Top Day Trips in Italy

Alba (Langhe and White Truffle) ★ 4.9 · Turin

Alba is the white truffle capital, 62 km south of Turin in the Langhe (UNESCO). Direct train 1 hr 23 min; the truffle fair runs October to December.

Modena (balsamico, Massimo Bottura) ★ 4.8 · Bologna

Modena, 25 minutes from Bologna by train, is the capital of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP, the Confraternita del Tortellino headquarters.

Tip: Trains from Bologna Centrale every 20 minutes; the historic acetaie are best visited Tuesday and Friday mornings. Book Osteria Francescana five months ahead.

Bologna ★ 4.8 · Florence

Bologna, 100km north of Florence and 37 minutes by Frecciarossa train, is the canonical Emilia-Romagna kitchen, with tagliatelle al ragu (never spaghetti.

Franciacorta Wine Country ★ 4.8 · Milan

Franciacorta south of Lake Iseo is Italy's answer to Champagne, producing metodo classico sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco.

Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi, Ravello) ★ 4.8 · Naples

The Amalfi Coast between Positano and Cetara is the source of the Cetara anchovies (colatura di alici) that flavour half the city's pasta sauces.

Tip: Cetara is the anchovy capital; the Bar San Pietro on the harbour square sells the colatura di alici direct from the producer.

Bagheria ★ 4.8 · Palermo

Bagheria 15km east of Palermo is a baroque-villa town and the home of Nino Ferreri's one-Michelin-star Limu inside Torre Ferrante (1565), plus the Aspra.

Tip: Lunch at Limu requires three-week advance booking. The Aspra fishing-village panini meusa is the casual lunch alternative.

Barolo (Langhe wine country) ★ 4.8 · Turin

Barolo, 70 km south of Turin, is the namesake village of Italy's premier Nebbiolo DOCG. About 15 km from Alba; tasting rooms in the village castle.

Mazzorbo ★ 4.8 · Venice

Mazzorbo is the next-door island to Burano in the northern lagoon, the canonical wine-resort day trip for Venissa's 1-star Michelin restaurant.

Tip: Venissa closed Mondays and seasonally in winter. Book four weeks ahead. The vineyard tour is included with lunch.

Famiglia Rana (Vallese di Oppeano) ★ 4.8 · Verona

Famiglia Rana in Vallese di Oppeano is the two-Michelin-star Verona-province destination.

Tip: Two stars confirmed November 2025; book 6 to 8 weeks out and budget €250+ per head for the tasting.

Parma (prosciutto, Parmigiano) ★ 4.7 · Bologna

Parma, an hour from Bologna by train, is the capital of Prosciutto di Parma DOP and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, home to the Salumeria Garibaldi salumi shop.

Tip: Trains from Bologna Centrale every 30 minutes; the prosciutto factory visits are best booked through Italian Days Food Experience three weeks ahead.

Pula and the Laguna di Nora ★ 4.7 · Cagliari

Pula holds the Roman ruins of Nora and the lagoon beside them, where Fradis Minoris cooks lagoon fish, native herbs and berries inside the natural park.

Tip: Francesco Stara's Fradis Minoris holds a Michelin star and Sardinia's only Michelin Green Star; the visitor centre also runs canoe and snorkel trips.

Montalcino ★ 4.7 · Florence

Montalcino, 110km south of Florence, holds the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG appellation, with 250 producers including Biondi-Santi, Argiano, Casanova di Neri.

Bergamo Alta ★ 4.7 · Milan

Bergamo Alta from Milan in 50 minutes by train is the definitive Lombard food day trip. Booking recommended. Reservations advised. Cash and card accepted.

Bra (Slow Food and Pollenzo) ★ 4.7 · Turin

Bra is the Slow Food world headquarters, 43 km south of Turin. Carlo Petrini founded the movement here in 1986; the Gastronomic Sciences uni is in Pollenzo.

Burano ★ 4.7 · Venice

Burano is the colourful fishing island in the northern lagoon, the canonical day trip for risotto di go (lagoon goby) and Burano biscuits at Trattoria al.

Tip: Book Al Gatto Nero two weeks ahead. Vaporetto 12 from Fondamente Nove. Combine with Torcello (next stop on 12).

Valpolicella (Amarone valley) ★ 4.7 · Verona

Valpolicella is the Verona wine valley 15 to 30 km north of the city. TableJourney editor pick with address and booking notes inside the entry.

