Best Places to Live in Italy for UK Expats – A 2026 Regional Guide

Got your eyes set on moving to Italy but have no idea where to settle best?

If you are seriously researching where in Italy to put down roots, you have come to the right place.

Italy has been luring British people for centuries, and in 2026, it shows no signs of losing its appeal.

Whether it is the food, the pace of life, the culture, the climate, or the sheer beauty of the place, the pull is real and powerful.

This guide cuts through the romanticised version and gets into what actually matters when choosing a region: affordability, connectivity, expat community, healthcare, and the kind of lifestyle you are actually after.

Italy is divided into 20 regions, each with its own distinct geography, culture, and character.

The good news is that whether you want cobbled city streets, rolling countryside, a sun-baked coastline or Alpine mountain air, Italy has a version of it for you.

The trickier question is which one suits your life.

Continue reading to explore some of Italy’s most popular destinations for expats.

Quick Overview: Best Places to Live in Italy for UK Expats

Dreaming of a new life in Italy? This guide explores some of the best Italian regions for UK expats, covering lifestyle, property prices, transport links, healthcare, and local culture.

Whether you’re seeking sunshine, countryside tranquillity, coastal living, or city convenience, Italy offers a destination to suit every lifestyle and budget.

In This Guide:

Why Italy Appeals to UK Expats: Discover what makes Italy one of the world’s most desirable relocation destinations.

• Tuscany: Explore rolling countryside, historic cities, and a well-established expat community.
• Lazio and Rome: Learn about life in and around Italy’s capital, with excellent services and transport links.
• Le Marche: Find out why this affordable and authentic region is attracting increasing numbers of expats.
• Puglia: Discover southern Italy’s sunshine, coastline, low living costs, and relaxed lifestyle.
• Italian Lakes Region: Explore elegant northern living with stunning scenery and easy international connections.
• Sicily, Umbria, Abruzzo, and Liguria: Compare some of Italy’s most attractive alternatives for affordable, coastal, rural, and island living.
• Moving Your Belongings to Italy: Understand shipping options, removals services, storage solutions, and customs considerations.
• Essential Relocation Planning: Learn about residency, healthcare, banking, language requirements, and post-Brexit rules.

From Tuscany’s vineyards to Sicily’s sunshine, this guide highlights the best places to live in Italy and the practical steps needed to make your move a success.

A Country Like No Other

Deep cultural roots and 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Italy offers an unmatched combination of history, regional identity, and distinct daily traditions.

Italy is one of the oldest civilisations on earth, and you feel it everywhere you go.

From the Roman Empire that once ruled much of the known world, to the Renaissance that gave humanity Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli, Italy has shaped art, architecture, law, language, and culture in ways that still echo today.

It became a unified nation only in 1861, which explains why each region retains such a fierce and distinct identity: different dialects, different dishes, different traditions, all proudly held onto.

Add to that 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other country on earth, and you begin to understand why Italy does not just attract visitors. It keeps them!

Tuscany – The Classic Choice That Still Delivers

The countryside around Siena and Arezzo provides a slower pace alongside a strong, established British community.

Tuscany is the destination that most UK expats picture when they imagine life in Italy, and it does not disappoint.

The region centres on Florence, one of Europe’s most culturally rich cities, but it is the surrounding countryside that draws people who want a slower pace. The Val d’Orcia, the Chianti hills and the towns around Siena and Arezzo offer a quality of life that is genuinely hard to match.

Property prices in rural Tuscany remain more affordable than many assume, particularly if you are prepared to look beyond the most well-known names. Farmhouses and country houses with land are still available at prices that would be unthinkable for equivalent UK properties.

Florence itself is a different story: city apartments command premium prices, and the rental market moves quickly.

Tuscany has a well-established expat community, which means there is good informal support for navigating Italian bureaucracy, finding English-speaking doctors, and getting to grips with local life.

Pisa airport offers connections to the UK, and Florence airport adds to the convenience.

For families, there are international schools in Florence, and for retirees, the combination of world-class healthcare in the cities and a genuine sense of community in the villages is a strong draw.

Lazio and Rome – City Life With Ancient Credentials

Rome offers excellent international schools and transport links, while the Castelli Romani hills provide more affordable commuting options.

