The 6 Best Italian Road Trips
GettyAmalfi Coast
Known for its dramatic bluffs, pastel-hued villages, and cliff-hugging roads, the Amalfi Coast is arguably Italy’s most scenic stretch of coastline. From Salerno, drive west to the charming village of Vietri sul Mare, the starting point of the 30-mile coastal road proper (the SS163 Amalfitana). You’ll take this all the way to Sorrento, but be careful: The roads become increasingly narrow—and the views increasingly distracting—the closer you get to Amalfi.
Where to stop: Positano, for its surreal, steep geography and show-stopping views; Ravello, for the romantic gardens at Villas Cimbrone and Rufolo; and Amalfi, for its touristy-but-charming seaside village, home to the spectacular Duomo di Sant'Andrea.
Where to eat: A’ Paranza in Atrani for fresh seafood and Cumpà Cosimo in Ravello for Mama Netta’s reliably delicious homemade pasta.
Where to stay: The iconic Le Sirenuse; the glamorous, celebrity-studded Belmond Hotel Caruso; or the blissfully secluded, 20-room Monastero Santa Rosa—one of the world’s most beautiful clifftop hotels.
GettyTuscan Wine Country
Tuscany’s bucolic, vineyard-dotted landscape makes for the quintessential Italian road trip. Start in Florence and cruise south on the SS22 for 30 minutes until you reach the heart of the Chianti wine region. Take your time winding through Strada and Greve towards Siena, stopping at cantine along the way (we recommend these ones). Depending on how much time you have, spend the night in Panzano before circling back up to Florence the next day, or head further south to Montalcino, Montepulciano, and the spectacular Val d’Orcia—arguably the most beautiful stretch of countryside in Tuscany.
Where to stop: Ruffino’s sprawling Poggio Casciano estate for truffle hunting and tasting; Antinori nel Chianti Classico for its Instagram-worthy glass-and-steel winery and equally show-stopping wine; Tenuta Il Greppo, where the first Brunello di Montalcino was bottled in 1888.
Where to eat: Officina della Bistecca in Panzano-in-Chianti for the best steak in all of Tuscany; Re di Macchia in Montalcino for its classic, hearty Tuscan cuisine like white bean soup and wild boar pasta.
Where to stay: In castles, always. We like the intimate, art-filled Castello di Ama in Gaiole in Chianti and the lavish, hilltop Castello Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino, which has an infinity pool overlooking the vineyards.
GettyThe Northern Lakes
Want to mix road tripping with a little romance? Head to Italy’s postcard-perfect Lake District and spend a week cruising leisurely from east to west, stopping to explore a new lake each day: Garda first, then Iseo, Como, Lugano, and Maggiore (each is spectacular in their own way). Short on time? Como’s 31-mile shoreline—strung with beautiful villages, lavish Renaissance palazzi and ancient ruins—is worthy of a road trip all on its own.
Where to stop: Villa Melzi in Bellagio on Lake Como for its dreamy, azalea-filled gardens; the 17th-century Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo for its sculptures and equally Instagram-worthy gardens; Castello Scaligero in Sirmione for its sweeping views over Lake Garda; Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore for its Baroque Palace and lovely fishing village.
Where to eat: Market Place in Como serves up great seasonal cuisine that’s simple yet sophisticated (the current dinner menu includes squid-ink spaghetti and cod with anchovies and artichokes). Silvio, a Bellagio mainstay since 1919, is known for its terrific seafood, caught fresh from the lake daily.
Where to stay: The sleek and newly-Hot Listed Il Sereno; the iconic and palatial Grand Hotel Tremezzo; or the lovely, low-key RivaLago on the quieter (and significantly more cost-effective) Lake Iseo.
GettyThe Dolomites
Just south of the Alps, the Dolomite mountain range makes for one of the world’s most breathtaking alpine drives. The 86-mile Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, or the Great Dolomites Road, starts at Cortina d’Ampezzo (two hours’ drive north of Venice), climbs up to Falzarego Pass and eventually ends in Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige. Though you can do the entire drive in under four hours, we recommend taking at least two days to allow for hikes, detours and an overnight stop in the beautiful alpine villages of Canazei or Castelrotto.
