The 15 Most Beautiful Italian Cities to Visit in 2021

 

If you have no idea where would you travel next, let us suggest Italy. It’s a really beautiful country and there is a reason for that! Actually, the beauties of Italy are renowned all over the world and tourists from all over the world, hungry for the Italian Lifestyle, go there. But, which cities are the most beautiful?

Ranking the most beautiful Italian cities to visit is not easy, considering the amount of Italian artistic heritage, crossing the best cities of art with the most visited ones, and the opinions of travelers on the main booking portals. Plus, there is the fact that what is beautiful is not what is beautiful, but what you like. Having all that in mind, here is our special ranking of the 15 most beautiful Italian cities to visit in 2021!

City	Region	Stay (4 days / 3 nights)	Period
Venice	Veneto	from €210	Winter
Rome	Lazio	from €165	Spring
Florence	Tuscany	from €180	Winter
Naples	Campania	from €150	Summer
Siena	Tuscany	from €165	Summer
Syracuse	Sicily	from €150	Summer
Saint Gimignano	Tuscany	from €180	Spring
Palermo	Sicily	from €135	Summer
Verona	Veneto	from €210	Winter
Ferrara	Emilia Romagna	from €180	Spring
Trieste	Friuli Venezia Giulia	from €195	Spring
Parma	Emilia Romagna	from €180	Spring
Milan	Lombardy	from €165	Autumn
Mantua	Lombardy	from €171	Spring
Bergamo	Lombardy	from €156	Spring

1. Venice, Veneto

In the first place, we find the most romantic city in the world, a destination for newlyweds since time immemorial: our grandmothers were even dreaming of a honeymoon in a Gondola!

The third most visited city in Italy, the main Italian city of art, ranked 6th among the most beautiful cities in the world – Venice. It has one of the most beautiful squares in the world, Piazza San Marco, and it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

With such a presentation, it can only be in first place among the most beautiful cities in Italy. Indeed, Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world with unique and characteristic charm: its canals with traditional gondolas, the noble palaces, the lagoon … visiting it will certainly live up to your expectations.

Of course, we can’t commit to mention the incredible and engaging tradition of the Venetian Carnival; a riot of colors, masks, and pranks, which transcends time and give emotions to all generations.

Best period: spring, summer, and on the occasion of the Carnival
How to get there: bus to Venice from €4.99 once in Italy; for direct flights, check online
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €70 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €50 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: Venice gondola tour, skip-the-line entry to the Doge’s Palace

2. Rome, Lazio

The second of the magnificent three is the most visited city in Italy and a favorite among TripAdvisor travelers. Rome, the “Head of the World”, is literally an open-air museum: from the Imperial Forums to the Pantheon, throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain to being amazed in front of the Colosseum, passing through Piazza Navona.

The history of Rome exudes from every corner and is lost in the mists of time. Those who visit it can only be satisfied with beauty and culture. It is a city that offers everything; it’s suitable for those who want to live a social life, go shopping, or enjoy the renowned Italian cuisine.

Best period: all year round
How to get there: bus to Rome from €4.99 if you are nearby; for direct flights, check online
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €55 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €60 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: visit to the Colosseum with priority entrance, skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

3. Florence, Tuscany

At the lowest step of the podium, we find the Tuscan city, a symbol of Made in Italy in the world. Florence is the cradle of Renaissance culture, a concentration of monuments and artworks. There is the most visited Italian museum: the Uffizi Gallery.

Florence was home to some of the greatest Italian artists and poets, such as Dante Alighieri, Petrarca, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. That’s why it can be considered the main destination of Italian cultural tourism.

To take your breath away, just take a peek from the top of Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy the splendid view overlooking the city.

Best period: all year round and in June, on the occasion of the feast of the Patron Saint John.
How to get there: bus to Florence from €4.99 once in Italy; low-cost flights: from € 59.98; from Milan and Rome it’s equidistant, about 250 km, hence, trains or buses are preferred.
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €60 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €45 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: skip-the-line entry to the Uffizi Gallery; a panoramic tour of Florence on a Vespa; guided entrance to the Duomo and Dome.

4. Naples, Campania

Here is the largest and most visited city in Southern Italy – Naples. There’s a saying “See Naples and then die” because you can’t leave Italy without visiting Naples at least once; that’s the reason why it has returned among the most visited cities in Italy.

Naples has a secret charm, waiting to be discovered, which is very much reflected in the cheerful and colorful character of its inhabitants. The Gulf, Vesuvius, the splendid ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, the music, but most of all, the pizza make this city unique.

Best period: spring, summer
How to get there: bus to Naples from €4.99 once in Italy; for flights, check online
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €50 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €40 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: excursion to Vesuvius in a 4×4 Jeep; underground Naples

5. Siena, Tuscany

The city of the Palio can’t be omitted in this ranking. Siena is splendid precisely because it’s a city, not only for the artistic treasures it preserves. It’s a city rich in traditions, the beauty of which lies entirely in its ancient streets and alleys. The flagship of the city is Piazza del Campo, where the Palio takes place.

Strolling through the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is pleasant and surprising, among shops and markets, while enjoying a ciaccino, typical Tuscan street food. The Tuscan culinary tradition is appreciated all over the world and Siena is definitely one of the best places to appreciate it. Remember to taste the “Pici”, the “Pappardelle with Pinta sauce” or “Ribollita”.

