Where in italy should i visit

Both for its history as the capital of much of ancient Europe and for its present day role as one of Europe's most vibrant cities, for most tourists traveling to Italy, Rome heads the list of places to visit. Relics of its ancient glories—the Colosseum , the Forum , the Pantheon , the Appian Way, and the Palatine Hill —vie with the vast riches of the Vatican as the top attractions.

But between the important sights like the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's Pieta, take time to enjoy the city itself. It will take several trips to see it all. The showcase of the Italian Renaissance, Florence can at times seem like one giant art museum.

The Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore , is a landmark of world architecture , topped by its gravity-defying massive dome. Together with its marble-inlaid bell tower by Giotto and the octagonal Baptistery with its incomparable bronze doors by Ghiberti, this is one of the world's finest ensembles of Renaissance art.

Half a dozen art museums brim with paintings and sculpture, while more masterpieces decorate its churches and palaces. Before you overdose on art in the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace , stroll through the Boboli Gardens and explore the artisans' studios and workshops of the Oltrarno, or shop for leather in Santa Croce. Who could fail to love a city whose streets are made of water, whose buses are boats, and where the songs of gondoliers linger in the air?

It is a magic city, and its major attraction to tourists is the city itself. The hub of the city is the broad Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Square , surrounded by several of its top tourist attractions. The great Basilica of St. Mark stands beside the Doge's Palace , and overlooking both is the tall Campanile.

Gondolas congregate at the end of the plaza in the Grand Canal , and in the other direction, a gate under the clock tower leads into a warren of narrow, winding passageways, where you're sure to get lost on the way to Rialto Bridge.

But getting lost is one of the greatest pleasures of Venice, where a postcard scene awaits around each corner. Tuscan hill town. The undulating landscape of Tuscany is crowned by stone towns whose foundations go back to the Etruscans.

Each sits atop a hill, and many still have the castles and towers that once defended their commanding positions. It's difficult to choose one above the others, as each has its own architecture, art, character, and story to tell. Fairly bristling with towers and enclosed in walls that are largely intact, San Gimignano looks much as it did in the Middle Ages, when it was an important stop on the pilgrims' route to Rome.

Volterra was an important Etruscan center before the Romans came and still has remains of both civilizations today. The tourist attractions of Arezzo are the legacy of the many artists, architects, and poets who lived there. Like Volterra, walled Cortona was an Etruscan settlement and later a Roman one, but adds reminders of its Florentine past as well.

Cortona is one of Italy's oldest towns. The proximity of these hill towns to the cities of Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Luca fills Tuscany with a concentration of many of the best places to visit in Italy.

Accommodation: Where to Stay in San Gimignano. Milan Cathedral. Although Milan is a major entry point for tourists because of its airport, it's often overlooked as a destination of its own. That's a shame, because Milan has one of the highest concentrations of artistic and architectural attractions in all Italy, and for those interested in design and fashion not to mention shopping , it's a must. Milan has been the home and work place for luminaries in all these fields: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Verdi, Enrico Caruso, Toscanini, and designer Giorgio Armani.

Il Duomo, Milan's massive cathedral, is among the world's most magnificent churches, and finest example of the Flamboyant Gothic style. La Scala is the world's most prestigious opera house, Da Vinci's The Last Supper fills the wall at a monastery, and throughout the city are museums and palaces filled with some of the world's finest art. And no fashionista can resist a stroll through the famed Quadrilatero. Lake Como. Italy's most beautiful lake, Como has been the favorite summer retreat of the rich and famous since ancient Romans fled Milan's summer heat to cool off in villas along its steep shores.

Later villas decorate its tightly clustered towns, especially pretty Bellagio , artfully set on a point where the three narrow arms of the lake meet. A microclimate makes Como's western shore temperate even in winter, so the white peaks of the Alps just to the north can be viewed between palm trees and camellias.

Don't overlook the town of Como, on the southern shore, well worth a stop before boarding a steamer to explore the lake. Just to the west of Lake Como is Lake Maggiore, with its own attractions ; to the east is Lake Garda , a summer playground filled with water sports and other things to do.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is world famous. But is it really worth the visit? We say yes, but only if you already have plans to be in the area. Pisa is worth a quick stop if you are traveling from Florence to the Cinque Terre. Take two hours to pose for photos along with tons of other travelers and maybe even climb the tower.

