Italy has hundreds of cities, but only a handful dominate in terms of population, infrastructure, and travel importance. In practice, the largest cities in Italy are where most international flights land, where high-speed trains connect, and where you find the biggest mix of museums, day trips, food scenes, and hotels.
This guide explains the top Italian cities by population (municipality level, not metro areas), what each city is known for, and how to use them as a base for your trip. I’ll also add helpful internal links to deeper guides on this site, so you can quickly continue planning.
Top 10 Largest Cities in Italy (Municipality Population)
Important: Italy has different ways to measure “city size”. Here we use the population of the Comune (the city municipality). Metropolitan areas can be much larger (for example Milan’s metro area is far bigger than the city proper).
| Rank |
City |
Population (approx.) |
Region |
Good base for… |
| 1 |
Rome |
≈ 2.8 million |
Lazio |
Ancient sites, Vatican, day trips |
| 2 |
Milan |
≈ 1.4 million |
Lombardy |
Fashion, museums, Lake Como, Alps |
| 3 |
Naples |
≈ 0.95 million |
Campania |
Pompeii, Vesuvius, Amalfi Coast, islands |
| 4 |
Turin |
≈ 0.85 million |
Piedmont |
Museums, food, day trips to Alps |
| 5 |
Palermo |
≈ 0.63 million |
Sicily |
Sicily road trips, beaches, history |
| 6 |
Genoa |
≈ 0.56 million |
Liguria |
Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera, port city vibes |
| 7 |
Bologna |
≈ 0.39 million |
Emilia-Romagna |
Food travel, central Italy by train |
| 8 |
Florence |
≈ 0.38 million |
Tuscany |
Renaissance art, Tuscany day trips |
| 9 |
Bari |
≈ 0.32 million |
Apulia |
Apulia coast, ferries, southern routes |
| 10 |
Catania |
≈ 0.31 million |
Sicily |
East Sicily, Etna, beaches |
If you want a quick “planning shortcut”: for most visitors, the most useful big cities are Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence, and Venice (Venice is smaller by population but huge for tourism). On this site you’ll find deep guides for many of the places that connect to those hubs.
1) Rome: Italy’s Largest City (and the Classic First Stop)
Rome is the largest city in Italy and the country’s political and cultural center. Even if you only spend 2–4 days here, you can easily fill them with world-famous sights.
What makes Rome special is the mix of eras: ancient ruins, Renaissance palaces, and modern neighborhoods all in one city. If you want a structured start, use the overview page here: Welcome to Rome (overview). For a “must-see” list, this page is useful: Top 10 sights in Rome.
Rome highlights (with internal links)
Practical planning: Rome is big, so transport matters. If you rely on public transport, start with Rome Metro guide and Roma Termini station. For safety topics, see Safety in Rome. For prices, this page helps: Prices in Rome.
If you want to stay outside the center in summer, beaches are possible too: Lido di Ostia and history fans can also do Ostia Antica as a day trip.
2) Milan: Italy’s Business Capital (and a Great Base for Northern Italy)
Milan is Italy’s second-largest city by population, but arguably the most important for business, fashion, and modern city life. It’s also a strong base if you want to combine a city trip with lakes and mountains.
Start here: Milan travel guide. The city’s top attraction is the cathedral: Milan Cathedral (Duomo). If you want a special viewpoint, add: Milan Cathedral Roof.
Milan: best internal links for planning
Popular day trips from Milan include Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. See: Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and towns like Como, Bellagio, Varenna, and Verbania. If you like islands, the Borromean Islands are here: Borromean Islands overview, plus Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola Superiore.
3) Naples: The Largest City in Southern Italy (Gateway to Pompeii, Vesuvius, Amalfi)
Naples is the biggest city in southern Italy and one of the most intense places to visit: loud, energetic, sometimes chaotic—but also incredibly rewarding for food and history lovers.
Start here: Naples travel guide. A key museum is: Museums in Naples (useful if the weather is bad).
Naples is perfect for day trips
If you want a broad overview of the whole region, use: Campania overview and Places of interest in Campania.
4) Turin: Big City Feel, Strong Museums, Great Food
Turin (Torino) is Italy’s fourth-largest city by population. It is often underrated by first-time visitors, but it’s a strong choice if you like museums, elegant architecture, and a calmer city atmosphere than Milan.
