If this is your first time visiting Italy, it may be hard to narrow down the best places to visit! There are so many magical places in this small country (roughly the size of New Mexico). With these top destinations listed below, you are sure to discover Italy’s most prized attractions, while taking in its rich culture, history, and amazing local cuisine. Read our other article on Italy’s Charming Towns if you want to sprinkle this into your trip also, or if you are planning a return trip. After all, one trip is never enough!
- 1) Rome. No vacation to Italy is complete without visiting its capital city. And although it is a busy place with lots of traffic, tourists, and all that comes with a big city, it absolutely cannot be missed. Rome is home to some of the most amazing archeological sites dating back thousands of years, some of the best museums in all of Italy, and some of the most important monuments known the world over! The Vatican City is also located within the city of Rome, allowing you to visit another country while there as well as the famous Vatican Museums with Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the stunning Basilica of St. Peter, with its jaw-dropping square! In Rome, you can visit the Colosseum, drop a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and wander the streets between the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona to soak in as much Italian culture as possible. There are other hidden places in Rome that are also not to be missed. Check out our other post on What Not to Miss in Rome!
- 2) Amalfi Coast/Sorrento: Probably my absolute favorite place on Earth! The colors, drastic sea and mountain views, deliciously fresh food, and the warm people make this destination an absolute must-visit location in Italy. The Amalfi Coast is comprised of several towns, with Amalfi and Positano being the most famous, but there are other smaller towns also worth a visit along this gorgeous coast. Staying in nearby Sorrento, just on the other side of the peninsula makes for a great exploration hub, since from here it is also easy to visit the archeological ruins of Pompeii, the island of Capri and the city of Naples. While here you must sample the buffalo mozzarella, authentic Napolitan pizza, the delicious limoncello, and anything with tomato sauce! The desserts are also divine!
- 3) Florence: This truly artistic city is a never-ending sensory overload. Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, and its streets, buildings, and churches are perfect examples of the beauty and elegance of this era. It is the capital of Tuscany and makes for an easy jumping point to also visit nearby towns and wineries. Its famous attractions include the Duomo (cathedral), the Accademia Museum with Michelangelo’s David statue, the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens, just to name a few. Florence also has a lively outdoor market and indoor food market, with a food hall, well worth the visit! Tuscan food is flavorful and hearty, and it’s crucial to try the local wild boar sauce over pappardelle with some local Chianti wine!
- 4) Venice: Well, there truly are few places on earth as Venice with its hundreds of canals, bridges and small alley-like streets. This is a pedestrian paradise with no cars anywhere in site. Getting around is on foot or by boat, which makes for a romantic backdrop any time of year. Venice can be quite busy, but visiting is still a must! The Grand Canal with its palaces is truly remarkable and the way the city was built will leave you perplexed! St. Mark’s Square houses some of the most remarkable mosaics in the Christian world, and the Doges Palace with its collection of paintings is also worth visiting. My favorite part of Venice is getting lost down one of its side streets and ending up in a beautiful square with children playing ball and locals having their much-loved aperitivo (before dinner drink with friends) accompanied by some yummy cicchetti (Venetian tapas).
- 5) Assisi: Famous for St. Francis and the important basilica built over his tomb, this is a pilgrimage site that is great for all! Assisi is located in the heart of the Umbria region of Italy and sits way up on a hill overlooking the scenic valley down below. There are olive groves, vineyards, estates, other hill towns and farms as far as the eye can see. This little town not only affords some of the best views in Italy, but the town itself is pristine and well kept with its medieval style buildings, its castle above the hill, and many beautiful churches, cafes, and shops. Assisi also has a more modern side to it at the bottom of the hill, where the giant Santa Maria degli Angeli church is located. There are also great hiking trails nearby, often following the footsteps of St. Francis and it is close to other charming towns of Umbria that are more off the beaten path
- 6) Siena: Siena is Florence’s rival yet has more of a medieval feel with a slight Renaissance sprinkle on top. It is truly located in the heart of the Chianti region and is famous for its annual Palio horse race that takes place twice each summer. The entire town is divided up into various districts (contrade) and has lively colors and mascots that you’ll often see in their flags throughout town. The Piazza del Campo the medieval soul of the city with is shell-shape design and its 285-foot tall tower, the Torre del Mangia. There are lovely outdoor cafes where you can watch passersby while sipping on some delicious local wine and savor some Tuscan food and fancy boutiques offering beautifully painted ceramics, carefully selected local food specialties, and high fashion clothing and shoe stores. Views from the various high points of the city are jaw-dropping, too! Siena is also near other quaint towns such as San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Pienza!
