30 Incredible Destinations In Italy Travel Bloggers Love

By Catalina | August 3, 2017

There are so many amazing places to visit in Italy that it can be difficult to choose which ones to travel to! To help you decide where the best places to visit in Italy are, I’ve invited a group of travel bloggers to contribute their favorite Italian destinations.

Together, we’ve created this list of the top 30 travel destinations travel bloggers love in Italy (although if we are being honest there are many, many other places worth visiting as well!).

You’ll find the classic Italian destinations such as Rome, Milan, and Florence, as well as off-the-beaten-path gems like Perugia, Courmayeur, and Elba island. From bustling and historic cities to beautiful beachside paradises, there really is a destination for everyone in Italy (and on this list!)

So what are you waiting for? Discover which places in Italy are perfect for your next trip now!

I have organized this list by region and broken it down into two parts, from north to south.

In this post, you’ll discover top travel destinations in the regions of Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, and Tuscany, as seen on the map below.

In part two of this post, you will find the best destinations in the regions of Umbria, Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Sicily, and Sardinia. Click here to access part two!

1. Courmayeur, Italy

I came across the picturesque town of Courmayeur while hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc circuit. Number one on the list was paying a visit to the Terme di Pre-Saint-Didier spa. Set with the gorgeous mountains all around you can relax outside in the hot thermal waters and enjoy the view. There are also lots of other relaxation rooms to enjoy so you can really spend a good few hours here.

The town is great to explore and has lots of little restaurants and bistros where you can enjoy some amazing pizzas. Be sure to check out the size before you order. Mine arrived and was big enough for 3 people!

Submitted by Becky of Becky the Traveller. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

2. Milan

Milan is one of Italy’s most modern cities and is known as the Italian capital of fashion and design. Despite the city’s modern appeal, there are still plenty of historic sites to visit in the city such as the Duomo di Milano, da Vinci’s famous Last Supper, and the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Milano definitely makes it onto my two week Italy itinerary. Discover how to spend one day in Milan here!

Submitted by me, Miss Adventures Abroad! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

3. Bergamo

Bergamo is the kind of place you visit by accident and fall in love with. It’s a city of two parts; the lower, more modern city and the Città Alta – the original hilltop medieval town surrounded by 16th-century walls. Two funicular railways connect the two parts of the city.

Up in the Città Alta, you’ll find beautiful old squares, the cathedral, palaces and a monastery. Away from the main routes, you’ll find absolute peace and quiet in the historic streets surrounded by stunning architecture. Don’t miss walking the city walls with their gorgeous views over the lower city and the amazing marble Porta San Giacomo.

Submitted by Helen of Helen On Her Holidays. Follow her on Instagram!

4. Mantua

When people visit the north part of Italy, they flock to Milan, Venice, and Verona, sometimes Trento and Padua. Mantua, only an hour’s train ride from Verona is still often overlooked. However, this secret Italian town is home to three whopping castles as well as a man-made lake. The famous Hall of the Giants, a room painted as one giant canvas from wall to ceiling is a UNESCO heritage and situated in Palazzo Te, the summer palace. Other notable ones I saw was Chamber of the Zodiac in Corte Vecchia and the Panthenon ceiling in Castle of St George. You can find out more about the 3 castles of Mantua here.

Submitted by Nam of Laugh Travel Eat. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram!

5. Lake Garda, Italy

: Image: Pixabay

No trip to Italy should be without a stop at the largest lake in the country – Lake Garda.This beautiful lakeside town just a train ride away from the majestic ancient amphitheater and Juliet’s Balcony of Verona, boasts beautiful beaches, unique attractions, and cuisine to suit any palate. What I love so much about Lake Garda is the relaxed atmosphere. Spending a day here as a break from the nearby sightseeing refuels your tourist mind for the rest of the area’s jam-packed treasure trove of historic and photographic landmarks.

Submitted by Janine of Fill My Passport. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram!

6. Trieste

Trieste is everything you would expect from an Italian city: the romanticism, the tumult, the dramatic nature. It has a great open piazza overlooking the sea, you have the beaches not far away from the city, the romantic castle up on the hill, the Dolomites close by, all the incredible gelaterias and the restaurants with the perfect blend between Italian and Slovenian food. Discover how to spend one perfect day in Trieste here!

Submitted by Ingrid of Ingrid Zen Moments. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

7. Venice

Venice is one of the most visited cities in Italy and should definitely make it on your list of must-see places in Italy! The colorful canals and beautiful bridges are utterly romantic, and a gondola ride simply cannot be skipped. While Venice is amazing to go to any time of year, if you can, try visiting during Carnevale-you’ll see the city come to life with masks and costumes!

Submitted by me, Miss Adventures Abroad! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

8. Verona

Romantics won’t want to miss the city of Verona, the fictional setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Whether you choose to visit the Casa di Giulietta for luck in love, send your very own letter to Juliet, explore the 3rd largest amphitheater or oldest wine bar in Italy, you are sure to have an amazing visit. Verona is just as beautiful as it is romantic, discover more about this love-ly city in this post!

