Top hidden spots in Italy you must visit

From golden bays on the south coast, to the coffeehouse capital of the country, Carla Grossetti tiptoes around Italy’s boot and beyond to find the places where Italians go to enjoy a mini break.

Rome. Venice. The Amalfi Coast. Florence. Siena. The Cinque Terre. These are just a few of the places we have long loved to visit in Italy. But as this culturally rich country in Southern Europe reopens to tourists, these hotspots are hotting up again, and, in some cases, filled to capacity.

aerial view of Tyrrhenian Sea, Calabria — The rugged coast is fringed by the Tyrrhenian Sea in Calabria.

Luckily, there are areas of Italy that offer conscious travellers less-touristy alternatives. In order to find the places with less crowds and avoid being part of that influx of visitors to the main attractions, travellers must now embrace ‘Alt Italy’. Where all roads lead away from Rome.

Historically, wanderers from around the globe have been lured to Italy for its landmark art, its ancient ruins, its beautiful beaches and, of course, its restaurants serving world-class regional food and wine. There’s no denying that Italy has left an indelible mark on Australian culture and its cuisine, thanks in part to the waves of migrants who have been arriving here since the 1800s.

aerial of blue waters approaching the white-sand beach of Sardinia — Vivid blue waters lap sugar-white sands on the island of Sardinia.

Why travel to Italy’s most underrated places?

Regardless of whether you have family in the mother country or not, you will be welcomed like you do, which at the very least is a great excuse to start planning your next trip to Italy.

Italy scoops up gongs for everything from its gelato to its Mediterranean climate and friendly people. But there are also many under-the-radar regions in Italy that offer all this and then some with the added perk of being crowd-free.

fountain and the Town Hall in Piazza Unità d'Italia (Unity of Italy Square) at the main square of the northern Italian city of Trieste — Historic Trieste is an alternative to Venice with its backwater canals.

From pretty fortress towns in Tuscany to the oh-so-photogenic Trieste located in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, overlooking the Adriatic, we have honed our list of lesser-known places to go in Italy where you can still get the history and hospitality minus the masses.

Sometimes, you will need a professional guide to help point you in the right direction. Other times you can get ahead of the crowds by travelling in the shoulder seasons. Or asking an insider for their hot tips. But whatever you do, know that exploring Alt Italy is all about celebrating those obscure B-Sides that one day might make it into the main mix.

an Italian flag hanging over the facade of Trieste's City Hall — Trieste’s City Hall overlooks a sprawling piazza.

Top hidden places to explore in Italy

1. Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, North-east Italy

While Trieste ticks a lot of our boxes, it is not to be missed for its sleepy backwater canals. The beautiful city is dotted with Roman relics and incredible museums, and visiting here is like going back in time.

Located in the north-east Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and bordered by Slovenia, you’ll find opportunities to visit local markets, taste award-winning regional wine and local foods, and bask on beautiful beaches.

The old world city offers a distinctly Adriatic experience and is a viable alternative to Venice. The waterfront city was once occupied by the Austro-Hungarian empire and, as well as the many examples of neoclassical architecture, that Austrian coffeehouse culture remains, with Trieste bravely billing itself as the coffee capital of Italy.

Miramare Castle, completed in 1860, is located on a promontory at the far end of the city and the electric blue waters around the castle are part of a marine reserve popular with divers.

2. Grottole, Basilicata

Grottole, in beautiful Basilicata, bordering Calabria and Puglia, is the little Italian village that could. Grottole stems from the Latin word cryptolae, meaning ‘caves’ or ‘small grottos’ and the ancient town, pinned onto a hill in the countryside like a glittering brooch, once comprised some 400 caves carved into the hillside.

Remnants from the town’s crumbling past remain and are evident in the many ancient and medieval sites dotted around the historic village, where the caves are now used to store wine or host workshops to make ceramics, which Grottole is famous for.

