Vacationing in Italy is a dream for many of us in India
Discover enchanting seaside towns and historical relics, restorative pasta dishes, and the glittering Italian lakes.
From gazing at the frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel to climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From exploring the lyrical landscapes of Tuscany to sunbathing beneath the pastel-hued parasols dotting Cinque Terre’s beaches. These are the best things to do in Italy.
Where to go in Italy
Believe the buzz when it comes to Italy
From the fresh and fragrant air of Tuscany to the enthralling beauty of the Italian Lakes, Italy will inspire, seduce, and likely move you to tears. Venice really is that romantic. Rome is as charismatic and haunting as the photos make out. The streets of Cinque Terre really are fragrant with lemons and a salty tang from the sea. And the food, phenomenal landscapes, temperamental charm, and spirit of Sicily has the power to hook you in. It’s a tough job figuring out the best things to do in Italy but stick with us for the perfect Italian escape.
The best places to visit in Italy
Enjoy the sights of Italy
Plan your Italian escape around these spots and you can’t go wrong.
Tuscany
More than just Florence
Many visitors head straight to Florence for its formidable cathedrals, palaces, and Renaissance art museums. But beyond the capital there are the Tuscan vineyards of Chianti, the progressive city-state of Siena, adventure in the Apuan Alps, and a vibrant food scene that plucks its ingredients directly from its landscapes.
Veneto
Beautiful Venice
If you find yourself in Veneto, chances are you’re here for Venice. Romantic, seductive, and beautiful Venice. Perch in the shadow of the city’s grand dames in St Mark’s Square. Gaze towards its palaces. Plot a course along its canals. Ditch the map and wander along the city’s backstreets.
Lazio
Rome stretches across Lazio’s core
The grandeur of the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum where guides regale tales of gladiatorial battles. The gilded dome of the Pantheon to the crumbly Roman Forum. And food. Let’s not forget to mention Rome’s enviable food scene. Of restorative Italian pasta dishes, billowing pizzas, and punchy negronis.
Sicily
Island escape
Castaway in the glittering Mediterranean Sea, Sicily has an unapologetic edge to its core. Discover the sepia streets of Palermo. The exhilarating sweeps of black-sand beaches. The formidable Mount Etna, spouting plumes of smoke. Plus, the crumbly Valley of the Temples, baroque towns, and lunches of Sicilian pizza in sunny palazzos.
Lombardy
Milan and lakes
There’s never a bad time to visit this northern region. Squeezed within its borders you’ll find Milan – Italy’s fashion and design capital – all top restaurants, exclusive Italian boutiques, and the iconic Milan Fashion Week. But edge further north for Como, Garda, and Maggiore in the shadow of the hulking Italian Alps.
Live like a local
Italian cuisine and more
The Italians know how to live. They have perfected the art of slowing down, living in the moment, and tuning into la dolce vita (the sweet life), where simple pleasures come first. So go ahead and tick off the sights. The relics of Rome. The landscapes of Tuscany. The fashionista stores in Milan. But combine the big-hitting sights with long, languid seafood lunches, evening sea dips on sultry summer’s evenings, and gelato in sun-blushed palazzos. And revel in its aperitivo hour, where locals gather on shady terraces sipping orangey spritzes paired with small plates for grazing.
The best things to see in Italy
We love these Italian attractions
From bronzing yourself beside the seaside of the Cinque Terre and scaling the Leaning Tower of Pisa to gazing at the gory site of gladiatorial battles in Rome’s iconic Colosseum. Italy really does deserve all the hype.
Colosseum
Rome
Book a guide to bring this vast and crumbling Roman Empire stadium to life. It was here, 2,000 years ago, armored gladiators fought in combat and prisoners were left to battle wild animals in front of bloodthirsty crowds.
Uffizi Gallery
Florence
One of the world’s most prominent art museums, housing a vast collection of Italian Renaissance art from the greats. There’s a room dedicated solely to Botticelli paintings and a panel painting by Michelangelo – Doni Tondo (The Holy Family) – the only one in the world to survive.
Cultural facts:
Cappuccinos are considered a breakfast drink.
Many businesses close in the afternoon for a few hours for ‘riposo’.
Italy has plenty of public drinking fountains with safe and clean water.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa
This 58-metre-tall bell tower is known for its unintended tilt at 3.9 degrees off vertical. One of four great edifices of the Piazza dei Miracoli, it’s limited to just 45 people at a time who scramble up 251 steps to its highest point.
Vatican Museums
Vatican City
Gaze at the immense collections of works amassed by Popes through the centuries. From Michelangelo’s Giudizio Universale (Last Judgment) in the Sistine Chapel to the frescoed ceilings of the Raphael Rooms.
Blue Grotto
Capri
The otherworldly blue light that shimmers across the water has made this sea cave one of Capri’s most famous attractions. Boat tours launch from Marina Grande, dropping you into rowing boats which squeeze through the cave’s tiny 1.3-metre-high entrance.
Cinque Terre
Liguria
Discover old-world glamour on Italy’s sun-dappled Riviera. An idyllic region of colorful houses cutting into the cliffside. There are bronzed locals paddling in the sea, candy-striped parasols dotting the beaches, and hiking trails from centuries old Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and more.
Where to stay in Italy
These are some of the best hotels in Italy.
Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como
Best for high-end
A Milan-based designer was behind the sumptuous rooms of this grand dame – once the former home of Italian opera singer Giuditta Pasta. Go for a swim in its floating pool suspended in the lake before an afternoon tea taken on the terrace or a massage in its subterranean spa.
25hours Hotel, Florence
Best for family
A restored monastery complex in the center of Florence with hip and quirky heaven- or hell-themed rooms. Families will love the ‘large plus’ rooms that come with private gardens, complimentary mini bars, and outdoor showers. There are bikes for hire, a spa, and library with board games and a billiard table.
Palazzo Planeta, Palermo
Best mid-range
Pitched close to the lovely Piazza Florio, this small bolthole has seven large high-ceilinged apartments with polished wooden furniture, balconies, kitchens with all the mod cons, and breakfasts of pastries and coffee. Walk out the door and you’re close to the foodie markets of Vucciria and Capo.
Mama Shelter Rome
Best for budget
Expect stripped-back rooms, large bathrooms, pizzas on tap, a summer garden, a rooftop bar, DJs, photo booths, and pinball machines at this high-design, low-cost pad. All just a few minutes from the Vatican.
Average costs in Italy
On your vacation in Italy, expect to pay:
Pint of beer: €4-6
Meal at a mid-range restaurant: €30-50 per person
Street food (pizza or gelato): €5-10
Taxi ride (within city limits): €15-20
Museum entry: €10-20
Long, languid seafood lunches. Some of the greatest pieces of art the world has ever laid eyes on. And crumbly historical sights that must be seen to be believed. Italy has all of that and more. Take this as your sign to book that Italian escape.
Thinking of travelling to Italy? Skyscanner can help you find the best flights, hotels, and car hire deals for your next trip.
