Italy
Top Italy Experiences
Diverse Experiences on Italy Tours
- Taking a gondola ride through the famous Venice canals
- Experiencing Italy's world-famous cuisine
- Exploring the enchanting canals and colorful streets of Burano
- Discovering the remarkable cave dwellings of the ancient city of Matera
- Taking a walking tour through the modern city of Naples
- Visiting the historic city of Florence and gazing upon renowned art pieces
- Wandering the ruins of the Roman Forum, where an empire was overseen two millennia ago
- Sampling the exquisite wines of Piedmont during a guided vineyard tour
- Touring Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, as well as St. Peter's Basilica - the world's largest cathedral (in the world's smallest state)
- Learning about the history of Sicily and marveling at the architectural wonders of the Valley of the Temples
- Visiting the charming towns of Alberobello and Ostuni and the UNESCO-listed Castel del Monte in the region of Puglia
- Visiting the ancient ruins of Pompeii near Naples
- Taking a boat trip on the Po River
- Drinking in the views from atop the cliffside city of Taormina in Sicily, including the Straits of Messina and volcanic Mt. Etna in the distance
- Embarking on a truffle hunting adventure in Umbria, the green heart of Italy
- Enjoying a picnic and wine tasting in Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in all of Italy
- Snorkeling in the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Sicily
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Things to do in Italy - Expert’s guide
Whether you visit the rolling vineyards of the Tuscany region, stroll through the ancient ruins in Rome, or eat your way through the hundreds of pizzerias in Naples, there are a boundless number of attractions in Italy that make it one of the most visited countries in the world.
If you’re interested in famous food cities or want to visit thousand-year-old ruins, you can find it in Italy. This lively and rich country has something to offer every traveler of every age and travel style.
We could easily create the best attraction list for every one of Italy’s 20 regions. However, if you only have a short amount of time to visit Italy, here’s our list of the Top 10 Italy Attractions.
1. Colosseum in Rome
No Italian attraction guide would be complete without the historic Roman Colosseum. Located in the center of Rome, the Colosseum is a massive ancient landmark that is a testament to Roman engineering and entertainment.
Its use has changed throughout the years evolving from a gladiatorial pit to a circus to where religious executions were held. The Colosseum’s history reflects the different changes in Roman history and the influences it acquired during the expansion of the empire.
The world’s most famous amphitheater stands just down the street from the Roman Forum. While it is a ruin, it’s a well-preserved one, and it’s not hard to picture thousands of Roman spectators cheering or jeering gladiators who fought to the death here.
Portions of the massive structure are regularly under construction for conservation purposes, but the Colosseum is almost always open for tourists. Lines form quickly so get there in the morning, or visit on a guided Italy tour for special access and the opportunity to learn about the history of Rome from an expert guide.
Since it's one of the top sites in all of Italy, it will always be crowded. You can avoid the bulk of the visitors by going in the early morning or later in the day. You can walk around the Colosseum on a self-guided tour or schedule a guided tour that allows you access into the lower regions of the Colosseum and hidden areas.
See all Italy Tours that visit the Colosseum »
2. Visiting Villas and Wine Tasting in Tuscany
Tuscany is world renowned for its beauty. The region is quintessential Italy, with rolling hills, enormous villas, wineries, and small local towns with overflowing hospitality and a welcoming presence.
Wine tasting and eating in Tuscany is an Italian experience one should not miss. You could take a day trip from Florence or Siena or maybe stay a few nights in a villa in the countryside to truly get away from it all.
See all Italy tours with Tuscany »
See all Italy culinary & wine tours »
3. Gondola Ride in Venice
Sitting on a gondola as it makes its way through the beautiful canals of Venice is one of the most romantic things you can do in Italy. While these canals are often used as tourist attractions today, they were the essential roadways of this waterlogged city.
Many of them are still used as the main way of getting around the city by locals and traders. As you glide through the canals, under bridges, and passing tiny shops selling glass figurines and ornately decorated masks, you’ll get a feel for the layout of the city.
