Northern Italy is compact enough to explore easily by train, but varied enough that you can go from Alpine peaks to lagoon cities in a matter of hours. If you’re trying to narrow down the best cities to visit in northern Italy, it helps to start with the heavy hitters.
Every spring, Italy turns pink. From Rome’s elegant lakeside parks to the cherry orchards of Emilia‑Romagna, delicate blossoms briefly transform the landscape into something almost dreamlike. And in 2026, cherry blossom season in Italy is expected to be especially spectacular.
Italy’s beauty isn’t limited to Rome, Florence or Venice. Across the country, small towns rise from volcanic cliffs, glow in pastel colours by the sea or sit quietly among vineyards and olive groves.
It’s not every day that a major financial and fashion capital is crowned the most walkable city in Europe, but that’s exactly what recent research has found.
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.
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
When people search for Italy's most beautiful towns, they’re often talking about I Borghi più belli d’Italia — an official association that recognises small historic villages across the country. This isn’t a glossy travel ranking or a social media trend.
Some of Italy’s most romantic places don’t announce themselves loudly, even around Valentine’s Day, when attention gravitates towards the obvious names.
What makes Italy stand out around Valentine's Day is the variety of ways that romance plays out in the country. Cities feel cinematic and lived‑in, coastal areas lean into simplicity and movement, and places shaped by time rather than tourism tend to leave the deepest impression.
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 has more than 1,500 lakes, from tiny Alpine pools to wide basins surrounded by vineyards and medieval villages. Many are swimmable and popular for holidays, weekend escapes and even second homes.
Winter in the Dolomites feels like stepping into a snow-dusted film set: sharp limestone peaks, pine forests heavy with snow, and villages that look almost too pretty to be real. This corner of northern Italy is only going to be more in the spotlight thanks to the Winter Olympics this year, hav