15 of the Absolute Best Things to Do in Italy

Visiting Italy can be a once in a lifetime experience. If you want to make your trip worthwhile, you should take a look at these top things to do in Italy.

Home of spaghetti, Vesuvius and Gucci, Italy is probably the most sought-after destinations in the world. With snow-capped mountains to the north and terrific beaches to the south, this boot-shaped country is a place of breathtaking scenery.

But it is culture that actually makes Italy so appealing to visitors. The best things to do in Italy all revolve around the country’s unique and delightful soul. From Roman temples to pizza, it is impossible to visit and never want to come back.

You’re about to go on a whirlwind tour of the 15 most incredible things to do in Italy, so dust off your passport and keep reading.

1. Wine Tasting in Tuscany

We know, we invite you for a wine tasting. But bear with us because wine tasting in Italy is not just about the happy taste, it is about the entire vibe.

The Chianti region of Tuscany has hills and vineyards stretching out before your eyes. Stretching from Florence to Siena, this majestic venue is the ultimate destination for those seeking to sample the country’s finest wines.

2. Visit the Colosseum

Nearly 2000 years old, the Colosseum in Rome once housed 50,000 people. Such a wonderful sight within this busy and delightful city, it’s something that must be seen in real life.

You can even book to visit the top level for incredible views and descend into the depths of the underground passages.

3. Wander Venice During Carnival

Venice is a special city built completely on water with no cars and a maze of streets. Any time of year it is a magical place to visit with 400+ bridges and the majestic San Marco square, but there’s one annual event that beats all of them. Carnival.

In February every year, the Venice Carnival has to be experienced to be believed. With grand showtens of thousands of masked people, and costume parades, the carnival is the most festive event in Venice.

4. Walk the Cinque Terre

Five small villages of brightly coloured houses built on the rocky shoreline of the Italian Riviera make up the Cinque Terre. Situated close together and connected by easy coastal paths, walking between them is among the best things to do in Italy.

The small fishing harbor shows how life traditionally thrived in Cinque Terre villages. The entire trail is simply 7 miles but you will want to linger in each town.

5. Eat Pizza in Naples

Pizza is serious business in this quintessential coastal town Neapolitan pizza have a prescription set. It must be made with tomatoes of the San Marzano variety or with Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio – that’s, grown in the soil around Vesuvius.

It must even have the special buffalo mozzarella from the Campania or Lazio regions and the cow’s milk mozzarella which can only come from Agerola. In short, Neapolitans do not mess around.

6. Take a Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip

Still in the Naples area, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii are classic Italian places that must be visited. The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 destroyed the great city of Pompeii which was at the base of a volcano.

Climbing Vesuvius is simple with a bus service that approaches the summit and offers 360 degree views. After you have experienced Vesuvius, head to Pompeii where you can spend hours walking around the remains of this once thriving Roman city.

7. Discover the Sicilian Valley of the Temples

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valley of the Temples is the biggest archaeological site in the world. If you want to see some of the most impressive ruins from the Roman empire, this is the place to visit.

8. Boat Ride on Lake Como

In the northern mountains, Lake Como is one of Italy’s most iconic lakes. Dotted with picturesque villages and grand villas, the shoreline is both dramatic and delightful. A boat ride is the best way to embrace Lake Como and you will see amazing buildings against the backdrop of the Alps.

9. Go to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

If art draws you to Italy, there is no better place to experience it than at the Uffizi Gallery in the heart of Florence. Home to some of the most extraordinary pieces of Renaissance art in the world and in a fantastic building in its own right, you’ll be enthralled from the moment you enter.

10. Take Italian Classes in Milan

A smart and chic city, Milan is an incredible place to take a week of Italian classes. With many school choices, you can learn to say ‘hello’ (boongiorno) and how are you?’ (come sta?) on your first day. At the end of the week, you will be chatting with the locals like old friends.

11. Take the Ferry from Amalfi to Positano

Traditionally a destination for the elite, Amalfi is a fantastic village on the coast with rugged hills behind it. Since Amalfi and Positano are located on cliffs, the best views are of the sea.

Take a private boat tour or take a ferry that runs between the two.

12. Take the Grand Tour

There’s no better way to experience Italy than by taking a luxury tour to some of the most extraordinary places in the country. Italy has so much to offer and tours are the perfect way to see cities, attractions and relax all the time.

Special tours in Italy puts you in charge of your itinerary so you can see the places you have at all times dreamed of.

13. Take a Pasta Class

When you taste pasta dishes in Italy, you’ll be blown away. There is something about fresh Italian pasta that’s rare overseas. The best way to find out their secret is to take a pasta class in Rome.

Don’t forget your notebooks, you will want to recreate them at home!

14. Visit the Opera in Milan

You do not have to be an opera buff to be enchanted by live Italian opera. Whatever your taste in music, going to opera at Milan’s famous La Scala opera house will change your understanding of this sort of music.

15. Go to the Shopping Market in Siena

From 20:30 to 13:30 every Wednesday, you can explore Siena’s famous La Lizza market. Here you’ll experience the real Italian way of life. Shop for food, clothes and gifts for your family back home.

The Best Things to Do in Italy Await You

Each region of this Mediterranean country has its own unique culture and landscape. From food and drink to entertainment and outdoor activities, the best things to do in Italy at all times provide an incredible insight into the nation’s heart.