The best places to visit in Italy in 2026

Best for: shopping ’till you drop

Thanks to a fast-expanding transport network and a host of new starchitect-designed buildings, tourism has boomed in Italy’s business capital in recent years. Far more than just an excellent place to stock up on the latest shoes, the city has undergone a renaissance of late: cool bars, cool restaurants, cool cultural centres, and so on. That all feels rather appropriate, considering Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci was responsible for the city’s crisscrossing network of canals, parts of the dazzling Castello Sforzesco, and also, y’know, just making Milan historically a very artsy and creative place to be.

Where to stay: The Park Hyatt Milano is at the core of Milan's fashion district, next to the the Duomo di Milano,  and boasts some fabulous amenities like a lavish spa and beauty salon, two restaurants (one recommended by Michelin) and sleek bar for some classy Campari cocktails. 

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Best for: first-timers in Italy

With world-renowned art collections and a shit ton of history on pretty much every corner, Rome is a rite of passage for history buffs. But come for the ancient ruins, stay for the eating, eating and more eating you’re going to do in Italy’s Capital. Rome’s restaurants are some of the best in the country for pizza and pasta galore (we recommend trying all of its pasta specialities; Gricia, Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara and Amatriciana. Possibly all of them twice.) Add to this the allure of its many verdant parks, with their beautiful panoramic terraces and a moderate climate that’s inviting during any season, and it’ll become far too easy to fall in love with the Italian capital. If you’ve never been to Italy, you have to start with Rome. Period. 

Where to stay: Another stunning stay, the Bulgari Hotel Roma houses the tomb of the Emperor Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire. The price is... pricey, but it's worth at least one wallet-breaking visit to witness the remarkable amount of Italian marble and savour the signature Bulgari scent filling the hotel air. 

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Best for: a romantic weekend

Sure, there’s the Duomo and Michaelangelo’s David and the Uffizi and the Ponte Vecchio – Florence positively brims with headline attractions that are well worth visiting – but there’s so much more to this city than just the tourist magnets. For example, some parks that rarely feel busy, quirky museums that’ll give you the creeps, vintage shops and second-stores galore, and delicious gelato that’ll have you mumbling benissimo! under your breath all day long. Florence isn’t a Renaissance theme park: it’s a living city with plenty to seduce visitors of all tastes.

Where to stay: To stay at Stella d’Italia hotel is to stay in a world of whimsy created by artist-owner Betty Soldi. Everything here is brushed with colour, excellent taste and the right amount of quirkiness.  

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Best for: seeing a different side of the country

Sun-soaked Sicily is just off the ‘tip’ of Italy’s ‘boot’: an almost-otherworldly island that has a character distinct from the rest of southern Italy. If you want a city break vibe, head to Palermo or Catania, where you’re also an easy train ride from the beautiful Cefalù. For more of a nature holiday, hike the slopes of Mount Etna and sip the wine that’s made there, get lost in the maze-like Baroque towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa, feast on fresh seafood on Ortigia island, sunbathe on the island’s countless beautiful beaches or let the hours pass eating granita and cannoli in pretty squares. There are majestic ruins and archaeological sites, many dating back to Ancient Greek times, dotted all over the island.

Where to stay: If you’re itching for some White Lotus energy before the new season, the San Domenico Palace is the actual hotel used for season two in Italy and is as grandiose as you saw on screen. 

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Best for: old-school Italy (and pizza)

Naples wasn’t always the tourist hotspot it now is, previously known for being rough. Now, it’s a foodie hotspot, with a beautiful historic centre and more pizza than you can cram into a single weekend. And even with its soaring popularity, Naples has kept much of its character and old-world charm. Laundry laces the back alleys, markets brim with sweet-smelling local produce, and life here is lived on the streets. Oh, and that backdrop – you’ll have to see it to believe it. 

Where to stay: The Royal Continental Hotel has 397 rooms that are broken down into eight categories, but the only thing that matters is the seaside view. Book a room with a balcony and you’ll be able to smell the salt from the Gulf of Naples. 

