Italy Things to Do

The Italian region of Liguria is not very big, but it contains one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations – the villages of the Cinque Terre. Not only that, towns further toward the French border are common stops for smaller cruise ships sailing the Mediterranean, and the Ligurian capital is a major cruise port in Italy. With all of that in mind, then, let’s take a look at some of the places in Liguria that you can add to your Italy itinerary.

You’ll often hear Italy travel writers talk about Tuscany‘s delightful “hilltop towns,” many of which are small enough and out-of-the-way enough that visitors can still feel like they’ve discovered something no other traveler knows about. What tends to be forgotten, however, is that there are delightful hilltop towns all over Italy – including in neighboring Umbria, which has many of the same landscapes we’ve come to love in Tuscany. One Umbrian hilltop town worth visiting is Gubbio – and because access to Gubbio is more limited than some other towns, you really are likely to find it far less crowded.

A trip to Italy may not feel complete without a visit to a world-famous art museum or a stroll through a field of Roman ruins, but there’s a side of Italy that’s beyond what the typical “culture vultures” have on their itineraries. Italy is an excellent destination for adventure travelers, too.

As crowded as Italy‘s big cities are, there are plenty of green spaces and remote hills that seem ready-made for outdoor enthusiasts. A topographical map of the country reveals that there are a lot of elevation changes packed into this tiny peninsula, which explains why so many Italians are avid hikers. On your next trip to Italy, you can easily work some hikes into your itinerary; whether you plan to hit some easier trails on your own, join a local hiking group for a day, or book an Italy hiking tour. Every region of the country offers opportunities to hike, as long as you’re prepared to head uphill.

For many, Verona conjures up images of Shakespearean ill-fated lovers – and there are certainly attractions related to Romeo and Juliet in the city. Verona is much more than the setting for the famous (though fictional) family feud. This beautiful and historic city makes an excellent home base for exploring the Veneto region, or the perfect day trip from nearby Venice.

Sitting at the feet of the Italian Alps, the town of Bergamo makes a great day trip from Milan.

This small city of 120,000 has in its history been Celtic, Roman, Lombardy, Venetian, Austrian and finally part of the Kingdom of Italy. Now today it is part of modern Italy, in the district of Lombardy, about 28 miles (45 km) northeast of Milan.