So, you’ve booked a summer holiday to Italy. Brave. Bold. Possibly a bit sweaty. While others are panic-buying electric fans and whimpering in supermarket freezer aisles, you’ve chosen to spend your summer wrapped in sunshine, surrounded by gelato and, let’s be honest, lightly glistening at all times.
But don’t just flop into a sun lounger and call it a day. Italy in summer is bursting with life, festivals, beaches and more carbs than anyone has any business eating in 35°C heat. You’ll be dazzled, delighted and occasionally dehydrated, but you’ll never be bored.
So grab your sunhat, your appetite and a handheld fan you’ll cling to like it’s your firstborn. Here are the top 10 summer activities to enjoy in Italy that don’t involve just melting quietly in a piazza.
1. Swim in the Amalfi Coast and Pretend You’re in a Dolce & Gabbana Ad
🩴 The Amalfi Coast is the stuff of dreams and Instagram influencers.
Picture colourful villages clinging to cliffs, lemon trees the size of your face and water so blue it looks Photoshopped. You’ll float in the sea like an elegant crouton while pretending you’re being casually photographed for Vogue.
Tip: Skip Positano if crowds stress you out. Try Praiano or Atrani for the same views and fewer elbows.
2. Go Gelato-Hopping Like It’s an Olympic Sport
🍦Why have one gelato a day when you could have five?
Summer in Italy is basically a socially acceptable excuse to turn every walk into a gelato mission. From Sicilian pistachio to Venetian tiramisu, the flavours are endless and your willpower is irrelevant.
Tip: Look for signs that say artigianale. That means homemade. If it’s neon blue, walk away slowly.
3. Row Through Venice at Golden Hour Without Causing a Traffic Jam
🛶 Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s overpriced. But my word, is it magical.
A summer evening gondola ride is like starring in a film where you don’t speak the language but still somehow win an Oscar. You’ll glide past crumbling facades, under romantic bridges and next to couples who are 90% PDA, 10% selfie stick.
Tip: For a less cliché version, rent a kayak or hop in a traghetto with locals. Much cheaper. Equally dreamy.
4. Watch Opera Under the Stars in Verona Like a Fancy Person
🎭 Even if you know nothing about opera beyond Bugs Bunny singing in a wig, this one’s worth it.
Verona’s Roman amphitheatre becomes a full-blown open-air opera house in summer, complete with flowing gowns, tragic love stories and serious vocal flexing.
Tip: Bring a cushion. Those ancient stones weren’t built with comfort in mind.
5. Hike the Cinque Terre Before the Heat Makes You Question Everything
🥾 Five cliffside villages. Countless postcard views. One very sweaty but rewarding hike.
Tackle the trails between Monterosso and Riomaggiore early in the morning before the sun tries to end you. The reward? Seaside swims, pesto pasta and bragging rights.
Tip: Wear actual walking shoes. This is not a flip-flop situation.
6. Attend a Sagra and Eat Like a Local Who’s Been Training All Year
🍝 A sagra is a village food festival dedicated to a specific dish or ingredient.
There’s one for truffles, one for snails, one for onions, even one for frogs if you’re feeling brave. It’s all about plastic tables, local wine, massive plates of food and zero tourists in sight.
Tip: Ask around or check local posters. The best ones are usually the ones you stumble into by accident.
7. Take a Midnight Stroll in Rome Because That’s When the Magic Happens
🌙 By day, Rome is a bustling, sun-drenched maze of history, horns and gelato queues.
By night, it transforms. The Colosseum glows, the fountains sparkle and the streets belong to lovers, insomniacs and very determined selfie-takers.
Tip: End your stroll with a late-night slice of pizza bianca and a view of the Trevi Fountain. Wish optional. Pizza mandatory.
8. Island Hop in Sicily Like a Sun-Soaked Pirate
⛵ The Aeolian Islands off Sicily are criminally underrated.
You can snorkel in turquoise bays, hike an active volcano on Stromboli or sip Malvasia wine on Salina while wondering why you ever considered Mallorca.
Tip: Lipari is the easiest to get to. Panarea is for the chic. Vulcano is for those who don’t mind smelling like rotten eggs after a mud bath.
9. Dance at a Summer Festival Until You Forget What Month It Is
💃 From Florence’s open-air jazz concerts to Milan’s trendy rooftop DJ sets, Italy knows how to throw a summer party.
There’s something every weekend. Sometimes it’s a techno rave in a castle. Sometimes it’s a folk band playing on a tractor. You take what you get.
Tip: Wear comfy shoes. Italians dance like nobody’s watching and neither should you.
10. Take a Road Trip Through Tuscany and Live Your Best Grape-Soaked Life
🚗 Rolling hills. Cypress trees. Sunflowers waving at you like they know you’re important.
Rent a car, blast some Andrea Bocelli and cruise through Tuscany’s vineyards and hill towns. Stop often. Sip slowly. Take photos like you’re making a wine commercial.
Tip: Learn to say “I’m not lost, I’m exploring” in Italian. Just in case.
Final Sunny Words for the Sun-Kissed Traveller
Italy in summer is loud, bright, beautiful and slightly chaotic. You’ll eat too much, sweat more than expected and probably fall head over heels for a town with five residents and seventeen cats. That’s the point.
So jump into that lake. Order another Aperol. Miss your train because a band started playing in the street and you simply had to dance.
That’s not a travel hiccup. That’s summer in Italy.
Need help planning your dream summer itinerary? I’ve got you. Also, a list of gelato shops sorted by flavour. Priorities.