You might imagine yourself back to a time when this was the only mode of transportation available. Depending on who your gondolier is, you may be serenaded with a classic Italian song or given a detailed account of city life from a local.
You can either walk over the dozens of bridges or small sidewalks that accompany the canals or you can take boat tours of them. The most famous canal is the Grand Canal, but there are plenty of smaller ones too. To get the most out of visiting the canals, either go early in the morning or later in the day.
A note about walking the canals: be prepared to get lost at least once. Venice is made up of many smaller streets and twists and turns that even the most direction-savvy person would have trouble with.
Besides the Grand Canal, Venice’s other greatest landmark is St. Mark’s Basilica, which rises at one end of wide open San Marco Square. As remarkable as it is to view on the outside, with its multiple domes and spires, its Byzantine interior – lined with gold and bronze mosaics -- is even more breathtaking. Be sure to take the stairway up to the second floor for the view overlooking St. Mark’s Square from the balcony.
Tip: Be sure to wear modest clothing, or have a scarf with you to cover bare shoulders.
4. Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast of Italy is known for its brightly colored buildings and picturesque seaside towns. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this coastline is made up of sheer white cliffs ending at the blue waters of the Mediterranean with small cities built into and upon the cliffs. The coast is also known for its lemons, wine, and fresh seafood.
The Amalfi Coast is made up of multiple towns, but the main ones are called Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre are five towns on the coast that share similar features, culture, and beautiful scenery. You can easily visit each of these cities by walking the trails that connect the towns and take you into the region's countryside.
5. St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
While you are visiting the Sistine Chapel, you might as well visit the largest church in the world too. Built over the burial site of St. Peter the Apostle, the basilica took over 100 years to build and is a major pilgrimage site for Christians. The church on the inside was constructed in the shape of a Greek cross and features numerous statues and paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
The outside of the Basilica is just as amazing. There are two columned arcades that outline St. Peter’s Square. On top of the arcades are multiple statues of saints overlooking the square below. You can visit the basilica any time of year, but Christmas and Easter are major times as the Pope addresses the crowd and performs services in the square.
The basilica is simply immense, with multiple chapels, altars, and niches, one of which holds one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces, the Pieta. It looks out over St. Peter’s Square, where popes often address huge audiences.
And one simply cannot visit the Vatican without experiencing the Sistine Chapel. Regardless of whether you enjoy religious art, the ceiling completed by Michelangelo over several years, is a sight to behold, and considered to be one of the greatest achievements in art, with the Last Judgment fresco being the centerpiece.
The Sistine Chapel was another masterpiece of the Renaissance era - where important papal functions are carried out by the Pope. The chapel’s most distinct feature is its ceiling and walls that are made up of massive, decorated frescoes painted by multiple Renaissance painters.
And most guided tours of Italy that visit the famous chapel either arrange private viewings or go during off hours. This is arguably the only way one should see it - it allows you to truly have the time to take in the mastery; without jostling among a large crowd, craning your neck so as to not miss a corner.
You can visit the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums easily. You can purchase your ticket at the museum, but it's best to buy it online in advance so you don’t have to wait in a long line. Also, you should dress modestly. There is a dress code for the Vatican which means covering your shoulders and no short dresses or shorts.
6. The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower outside of the Pisa Cathedral and is known for its leaning ways. The tower has a 4-degree lean because the foundation of the tower was unstable when it was built between the 1100s and 1300s. The tower was reinforced in the 1990s to stop the lean that had worsened over the centuries.
The Leaning Tower is actually the bell tower for the cathedral in Pisa. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries on soft soil and clay and has been leaning from the beginning – more so as the centuries passed. Now it’s been anchored and it’s safe to climb again – seven stories with about 300 steps.
Today the tower is a famous site for creative picture takers and architect lovers. Many line up to take unique photos of the tower and appreciate the beautiful Romanesque architecture that makes it one of top bell towers in Europe. You are allowed to climb the steps of the belltower, if you are willing to make the interesting trek up the 300-plus uneven stairs that mess with your balance. Don’t do it if you have vertigo!
