Current Deals from Canada
Check the FareNorth deals page for the latest flight deals from Canadian airports to Italy. We track fares from YYZ, YUL, YVR, and YYC to Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples.
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