From the mighty monuments of Rome to the charming piazzas of Milan and Florence, Italy’s cities are always placed at the top of a backpacker’s to-do list. If you are backpacking in Italy they are a highlight of travel there.
Yet beyond the cobbled streets, designer shops and fast-paced nightlife you’ll find a wealth of diverse landscapes to enjoy! Whether you’re more of a beach or mountain person, here are a few reasons to get out there and explore the Italian countryside.
Backpacking in Italy
1. The unbeatable food
We probably don’t have to tell you just how amazing Italian food is, and you can certainly enjoy all of its bounty from handmade pasta to wood-fired pizza in the cities. Yet when you head out into the countryside, you’ll be able to taste the local produce at its very freshest.
Enjoy hyper-local traditional Italian food in each region, like fresh lemon gelato in Sicily, pecorino cheese in Le Marche, and chestnut pastries in Calabria. You can even tour the farms in many cases, from olive groves to vineyards.
2. The inspiring landscapes
Backpackers get a taste of the country landscapes when travelling through the country by train, but why not stop off at some of the smaller villages and explore on foot?
If you have time on your hands, you can enjoy regions like the Campo Imperatore in Abruzzo with its craggy peaks and winter glaciers, or the Alpine valleys of the Valle d’Aosta to the north.
3. The sport and recreation
Have you caught the hiking bug? Stretch your legs or test your endurance in the great outdoors! Italy offers an abundance of recreational outlets throughout all four seasons, whether you want to try your hand at surfing in the summertime, hiking around Lake Como in the autumn or skiing in the Italian Alps in the winter.
Paddle a sea kayak off the Amalfi coast or cycle your way through the Tuscan countryside.
4. The local charm
Rather than staying in the typical city backpacker’s hostel, why not look for Italian villa rentals in the country? These give you the chance to enjoy a slower pace of life with all the charms of local routines.
Another option is to sign up for a working stay on a local farm, where you can pick fruit or help with the grape harvest in exchange for room and board.
5. The vibrant festivals
Leave the big-city nightlife of Rome behind and enjoy festivities of a different variety. You’ll find a full calendar of festivals taking place throughout the year, but the harvest season is particularly epic. Seek out ‘sagra’ festivals which are organised to show off a particular food, like the truffle festival in Sant’Agata Feltria.
Wine-lovers won’t want to miss the Sagra dell’Uvo in Marino, when the town’s central fountains flow with wine instead of water!
Finally, you can do your part to keep the Italian countryside beautiful by leaving as little trace behind as possible – buy from local farmers and stick to public transport for a journey that’s as sustainable as it is memorable!
Go Backpacking in the Italian Countryside
These are some reasons why you should get out of the cities in Italy. There are plenty more, but if you’re backpacking in Italy be sure to leave the main cities behind at some point and get out into the charm of the country.
If you’re planning to travel Italy on a budget as a backpacker it can be done easily with cheap enough hostels and transport. Having said that you should treat yourself from time to time to really enjoy your stay there.
This is what you should pack for backpacking in Italy.
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