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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Greve in Chianti ★ 4.5 · Florence

Greve in Chianti, 35km south of Florence, is the historic capital of the Chianti Classico wine region, with the triangular Piazza Matteotti.

Lucca ★ 4.5 · Florence

Lucca, 80km west of Florence inside its 16th-century walls, runs a parallel Tuscan kitchen with the buccellato sweet bread, tordelli lucchesi.

Paestum (Buffalo Mozzarella Country) ★ 4.5 · Naples

Paestum sits 90 minutes south of Naples in the mozzarella di bufala heartland; Tenuta Vannulo and the Barlotti farm both run on-site stores and restaurants.

Tip: Arrive at the farm by 10:00; mozzarella sells out by noon. Tenuta Vannulo also runs a buffalo-yogurt bar and gelato counter.

Mondello ★ 4.5 · Palermo

Mondello 12km north of Palermo is the city's Belle Epoque seafront, with Bye Bye Blues on Via del Garofalo (Patrizia Di Benedetto's former Michelin-starred.

Tip: April to October only for the beach lunch. The 1900 Antico Stabilimento Balneare is the architectural backdrop.

Ariccia (Porchetta) ★ 4.5 · Rome

Ariccia in Rome's Castelli Romani hills is the home of porchetta: slow-roasted herb-stuffed pork, served as a sandwich with rosetta bread and salt.

Tip: Half-day trip; lunch at one of the porchetta stalls under the Piazza di Corte loggia. Tickets €5-€8 for sandwich.