It goes without saying that Italy is one hell of a beautiful country to visit. There are so many beautiful places in Italy that it can be extremely overwhelming for first-timers to plan their trip here, and that is why I have decided to write this article.
I spent more than a month traveling across Italy from north to south last summer, and even then, I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface.
Based on my extensive experience, I have compiled a list of the best places in Italy that I think you should visit, from the Dolomites to Sicily and everything in between. Without further ado, here are the 10 best places to visit in Italy:
1. The Dolomites
First and foremost, we start in the Dolomites, probably one of my favorite regions to explore in Italy. Nestled right at the heart of the Italian Alps, the Dolomites are one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. It is a hiker's paradise with an abundance of incredible hiking trails that wind around some of the most stunning peaks in Europe.
There are many beautiful places to visit in the Dolomites, spread across the region, such as the gateway city of Bolzano, the quiet German town of Brixen, and the laid-back town of Toblach, which is often used by hikers as their base while exploring all the hiking trails in the region.
There are also a ton of hiker trails you can do in the Dolomites, with 2 of my favorites being the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo hike and the Adolf-Munkel-Weg Hike, both of which, will reward you with stunning vistas of the jagged peaks of the Dolomites.
- Pompeii: Entry Ticket and Guided Tour with an Archaeologist (2 hours)
- Vatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket (1 day) 🏅 Top Pick
- Milan: Da Vinci's Last Supper Guided Tour (1 hour)
Even if you are not into hiking, there are still plenty of viewpoints you can visit that can be easily accessible via a cable car. Seceda, an iconic mountain peak in the Odle mountain range, one of the most well-known mountain peaks in the Dolomites, and Alpe di Siusi, a high-altitude plateau with a great view over the valley, are 2 of my favorite spots for this, so be sure to check it out.
All in all, if you love nature, mountains, and hiking, you're going to fall in love with the Dolomites. Contrary to popular beliefs on the Internet about traveling in the Dolomites, you don't need a car to explore the region. I managed to see all the places I wanted to see using only buses. You can check out my Dolomites itinerary by following the link below:
2. Lake Como
Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Lake Como is a beautiful lake set against the backdrop of the Italian Alps and it is known for its picturesque towns, stunning old villas, and beautiful lakeside views that is straight out of a fairy tale.
The lake is massive, with many picturesque towns dotting its coast that you can visit. Some notable places include Varenna, a romantic lakeside town with a beautiful promenade, Bellagio, another charming little town situated on a peninsula right in the center of the lake, and Como, the capital city of this Italian region.
The lake is also renowned for its beautiful lakeside villas, such as Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, where you can take leisurely strolls through their elaborate gardens, experience the lifestyle of the elite who resided here in the 18th century, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake from the villas' balconies.
You can choose to visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan or spend 3 days at Lake Como to fully immerse yourself in its incredible beauty. Either way, Lake Como is one of the highlights of visiting Italy, so make sure not to miss it.
3. Bergamo
Known for its charming old Upper Town located on top of a hill overlooking the city, surrounded by ancient walls, and its modern and lively lower town, Bergamo is a charming city and a perfect destination for a day trip from Milan for anyone looking for a unique blend of history and culture.
The city is divided into two sections: the upper and lower parts, both offering plenty of things to do. You can explore the Venetian Walls of the Upper Town and admire the view over Bergamo or be blown away by the frescoes inside Basilica Di Santa Maria Maggiore, among other activities. There are enough attractions here to fill your entire day.
Since Bergamo is only a one-and-a-half-hour train ride away from Milan, the city makes for a great day trip if you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Be sure to visit and explore the winding streets of Bergamo while you're in Italy.
4. Venice
Ah... Venice, the city of art, culture, and picturesque canals, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and home to some of the most unique-looking architecture you will see in Italy. The city doesn't really need an introduction as it's widely known by virtually everyone.
There is no doubt that Venice is one of the most popular destinations for tourists to visit in Italy. I went there expecting as much, and that is what I experienced. Overcrowded streets, long queues, and just about any cliche you can come to expect from an overtouristic city, like overpriced restaurants and cafes.
