From piccolo-sized fishing villages to enchanting alpine hamlets, these are the best places to visit in Italy for gastronomy, history and natural beauty, writes Eleanor Edstrom.
You’ve already leant against the Tower of Pisa, re-enacted The Lizzie McGuire Movie and zigzagged along the Amalfi Coast in a Fiat 500. You’ve sipped spritzes in Sorrento and soaked up the Tuscan countryside through Chianti-tinted glasses. What is left to tick off the Italian bucket list? Fear not, the Bel Paese offers a bottomless bounty of beautiful locales, many of which lie off the well-trodden trail.
With sun-ripened tomatoes and hill-hugging villages at every turn, Italy makes a strong case as one of the world’s most charming tourist destinations. The country also boasts more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other, thanks to its diversity of landscapes and history-rich architecture. Between medieval fortresses and sun-dappled grottos, the best places to visit in Italy all share a common thread: a contagious zest for life’s simple pleasures – and an uncanny ability to make visitors lose track of time. Here are 32 of them.
Scilla, Calabria
Scilla is a mythical place. Literally, because the Greek legends tell us it was home to the guardian sea monster Scylla. And figuratively, because its seafront dwellings and cobbled walkways are something out of a fairytale. The highlights of this coastal town include its swordfish heritage, Marina Grande beach and the spectacular Ruffo Castle, which hosts the Scilla Jazz festival.
Spoleto, Umbria
Wine glasses clink over long, lazy lunches, and ancient Roman aqueducts lead to frescoed cathedrals dating back to the 12th century. This historic city in southeastern Umbria is renowned for its hearty cuisine, Renaissance art history and world-class viticulture.
Levanzo, Aegadian Islands
Located off the west coast of Sicily, the pocket-sized island of Levanzo has just one serene village and port. It’s one of the best places to visit in Italy when it comes to crystal blue coves and southern charm.
Castelmezzano, Basilicata
Clinging to the jagged peaks of the Lucanian Dolomites, the village of Castelmezzano is a veritable spectacle. The town is surrounded by a swathe of hiking trails, and – for those keen for a little adrenaline – is also reachable via ‘The Angel’s Flight’ zipline from the town of Pietrapertosa.
Saturnia, Tuscany
Many of the best places to visit in Italy offer a respite from the hurried pace of metropolitan life, and Saturnia is no exception. This spa town in north-central Italy is famed for its sulphurous thermal springs, which local legend claims were created when Saturn, the God of Peace, became frustrated by humanity’s warfare and split the earth with a thunderbolt.
Siena, Tuscany
Siena scores high in the culture stakes. The stunning terracotta town brims with medieval architecture, gothic cathedrals and exceptional art galleries. Foodies can enjoy a variety of local specialties including pici pasta, honey-drizzled Pienza pecorino and ricciarelli: white dusted biscuits made from almond paste.
Varenna, Lake Como
Just 15 to 20 minutes by ferry from the more popular Lake Como towns of Bellagio and Tremezzina, Varenna is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy. Stop by the elegant gardens of Villa Monastero or the Castle of Vezio’s medieval fortress for unparalleled lake vistas.
Alberobello, Puglia
This small commune in Puglia’s Itria Valley is home to the highest concentration of trulli dwellings in the world. Characterised by white limestone and domed roofs, the trulli of Alberobello are an example of corbelled dry-stone construction, a prehistoric building technique still prevalent in the region today.
The Dolomites
Laced with staggering alpine peaks, the Dolomites has long been crowned one of the best places to visit in Italy for hikers and skiers. Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val Gardena are popular bases for exploring the region’s abundance of trails and pistes.
Stay: Is this the most beautiful sustainable hotel in the Italian Dolomites?
La Maddalena, Sardinia
The only apt way to describe the Maddalena Archipelago is heaven on earth. Best experienced by sailboat, the archipelago consists of seven major islands surrounded by waters of unbelievable visibility and striking shades of turquoise.
Pompeii, Campania
While Pompeii may not be a secret gem, this sprawling archaeological site is unlike any other on the planet. Buried under layers of ash and pumice from the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D., the remains of this ancient city are still viewable today, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy for history buffs.
