The 26 Ultimate Things to Do and See in Italy
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arthur-brognoli-mjnq2lqzfjk-unsplash-e1721405062211.webp)
It’s difficult to narrow down a list of things to see in a country so diverse and full of beauty. While the timeless cities of Rome, Venice and Florence are stunning, there’s also plenty to be explored in the countryside. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re a bohemian intellectual looking for a dark cafe, a foodie looking for gastronomic joy, or an adventurer on the lookout for a great hike. If you’re thinking of coming to Italy, here are some suggestions that will point you towards some incredible experiences.
1. Devour pizza in Naples
Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark
![Pizza napoletana](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fabrizio-pullara-vhrfrav4u00-unsplash-1.webp)
This internationally beloved dish was born in Naples, and there’s no doubt that Naples does it best. The authentic pies are baked in a wood-fired oven for the smoky flavor of the wood and there’s a careful balance that’s struck between crunchy crust, sauce and cheese. Check out our guide to the best places to grab a pizza in Naples.
2. Go skiing in the Dolomites
Natural Feature
![Dolomites, Rocca Pietore, Province of Belluno, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/piotr-musiol-gfq4m4avnym-unsplash.webp)
If you enjoy mountains, you’ll find total joy in the Dolomites, where the natural scenery is truly majestic and there’s all kinds of activities like hiking, skiing and snowboarding. Check out the bling-bling town of Cortina, or the quieter Corvara. Of course, we can’t forget the best outdoor sport of all, which is eating hearty local food in the restaurants nestled away in the mountaintops.
3. Marvel at the Valley of the Temples
Archaeological site
![Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/dario-crisafulli-hly-fp19vpo-unsplash.webp)
4. Wander the glorious Uffizi Gallery
Museum, Art Gallery
![A sculpture in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/clay-banks-jzltskdjtlw-unsplash.webp)
5. Watch an opera at Verona's Arena
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![Verona Arena](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/alberto-bigoni-2akqanzplfw-unsplash-1.webp)
The Arena in Verona is an open-air amphitheater dating back to Roman times. It’s an astounding piece of history, but it also has a very contemporary life, with all kinds of plays and concerts being held there. Go for the summer festival when you’ll get to watch an Italian opera in a Roman ruin.
6. Catch a soccer game
Stadium
![Jam-packed San Siro Stadium, Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/zach-rowlandson-6mraaxgcdec-unsplash.webp)
7. Stay in a little town in Le Marche
Natural Feature
![Aerial views of vineyards in Grottammare, AP, Italia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ernesto-scarponi-nbpbyubzzcm-unsplash-min.webp)
This is a highly underrated region in the middle of Italy that’s full of incredible natural beauty and delicious food. The rolling hillsides are dotted with medieval villages, farms and vineyards. Italians come to savor the best lentils in the country, the hearty pasta and meat dishes.
8. Go to a food festival in Emilia Romagna
Architectural Landmark
![Prosciutto Small Plate](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/allan-francis-kounxfstszs-unsplash.webp)
This region is the home of delicious products like prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar from Modena. It’s also the historic birthplace of Sangiovese and Lambrusco. All through the season, you’ll find food and wine festivals as Emilia Romagna celebrates its best. Check out the Festival del Prosciutto di Parma, or the white truffle fair at Sant’Agata Feltria.
9. Swim in the Aeolian Islands
Natural Feature
![Pittoresque Aeolian House in Alicudi, Aeolian Island, Sicily, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/giuseppe-gallo-faxynuymf5c-unsplash.webp)
10. Eat gelato on the Spanish Steps
Historical Landmark
![Spanish Steps, Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/charlotte-peacock-bmhzdqe8tda-unsplash.webp)
11. Do a farmstay in Puglia
Natural Feature
![Scenic farm in Puglia, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mimmo-miccolis-szbeiizidfe-unsplash.webp)
12. Eat pastries in Sicily
Natural Feature
![Close up of pistachio cannoli](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amirali-mirhashemian-zrl9pzp-nos-unsplash.webp)
Italian pastries are amazing and in Sicily, you’ll find some of the most delicious sweets you’ll ever taste. They’re usually eaten at breakfast with a little cup of coffee, or whenever the fancy strikes you. Trust us, between cannoli and cassata, it’ll be hard to stop yourself.
13. Drink coffee in Trieste
Architectural Landmark
![Dripping espresso into a cup](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/rene-porter-slfk1xekios-unsplash.webp)
14. Get lost in Venice
Architectural Landmark
![Canals and bridges in Venice, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ricardo-gomez-angel-t2yh3mlisdq-unsplash-1-min.webp)
Venice is a labyrinth, full of illogical twists and dead ends that no map can help you understand. The only way to navigate is to be adventurous and to ask people face-to-face.
