10 Italians' favourite destinations in Italy

Italy is a country that encapsulates an innumerable amount of beauty that captivates millions of foreign travellers and Italians themselves every year.

Even if attracted by foreign countries, Italians love to travel in Italy, enjoy the historical and cultural attractions of the cities of art and villages, relax at the seaside or in the mountains and try the different regional dishes.

According to Istat data - the National Institute of Statistics - among the favourite destinations and regions of Italians in Italy, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany stand out for long and short stays in all seasons.

Puglia for long summer holidays by the sea, and Trentino Alto Adige for extended summer stays in the mountains. 

Italy is a country to be experienced. Each region offers treasures to discover and breathtaking landscapes to photograph.

Whether you love history and culture, the sea or the mountains, or relaxation, here you will find the right destination.

And now, let's discover the 10 Italians' favourite destinations in Italy!

Lignano Sabbiadoro, the largest seaside resort in Friuli Venezia Giulia, is a top destination for many Italians for the variety of services and activities offered.

Divided into 3 main resorts, each with its own characteristics, it can satisfy everyone's needs.

With its 8 km of fine beaches and shallow waters, it is the ideal place for families.

Young people choose it for its nightlife with concerts, events, discos and outdoor clubs.

Those who love nature and sport can enjoy many itineraries through the fragrant pine forests and the suggestive views of the nearby Marano lagoon.

Those who love out-of-town trips, can easily reach Marano and its lagoon by boat or bicycle.

The hinterland also offers the opportunity to visit picturesque villages and try the tasty Friulian cuisine.

Furthermore, within an hour's drive we can reach Trieste, a beautiful city with fine monuments, first and foremost the splendid Miramare Castle. 

Crystal-clear waters, wonderful coves, long beaches, green hills - these are just some of the beautiful landscapes of Villasimius, a town in southern Sardinia.

Sardinia is definitely synonymous with spectacular sea and Italians love the sea. Villasimius is located along a rugged coastline that reaches as far as Capo Carbonara.

This stretch of coastline is part of a protected marine area and here you can find beautiful beaches and a dreamlike sea.

During the summer, the centre of the town is often enlivened by folklore and food and wine events, and Italians are known to appreciate good company and good food!

Beautiful sea, relaxation and flavour: these are the characteristics Italians love about Villasimius.

Sorrento, the most famous town on the Sorrento Coast, has been known since ancient times for its landscape of gardens and citrus groves, its picturesque historical centre and its breathtaking views.

Italians love it and choose it every season for its hospitality and cheerfulness.

In Sorrento, there is sun, culture, art, entertainment, bathing establishments, a mild climate and an exceptional gastronomic offer!

Praised by poets and celebrated in songs for its astonishing viewpoints, it is also the starting point for visiting wonderful places such as Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Pompeii, the islands of the Gulf of Naples and Naples itself!

Jesolo is the most famous seaside resort in Veneto and is loved by many Italians who choose it not only for the services and the wide range of good-value accommodation, but also for the scenic landscape, entertainment and cultural offerings.

A 15 km long beach, the largest pedestrian island in Europe, nightlife and a hinterland rich in charm and history: you can choose Jesolo to relax and do nothing, or to do a bit of everything.

You can enjoy the beauty of Lido di Jesolo and Jesolo town with its river crossed by bridges, the bars and restaurants where you can try Jesolo cuisine.

Inland, there is no lack of opportunities to visit places of great beauty from the Prosecco hills, with Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, to Venice and the islands of the Venetian lagoon.

Jesolo is a year-round destination.

San Vito lo Capo, a lively seaside town, is located on the north-western coast of Sicily.

Sicily is undoubtedly one of the most popular regions for Italians.

Italians choose it for its cultural offerings, the wonderful sea, the beauty of Mount Etna, the lesser-known countryside... and the many typical trattorias, where they can enjoy simple and genuine dishes. 

