They say when you’re in Italy, do as the Italians do. And really, that just means making room for what truly matters. It means pasta before politics, espresso before emails, and gelato before gossip. Because here, it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing it right!
This blog is your cheat sheet to that life, a lowdown on the best things to do in Italy that are actually worth your time…
Things to Do in Rome
Start at the Colosseum. No matter how many history documentaries you’ve watched, standing inside those ancient walls is different, making it a must among the best things to do in Rome.
Move on to the classics: the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin if you must, but it’s really the sound of the splash that gets people, not the superstition. Then feel lost in Trastevere, with cobbled lanes filled with wine clinks and local gossip.
If you’re into religious art (or just stunning ceilings), the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica should make your shortlist of Rome attractions. Oh, and don’t underestimate a good plate of cacio e pepe, it’s not a snack, it’s a Roman right of passage.
So yes, the things to do in Rome do include ruins and religion, but they also include wrong turns, espresso shots at counters, and the kind of chaos you will start to miss after you leave.
Things to Do in Venice
Venice wants you to get lost in it. Seriously, some of the best things to do in Venice involve turning corners that lead to nowhere in particular.
Hop on a vaporetto, Venice’s answer to a public bus, and float past the Grand Canal. Duck into Cannaregio for cicchetti and wine in a plastic cup. Go ahead, splurge on a gondola ride. It’s cheesy. It’s overpriced, but it’s a one to try.
Don’t get us wrong, but one of the best things to do in Florence is doing nothing at all. Just stand still on Ponte Vecchio, stare at the Arno, and pretend time doesn't exist. But if you must move, make it toward Michelangelo’s David, the Uffizi Gallery, or Brunelleschi’s Dome.
Shop for leather (the real leather), sip wine in Piazza Santo Spirito, and climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo for that great view. Things to do in Italy aren’t all packed with thrills; they’re laced with pauses. Honestly, that’s the whole point…
If these Italian experiences have sparked a taste for more, explore this European holiday that combines Parisian elegance and Swiss alpine beauty on a carefully curated itinerary!
Things to Do in Milan
All runways and rush? You’re not wrong. But there’s a softer, artsier underbelly hiding behind its slick exterior. Among the top things to do in Milan: The Last Supper, (if you book it three months early), the towering Duomo, and browsing Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
But also, aperitivo. Milan takes its pre-dinner drinks seriously, and if you hit up Navigli, you’ll understand why. Bars line the canal, and a spritz is basically a handshake. Fashion capital, yes. But also pizza capital after 2 a.m. Just follow the locals. They know…
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The Real Things to Do in Italy
If you’re still wondering what the best things to do in Italy are, here’s the answer: Look up, slow down, and don’t follow every itinerary to the letter. Visit Rome for the history, Florence for the pause, Venice for the detours, and Milan for the flair!
And somewhere between a gelato and your next espresso, you’ll find an Italy that’s yours, not the one from a brochure.
Wherever you go from here, we hope it leaves you with tales to tell for a lifetime. See the world with our expertly crafted international holidays!
