Whether your perfect Italian summer holidays involve glamorous beach clubs, rolling Tuscan hills or cool mountain air, these three destinations offer completely different experiences and appeal to very different kinds of travellers.
If you spend enough time in Milan, you’ll quickly notice that summer conversations usually fall into three camps. Some people start talking about crystal-clear water, beach clubs and evenings that don’t end until sunrise. Others dream of long lunches overlooking vineyards, quiet country roads and sunsets over the Tuscan hills. And then there are those who simply glance at the weather forecast, see 36°C, and immediately begin searching for somewhere definitely cooler.
The funny thing is that these aren’t just different holiday destinations. They’re different personalities.
The same is true for international visitors planning their summer holidays in Italy. Some are looking for glamour and nightlife, some want postcard-perfect countryside, while others simply want to swap air conditioning for fresh mountain air.
If you’re already thinking about next summer—or perhaps planning a September escape—these three destinations couldn’t be more different. The only question is: which one sounds most like you?
For Those Who Believe Summer Begins at Sunset — Porto Cervo/Costa Smeralda (Sardinia)
If your idea of the perfect Italian summer holiday combines crystal-clear turquoise water, elegant beach clubs, luxury hotels and a social scene that keeps going long after midnight, Porto Cervo is difficult to beat.
Conceived in the early 1960s under the vision of the Aga Khan, Porto Cervo transformed a previously unspoilt stretch of northern Sardinia into one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive holiday destinations. More than sixty years later, it continues to attract visitors from around the world with its beautiful coastline, unique atmosphere and unmistakable sense of style.
While international visitors arrive from every corner of the globe, Porto Cervo has long held a special place in the hearts of the Milanese. Spend August in Milan and you’ll soon discover that half the city seems to have disappeared to the Costa Smeralda. Romans, meanwhile, have traditionally favoured nearby Porto Rotondo — a friendly rivalry that has existed for decades.
In many ways, Porto Cervo feels like a seaside extension of Milan. Alongside its elegant marina and waterfront restaurants, you’ll find many of the same luxury fashion houses that line Milan’s famous shopping streets, together with prestigious names such as the recently opened Aldo Coppola hair salon (in the photo below).
So, if you’ve forgotten to pack something suitably chic for your holidays, you’re unlikely to run out of shopping opportunities.
Porto Cervo has never claimed to be a budget destination, and neither should you expect it to be. Whether you’re ordering a morning cappuccino, booking a hotel, or settling the bill after dinner, prices tend to reflect the postcode rather than just what’s on the menu. Then again, nobody comes to Costa Smeralda expecting a bargain.
Of course, no stay in Porto Cervo would be complete without spending time on some of the Costa Smeralda’s most spectacular beaches. Don’t miss Capriccioli, famous for its crystal-clear water and granite rocks, Spiaggia del Principe, often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia, and Liscia Ruja, a long stretch of golden sand.
My tip: Unless your idea of a perfect beach day involves sharing it with what feels like half of Italy, consider visiting Costa Smeralda outside August. That’s the month when most of us Italians take our summer holidays—not always by choice, but because that’s when our work schedules allow it.
Where to stay:
Hotel Pitrizza
Località Liscia di Vacca, Porto Cervo
www.hotelpitrizza.com
For Those Who Like Their Holidays Unhurried, and Their Villages Picturesque — Val d’Orcia (Tuscany)
Not everyone dreams of beach clubs and late-night cocktails.
Some people are perfectly happy with a shady terrace, an excellent glass of wine and absolutely nowhere they “need” to be.
If that sounds like your idea of the perfect Italian summer holiday, chances are you’ll fall in love with Val d’Orcia.
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape in southern Tuscany, Val d’Orcia is one of those rare places that somehow manages to look even better in real life than it does on Instagram. The gently rolling hills, winding roads lined with cypress trees and honey-coloured villages have become symbols of Tuscany for a reason.
Rather than trying to tick off attractions, this is a place to slow down. Wander through the Renaissance streets of Pienza, browse the wine shops of Montalcino, famous for its Brunello, enjoy lunch in the medieval village of Bagno Vignoni, where the main square is unlike any other in Italy, or take a scenic drive towards the tiny chapel of Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta, perhaps the most photographed little church in Tuscany.
One word of warning: don’t make the mistake of planning every minute of your day. Val d’Orcia is best enjoyed with a deliberately vague itinerary. Some of your favourite memories will probably come from pulling over at a panoramic viewpoint because the light is particularly beautiful, stopping at a farm shop that wasn’t on your map, or extending lunch by another hour because nobody at the table seems remotely interested in leaving.
This is Tuscany at its most authentic: understated, beautiful and blissfully unhurried. The biggest decision you’ll make all day is whether to stop for another glass of Brunello… and the answer is usually yes.
My Tip: Visit in early July or September if you can. The landscapes are just as beautiful, the temperatures are kinder, and you’ll enjoy the villages before (or after) the busiest and most expensive weeks of the Italian summer. And definitely rent a car.
Where to stay:
Agriturismo Podere Spedalone
Strada per Cosona SP71
Pienza (Siena)
www.poderespedalone.it
For Those Who Think Summer Is Better in Hiking Boots — Val d’Isarco (South Tyrol)
If your idea of the perfect Italian summer holiday involves spectacular mountain scenery, long walks through nature and temperatures that let you sleep comfortably at night, Val d’Isarco might just become your favourite discovery.
Stretching through the heart of South Tyrol, this beautiful valley is the perfect base for exploring some of the Dolomites’ most breathtaking landscapes. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely panoramic walk or a challenging full-day hike, you’ll be rewarded with peaceful forests, alpine meadows and dramatic mountain scenery. Among the valley’s highlights are the magnificent Odle Group, whose unmistakable jagged peaks have become one of the symbols of the Dolomites, together with the spectacular landscapes of the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
One of the things that makes South Tyrol unlike anywhere else in Italy is that, although it’s firmly within the country’s borders, it feels like a corner of Austria. German is still the first language for the local population, traditional Alpine houses with carved wooden balconies overflowing with geraniums line the villages, and if you’re staying in a traditional Gasthof, don’t be surprised when dinner is served around 7.00 pm — much earlier than in most places in Italy.
The local cuisine reflects this Tyrolean heritage. Expect generous plates of Canederli, locally produced Speck, delicious Schlutzkrapfen and warm Apfelstrudel rather than the Mediterranean flavours visitors often associate with Italy.
One final piece of advice: resist the temptation to book one of those anonymous, ultra-modern hotels that could be almost anywhere in the world. Instead, choose a traditional family-run Gasthof, where wooden interiors, flower-filled balconies, genuine South Tyrolean hospitality and recipes passed down through generations are all part of the experience.
My Tip: Bring waterproof hiking boots rather than your favourite trainers. Mountain paths can become surprisingly muddy after a summer shower. And if you have room in your backpack, pack a small pair of binoculars too — you never know what might catch your eye on the mountainside.
Where to stay:
Gasthof Bad Dreikirchen
Dreikirchen 12
Barbiano (Bolzano)
www.baddreikirchen.it
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
One of the best Weekend Trips From Milan: escaping to the countryside
This post was all about Italian summer holidays, whether your perfect summer escape takes you to the sea, the Tuscan countryside or the Dolomites.