Rome is the obvious choice for anyone who wants the energy of a major European capital alongside history that genuinely surrounds you.

As the most populous region in Italy, Lazio offers access to everything a big city has to offer: excellent hospitals, international schools, cultural events, transport links, and a well-developed expat network.

The trade-off is cost. Rome is not cheap, and the city centre and popular neighbourhoods such as Prati, Parioli and Trastevere come with price tags to match.

That said, the wider Lazio region beyond Rome offers considerably better value, and commuting into the capital is manageable from towns such as Frascati, Tivoli and Velletri.

These towns in the Castelli Romani hills offer green space, fresher air, and a noticeably lower cost of living while keeping the capital within reach.

For UK expats thinking about working remotely or running a business, Rome also has a growing international professional community and solid infrastructure.

Its two major airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino, mean getting back to the UK is straightforward.

Le Marche – The Region Quietly Winning Over the Discerning Expat

Towns like Ascoli Piceno offer stunning landscapes and highly affordable property away from the heavy tourist crowds.

Le Marche sits on Italy’s Adriatic coast, sandwiched between Umbria and the sea, and it has been gaining quiet attention among UK expats for a good few years now.

It offers something of a sweet spot: beautiful landscapes, good food, authentic Italian village life, and property prices that remain among the most affordable in the country.

Towns such as Ascoli Piceno, Macerata and Fermo have genuine character without the tourist crowds that can make parts of Tuscany feel a little like a theme park in summer.

The coastline around the Riviera del Conero is genuinely stunning, and the Sibillini Mountains in the interior offer a completely different landscape within an hour’s drive.

This is a region that suits people who want to integrate properly rather than live in an expat bubble. Italian is the language here, and learning at least the basics will make daily life much richer.

For those who are happy to embrace that, Le Marche rewards you handsomely.

Puglia – Sun, Sea, and the Most Talked-About Food in Italy

Whitewashed hilltop towns, low living costs, and advantageous tax schemes make southern Italy a highly attractive option for retirees.

Puglia has moved from a well-kept secret to firmly on the map over the past decade, and for good reason.

The heel of Italy’s boot offers a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country: whitewashed hilltop towns like Ostuni and Locorotondo, the trulli houses of Alberobello, miles of unspoilt coastline, and an agricultural richness that puts extraordinary produce on the table every single day.

Property prices in Puglia are still very competitive by Italian standards, particularly in the interior.

The region’s main city, Bari, has good international connections, including a growing number of flights to the UK, and the overall cost of living is lower than in the north.

Lecce, often called the Florence of the south, is a university city with a young, lively atmosphere and a beautiful Baroque old town.

For retirees and remote workers, Puglia offers an excellent quality of life. The slower pace, the community feel, the food and the climate are all genuinely world-class.

The Italian government’s flat-tax scheme for new residents, which offers advantageous tax terms for those moving income from abroad, has also made southern Italy particularly attractive in recent years.

It is always worth speaking to a qualified Italian tax adviser before making any decisions on this.

Lake Como and the Italian Lakes – Northern Elegance

Northern Italy offers a faster pace of life, strong public services, and easy access to Milan’s international airports.

Northern Italy offers a very different version of Italian life, and for some UK expats it is exactly the right fit.

The Italian Lakes region, encompassing Como, Maggiore and Garda, combines spectacular mountain and water scenery with a standard of living that rivals anywhere in Europe.

It also borders Switzerland and is within easy reach of Milan, making it genuinely practical for those with business or family connections further afield.

The trade-off is price. Lake Como is one of the more expensive places to live in Italy, and properties on the waterfront are beyond most budgets.

However, the towns and villages in the hills above the lake and the slightly less famous lake shores can offer better value while still giving you access to the landscape and lifestyle. Milan’s international airports make getting home to the UK quick and easy.

The north also tends to offer a somewhat faster pace of life than the south, better public services, and strong healthcare infrastructure.

For those coming from a professional background and used to a more urban environment, this can feel more immediately familiar.

Sicily – Island Life With a Character All of Its Own

A distinctly laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle. Enjoy a warm climate, deeply layered history, and some of the most competitive property prices in the country.

Sicily is Italy’s largest island and one of its most compelling destinations for UK expats seeking something genuinely different.

