Are you planning a scenic Italian road trip adventure and looking for inspiration for routes, tips, and the most beautiful sights along the way?
Then you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the most beautiful Italy road trip routes for an unforgettable journey.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor, a couple seeking a romantic trip, or an adventure-loving family, these Italian road trip routes are our favorites, and you will love them too:
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Favorite Italian Road Trip Routes
| ROUTE | HIGHLIGHTS | DURATION |
| Southern Italy | stunning Amalfi Coast, charming towns (Naples, Matera, Alberobello), Pompeii | 7 to 10 days |
| Tuscany | Rolling hills, medieval towns (Florence, Siena, San Gimignano), wine regions, and thermal springs | 7 days |
| Dolomites Great Road | Breathtaking mountain vistas, alpine lakes, hiking, and scenic drives from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo | 5 days |
The Most Beautiful Road Trips In Italy
Driving through Italy by car is pure freedom.
There is a wide variety of landscapes to discover, historic cities and towns exude their charm, and, of course, Italian food is not to be missed—perfect ingredients for a carefree vacation.
It’s easy to reach Italy by plane and then start your trip with a rental car.
You’ll find the best flight deals on Expedia or Omio, and the best rental cars at Discovercars.
Now, on to the most beautiful Italian road trip routes for your next Italy vacation, and best tips for driving in Italy as a tourist:
1. Southern Italy: From Naples to Bari
Another beautiful route with many cultural and scenic highlights is in Southern Italy.
The road trip starts on Italy’s west coast, specifically in Naples, and ends in Bari, a coastal city in the east.
After exploring Naples’ old town and Naples underground (highly recommended), continue to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii and visiting Mount Vesuvius are highlights close to Naples.
From Pompeii, continue to the Amalfi Coast with its charming coast and Positano.
The next stop is Matera. In 2019, Matera was the European Capital of Culture, well deserved, in my opinion.
The cave city with its cave dwellings (Sassi) has a special charm.
After strolling through the narrow streets and visiting the sights, you can explore the Matera Canyon (Gravina di Matera) on a guided hike.
The hike passes waterfalls and ancient caves, and a suspension bridge leads to Belvedere Murgia Timone, offering a beautiful view of Matera.
After Matera, continue to the next highlight: Alberobello with its famous Trulli houses.
The whitewashed stone houses with gray stone roofs are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While Trulli houses can be seen scattered around the area, Alberobello is full of them, and you can even go inside some of them.
For a special overnight stay, you can sleep in a Trulli house in Alberobello.
A short drive takes you to the final stop, Bari.
The absolute highlight in Bari is the old town and the “Pasta Street.”
In Strada Arco Bassa, women sit in the street in the morning making pasta.
If you want to take it easy, stroll along the long promenade or spend the day at the beach.
Recommended duration: 7-10 days
⭐️ Read more in our Southern Italy road trip route and itinerary article
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2. Exploring Tuscany
Cypress-lined avenues. Charming medieval towns. Wine. The capital, Florence, with its art treasures and architectural wonders.
That’s Tuscany.
Tuscany is a favorite, especially when it comes to discovering the area as a self-driver.
You can read more about the most beautiful Tuscany road trip itinerary here.
Just driving through the hilly landscape is a highlight of this route.
Along the way, you can stop to stroll through medieval towns, visit wineries, or relax on beaches.
But there are also plenty of opportunities for active travelers in Tuscany.
A good starting point is Florence. Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is also a must-visit.
There are an incredible number of sights to see, so it’s best to plan at least two days in Florence.
If your time is limited, you can also explore Florence in a day, as the attractions are very close together.
From Florence, continue to San Gimignano, the Manhattan of the Middle Ages.
San Gimignano is a small town built on a hill and is known as the City of Towers because of its distinctive towers.
Along with Florence and Siena, San Gimignano is one of the most visited towns in Tuscany.
As in all small towns in Tuscany, we recommend strolling through the narrow streets and discovering San Gimignano from the main square.
After San Gimignano, continue to Siena, which lies south of Florence and San Gimignano.
In Siena, besides the cathedral, the main attraction is the main square.
The Piazza del Campo used to host horse races.
Today, the Palio di Siena takes place here once a year.
From Siena, the road trip continues south to Montepulciano.
Wine lovers will be thrilled by this name, as the famous wine comes from this area.
Montepulciano is one of the best small towns in Tuscany, with views over the hilly landscape.
After a stop in Montepulciano, continue to a special highlight.
