Italy isn’t just ONE destination — it’s a charming patchwork of regional identities, landscapes, and traditions. And nowhere is that contrast more vivid than between the North and the South. Whether you’re dreaming of lakes and Alps or olive groves and coastal villages, choosing which part of the country to explore first can feel overwhelming.
While there is no such thing as north Italy better than south Italy or vice versa, there are differences and similarities you can keep in mind when crafting YOUR itinerary. The most important aspect is that each region has its own features and traits that define it and attract visitors.
If this is your first time, or you only have a week or two, you’ll want to choose the region or area that aligns best with your travel style. In this article, I will walk you through all the aspects that bring northern and southern Italy together and those that tell them apart.
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Northern vs Southern Italy – The main differences
The culture
Northern Italy is more influenced by Central Europe and countries like Switzerland, Austria, and France to some extent. This covers all the aspects of daily life, from the local food to the traditions to the language. Something not many know, the official language in Italy is not only Italian but also German because spoken in South Tyrol and French because spoken in Valle D’Aosta.
In Southern Italy, you can expect a typical Mediterranean experience with influences from Greece and also Northern Africa. From Rome south, in fact, you will immediately notice a difference in foods, traditions, and local landmarks.
The landmarks
Italy is rich in landmarks and has a myriad of museums from north to south, but they widely differ because they are connected to the local culture, lifestyle, and history.
In Northern Italy, you can expect scattered castles in the middle of nowhere like Castel Thun near Trento, historic villas, and stunning gardens. Southern Italy is more largely populated with archaeological ruins and royal palaces.
The landscapes
Even though beautiful in most parts of the country, the landscapes of Northern Italy are quite different from those in Southern Italy.
Northern Italy is for fans of mountain views and activities such as climbing and advanced trekking, while Southern Italy offers lower peaks, less difficult hikes, and beautiful beaches.
Northern vs Southern Italy – The main similarities
The history
Even though quite different events, wars, invasions, and relations throughout the centuries, both Northern Italy and Southern Italy have a rich history. This brings different types of historical sites to visit in all regions but still many landmarks to see wherever you decide to go.
The art
Strictly linked to beauty and history, the whole of Italy is an art-rich country. Cities like Florence, Rome, and Milan are home to many art galleries and museums where visitors can see the masterpieces of the most important Italian artists and also international works, but so are Naples, Palermo, Ravenna, and more.
The food
When it comes to food, the Northern vs Southern Italy dilemma is a delicious one. I think that northern Italian food is richer and heavier than southern Italian. In Northern Italy, they cook more using butter while in Southern Italy, olive oil is the main base ingredient.
The dishes in Northern Italy see a large Germanic and central European influence while in the south, it’s more Mediterranean style. In fact, some argue, and I agree, that there is no such thing as “Italian food” because each region, city, and town have their own typical recipes.
Finally – Where to go?
Here are a few tips to help you decide whether you should choose southern or northern Italy to build the trip of your life.
Why you should pick Northern Italy instead of Southern Italy
Mountain adrenaline
While you can find beautiful mountains also in the central Italian Apennines, the Alps of Valle D’Aosta and the Dolomites of Veneto, Lombardy, and Trentino-Alto Adige are hard to beat.
Lake romance
From the famous Lake Garda to Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and the lakes in the Dolomites Lake Tovel and Braies Lake, in northern Italy, there is a higher concentration of lakes compared to central and southern Italy.
However, also in other regions of Italy, you can find beautiful lakes such as Lago di Bracciano and Lago di Bolsena not far from Rome and Lago Trasimeno in Umbria.
International borders
Italy borders with other countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia only in the north, while southern regions are lapped by the Mediterranean Sea.
This makes northern Italy a better destination for you if you want to have a pan-European trip.
Why you should pick Southern Italy instead of Northern Italy
Greek heritage
In Southern Italy, there are many archaeological sites heritage of the ancient Greek civilization, especially temples in regions like Puglia, Campania, Basilicata, and obviously Sicily where the famous Valle dei Templi is near Agrigento.
Beach frenzy
If you are planning on having some great beach time, then Southern Italy is your destination. I know in the north they have Rimini and Riccione and the famous Cinque Terre but sorry, the coastline of Italian southern regions including the two biggest islands of Sicily and Sardinia are hard to beat.
Milder weather
While in summer both north and south are very hot, except maybe the highest Alpine slopes and peaks, in winter, the weather in the southern regions of Italy is milder and less rainy than in the northern regions.
Cheaper prices
Generally speaking, Southern Italy has much cheaper prices than Northern Italy. This includes hotels, restaurants, public transport, and probably also some city tax fees.
I was recently checking the hotels in Palermo, the gorgeous Sicilian capital extremely rich in culture, and saw how much cheaper they were compared to average accommodation in Parma.
What about Central Italy?
Central Italy is where my Rome is, possibly the biggest tourist draw in the country and certainly the city with the richest history.
About Rome, I admit that I’m totally biased because I love the city I’ve been calling home since 1998. But central Italy also boasts other wonderful places both in the same Lazio and other regions such as Umbria, Marche, and Abruzzo.
And Sardinia?
Sardinia is an island that geographically would be central-southern Italy but that bears its very own culture, traditions, cuisine, and landscapes, to the point that it’s often referred to as a small Continent.
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