You are planning a trip to Italy and wondering what are the best cities to visit in the country? You’re on the right page! Here, you’ll find out about the different places I’ve been to. I traveled 2 times to Italy. I am telling you about the things I have experienced and made my opinion on.
Italy is Europe’s fourth most visited country, with 49.81 million visitors yearly. Be aware that most people don’t speak English, so be ready to use Google Traduction. I hope you will like it as much as I did!
- Venice – The floating city
- Vinci – The birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci
- Pisa – The city of the Leaning Tower
- San Gimignano – Famous for its medieval architecture
- Siena – A medieval city
- Rome – Home to one of the 7 wonders of the world
- Naples – Where modern pizza was invented
- Procida – An island on the coast of southern Italy
- Pompeii – The famous buried city
Venice
We all know Venice as one of the most romantic cities in the world. Other than that, it is a beautiful and colorful floating city. You should spend at least 2 full days in Venice.
- I went in January, and it wasn’t too busy with tourists.
- Beautiful architecture in the city, such as Plaza San-Marco.
- The standard price for a 30-minute gondola ride is 80 euros.
- It is very easy to take the train from Mestre, a neighborhood outside the floating city, to Venice. That is if you don’t want to sleep on the floating city.
Vinci
I chose to stay in Vinci instead of Florence. Both cities are very close, but it was the best decision I could have made. I spent 3 full days in Vinci, which allowed me to explore San Gimignano, Siena & Pisa. Check out Perfect Day Trip From Florence.
- You need to rent a car to be able to explore Vinci and the surrounding towns.
- It’s the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. You don’t have a choice but to visit the Leonardiano di Vinci Museum.
- In May, every day around 5 p.m., there is a tractor parade.
- Some of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen.
Pisa
Honestly, I went to Pisa only to see the Pisa Tower. It should take you 1 hour to walk around the leaning tower and in the cobbled streets of Pisa.
- I went in June, and it was packed with people. Try to go early, so there aren’t too many tourists.
- Bring a hat. There are not many shadows to hide from the sun. I got a sunburn because I forgot my hat.
- Don’t forget to take some cliché pictures!!
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a medieval city located close to Siena. I spent 2 hours there, and it was enough to explore everything.
- Home to Gelateria Dondoli: Gelato World Champion in 2006/2007 – 2008/2009 & Tuscany Best Gelato in 2015.
- This city is fortified by medieval walls and is famous for its medieval architecture.
Siena
Siena is also a far more known medieval city. I spent an entire afternoon there, and it was enough to explore everything I wanted to see.
- What to do: Fontebranda (medieval fountain), Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico (a church), and Siena Cathedral.
- Home to the oldest bank in the world since 1472, Monte dei Paschi bank.
Rome
You cannot go to Italy without visiting one of the 7 wonders of the world. The Colosseum is an incredible historical monument to see once in your lifetime. You should spend at least 3 full days in Rome, one of them including the Vatican.
- There’s so much more to do in Rome: Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Altar of the Fatherland, Cathedral of St. Ignatius of Loyola (famous for the mirror inside the cathedral which allows taking pictures of yourself and the painted ceiling), Mercato Centrale…
- I went to Rome in January and again in June. Honestly, I enjoyed my time there 100% more in January. It was the perfect temperature in the winter. In the summer, I was burning under the sun. Also, in the winter, there are fewer tourists due to the low season. Some activities were less expensive and sooo much less waiting time in line.
Naples
Naples is where modern pizza was invented. I only spent one evening in Naples, mainly eating pizza, and it was enough for me. However, if you want to do more activities, I recommend spending 1 or 2 full days in this city.
- Cute town center for restaurants. However, be careful as I got scammed in one of their restaurants,Trattoria Toledo. I could only pay cash (which was weird since they had a credit machine) & I was forced to leave a tip to the waiter. As a reminder, I am Canadian and I have no problem leaving a tip which is normal in Canada. However, in this case, I didn’t have a choice. They also charged me extra for using the utensils.
Procida
This island on the coast of southern Italy is adorable. I spent a full day there, and I absolutely loved my time on Procida.
- Great beaches to swim in the summer.
- Colorful streets and houses.
- I walked around the entire island in 2 hours.
- A great option if you don’t have the time and the money to go to Capri.
- Casale Vascello is the best viewpoint of the island.
Pompeii
The old city of Pompeii is filled with historical facts and beautiful architecture. I recommend spending a full day in Pompeii to explore every bit of the old city.
- I went to Pompeii at the end of May and there weren’t too many tourists.
- Bring your own lunch, as there aren’t a lot of restaurants in the old city.
- You will learn a lot about Italian history.
- It’s a touching experience to learn how the citizens of Pompéi used to live before the tragedy. Around 16 000 people died during the Mount Vesuvius explosion. A volcano that erupted in 79 A.D.
