Italy · best-of list
40 Top Things to Do in Italy
We narrowed 65 things to do from our curated routes in Italy down to 40, spread across 13 destinations. 40 come with an insider tip, and 14 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
40 things to do in Italy, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Bolzano 4 picks
Messner Mountain Museum Firmian
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Reinhold Messner's mountaineering museum inside Sigmundskron Castle.
Tip: Open Mar–Nov; closed Thursdays.
Photo: Dan Simion Grecu · Google
Piazza Walther
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Main square under the Gothic cathedral, hub of the Christmas market.
Tip: Start a walk along Via dei Portici from here.
Photo: Ruslan Lekhman · Google
Renon Cable Car
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
12-minute cable car up to the Renon plateau, with the earth pyramids nearby.
Tip: Combine with the narrow-gauge Rittner Bahn to Collalbo.
Photo: Gratian Matache · Google
Runkelstein Castle
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Castle with one of the largest surviving cycles of medieval secular frescoes.
Tip: Walk or bike there along the Talvera river path.
Photo: Anton Gratl · Public domain
Chianti 4 picks
Badia a Passignano
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
11th-century abbey surrounded by Antinori vineyards.
Tip: Tasting and lunch at the Osteria di Passignano next door.
Photo: Sailko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Castello di Ama
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Winery with contemporary art installations in the estate grounds.
Tip: Book the art-and-wine tour.
Photo: Castello di Ama · Google
Castello di Brolio
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Ricasoli castle where the Chianti formula was devised; gardens and cellars.
Tip: Visit gardens, then taste at the cantina below.
Photo: Sailko · CC BY 3.0
Montefioralle
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Tiny walled hamlet above Greve with stone lanes and valley views.
Tip: Walk up from Greve (20 min).
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר · CC BY-SA 4.0
Florence 4 picks
Florence Cathedral
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Climb Brunelleschi's dome, 463 steps, for the city's defining view.
Tip: Book the Brunelleschi Pass with a timed dome slot weeks ahead.
Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall · CC BY 2.0
Galleria dell'Accademia
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Home of Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Prisoners.
Tip: Reserve a timed entry; first slot is quietest.
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0
Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Terrace above the city with views over the Duomo and red rooftops.
Tip: Walk up via the Rose Garden; stay for sunset.
Photo: Alexandre Diniz da Costa · Google
Ponte Vecchio
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Medieval bridge lined with goldsmith shops over the Arno.
Tip: Best seen from Ponte Santa Trinita at dusk.
Photo: Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 4.0
Siena 4 picks
Museo Civico
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Palazzo Pubblico's frescoed halls, including Lorenzetti's Good and Bad Government.
Tip: Combo ticket with tower.
Photo: Walter Giannetti · CC BY-SA 4.0
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Cathedral museum holding Duccio's Maestà altarpiece; climb to the Facciatone for a view over the Campo.
Tip: Facciatone stairs are narrow and timed; go early.
Photo: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Piazza del Campo
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Shell-shaped square where the Palio horse race runs in July and August.
Tip: Grab a drink on the edge at aperitivo time.
Photo: Ricardo André Frantz (User:Tetraktys) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Santa Maria della Scala
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Former medieval hospital opposite the cathedral, now a museum complex.
Tip: Look for the Pellegrinaio frescoes.
Photo: Jastrow · Public domain
Val d'Orcia 4 picks
Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Romanesque abbey in a valley below Montalcino.
Tip: Visit during Gregorian chant hours.
Photo: Giorgio Moro · Google
Bagno Vignoni
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Village whose main square is a thermal pool; soak in the free pools below.
Tip: Bring towels for the Parco dei Mulini pools.
Photo: sconosciuto · Copyrighted free use
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Small chapel among cypresses, one of Tuscany's most photographed views.
Tip: Walk in from the San Quirico road.
Photo: Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta · Google
Montepulciano
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Hilltop town with Renaissance palaces and wine cellars beneath them.
Tip: Park below and walk up the Corso.
Photo: Gianluca Papa · Google
Cortina d'Ampezzo 3 picks
Cinque Torri
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Chairlift to five rock towers with restored WWI trenches.
Tip: Take the Cinque Torri chairlift from Bai de Dones.
Photo: Luca Sartoni from Vienna, Austria · CC BY-SA 2.0
Corso Italia
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Cortina's pedestrian main street for an evening passeggiata.
Tip: Walk it at dusk with a gelato.
Photo: Giovanni De Negri · Google
Lagazuoi Cable Car
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Cable car to 2,750 m with WWI tunnels and a huge Dolomites panorama.