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Best for: vineyards, day trips and sea views 

Italy’s stupendous Amalfi Coast, overlooking the bay of Naples, is probably best known as the production hub of Limoncello, that sweetest of digestivi, made with lemon rinds, water, sugar and, of course, alcohol. There’s a generous sprinkling of beautiful towns along this 50km-long stretch of coastline, but Sorrento is the true highlight. With its sun-drenched piazzas, breathtaking hotels and winding streets that ooze olde-worlde charm, it’s a beautiful, manageably-sized town that’ll turn any trip into a seafood-filled, Aperol-soaked dream. La dolce vita? Found it, mate.

Where to stay: Marilyn Monroe, Oscar Wilde, and Sophia Loren are just some of the famous names that get dropped when mentioning the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. All three stayed here, and while you won't be running into them anytime soon, you can still experience the old-school glamour that oozes from this hotel. Think hand-painted frescoed ceilings, elaborate furniture and a terrace that overlooks the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius

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Best for: Olympic action and Alpine scenery 

This little mountain town in Lombardy will host the Alpine skiing and mountaineering events in the 2026 Olympics next month, but even without the major event, Bormio's beauty is worth exploring. Aside from skiing down the famous Stelvio slope, you can also hike and cycle through the lush Stelvio National Park, and feast on hearty, homemade meals in family-run 'rifugios' like Rifugio Branca. Bormio is home to some delcious, hyperlocal cuisine (search pizzoccheri and sciatt online and your stomach will rumble) and multiple geothermal spas that will have you floating away in naturally heated bliss. This place is called the 'wellness mountain' for a reason. 

Best for: wandering the streets

Where to start with La Serenissima? Even if you’re not here for the Biennale or Carnival, this city positively hums with good vibes all year round. It has beaches, some of the world’s best art, and we don’t know if you’ve heard about the food here, but it’s properly great too. Above all, Venice calls for getting lost, so avoid the touristy gondola rides and wander aimlessly along the alluring backstreets. With regular stops for prosecco and cicchetti, of course. Our top tip? Visit off-season, always. Here’s why Venice is even more magical in winter. 

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Best for: eating, eating and eating (and not just bolognese)

Famed for its swelteringly hot summers, radical leftwing politics, picturesque terracotta buildings and all that food, glorious food, Bologna could well be one of Europe’s most underrated city break destinations. In fact, the food here would be enough of a draw in itself: the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is the home of mortadella, tortellini and tagliatelle al ragù, after all. Grab a gelato for dessert and make the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, just beyond the ancient city walls.

📍 Discover Time Out’s best cities for food

Best for: sweeping Italian countryside 

So you’re going to Tuscany. Which gorgeous hilltop town will it be? From tiny, rustic Radicondoli to the vino rosso mecca of medieval Montepulciano, it’s an impossible choice to make – but someone has to do it. We’d probably opt for Siena first: technically a city, it still has plenty of small-town charm (and serves up all those sweeping views over rolling hills you’re here for), while offering an inexhaustible amount of stuff for visitors to see and do. Take in the golden gothic cathedral, wander mazy backstreets lined with boutiques and galleries, and taste locally-produced pecorino. But there’s plenty more in Tuscany too; have a look at Pisa, Lucca, Arezzo for your next trip. 

Best for: skiing, hiking and and more 

From skiing in the winter to hiking and biking as the snow thaws, Italy’s mountainous north is pure high-altitude heaven for outdoorsy types. Its dramatic pinnacles and rolling valleys make up one of the world’s most recognisable natural landscapes, but thanks to its border with Austria, the place also boasts a curious cultural make-up – order something in Italian in one of the region’s alpine towns and you might get some blank looks, as locals predominantly speak German (or in some cases Ladin, a Romance language unique to the region). I’ve always associated Italy with hot Mediterranean summers and culture-packed cities, so I loved getting to know another side to the country after staying in Bressanone, Tyrol’s oldest town.

Where to stay: Plenty of hotels stake a claim to being family-friendly, but when you go somewhere that’s built for families from the ground up, it just hits different. Sonnwies Dolomites is THAT place. All rooms have kid-friendly furniture and an outdoor space, as well as a separate bedroom or a compartment with a sliding door for kids' beds. 

