It’s no surprise that Italy is among the top five most visited countries in Europe. Art-filled cities, spectacular alpine landscapes, food festivals, and universally acclaimed gastronomy attract holidaymakers from all around the globe. However, when there’s so much to choose from, how do you filter the vast array of attractions to make sure you get the best experience?
After living and working in Italy for around 15 years, my list of “must-sees” is a somewhat moveable feast and is certainly ever-expanding. Yet there are some places and certain experiences that I continue to recommend without fail to friends and family.
1. Skyway Monte Bianco Cable Car
There’s no “must-see” quite like the dizzy height of 3,500 meters on Mont Blanc. The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car whisks its visitors from the Italian town of Courmayeur to the lofty peak of Punta Helbronner and is still one of the most popular elements of my Best of the Italian Alps hiking tour. The journey is every bit as spectacular as the final destination thanks to the cable car’s 360-degree rotating cabins which allow visitors to marvel at the peaks of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, and the Gran Paradiso. The skyway is open most of the year and for much of it, the cable car departs at 15-minute intervals, taking around 20 minutes to reach the top peak of Punta Helbronner.
If you can resist the temptation to whizz straight to the top and hop off at the second station instead, the Pavillon du Mont Fréty, to visit the unique winery and the Botanic Garden Saussurea. This is one of Europe’s highest Botanic Gardens and is home to over 900 plant species.
Pro Tip: Be prepared for a drop in temperature at the top, even in the summer months.
2. Verona Opera
You don’t need to be a mad opera fan to be bowled over by the spectacle of a performance at Verona Opera, and never more so than in 2023, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Opera Festival. The open-air setting, in an ancient amphitheater, is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary staging, presenting operas that are produced on a simply epic scale. The 2023 schedule includes some of the greatest operas of all time, including Aida, Carmen, La Traviata, and Nabucco.
Pro Tip: With seating for up to 30,000, there’s plenty to choose from! Tickets range from €32 to €330 per person, with the cheapest seats on stone steps — you can bring a cushion or rent one for around €5. Book tickets through their official website.
3. At Least One Food Festival
If you need evidence that the best things in life are free, here’s just the proof you need! I can’t think of a better way of stepping into Italian culture than at a food festival. Whether celebrating chestnuts, truffles, mushrooms, or artichokes, Italian food festivals are all variations on a theme — essentially a celebration of local food, a sharing of stories and recipes, and a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors.
Pro Tip: Italy’s food festivals range enormously in size. While the annual White Truffle Fair of Alba in Piedmont is a global affair, food festivals dedicated to some of Italy’s most prized delicacies, such as chestnuts from Mugello or the Borgotaro mushroom, are much smaller, more intimate events that will provide a better local flavor.
4. A Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Follow the locals to the nearest trattoria and you can’t go far wrong when it comes to dining out in Italy. In most cases, you can be sure that most dishes will feature locally grown or produced ingredients and will be of high quality. However, if you want to take your Italian gastronomic experience to a whole new level, check into a…
Read More: I’ve Lived In Italy For 15 Years — 8 Experiences I Tell Visitors Not To Miss