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8 highlights of Italy

Hike to the peak of Mount Etna, uncover well-preserved ruins in Pompeii, walk along clifftops in Amalfi and cycle around Puglia on our small group tours. Here are some of the very best highlights that Italy has to offer.

Updated by: Aimee White - Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: 25th July 2025

 

Italy is a dream destination for every kind of traveller. Whether you're exploring solo, adventuring with friends, or enjoying a family holiday, Italy offers something unforgettable. From the historic ruins of Rome to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast, the country is rich in culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.

 

Highlights of Italy include kayaking experiences, local cooking demonstrations and centuries-old walking trails, and with world-class food, stunning landscapes and warm hospitality, Italy is a place where every journey becomes a story worth telling.

1. Amalfi Coast Walking

A popular highlight on our Italy small group tours is the sprawling network of clifftop walking trails along the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast. Embark on the spectacular ‘Walk of the Gods’ so named for its lofty pathways and far-reaching vistas over the glistening Tyrrhenian Sea. A day trip to Capri island will take you beyond trendy boutiques and fancy restaurants into a labyrinth of cobbled streets and white-washed walls draped in bright bursts of bougainvillaea flowers. Look back at the mainland’s towering limestone cliffs and view tiers of colourful apartments vying for the best ocean view. 

 

Our Family Amalfi Coast Adventure is ideal for families travelling with children (11+) and teenagers. Paddle through turquoise waters on a sea kayaking trip and make authentic Italian pasta before cooling off (or splashing about) in the pool back at the family-run hotel. 

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A backpacker walks along a coastal trail with trekking poles, surrounded by grassy hillsides and distant cliffs under a clear sky. Another hiker approaches in the background.

2. Cycle Puglia

Set in the southern ‘heel’ of Italy, pearly white villas and cone-shaped Trulli houses line the streets of Puglia. Traditional Italian food is a major highlight of this pretty peninsula, so jump in the saddle and sample delicious local cuisine on this eight-day cycling tour. Learn how to make cheese in Putignano Agri and visit a local mill to taste freshly made ‘green gold’ olive oil before enjoying a wine tasting at a local farmhouse. Quiet rural countryside will accompany you on your journey as well as historic monuments, castles and ancient cave dwellings. 
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A blue bicycle rests near a stone wall in front of a trullo, a traditional dry stone hut with conical roofs, situated in a grassy rural landscape under a partly cloudy sky.

3. Walking in Sicily

Explore the rugged landscapes of eastern Sicily on an 8-day Sicily walking tour, with a hospitable family-run hotel as your homebase. From Giardini Naxos, you’ll head to the slopes of Mount Etna to walk to the fissures of the 2002 eruptions. Meanwhile, after catching a ferry to the Aeolian Island of Vulcano, you’ll walk to the crater for spectacular views of the surrounding islands.
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Ancient stone ruins rest on a grassy hillside with snow-capped mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees.

4. Hiking in the Dolomites

The Dolomites mountain range, a UNESCO world heritage site, is a well-known highlight of Italy. Grab your walking boots and navigate your way through fragrant pine forests, across lush green alpine meadows and amongst towering limestone cliffs on foot. Don’t miss a trip to the iconic Tre Cime viewpoint with its trio of jagged peaks and panoramic vistas over endless mountainscapes, and have your camera ready for the picture-postcard perfect scenes at the emerald green Lake Braies. 
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A person, wearing a backpack, faces and admires a range of rugged, sunlit mountains surrounded by lush greenery under a clear blue sky.

5. Walking in Sardinia

Embark on a moderate grade walking tour of Sardinia, with visits to Bronze Age villages and scenic coastal trails. Trek the Supramonte Mountains for unforgettable panoramic views across the mountain range, known for its rugged limestone topography. On the Selvaggio Blu coastal trail, you’ll explore a picturesque cove and the Cala Luna beach. For those looking for a challenge, you can hike onwards to an additional beach, Cala Fuili.
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A couple walks on a wooden boardwalk through sandy dunes toward rocky cliffs and crashing ocean waves under a partly cloudy sky. Green shrubs and grasses line the path.

6. Tuscany Walking and Wine

Combine the best of Italy's landscapes and cuisine on our Tuscany Walking and Wine tour. Southern Tuscany is one of Italy's most striking regions, and on this eight-day tour you'll discover sun-soaked towns, medieval hilltop locations and ancient pilgrimage trails. What makes this trip stand out is the local cuisine – not just the fresh, delicious produce, but some of Tuscany's most famous wines, too. Ramble through the vineyards of Chianti, sample organic wines at family vineyards and taste more renowned tipples.
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7. Lake Como Walking Trip

Take it easy on this laid back Italy walking trip along the western shoreline of Lake Como in Italy. Explore a network of footpaths leading to little villages hidden within the nooks and crannies of surrounding mountains, and take a ferry to Bellagio to wander along charming cobbled lanes with boutique shops, friendly cafes and exquisitely manicured gardens. If you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge in delicious Italian cuisine in alfresco restaurants on the water’s edge and wash it all down with a refreshing glass of beer or chilled white wine. 
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A lakeside town with pastel buildings and a clock tower sits quietly along a serene waterfront, surrounded by green mountains and distant snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky.

8. Cycle Dolomites, Lake Garda and Venice

On this easy-grade Italy cycling tour from South Tyrol to Lake Garda, you’ll work your way around predominantly traffic-free paths and quiet country roads. From the epic Dolomites mountainscape to the iconic architecture of Venice, this 8-day trip combines the great outdoors with classic Italian cities. After enjoying a relaxing ferry ride across Lake Garda, we’ll stop in the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

 

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Boats float on a narrow canal, flanked by old brick buildings adorned with flower boxes and arched windows, under a small stone bridge in a charming, historic city scene.

Don't just travel, Explore!

Ready to explore Italy with us? We offer a wide range of small group trips to Italy; choose from Classic Discovery, Walking, Cycling, and Family tours. From Rome to the Amalfi Coast, the only question is where to start – so where will your next adventure take you?
View all Italy trips
Colorful buildings cascade down a steep hillside against a backdrop of a calm blue sea with numerous boats, under a vivid, picturesque sky at sunset.

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