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Romantic gondola ride near Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy
eyetronic | Adobe Stock

Italy Travel Guide: What to Do in Italy

Italy is so much more than a bucket list country. Not only does it consistently top just about every list of most desirable travel destinations, but people return again and again. And it’s really not surprising. Italy offers visitors such an extensive variety of experiences that you probably don’t even know half of them exist.

For instance, did you know that in southern Italy you can stay in a hotel situated in the very same caves man lived in thousands of years ago? Or that in Venice, rather than sit back and let a gondolier show you around, you can take the pole and do it yourself? You also can also immerse yourself in local culture by learning to make pizza in Sorrento or wielding a gladiator’s sword in Rome. There truly is more to do in Italy then can possibly be done in just one visit.

From the nitty-gritty details of where to stay and how to get around to an inspirational itinerary of unique experiences, we’re here to help you explore, experience and engage during your Italy travels.

Rent a Villa in Tuscany

Tuscany Villa with rose bushes in the foreground
searagen | Adobe Stock

What’s more memorable than cooking pasta and making sauce from scratch with your extended family, while surrounded by the same olive groves your cooking oil originated from? It’s easy to make your own “Under the Tuscan Sun” memories when you rent a villa in Tuscany. Not only will you make lasting memories, but by traveling with others and eating in, you’ll also have more money to spend on sightseeing, souvenir buying and wine tasting. Renting a villa is as easy as going online. Sites like Tuscany-Villas.it and VillasofDistinction.com offer a variety of villas in all sizes and price ranges alongside standard vacation rental sites like Vrbo.

Learn to Pole a Gondola in Venice

No visit to Venice is truly complete without seeing the city from the water. Venetians have been navigating the canals by gondola since the 12th century, and for many tourists it’s still a must-do activity. But for those worried about the “tourist trap” stigma of gondola rides, there’s another way. Instead of simply sitting back and letting someone else do the steering, why not take the helm yourself?

Opportunities to learn this age-old art range from tours created specifically for visitors to rowing club lessons open to all. If you want something more tourist-focused (meaning, you can count on someone speaking English!), try Artviva’s 90-minute “Learn to be a Gondolier” tour. For the more adventurous, Row Venice offers classes in English and Italian aboard a variety of gondola-like vessels..

Stay in a Cave in Matera

Heading to southern Italy and looking for something unique to try? How about spending a night caveman style? Well, caveman style with all the modern amenities, that is. Humans have inhabited the area in which the small town of Matera sits since Paleolithic times, living in cozy caves that developed over centuries into modern homes. Located in the most ancient section of the city (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Sassi are homes carved straight into the rock. Tourists can stay in one of several cave hotels that have been renovated and modernized with private baths, Internet, heating and air conditioning.

Among the hotels to check out are the Locanda di San Martino, the Caveoso Hotel, L’Hotel in Pietra, the Hotel Sassi and the romantic Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita.

Immerse Yourself in Art in Florence

Think Florence, and it’s impossible not to think art. This birthplace of the Renaissance is home to the Uffizi Gallery, with its plethora of Renaissance masterpieces, and the Galleria dell’ Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s David. Art lovers can spend every waking hour in Florence marveling at works by Da Vinci, Botticelli, Donatello and Michelangelo. If the classics aren’t enough, visitors can also visit living artisan communities and even try their hand at painting and photography.

Numerous tour operators offer skip-the-line tickets to the Uffizi so you can avoid languishing in long queues. But simply getting to the art faster isn’t what art immersion in Florence is about. To kick off your experience, choose a guided tour of the main galleries from Artviva, Viator or other major operators. Finally, hook up with Viator for a visit to Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood with its living, but centuries-old, craft traditions. 

Trek Cinque Terre

Dramatically perched atop cliff edges or nestled between them, with starburst-colored homes stacked one on top of the other, the five villages that make up Cinque Terre just beg to be explored on foot (driving actually isn’t permitted inside the villages). Each of the villages — Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — is crisscrossed by well-trodden hiking trails that wind through flowering fields, past medieval churches and alongside fragrant vineyards. Passes to walk the trails between the villages must be purchased for a small fee. When your feet get tired, hop on a local train or ferry to get to the next village.

Whether you want to hike the entire 11-mile distance between Cinque Terre’s villages or just do a segment here and there, your choices are endless. From Viator day trips that depart from Milan or Florence to an immersive five-day Cinque Terre walking tour from Girosole Walking Tours, you can choose to do as little or as much as you want.

Learn to Make Pizza in Sorrento

Just as there are certain cities you must visit when traveling to Italy, there are certain activities you shouldn’t pass up either. Eating pizza in the country in which it was born is one such must-do activity. But is just eating pizza enough? We think not. To truly understand how pizza fits into the history of Italian cuisine, you need a guide. And what better guide than an Italian pizza chef teaching you how to make your very own pie?

Sorrento is a great place to learn how to make a true pizza pie. Villa Ida offers well-reviewed pizza-making lessons, while Viator offers a Sorrento farm experience that includes a pizza-making lesson.