Top Experiences: Climb the tower if heights and vertigo is not an issue for you. You can visit Pisa in two hours if you are traveling between cities such as Florence and the Cinque Terre. The Dolomites are often an overlooked spot for travelers to Italy. But what if I told you that the Dolomites are unbelievably gorgeous and you could have this view without hiking?

Would you want to go? The Dolomites gets our vote as one of the best places to visit in Italy, not only because it is a hiking paradise, but also because the scenery is stunning. This photo was taken from a spot that was just a short walk from a cable car at the start of the Puez-Odle Altopiano hike.

You do not need to be a hiker to appreciate the Dolomites. But if you are a hiker, the Dolomites are world-class. Expect to see some jaw-dropping scenery here. Top Experiences: There are hikes in the Dolomites for all ages and ability levels.

In the summer, cable cars whisk riders to viewpoints like these. Ideas for Traveling with Kids: Depending on the age of your kids, take your pick from short to long hikes. Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the easier hikes in the region. The hike at the Lagazuoi Tunnels is mostly downhill, since a cable car whisks you up to the highest point, so this is also great for kids over the age of five and the views are incredible! Two to three days for scenic drives, rides up in the cable cars, and enough time for some hiking.

If you enjoy mountain scenery and want to experience Italy with a dash of Austria, you could easily spend a week here. We spent four days in the Dolomites and cannot wait to go back. This is our favorite spot in Italy. At the foot of Mt.

Vesuvius sits the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii. Top Experiences: You can explore Pompeii on your own. But for the best experience, consider hiring a guide or joining a tour to get the most out of your visit. Two hours is the average amount of time spent in Pompeii. For the ultimate experience, consider adding on the hike up to the summit of Mt. The drive along the Amalfi Coast is said to be one of the most scenic drives in the world. The Amalfi Coast is worth a visit, but if you have to make a choice, the Cinque Terre is a better option in our opinion.

You can get around using public transportation the SITA buses but in our experience, we were left stranded on multiple occasions, making bus travel in Italy a nightmare. After our experience, we would recommend paying the extra money and hiring a driver.

Ideas for Traveling with Kids: Rent kayaks in Positano. Kids will love this and the views of the town are amazing from the water. You can drive the entire Amalfi Coast in one day. However, if you enjoy coastal towns, several nights in Positano would be a great experience. Sorrento is a great home base for exploring the island of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and the historic ruins of Pompeii.

Seeing the main sights in Sorrento only takes about half of a day. But since this makes such a great home base, we recommend at least three days here. That gives you enough time to day trip to Capri, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. Capri is a small, mountainous island that sits off of the coast of Italy.

To get here, hire a boat in Sorrento. You can visit Capri as a day trip or linger several days or longer if your heart desires. Top Experiences: Take a boat ride around the circumference of the entire island, visit the Blue Grotto, or take the chairlift up to Mount Solaro for views like this photo. A visit to Capri can easily be done as a day trip from Sorrento.

Stay overnight or longer to really get to know the island. Emilia Romagna is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. It is located in northeast Italy and it is one of the wealthiest regions in Europe. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati are all located here. But you can find much more here than luxury cars. Emilia Romagna is also home to Ironman Italy , a full distance triathlon. Bologna is the capital city of Emilia Romagna and it is world renowned for its cuisine.

This is where Bolognese sauce originated. Other local specialties include mortadella, the original Bologna sausage, as well as lasagna, tortellini, and tagliatelle. If you are a foodie, Bologna is one of the best places to visit in Italy.

Top Experiences: Eat all of the food in Bologna, visit the coastal resorts, visit Ravenna, take a food tour in Parma. It really depends on your interests. With one day you can visit Bologna and take a food tour. With more time, relax on the beaches at one of the coastal resorts. To thoroughly explore this region, you need 5 to 7 days. Its long coastline sits on the Adriatic Sea. Bari is the largest city in the region and from here you can take a ferry across the Adriatic Sea to the Balkan Peninsula.

Every street, every building, every town square, every park, every church, and every monument breathes centuries-old history. No matter how much time you have planned in Italy, you really have to include Rome in your itinerary! If you want to see all the best places in the city and not just take a picture of the exteriors, plan at least days. If you want to explore deeper and get off the beaten path in Rome, you can easily spend days in the city.

