10 Best Day Trips in Italy
Experience the Best of Italy on the Open Road
Whether you’re staying in Rome, Milan, or Venice, day trips in Italy are easily accessible. In under 2 hours, you can find yourself sipping wine in sun-kissed vineyards, wandering bustling fishing villages lined with candy-colored houses, and exploring medieval communes atop cinematic bluffs.
Venture along the shore for picture-postcard towns, hike the imposing mountains for jaw-dropping alpine scenery, or marvel at fortresses with 13th-century walls and fairy-tale towers. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants serving all those Italian favorites, as well as heavenly terraced gardens and plenty of limoncello. Read on to find out where to experience the best of “la dolce vita” (the good life).
1. Amalfi Coast
UNESCO-listed beauty spot peppered with hilltop towns
Good for: Photo, Couples, Families
Easily reached from Naples, the picturesque Amalfi Coast enchants with its rugged Lattari mountain backdrop, colorful chocolate box villages, and spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Visit in spring and summer when the weather is at its most dazzling for evenings dining in cliffside restaurants and sunny days on dark sand beaches.
Hotspot towns include Positano and its serpentine streets leading to the shore, Ravello with the Villa Cimbrone’s sublime terraced gardens, and Amalfi, home to Piazza del Duomo’s tinkling fountains and St. Andrew Apostle cathedral. Between February and October, the entire coastline bursts into shades of yellow during limoncello liqueur season. Grab a table at a waterfront restaurant and try the Amalfi version of a Martini cocktail.
Amalfi Coast
2. Lake Como
Stunning body of water that’s beloved by Hollywood stars
Good for: Photo, Couples, Families
Nestled beneath the Alps and offering some of Italy’s most staggering scenery, Lake Como is an affluent resort region coveted by celebs like Madonna, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts. At the lake’s southwest end lies the historic city of Como, celebrated for its Renaissance architecture and the Como-Brunate Funicular, a scenic railway winding through the mountains.
The promontory town of Bellagio charms with cobbled alleys, brightly painted houses, and steep streets like Salita Serbelloni, lined with boutiques selling silk garments and gourmet delicacies. Don’t miss the Gardens of Villa Melzi, bursting with rhododendron and azalea, or the 11th-century Basilica of San Giacomo.
Lake Como
3. Tivoli
Riveting architectural relic at the falls of the Aniene River
Good for: History, Photo
An ancient commune in Italy’s Lazio region, Tivoli is famed for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Explore Hadrian’s Villa, the archeological remains of a sprawling residential complex circa AD 120 or Villa d’Este, a 16th-century house that’s replete with Renaissance architecture and one of the most gorgeous gardens in Europe.
Known as Tibur in antiquated times, Tivoli is only a 1-hour drive east from Rome and is home to a multitude of historic attractions and Michelin Guide restaurants. Visit the Temples of Vesta and Sybil in the town’s old acropolis before dining at Li Somari for regional gastronomy.
Tivoli
4. Dolomites
Italy’s mightiest mountain range
Good for: Photo, Adventure
Part of the Southern Limestone Alps, the Dolomites stretch dramatically across 3 distinct regions: Veneto, Trentino, Alto-Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Two-and-a-half hours north of Venice, this majestic mountain range is sprinkled with chocolate box towns like St. Magdalena, which delights with its photogenic backdrop and baroque little chapel.
Hike the loop beneath the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, climb the imposing Tofana di Rozes rock face, or picnic on Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow. In winter, hit Dolomite Superski for 12 resorts, state-of-the-art lifts, and runs that are covered in premium powder. Don’t miss the outdoor hot tubs at Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Dolomites
5. Cinque Terre
A romantic stretch of seaside
Good for: Photo, Adventure
A collection of 5 UNESCO fishing villages on Italy’s northwest coast, Cinque Terre is famed for its candy-hued houses that teeter on hillsides above the Ligurian Sea and picture-postcard marinas. This idyllic stretch is also home to elevated restaurants that boast exquisite views of the blue-green ocean, as well as romantic terraced vineyards that produce Sciacchetrà passito vino.
