We’ve wandered Italy’s cobbled lanes and classic postcard views, but some of the country’s best stories happen far from the Colosseum’s shadow. This isn’t your average gelato-and-gondola roundup, but this is the Italy that locals whisper about and guidebooks skip. From opera that moves from room to room in a crumbling palazzo to a bell tower rising from a sunken village, these are the unusual things to see in Italy that had us blinking twice and texting friends mid-adventure. If you’ve been before and are hungry for something deeper, we’ve got your map.
Non-tourist Things to See in Italy
If you’ve already sipped aperitivos in Milan and braved Venice crowds, it’s time to flip the map. Think wild landscapes, secret retreats, and soulful detours. To make planning easy, we’ve broken it down by vibe—lakes, cities, immersive moments, and more. Let’s dive in.
Lakes, Mountains & Scenic Retreats
Italy isn’t just about ruins and red wine. It's also home to alpine air, volcanic coastlines, and hidden hot springs where time seems to slow down.
Lake Garda
Italy’s largest lake is a playground for both thrill-seekers and slow travelers. Wind and water sports rule the north, while the south serves up vineyard strolls and Roman ruins. Rent a scooter, drive the loop, and pack a swim trunk, because you'll want to jump in at every turn.
Lake Como
Classy, calm, and just the right amount of dramatic. Bellagio might be the beauty queen, but towns like Varenna and Menaggio are where you'll really breathe. Take the ferry, sip espresso by the docks, and don’t be afraid to splurge on a lakeside aperitivo, it’s worth every euro.
Lake Maggiore & Stresa
Less flashy than Como, but that’s exactly its charm. Stresa has Belle Époque vibes and fewer crowds, plus easy access to the Borromean Islands. It's an ideal base if you’re into grand villas, botanical gardens, and lakeside mornings with misty mountain backdrops.
The Dolomites
A UNESCO darling and legit jaw-dropper, the Dolomites are Italy’s alpine edge. Those rustic mountain huts where you can sleep at altitude and wake up to sunrise over pale limestone peaks. Hiking trails are well-marked, and gondolas can help you skip the hardest climbs.
Thermal Baths
Italy does spa days like nowhere else, and these ones are free. Saturnia, Bagni San Filippo, and Bagno Vignoni are natural thermal hot springs where you can soak under the stars or after a hike. Go early or late to skip the crowds, and bring water shoes as the rocks get slick.
Next up? Let’s swap wide-open landscapes for cobbled streets and faded frescoes because Italy’s lesser-known cities are every bit as unforgettable.
Lesser-Known Cities in Italy Worth the Trip
Not every gem in Italy sparkles with a crowd around it. These lesser-known cities may not headline travel brochures, but they’re where you’ll find the soul of the place, minus the selfie sticks.
Bologna
If Florence had a grittier, cooler cousin who cooked better food, it’d be Bologna. Arcaded streets make rainy strolls romantic, and the food scene is unmatched. For a local slice, climb the Asinelli Tower and end your day in a tucked-away enoteca.
Modena
Fast cars, slow meals. Modena is where Ferrari was born and where balsamic vinegar is an art form. Tour a traditional acetaia, then swing by Osteria Francescana, if you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation.
Trieste
Where Central Europe meets the Mediterranean, Trieste is an Austro-Hungarian surprise at the edge of Italy. Think literary cafés, sea breezes, and architecture that feels more Vienna than Venice. Have an espresso at Caffè San Marco, where James Joyce once did the same.
Brescia & Bergamo
These two northern cities are perfect day-trip twins—Brescia brings Roman ruins, Bergamo charms with its hilltop Città Alta. Both fly under the radar, which means no crowds and better prices on Aperol Spritz.
Now that we’ve dipped into Italy’s quiet cultural corners, let’s turn our gaze to salt-slicked air, cliffside villages, and island time. Up next: Coastal & Island Escapes.
Coastal & Island Italian Escapes (That Still Feel Like Secrets)
Italy’s coastline is no secret, but beyond the Amalfi crush and Capri glitz, there’s a quieter, wilder version of la dolce vita. These are the salt-in-your-hair, boots-off, slow-sipping hidden spots in Italy where the Mediterranean feels a little more personal and the pace shifts into something softer.
Vesta & Puglia, the Gargano Coast
On the Adriatic side of southern Italy, Vesta is a whitewashed beauty perched above turquoise seas. The surrounding Gargano coastline hides sea caves, rugged trails, and trabucco (ancient wooden fishing machines that look like something out of a Miyazaki film). Book a boat tour to slip into grottoes and swim in untouched coves.