This area is where the famous photos of Tuscany, which adorn many wall calendars and postcards, come from: the Val d’Orcia.
Here you’ll find beautiful, typical houses, cypress-lined avenues, and gentle rolling hills.
After driving through the Val d’Orcia, head south to the thermal springs of Saturnia (Terme di Saturnia) in the province of Grosseto.
The natural baths with turquoise pools contain sulfurous water.
In addition to the pools, which are a popular photo subject, there’s also a hotel with a spa area and thermal pools.
From Saturnia, the road trip heads north again to Volterra.
Like many small medieval towns, Volterra is built on a hill.
In addition to the sights in town, there’s a wonderful view of Tuscany.
If you’re familiar with Twilight, you’ll find filming locations for the movie and the book “New Moon” in both Volterra and Montepulciano.
After Volterra, the suggested Tuscany road trip route continues to Pisa.
Pisa, with its Leaning Tower and cathedral, is a must on any Tuscany round trip.
This attraction is very popular, so if you want to climb the Leaning Tower, you should get your ticket early.
Besides the Leaning Tower, visiting Marina di Pisa or the beach is a great alternative to relax away from the crowds.
The last stop before heading back to Florence or home is the city of Lucca.
Lucca’s old town is quite manageable. A special highlight is the view from the tower of the large San Martino Cathedral over the city.
After a stay in Lucca, head back to Florence or directly home.
Recommended duration: 7 to 10 days
3. Mountains and the Great Dolomite Road
The Great Dolomite Road is 67,73 miles (109 km) long and leads through the breathtaking landscapes of the South Tyrolean mountains.
The Dolomite Road starts in Bolzano and ends at the famous ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The highlights of the route are Lake Carezza, the Seiser Alm, St. Ulrich, as well as Lake Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
You could drive the Great Dolomite Road in one day, but then there’s no time to see the beautiful lakes, valleys, and mountains.
If you want to visit this area and see the best sights, you should allow several days.
With several days for the Dolomite Road, you can also plan detours to discover sights that are actually off the main route.
This route is especially popular with hikers and active travelers.
The next stop is a hike to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
From Misurina, which is on the way to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a toll road leads up to the south side of the Tre Cime.
From there, you can hike from the Auronzo Hut to the Tre Cime.
From Cortina d’Ampezzo, continue along the Great Dolomite Road.
Over the Karer Pass, head to Lake Carezza.
The emerald green water reflects the Latemar, an impressive mountain in the Eggental Valley.
From here, continue to the endpoint of the Great Dolomite Road, Bolzano.
A final detour on the road trip leads to Compatsch and from there to the famous Seiser Alm, before the road trip ends again in Sterzing.
Recommended duration: 5 days
4. Cinque Terre with Genoa and Portofino
The road trip to Cinque Terre, Genoa, and Portofino can be done, for example, after a trip through Tuscany.
Cinque Terre (starting from La Spezia) is about an hour’s drive from Pisa.
From here, the region is best reached by train, as the towns on the cliffs are not directly accessible by car.
Cinque Terre is a coastal region in Liguria, located between Genoa and Pisa.
The highlight of the region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the five small towns: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
The coastal region is very popular and therefore crowded.
Even though you can’t drive here, I’ve included Cinque Terre in this article because it’s a must on any Italian road trip itinerary.
You can leave your car in Genoa, Pisa, or La Spezia (the nearest city) and take the train to the Cinque Terre towns.
The train runs between the towns every 15 or 30 minutes, depending on whether it’s high or low season.
In theory, you can visit all five villages in one day, as they are very small.
However, I recommend planning two days if you want to visit all five.
I personally saw the Cinque Terre towns while hiking along the Blue Trail (“Azzurro”).
If you’re interested in hiking, there are various hiking options along the Cinque Terre.
From La Spezia, continue to Portofino, the northern counterpart of Positano.
Portofino is a fishing village with colorful houses and luxury yachts.
You can enjoy a coffee at the harbor or walk up to the Castello Brown fortress.
From Portofino, continue to Genoa.
The port city of Genoa is the capital of Liguria. Genoa’s old town is full of narrow streets.
It’s worth just wandering through them.
Other highlights in Genoa include Piazza del Ferrari with its huge fountain, Columbus’s house, and beautiful churches.
Recommended duration: 3 days
5. From Milan to Venice
The road trip starts in Milan, Italy’s fashion capital.
The main attractions in Milan are the impressive Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
An insider tip in Milan is the Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale) with its impressive tombs.
