How to Avoid Crowds in Italy’s Most Popular Places

Few countries have such a chokehold on our travel wishlists as Italy. It attracts visitors by the millions, perennially ranking near the top of annual “most-visited” lists. The post-pandemic surge has pushed many travelers to explore Italy’s under-the-radar destinations, fearing the crowds of its major hot spots. But those hot spots are beloved for a reason: Yes, you should see the Duomo in Florence. And no, you can’t miss Piazza San Marco in Venice. Will you be alone? Probably not. Here are some tips for navigating these incredibly popular destinations.

In 2024, June through September saw more than eight million international arrivals to Italy per month. July is always the peak—drawing more than nine million international tourist arrivals every year since 2017 (minus 2020 and 2021). Compare that to February, which sees under three million. Because of school breaks, March and April receive a boost in group tours visiting the major highlights in many Italian cities.

Before 9 a.m., many of Italy’s busiest sites are remarkably quiet. Day-trippers have yet to arrive and many other travelers are lingering over their hotel cappuccinos. It’s the best time to experience major landmarks without the crowds—whether it’s wandering the Spanish Steps or entering the Uffizi right when it opens. (Another win: thanks to the soft light, Rome-based photographer Enrico Costantini considers early morning “the best lighting to photograph,” as well.)

The same is true at the end of the day, when many tours have ended and shops have closed. Between 10 p.m. and midnight, cities like Rome, Florence and especially Venice take on a different energy—local families are still out for gelato, piazzas are quieter but still lively and monuments are beautifully lit.

Many visitors prioritize staying as close to the major sites as possible. But for anyone preferring a taste for local life, it’s best to stay away from the touristic centers and opt for a hotel that’s in a residential neighborhood. Here’s where to stay in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan.

ROME

In the Eternal City, neighborhoods like Monti or Trastevere still retain a local feel, and are safely removed from—but still conveniently accessible to—the masses that congregate at the Spanish Steps, Forum and Trevi Fountain. The maximalist-chic Hotel Casa Monti Roma is on a residential side street in Monti, and in Trastevere, Donna Camilla Savelli is a stylish and serene former 17th-century convent.

FLORENCE

The historic center of Florence is a (gorgeous) zoo. Top properties that are calmer and away from the tour groups include Villa Cora, south of the Arno in an upscale neighborhood of villas near the Boboli Gardens, and the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, an easy 15 minute walk north of the Duomo. Its garden restaurant attracts well-heeled Florentines, so there’s a local feel here even if it’s a global brand. Further north, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Il Salviatino Firenze and the just-opened Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection, are three other favorites in historic residences away from the crowded city center.

VENICE

Venice is the global poster child for overtourism, where visitors far outnumber residents. The majority of these travelers are daytrippers, though, and many hotels are clustered in the San Marco district. Here, staying off-the-beaten path means choosing a hotel on a less-touristy island, such as Indagare Adored Collection Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond Hotel on Giudecca or Ca Di Dio in Castello. Even further afield, the charming Venissa Wine Resort in Burano is around 45 minutes away via vaporetto.

MILAN

Most leisure travelers skip Milan altogether, so of all of Italy’s big destinations, it feels the least “touristy” regardless of neighborhood. Here, the streets are filled less with large tour groups and more with a mix of locals and visitors. That mix becomes visitor-heavy around the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (but even there, plenty of Milanese are walking by, too). Consider Portrait Milano in the Quadrilateria de la Moda, which attracts Italy’s fashion industry insiders to its bar and restaurant. More intimate options further from the crowds: Casa Cipriani Milano, where only guests and members of its private club are allowed in, the seven-room Vico Milano in the boho-chic Ticinese neighborhood and the pied-à-terre-like Rocco Forte House.

Everyone and their neighbor wants to spend a few days under the Tuscan sun, and who can blame them? Beyond its capital city of Florence, the region’s rolling hills—a mix of dense forests, sloping vineyards and historic towns—are the definition of dreamy. Thankfully, it’s one of Italy’s largest regions, so it’s easier than you’d think to find something that feels authentic. The trick: choose small-scale, local hotels. A few favorites: Pieve Aldina - Relais & Châteaux and Borgo San Felice, both in the Chianti region, and Monteverdi Tuscany at the eastern edge of picture-postcard Val d’Orcia.

