Explore fun things to do in Italy all year round! This Italy travel guide is your passport to la dolce vita, from festivals to beaches.
Planning your next escape? You could doom-scroll another “top things to do in Italy” list, or dive into this month-by-month breakdown packed with gelato, gondolas, and the occasional mafia-free vineyard (we promise).
Oh, and one more thing before you start packing — watch The White Lotus, especially Season 2. Trust us. It’ll give you a taste of Sicily that’s 50% drama, 50% dolce vita, and 100% wanderlust.
Table of Contents
Fun Things to Do in Italy by Month
From the top 10 places to visit in Italy to fun things to do in Italy with kids, couples, or solo with a stylish scarf and a dream, we’ve got you covered.
🥂 January – Snow-Capped Romance and Cozy Vino
While the rest of Europe is neck-deep in post-holiday regret, Italy quietly turns into a winter wonderland. This is prime time for things to do in Italy that involve fewer tourists and more fireplace-side wine sipping.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in January:
- Cortina d’Ampezzo for skiing
- Rome for Epiphany parades
- The Tuscan countryside for soul-replenishing solitude.
Travel Tip: Trains run cheaper and smoother in January. Grab an off-peak Italy travel pass and zigzag your way from Rome to the Alps without selling your kidneys.
Fun Fact: Epiphany (January 6) is a huge deal in Italy. La Befana, a friendly witch, delivers gifts, like Santa, but sassier.
💘 February – Masks, Chocolate, and All the Feels
Cue the gondolas and heart-shaped ravioli — February is Italy’s month of romance and ridiculous costumes. Carnevale is in full swing, and cities like Venice explode with masquerade magic.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in February:
Travel Tip: Rent your Carnevale costume in Venice ahead of time — it books up like a Taylor Swift concert.
Fun Fact: Verona receives thousands of letters to Juliet each year. There’s even a team of volunteers who answer them. (Yes, really.)
🏃 March – Museums, Marathons, and Melting Snow
The weather’s waking up, the tourists haven’t arrived yet, and it’s the sweet spot for culturally rich Italy travel. Bring a light jacket, a museum pass, and stretchy pants.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in March:
Travel Tip: Buy museum tickets online to skip the line and save cash. Bonus: Many sites offer reduced pricing in the low season.
Fun Fact: March 25 marks Florence’s traditional New Year, celebrated with historical pageantry and fireworks.
🌸 April – Blossoms, Botticelli, and Buongiornos
Welcome to shoulder season, a.k.a. the best-kept secret in your Italy travel guide. It’s warm enough to picnic, cool enough to explore, and just chaotic enough to feel alive.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in April:
- The Amalfi Coast begins waking up
- The Gardens of Florence are in bloom
- Rome is in pre-summer glow mode
Travel Tip: Look for local food festivals called sagre. They’re off the tourist radar and often involve large quantities of cheese.
Fun Fact: April is when lemon trees blossom in Amalfi, making the air smell like a citrusy perfume commercial.
🌞 May – Beach Previews and Art Overload
May brings the best of both worlds — sunshine and sanity. It’s a fantastic time for Italy travel by train as scenic routes light up with color.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in May:
- Cinque Terre for cliff-hugging hikes
- Venice for art biennales
- Umbria for peaceful landscapes
Travel Tip: Don’t skip Umbria — it’s like Tuscany but without the crowds and with way more truffle festivals.
Fun Fact: The Giro d’Italia (Italy’s version of the Tour de France) kicks off in May, and locals line the routes with pink everything.
🍷 June – Sun-Kissed Streets and Jazz-Fueled Nights
Summer kicks off with music, laughter, and the occasional heatwave. This is when you’ll want that Italy travel adapter and all the cold espresso you can handle.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in June:
- Tuscany for wine tours
- Bologna for food
- The Amalfi Coast for that yacht-life envy
Travel Tip: Book your Italy travel packages early in June — mid to late June prices surge faster than gelato melts.
