Top 25 Most Visited Cities in Italy - Official Ranking

Have you ever wondered which are the most visited Italian cities? Today we present the list of the top 25 Italian municipalities by number of presences recorded in accommodation establishments. Our ranking is based on the latest official ISTAT survey not tainted by the Covid pandemic, i.e. the one for the 2019 tourist season.

Of course, other updates have been published for the two-year period 20-21, but these presented strongly downward figures due to the terrible crisis that has hit the tourism sector. This is why we wanted to take into account the 2019 season, the last one that could be held regularly without various restrictions. In the ranking, there is no shortage of the most famous and important cities, but there are also some surprises such as Caorle or Cavallino-Treporti, strategic locations gravitating around poles of great interest.

Here is the ranking!

Where do tourists come from?
Within the report there is also statistical data on where the various tourists come from. It seems that more than 26% come from Germany. Right after that come tourists from the USA, which is about 7.4 per cent. Then we have France and the United Kingdom, with 6.3% and 6.2% respectively.

25 - Abano Terme: 1,987,421 presences

Photo by antonio. A small municipality of around 20,000 inhabitants in the Veneto region, in the province of Padua, it is one of Europe's main spa centres.
Beyond this, it certainly benefits from its ideal location for visiting the main tourist poles of the Veneto, namely Padua and Venice, but also Verona and Treviso.

Why visit? For the spas and the strategic location.

24 - Comacchio: 1,998,304 presences

Photo by Vanni Lazzari. This time we are in the province of Ferrara, in Emilia Romagna, for the fourth largest municipality in the region. Here too, with all due respect to the delightful little town in the Ferrara area, the reasons for its presence in the ranking must be found in its proximity to Ferrara, Bologna, Ravenna but above all Rimini and Riccione. Needless to say, compared to the aforementioned famous sisters, sleeping in a hotel in Comacchio should cost a little less...

Why visit? In the surrounding area there are places of great tourist and natural interest. There are certainly savings on accommodation compared to neighbouring tourist centres such as Ferrara, Bologna, Ravenna, Rimini.

23 - Bardolino: 2,101,596 presences

Here the inhabitants number just 7,000. We are in the province of Verona, in a wonderful position as it is on the shore of Lake Garda, with all the tourist implications that this entails... it is a stone's throw from Verona, Mantua, Peschiera del Garda and about 20 km from Gardaland.

Why visit it? To save on accommodation in neighbouring tourist centres such as Gardaland, Verona and Mantua. The best periods are spring and summer.

22 - Bellaria Igea Marina: 2,216,032 presences

Photo by Albino Di Lieto. Bellaria is a delightful seaside village on the Romagna Riviera, with a marked growth in tourism and a succession of hotels and villages that are ideal for families. A virtuous model of tourism that draws its sap, above all, from the incoming tourism generated by its sisters Rimini and Riccione, as well as Ravenna, Cesenatico, Milano Marittima, and so on. Needless to say, if in Rimini in summer a room costs x, here it costs at least x -1...

Why visit? For the sea, the excellent accommodation and the strategic location.

21 - Peschiera del Garda: 2,379,705 presences

Photo by el Mostrito. Another municipality in the Veneto, in the province of Verona. Here the reasons for the presence in the ranking are both: intrinsic tourist interest and strategic position. The charm of Peschiera del Garda is beyond doubt: surrounded by walls, criss-crossed by canals and positioned on the edge of the lake. An enchantment, indeed. It is also clear that it also draws its sap from tourism in the Veneto in general, and more specifically from the nearby Gardaland amusement park, which in Peschiera practically finds one of its first 'hoteliers'.
Not to mention Desenzano, Sirmione, Verona, Mantua, all tourist resorts just a stone's throw away!

Why visit it? It certainly has a high tourist interest, it is an enjoyable town, and with a strategic position that makes it very attractive.

20 - Verona: 2,743,943 presences

There is no world for me beyond the walls of Verona: there is only purgatory, there is torture, hell itself; banished from here, it is as if I were banished from the world, and exile from the world means death. And so to say exile is to say death by another term, false and improper; and you, calling my death exile, chop off my head with a golden axe, and smile at the blow that kills me. Photo by Didier Descouens. These are the words that, according to William Shakespeare, would have been uttered by a Veronese citizen of excellence, his Romeo from the famous tragedy.
One can understand, therefore, why Verona is visited by millions of tourists every year. It is a city of great artistic and historical richness, with its various events including the opera season held at the wonderful Arena.

Why visit it? There are a million reasons, of historical, cultural, artistic interest. It is a city to visit absolutely, and can be visited all year round.