Best for: sleepy towns and beach breaks

Italy’s Adriatic coast has long been snubbed in favour of tourist-dense spots like Amalfi and Portofino. But Puglia, the long heel of Italy’s boot, has been seen a boom in travellers curious to explore its sandy beaches, friendly towns and architectural riches. Eating top of your list? Some of Italy’s most famous foods – burrata, orecchiettie, Apulian focaccia – hail from the region. Into your city breaks? Puglia is home to some of Italy’s most underrated cities, including budget-friendly Bari, beautiful Brindisi and artsy Lecce (aka the ‘Florence of the South’). There’s hell of a lot going for this sunny southern region, but Alberobello – a comune made up of thousands of unique conical houses known as ‘trulli’ – is up there as one of the most whimsical, drop-dead gorgeous destinations I’ve ever seen (hence why we named it one of Europe’s most beautiful places).

Where to stay: Cream-coloured rooms, duplexes and grand villas make up the holiday resort of Borgo Egnazia. This Italian slice of heaven's got a spa, two private beaches, three outdoor pools and — if that's not enough water for you, you can also request to book a villa with a private pool.   

Best for: the great outdoors

Italy has its fair share of dramatic scenery, but nothing can quite prepare you for the moment you first set eyes on Lake Como. An impossibly turquoise, wishbone-shaped lake, flanked by the Alps and with shores lined by palatial villas and pretty towns, this long-time escape for the well-to-do has to be seen to be believed. While a handful of Lake Como’s famous villas house luxury hotels, many are open to the public – including the exquisite Villa Balbianello, made famous by Casino Royal and Star Wars. Our tip? Pay a visit to the popular towns of Bellagio and Varenna, but stay in the city of Como for a wider range of budget-friendly accommodation. And try the missoltino.

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Best for: beach living 

Sardinia ticks a lot of different holiday boxes. Beach bunnies will fall head-over-heels for the white sands and impossibly aquamarine water around Costa Smeralda and the island’s south coast. Nature lovers and hikers could wander for days around the interior, which feels like it hasn’t changed for centuries. And foodies can also spoil themselves with some of Italy’s finest produce and gorge themselves silly on seafood. Whatever kind of getaway you’re after, there are plenty of idyllic accommodation options ripe to make yours a truly perfect stay.

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Best for: hot springs and sunbathing 

A volcanic beauty sitting in the Bay of Naples, Ischia is an island that does both. It’s big enough to justify spending your entire vacation there, yet small enough that you could feasibly see the whole thing in a week. Spend your days exploring coves, grottos, beaches, gardens and rugged hills; spend your nights dining in upscale restaurants in the bustling areas of Forio and Ischia Porto, where boats bob on the marina and ferries offload holidaying Napolitani. Best of all? While Ischia certainly attracts summer crowds, it doesn’t yet feel overcrowded, particularly in comparison to neighbouring Capri. Do yourself a favour and visit now – and rent a moped if you want to do it right.

Best for: seafood lovers 

The writer Jan Morris once described this port city as the ‘capital of nowhere’. Once you’re here, you’ll see what she meant. Over the past 200 years, Trieste has been occupied by the Habsburgs, French, Italians, Yugoslavs – and was once an independent city-state. It may be Italian again, but you wouldn’t know. The architecture is oh-so ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’, while menus feature hodgepodge dishes like gnocchi al goulash. Slovenia is only seven miles away, and traditional osmiza will lay on fresh farm produce for walkers en route. Best of all, you’d be hard-pressed to spot a single other tourist.

Best for: getting your Shakespeare on

Consider yourself a hopeless romantic? Where better to holiday than the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet? ‘Wherefore art thou’ to your heart’s content with a visit to Juliet’s balcony, which clings to the side of a charming fourteenth-century home and overlooks a courtyard containing a statue of the lovestruck heroine herself. After you’ve rubbed her chest for luck in love, marvel at the ancient amphitheatre Arena di Verona, cross the Ponte di Castelvecchio for views over the Adige River, and dine at one of many local trattorias surrounding Piazza Bra or Piazza Delle Erbe. Bellissima. 

Best for: biking and exploring 

Lake Garda sometimes gets overshadowed by Lake Como, but it’s actually the largest body of water in the whole of Italy, stretching a whole 32 miles from the Alps to the Padana flatlands. We recommend checking out the lovely little town of Limone sul Garda, the view from Monte Baldo and the flower-filled town of Sirmione. It’s touristy, but it’s a very special place if you know where to look. 

📍 Check out our local’s guide to Lake Garda