Discover the best places to visit in Italy, from iconic cities to charming villages, with firsthand travel tips to help you plan an unforgettable trip.
We’ve traveled across Italy, from its famous cities to the tiniest hilltop villages, and every stop has left us in awe. In this guide, we’re sharing the best places to visit in Italy, by region, with tips from our own experiences to help you plan a trip that’s just as unforgettable. These are ranked in the order we’d visit if it were our very first trip!
OUr awards:
Tuscany Region
1. Tuscany
There is truly nothing more iconic than the Tuscan countryside. With rolling hills of vineyards, idyllic stone homes with shutters, and those gorgeous towering Italian Cypruses trees lining the roads, it is truly stunning everywhere you go. Technically this region ranges from just north of Rome in the south all the way to Emilia-Romagna in the north.
The best way to explore this region is by car so you’ll want to rent a car (the smaller the better in Italy) or book guided tours. We usually prefer private tours, but there are a ton of small group tours available as well!
While I doubt you can go wrong with any of the towns in this region for basing or exploring, we have a couple we recommend as the best places to visit in Tuscany. We love the gorgeous hilltop town of Montepulciano. It’s well-known for it’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (one of Tuscany’s top wines). You could also check out San Gimignano known as the “Medieval Manhattan” due its fourteen surviving stone towers. Plus, there are tons of award winning gelato shops here.
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There are literally hundreds of other small towns throughout Tuscany though so you’ll be able to find something for whatevery your interests are: Volterra (in the Twilight films), Cortona (Under the Tuscan Sun), Pienza (pecorino cheese), or Chianti region (Chianti wine).
For hotels, I would look out for some agrotourism properties that are located on farms or vineyards and give you a taste of the local life (literally as the food is amazing here, too).
- Salvapiano Holiday Ranch ($): Family-friendly resort style ranch
- Boutique Wine Resort – Villa Dianella ($$): Charming family-run wine resort with amenities
- Mastrojanni Relais ($$$): High-end renovated farm house with amenities
2. Florence
The historic town of Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the bustling capital of the Tuscan region and is a must-visit city. This city is gorgeous from every alleyway and has some of the most show-stopping attractions in Italy with the statue of David by MichaelAngelo and the stunning duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You could do Florence in a day trip. But if you are into art history or the renaissance period in Northern Italy, I highly recommend a few nights. Plus you’ll get some delicious food.
- Le Tre Orchidee Florence ($): Private rooms + bathrooms in shared space.
Villa Neroli – Place of Charme ($$): Former ancient monastery, now elegant hotel
Villa Nardi – Residenza D’Epoca ($$$): 19th century mansion with private park
Sneak a peak at our actual expenses for a two-week roadtrip through Italy.
3. Pisa
Pisa is a controversial stop on many people’s itineraries. Many have said it’s overcrowded and touristy. However, when we went, there was no one there (mid-November) and we found Pisa absolutely charming. There is nothing like seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (it actually is leaning so much). We’ve had some amazing meals here and loved the slow-paced shopping street of Corso Italia. Overall, it’s one of our favorites and we would recommend it if you are visiting in the off-season.
- La Torre Garbata ($): Adorable rooms with a prime location
- Palazzo Cini Luxury Rooms in Pisa ($$): Boutique Hotel award winner
- Prato dei Miracoli Residenza d’Epoca ($$$): Rooms overlook the Tower of Pisa!
4. Rome
Personally, we think no list of cities to visit in Italy would be complete without Rome. All roads do lead to Rome, so you practically have to visit. This ancient town is absolutely remarkable. While it does get excessively busy near the major tourist spots (The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, etc.), you can often walk just a few blocks away from those sites and find incredible local restaurants and shops without the crowds (or tourist prices).
We’ve been to Rome seven times now over the past five years and we still have more to explore. This town is chalk full of historical sites and all the best homemade pasta shops. Truthfully, even if you plan nothing and just roam the streets of Rome, I think you’ll love it.
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Be sure to check out Vatican City at least once. And if you get a chance, head out to the adorable town of Anguillara Sabazia. This small town is located right on the Lake Bracciano and only an hour or so away from Rome.
Rome is quite large but public transit is easy to use, so you can really stay anywhere. We’ve stayed all over and here are a few of our favorite properties (organized by budget).
