The 17 best places to visit in Italy in 2025

Best for: first-timers in Italy

With world-renowned art collections and a shit ton of history on pretty much every corner, Rome is a rite of passage for history buffs. But come for the ancient ruins, stay for the eating, eating and more eating you’re going to do in Italy’s Capital. Rome’s restaurants are some of the best in the country for pizza and pasta galore (we recommend trying all of its pasta specialities; Gricia, Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara and Amatriciana. Possibly all of them twice.) Add to this the allure of its many verdant parks, with their beautiful panoramic terraces and a moderate climate that’s inviting during any season, and it’ll become far too easy to fall in love with the Italian capital. If you’ve never been to Italy, you have to start with Rome. Period. 

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Best for: seeing a different side of the country

Sun-soaked Sicily is just off the ‘tip’ of Italy’s ‘boot’: an almost-otherworldly island that has a character distinct from the rest of southern Italy. If you want a city break vibe, head to Palermo or Catania, where you’re also an easy train ride from the beautiful Cefalù. For more of a nature holiday, hike the slopes of Mount Etna and sip the wine that’s made there, get lost in the maze-like Baroque towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa, feast on fresh seafood on Ortigia island, sunbathe on the island’s countless beautiful beaches or let the hours pass eating granita and cannoli in pretty squares. There are majestic ruins and archaeological sites, many dating back to Ancient Greek times, dotted all over the island.

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Best for: eating, eating and eating (and not just bolognese)

Famed for its swelteringly hot summers, radical leftwing politics, picturesque terracotta buildings and all that food, glorious food, Bologna could well be one of Europe’s most underrated city break destinations. In fact, the food here would be enough of a draw in itself: the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is the home of mortadella, tortellini and tagliatelle al ragù, after all. Grab a gelato for dessert and make the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, just beyond the ancient city walls.

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Best for: a romantic weekend

Sure, there’s the Duomo and Michaelangelo’s David and the Uffizi and the Ponte Vecchio – Florence positively brims with headline attractions that are well worth visiting – but there’s so much more to this city than just the tourist magnets. For example, some parks that rarely feel busy, quirky museums that’ll give you the creeps, vintage shops and second-stores galore, and delicious gelato that’ll have you mumbling benissimo! under your breath all day long. Florence isn’t a Renaissance theme park: it’s a living city with plenty to seduce visitors of all tastes.

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Best for: sleepy towns and beach breaks

Italy’s Adriatic coast has long been snubbed in favour of tourist-dense spots like Amalfi and Portofino. But Puglia, the long heel of Italy’s boot, has been seen a boom in travellers curious to explore its sandy beaches, friendly towns and architectural riches. Eating top of your list? Some of Italy’s most famous foods – burrata, orecchiettie, Apulian focaccia – hail from the region. Into your city breaks? Puglia is home to some of Italy’s most underrated cities, including budget-friendly Bari, beautiful Brindisi and artsy Lecce (aka the ‘Florence of the South’). There’s hell of a lot going for this sunny southern region, but Alberobello – a comune made up of thousands of unique conical houses known as ‘trulli’ – is up there as one of the most whimsical, drop-dead gorgeous destinations I’ve ever seen (hence why we named it one of Europe’s most beautiful places).

Best for: sweeping Italian countryside 

So you’re going to Tuscany. Which gorgeous hilltop town will it be? From tiny, rustic Radicondoli to the vino rosso mecca of medieval Montepulciano, it’s an impossible choice to make – but someone has to do it. We’d probably opt for Siena first: technically a city, it still has plenty of small-town charm (and serves up all those sweeping views over rolling hills you’re here for), while offering an inexhaustible amount of stuff for visitors to see and do. Take in the golden gothic cathedral, wander mazy backstreets lined with boutiques and galleries, and taste locally-produced pecorino. But there’s plenty more in Tuscany too; have a look at Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo for your next trip. 

Best for: old-school Italy (and pizza)

Naples wasn’t always the tourist hotspot it now is, previously known for being rough. Now, it’s a foodie hotspot, with a beautiful historic centre and more pizza than you can cram into a single weekend. And even with its soaring popularity, Naples has kept much of its character and old-world charm. Laundry laces the back alleys, markets brim with sweet-smelling local produce, and life here is lived on the streets. Oh, and that backdrop – you’ll have to see it to believe it. 

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Best for: the great outdoors

Italy has its fair share of dramatic scenery, but nothing can quite prepare you for the moment you first set eyes on Lake Como. An impossibly turquoise, wishbone-shaped lake, flanked by the Alps and with shores lined by palatial villas and pretty towns, this long-time escape for the well-to-do has to be seen to be believed. While a handful of Lake Como’s famous villas house luxury hotels, many are open to the public – including the exquisite Villa Balbianello, made famous by Casino Royal and Star Wars. Our tip? Pay a visit to the popular towns of Bellagio and Varenna, but stay in the city of Como for a wider range of budget-friendly accommodation. And try the missoltino.

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Best for: shopping ’till you drop

Thanks to a fast-expanding transport network and a host of new starchitect-designed buildings, tourism has boomed in Italy’s business capital in recent years. Far more than just an excellent place to stock up on the latest shoes, the city has undergone a renaissance of late: cool bars, cool restaurants, cool cultural centres, and so on. That all feels rather appropriate, considering Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci was responsible for the city’s crisscrossing network of canals, parts of the dazzling Castello Sforzesco, and also, y’know, just making Milan historically a very artsy and creative place to be.

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Best for: wandering the streets

Where to start with La Serenissima? Even if you’re not here for the Biennale or Carnival, this city positively hums with good vibes all year round. It has beaches, some of the world’s best art, and we don’t know if you’ve heard about the food here, but it’s properly great too. Above all, Venice calls for getting lost, so avoid the touristy gondola rides and wander aimlessly along the alluring backstreets. With regular stops for prosecco and cicchetti, of course. Our top tip? Visit off-season, always. Here’s why Venice is even more magical in winter. 

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