Where Locals Go for Ferragosto, the Italian Summer Holiday

These are the best getaway spots to avoid tourist crowds and enjoy summer the way the Italians do.

Italians wait all year for Ferragosto, the August holiday that signals the country’s collective summer vacation. While it started as a one-day break for workers during the Ancient Roman rule of Emperor Augustus, it’s evolved into a country-wide vacation that typically lasts a couple of weeks, if not the whole month. 

The holiday gives Italians a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy some well-deserved downtime in nature just as temperatures hit their peak. Most of the country’s major cities are inland, away from the cooling breezes of the Mediterranean coast, and can hit sweltering heights during the month of August. Air conditioning has become more common in Italy over the last decade, but it’s still nowhere near as widespread as it is in the U.S. 

To cool off, Italians escape either to the beach—with 5,000 miles of coastline, the country has plenty of options!—or to the mountains of the north, which can be 15+ degrees cooler than low-lying inland cities like Florence. 

This is not the time to visit the big cities you’ve had on your bucket list; you’ll find them to be much quieter than usual, and many family-owned shops and restaurants will be closed for vacation. Well-known beach and island destinations like Capri will be jam-packed with European tourists enjoying their own lengthy holiday breaks. But don’t despair if you’re visiting Italy in August! Just follow the locals to these lesser-known destinations: 

Bolzano 

The northern Dolomite mountains are among the most beloved Ferragosto destinations for Italians, with walking trails and chairlifts crossing green pastures below towering stone formations. This city, capital of the Alto Adige region, shares a deep cultural connection with neighboring Austria and makes a unique home base for an Alpine adventure. 

How to get here: Train from Milan 

Champoluc 

In the winter, this resort town near the Swiss border is a skiier’s paradise centered around Monte Rosa, the second-tallest peak in the Alps. In summer, that pristine mountain terrain is crisscrossed with shady hiking trails, making it the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to stay cool. 

How to get here: Train from Milan 

Ischia 

At the top of the Gulf of Naples, this large island has been a wellness destination for Italians from around the country for thousands of years. While it’s best known for its incredible mineral hot springs, it’s also home to sandy beaches, picturesque vineyards, and stunning historic architecture.  

How to get here: Ferry from Naples 

Lake Maggiore 

If you’ve been enchanted by the idea of a Lake Como holiday, you’re not alone. This lake, the second largest in Italy, doesn’t have Como-sized crowds, but it has the same grand villas and pristine water framed by mountain peaks. Take a ferry to the island of Isola Bella, with its sweeping gardens where white peacocks strut among fanciful grottoes and rose bushes. 

How to get here: Train from Milan to the lakeside town of Stresa 

Lecce 

For grand baroque cathedrals and historic architecture, head for this city in the southern region of Puglia, the “heel” of Italy’s boot. Traveling a short distance to either the east or west will take you to some of the country’s best beaches, while the city itself has a walkable old town center to rival Florence. 

How to get here: High-speed train from Rome 

Ponza 

A crescent-shaped island off the coast of Lazio, this island is a little slice of Roman paradise. With its dramatic cliffs, rocky faraglioni, and brightly colored terraced buildings, it’s reminiscent of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, though with far fewer crowds.

How to get here: Train from Rome to the coastal town of Anzio, then ferry  

For more Italy travel tips, check out all of Giada's Travel Guides to Italy.