The Ultimate Italian Bucket List: 101 Best Things to Do in Italy

I absolutely adore Italy! It’s one of those countries I can see myself visiting again and again. I love the islands, the beaches, the mountains, ancient buildings, artworks, and cobblestone streets (sigh).

But one of the best things about Italy is the food. Pizza, pasta, gelato… one could easily visit for the food alone! But after reading this Italy bucket list, you’ll have 101 extra reasons to visit Italy.

From visiting centuries old ruins and hidden gems, to stunning hikes and exploring some of the most beautiful cities in the country – this Italian Bucket List uncovers the absolute best things to do in Italy from top to toe… so, let’s dive right in!

Here are 101 Bucket List Things to do in Italy TO DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!

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101 Best Things to do in Italy

If you don’t have time to read all 101 of these best things to do in Italy right now, don’t worry. We totally understand. We’ve put together a handy two-page checklist for you to download instead – take it with you on your next trip and tick off items as you go! 

Click here to head to our resource library and download the Italy Bucket List now or keep on reading to learn more information about each recommendation. 

We’ve broken down these fun things to do in Italy by the different regions to make things easier for you to plan your own Italy trip.

Northern Italy Bucket List

1. Go hiking in the Dolomites and stay in quaint log cabins
2. Book tickets to see an authentic Italian Opera at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan
3. Cruise the shores of Lake Como in a traditional Italian Riva boat – George Clooney style
4. Devour authentic tagliatelle al ragu (the Italian version of Spaghetti Bolognese) in Bologna – the town where the dish originated
5. Get lost in the labyrinth of cobblestone laneways and narrow canals in Venice
6. Take a tour through the stunning white marble constructed Duomo di Milano (Cathedral of Milan)
7. Climb to the top of the leaning towers of Bologna (Two Towers of Bologna)
8. Ride the cable car to the top of Alpe di Suisi and admire the stunning panoramas of the Dolomites
9. Take a wander around the island of Burano and admire the rainbow buildings
10. Carve up the slopes of Mount Paganella in Trentino – Italy’s skiers paradise
11. Visit the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and take a Ferrari for a drive through the hills
12. Stay in a luxury Villa on Lake Como
13. Float through the canals of Venice in a gondola while being serenaded by your private Gondolier
14. Admire the quirky modern artworks at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice
15. Catch an opera at Verona’s Arena
16. Take a tour through the Doge’s Palace in Venice and admire the Gothic architecture
17. Climb the well-preserved turrets of Rocca Scaligera Castle in Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda
18. Admire the world’s most famous painting Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper hanging on the walls of the dining room of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan
19. Visit Juliet’s balcony in Verona and leave a love letter in the wall
20. Learn about ancient history and Byzantine architecture on a tour through St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice
21. Go shopping for Italian designer goods at the boutiques of Milan
22. Dine at Italy’s premier Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria Francescana (if you can secure a booking)
23. Climb the cobblestone streets and shop in artisan stores of Bellagio, a quaint town along the shores of Lake Como
24. Buy an ancient paperback (or take a photo) at the Insta-famous Aqua Alta Bookstore in Venice
25. Get dressed up in elaborate masks and traditional costume at the Carnival in Venice (held in February)
26. Take a tour through a parmesan cheese factory in Parmigiano Reggiano
27. Go hunting for truffles in Emilia Romagna
28. Ride up the top of the Mole Antonelliania the National Museum of Cinema in Turin
29. Taste the many different types of balsamic vinegar in Modena
30. Eat like a Venetian in Venice and try some cicchetti (tapas) at a local bacaro (wine bar) in the Jewish Quarter
31. Take a boat ride on beautiful Lake Garda
32. Hike to the Santurio Madonna Della Corona – the chapel that hangs on a cliffside

Central Italy Bucket List

33. Wander across the Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence
34. See Michelangelo’s statue of David at Accademia Gallery in Florence 
35. Learn how to cook authentic Italian dishes at a cooking class in Tuscany
36. Go wine tasting at ancient vineyards in Chianti
37. Take an underground tour through the Colosseum and learn about its gruesome history
38. Wander through the Imperial ruins at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in Rome
39. Visit the beautiful town of Cortona made famous in “Under the Tuscan Sun”
40. See the sunset over Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
41. Indulge in a stay at an agriturismo (farm stay) in Tuscany 
42. Explore the historic UNESCO town of Pienza overlooking the famous Val d’Orcia in Tuscany
43. Admire the amazing artworks by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence
44. Do as the Romans do and wander the streets of Rome in the evening
45. Visit the Vatican Museum and see the ancient Roman sculptures and gaze up at Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
46. Frolic in the sunflower fields in Umbria when in full bloom (June-August)
47. Eat gelato for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of the best gelato shops in Rome
48. Wander through the Wisteria Tunnel at the Bardini Gardens in Florence
49. Do a food tour through Mercato di Tesstaccio, Rome’s oldest food markets
50. Visit the walled medieval hill town of San Gimignano in Siena, Tuscany
51. Toss a coin into the most famous fountain in the world – Trevi Fountain and make a wish
52. Take a dip in the Insta-famous milky blue waters of Terme di Saturina hot springs in Tuscany
53. Step back in time and explore Italy’s loveliest medieval city – Siena in Tuscany
54. Wander through Rome’s Trastevere neighbourhood and experience local modern-day Roman culture
55. Spend a day sunbathing on a boat on the Amalfi Coast
56. Hike the coastal path that connects the five gorgeous seaside villages of the Cinque Terre
57. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli
58. Capture cheesy tourist photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa
59. Hike along one of Italy’s most picturesque trails from Portofino to San Fruttuoso on the Italian Riviera
60. Take a road trip through the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia in Tuscany
61. Climb the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and gaze out over St. Peter’s Square
62. View two nation-states and one country through the Aventine Keyhole
63. Enjoy a carb-loaded pasta lunch with wine in the Piazza Navona in Rome
64. Walk, run, play or capture a photo on the Spanish Steps but don’t sit on them (it’s illegal)
65. Visit the Bargello Mueseum in Florence and admire world famous Renaissence sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, Cellini and other famous artists
66. Take a wander through the beautiful galleries and gardens of Villa Borghese in Rome
67. Shop for fresh produce at the mercato in Campo de’ Fiori