What I didn't expect to experience was how easy it was to escape the crowds and how easily it was to lose oneself in the crisscrossing narrow streets of Venice for hours without seeing a single tourist.
St. Mark's Square is a vast public square at the city's heart and makes for a great starting point as you explore all the city has to offer. Don't forget to climb up St. Mark's Campanile for incredible panoramic vistas of Venice and its lagoon, as well as visit Doge's Palace, Saint Mark's Basilica, and more.
All in all, despite being extremely overcrowded, it is still one of the most beautiful cities in the world to visit. Its narrow streets make it relatively easy to escape the crowds while exploring, so make sure to include a visit to Venice during your trip to Italy.
5. Florence
Florence is the stunning capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, home to world-renowned art, delicious cuisine, and probably one of the most iconic churches in the world, Duomo di Firenze, a structure that will completely blow your socks off the moment you see it in person.
There are so many things you can do in this city alone like admiring the beauty of Duomo di Firenze from every angle, going up to the top of Giotto's Bell Tower and admiring the giant dome of the Duomo from above, and checking out Piazzale Michelangelo, a public square located on top of a hill overlooking Florence, for an incredible view of Florence at sunset.
If you love museums, there are a ton of them here like Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world, Accademia Gallery, home to the famous Michelangelo's "David" sculpture, and more. Florence is one of the most impressive cities you will see in Italy, so be sure not to miss it.
6. Cinque Terre
If you are looking to explore some of the coastal towns of Northern Italy, you can't go wrong with Cinque Terre, a beautiful coastline known for its picturesque colorful villages you often see on Instagram.
Cinque Terre is made up of five small villages that are located along the Italian Riviera. The 4 best places you should definitely check out while you are here are Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
The first town is famous for its beaches, which is perfect for those who are looking to spend the day relaxing on the beach, while the rest of the towns are where you will find those iconic colorful houses Cinque Terre is famous for, and each of them is worth a visit, so be sure to spend some time and explore Cinque Terre while you are in Italy.
7. Bologna
Bologna is probably better known for its delicious pasta dish than for the city the dish is named after, but this beautiful city in the northern part of Italy also offers a wealth of historical and cultural sights for tourists looking to venture away from the usual tourist routes, such as Milan and Venice.
Everybody knows about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but I bet that not many know about Bologna's crooked Two Towers, which are among the most iconic landmarks in the city. In the past, the people here began building these tall watchtowers, possibly as a display of wealth, and there were so many of them at one point that the city earned the nickname 'the city of medieval towers.
With such a unique history behind an iconic landmark like this, it's hard not to recommend Bologna to those who love history and want to travel back in time and explore a well-preserved old city like this. If you are looking for a place to visit in Northern Italy, be sure to check out Bologna.
8. Siena
Siena is one of the most beautiful medieval towns with a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Middle Ages. The city is known for its medieval architecture and is home to a number of important landmarks and historical sites, including the Piazza del Campo, the city's main square and my favorite place out of all, the Palazzo Pubblico, or the city's town hall, and the Torre del Mangia, a tall tower that offers panoramic views of the city.
Visiting Siena and strolling through its winding streets feels like stepping back in time, thanks to its incredibly well-preserved architecture and crisscrossing cobblestone streets. The fact that all streets lead to the arena-like town square of Piazza del Campo, which is still in use today for horse racing, makes it feel even more like you are standing in the midst of history.
If you love history and want to see a very well-preserved medieval city, you are going to love Siena. You can easily visit the city as a day trip from Florence, or you can spend a few nights here and really get to immerse yourself in the historic city as you make your way down to Central Italy.
9. Rome
Of course, you can't have a list of the best places to visit in Italy without mentioning Rome, the capital city of Italy and home to some of the renowned landmarks in the world like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and so much more.
The city is packed with so many things to do, you can spend 3 full days exploring the city, and you are barely scratching the surface of all that Rome has to offer. You can spend the first full day exploring famous attractions within the northern part of the city, like the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and more.