15. Taste wine on a tour of Verona
Architectural Landmark
![Vineyards in Verona, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/marco-ceschi-vo0huesehtc-unsplash.webp)
The little area is the number one producer of wine in Italy, which is saying something in a country brimming with good wine. Do a tour of the vineyards for the full experience, or head to a local enoteca to try Valpollicela, Barolo or Amarone.
16. Get historical at the Colosseum
Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark
![Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/atif-zafrak-cn6uvjppbku-unsplash-min.webp)
Inaugurated by the emperor Titus in 80CE with a 100-day spectacle of gladiatorial combat, exotic animal hunting and public executions, the Colosseum is the iconic symbol of ancient Rome. This awe-inspiring monument is the largest amphitheatre ever built and attracts over six million visitors each year. Recommended by Emma Law.
17. Snap a pic with the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Building, Church
![alexey-turenkov-AF36q06J8fQ-unsplash](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/alexey-turenkov-af36q06j8fq-unsplash-e1720698158787.webp)
18. Chuck a coin into the Trevi Fountain
Historical Landmark
![Trevi Fountain, Roma, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cristina-gottardi-i1lv2yx67gi-unsplash.webp)
Intricately carved from travertine stone, the Trevi Fountain is a masterpiece of Baroque art. It depicts the sea-god Oceanus and is supplied by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, an evolution of the ancient Aqua Virgo that was constructed by Agrippa in 19BCE. Tradition says that tossing a coin into the fountain will ensure your return to the Eternal City. Recommended by Emma Law.
19. Marvel at the Duomo in Florence
Cathedral, Museum
![View of the iconic tiled roofs and Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ali-nuredini-x35ivset6-y-unsplash-1.webp)
20. Explore Pompeii Archaeological Park
Archaeological site
![The Vesuvius volcano, as seen from the village of Pompeii, which it destroyed in AD 79.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/tristan-de-boer-zbsmvl_xxj8-unsplash.webp)
In 79CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered Pompeii in a thick layer of volcanic ash and rubble. The city and its inhabitants were rediscovered in the 16th century in a remarkable state of preservation, giving archaeologists and historians precious details about what life was like in ancient Roman society. Today, visitors to the site can explore the very same streets, houses and even a brothel this city’s ill-fated inhabitants frequented millennia ago. Recommended by Emma Law.
21. Get a sore neck at The Sistine Chapel
Building, Historical Landmark
![Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Vatican City, Rome, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/calvin-craig-y8b001e2bs0-unsplash.webp)
Considering himself a sculptor not a painter, Michelangelo was originally hesitant at the idea of painting the Sistine Chapel. Pope Julius II, however, insisted and the subsequent frescoes, including the famous Creation of Adam, are now admired by 20,000 people a day in peak season. After finishing the ceiling 25 year later, Michelangelo returned to the Sistine Chapel and created another masterpiece – the Last Judgement on the altar wall. Recommended by Emma Law.
22. Be a tourist in Piazza San Marco
Architectural Landmark
![Piazza San Marco, Venezia, VE, Italia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/alessandro-de-marco-k0gir5fhmne-unsplash.webp)
Known in English as St Mark’s Square, Piazza San Marco is Venice’s social, political and cultural hub. Aside for crowds of tourists, this gorgeous square also contains a number of the city’s top sights – the Basilica di San Marco and its instantly recognisable campanile, the Doge’s Palace, and the Museo Correr, which chronicles Venetian art, history and culture. Recommended by Emma Law.
23. Live the glamorous life at Lake Como
Natural Feature
![A mansion perched on the shores of Lake Como, with mountains in the distance](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/lewis-j-goetz-zapibe5pbx0-unsplash-e1630684854450.webp)
Declared the most beautiful lake in the world by the Huffington Post, Lake Como combines over 100 miles (161 kilometres) of winding shoreline with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Aristocrats have been holidaying here since Roman times and today’s rich and famous, with their elegant waterfront villas, continue the trend. It’s also a popular destination for sailing, kayaking and other outdoor activities. Recommended by Emma Law.
24. See The Last Supper at Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie
Church
25. Visit Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples
Museum
Between eating pizza and sfogliatella, visitors to Naples should delve into the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. The building was originally a cavalry barracks and later the seat of the city’s university, before being turned into a museum in the late 18th century. As well as treasures from Pompeii, the museum is also joint-home to one of the world’s finest accumulations of Greco-Roman art, the Farnese Collection – of which other pieces are on display at the British Museum in London. Recommended by Emma Law.
26. Wind down the Amalfi Coast
Natural Feature
![Trips_Southern Italy_Salerno_AdobeStock_231197512 (4)-min](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/trips_southern-italy_salerno_adobestock_231197512-4-min.webp)
The Amalfi Coast is, according to Unesco, an area of ‘great physical beauty and natural diversity’. This stunning stretch of coastline in the Gulf of Salerno, just south of Naples, features colourful towns nestled precariously into the mountainside, as well as terraced vineyards and citrus groves replete with outstanding local produce. Recommended by Emma Law.