Best Places to Visit in Italy 2026
Top 12 Italian destinations for 2026 plus money-saving tips on flights, trains, and when to go.
Where
Best Places to Visit in Italy 2026
The best places to visit in Italy combine two millennia of civilization into a country that moves more people emotionally and aesthetically than perhaps any other on earth. From the ancient engineering marvel of the Colosseum to Michelangelo's David, from the gondola-threaded canals of Venice to the vine-draped hillsides of Tuscany, from the baroque splendor of Sicily to the vertical drama of the Amalfi Coast, Italy delivers world-class art, architecture, food, wine, and natural beauty at every turn.
Italy received a record 60 million visitors in 2024, and 2026 promises equally high demand, making advance planning and booking essential. This guide covers the top Italian destinations alongside practical tips on how to experience them at their best.
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Why Italy Remains Unmissable in 2026
Italy is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (58 sites at latest count), a food culture that has shaped global cuisine, a wine industry producing some of the world's greatest varietals, and a landscape that ranges from Alpine glaciers to Mediterranean beaches in the space of a few hours drive. Every Italian region is distinct in language, cuisine, architecture, and character, making Italy genuinely inexhaustible for repeat visitors.
According to National Geographic Travel, the Amalfi Coast is one of the world's most spectacular drives, and Lonely Planet consistently ranks Rome among the world's top cities.
Top 12 Best Places to Visit in Italy
1. Rome
Rome is a city where the ancient and the modern coexist in daily life in a way that nowhere else on earth quite replicates. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, and the Campo de' Fiori all deserve your time. Beyond the major monuments, Rome's neighborhood character, from the Jewish Ghetto's trattorias to Trastevere's cobblestone streets to the Liberty-style architecture of Prati, rewards endless wandering.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: $500 to $900 from North America, $100 to $200 from London
- What to see: Colosseum (book skip-the-line tickets), Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery, Trastevere
- Travel tip: The Roma Pass gives free transport and discounted museum entry; book Vatican Museums at least 2 weeks ahead
2. Florence
Florence (Firenze) is the capital of the Italian Renaissance and home to the world's greatest concentration of Renaissance art and architecture. The Uffizi Gallery's Botticelli, da Vinci, and Raphael masterpieces, Michelangelo's David in the Accademia, Brunelleschi's Cathedral dome, and the historic Ponte Vecchio bridge all sit within a remarkably compact walkable center. The Oltrarno neighborhood across the Arno River is Florence's most authentic and least touristy quarter.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (David), Pitti Palace, Piazzale Michelangelo view
- Travel tip: Book Uffizi and Accademia tickets 3 to 6 weeks in advance; same-day tickets are nearly impossible to find
3. Venice
Venice is one of the most extraordinary cities ever built, an architectural marvel of 118 islands connected by 400 bridges over 150 canals that has barely changed in 500 years. St Mark's Basilica's gold mosaics, the Doge's Palace, a gondola ride through the quiet back canals, the Rialto Fish Market at dawn, and the view from the Campanile bell tower all deliver unique experiences. The outer islands of Murano (glass-blowing), Burano (lace-making and colorful houses), and Torcello (Byzantine mosaics) reward a full day.
- Best time to visit: October to November or February to March (avoid summer heat and crowds)
- Average flight cost: Fly into Venice Marco Polo (VCE) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, Murano glass factories, Burano colorful houses
- Travel tip: Venice introduced a day-visit fee for day-trippers in 2024; budget holders staying overnight avoid this charge
4. Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is 50km of vertical Mediterranean drama, where clifftop villages spill down to turquoise coves and the winding coastal road is one of Europe's most spectacular (and nerve-wracking) drives. Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi town itself are the main destinations, each offering a distinct character. The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) clifftop walk from Bomerano to Positano is one of Italy's finest day hikes.
- Best time to visit: May to June or September to October (July and August are extremely congested)
- Average flight cost: Fly into Naples (NAP) then take the SITA bus or boat service
- What to see: Positano beach and village, Ravello's Villa Rufolo gardens, Amalfi Cathedral, Path of the Gods hike
- Travel tip: Take the ferry between Amalfi Coast towns rather than the bus in high season; it is faster and infinitely more pleasant
5. Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a string of five colorful fishing villages clinging to the steep Ligurian coast between La Spezia and Genoa. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are connected by hiking trails (the Sentiero Azzurro coastal path), train, and boat. The view of Manarola reflected in the harbor at sunset is one of Italy's most iconic images.