Ride a Bike in Lucca

One of the best places to look out over medieval Lucca’s ornate churches, wide piazzas and traditional red-roofed buildings is from the thick stone walls that surround this Tuscan city’s historic core. Atop these 16th-century fortifications runs a tree-lined, 2.5-mile path that’s perfect for biking. Sure, you could walk it, but getting around on two wheels gives you the opportunity to venture into the surrounding countryside as well, traveling along back roads to local wineries and organic farms, or coasting along the scenic Serchio River.

Several companies offer bike tours and rentals in Lucca. Try TuscanBike.it for a wide range of tours both within the city and in the countryside. Eco-Guide.it also offers cycling excursions. If you’d rather go it alone, Lucca’s tourist center offers a list of bike rental spots and prices.

Live Like George Clooney on Lake Como

Lake Como, view of the Villa del Balbianello. Italy
Sergey | Adobe Stock

One of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, Lake Como is best known for its stunning lake-side villas and celebrity visitors, most notably George Clooney. But you don’t have to be rich or famous to live the fabulous lifestyle — at least for a few nights. Villa rentals on the lake can start at $200 a night when couples share the cost with others. And when you’re not “star” gazing at a cafe, there’s also plenty of art and culture to keep you busy. Leave time for simply wandering the narrow streets and lush gardens of lake-side towns like Bellagio and Varenna.

The best way to experience Lake Como is to spend a few days there (in a villa if you can), but day tours are a possibility as well. For instance, Viator offers full-day tours from Milan that give you time for shopping and dining and includes a boat tour. Or try Lake Como Cycling’s bike tours of the area.

Drive a Ferrari Along the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most scenic spots in a country renowned for its magnificent scenery. Add to the stunning sea views the lavish vineyards and olive groves, and this UNESCO World Heritage area just begs for an opulent approach. Give in Italian-style; rent a flaming red Ferrari and spend the day zipping up and down the curvy Amalfi Drive. When you’re ready for lunch, stop at a local trattoria and try the limoncello, a lemon liqueur produced throughout the Amalfi region.

Obviously you can drive the Amalfi Coast in any common rental car, but if you want to do it the fun way, check out Red Travel or Your Private Italy, both of which offer full-day or longer Ferrari rentals with guides. If willing to venture away from the Amalfi Coast, speed-seeking travelers can also check out Cooking Vacations’ six-day “Slow Food, Fast Car” tour of Modena, Bologna, and Parma.

Indulge Your Inner Chocoholic in Perugia

While Italy may not be as well known for its chocolate as, say, Switzerland or Belgium, the Italian city of Perugia actually is world-famous in chocoholic circles. Every October, Europe’s largest chocolate fair, the Eurochocolate Festival, is held in Perugia. An annual affair since 1993, the nine-day festival offers chocolate art displays, tastings, cooking demonstrations, spa appointments and more chocolate-centric souvenir options than you ever knew existed.

Can’t get to Perugia in October? You don’t have to miss out on all the chocolatey fun. You can stay at the Chocohotel or tour the Perugina factory (whose blue and white wrapped Baci kisses are available worldwide). The factory, now operated by Nestle, features a test kitchen and chocolate museum, and even offers cooking classes. 

Train Like a Gladiator in Rome

Among the many iconic sites of Italy that really shouldn’t be missed is the Colosseum in Rome. But considering the adrenaline-filled life the gladiators led, a standard stand-around-and-listen tour just doesn’t seem like the right way to experience this ancient arena. What if you could get a small taste of gladiator life instead? Wouldn’t the Colosseum look different after sweating for two hours while practicing your sword swing?

While there’s only one Gladiators’ School in Rome (about a mile and a half from the Colosseum), several tour operators offer programs there that include a two-hour class with a short museum visit, a drink and Roman attire to wear during your lesson. Check out Viator, Walks Inside Rome and GetYourGuide for more about their specific offerings. 

Best Time to Go to Italy

The most popular time to visit Italy is during the summer months, when temperatures and airfares soar, and crowds teem around famous churches, ruins and museums. Do yourself a favor and travel during the spring or fall shoulder seasons instead — the weather will be more temperate, and you’ll pay less for airfare and hotels. With the exception of the Christmas/New Year’s period, winter is the quietest time to visit Italy. While winter weather is mild in most regions, you may find some smaller attractions and hotels shuttered for the off-season.

Italy on a Budget

Italy can be a bit of a budget-buster, especially in the most popular tourist hot spots like Rome, Venice and Florence. To help keep costs down, consider traveling outside of the summer high season, when airfare and hotels are at their most expensive. As you look for lodging, keep an eye out for pensioni, small guesthouses that offer basic and affordable accommodations. Restaurant meals are another area where you can cut costs; splurge on lunch instead of dinner, and look for small places to eat away from the crowded main piazzas, where you’ll find inflated tourist prices.

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