With so many options of must see places in Italy, it’s hard to choose where to go.
To help you with your planning, I put together a list of the most picturesque places that you must visit in Italy.
But I’m not talking about the big cities like Rome and Milan. We’ve all been there, done that! I’m talking the traditional little Italian villages with scooters passing by and locals waving at you on the streets trying to offer you limoncello or a cup of traditional Italian espresso.
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Riomagiorre
Have you heard of Cinque Terre?
It’s a rugged part of the Italian Riviera beautifully made up of 5 centuries-old villages with colorful houses, turquoise waters, harbors with fishing boats and little trattorias with yummy pizza and traditional for the region fritto misto.
Riomagiorro is one of these villages and without any question, it’s one of the most beautiful and colorful of them all.
The one thing you must do is explore both the hill and the bottom of the village and indulge in the phenomenal views from both angles.
When you head towards the shore, why not have a little swim?!
There isn’t much of a beach so simply lay down on the rocks and jump in and out of the water whenever the sun starts loving you too much 😀
Ooh, and don’t forget to try the traditional fritto misto at a place called Mamma Mia! It truly is Mamma Mia 😀 Sooo delicious!!
Manarola
Manarola is also a Cinque Terre village and is one you’ll passionately fall in love with.
Known as the most colorful of the five villages, this place sticks in the mind with two exact, kinda funny, things 😀
For starters, the colorful flags that spin from side to side on most streets in Manarola but more intriguingly, the washing hanging out from most balconies.
We were joking that it’s really mainly the colorful washing that makes the place look so bright and colorful and not so much the actual colors of the buildings 😀
The truth is somewhere in the middle 😀
Wander around the streets but eventually head over to the shore. Here you’ll see a hill on your right.
You gotta get to the top!
That’s where you’ll get the most remarkable views overlooking the village! And that’s when you really appreciate the beauty of this place.
Adventurers’ Tip: There is a coastal footpath which connects all five villages, allowing you to hike from the first village to the last in just five hours. The shortest walk is from Riomaggiore to Manarola so maybe give it a try? It shouldn’t take you more than 40 min and the views are just otherworldly.
Monterosso
Monterosso is the place to visit if you’re seeking out a proper beach.
As you walk out of the train station, a panoramic view of a long, wide sandy beach will open up inviting you lay down and soak up in the sun.
It’s the perfect place to lie down for a little rest and swim at the end of a long day of traveling.
If you’re not up for a swim though, there’re a few cute streets in the old town with many local cafes you can wander around and grab a coffee at.
When you get out of the station, don’t think that this is the whole place because it’s not 😀 The best bit of the town, i.e. its old part is hidden behind the hill so you’ll have to turn left from the station and either go underneath the tunnel or walk over the hill to get to the other side of the hill and the town.
How to get around Cinque Terre
The Italians are lucky to have super well organized and fast trains that easily connect the country. So with no doubt to any of the Cinque Terre villages, you gotta hop on the train.
What’s really important however is to ask for the Cinque Terre train card. Depending on the time of year, the 1-day card costs €13-€16 and gives you all-day unlimited wifi, train and bus rides within the Cinque Terre area (from Levanto to Riomaggiore) as well as free access to the trekking trails that link up the villages (yes! otherwise you have to pay to walk between the villages).
For more info on the Cinque Terre card, see here.
Positano
Positano is the pearl of the spectacular Amalfi coast which has become a popular Italy destination for its tranquility, charming character and proximity to the water.
Located on the hills overlooking the Mediterranean, the town is a picturesque cliff-side collection of colorful houses staggered one above with little interconnecting alleys with trendy cafes, shops, and restaurants.
Relax by the beach, have some fresh seafood and get on the Path Of Gods Trail (which starts from Nocelle) if you’re looking to bring in some activity into your stay.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Florence
Santa Margherita
Talking about the Amalfi coast, it’d be rude if we don’t mention Santa Margherita which the Amalfi’s cheaper but equally stunning alternative.
Covered in all the colors of the rainbow, Santa Margherita is located right on the coast offering endless opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking.
You can either opt for the beach in Santa Margherita or if you’re up for a little trip, head over to Paraggi which is a short 5 min drive away.
Here you’ll find the outdoor center Outdoor Portofino which offers kayaking, surfing, wind snorkeling and stand up paddleboarding. You can either take a lesson or rent any of their equipment for just €10 per hour.
The best thing to do in Santa Margherita itself though is to hike up to the top of the hill. The view will stop your pulse for a second because it’s literally inexplicable.
Tip for the pizza lovers: Have some pizza from IL Delphino. Right in the center of Santa Margherita, the pizza that these guys make is the thinnest and largest I’ve ever had. Literally, so yummy!
And don’t worry, Google maps says you have to walk for 40 min from the center of Santa Margherita to the top of the hill but that’s thankfully a lie because there’s a nice shortcut just on the right side of the train station (you’ll see a couple of bridges going over the train tracks, you gotta go on them and up).
Try to get there for sunset!!
But bear in mind that once you see those views, you might not wanna go down!
Portofino
Portofino is a very small cute but also quite posh village just 5km away from Santa Margherita.
It’s reachable by a 20 min bus (bus number 82) which departs from Santa Margherita train station.
You can also get a ferry for €7 from the main port in Santa Margherita but my best advise (and what I did) is to walk to Portofino.
I know you may think that’s crazy but trust me, the route to Portofino is so beautiful you’ll want to stop for a picture every 2 min.
You may have heard of the famous red carpet (yes actual red carpet) that goes all the way from Santa Margherita to Portofino. It will nicely guide you all the way from the center of Santa Margherita right to the heart of Portofino.
If walking just doesn’t seem right 😀 , you can rent a bike from Santa Margherita train station and cycle to Portofino and back. Win win!
Trentino
If you’re looking for a bit of hiking adventure on your trip to Italy, look no further!
Why?
Because Trentino is the perfect base for exploring the stunning Dolomites and its 18 mountain peaks soaring at various heights and different forms. It’s the ultimate hikers’ wonderland!
But it doesn’t stop there!
Known as “little Finland”, the province of Trentino is home to over 290 azure blue and emerald green lakes often nestled at the bottom of the valleys, surrounded by mesmerizing mountain tops. The largest of the lakes, both for the region and the whole of Italy, is Lake Garda which you cannot miss to see on your next visit.
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