- 7) Cinque Terre: This picture-perfect location is similar to the Amalfi Coast down south, but located in the northwestern coast of Italy, just south of Milan. These 5 towns or “lands”, as the name suggests, are linked together by trains, boats, or old mule paths. Few of them have car access, and their majestic position on the this rocky Ligurian Coast, overlooking the Mediterranean sea, makes them a very popular destination for all. The most famous of these little towns is the town of Vernazza with its tiny harbor, beautifully colorful terraced buildings, and its great seafood restaurants. Summer months can be quite congested here so it is often best to visit in the shoulder season when you are sure to get less crowds. It is a popular beach destination as well as many of the nearby towns, such as Sestri Levante and Santa Margherita Ligure have nice beaches and plenty of hotels for all budgets.
- 8) Lake Como: The entire lake district of Italy is magnificent, but Lake Como seems to be the most famous. The main town here is Como, which is located less than an hour’s train ride from Milan. Many famous or wealthy Milanese have their weekend and summer getaways along the lake, and you will see many of their prominent palaces dotted around the lake. This lake, shaped like an upside down Y, shares its northern territory with Switzerland, making it easy to visit another country while here! The cathedral in Como (or the Como Duomo) boasts Gothic architecture and is worth a visit. The city is also famous for its silk production and beautiful gardens. You will also see the Italian Alps as its back drop and while here you can take a boat ride to nearby towns of Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo, and Lecco. There are very fancy hotels here, like the Villa d’Este and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo if you want to splurge while here. And it is also easy to visit other nearby lakes of Iseo, Maggiore, and Orta if you rent a car in the area!
- 8) Bologna: If you are a foodie like me, then this town should be at the top of your list. Bologna is in the heart of the Emilia Romagna region of Italy and considered to be the food capital of Italy! Bologna and the region are famous for Parmesan cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Lasagne, Tortellini, Mortadella (what we know as bologna in the US). The food markets here are a feast for the eyes, and the town itself is also rich in history and culture. The oldest university in the world (in continuous operation) was founded here in 1088. The city’s motto is “la dotta, la rossa, la grassa”, meaning the learned one (because of its university), the red one (for the color of its buildings), and the fat one (because of its delicious food). It is easy to do day trips from here to nearby Parma, Modena, and even to Maranella, home to the Ferrari car manufacturer and museum. While here, it is ideal to do either a food tour or a cooking class to ensure you sample and savor all it has to offer! Bologna is only a 1 hour train ride from Florence.
- 10) Milan: Then there is Milan, with its modern flare and financial importance to Italy. This city was heavily damaged during WWII and many buildings were rebuilt in a modern style to house the city’s important offices and company headquarters. The city is known for its high fashion flagship stores, its Michelin-rated restaurants, and cultural activities to cater to is population. Milan is like the New York of Italy in many ways. Important historical monuments include the Gothic Cathedral, the Scala Opera House, and the Castello Sforzesco. Housed in a small church is also Leonardo daVinci’s Last Supper, which if not booked way in advance, can be quite hard to visit due to its limited capacity! Milan’s airport has great connections to and from the US and also makes for a great end or start to a trip because of its proximity to the Italian Lakes, important wine growing regions around it, and is also not far from the Liguran Coast.
Wherever you choose to travel to in Italy, you won’t be disappointed. Italy offers a diverse experience for travelers and can truly appeal to every travel style. Let us help you plan that perfect trip with your own top destinations and interests in mind!