Looking for destination inspiration for your Italian adventure? You’re in the right place.
This is the ultimate Italy bucket list, packed with over 130 unforgettable experiences, must-see sights, and hidden gems.
From years of exploring this enchanting country, I’ve curated the very best it has to offer to help you plan your dream trip.
Indeed, Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit, a dream destination I return to time and time again. Italy has Europe’s richest and most ancient culture.
After all, Italy is the cradle of European civilization — founded by the Roman Empire and embellished by the Roman Catholic Church.
As you explore Italy, you’re confronted with some of the world’s most iconic monuments — Roman ruins, UNESCO sites, Renaissance masterpieces, and elegantly preserved medieval villages and palazzos.
But you’ll also find jaw dropping landscapes and magical seaside hamlets.
In this Italy travel guide, I take you on a tour of 100+ of Italy’s must visit destinations and must have experiences.
If you want to enjoy your own slice of La Dolce Vita, read on and decide what to put on your Italy bucket list.
Epic Italy Bucket List
I’ve separated my Italy bucket list by region and major city (Florence, Milan, Rome, and Venice). Hopefully, this guide will help you plan your next trip to Italy or create your own Italy itinerary.
1. Florence: Best Things To Do In Florence
Florence, often hailed as the “Cradle of the Renaissance,” is a city of staggering beauty.
It’s a treasure trove for those passionate about Medieval and Renaissance art, boasting some of Europe’s most magnificent collections.
This city isn’t just a gallery of historic art; it’s vibrant, alluring, and deeply romantic. Here, you can find yourself mesmerized by Botticelli’s masterpieces and in awe of Michelangelo’s genius, as if traveling through a portal to another era.
Florence’s historic center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is more than just a city; it’s a living, open-air museum where breathtaking art and architecture await you at every corner.
READ: Must See Sites in Florence
Don’t leave Florence without …
✔ Seeing Michelangelo’s monumental David, the world’s most famous statue, at the Accademia Gallery
✔ Admiring Botticelli paintings in the world renowned Uffizi Gallery, including the iconic Birth of Venus
✔ Admiring Fra Angelico’s delicate early Renaissance frescos in San Marco Monastery
✔ Hiking up to San Miniato al Monte for the best view of Florence
✔ Paying homage to Michelangelo in the Basilica of Santa Croce and enjoying one of the greatest assemblages of paintings, sculptures, and funereal tombs in existence
READ: Best Day Trips From Florence
✔ Following the Michelangelo Trail in Florence and walking in the artist’s footsteps
✔ Visiting the Medici Chapels with Florence’s most Michelangelo sculptures
✔ Admiring the Giorgio Vasari frescos in the grand Hall of the Five Hundred in Palazzo Vecchio
✔ Inspecting the statutes of the Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s outdoor public art gallery
✔ Visiting the Bargello Museum to see world famous Renaissance sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio, Bernini, Cellini, and Giambologna
✔ Walking across and shopping on the iconic Ponte Vecchio
✔ Visiting the three glamorous palaces of the Medici dynasty: the Medici-Riccardi Palace, the Pitti Palace, and the Palazzo Vecchio
✔ Climbing Brunelleschi’s dome for magnificent city views
✔ Plopping down in a pew to look up and admire The Last Judgment fresco in the Baptistery
✔ Gazing at the stunning Pietro da Cortona ceiling frescos in the Palatine Gallery of the Pitti Palace
✔ Strolling in the lovely Boboli Gardens and admiring the fountains and statuary
✔ Walking under the Wisteria Tunnel in the Bardini Gardens
✔ Strolling through the Oltrarno neighborhood on the other side of the Arno River
2. Milan: Best Things To Do in Milan
Milan, a gem in northern Italy, is a must-visit on your Italian adventure. As a seasoned traveler, I can tell you that Milan is far more than just a modern metropolis.
It’s the pulsing heart of Italy’s finance and fashion scenes. But don’t be misled by those who might label it merely as an industrial hub.
In Milan, the past and present merge beautifully, creating a city with a soul that blends historical elegance with the dazzle of a modern metropolis.
As you wander through its streets, you’ll be captivated by the striking architecture, significant historical sites, and world-renowned art, including some of the Renaissance’s most significant masterpieces.
And let’s not forget the culinary delights – Milan’s food scene is as stylish and sophisticated as the city itself. This city is a feast for the senses, sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.