Gaeta
Somewhere between Rome and Naples, Gaeta sits quietly with its dramatic cliffs and myth-soaked “split mountain” (Montagna Spaccata). It’s the kind of place where you can eat seafood with your feet in the sand and hike to a lighthouse before sunset. Come for the calm, stay for the salty air and panoramic piazzas.
Polignano a Mare
Built right into the cliffs of Puglia, this is the kind of place that makes your camera work overtime. Think turquoise water, stone arches, and balconies over the sea. Grab a gelato and watch cliff divers leap from limestone ledges, or better yet, pack your swim trunks and join them.
Sardinia
It’s Italy, but it feels like another planet. Sardinia’s wild coastline stretches from powder-soft beaches to Mars-red rock formations. Rent a car and do a road trip—stop at Cala Goloritzé, stay in a shepherd’s hut, and don’t skip the local mirto (a herbal liqueur made from myrtle berries).
Now that your feet are sandy and your sunhat’s packed away, let’s head inward and discover Italy’s most offbeat culinary treasures.
Culinary & Wine Escapes (Where the Taste is the Journey)
Some places in Italy are best explored one bite and one sip at a time. These are the destinations where the kitchen is a classroom, the vineyard is a storybook, and every meal feels like it came with a view.
Podere Il Casale (Tuscany)
Perched in the hills of Val d’Orcia, this organic farm lets you step into the rhythm of rural Italy. Tour the cheese cellar, roll pasta from scratch, sip local wine, and take in sunsets that look too good to be real. Book ahead, especially in summer, a it’s a favorite for good reason.
Soure: Instagram Podereilcasale
Florence Progressive Food Tour
Four courses, four locations, and no tourist traps in sight. Local guides walk you through tucked-away trattorias and wine bars, sharing both bites and stories. It’s food, yes—but it’s also a shortcut to the city’s soul.
Sorano (Southern Tuscany)
A village sculpted from volcanic stone, Sorano is rustic elegance. The wine cellars are cool and carved deep into the tufo, and the reds? Bold and earthy. Pair a tasting with a soak at nearby Terme di Sorano to truly unwind.
Naples Pizza Pilgrimage
This is holy ground for food lovers. Naples gave the world pizza, and the city’s best pizzerias like Da Michele or Sorbillo still do it with fiery devotion. Go hungry, expect a line, and order the Margherita. It's the simplest, and somehow, the most profound.
Langhe (Piedmont)
This is Barolo country: fog-draped hills, truffle-scented menus, and red wines that make you pause mid-sentence. Stay in a vineyard B&B and spend your days hopping between family-run cellars and long lunches in Alba. Best visited in autumn when the foliage and truffles peak.
Montefalco (Umbria)
The hill town of big flavor. Montefalco is all about Sagrantino wine, inky, intense, and made to age. It's quiet, unpolished, and everything we love about Umbria. Walk the ramparts, drink something you've never heard of, and stay for the view.
With your belly full and your wine glass empty, it’s time to shift gears. Before you zip that bag shut, here are a final words on what to pack and what to know for making the most of your Italy trip.
Final Notes: What to Know (and What to Pack) for Italy
Italy’s magic is in the details, and so is your packing list. The days are long (in the best way), cobblestones are brutal on cheap shoes, and trains wait for no one. Keep your travel light, your style sharp, and your essentials dialed.
Roll with the Evolution Pant because it handles espresso spills in Milan and vineyard dust in Montepulciano with the same chill. Add the X Cotton Tee and Venture Zip Hoodie for breezy mornings and quick outfit changes, and stash it all in the Voyager™ RollTop Backpack, which fits a surprising amount and still slides under the seat of any Trenitalia train.
Need more packing recs? Check out our full Italy clothing guide for travelers to keep your kit dialed for every stop.
Bring a universal adapter, a power bank that won’t die before your second gelato stop, and shoes that can do 20,000 steps without complaint. And don’t forget a bit of space in your bag—Italy has a way of filling it with things you didn’t know you needed (hello, hand-painted ceramics and vintage olive oil tins). For a deeper dive into what to bring and what to leave behind, our European Packing Guide has your back.
Italy’s soul lives beyond the big-ticket sights, but more in quiet villages clinging to cliffs, opera halls hidden in palazzos, and trails that lead to ancient thermal springs. It’s in the flavors you stir yourself, the wine you sip, where it’s grown, and the moments you stumble upon with no agenda. This is the Italy that surprises you in a way that stays with you long after your passport’s been stamped.
Photo source: Unsplash
