A little love letter and photo journal to a country always fills up my stomach and heart, and just might give you some Italy travel inspo for your next trip!
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I recently sent some Italy recommendations to a sweet online friend and my fitness instructor, Aly DiRoma of Modern Body, and it reminded me just how much I adore this country! It also made me want to write something a little different-something more reflective, and include some Italy inspiration for you guys this week!
As I’ve been thinking about this platform, how my traffic has grown, and how many eyes are now here, I’ve realized I want you to know me a bit more. Not just the places I go or the restaurants I eat at, but the why behind what I share. Why my travel guides sometimes skip the big tourist attractions and lean into slower, more personal experiences. Why I’ll suggest a tiny bar with four tables instead of the “Top 10 Restaurants in Rome” you’ll find on every other blog out there.
Travel has been one of the most influential parts of my life. It’s how I met my husband. It’s how I worked through years of anxiety and self-doubt. It’s what shaped how I eat, how I rest, and how I connect with people. Honestly, as I write this I realize that deserves it’s own post where I can share-motorbiking through Angkor Wat, getting (two) tattoos in Bali, spending New Year’s solo in Vietnam, and teaching English in Nepal. If that’s something you’d like to read, please drop me a note in the comments!
But for now, I just want to share why I keep coming back to Italy. Why we visit often. Why it’s one of those places that fills up my stomach and my heart-and why I think it might do the same for you with this Italy inspiration.
10 Reasons I Love Italy (and Why You Will Too)
Mornings in Italy | If you read my recent post: My Spring Routine, you’ll know mornings are a bit of a thing for me. I don’t do well with being rushed, things being too loud, and frankly, needing to do anything at all before I’ve had my morning coffee. And mornings in Italy lucky work well for me! Mornings in Italy feel different. People actually sit down-even if it’s just for five minutes-to enjoy a pastry and an espresso. Things don’t open super early, and there’s just a slower pace (most of the time). I never feel like we need to hurry out of our hotel room, unless that’s to visit the Vatican haha, and we can ease into the day whenever we are here.
Slow mornings in Italy just hit different. This is the Zash Hotel in Sicily that is cozy and relaxing as can be!
Meals actually mean something | In Italy, meals aren’t just fuel, they’re moments. People sit down. They talk. No one’s checking emails while shoving down lunch. They are often drinking a glass of wine. It reminded me how nourishing food can be when you actually slow down to enjoy it.
The pace is slower — and no one’s apologizing for it | Coming from Switzerland, where everything runs perfectly on time (and kind of fast), Italy feels like a breath of fresh air. Things might take longer, service might be unpredictable, but there’s also less pressure to rush. I find this helps your day feel longer and with less pressure to get to the next place.
The coffee culture is unmatched | This is a big one for me as my husband and I LOVE good coffee, and in Switzerland a good coffee can be incredibly difficult to find. I do have 5 places I will be sharing with you soon though! However, the coffee in Italy is good, strong, and relished (all the things I love!). Standing at the bar for a quick espresso is the norm, and you never feel like you are in the way.
It’s easy to travel, even on a whim | Italy makes it easy to hop around, train routes are simple, the cities are well connected, and every region feels like its own little world. It’s one of the few places I can travel to without a strict plan and still feel totally comfortable.
The food changes everywhere you go | I love how regional the food is! What you eat in Sicily is completely different from what you’ll find in Bologna. It makes exploring feel delicious and exciting, and allows you to delve into the culture through food and never feel like you are eating “just pasta“, if sometime tells you they left Italy sick of pasta, they only went to the tourist traps.
You don’t need a big budget to enjoy Italy | Honestly, some of my favorite memories are from the simplest things. Things like sitting on a bench with a €2 gelato, sipping house wine from a carafe, or stumbling into a tiny trattoria that ended up serving the best pasta of my life. One time in Sicily, my husband and I pulled up to a restaurant that looked totally empty. We actually turned around, but just as we did, a local walked by and said, “Oh, it’s open!”. We awkwardly laughed and figured, let’s give it a shot. My husband and I were the only ones there for a while so I was skeptical, but shortly, the place was packed! The meal was hands down one of the best we’ve ever had, and the whole thing was under €60. Italy just knows how to do simple really well. Check that post out here!
People are warm, even when you don’t speak the language. | You can walk into a café and be welcomed with a smile. There’s a casual warmth here that makes it easy to feel like you belong, even just for a few days.
Ready for some Italy travel inspo, but with a fashion focus? Don’t miss my Italian capsule wardrobe for outfit ideas that are cute and carry-on approved!
It’s a place I come back to-not to check things off, but to feel something | Italy’s not a one-and-done kind of place. Every time I come back, I experience something new. And not necessarily because I saw a different sight, but because I felt a little different. And that’s what makes it special! Italy travel inspo is always around each corner.
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of traveling to Italy. It’s one of those places that somehow feels new and familiar at the same time. Whether it’s a quick weekend trip or a longer getaway, I always leave feeling more grounded, more connected, and honestly just happier. If you’ve been thinking about going (or going back), I hope this gives you the little push to book the trip. You don’t need a full itinerary, just go, eat well, wander a little, and see how it makes you feel. Let me know your own Italy travel inspo in the comments!
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