The island has its own distinct identity, shaped by thousands of years of Greek, Arab, Norman, and Spanish influence, and that layered history is visible in everything from the architecture to the food.

Palermo is a vibrant, chaotic, and endlessly fascinating capital, while Catania in the east sits dramatically in the shadow of Mount Etna and has a lively university atmosphere and a beautiful Baroque centre.

For those buying a home here, prices in Sicily are among the lowest in Italy, and the island has attracted international attention in recent years thanks to schemes offering discounted homes in rural villages seeking to revitalise their communities.

The cost of living is very manageable, the climate is excellent, and the pace of life is wonderfully unhurried. For anyone seeking a waterside lifestyle, surrounded by sea, sunshine and extraordinary food, Sicily is hard to argue with.

Umbria – Tuscany’s Quieter, Greener Neighbour

Landlocked Umbria offers medieval hilltop towns and rolling landscapes with a much lower price tag than its famous neighbour.

Umbria, (known as the Green Heart of Italy), sits at the very centre of Italy and is often described as Tuscany without the crowds, which is both accurate and a little unfair, because Umbria has a very distinct identity of its own.

It is the only landlocked region in central or southern Italy, and its rolling green hills, medieval hilltop towns, and deep sense of tranquillity give it a character that draws people seeking genuine peace and quiet.

Perugia is the regional capital and a lively university city with good transport links, while Assisi, Orvieto and Spoleto are among the most beautiful small towns in the whole country.

Property in Umbria is noticeably more affordable than equivalent homes in Tuscany, and the region has a small but well-established expat community that tends to be quietly passionate about having found somewhere most people overlook.

For retirees and remote workers, Umbria consistently delivers beauty, calm, and authenticity.

Abruzzo – Mountains, Coast and Remarkable Value

Abruzzo delivers a low cost of living, authentic historic towns, and genuine coastal beauty off the beaten track.

Abruzzo is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, a region that offers a remarkable combination of landscapes: the Gran Sasso massif and the Apennine Mountains to the west, and a long, clean Adriatic coastline to the east.

Within the space of an hour, you can go from skiing to swimming, which tells you a great deal about what daily life here can look like.

The regional capital, Pescara, is a modern, well-connected city with an airport offering flights to the UK, while the inland historic towns of L’Aquila, Sulmona and Lanciano have an authenticity and a quietness that are hard to find in more visited parts of Italy.

Property prices are very competitive, and the cost of living is low, making Abruzzo an increasingly popular choice for those who want the Italian lifestyle without the premium price tag attached to more famous regions.

It is a region that rewards those willing to look just a little off the beaten track.

Liguria and the Italian Riviera – Cliff Tops, Colour, and the Mediterranean at Your Door

Enjoy a mild microclimate and easy access to France and Monaco from the colourful Riviera di Ponente.

Liguria hugs the northwestern coast of Italy in a narrow arc between the Alps and the sea, and it contains some of the most dramatically beautiful scenery in all of Europe.

The Cinque Terre, five clifftop fishing villages connected by coastal paths and railway, has become world-famous, but the wider region has much more to offer.

Genoa is an underrated and fascinating city with a magnificent medieval centre, while the towns of the Riviera di Ponente to the west tend to be quieter, more affordable, and genuinely lived-in by Italians rather than tourists.

For UK expats who want the Mediterranean on their doorstep alongside easy access to France, Monaco, and the major airports of Nice and Genoa, Liguria is a seriously compelling option.

However, be prepared to dig deep when it comes to property prices; the Italian Riviera has some of the most expensive homes in the country.

The microclimate along the coast is mild year-round, and the local cuisine, built around fresh seafood, pesto and focaccia, is among the finest in Italy.

Making the Move: How Shipping Your Belongings to Italy Works

Coordinating your European relocation. Choose between dedicated full-load transport or cost-effective part-load shipping for a secure, door-to-door move.

Even though there are so many choices, researching where to live is the exciting part. The practical side of actually getting your life to Italy takes a little more planning, and it is worth understanding the process early, so it does not catch you off guard later.

Personal effects destined for Italy are typically transported by either road freight or sea freight, and the right choice depends on the volume of your belongings, your timeline, and your budget.