READ: Top Attractions In Milan
Don’t leave Milan without …
✔ Walking on the rooftop terrace of the Duomo, Milan’s Gothic fantasia, at sunset
✔ Seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic The Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie
✔ Following the Leonardo da Vinci Trail and walking in the artist’s footsteps
✔ Admiring fantastic art in the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of Europe’s most underrated museums
✔ Having a cocktail or dinner in the Navigli, Milan’s trendy canal district
✔ Sipping an apertivo in Leonardo da Vinci’s own vineyard
3. Northern Italy: Best Things To Do In Northern Italy
The northern region of Italy is known locally as Il Nord or Settentrione.
It consists of eight separate regions – Peidmont, Liguria, Aosta Valley, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto.
This region of Italy is simply bursting with Italy bucket list destinations — epic landscapes, beautiful towns, and historic landmarks waiting to be explored.
READ: 1 Week Road Trip Itinerary From Venice To Milan
Don’t leave Northern Italy without …
✔ Climbing the turrets of the crusader-era castle, Rocca Scaligera Castle, in Sirmione
✔ Admiring the world’s best Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna
✔ Standing on Juliet’s Balcony in fair Verona
✔ Gazing in awe at Verona’s Roman Arena, an amazing well-preserved colosseum
✔ Even better, catching an opera in the Verona’s Arena during the summer opera festival
✔ Walking under the romantic covered porticos of Bologna
✔ Climbing Bologna’s Leaning Tower, the Asinelli Tower, for views
✔ Admiring architecture in Bologna’s stunning Piazza Maggiore
✔ Indulging in “tagliatelle al ragu” in Italy’s gastronomic city of Bologna
✔ Go truffle hunting in the Bologna Apennines Mountains
✔ Riding up to the top of the Mole Antonelliania in Turin
✔ Eating pecorino cheese and prosciutto in the cute pink town of Parma, which is decorated with frescos by the Renaissance artist Correggio
✔ Boat riding in the Italian Lake District
✔ Exploring Lake Como’s adorable villages: Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio
✔ Visiting the Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore, known as Italy’s Garden of Eden
✔ Exploring Renaissance monuments in the secret and stunning town of Mantua
4. Rome: Best Things To Do in Rome
Rome is a city that never ceases to enchant me. This city is not just a must do destination. It’s a mesmerizing blend of delicious cuisine and architectural wonders spanning centuries.
As a cornerstone of Western civilization, Rome presents an unparalleled array of attractions. From the splendor of palace museums to the mystique of ancient ruins and the grandeur of Renaissance monuments, the city is a living history book.
But there’s more to Rome than just its past. The city boasts world-class museums where art aficionados can revel in the works of masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio.
Their creations from the Renaissance and Baroque periods are not just art; they’re a dialogue with history. In Rome, every corner tells a story, making it a must-visit for those captivated by the richness of art and history.
READ: 3 Day Itinerary for Rome
Don’t leave Rome without …
✔ Taking the Imperial ruins tour: Colosseum | Roman Forum | Palatine Hill
✔ Visiting the Vatican Museums, one of the world’s most outstanding art collections
✔ Admiring Michelangelo frescos in the famed Sistine Chapel
✔ Climbing the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica for the classic view of the Bernini-designed St. Peter’s Square
✔ Visiting the magnificent Borghese Gallery, Rome’s best in situ museum with magnificent sculptures by Bernini
✔ Following the trail of Caravaggio, the Baroque period’s great painter
✔ Following the trail of Bernini, the Baroque period’s great sculptor
✔ Visiting Rome’s secret palaces, with their glamorous Halls of Mirrors, to feel like an aristocrat and see in situ art
✔ Channeling your own badass gladiator on an underground Colosseum tour
✔ Putting your hard hat on and exploring the ruins of Nero’s Golden House, Domus Aurea
✔ Wandering through Trastevere, Rome’s most atmospheric neighborhood
✔ Wandering through Monti, Rome’s authentic hipster neighborhood
✔ Admiring the fantastical Art Nouveau architecture in the Coppede neighborhood
✔ Taking a food and wine tour
✔ Exploring Rome’s Mercato di Tesstaccio, a bustling place where local chefs vie elbow to elbow for the best food and produce
✔ Dining at the Rome Cavalieri Hotel and getting a free private tour of its outstanding art collection.
✔ Admiring secret and romantic Raphael frescos in the Villa Farnesina
✔ Admiring ancient Pompeiian-style frescos in the House of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor
✔ Touring the Capuchin Crypt, Rome’s own bone chapel
READ: Hidden Gems in Rome
✔ Visiting the theatrical Venetian-style apartments of an Italian Princess at the Palazzo Colonna
✔ Go underground and see an ancient Mithraic chapel in the Basilica of San Clemente
✔ Day Tripping to Tivoli to see two UNESCO sites: Villa d’Este (Renaissance mansion with amazing fountains) and Hadrian’s Villa (evocative ruins for ruin lusters)
✔ Day tripping to Tarquinia to see its Etruscan necropolis with frescos from the 5th century B.C.