Tip: Runs roughly late May-Oct and Dec-Apr; closed in shoulder weeks.
Photo: Funivia Lagazuoi · Google
Palermo 3 picks
Monreale Cathedral
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Hillside cathedral covered in 6,500 square meters of Byzantine mosaics.
Tip: Visit the cloister and walk the roof for views over Palermo.
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0
Palatine Chapel
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
12th-century royal chapel in the Norman Palace, lined with gold mosaics.
Tip: Weekday mornings are quietest.
Photo: LUCIANO LUMINARI · Google
Palermo Cathedral
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Cathedral mixing Norman, Gothic and Baroque styles, with royal tombs.
Tip: Roof walk offers views over the old town.
Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0
Syracuse 3 picks
Neapolis Archaeological Park
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Greek theater, Roman amphitheater and the Ear of Dionysius cave.
Tip: Little shade; arrive at opening.
Photo: Vineta Mekša · Google
Noto Cathedral
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Rebuilt Baroque cathedral atop a grand staircase on Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Tip: Visit at dusk when the stone glows.
Photo: Alessandro Bonelli · Google
Ortigia
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Island old town of limestone lanes, sea walls and small piazzas.
Tip: Walk the sea wall at sunset.
Photo: Loris Abbati · Google
Taormina 3 picks
Ancient Theatre of Taormina
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Greek-Roman theater framing Etna and the coast.
Tip: Go late afternoon for softer light.
Photo: Derbrauni · CC BY 4.0
Castelmola
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Hilltop village above Taormina with castle ruins and wide views.
Tip: Try almond wine at Bar Turrisi.
Photo: Ruigeroeland · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mount Etna
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Cable car from Rifugio Sapienza to about 2,500 m on Europe's tallest active volcano.
Tip: Bring layers; it is cold up top even in summer.
Photo: Funivia dell'Etna · Google
Val Gardena 3 picks
Museum Gherdëina
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Ortisei's museum of woodcarving, Ladin culture and local fossils.
Tip: Good rainy-day option; small entry fee.
Photo: Moroder · Public domain
Sassolungo Circuit
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Full-day loop around the Sassolungo massif past several huts.
Tip: Start from Passo Sella; plan 5–7 hours.
Photo: Ruslan Antoniuk · Google
Seceda
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Cable car to a 2,500-m ridge with the jagged Odle peaks dropping away.
Tip: Take the Ortisei–Furnes–Seceda lift early; hike down via Pieralongia.
Photo: Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0
Positano 2 picks
Lucibello boat tours
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Long-established Positano boat outfit for Li Galli islands and coast trips.
Tip: Book a small-group tour or rent a gozzo for the day.
Photo: Lucibello Boats Tours Positano · Google
Sentiero degli Dei
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Path of the Gods: ridge trail from Bomerano to Nocelle with sea views most of the way.
Tip: Bus to Bomerano and walk downhill; descend 1,700 steps from Nocelle to Positano.
Photo: Tuttitaly · Google
Ravello 2 picks
Ravello Festival
Ravello · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Summer music festival with concerts on Villa Rufolo's sea-view stage.
Tip: Book belvedere seats months ahead.
Photo: Fondazione Ravello · Google
Villa Cimbrone
Ravello · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Gardens leading to the Terrace of Infinity, a bust-lined balcony high above the sea.
Tip: Gardens open until sunset; less busy late afternoon.
Photo: Jensens · Public domain
Amalfi 1 pick
Duomo di Amalfi
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Striped Arab-Norman cathedral atop a grand staircase, with the Cloister of Paradise next door.
Tip: Enter via the Chiostro del Paradiso to see the crypt of St. Andrew.
Photo: kalos v · 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. Our routes include 65 things to do here; to keep the list readable we show 40, keeping those featured on the most routes and those with an insider tip, and spreading the rest across destinations. 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 things to do 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. Our routes through Italy include 65 things to do; we show the 40 featured on the most routes, spread across destinations. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Italy has the most things to do on this list?
The picks are spread widely: 13 destinations are represented, and none has more than 4.
Are any of these free?
14 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Noto Cathedral, Piazza Walther, Bagno Vignoni, Corso Italia, Sentiero degli Dei, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Italy
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Bolzano 4 on this list
- Chianti 4 on this list
- Florence 4 on this list
- Siena 4 on this list
- Val d'Orcia 4 on this list
- Cortina d'Ampezzo 3 on this list
- Palermo 3 on this list
- Syracuse 3 on this list
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Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.