Lake Orta, Piedmont
Lesser known than Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore yet equally beautiful, Lake Orta is just a one-hour drive from Milan airport. Narrow alleys snake off towards waterfront promenades, pastel shuttered windows creak in the breeze and stone piazzas lure passerbys with the truffled scent of pillowy pasta parcels. Enjoy the region’s rich gastronomy, marvel at ivy-clad villas and take a boat out to Isola San Giulio to explore the silent basilica.
Trastevere, Rome
This charming neighbourhood in Rome is one of the best places to visit in Italy, boasting a labyrinth of sun-drenched squares and hidden alleys. While the Basilica de Santa Maria is certainly a treat for the senses, there’s nothing wrong with spending all day sipping espresso at one of the many terrace cafes.
Ischia, Bay of Naples
The quieter cousin of Capri, Ischia is a stunning island in the Bay of Naples known for its volcanic soil and mineral-rich thermal waters. The medieval Aragonese Castle, connected to the island by a stone bridge, is Ischia’s most famed landmark.
Matera, Basilicata
Tucked away on a rocky outcrop in southern Italy’s Basilicata region, Matera is a remarkable labyrinth of natural caves, rock-carved dwellings and frescoed churches. With preserved evidence of human settlement since the Palaeolithic period, it is not only the country’s oldest city but also one of the best places to visit in Italy for history enthusiasts.
Monopoli, Puglia
Not to be mistaken with the classic board game, Monopoli is a white-washed port town bordering the Adriatic Sea. It will, however, have you feeling like life’s wealthiest player – where wealth is measured in high gelato counts, historic bell towers and serene ocean vistas.
Monti Sibillini National Park
The Monti Sibillini National Park is among the best places to visit in Italy for natural beauty, stretching more than 70,000 hectares across the regions of Marche and Umbria. The landscapes vary from 2000-metre alpine peaks to verdant slopes dotted with rural villages and home to deer, golden eagles and wolves. Every year between May and late July, the fields of Castelluccio di Norcia welcome a dazzling display of flowering lentils in vibrant purples and reds.
Locorotondo, Puglia
Locorotondo is often deemed one of the prettiest places to visit in Italy. White-washed walls meet pointed gable roofs while olive groves sprawl outwards from this laidback town in the Puglia region.
Orvieto, Terni
Located midway between Rome and Florence, Orvieto is a culinary citadel perched atop a volcanic tufa plateau. A network of caves below the medieval town speaks to its Etruscan roots, while the surrounding vineyards and farms offer rich local produce, from crisp white wines to cured meats and smooth olive oil.
Florence, Tuscany
No escape under the Tuscan sun would be complete without a visit to the beautiful city of Florence. Home to many Renaissance masterpieces and the outstanding Uffizi Galleries, it is by far one of the best places to visit in Italy for art and architecture.
Cinque Terre, Liguria
Cinque Terre is a string of five clifftop towns strewn precariously along the Italian Riveria. You can visit all five in the same day with the ease of train connections, but the best views will come from hiking the breathtaking 11-kilometre Blue Trail (you can also complete smaller sections of it) between Riomaggiore and Monterosso al Mare. Visit during off season to benefit from fewer crowds.
Gulf of Orosei, Sardinia
Considered one of the best places to visit in Italy for trekking, the Gulf of Orosei abounds with unspoiled nature. Extending 40 kilometres along Sardinia’s eastern coast and backdropped by the foothills of the Supramonte massif, the area offers rugged sea caves, mighty cliffs and brilliant blue waters.
Mount Etna, Sicily
The most active stratovolcano in the world, Mount Etna makes for a high drama, spine-tingling experience. Visitors can hike to the summit craters with a guide to experience the magical black lava fields, ashy slopes and sulphuric stench of this fire-spewing monument.
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Just forty minutes from Florence by train, Bologna is often considered one of the best places to visit in Italy thanks to its historic university, rosy-hued streets and flourishing food scene. The city not only houses one of the largest and best-preserved medieval sites in Europe, but is also less touristy than many other sizeable Italian cities.
