Italy unusual places to visit

Vernazza is one of the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre, perched along the Ligurian coast.

Italy will always be one of Europe’s great city‑break destinations — but the way people explore it is changing.In 2026, travellers are increasingly looking beyond the obvious icons, choosing smaller cities and coastal towns that feel atmospheric, walkable, and deeply Italian, even on a short stay.Fr

Some of Italy’s most romantic places don’t announce themselves loudly, even around Valentine’s Day, when attention gravitates towards the obvious names.

The Aeolian Islands sit off the northern coast of Sicily, scattered across the Tyrrhenian Sea like a chain of volcanic stepping stones.

With the much‑anticipated Winter Olympics on the horizon, northern Italy is suddenly being talked about as one of the world’s best travel destinations for 2026.

Italy is one of the few countries in Europe where millions of people live in the shadow of active volcanoes. For many residents and foreign buyers, the appeal of living near an Italian volcano is obvious: dramatic landscapes, fertile soil, and, in some areas, more affordable homes.

Italy’s big‑name galleries are brilliant, but once you have done the hits, they can feel crowded and predictable.

Italy has around 450 islands, but most travellers only ever set foot on a handful of them. Once you step away from the celebrity favourites, you find places that are still largely the domain of fishermen, hikers and those in the know.

Ischia is one of those places that quietly gets under your skin.

If you take a boat out into the Venice lagoon, there is a small, low island that slips by on the horizon, half‑hidden behind trees and crumbling brick.

Once you have done the classic Murano and Burano loop, the Venetian lagoon starts to open up in more interesting ways.

Verona’s historic centre is full of pretty corners, but there is one small courtyard that always seems busier than the rest.

This southern city in Italy is finally having its moment without the Amalfi circus. Think a lived‑in southern city with a real seafront, serious food and quick hops to the coast and ancient sites.

The UN Best Tourism Villages initiative puts Italy in the frame for 2025 with three villages.

Italy wears its history on its sleeve, and some corners are a touch darker than others. Think cursed palazzi, plague islands and catacombs where time seems to freeze.

Rome is the headline act, but Italy’s Roman ruins outside Rome deliver ancient drama with fewer crowds and gentler prices. Think evocative ports, theatres and mosaics, with straightforward trains and buses to keep things simple.

Latronico’s finally popping up on savvy travellers’ radars for two big reasons: wellness and wild nature. This small hill town in Basilicata’s Potenza province sits between the Monte Alpi massif and the edges of Pollino National Park.

Located between the Apennines and the Adriatic, Molise features stone hill towns that watch over olive groves and a quiet coastline. Life ambles along in Campobasso and the fishing docks of Termoli, with truffles, bean stews and moreish local wines.

Florence rewards anyone who slips into its daily rhythm, trading tick‑box sights for small rituals and hands‑on moments. Think an early coffee at the bar, a peek into working botteghe, and a low‑key evening wander along the Arno.

Slip off the main drag and Rome softens into villagey corners, street art pockets and leafy hillsides.

Rome gets under your skin the moment you slip down a cobbled alleyway or duck into a cool courtyard. If you’re after non-touristy things to do in Rome, think slow mornings at neighbourhood markets, sunset viewpoints with locals, and late‑night gelato far from the hubbub.

Slip beyond the blockbuster sights and you’ll find Rome’s unusual attractions tucked into cloisters, courtyards and catacombs. Think keyholes framing domes, layered churches and private palazzi with quietly dazzling art.

Venice casts a spell—bells over the water, light on stone—but the crush around San Marco and Rialto can drown out the everyday rhythm. A simple skip-and-swap mindset helps get a little closer to the non-touristy things you can do in Venice.

Beyond the queues and gondola jams, Venice hides quiet little courtyards called campielli, neighbourhood taverns, or bàcari, and workaday islands where daily life moves at an easier pace.

Some places are so unique they seem to belong to another world: the small Sicilian village of Centuripe is one of them. Located in the province of Enna, this beautiful town is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Simeto Valley.