Fun Fact: Florence’s Calcio Storico happens in June — it’s part rugby, part medieval chaos, and all testosterone.
🏖️ July – Spritz, Sandals, and Serious Sunburns
July is when Italy gets loud, proud, and very, very tanned. Pack light and hydrate — you’re about to live that things to do in Italy for young adults lifestyle.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in July:
Travel Tip: Italians flee to the coast — follow them. Inland cities get sweaty, but beach towns are in full party mode.
Fun Fact: The White Lotus Season 2 was filmed in Taormina, Sicily — visit the San Domenico Palace and pretend you’re rich and mysterious.
🎉 August – Ferragosto, Fireworks, and Finding Air Conditioning
Italy in August is like one big “Gone Fishing” sign. Locals take off for Ferragosto, and you should too — just not to the cities.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in August:
- The Dolomites for hiking
- Apulia for beaches and olive oil
- Tiny hill towns for quiet retreats
Travel Tip: Check for local festivals — they often feature fireworks, free food, and live music with zero tourists.
Fun Fact: Ferragosto dates back to Emperor Augustus (hence the name), celebrating rest after harvest. Or, as modern Italians interpret it, time to nap by the sea.
🍇 September – Grapes, Glam, and Golden Hour
Harvest season is here, and so are all the unique things to do in Italy. The crowds are manageable, the wine is flowing, and the sunsets are cinematic.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in September:
Travel Tip: Try grape stomping — it’s more fun than a gym workout and pairs well with Chianti.
Fun Fact: September is the start of vendemmia, Italy’s wine harvest. Many vineyards offer hands-on experiences (stains included).
🍁 October – Cozy Truffles and Crisp Vistas
As trees turn gold, Italy trades spritz for red wine and beaches for bonfires. Fall is ideal for adventurous things to do in Italy that don’t require SPF 50.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in October:
Travel Tip: Buy truffles at local markets, not tourist shops. Ask for tartufo nero for a more affordable (but still heavenly) option.
Fun Fact: Italy produces over 70% of the world’s white truffles, and October is the height of the hunt.
🍕 November – Culture, Comfort Food, and Empty Piazzas
November is like Italy’s off-season nap, and it’s glorious. It’s also the perfect month for lovers of history, raincoats, and zero lines at the Colosseum.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in November:
Travel Tip: Many major attractions offer off-season discounts in November — check city tourism sites for deals.
Fun Fact: November 4 is Italy’s National Unity Day — military parades and free museum entry included.
🎄 December – Markets, Midnight Mass, and Mulled Wine
You haven’t truly experienced Christmas until you’ve walked through a glowing Italian piazza holding a cup of vin brulé while a choir sings in Latin.
Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy in December:
- Bolzano and Trento for Christmas markets
- Rome for Vatican festivities
- Anywhere with a fireplace and pasta.
Travel Tip: Buy a Vatican Christmas Eve Mass ticket with private return transfers. Pack layers and learn the word strati — you’ll need all the “layers” to keep warm and look good.
Fun Fact: The Vatican’s Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square is selected months in advance and transported with great ceremony.
Final Travel Tips Before You Say Ciao
- Watch The White Lotus Season 2 before visiting Sicily — it’s basically an unofficial Italy travel guide with drama.
- Buy an Italy train travel pass before your trip — it’s the best way to save time and money when exploring the country by rail!
- Get your Italy travel insurance — because cobblestones and flip-flops never mix well.
- Buy an Italy travel map — Google can’t help if you’re lost in the Dolomites with a 1% battery.
- Check the Italy travel advisory before hopping on a plane, and always read the fine print on Italy travel requirements.
So… What Are the Best Places to Visit in Italy?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: All of them.
From the top places to visit in Italy to tiny villages that don’t make the list, this country has something for everyone — kids, foodies, romantics, history nerds, and yes, even Instagram influencers.
Book that trip. Eat that pasta. Say yes to everything — except pineapple on pizza. That’s still illegal in Naples.
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