19 - Sorrento: 2,756,578 presences

We are on the Amalfi coast. OK, point, that already explains everything, doesn't it? The Amalfi Coast is one of the most visited areas in Italy, especially targeted by the American tourist looking for the emblem of the 'Dolce Vita'.
And from Sorrento we then move on to Amalfi, Positano, with the inevitable detour to Naples and its surroundings. A marvel!

Why visit it? It is a delightful town, and a perfect starting point to visit the tourist region of the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento Peninsula.
SEE ALSO: Sorrento: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

18 - Ravenna: 2,719,090 presences

Photo by Franco Musa. We return to Emilia Romagna. Once again we find ourselves within that imaginary quadrilateral that unites the centres of Venice, Verona, Florence and Rimini and which, within a radius of 200 km, also encompasses Bologna, Ferrara, Padua, Mantua and, precisely, Ravenna. With this introduction, we do not want to take credit away from Ravenna, a delightful town rich in history, culture, known for its mosaics and churches. It is simply the presentation of a bigger picture that gives further value to the city as a tourist destination and starting point for a truly unparalleled historical and cultural itinerary.

Why visit it? Ravenna has an enormous historical and cultural interest, and its strategic location makes it an ideal base for visiting the surrounding area.
SEE ALSO: What to see in and around Ravenna

17 - Bologna: 3,188,040 presences

Bologna is a city where a lively grit blends with a distinctly medieval appearance. Throughout its history, it has earned many nicknames such as La Grassa, because of its extensive culinary tradition (of which the delicious ragù is one), La Dotta, because its is the oldest university in Europe, founded in 1088, and La Rossa, a name that alludes to the ubiquity of the terracotta of medieval buildings adorned with long porticoes.

Why visit it? It is one of Italy's most important cities, capable of satisfying all interests, from historical and cultural to wine and food, to young people in search of movida.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Bologna

16 - Cesenatico: 3,403,237 presences

Photo by Lumini Mattia. Summer here is for those who love to stay up late at night, who don't care about the clock, who love love and the sea, and who often confuse the two. Cesenatico is, together with Milano Marittima, the queen of the Riviera Romagnola north of Rimini and Riccione.

Why visit it? It is one of the main centres for nightlife and summer fun.
SEE ALSO: Cesenatico: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

15 - Cervia: 3,468,948 presences

Photo by Kaosrimo. We return once again to the Romagna Riviera, which is practically cannibalising the ranking. Cervia, too, is feeding off the Riviera's summer tourism. Sea, sun, fun galore and a location that, for day-trippers, guarantees you half of Italy within driving distance!

Why visit? For the nightlife for sure, but also for the sea and the strategic location, close to famous destinations and parks.
SEE ALSO: Cervia: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

14 - Lignano Sabbiadoro: 3,495,091 presences

Photo by Giuseppe Milo. The ultra-VIP destination of Lignano Sabbiadoro, in the province of Udine, is mostly related to the Venetian coastline. In fact, a stone's throw from the city of carnival, it is located in the Gulf of Marano and a stone's throw from Bibione, Caorle and Jesolo.

Why visit it? For the sea, for the chance to meet some VIPs, and for its absolutely strategic location.

13 - Lazise: 3,606,249 presences

Photo by Alessandro Vecchi. Now, don't hold it against Lazise, because really, all these villages on Lake Garda are a delight... but the reason for over three million presences a year is quite clear. The location, in fact, is'at the centre of the world', in the sense that within a radius of just 200 km, you reach almost all the'top destinations' of northern Italy: Florence and Bologna to the south, Verona and Venice to the east, Milan and Turin to the west. Not to mention, as in other similar cases in this ranking, the 'tourist strength' of attractions such as Gardaland...

Why visit it? Its strong point is its strategic location, but Lazise itself is a delightful little village.

12 - Turin: 3,626,036 presences

Turin is the Italian capital of the automobile industry but also a city that has long been described as'magical'. Perhaps it is because of the presence of the very important Egyptian Museum, a place that attracts many visitors and schoolchildren on school trips every year. Perhaps it is because of the Shroud Museum, located in the crypt of the Church of the Holy Shroud, where those interested in this mystery and believers can view documents, three-dimensional images and photos of the sacred shroud in addition to the artefact. Quite simply, Turin is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy.

11 - Riccione: 3,632,025 presences

Photo by Enrico Siboni. And we arrive at Rimini's 'famous sister'. Let us return to the Romagna Riviera, once again for a purely summer resort on what is the coast of fun in Italy.

