The land of pasta, pizza, the Pantheon and Pisa is still one of our favourite travel destinations. With so many places to visit in Italy, it’s no surprise that tourists have been flocking to this romantic, architecturally blessed, foodie heaven for centuries.
From the wood fired ovens of Naples and the sumptuous wines of Tuscany to the crumbling ruins of Rome and the romantic canals of Venice, Italy has enough to seduce even the most sceptic of travellers. Those who believe that “Italy is too touristy” are often still intoxicated by the cobblestone back streets, the passionate street music and the picturesque cafes that spill out onto the streets at every corner.
This is a place that you will fall in love with and it’s almost a guarantee that you will return here. We spent over a month in Italy and we’re still dying to go back. In this article, I’m going to highlight not just the places we’ve visited, but all of the best places to visit in Italy. One day, we hope to see them all and hopefully this list will give you some ideas for your next trip to Europe’s big boot.
When To visit Italy
The best time to visit Italy really depends on what part of the country you plan to visit, what activities you want to experience and if can handle the heat! If you’re into winter sports, then the low season might be for you, but if you want to experience Italy with fewer crowds and an ideal temperature, then shoulder season is probably the best time to go.
High season in Italy
May to July & September to Mid-October (Plus a peak over Christmas and Easter)
Summer is the high season in Italy, but August is so hot that fewer people actually visit during this time, however this is when Italians go on holiday. because they tend to travel to other parts of Europe, there is actually more availability for hotels around this time, but the heat can definitely be oppressive, especially in the south and in the cities.
Mid-May to July is a very busy season in Italy because the weather isn’t too hot, but not too cold and all hotels and sites are open. The beaches are warm enough for swimming and people are planning their first holiday of the year after Christmas. This is considered peak season. Again after the summer heat dies down, there’s a secondary peak in September when people come to enjoy the fall colours and temperate weather.
Of course, different places to visit in Italy have different climates, but generally this is a great time to go.
Shoulder season in Italy
March to Mid-May (Easter is super busy) & October to November
Shoulder season is our favourite time to visit Italy, particularly late March and April, when the weather warms up a bit (perfect for sightseeing), and there aren’t too many travellers. The hotel costs are also much lower around this time, but beware of Easter when the country (particularly Rome and around Vatican City) becomes extremely busy. hotel prices soar and it’s hard to find rooms. other than the few days around Easter though, the country is not too busy, the sites aren’t packed and the hotel prices are great.
In general, no matter what places in Italy you choose to travel, shoulder season is our favourite time to visit.
Low season in Italy
August (too hot) as well as December to February (outside of Christmas and Carnival)
Winter is low season in Italy mainly because it’s really cold and most people choose to visit warmer destinations during this time. many hotels and some sites actually close down in the low season, but those that remain open often have huge discounts.
It’s nice to enjoy the cities and sites without the crowds, but sometimes the ambiance dies along with the tourism season. If you’re into winter sports however, this is the time to visit.
Getting around Italy
Our favourite way to get around the various places to visit in Italy is by train, but there are also good bus connections, decent domestic flights and some budget-friendly multi-day, multi-city tours. Trains however, are comfortable, budget-friendly and offer the best way to see the Italian countryside when getting from point A to point B.
If you’re looking to book tickets online, check out GoEuro. They search loads of different partner websites to find the best rates on buses, trains and planes across Italy and the rest of Europe. They also have a super-useful app that makes it easy to book trains and navigate the transportation options in Italy.
I like using their app to search for transport options between destinations because you can easily bring up options between two cities (ie: Rome and Venice or any other places on this list) and then you can simply switch between the tabs in the results to compare the prices and times between buses, trains and flights.
They also have a good list of destinations and a blog with different places to visit in Italy, what to do, what to expect and where to eat.
Places To visit in Italy: The North
Perhaps nowhere in the country is the Italian connection to the soil, the food, the wines and zest for life as prominent as in the north of Italy.
If you’ve only visited Venice, you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise, but outside of the quiet canals and growing casino scene of Italy’s biggest tourist draw, there lies hidden villages, dramatic coastal terrain, inspired cuisine and near perfectly preserved architecture. here are our favourite places to visit in northern Italy.
Cinque Terre
Technically pronounced chinkway tayreh and meaning “5 islands”, Cinque Terre is a region of five historic towns along Italy’s Ligurian coast that appears on most people’s travel bucket list. The tiny villages of Manarola, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore used to be little more than fishing villages, but today they attract thousands of visitors from around the world and together form one of Italy’s main tourism draws, Cinque Terre.
Most tourists choose to hike between the villages along one of the many picturesque trails that weave their way through the towns, up and down the hills and along the dramatic coastline. now designated as a Unesco world Heritage site, Cinque Terre is well-preserved, well-signed, well-trodden, and well-worth a visit. It’s no wonder why so many people list Cinque Terre as one of their favourite places to visit in Italy.
Dont Miss:
Riomaggiore: The largest of the five villages in Cinque Terre and the unofficial capital of the coast, brilliantly colored buildings all tumble-down a steep ravine towards a tiny harbor. Be sure to see this place at sunset when it’s aglow in the late afternoon sun.
Manarola: A bustling fishing village surrounded by grapevines that produce the famous Cinque Terre wine, Manarola is the perfect place to experience what everyday village life looks like in the region.
Corniglia: surrounded by vineyards and perched atop a 100 meter high cliff, this tranquil village maze of cobbled streets and stone terraces is the only one of “the big 5” towns in Cinque Terre that doesn’t have direct access to the beach, but it’s the only place where you can get that perfect picture of all 5 villages together from this high-altitude viewpoint.