- Hampton Inn Rome East ($): Great value and pretty views
- Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge ($$): Great location with all the modern amenities
- Hilton Rome Eur La Lama ($$): A bit outside of the main area but great for Hilton Diamond members
Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel ($$$): Sprawling estate above the Vatican
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5. Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre (or Five Towns) is another iconic stop in Italy. It’s crazy it’s so low on my list because I absolutely adored it here, but I really do think the other regions are higher. This region includes all five towns that are connected by railway and hiking paths (Sentiero Azzurro, or Blue Trail). It also kind of includes Spezia since that is the closest port city and lots of cruises dock there. We also stayed in Spezia and took the train into Cinque Terre as a more budget friendly option.
I would highly recommend visiting the Riomaggiore town during sunset. This is the iconic view over the bay with the colorful houses stacked on a hill overlooking the ocean. It’s a short hike out to the viewpoint and it gets very busy. We went in November and it was perfect. We even hiked from Monterosso to Vernazza (the rest of the trail was closed when we visited).
- Affittacamere Le Giare ($): Riomaggiore, old school with views
- Hotel La Spiaggia ($$): Beachfront in Monterosso al Mare + breakfast
- The Sunset Line ($$$): Guest house in Riomaggiore with sun terrace
Campania Region (Amalfi Coast + Naples)
I debated putting this altogether or not since it really encompasses so many different cities. While they are all very close in distance and pair together perfectly for a trip, you could also visit each separately and enjoy them on their own. I’ll put these in order of where we recommend you visit.
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6. Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is one of those picture-perfect postcard destinations. The colorful villages climbing the steep cliff sides and dropping off right into the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s actually an entire region of the coast ranging from Vietri sul Mare to Positano, covering thirteen separate municipalities.
Positano is the most famous, and for good reason. The beaches here are gorgeous and the photos of the hillside are iconic, but that does mean it’s the busiest and most expensive.
Amalfi town is how the area got its namesake and is a flatter version of Positano (way less stairs here). Theres cute shops, beaches, and delicious restaurants nestled into the town here and this is a good base for your stay in the region. You could also base in Ravello, Scala, Sorrento, or Salerno for more budget friendly options.
- Residence l’Incanto ($): Refurbished country house between Amalfi and Sorrento
- Hotel Villa Giuseppina ($$): Located in Scala with ocean views and breakfast
- Hotel Santa Caterina ($$$): Art Nouveau villa built on an oceanfront rock
FREE Amalfi Coast Mini Guide
Complete with our favorite spots to stay, eat, and explore throughout the Amalfi Coast.
7. Pompeii
This was single-handedly the most remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site we’ve ever visited. Pompeii Archeological Park is an ancient Roman town frozen in time after Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried the town in lava and ash in 79 AD. You can walk the town’s streets, admire the luxury palaces and courtyards and even see the once running aqueduct.
The on-site museum houses many artifacts that have survived including casts of people and animals that puts it into perspective. This is an easy day trip from anywhere in the Campania region and I would highly recommend booking a tour since there is so much to see and learn at the park. A guide will be able to filter that information for you and lead you to all the best spots in the park.
- Day Trip from Amalfi/Positano: Small group, 6-8 hours
- Day Trip from Naples: Small group, 4 hour tour
- Day Trip from Sorrento: All-inclusive 2 hour tour + bus transfer
Personally, we really enjoyed our time in Naples and we’re glad that we allocated a few dedicated days to exploring the town itself. This town is gritty as in it’s old and covered in graffiti, but that is the vibe. We felt safe while here, but we didn’t really walk outside of the old town area after nightfall.
We stayed right in the historic center so most everything was walking distance. There are tons of delicious restaurants, the oldest pizzerias in the world, and even an entire street dedicated to handmade nativity scenes. Be sure to check out some of the local leather shops here for some amazing pieces.
- Palazzo Goyze ($): Budget friendly and central location
- Napolit’amo Hotel Principe ($$): 16th century building in Toledo
- Palazzo Caracciolo Naples ($$$): Previous home to King of Naples
This luxury island is located just a short ferry ride from Naples (or Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast). It’s honestly super high-end and worth a visit, but it’s probably best for a day trip with the steep accommodation rates in Capri!
We did a DIY day trip to Capri Island had a great day exploring the piazza area and taking the chairlift up to Mt. Solerno. You could also book a guided day trip from Naples or a boat trip from the Amalfi Coast!
- Villa Calypso ($): Classic mediterranean hotel with a terrace
- Hotel Syrene ($$): Best Western hotel with pool and views
- Sina Flora ($$$): All rooms with a balcony + near Piazza Capri
Another great stop to extend your stay in the campania region. This coastal town is a mix of all the best parts of the area. The historic center has plenty of shops and alleyways to wander. The prettiest restaurant we’ve ever been to, O’Parrucchiano La Favorita, is here.
