The Ultimate Italy travel bucket list

Italy’s Amazing Features
From the snowy Dolomites in the north to the golden shores of Sicily in the south, every inch of Italy has the capability to captivate. Unparalleled historical sights and gastronomical delights are two of the highlights, but the country also is home to a lively modern culture that will surprise you time and time again. Nowhere else in Europe provides the buzz of Italy and the following bucket list is a great start for planning a trip to the land of La Dolce Vita.

Go Beyond the Big Three
I’m not saying don’t go to Rome, Florence and Venice on the same trip, I’m just saying don’t make them the only three places you go on said trip. All three are amazing, but they’re also very popular and require a decent amount of effort to navigate, so make sure to balance them out with at least one stop in a smaller, quieter town where you can just simply embrace being in Italy.

Be Romanced by Rome
If you could only visit one place in Italy, this would be the one. Admire the Spanish Steps, peruse the Pantheon, visit Vatican City, feast on slices of doughy Roman pizza and share a romantic moment in front of a fountain—all in the same day. This is just the tip of the iceberg of things to do in Rome, a place that is only rivaled in European quintessence by Paris and London.

Lay Eyes Upon the Lake District
Located in the far north of the country, the loveliness of the Italian lakes is off the charts. This is the land of placid waters and palatial lake houses and while Lake Como is the big name, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda are just as pretty and full of “pinch-me” vistas.

Get Lost in Venice
No matter how crowded it gets, Venice still owns an atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else. See St. Mark’s and have a spritz on Piazza San Marco with everybody else, but make sure to spend time wandering the backstreets—hopping over lonely humpback bridges and diving into local restaurants for carafes of wine—as it’s here where you’ll truly fall for this city on a lagoon.

Explore All of the Lagoon
Venice sits at the center of a lagoon and some of the other islands can be just as enchanting to visit. A case in point is colorful Burano, home to a quaint fishing village vibe and a few sensational seafood restaurants.

Tip Back an Espresso
Coffee is a way of life in Italy and all over the country, you’ll find espresso bars packed with locals getting their caffeine fix. While you could go for a cafe latte or cappuccino (most Italians will only drink milky coffees in the morning), do like the locals do and belly up to the bar and order a shot or two of espresso.

Look Beyond Verona’s Famous Lovers
Verona is most famous for being the setting for Shakespeare’s Rome & Juliet, but there’s much more to this story. While you will need to see the obligatory balcony where Juliet is said to have stood, explore the backstreets and the Roman amphitheater too and you’re sure to leave town pleasantly surprised.

Get Down With Gelato
So much more than just an Italian take on ice cream, gelato is decadent, rich and destined to be your new obsession. Each town has a famous gelateria, so just ask the locals where the best is and make a beeline for it.

Walk the Cinque Terre
The reputation of these dreamy five towns clinging to the cliffs has traveled far-and-wide, but nothing compares to seeing them in person. Located in the Liguria region of Northern Italy, Cinque Terre is famed for the hiking trails that link the towns, offering up stunning scenery at nearly every step. Each night after walking between towns, settle in for a meal of local pesto and seafood.

Pick a New Favorite Pasta
It won’t take you long to figure out that the pasta dishes on the menu in Italy are slightly different than your favorite Italian-American spot back home. Get out of your comfort zone and try dishes like authentic spaghetti carbonara, ragus and assorted stuffed pastas you just won’t see at home.

Have a Ball in Bologna
Bologna was bypassed on Italian itineraries for far too long, but this lively university city and food mecca is fast becoming a major destination. Browse the markets, stroll under the pretty porticos and stare up at the city’s famed Two Towers. Then, make sure to taste some of the wonderful flavors of the Emilia-Romagna region like tagliatelle ragu, fried gnocchi and of course the famous meat Mortadella, known to many of us simply as “bologna”.

Try Out Trieste
Trieste is in Italy, but just barely. This port city in the far northeast of the country sits a stone’s throw from Slovenia and is home to a one-of-a kind culture that harkens back to its days as the most important port in the Austro-Hungarian empire. Here, you will find grand cafes that will remind you of Vienna, a grand canal and a dramatic combination of stately architecture and mountains. Plus, you’ll probably be the only person back home who has been here.

Get Surprised in a Good Way by Genoa
Known in Italy as “la Superba” (“The Proud One”) the residents of Genoa have a lot to boast about. Their city owns a regal history of seafaring and a warren of winding atmospheric streets in the Old Town while also being modern Italy’s biggest port. Plus, the town serves as the perfect base for exploring the nearby Italian Riviera.

Make a Wine Find
You can’t come to Italy without sampling some wine, but make sure you don’t just stick to sipping your perennial favorite. Since nearly every region of the country produces vino, you’re never far from a regional specialty that hasn’t caught on across the Atlantic yet or just one that surprises your taste buds and becomes your new go-to.

Indulge in Parma’s Charms
Oh yes, there’s going to be cheese and ham. Lots and lots of Parmesan cheese and Prosciutto di Parma. There will also be the relaxed and sophisticated aura of Parma’s cobbled Old Town, one of the nation’s best operas and scores of castles on its doorstep.

