In 2025, Italy promises a variety of events and activities that will make you want to explore every corner of this country full of history, culture and spectacular scenery. From opera festivals to exploring local traditions, Italy awaits you with plenty of options.
Destinations Italy. Photo: Collage Italia-IT/DMS
The best destinations for culture
1. Participate in the Vatican Jubilee
In 2025, Rome will be in the spotlight, celebrating the Vatican Jubilee, according to telegraph.co.uk data. More than 35 million visitors are expected to attend the religious and cultural events, and the year begins with the opening of the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Peter.
2. Visit Gorizia and Nova Gorica
These two cities on the border between Italy and Slovenia have been designated European Capitals of Culture in 2025. Events will include music concerts and art exhibitions.
3. Enjoy the opera in Pesaro
The city of Pesaro in the Marche region, birthplace of the composer Rossini, hosts a renowned opera festival. If you are a music lover, this festival is an opportunity to enjoy a high-class cultural event.
4. Music and landscapes in the Dolomites
The “Sound of the Dolomites” festival offers you the opportunity to witness outdoor concerts in impressive mountain scenery. The mountain and the music meet in perfect harmony in this special event.
5. Discover Agrigento
Agrigento, designated the Italian Capital of Culture in 2025, is famous for its temples from the Greek period. This historic city offers plenty of opportunities for those interested in archeology and ancient culture.
6. Immersion in the culture
Ladin The Alta Badia region and Val Gardena are ideal places to learn about the traditions and customs of the Ladin community. You will have the opportunity to participate in pottery or violin making workshops, discovering crafts that are hundreds of years old.
7. Meet the artisans of Florence, Venice and Perugia
“The Place of Wonders” is an initiative that allows visitors to discover the traditional crafts of these iconic cities through a series of visits to local workshops.
The best destinations for history
10. Follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis in Umbria
In Umbria, you will discover many places and sacred places related to the life of Saint Francis. You can also visit historical places such as Lake Trasimeno, where the famous battle between the Romans and the Carthaginians took place.
11. Pompeii – a window to antiquity
Pompeii is an unmissable destination for history lovers, being a place where important archaeological discoveries are made every year. The ruins and old frescoes of Casa Vettiilor are just some of the attractions that will give you a vivid picture of Roman life.
12. The traditional houses of Puglia
Puglia, a region located in southern Italy, is famous for its unique architecture, especially the trulli, those traditional conical houses. The region is ideal for a relaxing holiday, but also for exploring its fascinating history.
The best destinations for luxury
13. Live “La Dolce Vita” aboard the Orient Express
In 2025, Orient Express will launch exclusive itineraries through the most spectacular Italian landscapes. These luxurious trains offer you a unique opportunity to travel in style while enjoying stunning scenery and exquisite cuisine.
14. Indulge in Positano
Located on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is one of Italy’s most luxurious destinations. Exclusive hotels and luxury villas await you in a spectacular setting, with landscapes that will take your breath away.
15. Winter on Lake Como
Lake Como becomes even more magical in the cold season. In December, the historic gardens are decorated with lights and guests can enjoy cocktails in a winter conservatory while admiring the spectacular view of the lake.
The best beach and coastal destinations
16. Calabria – Sun, sea and culture
Calabria, located in southern Italy, is a lesser-known but particularly beautiful destination. The region offers white sandy beaches, medieval villages and ancient Greek ruins.
17. Fitness on the Tuscan Archipelago
Capraia, the most isolated island in the Tuscan Archipelago, is the ideal place for an active holiday. Fitness retreats offer a mix of outdoor exercise, yoga and hiking while enjoying spectacular scenery.
18. Forms and sculptures in Sardinia
Porto Flavia in southern Sardinia is a remarkable place, where a harbor built into the rock offers a stunning landscape. This destination is ideal for boat trips and diving.
19. Coastal cycling
Outdoor activity holidays are popular and a bike tour from Monopoli (Puglia) to Paestum (Campania) will give you the opportunity to explore diverse landscapes and learn about the history of the region.
20. Sail, paddle and snorkel in the Aeolian Islands
The Aeolian Islands, a volcanic island group with a particularly beautiful landscape, can get extremely crowded during the summer season. Experience the full beauty of this archipelago away from the crowds aboard a classic wooden sailing boat, taking daily trips to explore the islands. There are many opportunities to swim and snorkel in secluded bays, and SUPs (stand-up paddle boards) and kayaks are also available for guests.