Vernazza: narrow lanes known as caruggi make up a romantic labyrinth of stairs, terraces, balconies and amphitheaters all facing the brilliantly blue Mediterranean Sea. check out the Piazza Marconi and come in the afternoon when the pastel-colored buildings are at their brightest.
Monterosso: always in the shadow of the more charming villages in Cinque Terre, Monterosso still has its worthy qualities aside from being the most easily accessible town and the only one with a proper beach. It also has lemon trees and you can purchase fish right from the fishermen in the harbour.
Best tours of Cinque Terre:
Tuscany
Instead of listing each of the villages in Tuscany, I’m just going to list the entire region and tell you that you should spend at least a week here, exploring the many villages, vineyards, cathedrals and cobblestone back streets. I highly recommend basing yourself in Florence and then travelling out from there. Florence is still one of our favourite places to visit in Italy, and while it’s a very special city, it is the surrounding villages and landscapes that really add to its allure.
See Also: What To do in Florence – Our list of 21 awesome things To Do
There are some fantastic tours available which I’ll list below. We did a wine tour that also brought us to many nearby towns which was a great way to see the region while sipping on some of the vintages that made this area of Italy so famous. If you choose to rent a car for your visit, you could also explore on your own, but I found the guides to be invaluable for learning about the history, culture, cuisine and viticulture of Tuscany.
Are you a foodie? check out our pick of the best restaurants in Florence
Don’t Miss:
Florence: The perfect base. Florence’s Duomo is truly a sight to behold. There are also some great walking and wine tasting tours within the city. Without a doubt, Florence is one of the best places to visit in Italy.
Siena: A classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its large fan-shaped piazza the Piazza del Campo, which features an imposing bell tower, the Torre del Mangia.
San Gimignano delle Belle Torri: This small medieval town dates back to the 8th century and is probably the most famous of Tuscany’s small towns. San Gimignano boasts 14 medieval towers and narrow alleyways, all overlooking olive groves and vineyards.
Best Tuscany Tours:
Milan
Best known for its high-end fashion factories, fancy boutiques and super shopping, Milan also has some of the country’s most stunning architecture and historical sites as well as its best bars and most chic cafes (usually Milanese don’t distinguish between the two).
There’s a considerable amount of rain in Milan and the locals often don’t speak English, but that’s never deterred the enormous number of tourists who flock to this haven for high fashion hand bags and top-end restaurants. Take your time and get lost in the lesser known areas of Brera, Corso Como, and Navigli and find a Milan that is miles away from what you likely expected before your arrival.
Don’t Miss:
Castello Sforzesco: The former fortress and residence of Milan’s most powerful rulers is now a campus for some of the city’s best cultural institutions.
Duomo: Milan’s Duomo is considered the largest and most fascinating Gothic complex in all of Italy, which is no surprise because it took about 500 years to build!
Monumental Cemetery: A cemetery may not have been at the top of your list of places to visit in Italy, but once you see the architecture that makes up the Monumental Cemetery, you’ll see why it’s considered such a must-see site.
Best tours in Milan:
Venice
For some reason, despite all of they hype for this infamously romantic canal village in Italy, we weren’t overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong – aesthetically, Venice was breathtaking and is still one of the places to visit in Italy that you shouldn’t miss.
See Also: things to do in Venice (video)
To us, Venice felt so touristy that is was almost completely devoid of what makes Italy so amazing. even the local businesses here were run by foreigners with many Russians buying up gorgeous old buildings and converting them into large hotels or (even worse) casinos.
On the surface, Venice is still one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy, but as you dig a little deeper and find out that many Venetians have sold up and moved to the mainland and very little true culture actually remains here, the place becomes somehow tainted.
That’s not to say it shouldn’t still be on your bucket list of places to visit in Italy, but you may find that it lacks the food, culture and day-to-day life of places like Rome, Naples and Florence.
Don’t Miss:
Canal Tour: You have to hop on a boat and be gently paddled around the canals for at least an hour. If you don’t, you’ll be the only tourist to ever visit Venice without actually venturing on a traditional gondola.
Murano & Burano: Don’t miss these two nearby islands. Colourful, quaint and picturesque.
Piazza San Marco: Packed, chaotic and oh so gorgeous, this piazza is home to Saint Mark’s Basilica. It’s a stunning place, but just know that the lines here are enormous! If you actually want to go inside the basilica, join a tour so you can skip the horrendous lines.
The Grand Canal: The main canal in Venice, this is a great place to chill, stroll, enjoy an aperitivo or a gelato and people watch.
Best tours in Venice:
☞ Click here to see all tours available in Venice with Walks of Italy
Turin
Filled with flea markets, tasty aperitivo, an Egyptian museum and lovely back streets, Turin is another rain-prone tourist hub with a lot to offer visitors. If you expect to spend a lot of time enjoying cultural activities abnd excursions, you should definitely pick a special tourist card. These are sold at ticket kiosks and many hotels around the city and can save you a lot of money on entrance fees around Turin.
You may feel like you’ve temporarily stepped into Paris as you meander through the bougainvillea draped, cobble stoned streets and tuck into tiny cafes for espresso and pastries, but Turin has a personality all its own.
With a history of chocolate, booming contemporary art and architecture, a growing live-music scene and innovative food and wine culture, Turin has enough to keep you busy for a while.
Don’t Miss:
Piazza Castello: also known as Castle Square, you’ll find this site in the centre of the city. It is surrounded by arcades on three sides, each of which were built in a different period.
Palazzo Reale: actually the home of the royal family from 1660 until the Unification of Italy in 1861. The state Apartments in the Palazzo provide a fascinating glimpse into the arc