12 amazing ways to experience Italy

La dolce vita awaits in one of the most visited countries of the world: Italy. But when it comes to the best places to visit in Italy, travelers should know there is a lot more than just the typical tourist hot spots of Rome, Venice and the Amalfi Coast. Going beyond the traditional city limits can reveal plenty of exciting places to visit in Italy in 2024. Here are some top favorites of the best places to visit in Italy and add to your travel bucket list.

Deliciously appealing, Stanley Tucci has returned to Italy this month to film an all-new, 10-episode TV series for National Geographic network that celebrates food and travel in the land of his ancestors. It is tentatively titled Tucci: The Heart of Italy. Pairing Nat Geo’s renowned expertise—creating stunning photography and evocative narratives—with Tucci, a multiple award-winning American actor, is a five-star recipe for success. Ever since the cancellation of Tucci’s previous culinary destination show, CNN’s Searching for Italy, which won Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series, fans have enthused on social media about their hopes to watch more of Tucci unearthing tasty morsels and showcasing lovely landscapes in Italy’s distinctive regions. In this fresh eye-opening iteration, which will also air on parent company Disney+, insatiable Tucci will step away from crowded spots to discover serene behind-the-scenes surprises, scrumptious sustenance and compelling stories, while talking and toasting with professional chefs, home cooks, farmers, fishers, winemakers and more. Expect classic Tucci charm, so smooth and inviting at times that he himself seems like an irresistible dessert. Among this year’s colorful touchdowns: Lazio, Marche, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto.

Visitors have been flocking to the Thai island of Koh Samui for more than three decades, but it is about to get even more popular. Why? Because the third season of Mike White’s HBO hit ‘The White Lotus’ is expected to begin filming there next month.

Venice, Italy, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Known as the “Floating City,” the city is built on islands and connects via bridges and canals. Unfortunately, over-tourism has become an issue for the city, so the city has introduced new rules to help manage some of the problems.

I've never been a light packer, and also find it overwhelming to put together outfits while on my vacation.

Holland America is taking inspiration from the 1920s again for its latest over-the-top Mediterranean cruise.

Scores of travelers trek to Italy each year in order to experience the country’s majestic landscapes, fascinating culture, artistic treasures and renowned cuisine. Visitors flock to Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence for a true taste of Italian flare.

A woman who said she was diagnosed with breast cancer after stealing artifacts from Pompeii said she hadn't' known about "the curse," referencing a myth that stealing from the site brings bad luck.

To hold Dolce Vita—the new silk-swathed hardcover released by luxury publisher Assouline—in my hands feels as though I am embracing the essence and sensuousness of Italy itself. Sweet Life! Written by Italy connoisseur Cesare Cunaccia, this hefty (10-by-13-inch, 6.4-pound, 320-page) coffee-table tome showcases almost 200 expressive and evocative photographs that invite lovely lingering perusal. If you’re seeking an armchair traveler’s page-turner for yourself to kick off 2024 or a Valentine’s Day gift for a dreamer of things bellissimo, thispleases aplenty. Dolce Vita is a visual joy ride, chic and engaging. Indeed, gazing at its images fuels my fantasies of sliding onto a Vespa or into an Alfa Romeo, breezily wheeling from Venice to Milan to Genoa to Florence to Rome to Naples to Sorrento and beyond, through undulating verdant landscapes and glistening seaside ports, savoring fantastic cuisine, then sailing to Sicily for more. Prego!

The Amalfi Coast is the romantic star of many movies and has worked its way from the silver screen into the hearts of travelers worldwide.

Hands clasped firmly behind his back, with the beady vigilance of a parade-ground sergeant major, Alessandro Ferrarini strides among his massed ranks of cheese.

The selfie craze is now more lethal than shark attacks. A study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine in 2022 uncovered 379 selfie-related deaths over the previous 13 years.