Italy isn’t just frescoed ceilings and sunbaked piazzas — slip beyond the olde worlde city walls and an entirely different world opens up. Snow-dusted peaks, emerald-green forests and cliffside paths unfurl across a country that feels, at times, wonderfully untamed. If you’ve ever wondered where to find the best national parks in Italy, the answer isn’t as obvious as you might think — and a few of them might just surprise you.
Cinque Terre National Park
Cinque Terre might be Italy’s smallest national park, but it punches well above its weight as a top UNESCO World Heritage Site. This cliffside stretch of the Ligurian coast is all pastel houses, terraced vineyards and footpaths carved into the rock, with the sea glistening below.
Beyond the postcard views, this is a landscape shaped by generations of stubborn, hardworking locals who built those steep vineyard terraces by hand. Walking between the five villages, including Vernazza, gives you a real sense of how nature and human life have been intertwined here for centuries.
Best thing to do: Hike the Sentiero Azzurro coastal trail for classic sea views.
Don’t miss: The viewpoint over Manarola at sunset, when the village glows in soft pink and gold.
Gran Paradiso National Park
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s oldest national park and feels wonderfully unspoiled. Tucked into the Alpine foothills near the French border, it’s a land of snow-dusted peaks and glacial valleys.
It was originally created to protect the Alpine ibex, and you still have a good chance of spotting them perched improbably on rocky slopes. The villages scattered through the park are small and rustic, with stone houses and hearty mountain cuisine that warms you up after a long hike.
Best thing to do: Tackle a full-day hike to a high-altitude rifugio for sweeping views of Gran Paradiso peak.
Don’t miss: A wildlife sighting of the iconic Alpine ibex in its natural habitat.
Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
While everyone flocks to the famous Dolomites viewpoints, Dolomiti Bellunesi remains refreshingly low-key and untamed. Expect dramatic limestone peaks, deep forested valleys and wind-swept ridgelines that look almost theatrical. It’s a UNESCO-listed landscape that feels wilder and less polished than the big-name Dolomite hotspots.
In spring and early summer, alpine flowers explode across the meadows; in autumn, the forests turn copper and gold. It’s the kind of place where you’ll hear cowbells echoing in the distance and feel miles away from city life.
Best thing to do: Hike one of the panoramic ridge trails for uninterrupted views over jagged Dolomite peaks.
Don’t miss: The towering Schiara massif, one of the park’s most striking rock formations.
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
Often described as the wild heart of Italy, this park in the Apennines is all about forests, lakes and serious wildlife. It’s one of the best places in the country to (respectfully) look out for wolves and the rare Marsican brown bear.
The villages here feel timeless, with stone houses and a slower, more traditional rhythm of life. This is less about dramatic Instagram shots and more about deep green woods, quiet trails and proper eco-tourism.
Best thing to do: Join a guided wildlife walk at dawn to learn about bears, wolves and local conservation.
Don’t miss: Lake Barrea, a serene stretch of water framed by mountains and one of the park’s most photogenic spots.
Stelvio National Park
Locatedin northern Italy, Stelvio is big, bold and gloriously alpine. It stretches across high mountain passes, glacial valleys and some of the most dramatic roads in Europe. Even the drive up here feels like an adventure, with hairpin bends that cyclists and road-trip lovers revere.
This park straddles different regions, and you can feel that cultural blend in the mountain huts and villages. In summer, it’s all about hiking and biking, and in winter, parts transform into a snowy playground for skiers. Plus, it's a top forest destination in autumn thanks to the Alpine flora.
Best thing to do: Drive or cycle the legendary Stelvio Pass for one of Europe’s most scenic mountain routes.
Don’t miss: The Stelvio Pass summit itself, with its iconic switchbacks and sweeping Alpine views.
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