The Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Italy (Euro Summer 2025 Edition)

Italy is the travel world’s overachiever. One minute you’re sipping an espresso in a 2,000‑year‑old forum; the next, you’re Instagramming a sunset that looks suspiciously Photoshopped (it’s not). From the Alps’ snowy drama to Sicily’s volcanic swagger, every corner tempts with more pasta shapes than there are days in the year. That abundance is exactly why narrowing down the best places to visit in Italy feels impossible—until now.

Below, we spotlight 10 destinations that will top how to have a Euro summer: iconic capitals, foodie playgrounds, coastal stunners, and one wild‑card island that’ll upgrade your travel cred. Ready to turn indecision into a jet‑set itinerary? Benvenuti—let’s plan your dream Italian vacation.

1. Rome, The Best Place to Visit in Italy

Rome is a living blockbuster where ancient columns share street space with Vespas and neon gelaterias. Tick off the Colosseum, Pantheon, and St. Peter’s—then ditch the map. The real magic hides in Monti’s vintage shops, Testaccio’s gritty trattorie, and Trastevere’s cobblestoned nightlife where students swap espresso for Negronis by 10 p.m. What makes Rome one of the best places to visit in Italy? The mash‑up: Renaissance art and modern street art, sacred Vatican silence and raucous soccer chants at Stadio Olimpico—plus carbonara served at 2 a.m.

• Can’t‑miss sights: Colosseum at sunrise, Vatican Museums before the crowds.
• Local bite: Cacio e pepe in Testaccio followed by late‑night gelato at Giolitti.

2. Florence – Renaissance HQ & Fashion Capital

Florence feels like an open‑air gallery curated by Michelangelo himself. The Duomo’s candy‑striped marble steals every skyline photo, but step inside the Uffizi and you’ll find Botticelli’s Birth of Venus casually hanging out like it’s no big deal. Beyond the art, Florence lives large: aperitivo along the Arno, luxury leather markets, and Chianti‑paired bistecca alla fiorentina the size of your head.

• Must‑do: Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome for a 360° city view.
• Shop stop: Hand‑tooled leather jackets in the San Lorenzo district.

3. Palermo – Sicily’s Wild, Wonderful Heart

Swap gondolas for three‑wheel Ape trucks and discover Palermo—a city just as historic, twice as unpredictable, and criminally underrated. Byzantine mosaics meet street‑art alleys; fishmongers sing at Ballarò market; and sunset means cannoli in one hand, Aperol in the other. Day‑trip to Mondello Beach for aquamarine swims, then devour spleen sandwiches in Vucciria after dark. Multicultural chaos cements Palermo’s status among the best places to visit in Italy.

• Culture hit: Cappella Palatina’s gold mosaics—history in high‑definition.
• Street‑food flex: Panelle fritters and arancini for under €3.

4. Milan – Runway Meets Risotto

Milan wears two faces: Gothic marble at the Duomo and haute couture along Via Montenapoleone. Italy’s finance engine hosts Design Week and catwalk spectacles that rewrite global trends. After art‑gawking at The Last Supper, dive into saffron‑gold risotto alla milanese, then bar‑hop around the Navigli canals till sunrise. Milan proves the best cities in Italy aren’t all medieval squares—some rock neon skyline bars.

• Icon moment: Sunset rooftop aperitivo on the Duomo terraces.
• Fashion fix: Window‑shop (or splurge) in the Quadrilatero d’Oro.

5. Amalfi Coast – Cliffside Chic

If God had Instagram, He’d geo‑tag Positano. The Amalfi Coast’s candy‑colored villages cling to cliffs like icing on a tiered cake. Rent a Vespa, zigzag hair‑pin roads, and feast on lemony seafood delivered by boats bobbing below. Lux yet laid‑back, Amalfi’s a jewel among the best places in Italy.

• Photo op: Sunset from Ravello’s Villa Rufolo gardens.
• Food find: Spaghetti al limone and a chilled glass of local Costa d’Amalfi white.

