Italy is a celebration of everything we love about travel.
The food. The art. The history. The vino.
You don’t visit Italy; you experience it. Once you’ve seen one Italian city, you’ll want to see them all. Thankfully, Italy’s extensive rail network connects Sicily to the Swiss border and nearly everywhere else in between. If that’s not amore, we don’t know what is.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexander Spatari. Image Location: Rome, Italy
Best Places to Travel In Italy For…
The Bucket Lister: Rome
Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of all things pasta, or a cinephile who wants to tour their favorite movie filming locations (be it Gladiator, Eat Pray Love, or The Lizzie McGuire Movie), you can’t shut your passport until you’ve seen Rome.
When in Rome, you can obviously do as the Romans do – the ancient or the modern. But one other adage to remember is that all roads, and rail lines, lead to Rome. The Eternal City is an excellent launch point for endless adventures in Italy.
The Art Lover: Florence
Seeing Michelangelo’s Statue of David in Florence and taking silly photos at the Leaning Tower of Pisa is basically a right of passage for first-time visitors in Italy. The train between the two cities can take less than an hour which means spending the day surrounded by Renaissance art, watching the sunset over the Ligurian Sea, and still having time to enjoy gelato along the Arno’s riverside.
The Romantic: Venice
A star-lit sky. A quiet canal. A cuddle in a gondola. Venice exudes romance in a way that would leave even the most passionate Parisian swooning. Spend the night in the city and watch as it transforms from a bustling cruise port to a seductively silent hideaway. A romantic late-night canal ride then a sunrise visit to the crowd-free Rialto Bridge will be your favorite memories from the trip (aside from whatever you do in the moonlit hours in between).
Image Credit: Getty Images, Gary Yeowell. Image Location: Venice, Italy
Where To Travel In Italy…
Been there, done that? If you can believe it, a second visit can be just as incredible and eye-opening of an experience. After you’ve checked the hallmark cities off of your list, you’re free to venture off of the tourist trail and discover new corners of this beautiful country.
If You Are Indecisive: Naples
Naples alone is worth a visit – who can deny gorging on a Neapolitan pizza after hiking Mount Vesuvius? But if you’re keen to explore Italy yet haven’t a clue where to start, Naples also offers a bounty of possibilities.
The Amalfi Coast is right there, providing the perfect excuse to sip limoncellos from Hotel Poseidon’s balcony overlooking dreamy Positano. Searching for a view that feels like a Hollywood set piece? Take the train from Naples directly to Sicily where you can live your fantasies at The White Lotus filming locations.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Emya Photography. Image Location: Rimini, Italy
If You’re A Country Counter: Rimini
You’ve already stepped into Vatican City from Rome, now cross over into San Marino from Rimini. A short train ride from Florence puts you a mere 20 minute taxi from the medieval streets of this micronation.
That’s not to dissuade you from spending all of your time in Rimini, though. Miles of sandy beach along the Adriatic Sea, monuments from Roman times through the Renaissance, and local strozzapreti pasta and Sangiovese wine will keep you busy.
If You Desire A Little Bit Of Everything: Turin
Tuscany is well worth a visit, though you don’t need to venture that far south to find a world of culture, delicious cuisine, and outdoor splendor. Take a trip to Turin, easily reachable by train from all corners of Italy, and see for yourself.
Coffee lovers can perk up during a tour of the Lavazza Museum then explore the Egyptian Museum. Foodies can take day trips out to the Langhe region where hazelnut farms and world-famous white truffles await. And for the casual tourist, they’ll find a very contemporary, walkable city with picturesque piazzas around every corner.
Image Credit: Getty Images. Image Location: Turin, Italy
Travel By Train In Italy
Exploring Italy by train allows you to embrace the country’s culture and cuisine in places where airports are scarce. The Trainline app caters to the precise pre-planner and the on-a-whim wanderer, allowing you to browse routes, compare timetables, and purchase tickets whenever you please.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Julia Lavrinenko. Image Location: Manarola, Italy