Destination Guide
Beyond Rome and Florence. Fifteen Italian destinations — from the trulli of Puglia to the volcanoes of Sicily — with private aviation to get you there.
Classics and hidden gems — ranked by overall experience for UK travellers.
| Destination | Best For | Best Months | Nearest Airport | Flight from UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amalfi Coast | Coastal scenery, romance | May–Jun, Sep | Naples (NAP) | 2h 30m |
| Puglia | Food, trulli, beaches | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Bari (BRI) | 3h |
| Lake Como | Villas, mountains, luxury | May–Sep | Milan (MXP) | 1h 45m |
| Sicily | Culture, Etna, food | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Catania (CTA) | 3h 15m |
| Tuscany | Wine, rolling hills, art | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Pisa (PSA) / Florence (FLR) | 2h |
| Sardinia | Beaches, luxury, wilderness | May–Sep | Olbia (OLB) | 2h 30m |
| Venice | Canals, art, romance | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Venice (VCE) | 2h 10m |
| Cinque Terre | Coastal villages, hiking | May–Jun, Sep | Pisa (PSA) / Genoa (GOA) | 2h |
| Matera | Cave hotels, ancient city | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Bari (BRI) | 3h |
| Bologna | Food capital, university | Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov | Bologna (BLQ) | 2h |
| Dolomites | Hiking, skiing, scenery | Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar | Verona (VRN) / Innsbruck (INN) | 2h |
| Capri | Glamour, Blue Grotto | May–Jun, Sep | Naples (NAP) | 2h 30m |
| Rome | History, art, food | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Rome (FCO) | 2h 30m |
| Florence | Renaissance art, leather | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Florence (FLR) | 2h 10m |
| Ischia | Thermal spas, quiet charm | May–Oct | Naples (NAP) | 2h 30m |
The places Italians go — and most tourists miss.
Matera
A city carved from rock. The Sassi cave district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, now home to boutique cave hotels and candlelit restaurants. European Capital of Culture 2019 put it on the map, but it still feels undiscovered.
Puglia's Salento
The heel of Italy's boot. Lecce (the “Florence of the South”), Gallipoli's old town, and beaches that rival the Caribbean. Orecchiette pasta, burrata, and bombette. A fraction of the Amalfi Coast's prices.
Aeolian Islands
Seven volcanic islands off Sicily's north coast. Stromboli erupts nightly (you can watch from a boat). Panarea is the exclusive one. Lipari is the accessible one. Reached by hydrofoil from Milazzo or private boat.
Ischia
Capri's quieter neighbour. Natural thermal spas, volcanic gardens, and a food scene that locals fiercely protect. Take the ferry from Naples and spend three days doing nothing. It's perfection.
Skip the connections. Fly direct to regional airports that commercial airlines don't serve well.
| Route | Flight Time | Why Private |
|---|---|---|
| London → Olbia (Sardinia) | 2h 30m | Direct to Costa Smeralda — no Milan connection |
| London → Bari (Puglia) | 3h | Limited commercial options, private flies daily |
| London → Chambéry → Aosta | 1h 45m | Ski the Italian Alps via the closest airport |
| London → Perugia (Umbria) | 2h 15m | Tiny airport, no scheduled flights, pure countryside |
Puglia (trulli houses, incredible food, empty beaches), the Amalfi Coast (Positano, Ravello), Sicily (Taormina, the Aeolian Islands), Sardinia (Costa Smeralda, wild interior), Lake Como (villas, mountains, George Clooney), and Matera (cave city, now a design destination). Italy rewards those who go beyond the obvious.
April-June and September-October are ideal. July-August is peak season with high prices, crowds, and heat (35C+). September is perfect — warm seas, harvest festivals, and prices drop 30%. Winter suits Rome, Florence, and the ski resorts (Cortina, Courmayeur).
Yes. London to Milan is 1h 45m, to Rome 2h 15m, to Naples 2h 30m. Private aviation opens up regional airports — fly direct to Bari (Puglia), Olbia (Sardinia), Catania (Sicily), or Pisa (Tuscany). No connections, no queues. Stirling Access compares options and arranges everything.
A week in a quality hotel ranges from £1,500 (Puglia, Sicily) to £5,000+ (Amalfi Coast, Lake Como). Villa rentals for groups offer excellent value — a 4-bedroom Puglian masseria from £2,000/week. Stirling Access sources villas, boutique hotels, and hard-to-book restaurants.
Sardinia for beaches (Costa Smeralda is legendary), Sicily for culture and food (Taormina, the Aeolian Islands), Capri for glamour, and the Aeolian Islands (Stromboli, Panarea) for volcanic drama and exclusivity. We arrange island-hopping by private boat or aircraft.
Message our free AI concierge via WhatsApp or web chat. Tell us your dates, interests (food, beaches, culture, adventure), and budget. We plan the route, book hotels or villas, arrange private aviation to regional airports, and reserve restaurants — including hard-to-get tables at Michelin-starred spots.
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