Dreaming of sun-soaked coastal towns, ancient ruins, and spectacular landscapes?
Southern Italy offers some of the most breathtaking destinations in the world.
From the dramatic Amalfi Coast to the mysterious cave dwellings of Matera, these bucket list destinations in Southern Italy will inspire your next Mediterranean adventure.
Discover 50 unforgettable places that combine rich history, stunning natural beauty, and authentic Italian charm.
50 Bucket List Destinations in Southern Italy to Visit
1. Capri: Glamorous island paradise featuring the ethereal Blue Grotto, designer shopping in the Piazzetta, iconic Faraglioni rocks, and Emperor Augustus’s Villa Jovis ruins.
2. Mount Etna, Sicily: Europe’s largest active volcano offering lunar landscapes and wine tastings on volcanic slopes.
Further Reading: Bucket List Destinations in Sicily
3. Pompeii: World’s most famous archaeological site with perfectly preserved Roman streets, villas, frescoes, and haunting plaster casts of victims frozen in time by Vesuvius’s eruption.
4. Positano, Amalfi Coast: Spectacular cliffside town with colorful houses cascading to the sea, chic boutiques, scenic beaches, and the iconic Church of Santa Maria Assunta.
5. Taormina, Sicily: Elegant resort town with a stunning Greek theater framing Mount Etna views, medieval streets, cable car to beaches, and beautiful Isola Bella nature reserve.
6. Amalfi: Historic maritime republic featuring the magnificent striped Duomo di Sant’Andrea, medieval shipbuilding arsenals, and the fascinating Paper Museum.
Further Reading: Best Amalfi Coast Towns to Visit
7. Matera: Ancient cave city with UNESCO-listed Sassi districts, offering the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement, rock churches with ancient frescoes, and unique cave hotels.
8. Sorrento: Stunning clifftop town overlooking the Bay of Naples, known for limoncello gardens, historic center, and spectacular sunsets over Vesuvius.
9. Palermo, Sicily: Vibrant capital showcasing Arab-Norman UNESCO architecture, colorful street markets and stunning mosaics at Palazzo dei Normanni.
Further Reading: Best Things to do in Sicily
10. Scilla, Calabria: Enchanting fishing village crowned by Ruffo Castle, featuring the beautiful Chianalea district known as “Little Venice of the South” and crystal-clear beaches.
11. Ravello, Amalfi Coast: Sophisticated hill town offering the world’s most beautiful gardens at Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo, with spectacular coastal views.
12. Ischia: Volcanic island paradise with thermal spas, Aragonese Castle dramatically perched on a volcanic rock, La Mortella botanical gardens, and pristine beaches.
Further Reading: Best Islands in Italy
13. Palace of Caserta: Italy’s Versailles featuring the world’s largest royal palace by volume, with spectacular baroque apartments and vast English and Italian gardens.
14. Syracuse, Sicily: Ancient Greek capital centered on the island of Ortygia, with baroque piazzas, ancient temples converted to churches, and crystal-clear swimming spots.
15. Alberobello, Puglia: Unique UNESCO town featuring streets of trulli houses with cone-shaped roofs that are found nowhere else in the world.
16. Lecce: “Florence of the South” showcasing extravagant baroque architecture, Roman amphitheater, magnificent Basilica di Santa Croce, and traditional papier-mâché workshops.
Further Reading: Best Destinations to Visit in Puglia
17. Valley of the Temples, Agrigento: Spectacular archaeological park featuring the best-preserved ancient Greek temples outside Greece.
18. Cefalù, Sicily: Perfect medieval town with twin-towered Norman cathedral, golden beach, charming fishing harbor, and incredible sunset views.
19. Herculaneum: Incredibly preserved Roman resort town with intact wooden structures, vivid frescoes, and mosaic floors offering a more intimate experience than Pompeii.
20. Aeolian Islands: Volcanic archipelago featuring Stromboli’s natural fireworks, Lipari’s historic center, Vulcano’s mud baths, and Panarea’s jet-set scene.
Further Reading: Best Islands Off the Coast of Sicily
21. Tropea & Capo Vaticano: Dramatic clifftop town with Caribbean-like beaches, historic churches, and stunning coastline viewpoints.
22. Ostuni: Dazzling “White City” rising from endless olive groves, with a magical maze of whitewashed alleys and stunning coastal views.