Tip: Allegrini, Masi, Tommasi, Bertani and Quintarelli all take bookings; Amarone Tours and Pagus Wine Tours run full-day three-cellar day trips with lunch.

Bosa and the Malvasia road ★ 4.6 · Alghero

Bosa stacks coloured houses above the river Temo an hour south of Alghero, and pours the sweet Malvasia that gives the surrounding Planargia its wine road.

Savigno (white truffle) ★ 4.6 · Bologna

Savigno, an hour from Bologna by car, is the Apennine truffle village at the heart of the Bolognese white truffle harvest. Booking recommended.

Tip: Drive 45km southwest via SP25; the truffle market on Sunday in Piazza XV Agosto runs October through November. Book trattoria lunch three weeks ahead.

Serdiana (Argiolas wine country) ★ 4.6 · Cagliari

Serdiana is the closest wine village to Cagliari, where Argiolas has grown Sardinian grapes since 1938 and runs cellar and vineyard tastings by appointment.

Tip: Movimento Turismo del Vino lists Argiolas cellar visits by reservation year round, Monday to Friday at 11:00 and 15:00 and Saturday at 10:00.

San Miniato ★ 4.6 · Florence

San Miniato, 50km west of Florence, holds the annual Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Bianco every November weekend, with the rare San Miniato white truffle.

Siena ★ 4.6 · Florence

Siena, 75km south of Florence, runs the canonical pici cacio e pepe in every trattoria off Piazza del Campo, with the panforte and ricciarelli pastry.

Lake Como ★ 4.6 · Milan

Lake Como from Milan is a 45-minute train ride to a different culinary register. The lakeside trattorie in Varenna and Bellagio serve agoni fritto.

Mantova (Mantua) ★ 4.6 · Milan

Mantova is the UNESCO world heritage city where the tortello di zucca was invented: sweet pumpkin filling in egg pasta served in butter and crushed amaretti.

Procida ★ 4.6 · Naples

Procida, the smallest island in the Bay of Naples, runs the pastel-hued Marina di Corricella waterfront where a lunch of grilled fish and linguine alle.

Tip: Book a table at Bar Ristorante La Graziella (Via Marina di Corricella 29-43) before the ferry; walk-ups at the waterfront restaurants fill by 12:30.

Etna wine country ★ 4.6 · Palermo

Etna wine country 200km east of Palermo is Sicily's volcanic-vineyard region, with Nerello Mascalese (Etna Rosso) and Carricante (Etna Bianco) from producers.

Tip: Stay overnight in Linguaglossa or Castiglione di Sicilia for cellar visits. Etna sommelier-led tours via Strada del Vino dell'Etna.

Lake Garda (Bardolino, Lazise, Sirmione) ★ 4.6 · Verona

Lake Garda is the food-day-trip destination 30 to 40 km west of Verona, with Bardolino (light red Corvina-based wine). A 2026 TableJourney editor pick.

Tip: Bardolino is the closest shore stop; Sirmione (40 km west) has the historic peninsula and the lake-fish lunch tradition.

Modena (traditional balsamic) ★ 4.6 · Verona

Modena 100 km south of Verona is the day-trip for traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena DOP.

Tip: Acetum and Giusti both run morning tours by reservation; combine with lunch at Osteria Francescana if Massimo Bottura's three-star kitchen has a slot.

Porto Conte and Capo Caccia ★ 4.5 · Alghero

The Porto Conte regional park covers 60 kilometres of shore west of Alghero, taking in Capo Caccia, the Grotta di Nettuno and the farm kitchens of the Nurra.

Reggio Emilia (Parmigiano dairies) ★ 4.5 · Bologna

Reggio Emilia, 45 minutes from Bologna by train, is the second Parmigiano Reggiano stronghold with the working dairies at Caseificio La Battagliola.

Tip: Trains from Bologna Centrale every 30 minutes; the dairy visits open at 07:00 and the 09:00 visit is the easier to book. Italian Days runs combined tours.

Carloforte (Isola di San Pietro) ★ 4.5 · Cagliari

Carloforte was settled from Genoa by way of Tunisia, and the island still cooks tuna the Tabarkino way, with Girotonno filling the quay each spring.

Tip: The Tuna Village on Banchina Mamma Mahon runs at lunch and dinner during Girotonno; outside the festival the tuna shops sell bottarga and mosciame.