Curated List of Free & Fabulous Things To Do in Italy

This list was created by the team at Italian Fix. 

We’re professional travelers and we organize Italian travel for thousands of guests on our tours & consults. This checklist is arranged by location and has 25 general tips below. 

---

 

1. Rome

• St. Peter’s Basilica – A stunning church in Vatican City (free entry, but dome climb costs extra).
• Pantheon – Mass is free, but general entry is no longer free. The cost is 5 euros.
• Trevi Fountain – Toss a coin and make a wish!
• Piazza Navona – A lively square with fountains and street performers.
• Roman Forum (from outside the gates) – You can see a lot without a ticket.

 

2. Florence

• Piazzale Michelangelo – Offers a panoramic view of Florence.
• San Miniato al Monte – A peaceful church with another great Florence view. A 10-minute walk from Piazzale Michelangelo. 
• Ponte Vecchio – The iconic medieval bridge lined with shops.
• Basilica of Santa Croce (courtyard and facade) – The church where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried.
• Piazza della Signoria – Open-air museum with statues, including a replica of Michelangelo’s David.

 

3. Venice

• St. Mark’s Basilica – Free entry to this stunning church (extra cost for certain areas).
• Rialto Bridge – The oldest and most famous bridge in Venice.
• Piazza San Marco – The heart of Venice, surrounded by historic buildings.
• Libreria Acqua Alta – A quirky bookstore with books stacked in bathtubs and gondolas.
• Jewish Ghetto – The historic Jewish quarter with rich culture and history.

 

4. Cinque Terre

• All hiking in Cinque Terre is free except for: Monterosso – Vernazza, Vernazza – Corniglia, Riomaggiore – Manarola (Via dell’Amore). The trails are open all year round and during winter, they are all free.
• Vernazza Harbor and Piazza Marconi – A perfect spot to relax, watch the boats, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere without spending a cent.
• Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montenero (Riomaggiore) – A peaceful sanctuary above Riomaggiore with panoramic views of the Ligurian coast.
• Beaches – Read more in our article on Cinque Terre beaches.
• Manarola’s Sunset Viewpoint – Walk to the scenic viewpoint near Nessun Dorma café for one of the most spectacular sunset views in Italy.

 

5. Milan

• Duomo di Milano (cathedral exterior and ground floor) – A masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – A beautiful 19th-century shopping arcade.
• Parco Sempione – A lush park behind Castello Sforzesco, perfect for a stroll.
• San Bernardino alle Ossa – A fascinating chapel with walls decorated with human bones.

 

23 More Free Things to Do

1. Drink out of a lion’s head: Public fountains are everywhere.

2. Wake up at dawn and take photos. You’ll score good light and empty streets; it’s what the pros do.

3. Learn manners on your first day. Write simple Italian greetings on a sticky note and attach it to your wallet. Try please (per favore), thanks (grazie), and bye-bye (arrivederci or ciao).

4. Smile more + worry less (also essential for life in general).

5. Use a credit card with no “foreign transaction” fees. Typically, credit cards charge an additional fee (around 2.5%) when you charge an item in a foreign currency — but you can avoid it and carry a card without the fee. We’ve written a post about all kinds of money matters in Italy, complete with a list of great travel cards we recommend.

6. Write down epiphanies (because they fade).

7. Take a photo of every person you talk to in one day.

8. Visit an Italian festival (here’s a list). Sharing the energy of the Venice film festival or Carnivale won’t cost you anything more than extra planning.

9. Ask your hotel for a free room upgrade.

10. Ask your hotel if you can check out late.

11. Ask a local builder, “Where do you eat lunch?” His suggestion won’t be in your guidebook.

12. Walk in the graveyards.

13. Visit a church.

14. Don’t read the menu; just ask the waiter to bring you their favorite meal.

15. Help a traveller who is lost or struggling; practicing kindness releases serotonin in the brain (serotonin makes you feel good).

16. Talk to strangers.

17. If travelling alone, sit with someone else who’s also travelling alone. In Italy, during the lunch rush, this is commonplace.

18. Walk up to the highest landmark; you’ll find a castle, church, or piazza. 

19. Complain less, especially when things aren’t going your way.

20. Download free travel apps. We have a list here.

21. Score free museum visits (check individual museum websites). “Domenica al Museo” is an initiative by the Italian government that offers free visits on the first Sunday of each month. 

22. Flirt with your waiter.

23. Talk to fellow travellers at breakfast and ask them about the favorite things they’ve done since arriving.