Italy is a stunning country, with countless picturesque places to visit. It has some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, a rugged, photogenic coastline, and breathtaking vineyards.

This lovely country is also home to around 145 cities, with a wealth of art, history, architecture and natural beauty among them, making choosing the best cities in Italy a truly difficult task.

The Most Beautiful Cities in Italy

If you’re looking to visit any these gorgeous cities, tours to Italy can be a great choice. A reputable tour operator like Firebird Tours takes care of many annoying travel logistics, and can also help you truly relax and enjoy your vacation.

Back in the day, we visited all our destinations independently, but lately we’ve become a big fan of quality guided tours. A good tour guide gives you insight and the history of a city that can be hard to get on your own short of living there for an extended amount of time.

It’s also especially nice to have a tour take care of our transportation and reservations in a busy destination, so we can enjoy more time with our kids.

Here they are: our top picks for the most beautiful cities in Italy.

Venice

If you asked most people what city tops the list of Italy’s most stunning, Venice would definitely be at or near the top. In fact, Venice is often called the most beautiful city in the world.

Gondolas cruising through winding canals, and under bridges, are some of Venice’s most famed scenes.

The lack of cars in Venice lends to its beauty, without busy traffic to block the sights, and no car horns and engine noise to distract from the scenery.

The city, which is often nicknamed “The City of Canals”, “The Floating City”, or “The City of Bridges” can still be busy and crowded during peak times, despite the absence of cars. To get away from the crowds, visit off season, or take a trip to the quieter outer islands.

St. Mark’s Basilica, Palazzo Ducale, and the Canale Grande (Grand Canal) top Venice’s most popular sights, but the city is also packed with hidden passageways and seemingly endless nooks and crannies.

The low lying seaside city is built on log piles among canals, making it especially vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise. In fact, this 1600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site has a worse-case scenario for sea level rise (by the end of the century) of 120 centimeters (3 feet, 11 inches).

Our pick for the prettiest spot in Venice: The Island of Burano. Colorful Burano showcases a bright rainbow of homes and storefronts that contrast perfectly with the teal waters that surround it.

Rome

Rome alone has so much to see that you could easily fill a week with the main sights.

Rome captivates visitors with world class architecture, museums packed with masterpieces, and lovely cobbled streets.

The most popular places in Rome for the many visiting tourists are the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum and the Pantheon. You’ll also want to take in the ancient statuary and stunning Baroque fountains near the Colosseum.

The most beautiful spot in Rome: The Colosseum. Sure, we’ve all seen hundreds of pictures of the Colosseum, but there’s good reason. It’s a strikingly beautiful structure, especially bathed in sunset light.

Bologna

The capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, is lined with terracotta buildings in the old town, lending to the nickname, La Rossa (The Red).

Visitors to Bologna almost inevitably fall in love with the winding maze of streets in the old city, which connect several main squares. There’s so much to see here, from the Renaissance beauty of the world’s largest sundial at Basilica di San Petronio, to the Town Hall at Palazzo D’Accursio.

The streets and squares of Bologna’s medieval core sport UNESCO heritage listed porticoes, lending atmospheric shadows and lights to any walk. Bologna is a perfect city to just wander, with new charms around every corner.

There are many stunning attractions in Bologna, but the most popular include Santuario di Madonna di San Luca, Piazza Maggiore, observation areas at Le Due Torri Torre degli Asinell, Basilica Santuario di Santo Stefano, and Teatro Anatomico in the old university building.

The most photogenic spot in Bologna: San Luca Church. It’s hard to pick the prettiest spot in such a lovely city, but this church overlooking the city is a gem. It’s especially gorgeous at sunset, when the setting sun turns the church many shades of pink.

Florence

Amongst Italy’s beautiful cities, Florence alone is one of the most spectacular in terms of art, architecture and history.

The streets are packed with Renaissance wonders, like the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the lovely Santa Maria del Fiore (also called the Duomo) while the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio grace thousands of Instagram posts.

The most beautiful spot in Florence: The Duomo. In the heart of Florence, the Duomo is lovely from all angles. There’s a picture perfect view of the surrounding area from the Bell Tower, and there’s a lovely view of the Duomo itself from Piazzale Michelangelo.

Naples

Naples, or Napoli, as it is known locally, is one of Italy’s largest cities, and also one of its most beautiful. It’s decidedly chaotic and busy, but well worth the bother and hassle. It’s also helpfully close to the ancient city of Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast (an idyllic stretch of coast), and the island of Capri.

The old town of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and packed with French, Spanish, and Arabic influences.

The most photo worthy spot in Naples: Vesuvius. Ancient Vesuvius is the only active volcano in mainland Europe, and makes a stunning backdrop to a photo of Naples’ bay.

Honorable Mention: Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre didn’t make the list of Italy’s most Instagrammable cities on an important technicality: It isn’t actually a city.

Instead, Cinque Terre is the name given to the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera. It’s made up of the five beautiful hillside towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, with Monterosso the largest of the towns.

What route should you take to see Italy’s best cities?

Taking a route from Rome, through Florence and Tuscany, and ending in Venice lets you see many of the must-see cities in Italy.

This route also lets you pass through the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, often thought to have some of Italy’s best food and drink. It’s known for its medieval cities, rich gastronomy and seaside resorts.

