Summer in mountains in Italy: 10 destinations for hiking and relax

In this beautiful country you are always undecided about the type of holiday to undertake, the blue and energy of the sea, the cities of art or a relaxing summer in mountains in Italy? In this article we will wander and discover magnificent places. We will take you to the trekking paradise in the Villandro Alp in Trentino-Alto Adige, where you can admire the splendid western Dolomites; in Bardonecchia, in the upper Val di Susa, to practice numerous outdoor sports; we will stop in the best Italian National Parks, like that of the Stelvio, or the Abbruzzo National Park with its particular heart-shaped lake.

We will meet municipalities with soft mobility, such as Chamois in the Aosta Valley or Sappada in the Friulian Dolomites, which have been awarded for their high environmental sustainability. We will discover fairy-tale landscapes, more like poetic narratives than to real places, such as the Pietra Bismantovana, in the Emilian Apennines, mentioned by Dante in the fourth canto of Purgatory of the Divine Comedy, or the Valle della Luna in upper Gallura, in Sardinia. Continue reading and discover the 10 destinations for hiking and relax for your summer in mountains in Italy.

The Villandro Alp is the second largest mountain pasture in Europe, we are at 1700 m above sea level for an area of 20 square km, an immense expanse of green meadows, lakes, pastures where animals, including some species of llama graze peacefully, and then pleasant mountain huts, refuges and the splendid panorama of the western Dolomites, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Villandro Alp, in Trentino-Alto Adige, is located at the foot of Mount Villandro, between the municipalities of Sarentino, Barbiano, Chiusa and Villandro.

The Villandro Alp is a true hiking and natural paradise, here you will encounter countless paths suitable for any type of trekking, both for the less experienced who want to walk peacefully, and for more experienced hikers who want to try something more daring. Villandro is ideal for a holiday between hiking and relax, there are many facilities in which you can stay, we have chosen for you the 4-star Granpanorama Hotel StephansHof, the hotel is located in a privileged position, enjoying one of the most spectacular views of the area and contains in its structure the spirit of the mountains, made up of walks and physical strength but also of regenerating relaxation with swimming pools and saunas and excellent food, which includes local products such as typical South Tyrolean dishes and wine white from the Isarco Valley. Strategic position from which you can also easily reach the cities of Bolzano and Merano.

Bardonecchia is located in the upper Val di Susa, at 1300 meters above sea level, we are 85 km west of Turin. In Bardonecchia you will find an uncontaminated alpine landscape, we recommend this destination if you are a sports enthusiast, because in addition to trekking and walking in Bardonecchia you can try your hand at tennis, football, mountain biking, paragliding, beach volleyball, adventure park, sport climbing, free climbing and golf. If you prefer water, in Bardonecchia you can have fun with canoeing, rafting, hydro speed, and swimming.

If, however, you are looking for relax and tranquility, you can opt for a walk in the Avigliana Lakes Natural Park, a trip to Lake Rochemolles or a bike ride on the Val di Susa cycle path. In Bardonecchia during the summer the municipality organizes a rich calendar of cultural and sporting events including the Mountain Festival, the Montagnard Festival, the Bardonecchia Bikepark and the Bardonecchia Freeride. If you come to these parts, don't forget to take a trip to Turin, while if you happen to be here in winter, Bardonecchia is among the best destinations for skiing in Italy.

If you want to choose the Lombardy region for your summer in mountains in Italy, we recommend Bormio, in the upper Valtellina, within the magnificent Stelvio National Park, among the best national parks in Italy. Hiking, good food and relax are the fundamental elements for those who want to spend their holidays here, Bormio is an internationally renowned spa and ski center.

Bormio is a beautiful historic village, around which there are 600 km of paths, numerous valleys kissed by the sun and surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Rhaetian Alps. Among the routes we suggest the Reit cross, the Pliniana spring, the Stelvio pass at 2,758 meters above sea level is highly recommended, it is the highest pass in Italy and connects Alto Adige, Lombardy and Switzerland. It is only open in summer, approximately from May to October. Numerous cycle paths if you are passionate about cycling, one of the most popular routes is the path that runs along the Cancano lakes, an easy path suitable for all levels.

Chamois is a small town in the Aosta Valley at 1800 meters above sea level, the mountain peaks surrounding it reach 2500 meters high and its territory is crossed by the Chamois stream. It is the only municipality in Italy, on the mainland, that cannot be reached by car, but only by cable car, the circulation of cars and motorbikes is prohibited. For this characteristic, which rewards high environmental sustainability, it has been included among the Pearls of the Alps, a title that rewards the most virtuous mountain municipalities that favor gentle mobility. Going without a car in Italy is a rarity.

The capital, namely Corgnolaz, it is a small village with wooden and stone houses and narrow streets, populated by very few inhabitants. The silence and pure air that you breathe in these parts make this place ideal for those seeking relax and nature for their summer in mountains in Italy. In summer you will have the opportunity to set out on numerous paths on foot, by bike or on horseback through fir, beech and larch forests through ancient mule tracks and green pastures.