Best period: spring, summer, on the occasion of the Palio
How to get there: bus to Siena from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €55 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €50 per couple
Low-cost flights: starting from €33.06; from Rome or Milan it’s better to take the train or bus because the distance is approximately 250 km
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: express ticket Siena Cathedral; guided tour with a local guide

6. Syracuse, Sicily

Now, we go to Sicily, to discover a surprising city, a candidate from the European capital of culture: Syracuse. In this city, the Sicilian Baroque is the host and the square of Ortigia is dazzling for its beauty due to the presence of one of the Cathedrals. The sea creates breathtaking landscapes and the taste is tickled by the typical smells of tasty Sicilian food.

Best time: spring and summer
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €50 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €40 per couple
Low-cost flights: flights to Catania (70 km from Siracuse) from €33.06
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: 3-hour guided walking tour

7. San Gimignano, Tuscany

In the 7th place, we find the heart of the Val d’Elsa, which is not actually a city, rather a town: San Gimignano.

Crossing the walls of San Gimignano, you go back to the 13th-14th century, in the middle of the MIddle Ages because nothing has changed in this place ere since then. And, exactly for this, it has earned the title of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The town is located in an excellent position: between Chianti, Valdelsa, Florence, and Siena.

Best time: spring and summer
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €60 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: €50 per couple
Low-cost flights: flights to Florence (5 km da San Gimignano) from €49.98; from Rome or Milan it’s better to take the train or bus because the distance is approximately 250 km
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: day trip to San Gimignano, Siena, and Chanti

8. Palermo, Sicily

Here’s another city of the South, a city with a long and complex history, just like its monuments and streets: the current Corso Vittorio, the axis of the ancient Cassaro, is the first ancient road around which the city developed. Elegant and contradictory, Palermo contains Arab and Norman traits, with Gothic-Catalan spots and baroque opulence.

It’s a noisy and colorful city with a unique character; exactly like the Vucciria, the historic market that stretches along the narrow streets of the historic center.

From arancine to Panelle, without forgetting cannoli and cassata, Palermo is a city full of ancient smells and flavors that can be found in street foods and desserts.

Best time: spring and summer
How to get there: bus to Palermo from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €45 per room
Average cost of a dinner at the restaurant: from €30 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: street food tour

9. Verona, Veneto

The city with the most famous balcony in the world ranks 9th on this list, but it’s actually one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site for its urban structure and architecture. Also noteworthy is the famous Arena, which often hosts TV and classic opera shows, providing a decidedly impressive location.

It’s definitely one of the most romantic cities in Italy due to its charm, which is enhanced especially at sunset. famous for having been the backdrop to one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories in literature: Rome and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

Best time: all year round and on the occasion of Valentine’s Day
How to get there: bus to Verone from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €70 per room
Average cost of a dinner at the restaurant: from €60 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: dreamers tour with Romeo and Juliet

10. Ferrara, Emilia Romagna

Ferrara, the city of Este, is a medieval, renaissance, elegant, and human-sized city where life flows slowly on horseback, among palaces, noble houses, churches, and castles. Furthermore, you are in the heart of Emilia Romagna, so you should use that chance to delight your palate.

Best time: mid-seasons are recommended
How to get there: bus to Ferrara from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €60 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €40 per couple
Low-cost flights: flights to Bologna (50 km from Ferrara) from €55.68
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: guided tour with a local guide

11. Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Located on the Adriatic Sea and almost entirely surrounded by Slovenia, Triest is a city that is geographically and historically isolated from the rest of the Italian peninsula. It’s a historic place, an important commercial port that has been the link between the Mediterranean and the Slavic and Germanic people for centuries. It’s a very charming place, full of cafes and with a splendid view of the sea.

Best time: spring-autumn
How to get there: bust to Triest from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €65 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €50 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: day trip to Postojna cave

12. Parma, Emilia Romagna

One of the most prosperous cities in Italy, Parma, is also famous for the production of two of the most exported and appreciated Italian culinary products abroad: Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. It is a city on a human scale, with lovely romantic alleys to visit as a couple or perhaps to travel by bike.

Best time: all year round
How to get there: bus to Parma from €4.99
Where to sleep: hotels and b&b from €60 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €60 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: city tour with a local guide

13. Milan, Lombardy

Milan and Paris compete for the title of the European fashion capital. This makes it the most important city in Italy, economically speaking. On the occasion of the fashion week, the city is teeming with renowned designers, models, showbiz characters, and paparazzi. It is the ideal place to go shopping and discover new trends.

Milan is a huge, dynamic metropolis full of opportunities. A city that never goes to sleep, where things to do are almost endless.

Best time: all year round; to attend the Fashion Week, the spring/summer shows are held in September/October, the autumn/winter shows are in February/March.
How to get there: bus to Milan from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €55 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from €70 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: Milan Card

14. Mantua, Lombardy

The Lombard city of Mantua is also included in the ranking. Pearl of the Renaissance, thanks to the Gonzagas, Mantua was one of the most important cultural cities and has many buildings built in that period. Mantua is surrounded by greenery, in an impressive and enjoyable natural area, so a stay in a farmhouse is especially recommended.

Best time: spring
How to get there: bus to Mantua from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €57 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from € 45 per couple
Low-cost flights: flights to Verona (48 km from Mantua) from € 55.24
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: city tour + Doge’s Palace

15. Bergamo, Lombardy

This beautiful city in the Alps combines two different but complementary hamlets, the upper and the lower. The lower city is the modern area of ​​Bergamo, whereas the upper part coincides with the historic center.

One of the things you shouldn’t miss is Bergamo Alta, the historic heart of the city and the place where the main attractions are concentrated.

Best time: spring
How to get there: bus to Bergamo from €4.99
Accommodation: hotels and b&b from €52 per room
Average cost of a dinner at a restaurant: from € 50.00 per couple
Recommended cards, tickets, and tours: 2.5-hour guided tour of the upper town