Our Top 10 Cities in Italy // Italy
If you’re looking to take a trip to Italy, you’re probably debating where to go and how to spend your time. On our recent trip to the beautiful country, we visited 10 major cities/regions, and have some thoughts! Here is an ordered list of the cities we visited, with a few local tips and our recommendations for how long to spend in each place.
1. Amalfi Coast (3 Days)
The Amalfi Coast is made up of several towns, and the one we stayed in (and thought was most beautiful) was Positano. People also say that the Amalfi Coast is hard to get to and therefore don't go — don't be one of those people. This area was easily the most magical, although all the top 3 in this list are worth having on any bucket list.
We were fortunate to experience this, but we’ve heard that this area (especially Positano) can be overrun by tourists. The streets are lined with really cute boutiques and restaurants, with views everywhere you turn. Day-tripping between the cities here (Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Capri), is a must-do, and you can find the regions world-famous lemons, limoncello, and shopping everywhere.
2. Florence (1-2 Days) + Tuscany (3 Days)
Florence is a historic and cultural city that shouldn't be skipped if you're traveling through Italy. The Renaissance started here, and it carries a lot of that culture and art everywhere in the small city. However, the town itself is fairly small, so spend time exploring the Tuscany region.
Tuscany is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Everywhere you drive, it looks surreal — with classic, Tuscan cypress trees that line the horizon, historic, 12th century castles with turrets standing out victoriously on hilltops, and rows of vineyards combing the rolling hills. At sunset, these areas are unreal.
If you’re driving through these ancient cities, make a stop in San Gimignano - this cute little town has amazing views of the surrounding areas, and world class gelato in the city square.
3. Cinque Terre (1-2 Days)
The more backpacker version of Amalfi, Cinque Terre is actually a national park that has 5 towns, or 5 lands, in Italian. These fishing-villages-turned-Insta-famous-towns are quite small, but their colorful facades pressed right up against the water make them beautiful locations. Getting here is a bit difficult, and it’s not as pretty as the Amalfi Coast, but it’s such a unique spot that was on my bucket list for years.
4. Venice (3-5 Days)
I have never been anywhere like Venice, and its canal charm has to be experienced. However, we went just as things were beginning to open again, and still found that tourists were making the city crowded. So we can definitely see how people say they don't like Venice because it's so touristy.
In general, Venice is more expensive and the food is less tasty compared to the rest of the Italian cities we visited. It’s also romantic, especially floating along the Grand Canal at night, though less romantic than Positano, in my opinion.
If you go to Venice, I’d also recommend going to Murano & Burano, two smaller islands nearby that are known for their blown glass and lace, respectively. Note the boat times, though: they only run every half hour.
5. Rome (3-5 Days) + Vatican City (1 day)
One simply cannot visit Italy and not visit Rome. The heart of the ancient Roman empire, history breathes life in Rome everywhere you go. I would say that putting Rome behind Venice is also contentious. If you're a history buff, you might love this city more than we did. There is also so much to see in Rome, and everything is famous. Gelato is also most prolific here.
And when in Rome, don’t miss Vatican City. It’s a little unclear how they came to possess all the objects in their museums, but their museums are some of the best I have ever been in, with some of the most beautiful halls I have ever set eyes on.
6. Modena (1-2 Days)
"Slow Food, Fast Cars" is Modena's slogan. This lesser-known city in Italy is famous for so many things. The most well known are Balsamic Vinegar and Ferrari (there are 2 Ferrari Museums here), but Modena is also home to Lamborghini, Maserati, and one of the best restaurants in the world, Osteria Francescana, the real reason we went. If you manage to get a reservation at Osteria Francescana, you must go. It was a dining experience unlike any I’ve ever had.
7. Pompeii (1/2 Day)
If you spend time in Rome, you know that the city is incredibly historic, with ruins everywhere in the city, and new archeological treasures being dug up constantly, even know as they're working on a new C metro line. But Pompeii is on another level.
When the famous Mount Vesuvius erupted, it blanketed the city in over 19 feet of ash and debris, preserving the city to be studied thousands of years later. As you walk the streets, you can really imagine what living in ancient Pompeii might have been like, with its fast food stands and everything. There's really nothing like it.
The site itself is huge, and history buffs could probably spend multiple days there. We recommend getting a guide to point out all the best parts and tell all the interesting stories!
8. Pisa (1 Day)
Everyone knows the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but did you know that next to it is one of the most beautiful Duomos? The whole area is museums and preserved history, and you can buy entrance tickets to each of the buildings, or buy a day-pass that includes them all. The walk up the Leaning Tower is quite a trip—because the building is slanted, the stairs that line the inside of the cylinder change, depending on which side of the building you’re on. And the stairs are very narrow, so prepare for some mild claustrophobia. The view from the top, however, is beautiful, and we would highly recommend it.
9. Milan (skippable)
Known for fashion, and its Insta-famous Duomo, Milan is the financial capital of Italy. In general, Milan struck us as wealthy, with luxury cars spotted along the streets throughout the city, and well-dressed citizens dining outdoors.
10. Naples (skippable)
When you leave the train station in Naples, you’ll immediately notice that this city is much dirtier and feels sketchier/less safe than any of the other Italian cities on this list. However, it is still the pizza capital (though Florentines might argue with that), and Naples has many award winning pizza spots, including L'antica Pizzeria Da Michele, featured in Eat Pray Love. So if you love pizza (which we do), it might be worth a quick stop!