Where to stop: Falzarego Pass for a ride on the Lagazuoi Cable Car (it takes you to the top of Mount Lagazuoi, where you can enjoy the best views over the Dolomites’ craggy, sawtooth peaks).
Where to eat: Aga in San Vito di Cadore, near Cortina, for its extraordinary “zero-kilometer” cuisine (nearly all ingredients are grown or foraged within miles of the kitchen); El Pael in Canazei for its traditional Trentino dishes like venison stew with polenta and salted beef with beans.
Where to stay: The ADLER Mountain Lodge, with its heated outdoor infinity pool, luxurious chalets, and magnificent alpine spa, is the swankiest hotel in Castelrotto. In Bolzano, the Vigilius Resort and Spa has a similarly sleek, modern-alpine design and roomy suites with mountain-facing terraces.
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GettySicilian Coast
With its dramatic and diverse coastline—powdery white sands to the north and pebbly, windswept shores to the south—the island of Sicily makes for the perfect road trip for beach lovers. Start in Palermo and drive west to the Zingaro Nature Reserve, where you’ll find a collection of Italy’s most beautiful beaches. Stay the night in the nearby seaside village of San Vito Lo Capo, then head south towards Trapani the next morning, before cutting an eastbound trail along the coast until you reach Noto. Though you can knock the trip out in three days or less, take at least a week to enjoy the journey.
Where to stop: Cala Tonnarella in the Zingaro Nature Reserve for its bone-white sand and Bermuda-blue water; the walled medieval town of Erice, for its sweeping birds-eye panoramas over the island; Scala dei Turchi, for its chalk-white cliffs and fiery bronze sands; and Noto, for its breezy seaside charm and Sicilian Baroque architecture.
Where to eat: The 125-year-old Caffè Sicilia in Noto for its magnificent gelato and almond-milk granita; Ristorante La Madia in Licata for its Michelin-starred traditional Sicilian cuisine (it’s widely regarded as the best restaurant on the island).
Where to stay: Rocco Forte’s sprawling, fruit-tree-flanked Verdura Resort houses the best spa in Italy and its own private beach; the charming and intimate 7 Rooms Villadorata has the luxury of a five-star hotel with the charm of a bed-and-breakfast.
GettyUmbrian Countryside
They don’t call Umbria the “green heart of Italy” for nothing: its countryside—peppered with sleepy hamlets, Romanesque churches and Renaissance castles—is wild, lush, and feels magically undiscovered. Start at the scenic hilltop town of Spoleto (it’s a two-hour drive from Rome and the perfect introduction to the region) then cruise east towards the pretty walled town of Norcia. After fuelling up on Norcia’s famous black truffles and salumi, drive west to the wine region of Montefalco, where you’ll spend the night. The next few days, soak in some culture and history in Assisi and Perugia, and end your trip in Orvieto.
Where to stop: The Valnerina, an astonishingly verdant wooded valley dotted with craggy peaks; the immense, fresco-filled Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi; the 16th-century Rocca Paolina and Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia.
Where to eat: Umbria is something of a gastronomic playground and you’re guaranteed to find delicious homemade cuisine in every village you stop in (ask for the local pasta, stringozzi, often topped with fresh-shaved local truffles). Our favorites for traditional Umbrian cuisine are Il Tempio del Gusto in Spoleto, Locanda del Teatro in Montefalco and La Taverna in Perugia. On your way to Orvieto, make sure to stop in Todi for some gelato at Bar Pianegiani.
Where to stay: The elegant and historic Palazzo Seneca in Norcia, a Relais & Chateaux property built in a 16th-century palace; and the luxurious, art-filled Palazzo Bontadosi boutique hotel in Montefalco for its sweeping views and rather sexy, crystal-adorned underground hammam.