21. Indulge your taste buds through Emilia Romagna, the region considered the gastronomic heart of Italy, being the birthplace of the famous parmesan, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar and lasagna. The food tour, with chef, TV presenter and cookbook author Valentina Harris, includes a pasta-making lesson, visits to local markets, artisans and food producers, complete with behind-the-scenes tours. In addition, you will have the opportunity to discover the galleries and museums in the area, recharging your energy with hearty meals at traditional restaurants.
22. Wine tasting tours and gourmet delights in Piedmont
The vine-covered hills of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato areas of Piedmont are ideal territories for wine and gastronomy lovers. Some of the best wines in the world are produced here, including Barolo and Barbaresco, and this year marks the 95th anniversary of the celebration of the Alba Truffle Maiden. With historic trains using carriages from the 1920s, the gastronomic TrEno traverses the landscape, with various itineraries to choose from, including a trip to the Underground Cathedrals of Canelli, a vast network of wineries and tunnels dug into the limestone hills. All trips include on-board wine tastings and a traditional lunch paired with local wines.
23. Master the culinary traditions of Mount Etna
The volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna are famous for producing excellent wines, but also for their outstanding agriculture, which includes lemons, olives and pistachios. You can discover the taste of the region through the culinary experiences offered by Palazzo Previtera, a contemporary art center located on the mountainside. Here you will learn to pick wild hazelnuts and wild herbs, take part in a Sicilian cheese workshop with a local shepherd and join Sicilian cooking classes in a traditional kitchen. This spring, Palazzo Previtera will open its first restaurant, with dishes that combine Scandinavian and Sicilian gastronomy.
24. Cycling in the Alps and Dolomites
The Alps and Dolomites offer spectacular cycling terrain, including some of the most famous climbs in the world. On this 531 kilometer trip, you’ll be able to work your muscles and work up a sweat as you climb Passo Stelvio, famous for its 48 steep bends. Instead, the stunning scenery and fine dining in the mountain restaurants will reward you. This year the tour includes a new off-bike “forest bathing” experience.
25. Wild adventures in the national parks of Abruzzo
This region on Italy’s east coast is home to some of the wildest scenery in the country. The Gran Sasso and Majella National Parks are among the highest mountain massifs in the business of the Alps, home to wild animals such as wolves, endemic brown bears and black goats that roam the dense beech forests. This five-night tour combines e-biking and hiking, taking visitors through national parks on quiet routes through forested valleys and high plateaus, with stops to enjoy delicious mountain cuisine.
26. Equestrian Paradise in Molise Molise Regionone of the most isolated and mountainous in central Italy, still remains unexplored by most tourists, and the best way to discover it is on horseback. A recently launched trail follows the old tratturi, roads used by shepherds and cattle herders to move their herds from mountain pastures to lowland areas in winter.
27. Family fun on a farm in Tuscany
With over 40 activities available (and counting), this vast Tuscan estate offers fun for the whole family. Encompassing a medieval borgo and hectares of vineyards and forests, Castelfalfi now also includes an adventure park with funicular trails, archery and falconry. Parents can enjoy a round of golf on the largest golf course in Tuscany, while relaxing at the adults-only spa with indoor-outdoor pool, while children can have fun at the Falfy Kids Club, which includes mini golf and an animal farm.
28. Wild swimming and wildlife in the Apennines
In the heart of Tuscany is the WWF-affiliated Oasi Dynamo Nature Reserve, which is home to rare plant species and provides a rich habitat for local fauna, including deer and wolves. Accessible only to visitors staying at the Oasyhotel, this reserve offers nature immersion experiences, from lobo tracking, horseback riding and night safaris, to wild swimming, kayaking and stargazing sessions.
29. Conquer the via ferratas of Trentino
The mountain trails in the Dolomites are famous for via ferrata, mountain routes equipped with steps, ladders and steel cables that cling to steep rock faces, offering a thrilling way to enjoy the mountain panorama. Experiences of two to seven days in the Pale di San Martino Massif allow the adventurous to walk these spectacular trails in the Paneveggio Natural Park, ending the day in traditional mountain huts.
30. Treat yourself to a trip to the heights of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing
Although it is the smallest region of Italy, Valle d’Aosta has no shortage of unforgettable landscapes, being the location of Mont Blanc. The Matterhorn Alpine Crossing connects the ski resort of Cervinia with Zermatt in Switzerland, offering spectacular views of the Matterhorn peak from the moment you board the cable car until you reach the summit. In summer, more than 400 kilometers of hiking trails wind through the mountain peaks, and marmots and black goats are a frequent presence.
