One trip to Italy’s never enough: where to go after you’ve visited Venice, Florence & Rome
Uncover these Italian destinations on your second (or third or fourth) trip for a deeper travel experience.
As beloved a destination as Italy is, if you’ve only traveled to the big three (aka Venice, Florence, and Rome) you’ve only scratched the surface of the country’s magnificence. Our travelers crave deeper connections to the places they’re visiting, and one of the best ways to find them is by returning to familiar places to uncover what lies beyond the main sights. So, when you feel the pull toward Italy travel again (and again and again), take time to dig into Puglia, the Dolomites, or Lake Garda to see more of what Italy has to offer. Ready for that second trip to Italy? These are the regions, cities, and towns you can’t miss.
Why travelers are eager to see Italy for a second time (or third, fourth, fifth… )
Because no two travelers, or trips, are alike, a second trip to Italy can unfold in countless ways. A first-time Italy traveler who has already experienced our immersive Grand Tour of Italy and journeyed to classic destinations like Lake Como, Rome, and Sorrento might want to dive into an entirely new region on our A Week in Sicily: Palermo, Syracuse & Taormina tour.
Another traveler might have marked their first trip to Italy with our popular A Week in Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome tour. When planning a trip to Italy for the second time, they might opt to skip cities in favor of our landscape-focused Northern Italian Lakes & Alps: Maggiore, Garda & the Dolomites tour. A second trip to Italy for you could also be more activity-specific, like our Food & Wine: Piedmont & Tuscany with America’s Test Kitchen tour for foodies who want to dive deep into the country’s culinary heritage.
Italy also continues to top the list for travelers seeking off-peak travel spots. After summer visits filled with sun and busy sites, many dream of returning to sip espresso in quiet piazzas, stroll through galleries without the crowds, and feel the rhythm of everyday Italian life. Traveling on our Off-Peak Tours offers you a deeper, more genuine connection with Italy’s people and places.
How to plan your second trip to Italy
When planning your second trip to Italy, it’s easy to start by listing all the places you still want to see. But sometimes, it’s how you travel—not just where—that makes the biggest difference. Think back to the moments of your first tour or the aspects of Italian culture that captivated you most. Then, let those guide how you pick your next Italy tour. Our travel styles make it easy to rediscover the Italy that makes your eyes go as wide as a big pizza pie.
Dig into our Food & Wine Tours if you loved the culinary culture
If your first trip to Italy left you dreaming about fresh pasta, market mornings, or that perfect glass of wine, it might be time to taste your way even deeper into the country. Our Food & Wine Tours invite you to slow down, savor every flavor, and discover the regions where Italy’s culinary traditions truly come alive.
On our Food & Wine: Flavors of Tuscany & Umbria tour, you can wander through sun-drenched vineyards and family-run kitchens. Maybe you’ve already sipped full-bodied sangiovese in Chianti or toasted with a glass of bubbles during a Prosecco tasting, but have you tried the bold red wines made from sagrantino grapes, which are only grown in Umbria? These are the kinds of authentic flavors waiting to be uncovered when you visit Italy for the second time.
Pick our City Stay if you liked spending multiple days in one area
Gaining a new perspective on Italy can also mean returning to places you’ve already fallen for to see them more deeply. You could return to Rome on our immersive Rome: The City Experience tour and visit neighborhoods you missed the first time. Or, you could revisit Florence at a special time of year on our New Year’s Eve in Florence with Venice & Rome tour, when the city’s classic beauty meets the holiday’s celebratory energy.
No matter what you decide on for your second trip to Italy, know that our tours make the whole process easier, because we handle all the planning. All you have to do is pick the itinerary that matches what you’re looking for and show up with your passport and excitement!
Set off on our Solo Tours if you liked filling your free time however you wanted to
Why wait for someone else to be ready for that second trip to Italy? Travel solo, not alone, on our Solo Tours. They’re designed for travelers who want the freedom to follow their own curiosity and the peace of mind that comes with traveling alongside our experts.
On our Sicily for Solo Travelers tour, you’ll share meals and stories with new friends, then slip away for an afternoon to wander along seaside streets or sip espresso in the sun. It’s the best of both worlds: time to explore on your own terms, plus the connection and camaraderie that make every moment richer.
Go on our Tours for Women if you liked meeting other ladies who love to travel
If your favorite part of traveling was the female friendships forged along the way, our Tours for Women are made for you. These journeys bring together women who share your curiosity, your laughter, and your love for meaningful connection.
On our Italy for Women: Rome, Tuscany & the Italian Lakes tour, you’ll see the country through women’s eyes. Learn how bold Roman empresses and visionary Renaissance icons shaped Italian culture, then meet the women carrying those traditions forward today. You’ll visit Bologna’s only mortadella craft operation, co-owned by a woman, and join a local chef for a hands-on cooking class that celebrates the flavors (and the joy) of cooking together.