Find Magic in Florence
You’ll arrive in Florence expecting to be impressed and the fine city won’t disappoint. Whether you laze away your days people watching on the Piazza del Duomo, scale the cathedral, spend days day-tripping to the Tuscan countryside or having picnics in Boboli Gardens, the city will amaze you.

Head for the Heel
You know how they always describe Italy as a boot? Well, for a long time it was only the shin, calf and top of the leg that got the love from travelers. Head to Puglia in the far south for intriguing architecture, tasty orecchiette pasta, burrata cheese and assorted bold flavors. Oh, and there are amazing beaches down here, too.

Be A-Mazed by Matera
This labyrinth-like town in the southern region of Basilicata (next door to Puglia) owns a cityscape like no other in the country. In fact, it’s so dramatic that it was used as a filming location for the most recent James Bond film. Explore the cave-like dwellings the city is famous for in addition to the gorgeous cathedral.

Visit the Vatican
See the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the enthralling Vatican Museum while also getting to say that you visited the world’s smallest country. Devout or not, a chance to see where the Pope lives is a thrill.

Say Hello to San Marino
Like Vatican City, you’ll technically have to leave Italy to experience this micro-country, but the experience is well worth it. Get your passport stamped and see a trio of towers that soar above, or better yet, make your way to the top of them for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

Try Out Turin
The heart of industrial Italy and its famed car industry, Turin is yet another interesting Italian city that is often overlooked. In fact, the region it resides in, Piedmont, is one Italy’s best for food & wine (the region gave birth to the “slow food” movement) and the city itself is full of resplendent architecture and fine restaurants and cafes.

Take a Spin on a Vespa
You’ve seen them in movies, you can’t miss them on the roads when you’re here, so you need to take a whirl on a Vespa to truly feel like a local. Not feeling brave enough to head out on your own? Guided tours and rentals are available in most major destinations.

Strike a Pose in Pisa
Sure it’s cliche, but go on and pose for a picture that makes it look like you’re trying to hold up the Leaning Tower. You just have to. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that if you stick around for a while that Pisa is a very underrated city, home to lots of life and sights besides its famously slanted tower.

Ascend Etna
One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mt. Etna looms over the eastern end of Sicily and laying eyes upon it is the moment you truly arrive on the island. Scale the volcano on one of the multitudes of tours available, laze away days at wineries at its base or take a spin on the Circumetnea train, which loops around the volcano through both lush and lunar landscapes.

Sample Sicilian Street Food
You haven’t had arancini until you’ve had it fried up fresh in front of you in Sicily. Devour these crispy orbs stuffed with rice and meat before sampling the flavorful and filling sfincione (a cross between bread and the crust of a pizza) or frittula, a cornucopia of deep-fried albeit mysterious meaty bits.

Take a Train Across the Sea
There may be a two-mile-wide body of water separating Sicily from the mainland, but that doesn’t mean you have to get off the train. Nope, the Italians just put the train on the ferry and take it across the Straits of Messina and you’ll never forget this unique experience.

Eat a Slice at the Source
Oh, you can get great pizza all over Italy, but Naples is the place to go for true pizza pilgrims. Via Tribunali, known locally as “Pizza alley’ is a street lined with wonderful pizzerias, with Sorbillo being widely regarded as the city’s most iconic.

Be Captivated by Naples
Exhilarating, chaotic, real, gritty, full of life, it all applies to Naples. Walk along the Lungomare seaside promenade at sunset, tour palaces, shop for custom-made clothes, get swept away by street life and devour plates of ragu and eggplant parmesan (only after you’ve had your pizza, of course). Then, board a train bound for Pompeii.

Pay a Visit to Pompeii
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 it did so with such force that it completely destroyed the ancient town of Pompeii. Due to the type of eruption, the ash that descended upon the city (located near both modern cities of Sorrento and Naples) preserved much of the ruins and now provides a fascinating stop on any tour of Southern Italy.

Dig Your Heels Into the Dolomites
This particular pretty section of the Alps in northeastern Italy is home to jagged peaks and lots of outdoor recreation opportunities. Walk between mountain huts on the Alta Via path or just take a cable car to the top of stunning views.

Make for Magnificent Milan
Italy’s most fashionable city, Milan can be a bit of a mystery but if you stick around and give it a chance it’s sure to make an impression on you. For starters, the shopping arcades are as resplendent as any in Europe, the Duomo is divine and the city’s apertivo culture will fill you up and put a smile on your face.

Go on a Gondola Ride
You can’t come to Venice and not take a spin on a gondola, so make sure you prioritize what will be an unforgettable experience. While the prices are a little higher at night, it’s well worth it for the enchanting twilight atmosphere you’ll experience.

Experience the Amazing Aosta Valley
Dozens of castles crown the gorgeous alpine valleys of the Aosta Valley, a region located in the far northwest of the country which is surrounded by France and Switzerland. In winter, the area is a mecca for skiing, in summer it’s perfect for hiking and just breathing in the fresh mountain air. And as an added bonus, the town of Aosta is nicknamed “The Rome of the Alps” for its Roman ruins.

