Italy is a beautiful country. There are so many reasons to go to Italy! Food is delicious, art and culture are everywhere, landscapes are breath-taking… Italy has it all.
But if you are looking at this page, I guess I don’t need to convince you of that. So, let’s get down to business and discover the best places to visit in Italy.
1 – Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and it was only fair it would come first! It’s probably going to be your starting point in Italy, although it depends where you are flying from.
Rome is the eternal city. History and culture are everywhere, it is one of the most beautiful cities you will ever get to see in your life.
As a matter of fact, little fun fact, Rome has only one twin city and it is Paris. This was done on purpose. According to the Italians, Rome is so beautiful that only Paris can equal it and therefore deserve to be twin city.
Going to Rome, it’s diving into over 2,000 years of history. From the Romans to the italian Renaissance and modern times. Every stone, every street, every single piece of it is history.
Amongst the best things to do and see in Rome, you will find:
- Spanish steps
- Trevi fountain
- Vatican museums and the sistine chapel
- Peter’s square and basilica
- Colosseum
And many more!
In terms of food, you have to try a typical roman Pasta Carbonara!
Plan your trip to Rome
2 – Naples
Naples is Southern Italy’s jewel. One of the best cities I got the chance to visit.
After all, they do say “see Naples and die”. Alright, I know, initially they would say that to refer to the fact that Naples was the further Greek colony and when slave would reach Naples that would generally be the place where they’d die. That having been said, it does work nowadays too to describe the fact that it is a beautiful city that you have to see at least once in your life!
Naples is a mix of many things. It’s often described as dirty and chaotic. The truth is: it is dirty and chaotic! But that’s part of what makes it so unique!
In Naples, you get that feeling of freedom and “dolce vita” like nowhere else.
Napolitan food is delicious! After all, it is the birthplace of pizza! You will find the best restaurants and street food at a very affordable price.
Pro tip: A pizza margarita should cost about 3 to 4 euros. Use that as an indicator to see if the restaurant you are going to is good or a total rip off. If the pizza margarita is over 4 euros, that means that the restaurant is overpriced as a general thing.
Some of the must-try napolitan foods are:
– Pizza fritta (fried pizza)
– All pizzas!
– Napolitan Baba
Naples is also the perfect starting point to discover some of the best landmarks in Italy. From Naples, you can visit:
– Pompeii
– Herculaneum
– Capri
– Amalfi Coast
And many more!
Plan your trip to Naples
3 – Sicily
From all places, Sicily has a very special place in my heart. There is no place quite like it. It’s very unique and it definitely has it all.
Sicily, it’s a mix between tradition, natural beauty and amazing food. What is there not to like?
You will find all sorts of landscapes and the best beaches in Italy.
Sicily is a land of sea and volcanoes.
Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands are a must do during any trip in Sicily.
Seeing and walking onto active volcanoes is an experience itself but you will be amazed by the beauty of the landscapes. You can go on hikes (although we recommend going with a guide) and you will go from the beach to the snowy top. Absolutely beautiful!
In terms of beaches, you will not be disappointed. White sand and white cliffs are on the cards. Taormina, Sant’Alessio, Fontane Bianche and the Scala dei Turchi are absolutely breath-taking.
Plan your trip to Sicily
4 – Sardinia
Sardinia is the perfect destination for beach lovers.
It’s very similar to Sicily but yet so different. First of all, there are no volcanoes in Sardinia but it is still this typical mediteraneen island. A bit of a mix between Corsica and Sicily if you wish.
You will find beaches as pretty as in the caraibes there!
If you go to the north of the Island, in the Magdalena national park, you will even get to see the Pink beach!
Plan your trip to Sardinia
5 – Venice
Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world and rightfully.
Venice is a very unique city in every kind of way. Water is everywhere, architecture is beautiful and the way it’s organised is unique.
It is one of the most romantic cities in the world and many couples get married there each day.
The main landmark is St Mark’s Square and the sight bridge.
The best ways to explore Venice are by foot, as there are no cars there, but also by boat.
The vaporetti are bus boats and will bring you anywhere you need including to the colourful islands of Murano and Burano.
If you want to go for the full romantic experience, get onto a gondola!
Venice can get very busy and smelly during the summer. The heat and water create a rather horrible smell. It is more recommended to go to Venice in spring or autumn.
Plan your trip to Venice
6 – Florence
Florence is THE destination for culture lovers!
If you love architecture, museums and art, you will absolutely love Florence. Everything about it!
Florence is located in Tuscany, one of the most cultural regions in the world.
It’s home to the Uffizi Gallery where you will get to see some very famous pieces such as David, The Birth of Venus, Medusa and many more.
The museum displays many pieces of Leonardo, Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Botticelli.
It’s also the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The Duomo (cathedral) is absolutely magnificent! You can even go to the top if you wish.
Some other famous Florence landmarks are:
- Ponte Vecchio
- David
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Piazza della Signora
In terms of food, you will get to try:
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina
- Lampredotto
- Papardelle al Cinghiale
- Tagliatelle Funghi Porcini e Tartufo
Plan your trip to Florence
7 – Puglia
Puglia is known as the “heel” of Italy and gathers the best that Southern Italy has to offer.
Stunning beaches, amazing food, authentic villages… Puglia has it all!
If you decide to go there, you will probably fly to Bari, the main city in Puglia, but I’d recommend heading south to discover the true authenticity of Puglia.
Lecce, also known as the “Florence of the south” is absolutely gorgeous and a must-do.
Puglia gets more than 300 days of sunshine which means that it’s a great destination at any time of the year. It is important to note though that it will get extremely hot in summer.
Plan your trip to Puglia
8 – Lake Garda & Como
Located about 2 hours north of Milan, Lake Garda and Como are breath-taking clear water lakes by the italian Alps.
It’s an ideal destination in summer, especially if you are travelling with kids.
Lake Garda is Italy’s biggest lake and has so much to offer but don’t forget to check out Lake Como that, although smaller, is just as beautiful.
The contrast between water and mountains is so refreshing!
Plan your trip to Lake Garda
9 – Dolomites
The Dolomites are a range of mountains located in North-East Italy. This region burst with natural beauty and is must-do!
The peaks have a very unique shape, something you’ve never quite seen anywhere else.
It is the perfect destination in winter if you like skiing and in summer if you want to go hiking.
Plan your trip to Dolomites
10 – Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre are a national park located in Liguria, about 2 hours from Genoa and 3h30 from Milan.
It is one of the most incredible places to see in Italy.
Cinque Terre means “5 lands” and designates 5 villages located on cliffs.
The Cinque Terre are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
They are only accessible by train. There is no road that accesses the Cinque Terre and the only vehicles you will see belongs to locals and were brought there by sea.
The Cinque Terre National Park Entrance fee is 7.50 euros and include the entrance to the park and the train ticket pass to travel between each village.
Plan your trip to Cinque Terre
So? Are you ready to discover the best destinations in Italy? Share your photos, we love to look at them!
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