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Home to a plethora of world-famous landmarks, from the Roman Colosseum to the Tower of Pisa, cities that date back to the dawning of time, and a stunning Mediterranean nature, Italy is on the minds of millions dreaming of an idyllic European getaway this summer.
Lucky for the sun-seekers out there, the likes of Rome, Milan and Venice are not the only Italian hotspots within easy reach from the United States in 2025.
Once the high season starts, Americans will be able to fly nonstop to 4 incredible beachside cities in the country, offering not only the usual ancient culture but gorgeous coastlines, and without layovers in larger transit hubs:
Bari
A port city lining the Adriatic Sea, Bari is everything you’d hope an Italian getaway to be, with the ocher-colored Old Town crisscrossed with narrow streets and peppered with nonna-run eateries, Baroque churches, and scenic waterfront.
It doesn’t have a mighty Roman arena, but its medieval Basilica di San Nicola houses some of the remains of St. Nicholas.
Milan may have a shop-lined Via Torino, but it doesn’t have Bari’s Murat, a largely pedestrianized quarter ringed by 19th-century buildings.
Bari is also the gateway to the wider Puglia: a short half-hour drive away, there is Polignano a Mare, a secluded beach backed by tall cliffs, strewn with whitewashed houses, and if it’s golden sands you’re after, look no further than Cala Copacabana.
Most excitingly, starting June 3, Americans will be able to fly to Bari from New York–JFK, thanks to Italy-based airline Neos Air’s new nonstop route, which will link America to Italy’s southeastern coast for the first time.
This is a seasonal route running until October 5, and one-way flights start from $645 roundtrip, so enjoy it while you can!
Naples
Mainland Italy’s ‘southern capital’, Naples is a sprawling metropolis as chaotic as it is fascinating, backed by a fearsome Vesuvius, and where authenticity trumps staged niceties for tourists.
Between the bustling fortified port, the maze-like grid of streets that is the Spanish Quarter, and Piazza del Plebiscito, joined by a stately Royal Palace and accompanying colonnaded basilica, there is plenty here to keep you busy for days.
If you’re a foodie, maybe you should know Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and it is the spot for getting those perfect-looking sourdough beauties for as cheap as $5 (on that note, Pizzeria e Trattoria al 22 does not disappoint).
Last but not least, it is right next to a number of iconic secondary destinations: we’re thinking Pompeii and Herculaneum, two Roman cities once wiped out by Vesuvius, and a handful of Instagrammable beach settings up and down the neighboring Amalfi Coast:
Does Positano and its parasol-dotted dark sands ring a bell? Or perhaps Fiordo di Furore, a secretive cove nestled between massive rock faces connected by an old arched stone bridge?
Oh, never mind the dreamy island of Capri, bathed by the warm, teal-colored Mediterranean and a short one-hour ferry ride from Naples.
Flights to Naples are returning as early as May 6 as well, so there’s no need to touch down in Rome, then board a train south––and this time, you have plenty of options.
American Airlines, Delta, and United compete in this network from Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, New York-JFK, and Philadelphia. Roundtrip flights start from only $517 on certain dates.
Palermo
The capital of Sicily, Italy’s largest island, and the largest island in the Mediterranean overall, Palermo is the perfect introduction to the sun-drenched island.
Similar to Naples in character, it has that purposefully anarchic, diamond-in-the-rough vibe, with the crazy traffic, narrow alleys crammed with family-run merchant shops, and scorching-hot weather––and may we add, none of Northern Italy’s nonchalant, stuck-up attitude.
What we’re trying to say is Palermo has that much soul, whether it’s the bustling streets feeding into Piazza Bellini, a square bordered by timeless Baroque buildings, or the stall-lined, street food heaven that Mercato di Ballaro, that will make you feel as if you’re in Latin America.
In addition, Palermo is a cultural hub of the first order: picture a neoclassical Teatro Massimo, one of Italy’s most monumental, a 9th-century Palazzo dei Normanni, known for its arched, colonnaded walkways, and the Byzantine-era, tessellated Capella Palatina.
It gets warm and humid in summer, but the ocean breeze is always there to cool you down.
On the outskirts of Palermo, Mondello Beach is a beautiful strip of soft, white sand hugged by crystal-clear waters, and let’s not forget Cefalù, a picturesque village a short one-hour drive boasting endless miles of turquoise shoreline.
Of course, from May 21, Americans can fly nonstop from Newark (EWR) to Palermo (PMO) every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday with United Airlines, starting from $1,381 roundtrip––a tad pricier than most, but hey, no layovers.
Better get booking!
Catania, Sicily
Still in Sicily, but to the east coast, Catania is the second largest conurbation on the sun-drenched island, after Palermo itself.
Comparatively less hectic, it revolves around a large central square, Piazza del Duomo, where both a landmark Elephant Fountain stands and an ornate Catania Cathedral, which in its present form carries elements of Baroque and Norman architecture.
Directly southwest of the square, visitors will find La Pescheria, a fish market flanked by stalls selling everything from grilled octopus, to assorted pastries, to herbs and spices––right behind the market, Osteria Antica Marina serves delicious and affordable seafood as a no-frills eatery.
To our fellow culture buffs out there, Castello Ursino is a well-preserved medieval stronghold a 7-minute from the market, and an equally-short 8 minutes away, there is a Roman theater dating back to the 2nd century AD.
Serving as backdrop to all of this ancient world of wonders, there is an imposing Mount Etna, an active volcano that can be hiked for amazing views of Catania, and the Eastern Sicily coast, with its paradisiacal beaches extending for miles on end.
Speaking of beaches, Catania claims a long stretch as its main beach, though the true stars of the season are Aci Trezza and Aci Castello, a duo of coastal settlements north of Catania that together form the pristine ‘Cyclops Riviera’.
From as early as May 22, 2025, through October 24, 2025, Americans can fly nonstop to Catania (and discover this offbeat part of Sicily), with Delta from New York (JFK), from $469 one-way.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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