Where to go beyond Italy’s big three
It’s time for Italy travel again. If you’ve already soaked up the charm of Rome, Florence, and Venice and are ready for somewhere new, here are some ideas for where to go on your next trip to Italy.
Sicily
Whether “The White Lotus” serves as your inspiration or you’re looking to experience la dolce vita island style, a Sicily tour is a great way to broaden your perspective on Italy. Most Sicilians will tell you that their island is a totally separate part of the country, with its own unique customs and traditions. You’ll learn all the historical and cultural reasons why on our A Week in Sicily: Palermo, Syracuse & Taormina tour.
You may have loved Florence’s Renaissance-era aesthetic, but we bet Palermo’s Baroque architecture will leave you just as stunned. And if Rome amazed you with the Colosseum, you’ll be equally impressed by the imposing beauty of Mount Etna (where some of Sicily’s most delicious grapes are planted). The catacombs, markets, and temples, which are some of Sicily’s must-dos, will convince you that the island is truly becoming the Mediterranean’s rising star.
Puglia
On a first trip to Italy, it’s easy to be swept away by the glamour of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. But on your second journey to Italy, let curiosity lead you farther south to Puglia—some of our favorite places to visit are in Southern Italy. This is a vast area that occupies the heel of Italy’s boot and boasts one of the longest coastlines in the country, but Puglia remains a largely hidden gem.
On our A Week in Puglia & Southern Italy: Bari, Lecce & Matera tour, you’ll experience the culinary treats, the coastal retreats, and the historic villages that characterize this pocket of the south. Between touring whimsical, conical trulli houses in Alberobello to tasting some of the best Italian olive oil found in Puglia’s countryside, catch your breath in the whitewashed coastal village of Ostuni, which is truly one of the most spectacular small towns in Italy. Sounds like the ideal Mediterranean trip to us!
Sardinia
A next-level Italy trip should include at least one of its islands. Yes, you could have a second slice of Sicily, but we think you should opt for a trip to Sardinia instead. Our new Sardinia & Corsica: Undiscovered Islands of Italy & France tour shows off the best of this nature-first island. Begin in the historic city of Alghero, where Catalan Gothic architecture tells stories of the past, then roll up your sleeves for a Sardinian cooking class to make traditional pastas like malloreddus, ravioli, and macarrones.
This Italy tour also includes a visit to the mountainous interior to meet local shepherds and their flocks, as well as a swim around the Maddalena Archipelago—a protected natural park with white-sand beaches, granite rock formations, and the bluest water.
Tuscany
Italy lovers visiting Tuscany often make a beeline for romantic and artsy Florence and vineyard-rich Chianti on their first trips to Italy. We get it. Locales like Florence and Chianti are famous for a reason, but there’s so much more to Tuscany than these hot spots. On your second trip to Italy, you might take our Food & Wine: Flavors of Tuscany & Umbria tour to gain a deeper understanding of one of Italy’s most stunning, delicious, and less-explored regions.
The trip starts in Florence to give you an opportunity to return to the Renaissance and make another date with the Duomo, but it will also include Montalcino (one of the most charming villages in Tuscany) and its rolling vineyards plus, a visit to Cortona, a hilltop town founded by the Etruscans that features a stunning landscape of medieval architecture.
Verona
Italy has so many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, we understand that it would take many visits to check them all off your list. But when you’re in Italy for the second time, we recommend seeing the romantic city of Verona on our Lake Como, the Italian Riviera & Venice tour.
Not only is its city center recognized by UNESCO for its historic value (there’s a Roman amphitheater!), but your guided tour will also include a stop at Juliet’s balcony. Built in the 13th century and restored later in honor of Shakespeare’s famous play, the site in fair Verona draws travelers from all over the world. Visitors even leave love letters at the statue of Juliet just beneath it. It’s one of the many reasons why Verona is worth visiting, especially on your second trip to Italy.
Northern Italy
Many first-time travelers to Italy might not make it further north than Milan or Venice, but with the winter Olympics coming to the Dolomites in 2026, more people will become familiar with this breathtaking part of the country. That’s exactly what you’ll get on our brand-new Northern Italian Lakes & Alps: Maggiore, Garda & the Dolomites tour. Not only will you explore the dramatic mountains of the Dolomites (and the delicious wines produced there), but you’ll also see some of the most stunning lakes of the region.
Yes, we love a Lake Como moment, but a next-level Italy itinerary is all about Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, two picturesque bodies of water that offer a different take on lakeside dolce vita. While Lake Como is known for majestic villas and celebrity sightings, Lake Garda is better for water sports, and Lake Maggiore offers a more tranquil ambience. Visit lemon houses—the greenhouses built on waterfront slopes near Lake Garda—and sightsee on the majestic Borromean Islands located in the western arm of Lake Maggiore.
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