Cities to Visit in Italy

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If anyone knows me at all, they know that I'm in love with Italy. From the first time I went there when I was 19 to the latest trip I had there last year at 31, Italy has a big piece of my heart. There's a reason Italy's nickname is "The Beautiful Place" — because it really is! Everything about Italy is so fun; the food is incredible, the people are friendly and fun, and the whole country is so well connected that it's fun to explore all over. 

This is me on the beach at Chia in Sardinia during my second summer of Italy when I was 20.


Here are my favorite cities in Italy: 

1. Rome
This is the capital of Italy (and previous capital of several empires!) for a reason. SPQR and go here already! For the top places to see, where to eat, and the best gelato to eat in Rome, check out my full blog post: https://sarabezmay.blogspot.com/2023/03/best-of-italy-rome.html


2. Florence
This is one of my favorite places in Italy and it's a true gem of Tuscany. It has incredible art, amazing architecture, and is just an all-around great place.

Check out my full blog post: http://sarabezmay.blogspot.com/2023/04/best-of-italy-florence.html


3. Pisa
I love love love Pisa. Maybe it's because I lived there for 6 months with an Italian host family but I just adore this little Tuscan treasure. It's cute, quaint, but still really well connected and super cool.

Check out my full blog post: http://sarabezmay.blogspot.com/2023/04/best-of-italy-florence.html

4. Venice
My first thoughts about Venice is that it definitely had to be overrated. I had seen it in movies, I had read about it, so when we were going there, I just knew it couldn't be as good as everyone said. Boy, was I wrong! It met my expectations and exceeded them. It really is just as beautiful and magical as everyone says. Definitely make it there. 

Check out my full blog post: 
https://sarabezmay.blogspot.com/2023/05/best-of-italy-venice.html

5. Cinque Terre
Aka "the Five Lands," these are five little towns built right into the cliffs of the coast. They are gorgeous and my favorite is Vernazza. I loved taking the train to the last one (you can start on either end, but we started with Monterosso) and then hiking between the cities. It's a gorgeous view of the coastline and then beautiful little cities with good food.

6. Pompeii
I actually really enjoyed Pompeii! We listened to Rick Steves' walking tour for Pompeii and it made it so fascinating. 

7. San Gemignano
This is a really cute city in Tuscany that is just beautiful. Highly recommend if you have time! 

8. Lucca
If you love Tuscany, you'll love Lucca! It has a really cool wall that you can walk on and it goes all around the city. 

9. Cagliari
If you have even more time in Italy and you looove beautiful beaches, I recommend Sardinia. It has world-class beaches, and is home to the world's longest-living men. I spent about 4-5 months (two summers) in Cagliari with my host family and my Italian grandma and it was a beautiful time spent relaxing on the beach, eating delicious seafood, and enjoying the best gelato. 



Well, that's a wrap! Hope you enjoy your exciting trip to "the Beautiful Place." Did I miss something? What's your favorite city in Italy?  Leave me a comment!




This post is dedicated to my love, Italia. If you click on the map, it will take you to the interactive Google map which is color coded 🤓 for your convenience and enjoyment! Just zoom in on each particular city to see specific restaurants, museums, parks, things to do, and gelaterias. 

Yellow = To Do
Blue = Gelato
Red = Eats
Green = Museums
Purple = Extra Churches & Parks



Other fun things to do before you go to Italia:

Check out these movies:
✨ Eat, Pray, Love
✨ Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck
✨ Angels and Demons / Inferno
✨ Gladiator
✨ Hannibal
✨ The Lizzie McGuire movie...(jokes)

Get this gear:
✨ Really good walking shoes (you'll walk a lot!)
✨ Clothes that support a good appetite :D
✨ A little fan (if you're going between May-October)

General tips about traveling in Italy: 

Plan Out Your Trip

  • Always buy tickets directly with the official sites (not third-party websites). Not only will you save money, but you'll also avoid scams. I linked these in my individual posts for the cities.
  • When you're there, you may want to check the metro/train/bus times the day before you plan to take that route.
  • Consider seeing two places around the same time — for example, you can walk down the Spanish Steps on your way to Piazza Navona.

Transportation Methods

✈️ Cheap Little Flights
  • You can find excellent deals with Ryanair (watch how much baggage you can bring!) or Google Flights
  • Often they're just as cheap (or cheaper) than the train and can save you loads of travel time 
🛴Electric Scooters 🚲 (or Bikes)
  • These are a great way to get from A to B quickly
  • Also a great alternative if you don't want to go into the hot metro
  • They are cheap and you can find them with app locators — we have used Lime, Bird, Dott and some others

        

  🚇 Trains (use the Renfe website or app to book! Or you can always use a kiosk at the train station as well — I don't recommend waiting in line unless you absolutely have to)

  • Super easy and great way to travel! Highly recommend
  • Trains are cheap, frequent, and connect the whole country well 
  • Be sure to stamp your ticket before boarding or you may get fined (as I have)
  • Check online ahead of time for strikes — they are usually announced in advanced so you can plan alternate transport

 🚇 The Metro / Tram

  • Metros/trams are cheap and fast 
  • They connect the city really well 
  • They come very often (not long to wait!)
  • They are easy to navigate if you pay attention well 
🚶Walking 
  • Italians (and Europeans in general) walk everywhere!
  • Bring good walking shoes!
  • It’s a wonderful way to get around and get a feel for the city 
 🚙 Uber 
  • Also a handy way to travel 
🚌 Buses 
  • Buses are another great way to get around town
  • If you're lucky and going in the off-season (September - May), they shouldn't be too crowded 
  • Be aware that around rush hour (5-6 pm), they can get quite busy
Other transportation helps
  • Google maps is accurate and helpful​
  • If you're going to other cities, Rome 2 Rio is helpful to see ways to get from A to B, but be sure to double-check the bus and train schedules before you plan. It’s a good way to see multiple methods of travel and compare cost, times, etc.

Great Resources