- Best time to visit: May to June or September to October
- How to get there: Train from La Spezia (20 minutes to nearest village)
- What to see: Vernazza harbor, Manarola sunset view, coastal hiking trail
- Travel tip: Book accommodation months in advance; the villages are tiny and rooms sell out extremely fast
6. Tuscany
Tuscany is the landscape that defined how much of the world imagines Italy: rolling hills covered with cypresses and vineyards, medieval hilltop towns, Renaissance frescoes in quiet churches, and world-class wines. Beyond Florence, Siena's Piazza del Campo and gothic cathedral, San Gimignano's medieval towers, the wine estates of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, the medieval town of Montepulciano, and the Piero della Francesca frescoes in Arezzo all deserve exploration.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October (harvest season is spectacular)
- How to get there: Florence or Pisa airports; car essential for the countryside
- What to see: Siena Piazza del Campo, San Gimignano towers, Montalcino wine estates, Val d'Orcia landscape
- Travel tip: Rent a car for a minimum of 4 days to explore Tuscany properly; public transport between small towns is very limited
7. Sicily
Sicily is Italy's most complex and fascinating region, an island at the crossroads of Mediterranean civilizations that has absorbed Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, Spanish, and Italian influences into a culture unlike anywhere else. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento (the world's best-preserved Greek temples outside Greece), the baroque splendor of Palermo and Noto, Mount Etna's volcanic landscapes, and Taormina's Greek theater with Etna as backdrop all make Sicily an exceptional destination.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Palermo (PMO) or Catania (CTA) from $550 from North America
- What to see: Valley of the Temples, Palermo street food markets, Mount Etna hike, Taormina
- Travel tip: A 7-day Sicily road trip from Palermo to Catania covers the island's greatest highlights
8. Milan
Milan is Italy's fashion and financial capital, a city that repays visitors who push past its business-traveler reputation to discover its extraordinary cultural riches. Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (requiring advance booking months ahead), the world's greatest collection of Leonardo manuscripts at the Ambrosiana Library, the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, and the Gothic Duomo cathedral all justify a 2 to 3 day visit.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Milan Malpensa (MXP) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Last Supper (book at least 3 months ahead), Duomo roof terrace, Brera neighborhood, Navigli canals
- Travel tip: The Last Supper requires a specific timed entry ticket booked through the official website; do not use third-party resellers
9. Naples and Pompeii
Naples is Italy's most chaotic, exhilarating, and underrated major city. The birthplace of pizza, the city centers on a UNESCO-listed historic district of extraordinary baroque churches, vibrant street markets, and the National Archaeological Museum's incomparable collection of Roman artifacts. Pompeii and Herculaneum, the cities buried by Vesuvius's 79 CE eruption, are just 30 minutes by Circumvesuviana train.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Naples (NAP) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Pompeii archaeological site, National Archaeological Museum, historic center, Spaccanapoli street
- Travel tip: Visit Herculaneum as well as Pompeii; it is smaller, better preserved, and much less crowded
10. Lake Como
Lake Como in the Lombardy foothills of the Alps is the most glamorous of Italy's northern lakes, a deep glacial lake ringed by snow-capped peaks and studded with historic villas, gardens, and elegant resort towns. Bellagio, the triangular promontory at the lake's center, is the most beautiful; Varenna on the eastern shore is the most romantic; and Como town at the southern end has the best transport links.
- Best time to visit: April to October
- How to get there: 1-hour train from Milan to Como; ferries connect the lakeside towns
- What to see: Villa Carlotta gardens, Bellagio village, Villa del Balbianello (James Bond filming location)
- Travel tip: Avoid July and August weekends when the lake is at its most congested
11. Bologna
Bologna is Italy's most underrated city and the undisputed capital of Italian cuisine. The city's traditional trattorias serving handmade tagliatelle al ragu (the original Bolognese), mortadella, and tortellini in brodo set the standard for Italy's richest food culture. The university city has a youthful energy, excellent covered market at the Mercato di Mezzo, and the architecturally remarkable Two Towers (Torri degli Asinelli) that define the medieval skyline.
- Best time to visit: April to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Piazza Maggiore, Two Towers, Mercato di Mezzo, FICO Eataly World
- Travel tip: Bologna is also the ideal base for day trips to Modena (Ferrari Museum, balsamic vinegar), Ferrara, and Ravenna
12. Puglia and Alberobello
Puglia (the heel of Italy's boot) is one of the country's most distinctive regions, where the trulli limestone cone-roofed houses of Alberobello, the Baroque white city of Lecce, the sea caves of Polignano a Mare, and the ancient walled city of Otranto all create an Italy that feels entirely different from the tourist trail. Puglia is also excellent value compared to Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast.
- Best time to visit: May to June or September to October
- Average flight cost: Fly into Bari (BRI) or Brindisi (BDS) from $500 from North America
- What to see: Alberobello trulli houses, Lecce Baroque churches, Matera cave city (in neighboring Basilicata), Polignano a Mare
- Travel tip: A hire car is essential in Puglia; combine it with a visit to Matera, the ancient cave city that was European Capital of Culture in 2019
Budget Tips for Italy
Italy can be expensive in peak season at major monuments. Here are key cost-saving strategies:
- Book cheap flights to Italy using Travorio's search tool
- Use Sezzle, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later to spread flight costs
- Pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDT for lower fees
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered clearly and concisely
The best time to visit Italy is April to June and September to October, when weather is pleasant and crowds and prices are more manageable. July and August are the hottest, most crowded, and most expensive months, especially in coastal areas and major art cities. Rome and much of southern Italy, including Sicily, can be enjoyable year-round with fewer winter crowds.
Plan at least 7 days for a first trip focused on Rome, Florence, and Venice. With 10–14 days, you can add Tuscany, Cinque Terre, or the Amalfi Coast. Three weeks lets you combine classic cities with regions like Sicily, Puglia, and the northern lakes at a more relaxed pace.
Italy is mid-range by Western European standards. Budget travelers can get by on about $70–$100 per day using hostels, public transport, and casual meals. Mid-range travelers typically spend $150–$250 per day on hotels, restaurant meals, and entrance fees. Traveling in shoulder season, booking key tickets early, and avoiding tourist-trap restaurants near major sights all help keep costs down.
High-speed Trenitalia and Italo trains are the easiest and most efficient way to travel between major cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, and Bologna, with journey times of 1–3 hours. For islands like Sicily and Sardinia or coastal areas like the Amalfi Coast, flying or using regional trains plus ferries and buses is more practical. Renting a car is best for rural regions like Tuscany and Puglia.
Yes. You should book in advance for the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (David), and Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan, especially for visits in late spring, summer, and early autumn. Aim for 2–6 weeks ahead for most sites and up to 2–3 months for the Last Supper in peak season to secure your preferred time slot and avoid reseller markups.
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