Why visit it? It is one of the most sought-after seaside resorts, for the seaside of the Riviera and for the fun.

10 - Naples: 3,765,847 presences

Naples is another city full of contradictions but with a timeless charm that attracts millions of tourists. Its gulf, with the sea meeting the looming silhouette of Vesuvius, is one of the most photographed and best-loved settings in the world.
Tourists also choose it for the warmth of the people and the culinary specialities, among which pizza and delicious desserts obviously stand out.

Why visit it? It is an absolute must in Italy and beyond, a city that is able to surprise, amaze, from every point of view, from cultural history to food and wine, to landscapes.
SEE ALSO: 10 things you absolutely must see in Naples

9 - Caorle: 4,319,483 presences

A municipality in the province of Venice, Caorle overlooks the Venetian lagoon, a stone's throw from the capital and places such as Bibione, Lignano Sabbiadoro and Jesolo. Listed among the most beautiful historic towns in Italy, it is certainly worth a visit, and its position makes it one of the main central European tourist destinations. Like Cavallino Treporti, Caorle, Jesolo and Bibione, these are in fact the beaches closest to central Europe, a sort of'mare nostrum' for the families of Germans, Austrians, Czechs and Slovaks.
Certainly, then, its position so close to Venice and the Dolomites contributes to such a flow of tourists.

Why visit it? Definitely for the sea, especially for its strategic position.

8 - Jesolo: 5,438,519 presences

Another super-VIP resort in the province of Venice and historically closely linked to the capital. The town has seen an impressive building renaissance in the last 20 years, with redevelopment of residential areas, the birth of hotels and tourist villages and a tourist dock that has made the town take off!
Jesolo is also one of the main Central European seaside destinations, the closest beaches to central Europe, a sort of'mare nostrum' for the families of Germans, Austrians, Czechs and Slovaks.

SEE ALSO: The most beautiful beaches in Jesolo

7 - San Michele al Tagliamento: 5,851,482 presences

Less than 30 km away from Caorle, still in the province of Venice, we find San Michele al Tagliamento, another town that is taken by storm by those whose prerogative is not to stay in the centre of Venice. In addition to the capital, the location is strategic for summers on the Venetian coast, with the village of Bibione in the forefront.

Why visit it? For its strategic location and excellent accommodation, especially in summer

6 - Cavallino-Treporti: 6,269,451 presences

Photo by Luca Aless. It still revolves around Venice, but Cavallino Treporti is truly an Italian excellence! It has well-equipped beaches, the largest campsite in Europe, discos... in short, a true virtuous example of tourism.
What's more, it is practically in the centre of the Venetian lagoon, practically touching the capital and in the middle of all the islets of the lagoon. Certainly, this strategic position also contributes to the millions of presences, but we reiterate that Cavallino Treporti is an absolute tourist excellence.
This is also one of the main Central European seaside destinations, in fact it is the closest beach to the centre of Europe and therefore targeted by Germans, Austrians, Czechs, Slovaks.

5 - Rimini: 7,548,135 presences

Photo by Sharon Mollerus. Rimini is the emblem of Italian summer tourism, of fun, nightlife, crowded beaches and late nights!
And the figure of 7 million presences makes even more noise because, unlike cities of art such as Rome and Florence, here they are largely concentrated in the summer season!
SEE ALSO: What you must see in Rimini

4 - Florence: 10,955,345 presences

Florence is one of the favourite destinations for foreigners. Tourists from all over the world are enchanted by this city, a veritable open-air museum.
Florence's tourist attractions are endless, as are its culinary and craft offers. The Uffizi Gallery is ranked 20th most visited art gallery in the world.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Florence

3 - Milan: 12,474,208 visitors

Photo by Steffen Schmitz. Milan is a busy city, sometimes grey and shrouded in the famous'scighera', the proverbial fog. But Milan can also be very colourful, with all the hues that the great designers bring to the catwalk each season, the greenery of Parco Sempione, the Christmas markets in the shadow of the majestic Duomo cathedral.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Milan

2 - Venice: 12,948,519 admissions

Venice is the city of lovers par excellence, the city of romance and moonlit gondola rides. St Mark's Square, even when flooded with water, hosts millions of enthusiastic tourists every year.
The years pass by but nothing can dent the eternal charm of the Venetian city even a little.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Venice

1 - Rome: 30,980,083 presences

Photo by Sitomon. Rome remains the eternal city, favoured by millions of tourists from every corner of the world.
The attractions of this city cannot be listed, given the infinite availability of itineraries, works of art, monuments and ruins from any historical period.
SEE ALSO: What to see in Rome