Swing by Riomaggiore to stroll its Via dell’Amore coastal path, head to Corniglia for the region’s best gelato, or venture to Vernazza to see historic Doria Castle. If you’re a beach lover, head to Monterosso and enjoy its long sandy shoreline, dotted with comfy sunbeds and giant stripey parasols.
Cinque Terre
6. Pompeii
An extraordinary archeological wonder
Good for: History, Photo
Only 30 minutes from Naples, UNESCO-listed Pompeii is a vast ancient city that was buried under meters of ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Excavations began in the 18th century, uncovering an extraordinary metropolis that is now open to the public, who come to see its iconic sites and learn about its history.
Purchase tickets online or at the entry gates to discover the Lupanar brothel with its stone beds and erotic frescoes, an impeccably preserved bath house, and The Forum, the city’s cultural and civic heart. Take a group tour or hire a private guide to steer you through these incredible ruins before visiting the Pompeii Antiquarium to admire mosaics, ceramics, and sculptures.
Pompeii
7. Verona
A timeless romance with the City of Love
Good for: History, Photo, Couples
The setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, UNESCO darling Verona is renowned for its medieval old town and a 14th-century residence with a romantic balcony, said to belong to Juliet. Historic highlights include Castel San Pietro, a 19th-century military barracks with exceptional views, and the Bridges of Verona crossing the River Adige.
The setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, UNESCO darling Verona is renowned for its medieval old town and a 14th-century residence with a romantic balcony, said to belong to Juliet. Explore its historic highlights that include Castel San Pietro, a 19th-century military barracks with exceptional views, and the Bridges of Verona crossing the River Adige.
Verona
8. Ischia
Hidden holiday gem not far from the mainland
Good for: Photo, Couples
Little-known Ischia is an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea that can be reached by ferry from Naples. It’s known for its healing thermal waters, volcanic gold sand beaches, and a glamorous seafront promenade lined with swaying palm trees.
Visit La Mortella botanical gardens for a collection of Mediterranean flora and subtropical plants, or head to Castello Aragonese (circa 1441), which teeters dramatically atop its own little islet and offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples. Hike Mount Epomeo, clink Prosecco glasses on a sunset boat cruise, or take a dip in a hot spring bath.
Ischia
9. San Gimignano
A journey back in time to the Town of Five Towers
Good for: History, Photo
One of Tuscany’s most visually arresting hill towns, UNESCO-listed San Gimignano is famed for its 13th-century walls, medieval towers, and rustic brick buildings fitted with wooden shutters. Surrounded by vineyards, the area is a haven for wine aficionados who come here to sample regional drops in an array of storied wineries like Corbucci and Altezza.
When you’re not sipping chilled pinot grigio amongst rows of gnarled vines, you can take in sweeping views of the countryside from Torre Grossa tower or visit Santa Maria Assunta for its holy religious frescoes. Just 1 hour south of Florence, San Gimignano is a culinary flashpoint. Head to the terrace of Le Vecchie Mura for delectable antipasto.
San Gimignano
10. Orvieto
Like a scene out of a fairy story
Good for: History, Photo
Perched atop a volcanic butte in southwestern Umbria, the atmospheric town of Orvieto beguiles with its unforgettable vistas and medieval buildings. Stop at Duomo di Orvieto, a 14th-century cathedral that boasts a gold facade inlaid with mosaics and an interior replete with marble columns and elegant white statutory.
Just 90 minutes from Rome, Orvieto is best discovered by strolling down its maze-like streets, which offer far-off glimpses of the Umbrian countryside with its wealth of dark green cypress trees. Situated behind the Duomo, Palazzi Papali showcases the city’s best devotional art. To access its Etruscan-era caves, book a guided tour.
Orvieto
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