See all Italy tours with Pisa »
7. Roman Forum
Near the Colosseum in Rome is the Roman Forum. The forum is a large plaza made up of narrow lanes surrounded by the ruins of the most important political, religious, legal buildings of Ancient Rome.
It was originally a large marketplace, but was later converted into the center of power for Rome. The Forum was used as a meeting place and where parades and coronations occurred. Today you can find the ruins of archaic temples, basilicas, and monuments.
The central public meeting place for the citizens of ancient Rome and the heart of one of the world’s great empires, the Roman Forum survives as a remarkable ruin in the middle of the city at the base of two of Rome’s seven hills, and truly one of the top attractions in Italy, as well as Europe.
While the Forum is a “ruin,” there’s still plenty to see here: the remains of great temples, public buildings, and walkways where Julius and Augustus Caesar once strode and where orators addressed the issues of the day. Walking amongst the columns and ruins it’s impossible not to imagine all the hundreds of thousands of others who have walked the same paths in their daily lives.
You can visit the Forum on its own, or combine it with nearby Palatine and Capitoline Hills. These hills are two of the seven hills of Rome and are closely connected to the Roman Forum. The Palatine Hill is an open air museum of ancient palaces of the Roman emperors, such as Augustus, and the Capitoline Hill was home to several ancient religious temples.
See all Italy tours that visit the Roman Forum »
8. The Duomo, Florence
With its pink, white, and green marble exterior and a distinctive red dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the massive Duomo – the main cathedral of Florence – dominates the city’s skyline in Gothic splendor.
While the exterior is more impressive than the rather bare interior, there are still mosaics and frescoes to see, and you can climb up to the top of the cupola -- but that’s not for the claustrophobic or the acrophobic.
See all Florence, Italy tours »
9. Lake Como
The cities of Italy are not the only places to visit in the country. Italy’s landscape has multiple attractions and landmarks to visit, one of which being Lake Como. Located in the northern region of Lombardy, it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe and has long been a popular retreat area since the Roman days. It is known for its stunning lakeside landscape and the quaint small villages around it.
The best time to visit the lake is during the shoulder months to avoid the hot, humid weather of summer and the tourist season. In addition to being out on the lake, you can also take tours of the famous villas in the area, visit the Como cathedral, or check out the stone village of Bellagio.
10. Ancient City of Pompeii
For those interested in ancient Italian ruins, there is no better place to visit than the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Located just outside of Naples, this archeological park consists of the remnants of the once prosperous city of Pompeii that was destroyed by the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Rediscovered in the mid-1700s, archeological digs are still taking place on the site, unearthing artifacts and cleaning tiled mosaics that were covered in volcanic ash for over 1,500 years.
You can reach the site by renting a car or taking the local train that runs between Naples and Sorrento. If you do take the train, be forewarned that it will be very busy because of other visitors and locals.
Once there, you can hire a personal guide to take you around the site or you can rent a headphone set that takes you on a self-guided tour. There is very little shade in Pompeii, so make sure to bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen if you are visiting during warmer months.
Bonus!
11. Statue of David - Florence
Who wouldn’t want to see the depiction of the most beautiful man in the world. For that is what Michelangelo’s David in Florence is considered. Crafted from one slab of marble, the 17-foot tall statue was sculpted by Michelangelo during the Renaissance and was originally outside, but was later moved in doors. It was commissioned to represent the Biblical David, but later became a symbol of the Florentine state during the Renaissance.
You can see this iconic statue in the Accademia Gallery of Florence. Visitors also often combine seeing the statue with nearby other Florentine attractions, such as the Medici Chapels, the Bargello Museum, and the Piazza del Duomo.
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US | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Italy for United States Citizens |
UK | N | Visas to Italy for United Kingdom Citizens |
CA | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Italy for Canadian Citizens |
AU | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Italy for Australian Citizens |
NZ | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Italy for New Zealand Citizens |
IN | Y | Visas to Italy for Indian Citizens |
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