Southern Italy Bucket List

68. Try the world’s best pizza in Naples
69. Hike to the top of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed Pompeii in AD79
70. Swim at the Insta-famous Lama Monachile Beach in Polignano a Mare
71. Go sailing along the Amalfi Coast
72. Dine at Ristorante Grotta Palazzese – the restaurant inside a cave in Bari
73. Enjoy a classic aperitivo while admiring the seaside views in Positano
74. Ride a Vespa along the Amalfi Coast’s Road of 1,000 bends, one of the best road trip routes in the world for couples!
75. Spend the night in a cliffside hotel in Positano
76. Go underground and explore the catacombs of Naples
77. Take a road trip through the white-washed hill towns of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot
78. Explore the mysterious 13^th century citadel and castle Castel del Monte in Andria
79. Stay in a luxury cave hotel in Matera
80. Explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, Italy’s most famous archeological site
81. Wander through the trulli of Alberobello UNESCO World Heritage Site – a collection of traditional Apulian houses with whitewashed walls and conical stone roofs
82. Explore the ancient Paleolithic cave dwellings of Sassi di Matera (Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano)
83. Sunbathe at one of the famous beach clubs in Positano
84. Hike the Path of the Gods (Sentiero Degli Dei) clifftop trail above the Amalfi Coast and admire the spectacular scenery

Italian Islands Bucket List

85. Dive into the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia and experience heaven on earth
86. Go on a cruise to the Isle of Capri
87. Explore the historical city of Palermo in Sicily – one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily!
88. Admire the flora and fauna and views on the Via Krupp at Giardini di Augusto in Capri
89. Hike up an active volcano (or ski down it in winter) on Mount Etna in Sicily
90. Row a boat into the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) of Capri
91. Try traditional cannoli in Sicily
92. Hike down 376 steps down a cliffside to sunbathe at the beach club amongst the rocks at La Fontelinaon Capri
93. Climb up the cliffside along the Phoenician Steps in Capri
94. Hire a boat and sail around the beautiful coastline of Sardinia
95. Visit the beautiful island of Elba, famed for being Napoleon’s place of exile in the 1814
96. Hike or visit the mountainour villages of the entroterra of Sardinia
97. Watch the sun go down from the white cliffs of Scala dei Turchi
98. Climb 600 steps down a cliffside to find Neptune’s Cave on Sardinia
99. Visit the ruins of an ancient Greek Amphitheatre in Taormina, Sicily
100. Catch the chair lift up Monte Solaro for an amazing view over the Isle of Capri and Sorrento
101. Visit the Baroque cities in Sicily

Have we missed a spot? Can you recommend any other great Italy Bucket List ideas for other visitors to check out, let us know in the comments below!

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Map of Italian Bucket List Items

We’ve created a handy Italy Bucket List Map to help you plan your trip! The map is accessible via Google Maps so you can save to your phone and access it on-the-go using the Google Maps app. 

This map features all the best things to do in Italy and places mentioned in this article, plus many more. 

To get free access to this map and use it on-the-go, click here to sign up to our Travel Resource Library. Plus, you’ll get access to tons of other useful freebies such as packing lists, destination bucket lists, and itineraries.

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Ready to Book Your Trip to Italy?

Italy is one of the world’s top Bucket List Destinations. With so much culture, history, great food, and amazing sites, there’s 101 reasons to visit ASAP! We hope this Italy Bucket List has helped you to plan your next trip. 

To make the most of your trip, be sure to check out current travel advice by visiting the Official Tourism Italia website and check out our other Italy travel blog articles.

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Looking for accommodation in italy?

We use and recommend Booking.com and Hotels.com or Agoda to book accommodation in Italy, as they all offer a price match guarantee, free cancellation on most bookings, as well as other benefits and special deals for members. Use the search box below to find the best rates on accommodation in Italy!

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Why not check out our other travel bucket lists from amazing destinations around the world?

Enjoy your trip to Italy!

Feeling inspired? Here are 10 amazing destinations you must add to your Travel Bucket List!

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