The sepia-toned city recently gained attention after Airbnb advertised for four people to live in the village over the summer of 2019. During their sabbatical, these temporary citizens volunteered for a group called Wonder Grottole designed to rehabilitate the city’s historic heart.

You too can go to Grottole, which was once part of the ancient Roman Appian Way, to get a taste of vita di campagna (the country life).

aerial view of the Italian village of Grottole in Basilicata — The little Italian village of Grottole is perched on a hill in the countryside of Basilicata.

3. Sardinia

Open Google Earth and punch in Stintino and watch the Earth spin on its axis and settle on Sardinia where you’ll discover the unrelenting green patchwork of empty paddocks and hills surrounded by cerulean seas.

It’s like a pleated green skirt tucked into a blue cardie. No, Sardinia is not exactly a secret. Especially if you do a stint in Stintino in August. But compared to other seaside areas in the Mediterranean, the island is mobbed by Italians so it still feels like a culturally enriching experience.

houses of the holy cross bastion in the historic center of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy — Explore the sherbet-coloured centre of Cagliari, Sardinia.

After a few days of sunning yourself, turn your back on the beach and make a beeline for Barbagia. It’s here you will find the isolated village of Orgosolo, known for its eye-catching depictions of everyday life in murals that have been painted on the village walls since the 1960s.

Sardinia is also where you will discover Gola Di Gorropu (Italy’s Grand Canyon). Keep a lookout for Sa Mama de Gorropu (Sardinia’s version of Bigfoot).

aerial shot of a white-sand beach in Sardinia filled with tourists — Sardinia is the ultimate sun-drenched Mediterranean escape.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

4. Cefalù, Sicily

You’ll find the pretty seaside village of Cefalù chiselled onto the hillside between the Tyrrhenian Sea and Parco delle Madonie in sun-soaked Sicily.

beautiful old harbour with wooden fishing boat in Cefalu, Sicily, Italy. — A fishing boat bobs in the translucent waters of Cefalù’s old harbour.

While the town is known for having waters as translucent as any you’d find in Tahiti, it deserves accolades for its rustic restaurants selling grilled fish on outdoor tables just metres from the sandy shores.

Lower yourself into a prone position after lunch to inhale the scent of the sea and orange trees in bloom, and to enjoy the snatches of Italian opera drifting out over the sea.

boats docked on the seaside village of Cefalù, Sicily — Spend days swimming in sheltered coves and dining in rustic restaurants in the seaside village.

After enjoying an afternoon of swimming in sheltered coves, it’s worth climbing the stairs that lead into the Old Town where you will find Cefalù’s centuries-old cathedral, one of the most outstanding examples of the distinct Arab-Norman architecture.

If you’re going to take a tour, make it an intimate one with a company such as Intrepid Travel who will keep you on the roads less travelled.

a narrow passageway that leads to the ocean in Cefalù, Sicily — A historic archway leads to the electric blue ocean in Cefalù, Sicily.

5. Capo Vaticano, Calabria

You will find the main draws in Capo Vaticano are the unspoiled beaches and sandy coves, which are surrounded by the knobbly knees of towering cliffs that look like they’ve been draped in a green blanket. With everyone else in a rush to be elsewhere, you will escape a lot of the nattering masses when you carve off to Calabria, located in the toe of Italy’s boot.

This region in southern Italy is like the Amalfi Coast, but at a much slower pace, which suits visitors keen to explore its abundant attractions. Foodies, whatever you do, don’t miss Pizzo, the home of Italy’s legendary dessert, tartufo, the hazelnut and chocolate gelato balls filled with molten chocolate.

You can also indulge your sense of wonder in Tropea, on Italy’s secret south coast, which is embroidered onto the cliff ’s edge and replete with baroque palaces, beautiful beaches and locals with tonnes of attitude.

al fresco dining spot perched on a cliff ’s edge in Calabria — Enjoy a slower pace in Capo Vaticano, perched on a cliff’s edge in Calabria.

Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.

Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius — A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris — People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

5 hidden spots in Italy only Italians know about