8 Impossibly Glamorous, Celebrity-Loved Towns in Italy

Watching Dua Lipa and Callum Turner honeymoon their way across Italy this summer has inspired a very specific kind of envy. Not because they were staying in impossibly beautiful hotels (although they were), or because every photograph looked like a Slim Aarons ad campaign. It was the itinerary itself. Instead of racing between Italy’s biggest cities, the newlyweds lingered in elegant villages, glamorous hideaways, and places where lunch somehow melted into aperitivo hour before slipping effortlessly into sunset. Which got us wondering: Where do the world’s most stylish travelers actually go when they vacation in Italy?

The answers aren’t always what you’d expect. Yes, there’s Capri and Positano, and even Stanley Tucci has been caught talking about his love of Ischia recently. But there are also quiet corners of Tuscany, and Alpine towns that only die-hard skiers have heard of. Whether you’re planning an Italian grand tour or just looking for a little travel inspo, these are the destinations that lure everyone from A-listers to fashion royalty.

Porto Ercole

For living your best “Under the Tuscan Sun” life

On the Tuscan coast, Porto Ercole feels like a place that time forgot. Built around a tiny fishing harbor, this sleepy village was a stop on Dua Lipa’s honeymoon tour. The town’s enduring icon is Il Pellicano, a legendary hideaway created in the 1960s by British socialites Michael Graham and Patsy Daszel, which continues to attract a decidedly chic international crowd. There is some fascinating Spanish military history to be found here, as well as crystal-clear Tyrrhenian waters.

Positano

Amalfi Coast glamour at its peak

Arriving in Positano feels like stepping into a dream—it’s one of the most photographed towns in the world. Madonna and Jennifer Lopez are fans of the exclusive Villa TreVille, while Anne Hathaway and Sienna Miller have also fallen for Positano’s charms. The legendary Le Sirenuse remains the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail, and is home to one of the best hotel “gift shops” in the world, offering a mix of clothing and shoes hand-curated by the owner, Carla Sersale. Don’t miss Le Sirenuse Mare, the hotel’s new beach club, which will surely be a great spot for people-watching.

Capri

For Italian island luxury

What is it about an island that makes a destination feel that much more luxurious? Tucked into the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, this small island has been a resort destination since Roman times. Home to dramatic limestone cliffs and grottoes (including the famous Blue Grotto), it’s long been known as one of Italy’s easiest places for celebrities to disappear, making it a magnet for VIPs from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Kylie Jenner. Book a room at Hotel La Palma, part of the glamorous Oetker Collection and the center of Capri’s social scene since opening its doors in 1822.

Ischia

For the ultimate in Italian discretion

When it comes to Italian islands, Capri gets all of the attention—but insiders know that Ischia is where notables really go to slip under the radar. This volcanic island is a surprisingly lush addition to the Italian landscape, complete with fig trees and wild rosemary. Stanley Tucci is a vocal fan of this tiny island, where the pace slows considerably and the crowds never get too big. Unlike other towns in Italy that feel outwardly glamorous, Ischia retains its old-world charm with thermal hot springs, lush gardens, and family-owned trattorias where leisurely lunches are the most important meal of the day. Book a room at the Mezzatorre, a sister property to Porto Ercole’s Il Pellicano. It’s housed in a 17th-century watchtower with views that will take even the most jaded traveler’s breath away.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

An icon of Europe’s top mountain destinations

Why should Italy’s beach towns and cities take all the spotlight? Up in the country’s northeast are the Dolomites, a subrange of the Alps where high-elevation glamour and Italian culture combine for an experience unlike anywhere else. Today, Cortina counts everyone from Brunello Cucinelli to Alberta Ferretti among its devotees. The top hotels here have a sense of grandeur without losing their low-key, personal side—check out the stylish Ancora Cortina, a new hotel owned by Renzo Rosso, chairman of OTB Group, the fashion conglomerate that owns Marni, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, and Viktor & Rolf.

Forte dei Marmi

Italian beach club culture, perfected

Unlike some of the more dramatic coastal towns where the shorelines are rocky and the crowds mostly American, Forte dei Marmi is where Italy’s jet set decamps for some beach time. Tucked between the mountains and the sea, this sandy stretch of Tuscan coastline has attracted everyone from Andrea Bocelli and the late Giorgio Armani to the Agnelli family, Zoe Saldaña, and Naomi Campbell. For the quintessential Forte experience, check into Le Serena, a five-star hotel that captures the hotel’s polished yet understated sensibility.

Portofino

The heart of the Italian Riviera

“That view of Portofino was on my mind,” sang Taylor Swift on The Life of a Showgirl track “Elizabeth Taylor.” She’s not the only artist to draw inspiration from this seaside enclave’s candy-colored buildings and polished wooden Riva boats—the town has a rich artistic legacy, and counts the Kardashians, Beyoncé, and Hollywood legends like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall among its fans. Grace Kelly would (allegedly) drive over to seek respite from the prying eyes of Monégasque society. The hotel to book? Splendido, a Belmond Hotel—it’s home to a Dior Spa and some of the most luxurious rooms on the Italian Riviera.

Venice

For the pinnacle of old-world romance

There may be no city on Earth better suited for a lavish vacation than Venice. It’s certainly hosted its fair share of headline-making celebrity weddings—namely, George and Amal Clooney in 2014, and Jeff and Lauren Sánchez Bezos in 2025. Virtually every A-list actor has made the rounds here for the Venice Film Festival, yet Venice remains remarkably unchanged by its famous visitors. Explore the city early in the morning, before the cruise ships and day-trippers arrive, and you’ll discover quiet canals and empty piazzas that feel cinematic and alluring, like you’ve stepped into The Talented Mr. Ripley. Celebs and VIPs love the Aman Venice, housed in an opulent 16th-century palazzo.