There are beaches near the port that are on floating docks or you can head just outside of town to Capo di Sorrento for a free swimming spot that has some incredible views of Mt. Vesuvius. We spent one night here and could have easily added a few more or even used it as a base for the Amalfi Coast by taking the ferry over.
- Hotel Baia Di Puolo ($): Outside of town with a private beach
- Hotel Giosue’ a mare Sorrento ($$): Seafront with private beach + restaurant
- Hilton Sorrento Palace ($$$): Hilltop property + pool with Mt. Vesuvius views
Amalfi Coast Travel Map (Google Maps)
Find our favorite spots to stay, eat, and explore, all pinned and ready for your trip.
11. Small Towns of Sicily
Sicily is the gorgeous island located just off the “toe of the boot” that is Italy. A lot of people will separate themselves as either Italian or Sicilian. This island is actually quite large so if you want to explore the entire island, I would recommend doing a road trip from Palermo or Catania and taking a good 10-14 days to stop all around the island. We haven’t done that quite yet, but it is definitely on the list. Otherwise, we have visited a few noteable towns that we’d recommend.
We stayed for a week with my grandparents (coolest trip ever?) in Castellammare del Golfo. This small town is located on the north western coast of Sicily and is the perfect Sicilian island time spot. Everything was walkable and you can rent a little boat to explore the coast.
We also took a day trip over to Marsala to see the salt flats (great at sunset) and to Mazara del Vallo, a very ecclectic mix of Arab and Italian culture.
- Marina di Petrolo Hotel & SPA ($): Castellammare del Golfo
- Feudo Del Biviere ($$): Santa Ninfa, pool + mountain views
- Villa Athena Resort ($$$): 5 star resort in Agrigento’s Valley of Temples
We spent our last few days in Sicily in the bigger city of Catania. It honestly feels like Naples but with Sicily’s laid back atmosphere. There is a ton to do in the main square and with historical stops like the Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata or the Ursino Castle. The Catania Fish Market runs daily in the mornings and is a very unique experience! Be sure to try an oyster fresh in their shells!
You can take a few different day tours from Catania over to Mt. Etna or on the water (like this super cute sunset sailing tour).
It’s a walkable town and easy to travel to with public transportation.
- Art & Jazz Hotel ($): Walkable location + loft style rooms + breakfast
- Il Sovrano ($$): Great location + balconies + city views
- Palazzo Sangiorgio ($$$): 5 star property with spa + garden
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Northern Italy
13. Lake como
This is a stretch to call this all one section because you could easily make this your entire trip. We opted for just two of these stops on our road trip through Italy, one smaller town (Brescia) and one bigger city (Milan). This region also includes the mountainous Dolomites region that we haven’t visited, but if mountains or hiking are your thing, I would highly recommend.
Northern Italy can get very cold, even seeing snow at times during the winter. Since we usually travel in off-season this was something to keep in mind. Although December does bring Christmas Markets!
Brescia is home to a working astronomical clock from the 1500s, Roman UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a hilltop castle. You could also visit nearby Verona (home to Romeo and Juliet) or Lake Como (anyone seen the Star Wars scene?).
Experience Italy the way we did. From Vespa rides and wine tastings to cooking classes and hidden tours, these Italy Activities are worth adding to your trip.
14. Milan
Milan is Italy’s fashion and design capital and you know it. Seriously everyone is dressed exquistely and I felt like a super bum. We only spent a day here as we took an overnight train from Milan to Prague the same day we arrived. The main attractions is the Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Art lovers should also check out Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie.
- Starhotels Tourist ($): Basic spot with breakfast included
- Residenza delle Città ($$): Apartaments with kitchens
- Magna Pars l’Hotel à Parfum ($$$): An SLH of the world
15. Venice
Somehow in all seven times we have been to Italy, we have NOT been to Venice yet. It’s crazy, but it just hasn’t happened. That doesn’t mean you should not go, though. Venice is a marvel of engineering and its hundreds of islands all connected via canals. So arriving to your hotel by gondola is a legitimate thing you could prepare for. I would recommend planning your trip here carefully as it can get very busy during peak season (summer and Carnival) and very stinky during the hottest times of year.
Our always-growing Italy packing list covers every region, so you’re ready for city strolls, vineyard tours, and coastal getaways.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Italy
Italy truly has it all: ancient history, world-class art, stunning coastlines, charming hilltop towns, and food that alone is worth the trip. Whether you’re sipping wine in Tuscany, cruising canals in Venice, or swimming in Amalfi, every corner of the country offers something unforgettable. We’ve loved exploring (most of) these places firsthand, and we hope this guide helps you map out your own Italian adventure. ✈️🇮🇹