Looking for some more stunning urban architecture? Read our articles on the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe or the most beautiful castles in the world.

Do you have a favorite Italian city? Let us know below!

But unfortunately, most of us will not have years to while away in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. However, all is not lost, because complex and layered as it may be, Rome 101 – the real must-see places of the city – can all be done within a weekend.

In fact, the city in some ways lends itself to short breaks, as many of the best things to do and see are in relative proximity to one another, making it easy to fit several into a single day. Here is a suggested itinerary for a three-day stay in the city.

Day 1

If you can, book a flight that arrives in Rome the previous evening. For example, flights from London usually get in at 6:35pm. This will mean you can get up bright an early for a full day of sightseeing the next morning.

First up, how about a trip to the Vatican? Located in the east of the city, a visit to the walled sovereign city-state is an absolute must for any first-timers in Rome. You’ll probably want to spend at least the whole morning here.  Make sure you don’t miss the Sistine Chapel, or the impressive Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Afterwards, take a stroll down the along Via della Conciliazione until you get to Castel Sant’Angelo – where the emperor Hadrian is buried – and stop for lunch at one of the many nearby restaurants.

In the afternoon, head across the river where you’ll find the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient Roman buildings in the city. Nearby there is also the splendid Piazza Navona and its fountain. This area is also a great place to have dinner, with plenty of restaurants about.

Day 2

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Colosseum, so make this your first port of call on day two. You can combine this with an exploration of the nearby Roman Forum – a huge complex of ruined temples, basilicas, and arches which was the ceremonial, legal, social, and business center of ancient Rome.

You’ll probably need the at least the whole morning to do both of the above. So after lunch why not enjoy a fairly leisurely afternoon, taking in the magnificent Trevi Fountain – being sure to toss a coin in its waters as per tradition – as well as the surrounding streets.

If you fancy an afternoon treat before dinner, head to San Crispino on Via Panetteria, rumored to serve the best gelato in the whole of Rome.

Day 3

Make the most of your final day in Rome by seeing all the major attractions you haven’t had the time to visit yet. Head towards the north of the city center and you can take in the Villa Borghese and its famous gallery, the awesome Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo, all in close proximity.

Later on, take a walk down the Via Condotti for a spot of window shopping, with all of Italy’s most famous luxury fashion brands represented here. For a slightly more Bohemian experience, head to Via Margutta, the famous street of artists.

Have you ever been to Rome? What are your must see sights?

Beautiful Mediterranean climate

One of the first things that makes Sardinia ideal for walking holidays is its beautiful Mediterranean climate. Typically, the weather is warm and mild in March, April and May, becoming hot throughout June, July and August and then beginning to cool again.

What this means for keen ramblers is that they can pick a time of year when the temperature best suits them. For instance, if you dislike walking in strong sunshine and heat, the springtime is probably a little better for you – and the scenery will be just as beautiful.

Varied walks and scenery

One of the most appealing things about walking in Sardinia is simply the variety of trails on offer, which you can read more about below. If you love nothing more than a picturesque walk along the coast, you will find paths aplenty to delight you, while you will also have the chance to tackle mountain peaks and hike through gorges. Some of the highlights of a trip here include:

Enjoying coastal walks

There’s a stunning coastline in Sardinia, and it’s well worth time to expore.. One of the most scenic areas is the Golfo di Orosei, which you can start to explore from Cala Fuili Bay in the coastal town of Cala Gonone.

A fairly gentle trail, this path will lead you along some of the island’s most beautiful and rugged coastal landscapes, as well as through a section of Gennargentu National Park. By ending your walk at the beach at Cala di Luna, you can round off your day with a leisurely dip in the sea, or simply by spending some time relaxing on the sand.

Hiking to the summit of scenic mountains

As a contrast to this relatively flat coastal walk, you will also have the opportunity to hike to the summit of several mountains – something that shows you just how varied the walks here are. The perfect chance for keen photographers to get some great snaps of the Orosei Valley and out to sea, hiking to the summit of Mount Corrasi is a real highlight of walking breaks on the island.

The tallest peak in the Supramonte Mountain range, Mount Corrasi reaches a huge 1,463 m above sea level. On the way up, it is worth looking out for local wildlife (such as wild boar and eagles), as well as keeping your eyes peeled for interesting landscapes, which here include underground caves, striking valleys and limestone ridges.

Walking along deep gorges

As well as ascending mountain peaks, you can have yet another very different experience by hiking through one or two of Sardinia’s gorges. The Gola di Gorropu Gorge is famous for being one of Europe’s deepest canyons, and with its impressive white walls towering some 350 m high, walking here really is an unforgettable experience.

Visiting ancient ruins

A bonus of walking in Sardinia is that the scenery is not the only attraction – although it is certainly a strong one! – as the island is dotted with some absolutely fascinating historical sites. You can see one of the best of these by hiking in Mount Tiscali, where you’ll find the ruins of a Nuragic village that dates back to the 6th century BC.

If Sardinia’s wonderful mix of breathtaking landscapes and historical sites appeals to you, it is well worth looking for walking tours that feature the above attractions. For example, these can be seen on itineraries, such as the Sardinia Walking Tour, from Explore Worldwide from £638 without flights.