23. Polignano a Mare: Spectacular town built on limestone cliffs, featuring the famous Grotta Palazzese restaurant in a sea cave and beautiful swimming coves.
Further Reading: Most Beautiful Towns in Italy
24. Noto: Sicily’s baroque jewel with golden-stone architecture, ornate churches, and elegant palazzi, most beautiful at sunset.
25. Scala dei Turchi: Dramatic white cliff formation on Sicily’s coast, with natural steps descending to turquoise waters.
26. Ragusa Ibla: UNESCO baroque town built across a gorge, featuring stunning Duomo di San Giorgio and atmospheric medieval streets.
27. Paestum: Archaeological masterpiece featuring three of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek temples set amid wildflower meadows.
28. Gargano Peninsula: Protected paradise combining ancient forests, dramatic white cliffs, crystal-clear seas, and charming coastal towns.
29. Maratea: “City of 44 Churches” with dramatic Christ the Redeemer statue rivaling Rio’s, set against stunning coastline.
30. Pantelleria: Volcanic island between Sicily and Africa featuring natural thermal pools, ancient dammusi houses, and the stunning Venus Lake.
31. Otranto: Historic coastal gem with 12th-century cathedral featuring Europe’s largest medieval floor mosaic and beautiful natural swimming pools.
32. Castellana Grotte: Spectacular cave system with enormous chambers, pristine stalactites, and crystals.
33. Castel del Monte: Mysterious octagonal castle built by Frederick II, perfectly combining elements of classical, Islamic, and Gothic architecture.
Further Reading: Bucket List Things to do in Southern Italy
34. Gallipoli: Beautiful island-town connected by bridge to mainland, featuring baroque cathedral, ancient Greek fountain, and historic olive oil underground.
35. Sila National Park: Ancient forest paradise with pristine lakes, winter skiing, and some of Europe’s oldest trees.
36. Cilento National Park: UNESCO site combining Greek ruins, pristine beaches, dramatic mountains, and the clearest waters in Italy.
37. Path of the Gods: World-famous hiking trail offering the most spectacular coastal views in Italy, connecting mountain villages above the Amalfi Coast.
38. Fiordo di Furore: Hidden gem featuring a dramatic gorge meeting the sea, with tiny beach and ancient fishing village.
39. Pietrapertosa & Castelmezzano: Twin villages dramatically carved into the Dolomiti Lucane mountains, connected by “Flight of the Angel” zipline.
40. Craco: Haunting ghost town perched on dramatic cliffs, abandoned due to landslides and now a powerful photography destination and film location.
Further Reading: Most Unusual Places to Visit in Italy
41. Favignana: Stunning island with Caribbean-like waters, ancient tuna fishing tradition, and spectacular caves.
42. Lampedusa: Southernmost Italian island featuring Rabbit Beach, voted world’s best beach, with pristine waters and rich marine life.
43. Segesta: Perfectly preserved Greek temple in magnificent hilltop isolation, with ancient theater offering breathtaking Gulf views.
44. Grotta della Poesia: Most beautiful natural pool in the world, featuring a spectacular cave system with crystal-clear swimming waters.
45. Procida: Charming island with the impossibly picturesque Marina Corricella, pastel-colored houses cascading to the sea, and authentic island atmosphere.
46. Santa Cesarea Terme: Stunning thermal town built on cliffs, featuring Moorish architecture and natural hot springs emerging from sea caves.
47. Atrani: Italy’s smallest town offering perfect medieval charm, hidden beaches, and authentic Amalfi Coast atmosphere without the crowds.
48. Castellammare di Stabia: Historic thermal town with extraordinary Roman villas, castle ruins, and cable car to Monte Faito’s dramatic views.
49. Monopoli, Puglia: Stunning coastal town with spectacular seafront castle, beautiful old town with whitewashed houses, and some of Puglia’s best beaches.
50. Syracuse Archaeological Park: Spectacular archaeological site featuring one of the world’s largest Greek theaters, the mysterious “Ear of Dionysius” cave, and ancient quarries.
Final Thoughts on Southern Italy Bucket List Destinations
From the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the ancient caves of Matera, Southern Italy’s most spectacular destinations await your discovery.
Ready to plan your Italian adventure? Our Italy Travel Guide has everything you need to turn these dreams into reality.