Submitted by me, Miss Adventures Abroad! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

9. Bologna

I visited Bologna as part of my road trip around Italy and Austria and fell in love with this city. Bologna is often described as “The Learned, the Fat and the Red” because of its oldest University in Europe, fat and very tasty food in and red color of the buildings. Bologna might be as fell the most underestimated city in Italy by international tourists: for some reason not many people visit this absolutely amazing city. Bologna also has the longest gallery in the world – which is over 3.5km in length. The length of all the galleries is estimated to be around 40km, so even when the weather is bad you can walk around the city and never get wet.

Submitted by Liza of Tripsget. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

Discover how to spend 1 perfect day in Bologna here!

10. Genoa

I spent a few weeks in Genoa and quickly became smitten with this city. Genoa is unique in the sense that it melds together historical and modern elements. I loved spending the days relaxing in this port city, taking in its local history, architecture, and atmosphere. There are so many reasons to visit Genoa from the modern seaport to the grand palazzos on Via Garibaldi (A UNESCO World Heritage Site). Most notably, Genoa is the hometown of the famed explorer Christopher Columbus and thus should be on every traveler’s list. Read more about how to spend 24 hours in Genoa here!

Submitted by Anna of Come Join My Journey. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

11. Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is one of my absolute favorite destinations in all of Italy, and is an easy day trip from Florence. The 5 colorful cliffside towns are world famous for their beauty. I highly recommend hiking the winding seaside trails during your visit before taking a dip in the blue Mediterranean. Discover how to plan a day trip to this unforgettable location (or follow my sample itinerary) here!

Submitted by me, Miss Adventures Abroad! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

12. Florence

After spending 1 year living in Florence, it is safe to say that the city is not only one of my favorite cities in Italy, but in the world. There is so much to do and see in this enchanting Tuscan city straight out of the Renaissance. From the incredible Duomo di Firenze to the historic Ponte Vecchio, you are sure to fall in love with bella Firenze. Start planning an amazing visit to Florence here, or click here to view all of my posts on Florence. Warning: there are quite a few! 😉

Submitted by me, Miss Adventures Abroad! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram!

13. Pisa

Pisa is located in the Tuscany region of Italy. You can fly directly into Pisa, reach it by train from Florence or take a Tuscan tour that includes a stop in Pisa. It is about 1.5 hours from Florence. Popular sites include of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa where you can actually pay to climb the steps to the top, the Cathedral of Pisa (Duomo di Pisa) and Museum and the Baptistry of St. John which is all located in an area called the Field of Miracles (Piazza Dei Miracoli). Be sure to expect a ton of other tourists!

Submitted by Kim of Work Hard Travel Well. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

14. Lucca

The city of Lucca is, without a doubt, one of northern Tuscany’s hidden gems. Although Lucca is well-linked to the rest of Italy via public transportation, it remains somewhat off the beaten path, and its 16th-century charm has been preserved nearly perfectly over the years, as it’s one of the few cities in Italy that managed to escape bombing in WWII. The best way to spend a day in Lucca? Rent a bike and cruise around the circular path atop the medieval walls that surround the city, peruse the local markets for delicious eats, lunch in the city’s circular Piazza Anfiteatro, climb up Tower Guinigi for an amazing view of the city’s red rooftops, and then wind down the evening by taking in Puccini concert.

Submitted by Jessica of The Belle Voyage. Follow her on Facebook or on Instagram!

15. Elba Island

When most people picture Tuscany, they imagine rolling hills, vineyards, and endless countryside. However, believe it or not, Tuscany is actually home to a few islands! I had the opportunity to take a day trip from Florence to Elba Island, and was immediately excited to see just how beautiful the island was! Not only can visitors spend some time relaxing on the beach, but you can also check out the house where Napoleon was exiled to as well as the nearby historic fort. You can read more about Tuscany’s island paradise here!

16. Volterra

Volterra is a walled hilltop town in Tuscany. It was an important center of the once powerful Etruscan civilization (700 – 200 BC). You can learn more about the Etruscans at the Guarnacci Museum. I found their collection of urns and artifacts absolutely fascinating. The town has a rich architectural heritage – from the Etruscan city walls and gates to the Roman amphitheater, and the medieval square Piazza dei Priori. This small enchanting town makes it a perfect destination for a one-day trip in Tuscany, or you can use it as a base to explore the rest of the region, staying away from the crowds of Siena, Pisa or Florence.

Submitted by Daniela of Ipanema Travels. Follow her on Facebook!

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There you have it! Part 1 of the top 30 destinations in Italy that travel bloggers love! To access Part II of this post, and see our favorite pics in the southern half of Italy, click here!

Which of these destinations made it onto your Italy bucket list? Let us know in the comments below!