On your second day, you can visit other lesser-known tourist attractions like the Baths of Caracalla, my favorite attraction here, and all the great basilicas around the city, while on your third day, you can go and bike around the Appian Way, the first wheeled vehicles road ever built by the Romans, and explore the surrounding areas.
All in all, a trip to Italy wouldn't be complete without visiting Rome and its famous landmarks, so make sure to allocate at least 2 to 3 full days for your visit.
10. Pompeii
If you love history, you have to visit Pompeii, the lost city that was almost wiped off the face of the planet by the great eruption of the gigantic volcano Vesuvius way back in 79 AD.
This forgotten city is famous for its incredible preservation as the city was completely buried and preserved by ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Before the eruption, Pompeii was a thriving city of around 11,000 people and one of the biggest cities of its time.
Within Pompeii, you will be able to get a glimpse of what life in a Roman city like Pompeii was like back in the day as you stroll around its cobblestone street, surrounded by houses and villas.
In some places, you will also find casts of the bodies of the victims of the eruption, which give a unique insight into the lives of the people of Pompeii. Basically, the cast bodies allow us to literally see the last moment of their lives. It was both eerie and fascinating at the same time.
The entire city is like an open-air museum, and you should plan to spend at least half a day here. You can visit Pompeii as a day trip from Naples or the Amalfi Coast town of Sorrento, which is just about an hour's train ride away. Be sure not to miss this historical site.
11. Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast is the crown jewel of Central Italy when it comes to offering unmatched sceneries filled with charming colorful towns, beautiful mountains, and breathtaking beaches. It is like the Cinque Terre of Central Italy and a place that you should definitely not miss as you travel across Italy.
There are several towns along the Amalfi Coast that are worth visiting, like Sorrento, a tourist town that is the perfect place to base yourself as you explore the Amalfi Coast.
Visiting Positano is undoubtedly the highlight of the Amalfi Coast. It is the most picturesque town you will find, with its iconic colorful houses cascading down a steep hillside to the sea, creating the stunning scenery the Amalfi Coast is renowned for.
Amalfi Town is also another charming town known for its stunning coastline, historical architecture, and charming Mediterranean atmosphere, which you should definitely not miss.
Expect to spend at least one full day exploring the Amalfi Coast, and you can use other days to relax in Sorrento or visit attractions like Pompeii and other points of interest in the region. All in all, it's an incredible place to visit and an excellent alternative to Cinque Terre if you don't intend to travel that far north.
12. Matera
Matera is one of my favorite places in Central Italy. The city is best known for its unique cave dwellings, beautiful stone cityscape, and the place where they shot many scenes of the last James Bond movie with Daniel Craig, 007: No Time to Die.
Its unique cave dwellings, also known as the "sassi", were inhabited by the local population for the longest time until the mid-20th century when people were relocated into more modern homes due to intractable poverty, poor sanitation, meager working conditions, and rampant disease.
Today, the place has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the site has been converted into a tourist attraction filled with cafes, hotels, and restaurants we all can enjoy.
You can spend the day exploring the stone city's narrow streets and check out all the attractions in the Lower Town like Chiesa di Santa Lucia alle Malve, a beautiful church carved from the small mountain, Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera, a small museum that recreated what life was like living in the cave back in the days, and Church of Saint Mary of Idris, another Catholic church built into a rocky hilltop.
You can either spend the night in one of the cave hotels here or you can visit Matera on a day trip from Bari or other big cities in the region. If you are looking for a unique place to visit in Italy, be sure to check out Matera.
13. Alberobello
Alberobello is another beautiful city to visit in Central Italy, known for its unique trulli, a small, conical-roofed home made of stone. The trulli were originally used as temporary shelters for farmers, but now it has become the identity of Alberobello and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Puglia
In the old town, you can stroll along and check out all these coned-shaped trullis, lined up along the narrow streets, admire the wonderful intricate stonework, as well as visit the many shops selling local crafts and products here.
