Things to do in 

Italy

Find alternative things to do in Italy through workshops, village walks, and slow travel trains, from Rome’s suburbs to mountain hamlets in the Dolomites and seaside lanes in Puglia.

Cultural experiences: In Florence’s Oltrarno, step into tiny artisan studios to watch bookbinders and try gold leaf on a bookmark. In Naples, learn a classic song with a neighborhood musician after a family pizza-making class in the Spanish Quarters. In Venice, row a batela standing up on quiet back-canals near Dorsoduro, a relaxed option for seniors. In Bologna, roll tortellini with a sfoglina, then sip lambrusco in the market arcades that couples love at twilight.

Day trip ideas: From Rome, trade the crowds for Ostia Antica’s frescoed apartments, then taste porchetta in the Castelli Romani. From Florence, ride to Fiesole for Etruscan ruins and valley views, or into Chianti for a farmhouse lunch near Greve. From Milan, spend a calm afternoon in Bergamo Alta’s stone lanes or circle Lake Orta by boat from Orta San Giulio. From Palermo, see Byzantine mosaics in Monreale and street food in Ballarò back in the city.

Explore Italy’s regions: In Tuscany, Siena’s contrade streets lead to vineyard roads around Montalcino. In Sicily, Catania’s fish market fuels cooking classes before baroque walks in Noto. In Puglia, Lecce’s courtyards pair with beach coves near Otranto that families enjoy. In Piedmont, Alba’s truffle paths and Langhe viewpoints suit slow drivers and food lovers. In the Dolomites, mountain dairy stops around Alpe Di Siusi mix easy hikes with wide views for seniors and photographers.

Travel tip: Italy rewards time; plan 10–14 days for a two‑region trip (for example, Rome and Tuscany or Sicily and Puglia), or 7–9 days to dive deep into one area. See more ideas at ToursByLocals Italy.

More places to see in Italy

Beyond Rome, follow your curiosity into smaller streets, quiet piazzas, and wide-open landscapes where daily life sets the pace.

Naples: Start the morning at the National Archaeological Museum to see frescoes and mosaics from Pompeii, then walk over to Via dei Tribunali for a pizza at Sorbillo. As the day cools, join the locals on the Lungomare and stroll toward Castel dell’Ovo with the bay opening up in front of you.

Puglia: In Bari Vecchia, watch orecchiette being shaped by hand along Strada Arco Basso late morning, then head to Ostuni to meander its white lanes. By late afternoon, stand above Lama Monachile in Polignano a Mare and feel the sea breeze roll through the cliffs.

Dolomites: Ride the Seceda cable car from Ortisei before midday and walk the easy ridge path with the peaks spread out around you. Circle Lago di Braies early for calm water and clear reflections, then end the day in Val di Funes, watching the light soften over the meadows near Santa Maddalena.

Sicily’s Southeast: Taste Modica’s stone-ground chocolate at Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, then climb Noto’s cathedral steps and settle in at Caffè Sicilia for granita as evening arrives. Wander Ragusa Ibla after sunset, when the lanes are quiet and dinner tables spill onto the street.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Expect milder days and wildflowers along Tuscan lanes, citrus blossom on the Amalfi Coast, and lakefront gardens coming back to life. Join Holy Week processions in Rome or Sicily, then wander through baroque streets during the Infiorata flower carpets in May. It’s a gentle time to explore hill towns and museums at a relaxed pace, ideal for unhurried travellers and multi‑generational groups.

Summer: Swim before lunch, then seek shade for a long gelato and an easy siesta as piazzas stir again at dusk. Celebrate Festa del Redentore in Venice with fireworks reflecting on the lagoon, or head south to sail hidden coves and linger over late dinners that turn into romantic evenings. Families find shallow beaches and lively night strolls, while food lovers chase seaside crudo and lemon granita.

Fall: Follow the vendemmia as grapes are picked in Piedmont and Tuscany, taste new olive oil in Umbria, and savour truffles when markets perfume entire towns. Cooler air sharpens views in the Dolomites and along vineyard roads, perfect for photographers and slower touring. Expect village sagre most weekends, where long tables and local recipes keep conversations going.

Winter: Christmas lights spill across medieval squares, Alpine markets in Trentino and South Tyrol steam with mulled wine, and Neapolitan nativity workshops fill Via San Gregorio Armeno. Step into quiet galleries, ride a funicular to snow views, or warm up in Tuscan thermal baths before a cosy dinner. Carnevale arrives with masks and boat parades in Venice, and Epiphany brings La Befana traditions to city streets.

Across the year, watch Venice’s Regata Storica glide down the Grand Canal, see floral streets bloom for the Noto and Spello infiorate, and join saints’ day parades from Cagliari’s Sant’Efisio to Florence’s San Giovanni fireworks. Autumn brings truffle and chestnut festivals across the Apennines, while citywide white nights and open‑air cinema pop up in summer, easy to weave into a private day with a local guide.