20 Must-Do Experiences in Italy: Expert Guide from a 5-Time Visitor
Discover the 20 best things to do in Italy in this essential guide, showcasing food, art, architecture, nature, activities, and history from a seasoned traveler's perspective.
With 20 diverse regions each offering unique cultures and attractions, pinpointing Italy's top experiences can be challenging for any trip.
I've visited Italy five times, each journey revealing greater wonders in its landscapes, diversity, and artistry. Highlights include exploring Lake Como's villages, hiking Cinque Terre, solo adventuring in Bologna, and touring Rome's landmarks. I've mastered pasta-making classes, joined expert-led tours, and connected with locals, proving Italy suits every interest and budget.
We've partnered with Klook to recommend our favorite bookable experiences, from solo Lake Como explorations to guided Rome tours.
Take a Gondola Ride in Venice
Essential for solo travelers, families, or couples, a gondola ride through Venice's canals is an unforgettable highlight.
Gondolas cluster in tourist areas, but pre-booking a tour saves money and avoids haggling.
Spanning 120 islands on an ancient lagoon, Venice offers alternatives like vaporettos (public ferries), traghettos (gondola ferries), or water taxis.
Take a Cooking Class
Italy's cuisine is a trip draw—master it yourself in a hands-on class.
I loved my pasta-making session in Chiusi Chianciano Terme, guided by passionate experts—a skill I still use.
Options abound: pizza workshops, bread baking, and more nationwide.
Ski the Dolomites
The Dolomites, in Trentino-Alto Adige, buzz as a premier Northeastern Italian range.
Renowned for winter skiing, snowboarding, chalets, and thermal baths; summers reveal lakes, hikes, and biking trails.
Less crowded than other areas, it offers serene exploration.
Take a Gelato-Making Class
Gelato defines Italy—learn its secrets using fresh, local ingredients in a dedicated class.
Perfect for food lovers seeking authentic flavors beyond store-bought.
Visit Milan’s Duomo
Milan excels in fashion, art, and architecture; its Duomo anchors the scene.
Italy's largest Gothic cathedral (world's 5th), started in 1386 over six centuries—still ongoing.
Explore rooftops, interiors, archaeological areas, San Gottardo Church, Museum, and Crypt of Saint Charles. Book tickets ahead.
Tour Cinque Terre’s Villages
On the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre's five villages—Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso—stun with colorful buildings, cliffs, terraced farms, and sea views.
Connect via ferries, hikes, trains; note car-free centers. Road trips work too.
Explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
Rome's Colosseum, built in 80 AD, hosted gladiatorial combats, exotic animals, and executions—now an icon.
Adjacent Roman Forum held government buildings; Palatine Hill housed elites.
All in one archaeological zone; walk between or join skip-the-line guided tours.
Take a Walking Tour in Matera
In Basilicata's Matera, ancient cave dwellings were inhabited until 1950.
A labyrinth of palaces, churches, and architecture; guided tours reveal its rich history.
Museum Hop in Florence
Florence, art's cradle, demands museum time: Uffizi (Birth of Venus, Primavera), Duomo, Galleria dell’Accademia.
Hike Mount Vesuvius
The infamous volcano that buried Pompeii remains active—and hikeable.
30-minute steep trail with switchbacks to the crater; wear grippy shoes, bring water.
Safe: eruptions warned weeks ahead, closing trails.
Road Trip the Amalfi Coast
Orchards, vineyards, 100+ beaches, epic views draw 5 million yearly to Salerno province.
Drive the 69km SS163 'Blue Highway'; stop in towns like Positano, Sorrento; hike Path of the Gods, visit Valle dei Mulini.
Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa
60m tall, leaning since 1173 construction; iconic with surrounding sites.
Explore Pisa town post-visit; book guided Pisa Cathedral tours for seamless access.
Tour the Vatican
Rome-enclaved sovereign state, rich in history beyond Catholicism: St. Peter’s Basilica, Square, Sistine Chapel, tomb, Castel Sant’Angelo.
Visit Pompeii’s Ruins
Near Naples, buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, rediscovered 1748 intact; 2.5M visitors yearly.
Highlights: Temple of Apollo, House of the Faun, Amphitheatre, Temple of Jupiter.
Relax on Lake Como
Alpine-footed Northern gem with villages (Varenna, Bellagio, Como, Tremezzo, Brunate), hikes, watersports—accessible budgets.
Visit the Valley of the Temples
Sicily's Agrigento UNESCO site: best-preserved Doric temples (6th-5th BC) to Hera, Dioscuri, Concordia, Heracles, Zeus, Hephaestus, Asclepius, Demeter.
Take a Wine Tour
Wine haven with regions like Puglia, Sicily, Prosecco, Trentino, Collio Friulano, Tuscany, Umbria, Irpinia.
Explore Beneath Rome’s Trevi Fountain
Beyond the iconic fountain: Imperial-era ruins (La Città dell’Acqua). Visit independently or guided.
Take a Food Tour in Bologna
Bologna, Italy's food capital: savor meats, cheeses, unique pastas on a guided tour.
Explore the Frasassi Caves
Genga's vast system: caverns, stalactites, crystallized lake, Grand Canyon, Ancona Abyss. 1.5-hour guided tours; wear sturdy shoes.
Plan Your Trip to Italy
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