Without any doubt, Venice is one of the must-see places in Italy! The whole town is an architectural masterpiece! The best way to explore Venice is on foot, so prepare to walk.

A lot. Stroll the narrow streets, cross hundreds of bridges, and take the time to admire the details of medieval buildings and stunning gothic palazzi palaces. You should also take a gondola ride! Not to be missed: Venice canals and Venetian gondola ride , St. How much time do you need: One day is enough to see the main landmarks of Venice.

If you make it a very long day, you can even take a short excursion to the nearby islands Murano, Burano, and Torcello. For a more relaxed experience, plan at least two days for all the sights in Venice and the nearby islands.

If you want to explore the city deeper, plan days. A trip to Italy, especially for those visiting for the first time, involves visiting lots of cities and towns. Florence, the capital city of the Tuscany region, is considered the cradle of the Renaissance. How much time do you need: One day is enough to see the best of Florence. If you want to visit more museums and explore deeper, then you may want to spend two days here.

Plan an extra day for a tour to the Tuscan countryside more info below. Italy has 20 regions and, in all honesty, they are all worth a visit. However, if you are traveling to Italy for the very first time, Tuscany is one of the nicest regions to visit. Tuscany is home to some of the most beautiful towns in Italy.

And there are many, many more…. Tuscany is also known for its picturesque landscapes with rolling hills and winding roads lined with cypress trees. Some of the best Italian wines are produced in Tuscany! Even if you are not visiting the wineries, make sure to try Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti wines at the local restaurants. See also our guide to the best towns in Tuscany.

How much time do you need: You need at least 2 days for Tuscany — one day in Florence, and one very packed day for Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Chianti. If you want to see so much in such a short time, consider this tour that visits all the main highlights in one day.

Ideally, you spend at least days in Tuscany as that will give you more time to enjoy all the main sights in a more relaxed way.

If you have enough time, I recommend a week in Tuscany. No list of the best places to visit in Italy would be complete without mentioning Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is the collective name of five picturesque hillside towns along the coast of the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region.

These colorful towns are perched between the azure-blue sea on one side and the steep hills dotted with vineyards on the other side. For more practical information, please check our travel tips for visiting Cinque Terre. Nice to see: Corniglia and Monterosso al Mare. Also, the nearby Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets are well worth your time!

How much time do you need: You can see the best of Cinque Terre in one day also as a day tour from Florence. If you want to explore deeper and also see some of the stunning coastal areas nearby, plan days here.

The Amalfi Coast in the Campania region is another popular tourist destination in Italy. This area stretches between Sorrento and Salermo and has some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Italy. The rugged coastline is dotted with colorful fishing villages and small beaches.

It looks like a real-life painting. The Amalfi Coast is also a very popular vacation destination. The main attractions of this area are the coastal towns Positano , Amalfi , and Ravello. But also Sorrento and Naples.

The nearby Capri Island more info further below and the Blue Grotto should also be on your list! Nature and outdoor enthusiasts will love the coastal hike Path of the Gods. Not to be missed: Scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast and its three main towns Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello can also be visited with a day tour. Capri Island and the Blue Grotto. Nice to see: Naples, Sorento, and the Path of the Gods hike.

How much time do you need: One day is enough to get a taste of what the Amalfi Coast is about. Why though? Dotted amid the larger islands, the tiny isolotti of the La Maddalena islands boasts some of the clearest waters and quietest beaches in all the Mediterranean.

Come for the Ancient Greek mythology, but stay for the local charm. The beaches here are well-known during the summer months, but less so are the tiny fishing villages of Chinalea and Scaro Allegio. A favorite haunt of Roman nobility, Spoleto has managed to hang onto its charm over the centuries and now makes for a tranquil day trip into the Umbrian hillside.

Start in the medieval Upper Town with a visit to the Duomo, before making your way down through the modern Lower Town to the ancient city walls. Combine the historical city with a killer gourmet scene and a stunning classical music festival and you get a sense of classic Italia as you switch your phone off and forget the emails for a few days.

The best beaches have always been those only accessible by boat and Spiaggia delle Due Sorelle is no exception. Years of being overlooked in favor of the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast has left this strip of coastline untouched and unspoiled. Bazaar Bride. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Goodbye to All That. Black Tomato. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.

Via Krupp, Capri. San Cassiano. San Gimignano, Tuscany. Isola Bella, Sicily.