Italy · best-of list
The 16 Best Outdoor Spots in Italy
All 16 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Italy, across 10 destinations, gathered in one list. 14 come with an insider tip, and 8 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
16 outdoor spots in Italy, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Taormina 3 picks
Alcantara Gorges
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Basalt-walled river gorge with icy water for wading.
Tip: Bring water shoes.
Photo: Dominika Bekus · Google
Isola Bella
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Tiny nature-reserve island joined to the beach by a sandbar.
Tip: Take the cable car down to Mazzarò.
Photo: Solomonn Levi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Villa Comunale
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Terraced public garden with Victorian follies and sea views.
Photo: Ovidiu Porohniuc · Google
Amalfi 2 picks
Grotta dello Smeraldo
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Sea cave with emerald light, visited by rowboat, a short drive west of Amalfi.
Tip: Reach by boat from Amalfi pier or bus to the elevator.
Photo: Jimlonj · Public domain
Valle delle Ferriere
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Shaded trail past ruined ironworks and paper mills to waterfalls above Amalfi.
Tip: Start from Pontone for an easier route; the nature reserve section may need a guide.
Photo: Valle delle Ferriere · Google
Cortina d'Ampezzo 2 picks
Lago di Braies
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Emerald lake with wooden rowboats and a flat 1-hour shoreline loop.
Tip: Road access is restricted Jul–Sep; book parking or take the bus.
Photo: Roberto Procaccianti · Google
Lago di Sorapis
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Milky turquoise lake reached by a 2-hour trail with ledges and ladders.
Tip: Start from Passo Tre Croci; not for those afraid of heights.
Photo: Francesca Caprifogli · Google
Positano 2 picks
Fornillo Beach
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Smaller beach west of town with a couple of family beach clubs.
Photo: Ben Duni (Ben duni) · Google
Spiaggia Grande
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Main pebble beach below the stacked houses, with rentable loungers and boat departures.
Tip: Free section on the east end; book loungers early in Jul–Aug.
Photo: edward gomez · Google
Val Gardena 2 picks
Alpe di Siusi
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Europe's largest high meadow, with easy trails under the Sassolungo.
Tip: Ride the Ortisei–Alpe di Siusi cable car; cars restricted by day.
Photo: Radovan Karabec · Google
Vallunga
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Flat, car-free valley walk from Selva into the Puez-Odle park.
Tip: Easy for families; walk to the end and back in 3 hours.
Photo: Margo Blank · Google
Bolzano 1 pick
Lago di Carezza
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Green-blue lake below the Latemar spires, 25 km east of Bolzano.
Tip: Short lakeshore loop; go early before tour buses.
Photo: Arianna Boracchi · Google
Florence 1 pick
Boboli Gardens
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Formal Medici gardens behind Palazzo Pitti with grottoes and city views.
Tip: Combined ticket with Pitti; go in the morning.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Palermo 1 pick
Mondello Beach
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Sandy bay with clear water and Art Nouveau bathing pavilion.
Tip: Bus 806 runs from Piazza Sturzo.
Photo: Rosaria Triolo · Google
Sorrento 1 pick
Bagni Regina Giovanna
Sorrento · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Natural pool among Roman villa ruins on Capo di Sorrento, reached by a 20-minute walk.
Tip: Wear water shoes; there are no facilities.
Photo: Josiane J · Google
Syracuse 1 pick
Vendicari Nature Reserve
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Coastal reserve with lagoons, flamingos and undeveloped beaches.
Tip: Bring water; facilities are minimal.
Photo: Riserva naturale orientata Oasi Faunistica di Vendicari · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Italy?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 16 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Italy has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Taormina has the most (3 of 16), followed by Amalfi (2) and Cortina d'Ampezzo (2).
Are any of these free?
8 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Spiaggia Grande, Lago di Carezza, Bagni Regina Giovanna, Valle delle Ferriere, Lago di Sorapis, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Italy
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Taormina 3 on this list
- Amalfi 2 on this list
- Cortina d'Ampezzo 2 on this list
- Positano 2 on this list
- Val Gardena 2 on this list
- Bolzano 1 on this list
- Florence 1 on this list
- Palermo 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.