San Vito lo Capo is strategically located between the sea, mountains and sites of historical and cultural interest.

Not far away are the Segesta Archaeological Park and the Zingaro Nature Reserve with many trails in the nature and small historical villages to explore.

Italians also love this location for its traditional festivals and fairs, first and foremost the Cous Cous Fest, an international event of Mediterranean Culture and Food and Wine.

This is a location that holds pleasant surprises in every season! 

They are part of the Unesco heritage and represent one of the most beautiful landscapes in Bel Paese.

The Dolomites are a favourite destination for Italians at any time of year.

In winter they are a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. In summer they are a wonderful refuge from the heat of the big cities.

In spring and autumn, they offer a beautiful spectacle of colours and the possibility of beautiful days spent picking mushrooms or chestnuts!

Italians love to spend time in the Dolomites with their families, couples or groups to walk, cycle, go to the lake and enjoy beautiful landscapes in the silence of nature.

Salento, the southernmost region of Apulia, is undoubtedly among the favourite destinations of Italians.

Many features make this small peninsula unique.

First and foremost, the beauty of its crystal-clear sea and beaches, the expanses of centuries-old olive trees, the charm of the countryside and the countless music festivals and food and wine events that animate the region, especially in summer.

Santa Cesarea Terme, Marina di Pescoluse, Torre del Pizzo, and Porto Selvaggio, are just some of the wonderful beaches where you can enjoy a spectacular sea and unspoilt nature.

Among the cities are Gallipoli, Otranto, Lecce and many characteristic inland villages where you can taste excellent traditional dishes, seasoned with one of the best olive oils in Italy.

The Salento is a mix of natural beauty and tradition that creates a nostalgia effect!

Elba Island, the largest island of the Tuscan archipelago, is undoubtedly one of the most popular seaside destinations not only for Tuscans but for all Italians.

Easily reached by ferry or hydrofoil from the port of Piombino, it welcomes visitors with its crystal-clear sea and many beautiful beaches, all different from each other.

In addition to the sea, however, the Elba island offers the possibility of visiting typical fishing villages such as Portoferraio and Rio Marina and walking in the mountains to the highest peak on the island: Mount Capanne.

From here you can enjoy a wonderful 360-degree panorama of the island!

The friendliness and kindness of the inhabitants, the attractions for night-time entertainment and also accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets complete the offer, and make it a popular destination for Italians who spend longer or shorter stays there!

Riccione is one of the most renowned seaside resorts on the Adriatic and is a favourite destination for Italians in Italy, in all seasons!

In summer, Italians of all ages choose Riccione for its long sandy beach, the great hotel offers for all budgets, the excellent cuisine of Romagna, and first and foremost, the friendliness and hospitality of the people of Romagna.

As early as March/April, Riccione is the ideal destination for a weekend or a short holiday, because of the many possibilities for recreation and relaxation it offers.

In addition to the fun of the various water parks for young and old, the countless clubs and seaside promenades, in the city centre, there are charming Art Nouveau buildings.

Furthermore, in the surrounding green hills, there are ancient villages worth a visit.

But Italians also love Riccione in winter and choose it even if only to enjoy the empty beach and the tranquillity that in summer gives way to nightlife and entertainment.

Rimini, the tourist hub of the Romagna Riviera, is loved by Italians for its hospitality and the endless possibilities it offers.

In the summer, the long, well-equipped beach fills up with families, couples and groups of friends who choose Rimini to combine fun, culture and relaxation by the sea, at an excellent price.

By day sea and beach, by night fun and music.

But Rimini is also history and culture with many places and monuments tracing its history from its origins to the present.

The Rimini hinterland is full of characteristic villages to explore, and of course, there is no shortage of good food!

If the summer is crowded and bustling, in the middle of winter you can enjoy the tranquillity of an 8 km beach, strolling along the seashore!

Rimini is a winning mix of fun, relaxation, culture, and nature and Italians love it all year round!