At White & Company, we offer two main service options for moves like this.

A full load service means your belongings travel exclusively in one of our specialist vehicles or containers. This gives you complete flexibility over collection and delivery timing and is generally the fastest option for getting your possessions to your new Italian home.

A part load service, where your items share space with other consignments heading to the same region, is a more economical choice and works well for smaller volumes or those with a more flexible timeline.

Our team handles the entire process door to door. That means professional packing at your UK property, secure loading, transport to Italy via our established network of moving hubs across the country, including Sicily and Sardinia, customs clearance where required, and delivery to your new Italian address.

We have been moving people internationally since 1871, so the complexities of European removals are very familiar territory for us.

It is also worth considering your belongings during a period of transition.

If you are buying a property in Italy that is not yet ready, or if there is a gap between leaving your UK home and arriving in your new one, our secure storage solutions can bridge that gap without stress.

For full details on what a move to Italy involves, our dedicated removals to Italy page covers everything from transport options to insurance and customs.

You can also explore our European removals service for a broader picture of how we handle moves across the continent.

A Few Things Worth Planning Early

Before you commit to a region, here are the areas that tend to catch UK expats off guard:

• Residency registration: you will need to register with your local comune (town hall) and obtain a codice fiscale (tax identification number) promptly after arriving.
• Healthcare access: Italy has a public health system, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, that residents can access. Registering with a local GP is an early priority.
• Banking: opening an Italian bank account can take longer than expected. Starting the process before you move, or immediately upon arrival, makes life easier.
• Language: even a basic level of Italian transforms daily life, particularly outside major cities and tourist areas. Apps and evening classes before you go are a worthwhile investment.
• Post-Brexit rules: UK nationals are third-country nationals in Italy and will need to obtain a residence permit if staying longer than 90 days. The
• Post-Brexit rules: UK nationals are third-country nationals in Italy and will need to obtain a residence permit if staying longer than 90 days. The Italian government’s official guidance provides details on this process.

Getting Started With White & Company

Over 150 years of international moving expertise. Trust our BAR and FIDI-accredited teams to safely pack, ship, and deliver your household across Europe.

If you are at the stage where Italy feels like a genuine next step rather than just a daydream, getting removals quotes earlier than you think you need to is always the right move.

Costs, timings, and logistics can all affect the decisions you make about where to live and when to move, so having that information in hand makes your planning much more grounded.

White & Company is a founding member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and holds accreditation with both FIDI and the OMNI global relocation networks.

That means wherever in Italy you decide to put down roots, you are backed by one of the most experienced and professionally recognised removals companies in the UK.

You can get a free removals quote in a matter of minutes or call us directly on 01489 663018 to talk through your move with one of our international specialists.

Italy is waiting. The practicalities are entirely manageable with the right people alongside you, and White & Company are here for you from start to finish!

Frequently Asked Questions for UK Expats moving to Italy

Can UK citizens move to Italy after Brexit?

Yes. Since Brexit, UK citizens are considered non-EU nationals and must obtain the appropriate visa or residence permit if they plan to stay in Italy for more than 90 days within an 180-day period.

Do I need a visa to live in Italy permanently?

If you intend to live in Italy long-term, you will generally need a visa before arriving and must apply for a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) after entering the country. The type of visa required depends on your circumstances, such as retirement, employment, study, or self-employment.

Can I buy a property in Italy as a UK citizen?

Yes. UK citizens can purchase property in Italy without becoming residents. However, owning a home does not automatically grant residency rights, so separate immigration requirements must still be met.

Is healthcare in Italy available to UK expats?

UK expats may be able to access Italy’s public healthcare system, depending on their residency status and circumstances. Many newcomers also choose private health insurance, particularly during the visa application process or while settling in.

What is the cost of living in Italy compared to the UK?

The cost of living in Italy varies significantly by region. Major cities such as Milan and Rome tend to be more expensive, while smaller towns and rural areas often offer lower housing costs, utilities, and everyday expenses than many parts of the UK.

Can I drive in Italy with a UK driving licence?

Visitors can use a valid UK driving licence for short stays. However, if you become an Italian resident, different rules may apply, and you may need to exchange your licence or meet additional requirements depending on current regulations.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.