5. Southern Italy: Best Things To Do In Southern Italy
I am besotted with Southern Italy. It’s a vast region that contains the provinces of Abruzzo, Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise and Sicily.
Southern Italy has some absolutely magnificent offerings including beautiful stretches of dramatic coastline, picture perfect beaches, charming coastal islands, and myriad historic cities and towns.
The best known regions are the gorgeous Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre.
Don’t leave Southern Italy without …
✔ Visiting the ancient ruins and frescos of Pompeii, Italy’s most famous archaeological site, and learning how everyday Romans once lived
✔ Staying in a cave hotel in the UNESCO city of Matera
✔ Visiting the cluster of cave dwellings carved into cliffs in Matera
✔ Exploring the beehive “trulli” homes of Alberobello in Puglia
✔ Driving the stunning Amalfi Coast, the road of a “1000 bends”
✔ Visiting the magnificent UNESCO-listed Royal Palace of Caserta in Naples
✔ Exploring one of the world’s best archaeological museums in Naples
✔ Climbing up the fairytale hilltop aerie of Civita di Bagnoregio
✔ Exploring a mysterious fortress, the Castel del Monte, in Puglia
✔ Sailing into the Blue Grotto on the island of Capri
✔ Hiking the incredibly picturesque Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast
✔ Eating delicious food with sweeping views in pastel perfect and glitzy Positano
✔ Hiking (or swimming) between the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre
✔ Visiting medieval Lecce, the entrancing “Florence of Southern Italy”
6. Tuscany: Best Things To Do In Tuscany
Tuscany, the epitome of romance in Italy, is a region that should top everyone’s list of must-visit destinations. This picturesque area is akin to stepping into a vibrant landscape painting.
The region is famed for its scenic cypress-lined roads, sprawling golden wheat fields, and charming medieval towns perched atop hills.
Here, you’re treated to the archetypal Italian village life, complete with exquisite wine and sumptuous cuisine.
Tuscany is also a treasure trove of cultural riches, boasting some of the finest cathedrals, palaces, and museums set against breathtaking landscapes.
It’s a region celebrated for its pivotal role in Gothic and Renaissance art, standing proudly as the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, one of humanity’s most significant cultural epochs.
READ: 10 Day Itinerary for Tuscany
Don’t leave Tuscany without …
✔ Climbing the wonky Leaning Tower in Pisa and exploring the magnificent Field of Miracles in Pisa
✔ Having a spritz on one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo in Siena
✔ Getting cultured in Arezzo, an underrated medieval town in Tuscany with Piero della Francesca frescos
✔ Going “Under the Tuscan Sun” in the charming hill town of Cortona
✔ Visiting the stunning Siena Cathedral Complex and the superbly frescoed Piccolomini Library
✔ Soaking up the sweeping panoramic views from the Facciatone Viewing Terrace of Siena Cathedral
✔ Attending the “Palio,” a frenetic horse racing festival in Siena
✔ Seeing one of Italy’s most famous fresco cycles, The Allegory of Good and Bad Government, in Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico
✔ Wrapping yourself in pastel Renaissance buildings in the UNESCO town of Pienza
✔ Sipping ruby red Vino Nobile at a wine cellar in medieval Montepulciano
✔ Relaxing in the Terme di Saturnia, a group of blue hued cascading natural springs
✔ Exploring the UNESCO-listed spiky towers of San Gimignano, the “Medieval Manhattan”
✔ Viewing the Black Death frescos in San Gimignano’s Chapel of Saint Fina
✔ Exploring Etruscan and Roman ruins in medieval Volterra
✔ Having a gelato in Lucca’s splendid Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro and walking the intact city walls
✔ Nabbing the classic photo of cypress-laden Tuscany outside Asciano
✔ Visiting the tiny encircled hilltop town of Monteriggioni, which looks like a postcard
✔ Sipping Brunello wine at Montalcino’s trendy Drogeria Franci
✔ Driving the classic Val d’Orcia wine route in Tuscany
7. Umbria: Best Things To Do In Umbria
Umbria isn’t just a second rate Tuscany. No, this less touristy region is filled with gorgeous hill towns, art treasures, and magnificent cathedrals. Umbrian landscapes are verdant, with a picturesque blend of olive groves, vineyards, and forests.
