Hidden Gems in Italy: 3 underrated holiday destinations in Italy

For the past few years ,Italy has been very crowded and packed with tourists making places like the Amalfi coast, Milan, Venice and Rome ridiculously expensive for a vacation getaway. Now, with Italy making it to the top 5 most touristy countries in 2024, according to WP travel, I found some off the beaten path destinations to visit in Italy for the upcoming holidays. 

1. Turin 

Turin is the 4th biggest city in Italy and is the perfect weekend getaway. You can easily spend three days, just strolling around from shops to cafes, getting some fresh gelato and the iconic MAUTO museum which is a must see for any car lover. More key monuments in Turin are the Piazza Castello in the very heart of the city and the Piazza San Carlo. For football fans: Be sure to check if the Turin-based football club is having a game during your stay! Turin is also  close to the Alps so you can also rent a car from Turin and  drive to some of the very best ski resorts like Val dI'sère in the French alps is only 3 hours long so you can include that if you are a ski lover and planning a longer more active vacation.  

2. Cortina D’Ampezzo  

Cortina D’Ampezzo is a more local ski resort in Italy you might have not heard of but is very worthy of visiting. Cortina is the ultimate choice for the perfect mix of ski, food and après ski and is suitable for all ski levels. The nearest airport to the resort is Marco Polo in Venice which is a 2 hour drive from the resort. Cortina is known for an exquisite antipasti and delicious risottos. A recommended restaurant for pasta and risotto is II Vizietto Di Cortina.  

3. Cefalu, Sicily  

Cefalu is a beautiful seaside town in Sicily with not only strong Italian origin but includes Greek and Arabic influences. The town contains stunning beaches like Ambrogio, Lido Angeli del Mare and Spiaggia Caldura. Cefalu is quite small so a 2–3-day visit would be suitable. The old town center is also worth a visit to soak up the rich history of Cefalu!