The Bismantovana Stone is the queen of the Emilian Apennines, a mountain at 1041 meters above sea level in the province of Reggio Emilia. We are in the municipality of Castelnuovo ne' Monti, within the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines Park. This incomparable mountain is the one that Dante associates with the mountain of Purgatory in the Divine Comedy. A destination that we recommend only if you are an expert hiker or rock climber. 

It is a very high mountain, which when the sky is thick with clouds, stands out like a remote island in the middle of the sea. On its sides there are rocky crags suitable for skilled rock climbers, who at the top will find a flat space which, after the tiring climb, will be like the Garden of Eden. The origin of the name finds various hypotheses, one of these speaks of a derivation from the Etruscan language which should mean altar carved in stone for sacrifices. The excursion starts from the center of Castelnovo and lasts about half an hour. It goes without saying that it is a place that should be visited for its rarity and for the magical small villages and the nature of the surrounding area. An opportunity to discover the Emilia-Romagna region.

Sappada is an enchanting mountain resort at 1250 meters above sea level, located in a singular position, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, but close to the border between Veneto and Austria. Sappada is a widespread municipality lying on a large valley, surrounded by the splendid Friulian Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and crossed by the Piave river. Due to its particular position, it has kept its original cultural traditions unchanged over time, and has been recognized among the highly sustainable Italian municipalities.

In summer, in these places, nature manifests itself in all its wonder. You will have the opportunity to choose from a multitude of activities suitable for all ages. Walk in nature or in the characteristic villages, such as that of Cima Sappada. In the summer season there is a rich calendar of cultural events, from gastronomic festivals such as Gustosa Sappada to cultural ones such as Parole in vetta, 3 days of music, fiction and mountain stories. Sappada is a destination for those who love nature, relax and do not give up sociality and culture.

Cortina d'Ampezzo is located in the heart of the Venetian Dolomites in the province of Belluno, in a wide valley surrounded by high peaks, which make it a postcard setting, especially at dawn and sunset when the pink colors of the rocks reflect those of the Sun. Always called the queen of the Dolomites, it is among the most famous luxury destinations in Italy in the world, especially because of its ski resort. Home of the Winter Olympics in 1956 and one of the venues where the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will take place. Since 1990 the whole area has been part of a protected area, included within the Ampezzo Regional Natural Park of the Dolomites, the area includes large varieties of woods populated by a rich fauna, which must be strictly preserved and respected.

Cortina d'Ampezzo in the summer offers you kilometers of paths of varying difficulty in which to walk and relax in front of a wonderful natural panorama, there are also rock walls for sport climbing and clearly you cannot miss visiting the town. Among the most famous destinations are Lake Sorapis, the five towers, the three peaks of Lavaredo, the Fanes waterfalls and Lake Misurina. Cortina d'Ampezzo is a destination of excellence if you love the mountains, sports, but also fun, social life and shopping.

Seggiano is a small and charming village that extends between the slopes of Mount Amiata and a stretch of Val D'Orcia, in the province of Grosseto. A town of medieval origins, olive trees and oil dominate in this territory. We recommend this destination for your summer in mountains in Italy if, in addition to being a hiking and relax enthusiast, you love the culinary specialties and typical products of the Italian territory, here you can taste the precious DOP extra virgin olive oil.

In the historic center of Seggiano you can visit the ancient underground oil mill where the oil was produced and admire the largest Olivastra plant in the world, cultivated with the areoponic method, a method by which the roots of the plant remain suspended in a cistern and the plant is powered by the vaporization of water. Seggiano could be the starting point from which to explore the enchanting villages of Monte Amiata, such as the village of Santa Fiora, which is only half an hour away by car.

This little gem hidden in the greenery of the Abruzzo National Park owes its fame to the heart-shaped lake. Scanno is a municipality in the province of L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo. The town is perched on a rock spur at 1050 meters above sea level, an ideal destination for summer in mountains in Italy both for the surrounding nature, which allows a multitude of walking routes, and for the beauty of the town, inserted among the most beautiful villages in Italy.

The famous heart-shaped lake of Scanno is the largest natural lake in the region. The area is rich in fauna and flora and is immersed in the spectacular landscape of the Marsican Mountains. The lake has a blue flag and is suitable for swimming. Due to its shape, there is the path of the heart, an easy itinerary suitable for everyone which allows you to reach a panoramic point to admire the romantic design created by the water. Scanno is among the most beautiful mountain destinations in Italy, its visit is highly recommended.

The municipality of Aggius is in Gallura, in the province of Sassari, in the far north of Sardinia. It is a medieval village that rises at the foot of a granite ridge 514 meters above sea level. Within its territory there is a flat expanse, the plain of large stones, also called the Valley of the Moon, in which granite rocks with bizarre shapes give the place a highly suggestive appearance. For naturalists it is a unicum, comparable with few other similar areas on the European continent.

Aggius is one of the authentic villages of Italy, it is full of museums and among the works of craftsmanship you can find the traditional Aggius carpet, the highest manufacturing expression handed down only by women. We recommend this destination for the extraordinary landscapes, the walks, the relaxation and quiet of the small village and its handicraft products. Among the places to visit in north Sardinia.