See the Isle of Capri
The Bay of Naples is ringed with idyllic isles and postcard-perfect towns like Sorrento, but the legendary Isle of Capri and its gorgeous Blue Grotto take the cake. Spend a few days on island time, following in the footsteps of some of the most glamorous names of the last two centuries.

Feel the Football Love
Soccer (Football) is the absolute passion of Italy and if you happen to be visiting while the national team is playing, you are in for a treat. Otherwise, taking in a game of one of the nation’s most famous teams—a list that includes AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Roma and Lazio—is a great thing to do. Or, visit the stadium of one of the aforementioned squads for a tour and a chance to learn all about the history of the club.

Plan a Picnic
At any given moment in Italy you will probably be close to a supermarket that has a divine deli and cheese department that your supermarket back home would be jealous of. Take advantage of this to set yourself up for a picnic—paired up with some local wine of course.

Take a Cooking Class
Sure it’s fun devouring Italian food up-and-down the country, but making it for yourself can be just as rewarding. All over Italy, cooking classes are surging in popularity, giving you the chance to learn a new skill and do plenty of socializing and snacking.

Roll Down the Riviera
The Italian Riviera stretches from the French border to near the Cinque Terre and it’s home to posh seaside towns like Portofino and fun, faded glory spots like San Remo. Make your way down the coast to be treated to lapping blue waters, mountain backdrops and dash of glitz.

Take Part in La Passeggiata
Each evening, all over Italy, the locals take to the streets for a laid-back evening stroll called the passeggiata, and you should definitely take one or two when you’re visiting. Generally speaking, the passeggiata will meander a path leading to the most popular piazza in town or follow a route along the water if you’re next to the sea or a lake. Just look for the well-dressed locals ambling slowly and enjoying the moment, and you will have found the spot.

Toss a Coin Into the Trevi
Rome is full of fountains, but none can touch the allure of the Trevi. This graceful cascade has graced the city since the 1700s and has become one of the city’s symbols. While you can stop by and throw a coin in at any time of day, you can’t top the magic of seeing it late at night, when it’s bathed in atmospheric lighting and you might have a chance of having the fountain to yourself.

Sample the Local Liqueurs
It’s not just wine that you’re going to want to try when you’re in Italy, the nation is home to wonderful liqueurs (often enjoyed before or after a meal) that will capture your imagination and taste buds. Limoncello is most famously produced on the Amalfi Coast, but you’ll be able to find it everywhere. Other famous examples are Aperol—most famously served up in a Spritz—and Campari.

Get in Touch With Italy’s Autos
As the home to Fiat, Alfa-Romeo, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati, Italy definitely knows how to motor. Whether it’s a visit to the Fiat Lingotto factory in Turin or a day at the Ferrari Museum in Modena, the country is full of opportunities to get in touch with this revved up side of its culture.

Say Caio to David
You can’t come to Florence without heading to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see what is arguably the world’s most famous sculpture on the planet: Michaelangelo’s David. Admire the form of the ultimate underdog as he prepares to battle Goliath and maybe even learn a few things about the political undertones of the statue.

Swim in the Sardinian Sea
About those two big islands in the Mediterranean between Italy and Spain. Well, the southern one is Sardinia, an independent autonomous region of Italy and it’s pretty much a beach lover’s paradise. Take the ferry over for a few days to experience a unique atmosphere, great food & wine and stunning azure seas.

Look Upon the Last Supper
The most famous wall painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper is a must-see for any art lover. It’s located in Milan’s Santa Maria delle Grazie and you should reserve well in advance so you’ll have your time to contemplate all the facial expressions and moods on display in the aftermath of Christ telling his disciples that one of them will betray him.

Crunch Into a Cannoli
These crispy, ricotta-filled sweet pastries are huge in Sicily but you should be able to find good ones at most local bakeries and cafes throughout Italy. Best paired up with coffee.

Catch a Festa
Italians love to celebrate and getting in the mix at a festival is a quintessential part of experiencing true Italian life. Carnival is famous in Venice, but other towns like Viareggio also throw a great pre-lenten bash. Siena is renowned for its raucous horse races called Il Palio and scores of harvest festivals can be experienced in wine-producing regions.

Head for the Hills
Hilltowns dot the horizon throughout Umbria, Tuscany and Abruzzo, and staying one for a night or two offers up one of the most quintessential Italian travel experiences out there. Some of the most stunning are Orvieto, San Gimignano and Montepulciano.

Get to Know Abruzzo
This wild and mountainous Italian region borders Lazio-the region home to Rome-but if feels much further afield. In fact, half of the region is covered by national parks, regional parks or other protected lands. Visit to see another side of Italy and to take in some rugged landscapes and wildlife. There’s even a glacier, the most southerly in all of Europe.

Let the Colosseum Enthrall You
This is the big one, if there’s one sight to see in the entirety of Italy it’s the Colosseum. Just seeing it as you round a corner is enough to take your breath away and the allure won’t fade during your entire time in the city. Grab a cheesy pic out front with a “gladiator” but then make your way in for an enthralling tour that will transport you back to the days of the Eternal City.