The Best Cities to Visit in Italy (As Told by an Insider)

Scroll your Insta feed, and you’re sure to see plenty of posts of your friends’ trips to Italy.

Positano…

Venice…

Rome…

These are definitely destinations worth seeing, but for me, as an expat living in Italy, there is so much more to this country that houses 60% of the world’s artistic masterpieces.

My Story in Italy

Before I share with you a few of my favorite lesser-known cities in Italy, allow me to explain how I came to live in the south of Italy.

I’m not Italian. In fact, my family is from Louisiana, which means I’m French from way back when. I even majored in French in college, and if I was going to move to another country, I assumed it would be France.

But after my studies, I decided to dabble in learning Italian. And then I went to visit Italy. And it felt…like home.

Fast-forward a few years: my son would be graduating from high school, and rather than cry in my empty nest, I decided to untether myself from the life I had in San Diego and move to Italy.

It took a lot of visits to towns that fit my parameters (near the sea being the primary requirement), but I found one in the south. I moved here in 2022 and have never looked back.

I’m just beginning this adventure, but one of the biggest perks is how close I am to all of the cities I want to share with you, as well as all of those Italian towns I have yet to see! 

Off-the-Beaten-Path Italy

Now, believe me: you won’t be the only tourist in any of these cities, but I will say that they tend to be less crazy in the peak summer seasons than, say, Rome.

Salerno

I love Salerno so much that I’m actually moving there in a few months! What I love about this city, just a short train ride south of Naples, is that it combines city and beach living. I’ve found I can’t live far from the sea, yet I still miss the amenities of ethnic cuisine and cultural events. Salerno offers it all.

If you go, head for the Centro Storico or “historic center.” Believe it or not, this part of town dates back to 197 BC! The train will dump you off on the edge of it, and many B&Bs are located there, which is ideal for exploring the city.

Here you’ll find ceramic and art shops as well as your modern clothing stores. There are bars, enotecas, and trattorias galore, so you’ll never lack great food. But if you’re like me and crave something other than pizza and pasta, there are a few English pubs, sushi, Indian, and even Mexican restaurants on Via Roma near the lungomare – “boardwalk along the sea.”

The lungomare is one of the longest in all of Italy at two kilometers in length. It’s a great place for an evening stroll as the sun sets over the Tyrrhenian Sea, and you’ll be in good company: in Salerno, everyone takes walks before dinner, so it’s fun for people-watching!

In the summer, lido, or “beach clubs,” pop up on the beaches. They build them every year and then take them down at the end of the season because winter can bring brutal winds and waves that demolish anything on the shore. These lido are a great place to lounge under a beach umbrella, play cards with friends, or grab a leisurely lunch.

Lucca

Another town that reeks of history and Old World Italy is Lucca in Tuscany. It’s a walled city, which, while originally designed to keep the baddies out, now serves as a beautiful place to see the city. The wall around the town is wide, with a path for walking or biking and ample benches for resting and looking down at Lucca below.

Not to miss is the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro in the center of town. This was the amphitheater starting in the first or second century BC. As many as 10,000 people once filled the stands here to watch gladiator games, but now it’s a piazza filled with umbrella-covered restaurants. Perfect for an Aperol spritz and a rest!

Tropea

Currently, I live in Calabria, which straddles the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. Our gem is Tropea, a sunny seaside town on the Tyrrhenian side. It can be touristy, especially in July and August, so go off-season. The weather is often warm enough to swim in the crystal waters as early as May, and shops and restaurants that were closed all winter will open up at this time as well.

Tropea is a great place for a relaxing getaway, not an action-packed sightseeing tour. There is the church, Santa Maria dell’Isola, which is the icon that represents the city. It’s worth the hike up the stairs to get to it and its gardens that overlook the sea.

Don’t miss the sunset here. Unfortunately, I live on the east coast, so I only get sunrises, which are only relevant if you wake up early, which I don’t! The sun sets a golden and pink hue over the sea most nights and makes for a great show while enjoying aperitivo at one of the many restaurants on the corso (main street of town). You cannot miss it!

Montalbano Elicona

Sicily is really hot right now for tourism, even among Italians. I admit I haven’t spent a lot of time in Sicily, but this is a gem worth sharing.

Montalbano Elicona, a picturesque mountain town located in the northern part of the island, is the definition of charm. Admittedly, it’s not much of a tourist attraction, but I think it’s a great place to stop for a couple of nights if you’re exploring more of Sicily. 

There are many B&Bs in the town. Ours happened to be right next to the Castle of Montalbano Elicona. For a whopping €3 (something I love about Italy is its affordability!), you can explore the castle on your own. For more than 800 years, the tower has watched over the town and has had Byzantine, Norman, and Arabic influences.

Just a short drive away from town, you’ll find the megaliths of Argimusco. They are, in fact, called the Sicilian Stonehenge! There’s much debate about how these stones ended up looking like faces and animals. You can walk through the park or drive (though note: it’s a dirt road of varying quality). 

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Something I love about Italy (as if I didn’t already have enough reasons) is how varied each area is. Head north to the Dolomiti mountains, and you’ll have a completely different vibe in Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s got a little Austrian vibe, which isn’t surprising, given how close it is to Austria.

Here, you’ll find chalets with wooden balconies and flowers spilling down. In the distance are the Dolomiti mountains. Whether you’re a hiker interested in a several-day excursion or more of the leisurely type who prefers soaking at the spa, Cortina and the surrounding area offer something for you.

Tips for Traveling in Italy

Seriously, I could keep going, but I want you to find your own off-the-beaten-path gems in Italy. So I’ll end with a few tips for enjoying your trip even more.

You’re far from the only person visiting Italy, so unless you love sweaty crowds, plan your travels for April-June or September-November. Prices will be lower, too.

Don’t go to a restaurant that has pictures of the food. It’s for tourists and likely is overpriced and not good. Instead of being lured in by waiters who have to beg passersby to come into the restaurant, pay attention to which restaurants are busy. Listen for Italian. If it’s filled with locals, it’s a good one.

Don’t speak Italian? Not to worry – you have a translator in your pocket. I frequently use Google Translate, which will even let you take a photo of text to be translated. Download the Italian language if you don’t plan to have data while you travel (and wifi can be spotty, depending on where you are).

Take money out of an ATM (Bancomat) at a bank, not at the airport. They charge insane fees.

Hire a guide. I used to be very DIY about my travels, but I have learned that guides are insanely passionate about their town and know things the guidebooks will never tell you. I’ve made pesto in Genoa, experienced a unique Easter tradition in Calabria, and tasted hyperlocal wines in Cinque Terre, all because of an amazing tour guide or two!

I hope you explore one or more of these cities in Italy to get a completely different experience of this great country!

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