Amalfi is probably the first place you think of when you envision your picture-perfect Italian summer.
Listen, we get it: the colorful houses cascading down the hillside and those cinematic coastal drives with views onto the Tyrrhenian Sea is the stuff of dreams, and it will never not be vacation gold. However comma, we need to have a serious discussion about overtourism this time.
The 34-mile stretch of coast may be the hotspot, but it’s not like it holds a monopoly on that dolce vita. In fact, we’d argue paying upwards of $300-a-night on oceanfront rooms and standing in line for sunset pictures up that one rooftop that went viral on TikTok is far from being our idea of an idyllic summer.
These 4 alternative Italian coastal towns have all the Mediterranean charm, yet none of the added seasonal chaos:
PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article to find your perfect match!
Portovenere
Right on the doorstep of Cinque Terre, probably one of the busiest, most hectic destinations in Italy, Portovenere feels like a breath of fresh air, and an extension of the sorts of the world-famous colorful quintet without the Instagram hordes.
It has the same beautiful pastel-colored buildings lining a picturesque harborfront, cobbled streets lined with laid-back trattorie that have been in the family for decades, and a monumental coastal fortress hugged by teal-colored seas to top it off.
A short 5-minute boat crossing away, Palmaria is a lush island known for hiking trails, crowd-free beaches, and one of Liguria’s best waterfront seafood spots, Il Pozzale.
The best part? A night in a guesthouse only a few steps from the water here will set you back by around $75–$130 per night (check out Hotiday Porto Venere Le Grazie), and all of the Cinque Terre-bound tourists usually skip it altogether.
By the way, if you’re flying to Europe this summer, you should know there’s a whole new spate of entry rules to watch out for, from mandatory fingerprinting to biometric scans. Check the Entry Requirements in place here.
Brindisi
Over on the Adriatic side, in the increasingly trendy Puglia region that will be hosting nonstop flights from America this year, Brindisi is a history-packed port city characterized by its old harbor, unrivaled food scene, and Roman heritage.
The architectural centerpiece is a red-stone castle standing on a small islet near the harbor’s entrance, but if you ask me, the most impressive ancient monument in Brindisi is atop the water-facing Virgil’s Staircase: a towering Roman column that’s survived a whopping two millennia.
Looking for the freshest pasta in town?
Puglia is famous for its traditional orecchiette, and while Bari gets all the praise for Arco Basso, a street where nonne roll out the ear-shaped pasta by their front porches, the best pasta you’ll try in the area may well be at La Locanda del Porto, right on Brindisi’s harbor.
How much will you be spending on dinners out in town, you ask? You should budget around $25–$30 for every sit-down meal unless you’re going crazy on the wine.
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay, try La Maison de Monet, where rooms start from only $68-a-night.
Cefalù
Sicily
A 50-minute train ride east of Palermo, the sprawling capital of Sicily, Cefalù is all your Italian summer dreams come true.
Picture the cutest little coastal town with weathered medieval houses (add the classic colorful shutters!), a stone pier stretching out into the turquoise-most sea you’ve seen, and just about one gelato parlor every 10 steps you take.
You gotta survive that Sicilian heat somehow, and it’s no wonder Palermo residents flock here themselves every chance they get on the weekends. Needless to say, it’s not like Cefalù is some hidden gem awaiting discovery, though compared to Amalfi or Portofino, it still feels pretty lowkey.
Most stunning building in town? That would have to be Cefalù Cathedral, which you can easily miss if you’re only coming here for the postcard sandy beach. This Byzantine marvel was built in the 1100s and features some truly mind-blowing golden mosaics.
If you’re okay with being a bit off the beach, privately managed places like Ni Ni Apartments can still come in around $95 to $97 a night, and similar Cefalù apartments and guest houses are listed from about $90 to $110 per night on major booking sites.
For those flying to Europe in the coming months, don’t forget to check the Travel Advisory for your destination before you go.
The last thing you want is to let your guard down in a pickpocketing hotspot, especially in crowded places, transit hubs, and tourist areas.
Grado
A little local secret that some might argue is the perfect antithesis to Venice, Grado is another floating town on the Adriatic spread across a lagoon.
It has both Old World charm, with canals cutting through its pastel-hued Historic Center and biking lanes running alongside them, and the kind of natural beauty people don’t usually come to Northeastern Italy for. We’re talking long sandy beaches, shallow warm waters, and lagoon-dotted horizons.
Yep, unlike your average Adriatic hub, Grado’s beaches are soft with sand, not sharp pebbles that will cut and slice your soles, and unlike Amalfi towns—where it’s always an uphill climb with heavy luggage and cobblestones—it’s mostly flat.
No sweeping viewpoints, sure, but how does an early Roman basilica (over in neighboring Aquileia), cycling paths through wetlands, and flamingo sightings sound?
Oh, and did we mention practically zero crowds and the fact you can splurge on a three-course dinner for about $30–35?
Staying overnight? Hotiday Grado Marina is a popular 4-star listing where rooms and suites cost a still-affordable $73. You heard it here first.
Now take this quiz to find your perfect Italian match!
Question 1 of 4
What is your ideal coastal landscape?
Question 2 of 4
What is your must-have vacation activity?
Question 3 of 4
How do you feel about beaches?
Final Question
Which hidden perk sounds best?
Portovenere
The Ligurian Gem
Pro Tip: Take the 5-minute boat ride over to Palmaria island for quiet hiking trails and incredible waterfront seafood at Il Pozzale!
Brindisi
The Historic Adriatic Port
Pro Tip: Skip the busy streets of Bari and head to La Locanda del Porto in Brindisi for some of the best fresh orecchiette pasta you’ll ever taste.
Cefalù, Sicily
The Sicilian Dream
Pro Tip: While you’re enjoying a gelato on the pier, make sure to visit the Cefalù Cathedral to see its mind-blowing 12th-century golden mosaics.
Grado
The Mini-Venice Escape
Pro Tip: Rent a bike to explore the cycling paths through the wetlands, spot wild flamingos, and then splurge on a cheap, three-course dinner!
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
