Florence at sunset, Venice from a gondola, Rome with a view of the Trevi Fountain — Italy has more than its fair share of magical must-see spots. But with them usually comes a crowd that is just as determined to capture the same view as you are. While there isn’t anywhere in Italy that remains truly undiscovered, there are plenty of places that feel worlds away from the Colosseum, Cinque Terre, or Amalfi Coast when it comes to crowds. To visit these places, you’ll have to trade in your standard itinerary for something a bit more off the beaten path, but once you arrive, it’ll almost feel like you have Italy to yourself.
Chiusa (South Tyrol)
Tucked into the Dolomites, Chiusa (also known locally as Klausen) feels almost untouched by the tourist boom happening in much of the rest of the region. The visitors here are mostly day-trippers from Austria as it sits just over the border — but as for other international tourists, it’s still relatively unknown. You can wander the town’s pastel houses, medieval streets, and surrounding trails while not worrying about busloads of tourists, sold-out museums, or having to make dinner reservations.
A day or two in Chiusa is easy to fill: head up to the Sabiona Monastery that overlooks the town, and then hike back down to one of several vineyards to sample tasty local wines from the Eisack Valley. Unlike its bigger Alpine village neighbors, Chiusa isn’t built with tourists in mind, so the rest of your trip can be spent simply lingering over dinner and taking in the views that you didn’t have to wait in line to enjoy.
Lake Iseo (Lombardy)
The lakes of northern Italy are unlike anywhere else on earth — panoramic views, colorful villas, and towns that look straight out of a magazine. The only problem is that millions of other travelers have heard the same thing, and they’re all flocking to Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore to see it for themselves. The good news is that there are plenty of charming towns along the shores of the lesser-known lakes in the region — Lake Iseo, to name one. Still largely preserved from mass tourism, it’s a place where prices remain reasonable and the atmosphere feels authentic. It’s perfect for a day trip, as Lake Iseo sits conveniently between Bergamo and Brescia.
One of the best ways to experience the lake is by taking a ferry to Monte Isola, an island within the lake where cars are banned and exploring is done on foot or by bike. Back on the mainland, you can stroll the promenade along Tavernola Bergamasca, stop into one of a few family-run wine bars, or enjoy an extra-long lunch at a lakeside café with the kind of view you’d pay triple for in Lake Como.
Dolceacqua (Liguria)
When you think of Liguria, you probably think of Cinque Terre — and chances are, if you’re in Italy on vacation, you just might make a stop at one of those five coastal towns, which for good reason, draw millions of visitors a year. But head west towards the French border and you’ll find Dolceacqua, a medieval village surrounded by one of Italy’s most overlooked wine regions.
Here, and across much of western Liguria, vineyards produce crisp whites like Pigato and Vermentino, often grown on steep terrain carved into the cliffs. The region’s coastal climate and rugged landscape make large-scale production nearly impossible, so what’s made here rarely leaves the region. That scarcity means you’ll be tasting wines you probably couldn’t track down back home — proof that some of Italy’s best finds will never make it onto a souvenir shelf.
Roseto Capo Spulico (Calabria)
On Calabria’s Ionian coast, Roseto Capo Spulico is a small town that never makes the radar of most international visitors. The town itself sits on a steep hill just above the coast, so you get wide views over the Gulf of Taranto while still being only a five-minute drive from the beaches below. Its most distinctive landmark is the Castello Federiciano, a 13th-century fortress that juts out over the shoreline. Prices are modest compared to Italy’s better-known seaside getaways, and the other visitors you’ll find there are mostly Italian families on their summer holiday.
A trip here will consist of the basics — a morning espresso at a beachfront café, an afternoon swim at one of the pebble beaches and a fresh-caught dinner at one of the town’s many seafood restaurants. It’s low-key and convenient, and the perfect place if you are looking to trade international crowds for something more local, without giving up access to the beach.
Marsala (Sicily)
When most people think of Sicily, it’s the big cities like Palermo and Catania or the resort towns of Cefalù and Taormina that come to mind — which leaves Marsala, on the far western edge of the island, almost completely overlooked. Its city center is compact and easy to explore on foot, with wide piazzas, historic churches, and streets that still feel local. Even in peak tourist season, it’s noticeably calmer, and the prices at most trattorias reflect that.
It isn’t built around headline attractions, which actually makes a weekend trip here more appealing. The city is known for its wine, and you can easily spend an afternoon hopping between different cellars in town for tastings. At sunset, the west-facing beach lights up and fills with locals — a reminder that Sicily’s better-known towns aren’t the only places worth visiting.
Final Thoughts:
Italy doesn’t run out of famous landmarks, but stepping off the standard itinerary can change the way you experience the country. You won’t see these places plastered across postcards or on your Instagram feed, but they offer the chance to slow down, experience a more local side of the country. So for your next Italian vacation, consider trading in a popular destination for one of these lesser-known places, and you’ll come home with a story most travelers never tell.