After visiting Milan, rent a car at the airport, and start your trip.
Check out our tips for renting a car in Italy to enjoy a stress-free trip.
From Milan, you can make a detour to Lake Como, which is north of Milan.
Start your day with a guided tour from Como.
In summer, you can take a boat trip to Bellagio Island, or in winter, take the cable car to Brunate.
From Lake Como, continue to Lake Garda.
For active travelers, there’s hiking or biking along the panoramic trail in Limone sul Garda or the Sentiero Panoramico Busatte Tempesta.
If you prefer to relax, you can unwind at Lake Garda.
The most popular places around Lake Garda are Lazise and Sirmione.
The next stop on the road trip from Milan to Venice is the medieval city of Verona.
In Verona, Juliet’s House from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the top attraction.
But don’t miss the Arena di Verona either.
From Verona, continue to Venice.
The top sights here are St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Rialto Bridge.
If you have time, take a ferry to the island of Burano, famous for its glass art and colorful houses.
Recommended duration: 7 days
6. Exploring the Island of Sicily
The road trip begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
A walk through the old town and to the harbor is highly recommended.
Also worth a visit is the Capuchin Catacombs, though it’s not for everyone.
I found it a strange and creepy experience.
From Palermo, head west to the temple ruins in Segesta, then continue to Trapani.
Trapani is in northwest Sicily and is known for its salt production.
The flat coastal areas were perfect for extracting sea salt, and you might even spot Flamingos here.
The next stop on the Sicily road trip is the Valley of the Temples (Agrigento) in southern Sicily, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Doric temples and the well-preserved Temple of Concordia make Agrigento the most popular historical site in Sicily.
Noto, on Sicily’s southeast coast, is known as a Baroque city.
Here you can admire churches and palaces made of sandstone.
From Noto, continue to Syracuse.
Syracuse was once the most powerful Greek city in Sicily.
The highlights here are the Latomias (underground quarries), the amphitheater, and the archaeological park.
The port city of Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily.
Catania was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Etna in the 17th century and now shines with Baroque buildings, some made of black basalt.
Taormina is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Sicily.
The view from the amphitheater stretches directly to Mount Etna and down to the bay.
A stroll through the town completes the visit.
A trip up Mount Etna is, of course, the absolute highlight of the Sicily road trip. At 11,000 feet (3,350 m), Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe.
Taking the cable car and then vehicles up to 9,514 feet (2,900 m) is a special experience.
> Here you’ll find the current prices for the tour to Mount Etna
Past Messina, continue to Cefalù, a charming town known for its sandy beaches.
A hike up the castle hill is worthwhile for a beautiful view of the sea and the town. From here, return to Palermo.
Recommended duration: 9 days
7. Italy East Coast Road Trip
A trip along Italy’s east coast combines one of the most popular cities in Northern Italy, Venice, with some of the most popular beaches in Italy.
If you want to combine a beach vacation with a road trip, you’ll find highlights along the east coast, such as Bibione, Jesolo, or Rimini.
Another highlight of this route is a detour to the Republic of San Marino.
The capital, San Marino, is located on Mount Titano and is a popular travel destination.
→ Tips and tours for San Marino
From San Marino, the road trip continues along the coast past Ancona and down to Bari.
From here, continue south to Brindisi and Lecce.
From Lecce, you can continue the road trip from Bari to Naples, with a detour to the Amalfi Coast, and then head back to your starting point.
North of Naples, you can also stop in Italy’s capital, Rome.
Recommended duration: 10 days
Grand Italy Round Trip
The individual Italy round-trip routes presented can also be combined into a grand Italy round-trip.
For a northern Italy round trip, it’s a good idea to combine a road trip from Milan to Venice with Cinque Terre.
Alternatively, Cinque Terre can be easily combined with a road trip in Tuscany.
If you prefer to discover Southern Italy by car, you can combine a trip from Naples to Bari with the Amalfi Coast.
There is so much to discover in Italy.
If you want to plan a stress-free and beautiful Italian road trip experience, I recommend planning 10 days for an Italian road trip.
Final Thoughts About The Best Road Trips In Italy
Are you ready to plan your next road trip? Make sure to read our guide on renting a car in Italy, tips for driving in Italy, and compare rental car prices here.
Also, pick your favorite trip from this article, and learn more about it by clicking on the detailed itinerary inside this article.
You can find all our routes and itineraries here: Italy road trip routes and itineraries
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