The Italian Cities That Just Aren’t Worth It (Anymore)
Some Italian cities have become victims of their own success—crowded, overpriced, and no longer offering the magic they once did. In this video, I break down six cities that just aren’t worth your time (or money) anymore… and where you should go instead. Yes, Rome, Venice, and Florence are beautiful—but maybe it’s time to rethink the itinerary.
I’ll also share one tourist town that still deserves the hype—and one that never really did.
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24 Comments
The Only 3 Cities You Need To Visit In Italy (According To A Local)
Find out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4cgSftXSSk
Over-tourism has become a problem and it's causing me to think twice about visiting some of the popular sights. I think I'll venture toward the lesser known areas. Thanks, Gregor!
3:15 a lot of people don’t know the coliseum in Verona predates the one in Rome. And it’s fully intact and usable.
As an Italian, I always advise NOT to visit our country in the months of July and August. Better to come in spring and autumn. 😎🇮🇹
Ufizzi Gallery: pay for the guided tour. We did, just to skip the line, but there was much more value than that. You get the story behind the art works, and you hear the stories about famous artists and their competion with each other, and how one famous artist dealt with someone trying to renegotiate to a lower price when it came to delivering the piece. 😂
Best to visit late September. Less people and the wine is being pressed.
Been there 15x's May and Sept. NICE or Don't GO..SIMPLE😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Why did you name Polignano a Mare? Now a lot of tourists will come to this nice town.. )) Great video, thank you.
Bravo! I agree with all you said, including the alternatives to the "must-see" places. I also lived in Florence several years ago, and it breaks my heart to see how it's changed. We just returned from our 29th trip to Italy, and only went to Rome for the airport. Thanks for sharing!
Going in Sept for the vendemia is wonderful. Tourists gone, it’s much calmer. You get to really experience the country. Parco Serbellini is stunning.
Comé sempre, hai fatto molto bene. Gregor, you do a great job with your gregarious, gritty yet grandiose in its own way, presentation. Grazie! Italia is still qualcosa speciale but some of the less known cities and areas deserve attention, particularly if you enjoy peace of mind which is easier to retain without having every square inch around you shared with others. Mantua is magical. The Noto valley, Urbino. Shoulder season is the key. Lived in Firenze for five months back in 1975. Been back to Italy more times than I have fingers. Very different ambience before the over tourism. Ditto for Venezia, Napoli and Siena. Sicily is still magical except Taormina when the cruise ships disgorge thousands for their few hours. Try Cefalu ad the Aeolians in October. Sardegna is spectacular although in the summer it’s inundated with Italians from the mainland. The Dolomites are superb; especially on a bike. The Amalfi coast is still great in the shoulder season if you go hiking in the hills surrounding eg the Sentiero degli Dei. The path of the gods descends into a Positano not imagined from the sea. CinqueTerra was fantastic 30 years ago. Always hard to recreate time and place when captured by memories that tend to erase the less than enjoyable elements. As my father used to say: happiness is more often remembered than experienced. Sorry for the essay but your videos capture the essence of so much… thanks,
I'm visiting in early October to see Florence and Cinque Terre. As I started to look into what other nearby cities or towns I can visit – I added Bologna, Siena and Lucca with a stop in Pisa. I've been to Rome years ago in November and while there were people – it wasn't overly crowded. I like to go to other cities less visited by tourists largely because it would be less crowded and also because they are often underrated. It is honestly much more enjoyable to visit these cities on shoulder season – you will be less cranky with the crowds and the bustling people making for an overall enjoyable trip.
Excellent video! I always love Rome, have been there many times and will be going back next February to see the monuments that were spruced up for the Jubileum. I was in Florence in March and it was already wall-to-wall people, especially Ponte Vecchio (though I think it might have been Italian spring break). I'm going back for two weeks next February. I have an annual pass to the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti that will still be valid. No time ticket necessary, and there's a special entrance for pass holders. I was first in Florence in November 1972. Hardly any tourists and only about 20 or 30 people in the room with David. Those were the days!❤
Please …keep discouraging people from going to Rome so nobody is there when I go next year👍
I can’t figure out the name of the town you’re saying where you can kayak
well see , this doesn't happen if you curate your hotels and tours. You just have to pay more
Letterci? Leteci? What is the name of this city?
We’ve done 7 days all around Amalfi Coast (including Pompei and Salerno) and 1.5 days in Rome in mid-end of April. Perfect weather, not too hot not too cold, minimal crowds – it was great!! Hoping to come back and go to Puglia and Bari ❤
Done all 3 of your BIG 3. But on separate 'weekly regional trips'… Who in their right mind would cram Rome, Venice and Florence (look at the compass) into one trip/week? You'd not have the time to enjoy? You'd be on the road more than in the Cities? Pisa(airport) is where'd you' d stay if going to Luca!
Gregor, I’m thinking if travelling to Italy for the first time and I seen cattolica near San Marino because hotel is cheaper for me for 5 nights is there much to do there do you know please, really looking forward to it
I learned Italian years ago so that I can go to any countryside or seaside area, away from the cities. I'm not a big fan of cities where I live either. I cringe, when I see YT videos with the excess crowds.
Polignano a Mare is very touristy. Monopoli also. Preferred Trani and Giovanazzo myself.
Not a fan of Venice. One and done.
Most of these cities are absolutely worth it. You just have to go at the right time and go to the right places in those cities. Can you imagine being the only person in St. Mark's in Venice?