I always say the golden ticket to having a good time on the trail is having a sense of humor. And being prepared—prepared for anything. And when it comes to the Alta Via 1 Dolomites hike, these are all essential, especially the planning part. The Alta Via 1 (aka AV1) is a multi-day hut-to-hut hike in Italy that cuts through some of the most beautif...

The Sentiero Valtellina, also known as the Ciclovia dell'Adda, is a 114 km long cycle and pedestrian route that winds along the Adda River, from Colico to Bormio, in Lombardy, Italy. Immersed in breathtaking scenery among vineyards, apple orchards, and meadows, the route is ideal for cyclists of all levels. Discover the main stages and how long it...

If you’re under 35 and looking for an incredible trip without spending a fortune, the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (CMSB) is the perfect destination. The Cammino spans 500 km, divided into 30 stages with an average of 16 km per stage. The full trail is well-marked and can be completed independently, with downloadable tracks available on the C...

The Swiss get all the credit for the Alps, which is a shame, because the Italian Alps are ridiculously pretty. They’re particularly spectacular in the Dolomites, a range of 18 peaks in the northeast of Italy that UNESCO says “are widely regarded as being among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world.” That seemed like reason enough to...

Italy is certainly addressing its problem with tourist numbers, with authorities implementing everything from a tourist tax in Venice to an ice cream ban in Milan. But it’s not all about restrictions – the government is working on spotlighting lesser-known destinations to encourage more sustainable tourism, too.  One of the vintage tourist train ro...

A new hiking trail winding through the wild, nature-rich landscape of Italy’s Dolomites mountain range has just opened. The Cammino Retico is named after the ancient Raeti people who once lived there in pre-Roman times. It connects various remote villages between the Veneto and Trentino regions. The circular route is 170 kilometres long and can be...

The Cinque Terre are five picturesque towns that appear to cling to the rocks along a short stretch of Ligurian coastline in northern Italy, and are famous for the former mule tracks that connect them and today attract thousands of hikers each year.  Though the area is striking, it’s also very fragile; overtourism has strained both the villages and...

Mount Etna loomed large over everything as we arrived in eastern Sicily that early January. From miles away, I could see the steam plumes rising from the snow-topped behemoth, like blown-out candles on a hastily iced birthday cake. Appropriately, I was on a milestone birthday road trip around Sicily, from Palermo to Catania. The second-to-last stop...

Nature lovers have the chance to explore the stunning views of the Italian region of Sardinia by embarking on a 500km trail in the southwest of the island. The trail, known as the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara's Mining Trail), is made up of 30 stops steeped in history and culture. And for visitors under 35, the autonomous region...

Capri is a walker’s paradise, full of incredible views and scenery, but most visitors never venture beyond the winding lanes of the island’s two towns, Capri and Anacapri. If you want to put some distance between you and the crowds and experience the sweeping vistas that have inspired visitors since the time of the Roman emperors, however, there’s...