6. Cinque Terre – Pastel Paradise

Five fishing villages stitched into one cliff‑hugging postcard. Cinque Terre trades red carpets for hiking boots, offering car‑free lanes, pesto‑laden trofie pasta, and harbor dives into electric‑blue water. Quick trains let you village‑hop faster than you can say “aperitivo.” This is definitely one of the best places to visit in Italy.

• Hike highlight: The Sentiero Azzurro trail between Vernazza and Monterosso.
• Snack stack: Focaccia Genovese topped with local olive oil.

7. Tuscany’s Hill Towns – Medieval Magic & Wine Roads

Outside Florence, Tuscany rolls into sunflower fields, cypress alleys, and hill towns frozen in the Renaissance. Siena’s Palio horse race electrifies its shell‑shaped piazza, while San Gimignano’s towers pierce the skyline like stone skyscrapers. Pair those vistas with Brunello in Montalcino—chef‑kiss perfection.

• Drive dream: SR222 (Chiantigiana) for the ultimate wine‑country road trip.
• Sip tip: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano straight from a cellar carved into tuff rock.

8. Naples & Pompeii – Pizza, Ruins, Raw Energy

Naples is Italy on double espresso: chaotic, charismatic, and culinary royalty. Devour world‑class pizza for €5, tour Pompeii’s frozen‑in‑time streets, then cap it with espresso so strong it winked at you. Add day trips to Capri or Sorrento and you’ll understand why Napoli still stars on every “best places in Italy” list.

• Historic hit: National Archaeological Museum for Pompeii’s finest frescoes.
• Foodie file: Pizza margherita at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele—still €5 and still untouchable.

9. Lake Como – Alpine Chic & Celebrity Villas

Lake Como blends snow‑capped Alps with palm‑fringed shores, making luxury feel effortless. Ferry between Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, each village offering cobblestone charisma and gelato with Alpine views. Whisper “Ciao” to George Clooney’s villa if your boat captain cruises by.

• View cue: Funicular from Como town to Brunate for lake‑above‑the‑clouds panoramas.
• Sip scene: Aperitivo at a lakeside bar in Varenna at golden hour.

10. Sardinia – The Untamed Island

Sardinia feels like Italy’s rebellious cousin: Caribbean‑style beaches, Bronze‑Age ruins, and interior mountains crawling with wild sheep. Bask on Costa Smeralda’s millionaire beaches one day; hike the Gennargentu range the next. Finish with a feast of suckling pig porceddu and cannonau wine—nothing else tastes quite like it.

• Beach bliss: Spiaggia della Pelosa—white sand, neon‑turquoise shallows.
• Ancient intrigue: Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, a 3,500‑year‑old stone fortress.

Packing Yet?

Deciding on the best places to visit in Italy is like ranking gelato flavors: technically possible, emotionally challenging. Still, these ten hotspots—Rome’s eternal swagger, Palermo’s untamed charm, Amalfi’s cliffside glamour—cover Italy’s full flavour wheel. Mix and match based on your cravings (art binge? coastal chic? island escape?) and remember: the best places in Italy share one thing—each visit sparks an immediate plan to return.

FAQ – Best Places in Italy 

‍Which are the best cities in Italy for first‑time visitors? 

Rome, Florence, and Milan deliver a perfect trio of iconic sights, world‑class museums, and nightlife—ideal for sampling the best cities in Italy vibe.

Is Palermo safe enough now for tourists? 

Yes. Revitalization and increased policing have made Palermo a rising star among the best places to visit in Italy for adventurous foodies and culture hunters.

What are the best places to visit in Italy if I have just one week?‍

Focus on Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast—three destinations that give you a perfect mix of history, art, and coastline without exhausting your schedule.

Which city is considered the best city in Italy for food lovers?‍

Naples leads the pizza league, Bologna masters pasta, and Palermo rules street‑food. Each city makes a strong case for being the best city in Italy for serious eaters.

Are the best cities in Italy crowded all year round?‍

Major hubs like Rome and Milan draw tourists year‑round, but shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October) cut lines in half while keeping weather pleasant.

Do I need a car to see the best places in Italy?‍

Trains efficiently link the big cities—Rome, Florence, Milan—yet a rental car helps if you plan to roam Tuscany’s hill towns or cruise the Amalfi Coast.