Where Italians really go on vacation

Every August, Italy changes. Cities like Florence and Rome empty out, shop shutters close, and even the barista who used to serve your morning espresso disappears.

So, where do Italians really go on vacation? Not Venice. Not the Amalfi Coast. Those are for tourists. We dream of our places—the ones we’ve gone to since childhood. Places that smell of grilled fish and sunscreen, where the same families return to the same apartments every summer.

This is the real Italian summer vacation.

Gallipoli beach in Puglia, Italy, with turquoise water and historic old town walls in summer — Gallipoli, one of the most popular summer holiday destinations for Italians in Puglia.

Puglia Beaches: Italians’ Favorite Summer Holiday Destination

For many families, summer means heading to Puglia, the heel of Italy.

Towns are white like sugar cubes, the sea shines like liquid glass, and days stretch out endlessly. Umbrellas line the beaches of Torre dell’Orso, Gallipoli, Polignano a Mare, and Vieste.

Here, Italians spend their holidays talking, eating, and doing absolutely nothing until sunset.

Calabria Holidays: Beaches Italians Love in Summer

Further south, many head to Calabria—a region less known to tourists but loved by locals.

Names like Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Scilla, and Diamante might not mean much to foreigners, but to us they are summer: sweet red onions from Tropea, spicy pasta, and watermelon straight from the fridge.

These are authentic Italian vacation destinations, far from the crowds.

Sardinia in Summer: Local Beaches Beyond the Costa Smeralda

Italians love Sardinia, but not the glossy Costa Smeralda that fills Instagram feeds.

We go where the ferries land: San Teodoro, Cala Gonone, Santa Teresa di Gallura, La Maddalena.

Here, you’ll find quiet coves, clear water, and beaches reached only on foot or by boat. This is the Sardinia of real Italian summer holidays.

Dolomites Summer Holidays: Where Italians Go to the Mountains

Not everyone chases the sea. Many escape the heat in the mountains.

The Dolomites are a favorite: Ortisei, Corvara, Canazei, Madonna di Campiglio, San Candido.

Up here, Italians trade the beach for alpine air, hiking trails, polenta, and even wool sweaters in August. This is where Italians go on vacation when they want cool air and mountain views.

Italian Lakes: Where Italians Go in Summer

Others prefer the lakes: Lake Bolsena, Lake Bracciano, Lake Iseo, and Lake Scanno in Abruzzo.

These spots are calm, local, and family-friendly. Swim without salt, eat at trattorias by the water, and hear only Italian voices.

Best Tuscan Coast Beaches for Italian Summer Holidays

Families from Bologna and Florence still flock to the Tuscan coast: Castiglione della Pescaia, Marina di Grosseto, Follonica, Cecina, Baratti.

Here, umbrellas are booked in advance, beach toys are passed down through generations, and everyone knows everyone.

This is what a traditional Italian summer holiday looks like.

Lazio Coast Holidays: Where Romans Go in Summer

Not all Romans leave for Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. Many spend their summer right on the Lazio coastline, in towns that feel traditionally Italian.

Places like Sperlonga, Gaeta, San Felice Circeo, and Terracina are full of Roman families in August. They’re close enough for a weekend escape, yet beautiful enough to feel like a proper holiday.

Sperlonga shines with its whitewashed old town and sandy beach, Gaeta is famous for its fortress and seafood, Circeo offers wild nature and hiking, and Terracina mixes beach life with ancient Roman ruins.

For Romans, this is the classic summer vacation in Lazio—sun, seafood, and family rituals that repeat year after year.

Narrow street with whitewashed walls and pink flowers in Sperlonga old town, Lazio, Italy — A quiet corner in the old town of Sperlonga, one of Lazio’s most beloved summer holiday destinations.

Best Liguria Beaches

In Liguria, Italians fill towns like Lerici, Sestri Levante, Finale Ligure, and Varigotti.

Still Italian, still old-school, with focaccia in your bag and sand in your shoes.

Emilia-Romagna Beaches: Classic Holidays on the Adriatic Coast

And yes, many Italians still swear by Rimini, Cesenatico, and Milano Marittima.

Crowded, noisy, chaotic—yet full of family memories and authentic Italian holiday traditions: piadine eaten with sandy hands, nights on the boardwalk, generations returning every year.