Garfagnana, Lucca
Still relatively sheltered from mass tourism, this gorgeous region in central Italy is ideal for connecting with nature. Expect quaint rural villages, meandering rivers and fertile greenery that changes colour with the seasons – along with a spooky supernatural history (think ghost towns and storied devil bridges).
Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige
Not all of the best places to visit in Italy are sun drenched and seafaring (though there are plenty of those, too). Lying in the glacial Adige Valley, Trento is a delightful city in northern Italy famed for its historic castles, modern museums and white sparkling Trento DOC wine. Its privileged position near the Alps also makes an excellent base from which to reach ski resorts and hiking trails.
Portofino, Liguria
Portofino has long captivated the hearts of artists, and it isn’t hard to see why. Citrus-hued lodgings, tantalising seafood and glitzy boutiques are all bundled up in a charming harbourside parcel tucked along an alluring emerald coastline.
Turin, Piedmont
Backdropped by the snow-capped Alps, Turin is a refined, culture-rich city in Northern Italy. Browse a sweeping selection of vintage and design outlets, take in panoramic views of the city from the Mole Antonelliana tower and enjoy local delicacies in the grand Piazza Castello.
Castro Marina, Puglia
This beautiful seaside resort in the Salento region of Puglia, also known as the ‘heel’ of the Italian boot, is abundant in Caribbean blues and luxe cliffside residences. Rent a house with ocean views and spend your days floating by the marina’s beach club or at picturesque Cala dell’Acquaviva. The town makes a lovely base from which to explore Salento’s incredible coves and beaches, including nearby Grotta Zinzulusa, Porto Miggiano Beach and Spiaggia e Piscina Naturale di Marina Serra.
Ponza, Lazio
Marked by marvellous Blue Grottos and sea stacks, Ponza is the largest island of the Italian Pontine Islands archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island is relatively easy to reach from Rome, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy for international visitors in search of seaside bliss.
Syracuse, Sicily
Step back in time at a preserved ampitheatre or befriend local bon vivants at a local gelateria. This port city on Sicily’s Ionian coast has it all, from humming produce markets to idle beaches, alfresco dining and Baroque architecture. You can also visit Syracuse’s old town on the island of Ortigia, joined to the mainland by a bridge.
Venice, Veneto
Often considered one of the best places to visit in Italy due to its unique canal complex, Venice attracts millions of visitors each year. To help avoid overtourism, try to visit in low seasons or consider visiting alternative cities in Northern Italy such as Padua, Verona or Sirmione.
The best places to visit in Italy for…
Beaches and coastline
- Sardinia
- Sicily
- Amalfi Coast
- Puglia
- Calabria
- Aeolian Islands
- Liguria
- Capri
Food and gastronomy
- Bologna
- Piedmont
- Modena
- Naples
- Sicily
- Parma
- Calabria
- Tuscany
- Rome
- Florence
History and architecture
- Rome
- Matera
- Pompeii
- Bologna
- Florence
- Milan
- Alberobello
- Pisa
- Spoleto
Natural wonders
- The Dolomites
- Lake Como
- Lake Orta
- Lake Garda
- Garfagnana
- Mount Etna
- Sardinia
- Tuscany
- Gran Paradiso National Park
- Monti Sibillini National Park
Where to find the best places to visit in Italy
What is the most beautiful part of Italy?
The southern end of the country is the most beautiful part of Italy for beaches and coastline, while the north is known for its stunning mountainous scenery and central Italy for its sprawling countryside. Cities such as Rome, Florence and Matera are considered among the most beautiful places in Italy for historical architecture.
What part of Italy should I visit for the first time?
A great option for first-time visitors to Italy is to see Rome and the south (Amalfi Coast, Sicily and/or Naples) or Rome and the north (Tuscany, the lake district and/or the Dolomites). Either itinerary will allow you to experience Italy’s magic, from historic cities to amazing food and magnificent scenery.
What are the top three destinations in Italy?
The three most popular places to visit in Italy are Rome, Venice and Florence, however the Amalfi Coast is also high on many travellers’ bucket lists.
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