Now that I’ve lived in Italy for two years, I've realized I’ve seen a lot of the country. Recently, we went on a week-long hiking trip in the Dolomites, and I saw the changes that were happening in the Dolomites to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics. That’s when it hit me - Italia is about to get even crazier this winter with tourism. The Winter Olympics will run from Friday, Feb 6th, 2026 – Sunday, Feb 22nd, 2026, and the t-shirts were already for sale this summer.
If you are planning to come for the Olympics, it makes sense to tack on some enjoyable travel while you’re here. Dare I say, February is my favorite month to travel here? You can be paddleboarding with a view of Stromboli in Calabria or skiing at the top of the Dolomites without the crowds of tourists. For those of you who are considering visiting for the Olympics, here are my favorite places I’ve visited in February, ranked from 1-10.
Courmayeur / Vallée d’Aosta : 100/10
I loved it here. I felt like I was transported into a magical Italian / French snow globe, and I was skiing down a mountain while the gods poured polenta down my gullet. I never wanted to leave.
Our hotel was simple and perfect; there was a shared living room area with a fireplace where I read books and my husband drank beer in the evenings. It was incredibly cozy and very modestly priced.
The fancy side of Mont Blanc, the French side, is more expensive and crowded with Americans, but the Italian side was quieter and cozier. My Italian friends told me this is where fancy people go to ski, but our hotel was about 100 euros per night, we could walk to the lift, and it was much, much less obnoxious and expensive than the fancy American ski resorts of the West.
We flew into Turin and rented a car, and on the way there, we stopped in a random little town in Piedmont for some pasta; it was one of our favorite meals of our stay in Italy. Compared to the Dolomites, which is Austrian-influenced food-wise, the Valée d’Aosta has a killer combo: the butter of France and the polenta of Italy. The food in this region is amazing, and we did not hold back after spending our days on the slopes.
Dolomites: 10/10
We’ve now been to the Dolomites in the winter for skiing and in the summer for hiking. It’s hard to describe just how stunning and impressive the rock formations here are. I can only liken it to Yosemite; you can spend half the day just staring at the rock face and wondering what the point of life is. In the winter, we stayed in Bolzano, which was a charming and magical city, and took the bus to a different ski resort every day using only one ski pass, the Dolomiti Superski. The bus system was incredibly easy and convenient to navigate, and allowed you to throw your gear underneath.
Lots of events will be taking place in the Dolomites, as the Olympics are happening in Cortina d’Ampezzo. However, what I learned this trip is that the Dolomites are huge. You can spend a week exploring each region. Two things I wanted to see this summer that we missed: Pale di San Martino or the Marmolada Glacier in the Trentino region (we ran out of time, and it was raining). At the end of our trip, we unexpectedly spent a few days in Agordo, in the Veneto region, and enjoyed a few days without tourists. We also loved Sesto / Sexten, the home of the Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. My recommendation is to focus on the regions you want to see and plan accordingly.
Trapani, Sicily: 8/10
While February is very much considered off-season, it did not stop us from making the most of things. It felt very much like spring in Trapani, the oranges were ready for picking, and buccellati, or fig cookies, made especially for carnevale, kept me fueled during our day-long hiking retreat in the Riserva naturale orientata dello Zingaro. The downside of going to Southern Italy in the winter is that many restaurants are closed; the upside is that the open ones are high quality and do not focus only on seasonally catering to tourists. You will eat where the locals eat.
We stayed in a beautiful agriturismo with donkeys, peacocks, dogs, and cats. The property was lined with flowers and plants. Trapani was a cute town, but we liked the smaller, charming towns of San Vito lo Capo and the castle on the hill, Erice, much better. If I came back a month or two later, I would focus on the beaches around Palermo as well as visit Cefalù.
Venezia for Carnevale: 8/10
Everyone: don’t go to Venice for Carnevale, it’s too crowded!
Me: I don’t care, I’m going anyway.
We stayed outside of Venice in Murano. While it was not recommended by many, I am so happy with our choice. Taking the water taxi to and from Murano was like my own personal Disney ride. And yes, while it was difficult to walk the streets due to the crowds, the boat parade was amazing, the food was delicious, and kissing over every bridge we walked across was cheesy and romantic. We were lucky enough to have some sunny days, and lots of Venetians sat outside by the water soaking in the rays and drinking spritzes. We made lots of time for leisurely strolls and water taxi rides, and glass-blowing demonstrations. Fat Tuesday, or Martedi Grasso, is the official kick-off for Carnevale, happening February 17, 2026; however, there are many events throughout the month.
Tropea, Calabria: 9/10
The drive from Tropea to Naples is nearly five hours. We headed down one weekend in February and were blessed with temperatures in the 70s and the town to ourselves. We went swimming in nearby Capo Vaticano, as well as stand-up paddleboarding for the day. We spent the day paddling in and out of grottos, taking breaks on nearby secret beaches, and recovering with nduja pasta.
A bit more north, we visited Grotta della Pecora outside of Scalea, spent the day on the beach, and visited some nearby hikes. If you want a stark contrast to the snow and mountains, Calabria awaits.
Rome, Italy: 7/10
Longtime readers will know, I don’t have any magical travel articles about Rome. It’s only an hour away, and every time I go, the vibe I get here is institutional Vatican power and wealth. This is not a popular opinion. The magic for me is in trying to figure out how Romans actually live here. I love the neighborhoods of San Lorenzo, Prati, and Monti, where I can feel the beat of the locals.
February may be the best time to visit Rome. It’s not too cold. It’s not too touristy. My parents love it. You still get those sunny winter days. My favorite things to do in Rome include walking down Via Margutta, having a bite to eat at TramTram in San Lorenzo, having a gelato in front of the Pantheon, or just ordering caccio e peppe and a glass of wine outside and people watching.
If you want more Rome inspiration from people who really love Rome, try Samantha’s guide, Gillian Longworth McGuire’s Rome articles, or Laura Itzkowitz’s The New Roman Times.
My best advice for visiting Italy during crowded and busy seasons is to stay in a smaller town. They are easy to find on Google Maps, and you can search for an agriturismo or bed and breakfast in that town. You will probably spend way less and have a much more authentic experience than snagging the hottest new hotel from Instagram, that poured big money into PR and advertising.
Round-up of my Favorite Places in Italy
Emilia-Romagna: Bologna - that time I tried adult study abroad, eating in Emilia-Romagna, Italy’s food capital
Umbria: a truffle-filled fall visit to Spoleto and Montefalco
Sardinia: September in Sant’Antioco
Lombardy: Thanksgiving visit to Lake Como
Campania: Magic of Ischia in Summer
Campania: island hopping in Ponza, Ischia, Procida, and Elba (plus my rankings)
South Tyrol: a winter visit to Bolzano
Campania: Amalfi Coast Visitor’s Guide
Pugila: Olives in Apulia - Declaring our Self-Worth
Some funny stories about living in Italy:
Where is your favorite place in Italy? I’d love to know in the comments.
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