Don’t leave Umbria without …
✔ Admiring the extravagantly colored facade of Orvieto Cathedral, one of Italy’s most beautiful churches
✔ Shopping for ceramics in the delightful town of Orvieto
✔ Making a pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
✔ Strolling the magnificent Corso Vannucci in Perugia
✔ Visiting a sunflower field, in full bloom between mid-June and early August
✔ Channeling your inner Renaissance courtier at the palace of the Duke da Montefeltro in Urbino
✔ Visiting the pink and honey colored town of Spello, with masterpieces by Pinturicchio in the Baglioini Chapel
✔ Watching the Race of the Candles in medieval Gubbio
✔ Visiting Deruta, a town famed for its yellow, orange, and blue ceramics
✔ Exploring Etruscan and Roman ruins in the lovely hill town of Spoleto
8. Venice: Best Things To Do In Venice
Venice, a city unlike any other, is a must-see on your Italian journey. Renowned as one of the globe’s most stunning and mesmerizing cities, it stands as a living, breathing film set, unparalleled in its beauty.
This medieval city, majestically set upon water, seems almost too surreal to exist outside of a fairytale.
Venice is a place where every traveler finds something to love – from its world-renowned museums and iconic gondola and vaporetto rides to the enchanting frescoes, scenic canal-side dining, and delightful chicchetti.
Don’t leave Venice without …
✔ Riding a gondola through the tiny canals of Venice
✔ Learning to row a gondola with Row Venice
✔ Nibbling on delicious chicchetti in Cannaregio, Venice’s historic Jewish Quarter
✔ Admiring the amazing Tintoretto frescos in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco
✔ Riding a vaporetto down the Grand Canal to see Venice’s best sites
✔ Seeing the world’s most famous drawing, Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, at the Accademia
✔ Having a spritz at the Gritti Terrace on the Grand Canal
✔ Admiring paintings from modern art’s Golden Age at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, the outrageous collection of an outrageous woman
✔ Admiring ancient Byzantine mosaics in the over-the-top St. Mark’s Basilica
✔ Getting hopelessly lost in the maze of Venice’s tiny cobbled lanes and canals
✔ Attending Carnival in Venice, the annual late February festival where everyone dons costumes and elaborate masks
✔ Day tripping to Padua to see the sublime Scrovegni Chapel, created by Giotto, the greatest painter of the 14th century
✔ Taking the vaporetto to Venice’s lagoon islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello
9. Sicily: Best Things To Do in Sicily
No Italy bucket list is complete with exploring the magnificent island of Sicily. Sicily is rich in history, culture, and food. It’s one of Italy’s most exotic regions, pure passion set amid wild beauty.
You can enjoy diverse landscapes — rocky volcanic coastlines, pristine beaches, and clifftop villages. Sicily will also dazzle you with ancient ruins, artistic treasures, Baroque architecture, and Italy’s most exotic street markets.
Don’t leave Sicily without …
✔ Admiring the Arab-Norman architecture of exotic Palermo
✔ Gazing in awe at 12th century mosaics in Palermo’s Palatine Chapel
✔ Eating or shopping in Palermo’s exotic street markets, which almost seem like Arab souks
✔ Day Tripping to Monreale Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed wonder
✔ Visiting the hilltop town of Erice and sampling the pastries of the Queen of Sicilian pastry, Maria Grammatico
✔ Visiting the ancient Elymian ruins of Segesta
✔ Admiring the world’s best preserved Greek temples in the Valley of the Temples
✔ Gasping at the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale
✔ Visiting the Val di Noto, with the most beautiful late Baroque towns of Noto, Modica, and Catania
✔ Sample the chocolate in Modica, which has a cult-like status
✔ Taking in the views from the Greek Theater in Taormina, which may be Sicily’s prettiest town
✔ Strolling through the cobbled lanes of Siracusa, where you’ll also find a ancient Greek Theater and Roman Amphitheater
✔ Trying granita, Sicily’s own version of an adult slushie
✔ Hiking craters at Mt. Etna, Europe’s most active volcano
✔ Lounging on white sand beaches in pretty and immaculate Cefalu
✔ Lunching in the rollicking Fish Market in Catania
I hope this Italy bucket list has given you some destination inspiration for traveling to Italy. You may enjoy these other Italy travel guides and resources:
- 11 ways to spend 1 week in Italy
- 10 Day Itinerary for Italy
- 10 Day itinerary for Tuscany
- 1 Week Itinerary Venice To Milan
- 35+ Historic Landmarks in Italy
- Most Beautiful Towns in Italy
- Tips for Visiting Italy
- 5 Day Itinerary for Rome
- 3 Day Itinerary for Florence
- Best Museums in Rome
- Best Museums in Florence
If you want to create your own Italy bucket list, pin it for later.
