With such a vast world to explore, we nevertheless find ourselves talking about our travels to Italy the most, always planning our next visit. Italy is so rich in history, delicious food and beautiful and diverse landscape that it’s an obvious travel choice for many. We’re still working through checking off must-do items in our Italy bucket list, but seeing that summer is almost here, and you might be planning a trip of your own, we thought we would share our favorite places in Italy that we’ve visited to-date.

Florence

Of all the places to see in Italy, we’ve spent the most time in Florence. It’s a charming and romantic city that is easily walkable. Like most cities in Italy, it offers plenty of history, especially art history. In our four separate visits to Florence, we’ve found some of our favorite all-time food spots. We recommend Bellinis at the roof bar at the Hotel Continentale, Foccacia Sandwiches from Cantinetta dei Verrazzano, Gelato at Perché No, Lunch at Trattoria Sostanza, and dinner at Trattoria Cammillo (I still dream about this meal). Our favorite hotels in Florence are Portrait Firenze, which, along with sister properties, is located in an ideal spot overlooking the Ponte Vecchio. Villa Cora is another favorite if you want a grand experience set slightly away from city center.

Lake Garda 

When we were originally planning our most recent trip to Italy, we really wanted to go to Lake Como. It wasn’t until we started to plan the route that we realized how far off we would have to go to get there. We settled on Lake Garda instead, which we’d never heard of before, despite it being the largest lake in Italy. We discovered the immaculate Villa Feltrinelli on the shores of Lake Garda, just on the outskirts of the town Gargano. The weather while we were there was fantastic. In the daytime, ducks played along the shoreline quacking with happiness. At night, the reflection of the full moon shimmered on the quiet lake. We spent a day out on the lake, zooming across the water to have lunch on the shore at Punta San Viglio, followed by a tour of Isola del Garda which boasts a magnificent castle and garden in the middle of the lake.

Montalcino

This might be one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world. Villages scatter the crests of hilltops overlooking valleys of rolling vineyards and fields of wheat. Montalcino is located in Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s focused on maintaining it’s historical feel. Wines are still made under rules set in place generations ago, and new buildings are not allowed unless replacing damaged existing structures. It successfully maintains a rustic feel that’s straight out of a fairytale. In Montalcino, we stayed at the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco and had a lovely experience, wine tasting, exploring the massive property and enjoying our fair share of truffle infused dishes.

Venice

Prior to arriving in Venice, we’d heard mixed reviews, some saying it’s the most romantic city they’ve ever been to, and others that it is a complete tourist trap. On our visit, we had a blast exploring the canals, alleyways and different islands. We took advantage of the many waterways by using water taxis when we could. If you’re open to it, it’s a great city to get lost in. The maze of alleyways that dead end at the canals, or continue if a bridge happens to connect sides, offers a challenge unlike any other city we’ve ever visited. While in Venice, we went out to Burano Island, which is a can’t-be-missed spot that has a lot less tourists and the most colorful buildings. While there, make sure you eat at Trattoria al Gatto Nero. The service is impeccable and their seafood is extremely delicious.

Amalfi Coast

During our honeymoon we stayed in Amalfi on the final three days of our trip. As soon as we arrived, we wondered why we didn’t book the entire trip there. We spent each day rotating between relaxing by the pool, enjoying the view from our balcony, and exploring the town and beaches. (Side note – Amalfi is famous for it’s massive lemons). Exploring more of the Amalfi Coast is definitely next up on our Italy bucket list. 

Rome

Rome is a place that we think everyone should visit at least once. It might have the richest history of any city in the world, and you can spend weeks just taking tours. We visited during our honeymoon and were a bit overwhelmed by the vastness of the city and packed in way too many guided and walking tours. So on our next trip, we decided to take it a little easier, choosing to relax rather than trying to take the entire city head on. Rome can be quite crowded, as it is a main tourist attraction, so plan ahead accordingly, and book your tours, restaurants and other activities well in advance.