Here’s the local guide: Turin travel guide. Turin also works well as a base for the Piedmont region, famous for wine and food. If you plan a wider trip, open this page: Piedmont overview.
5) Palermo: Largest City in Sicily
Palermo is one of Italy’s largest cities because it is the major hub of Sicily. If Sicily is part of your plan, Palermo is usually the first stop (especially if you arrive by plane or ferry).
This site focuses more on northern and central Italy in many sections, but the key travel logic still applies: Palermo is a main base, while day trips and road trips spread from there. If you prefer northern island trips instead, consider Lake Maggiore’s islands (see the Borromean Islands links in the Milan section above).
6) Genoa: Big Port City + Gateway to the Italian Riviera
Genoa (Genova) is one of the biggest cities in Italy and the heart of Liguria. For many travelers, the best reason to visit is the coastline: the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre.
Start with: Genoa guide. One of the most famous attractions is the aquarium: Genoa Aquarium.
From Genoa you can continue to the coast: Rapallo is a classic stop, and La Spezia is an important base for Cinque Terre trips.
Cinque Terre
7) Bologna: A Big City With a Very Strong Location
Bologna is one of Italy’s largest cities and a clever base for travel because it sits in a very central position in the north. It’s also famous for food and its university atmosphere.
Use this page for planning: Bologna travel guide. If you want to explore the region, open: Emilia-Romagna overview.
8) Florence: Smaller Than You Expect, But Huge for Art and Tourism
Florence (Firenze) is only #8 by city population, but it feels like one of Italy’s “top three” destinations because of its art and history. If you love Renaissance culture, Florence is one of the best city trips in Europe.
Start with general planning pages: Sights in Florence and Tickets in Florence. For budget planning, use: Prices in Florence.
Florence highlights (with internal links)
If you want an easy day trip, you can add: Fiesole. If you’re exploring Tuscany, this page is a great hub: Tuscany sights and Tuscany cities overview.
Florence is also a good base for towns like Lucca and Siena. For Lucca, see: Lucca sights, Lucca city wall, Lucca amphitheatre, and Lucca Cathedral. For Siena, start with Siena sights, then add Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and Siena Cathedral.
9) Bari and 10) Catania: Big Regional Hubs (South + Sicily)
Bari and Catania complete the top 10 list. They are less common “first trip” choices than Rome, Milan, Florence or Naples, but they are important regional hubs: airports, ports, universities, and transport connections.
If you plan an Italy trip that combines cities with nature, you can also look at mountain-focused regions in the north such as Trentino–Alto Adige and nearby cities like Bolzano and Trento. Those are not top-10 by population, but they are very relevant for travel routes.
How to Use Italy’s Largest Cities for Trip Planning
When people search for the “largest cities in Italy”, they often want one of these answers:
- Where should I start? Rome or Milan are the most common first stops.
- Which city is best for art? Florence is the classic choice (plus day trips to Siena and Lucca).
- Which city is best for day trips? Naples is hard to beat (Pompeii, Vesuvius, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia).
- Which city is best for lakes? Milan works well for Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
- Which city is best for coastline villages? Genoa + La Spezia for Cinque Terre.
Common mistake: confusing “city” with “metro area”
If you see different rankings online, it often comes from the definition. For example, the city of Milan is about 1.3–1.4 million, but the wider urban area is much bigger. The same is true for Naples and Turin. For tourists, both numbers can be useful: the city number explains the compact core, and the metro number explains commuter belts and suburban transport.
Another useful planning shortcut: combine a “big city” with a smaller base
A classic pattern is: Rome (history) + Florence (art) + a smaller place (for example Lucca, Siena, or a Tuscany beach town). Or Milan (city) + a lake base (Como, Varenna, Bellagio). Or Naples (gateway) + an island (Capri or Ischia).
Extra: Large Cities That Are Not Top-10 but Very Relevant
Some cities aren’t in the top 10 by population, but they are extremely important for travel:
Conclusion
Rome is the largest city in Italy, followed by Milan, Naples and Turin. But for travelers, the “best” big city depends on your route and interests:
- Rome for ancient history and the Vatican
- Milan for modern city life and lake day trips
- Naples for Pompeii, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast and islands
- Florence for art and Tuscany day trips
- Genoa for the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre
If you want, we can also build a compact internal-link box at the end (“All Italy city guides”) similar to your Greece tables.
Italy – Records & Extremes