Italy is one of the most popular vacation spots and for good reason! Pasta, pizza, gelato, AND beautiful cities & attractions?! Take me back! You might be familiar with the food but here’s a travel guide to all the best places to see in ITALY! Make an itinerary with as many of these destinations as possible because they are all worth it!
Venice
Ahh the beautiful Venezia. The floating city of bridges and canals. Venice is straight out of a fairy tale. Literally every turn is photo worthy, so my first suggestion is to wander around and get lost. Go explore because you’ll find some hidden gems around every corner! Obviously, a gondola ride is totally worth it. They’re a little expensive though so if you are balling on a budget take a water taxi somewhere. It might not be the same romantic gondola but you’ll get the same views from a boat in the canals.
Next, I recommend this walking tour of the city to see all the main attractions. Head towards the Rialto Bridge. This is the large bridge that goes over the Grand Canal with shops and is usually very crowded. Then venture towards St. Mark’s Basilica. The square in front is filled with pigeons and has some great photo spots of the basilica and Venetian tower. Next, continue towards the Bridge of Sighs (which allowed prisoners way back when their last view of the outside world before being locked up). Pro tip: below the bridge of sighs is a little spot along a canal with a great photo opportunity away from the crowds (where I took the photo above).
Florence
Welcome to the Renaissance capital located in the gorgeous Tuscany. Florence, or Firenze, is filled with art, culture, and scenic views. You’ll quickly notice that the Duomo is the main focal point of the city. This large, red-domed church is stunning. You should definitely book a ticket to climb to the top of it. It might be a lot of stairs but the views are worth it. If you want to see some art, head to the Uffizi Gallery. I call it the museum of all the teenage mutant ninja turtles (cause you can see work by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Donatello inside). Oh and the iconic statue of David is also in Florence in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
When the sun begins to set, make your way up to the Piazzale Michelangelo. This spot is the BEST spot for sunset as you see the entire city of Florence across the river. You can also see just how large the duomo is compared to the rest of the city. Other spots to check out before leaving Florence: Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, and Palazzo Vecchio.
A short train ride away from Florence is Pisa. Therefore, you can take a quick half day trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa too. You’ll be amazed at how many people are posing with their hands up around the tower. Other than this landmark, Pisa doesn’t have much else so head back to Florence and get a gelato. You earned it after all this walking.
Rome
The eternal city. Roma. Rome is very different from these other Italian cities. It is massive, crowded, and bustling, but completely worth it because that means you can use a metro! You’ve been walking a lot so hop on a train and see all the sights. When in Rome, the first thing to do is see the Colosseum of course (an Italy travel guide wouldn’t be complete without it). Book a tour inside in advance so you don’t have to wait in line. This ancient spot is incredible and check out one of Rick Steve’s free audio guides on his app when you’re walking inside. He explains it all. After you pretended to be a gladiator, head through the Roman Forum and see all the ruins.
Next, check out the Il Vittoriano which is a large, white marble building built to honor Italy’s first king. It is massive and pristine and you can also climb to the top if you buy a ticket. Then, visit the Trevi Fountain (millennials this is the time to sing “Hey Now” and give a shoutout to Lizzie McGuire) and throw a coin over your head into the fountain. After, don’t forget to go inside the Pantheon and see the massive circular hole in the top. This building is one of the oldest in Rome and stunning.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, head across the river to the neighborhood of Trastevere. This area has a more local feel so grab a bite to eat and stroll around. After, head back to the city center and check out the Spanish Steps as well as Piazza Navona.
Vatican
Now, head out of Italy and into the world’s smallest country: the Vatican City. Two countries in one city wow! As the seat of the Catholic Church and home to the Pope you’ll see tons of religious attractions. Book an early morning tour to get in before the line gets way too long. Must do’s include: looking at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and touring inside St. Peter’s (the world’s largest church).
Naples & Capri
Venturing further south, you’ll arrive in the city of Naples. Naples is the gateway to a few beautiful spots. But first, eat some pizza because Naples is where pizza was invented. So, you have a few options. You can see Mt. Vesuvius and the city of Pompeii which is a short train ride away. You can venture further to the Amalfi coast for some true luxury and some of Italy’s best beaches in towns like Positano and Sorrento. But the closest of these three is an hour ferry ride to the island of Capri. This island is absolutely stunning. Rent a boat and take a tour around the island and hop into the Mediterranean for a quick swim. Make sure to see the Faraglioni rock and take pics by it and check out the touristy Blue Grotto where the water seems to glow bright aqua in a cave. Finally, take a taxi up to the top of the island where you can ride a chair lift up to Monte Solaro. This will give you a bird’s eye view of the entire island.
Milan & Lake Como
Back up north, visit Milan which is Italy’s financial and fashion hub. Milan has some nice spots to visit but don’t miss the duomo (go to the top for cool views) and go shop in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. If you were going to check out Versace, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton this is the place to do it.
However, my pro tip is to hop on a train in Milan and go to Lake Como. This lake is where George Clooney has a vacation home and is a luxurious getaway. There are several villages along the coast to visit and shop in. The lake is in the shape of an upside down “Y” and in the middle of the three legs is the town of Bellagio. This town acts as a hub for water taxis to all the other villages. But, if you want to travel in true style, rent your own boat and drive it around the lake for the best views. We had an absolute blast exploring and even jumped in. The water is freezing because the lake is all melted snow from the Alps (Lake Como is on the border with Switzerland). This is one of my favorite spots in Italy. You truly escape the touristy cities and get to experience true Italian culture.
Whether it’s seeing the Colosseum in Rome, riding a gondola in Venice, or eating pasta in Milan, Italy has got a lot to offer. If you are thinking about planning a trip, do it! It’s one of my favorite destinations. Hopefully your Italy travel guide is complete now.
CW