While you are in Alberobello, be sure to check out the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, a historic church featuring the same trulli architecture that made Alberobello famous, Trullo Sovrano, a unique 18th-century conical hut housing a heritage museum, and Territory Museum "House Pezzolla", a great museum to learn more about the history.
Once again, you have the option to spend the night in these iconic trullis in Alberobello, or you can visit the city as a day trip from Bari or other major cities in the region. In any case, if you're looking for a unique town to explore in Italy, be sure to visit Alberobello.
14. Palermo, Sicily
Palermo is the capital city of Sicily steeped in history, culture, and beauty, that is so unique it might feel like you are visiting a different country! There is no better place to begin your journey in Sicily than here.
From its stunning Arab-Norman architecture to its bustling street food markets and stunning beaches that are reminiscent of those flea markets in Asia, Palermo is a city that will truly blow you away.
One of the coolest things to do in Palermo is to explore its vibrant food markets which is something that took me by surprise quite a bit. It's colorful, chaotic, and beautiful all at once, just like the markets in Thailand or Taiwan, which is definitely unexpected in a European country like Italy.
You will also find some of the most impressive and unique pieces of architecture that highlight the incredible diversity of Sicily incredibly well, like the Church of San Cataldo, a stunning Norman Chuch Palermo Cathedral, a massive 12th Century cathedral, the Norman Palace, a 9th-century palace, home to the famous Cappella Palatina.
Expect to spend at least 3 or more days in Palermo if you wish to see all that the city has to offer. You can also dedicate another day to visit the historic coastal town of Cefalu as a day trip, which is just an hour away from Palermo and perfect for a day of sunbathing at the beach and hiking around ancient ruins.
15. Valley of the Temples, Sicily
Last but not least, if you are planning to visit Sicily, be sure to get to the Valley of the Temples, home to some of the most well-preserved Greek ruins in the world and definitely, my favorite place in all of Sicily.
Within the Valley, you will find incredibly well-preserved temples like the Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Zeus, which were built over 2,000 years ago. These ruins provide us with a glimpse of what it must have been like to be living in an ancient Greek city.
Temple of Concordia in particular, is one of the most well-preserved structures from Ancient Greece I have ever seen. Most of the temple's exterior is left pretty much intact except the roof, something not so easy to see in such a complete form.
Other notable attractions in the park you should see are Tempio di Giunone, an ancient Greek temple built in the 5th Century BC dedicated to the goddess Juno, the Temple Of Heracles, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Heracles, the Greek god of strength and courage, and the Temple of Zeus, a temple dedicated to Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology.
To reach the Valley of the Temples, you first need to travel to Agrigento, a small city near the southern coast of Sicily. You can easily reach Agrigento by train from Palermo. Once there, you can walk to the East Entrance of the Valley, spend a minimum of 2 hours exploring, and then exit from the West Entrance, where you can catch a bus back to Agrigento.
I highly recommend spending at least one night in Agrigento. This will provide you with enough time to explore the valley and also explore Agrigento's historic old town before moving on to your next destination in Sicily.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Italy
I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
- If you are looking for a place near Rome with beautiful coasts, charming towns, and beaches to relax in, you can't go wrong with the Amalfi Coast. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to the Amalfi Coast.
- One of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, you definitely will want to visit Pompeii while you are in Italy. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Pompeii.
- Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
- Every trip to Northern Italy starts in Milan. If you are a first-timer, here are the 16 best things to do in Milan.
- Ah... Venice, the city of art, culture, and the birthplace of the Renaissance. You just can't visit Italy without seeing it with your own eyes. To help you plan a trip there, here are the 15 best things to do in Venice.
- For a complete backpacking guide to Lake Como, check out: The 3-Day Lake Como Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
- At the heart of sunny Tuscany lies Florence, one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. If you are planning to visit Florence, check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Florence.
- Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque stacked houses on cliffs and coastlines, is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the bustling city life in Northern Italy. To start planning, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Cinque Terre.
- Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
- For a complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites, check out: the 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Sicily? Check out: One Week Backpacking Sicily Itinerary
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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