Hiring a private guide in Italy’s busiest cities can transform even the most crowded sights into a smoother, more enriching experience. Many licensed guides offer skip-the-line access at major landmarks like the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Uffizi Galleries, saving hours of waiting time. They can also steer you toward quieter corners, lesser-known treasures and local spots you’d likely miss on your own.

Join the locals in their own public backyards, the city parks, where residents go for a breath of fresh air away from the crowds. In peak summer months, these tree-shaded oases are also a welcome break from the heat.

ROME

In Rome, Villa Pamphili is the city’s largest landscaped park and a favorite among locals for jogging, picnicking and escaping the noise. Closer to the center, the Villa Borghese has shady walking paths, open lawns and panoramic views from the Pincian Terrace—the crowds thin out the farther you wander from the Galleria Borghese. For a quieter moment with Roman ruins, The Park of the Aqueducts in the city’s southeast features ancient aqueducts rising from wild grasses with almost no tourists in sight.

FLORENCE

Behind the Palazzo Pitti, Florence’s Boboli Gardens draw visitors for their sculpted Renaissance design, but early mornings or late afternoons are quieter, especially in the less manicured areas. For an even more local feel, head to the Rose Garden below Piazzale Michelangelo, where residents come to read, sketch or enjoy sunset views across the city. Farther from the center, Parco delle Cascine—Florence’s largest public park—stretches along the Arno and offers wide tree-lined paths ideal for biking or a shaded stroll.

Most travelers are a predictable lot, searching for the “must-sees” in their destination and making a beeline to get from one to the next. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in Venice, where the road between Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco is effectively a pedestrian traffic jam. Indagare tip: Follow the “take two turns” rule. If you turn off that main path, then take a second turn, you’ll likely find yourself all alone in Venice.

The “two turns rule” works great for meandering (especially in Venice, where getting lost among its canals is one of the points of visiting), but for museums and other sites, we recommend including a few lesser-visited options between the heavy-hitters. Favorites below:

Rome

• Chiostro del Bramante: This elegant Renaissance cloister just off Piazza Navona hosts rotating art exhibitions in a peaceful, architectural setting often overlooked by tourists.
• Baths of Caracalla: These ancient Roman ruins are less trafficked than the Colosseum but just as evocative, with towering arches and open grounds ideal for slow exploration.
• Museo Mario Praz: A hidden gem housed in the former residence of a 20th-century scholar, this museum offers a personal look at neoclassical art and interiors.
• Villa Farnesina: Tucked in Trastevere, this Renaissance villa features frescoes by Raphael and others, with few crowds to speak of.

Florence

• Cappella Brancacci: This chapel holds Masaccio’s groundbreaking frescoes, considered foundational to Renaissance art, in an intimate setting far from the crowds of the Uffizi.
• Museo Horne: Set in a 15th-century palazzo, this small museum offers a refined collection of Renaissance furniture, paintings and decorative arts that reflect the tastes of English art historian Herbert Horne.
• Stefano Bardini Museum: A favorite among Florentine insiders, this museum houses a varied collection of art and artifacts arranged in a richly atmospheric setting by the 19th-century antiquarian Bardini.
• Museo di Palazzo Davanzati: A rare example of a medieval Florentine townhouse, Palazzo Davanzati preserves the layout and furnishings of domestic life during the Renaissance, offering a deeply personal look into the city’s past.
• Orsanmichele: Once a granary, this church is famed for its statues by Donatello and others on the exterior, while its upper museum level offers striking city views and relative tranquility.

Venice

• Ca’ Rezzonico: This museum on the Grand Canal offers an evocative glimpse of 18th-century Venice through period furnishings, frescoed salons and works by Tiepolo and Longhi, all within a grand palazzo setting.
• Museo di Palazzo Grimani: A Renaissance treasure with classical sculptures and frescoes, this palace once belonged to a cultured family of art patrons and remains one of the city’s quieter museums.
• Museo Fortuny: Set in the former home of artist and designer Mariano Fortuny, the museum explores his multifaceted legacy in fashion, stage design and photography amid the moody ambiance of a Gothic palazzo.
• Scuola Grande di San Rocco: Known for its extensive series of Tintoretto paintings, this confraternity building is a showcase of late Renaissance Venetian art and civic pride, still used for ceremonial events today.
• Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari: This vast Franciscan church houses major works by Titian and Bellini and serves as a solemn counterpoint to Venice’s more ornate cathedrals, with deep roots in the city's spiritual and artistic heritage.