The best road trips in Italy that'll give you a whole new love for the country
Nothing beats the freedom and flexibility of a road trip, and there's probably no better place than Italy to plan your next big driving adventure.
A sun-soaked land dotted with historic towns and cities and filled with magnificent natural scenery spanning sparkling coastlines to rugged mountain peaks, there's so much to explore with your own set of wheels.
Imagine staying in a rural wine retreat, cruising along clifftops soaking up panoramic sea views, and casually dropping into colourful coastal villages.
Read through to see six of Italy's most incredible road trip destinations to add to your itinerary.
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Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast Drive is a picturesque winding coastal road taking you on a spectacular journey along the shoreline of the Gulf of Naples and Gulf of Salerno in Southern Italy.
Known for panoramic sea views, you'll start in Naples and visit some of the most iconic destinations the peninsula has to offer including Amalfi, Salerno, Positano, and Ravello.
In this exquisite corner of Italy, there are 17 small towns in total offering stunning cove beaches and a collection of colourful boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops cascading down the cliffside.
Dolomites Loop
Begin your journey in Verona and journey through the Dolomite Mountains visiting charming alpine villages and capturing unspoilt scenic landscapes.
In the Val Gardena area, the town of Ortisei is a great place to stop with restaurants, accommodation, and cable car access to scenic spots. From Ortisei, make your way through Val Gardena towards the Gardena Pass – an incredible winding road with stunning views of the Dolomite mountain range.
Liguria coastal trail
Depart the maritime town of Genoa for an adventure along the Ligurian coast – home to historic cities, beautiful coastal villages, majestic mountains, and charming beaches.
You'll make your way along the coast to the opulent fishing village of Portofino with its boutique stores, superyachts, and renowned seafood restaurants before visiting the famous five colourful cliffside villages of Cinque Terre.
These rainbow-coloured villages sit side by side along the rocky coastline between Portofino and La Spezia, the largest being Monterosso – a great place to stop for food and accommodation.
At the end of your trip, it's well worth making the short hop across the border of Liguria into Tuscany for a visit to Lucca, a small charming Italian city set against a mountainous backdrop.
Veneto Prosecco Wine Road
Beginning in Venice, embark on a journey along the 50-mile Prosecco Wine Road to discover all the charming villages of the Prosecco region. The road connects the towns of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano which are both surrounded by hills and valleys blanketed with vineyards and dotted with wineries.
There are a total of 15 towns and villages along the route where you can try local delicacies including cured meats, malga cheeses, grappa, and honey, explore historic sites, and of course, sample the sparkling wine the region is best known for. The hamlet of Follina with its stately villas and famous Abbey of Cistercian Santa Maria of Follina is a highlight to look out for.
Tuscan wine tour
The rolling hills of Tuscany are known for being blanketed in vineyards and wineries producing world-class wines. Florence is an ideal place to begin your wine exploration through the vineyards of the Chianti area. The beautiful city of Siena and the small medieval hill town of San Gimignano are also well worth a visit.
Imagine winetasting and enjoying lunch in one of the Chianti area's medieval castles or visiting the oldest winery in Italy, Castello di Brolio. Meanwhile, one of the most scenic routes in Tuscan region is the road of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano where you'll find breathtaking landscapes and cellar doors offering world-renowned wines.
If you have time on your Tuscan wine tour, hug the Etruscan Coast from Bolgheri to the Val di Cornia where you'll journey along roads lined with majestic cypress trees and pass countless wineries, some with sea views.
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