Astonishing Abruzzo
Experience a more authentic Italy with fewer tourists
This post contains select affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase using one, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. The support is greatly appreciated!
Where is Abruzzo?
The region of Abruzzo stretches from its western neighbor of Lazio (where Rome is located) to the Adriatic sea on the eastern coast. Covering almost 5,000 square miles, the varied and sprawling terrain is considered part of southern Italy.
While Italians and many European tourists know the region, it garners far less attention than Italian travel hot spots anchored by traveler favorites like Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. The best part is that it offers a spectacular array of landscapes and activities year-round.
Why Visit Abruzzo?
There are many excellent reasons to set off on an Abruzzo itinerary. An entire post on the subject could be written, but here are some top-of-mind reasons.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Abruzzo, Italy
- Easy to reach: Abruzzo is centrally located in Italy, accessible without much fuss from Rome and other key Italian (and European) cities. It also has multiple ferry routes to other countries nearby, with Croatia being one of the closest.
- Stunning natural scenery: lakes, mountains, and the sea make this one of Italy’s most beautiful and varied regions in this regard.
- Castles galore! Often these can be found near or nestled within tiny hamlets perched over the countryside. From crumbled ruins to carefully restored, castles can be found all across the region.
- Mountains that (arguably) compete with the most famous in Europe. Gran Sasso is the best known, but there are 3 more major national and regional parks. These are chock full of spectacular scenery, wildlife, and adventure opportunities.
- Fantastic food is hardly a surprise, but Abruzzo boasts culinary delights from “arrosticini” (skewers of roasted meat that are far more delicious than the simplicity lets on) and incredible fresh caught seafood.
How to get to Abruzzo
There are multiple ways to easily reach Abruzzo. Depending on the travel itinerary and starting point, one can fly, take a train, bus, or drive into the region. If coming from Croatia, Albania, Greece, and Montenegro ferries arrive in Ancona, with the most route option in summertime.
Flying into Abruzzo, Italy
For international travelers, the easiest option is to fly into Rome. From there, rent a car for maximum exploration potential. From within Europe, there are many options for flights into Pescara airport, on the Abruzzo coast.
Taking a train to Abruzzo, Italy
Trains are another great method to reach various cities in Abruzzo. While not all of them are fast, it’s an economical and fun way to relax and take in the [spectacular] views. I recommend booking trains on the Trenitalia site. Download their app and you can also easily manage your tickets, including validating them at the start of travel.
Taking a ferry to Abruzzo, Italy
Abruzzo’s closest large port is in the city of Ancona. Technically in the Le Marche region, this bustling port city is close northern Abruzzo. For travelers arriving from outside the country, it’s a great entry point.
Particularly during the busy summer season, ferries crawl back and forth from numerous ports to the east and south. Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, and even Greece can be reached across the seas. Taking an overnight route is the ideal option, saving a night of lodging and an economical method of travel.
Driving to Abruzzo
In general, a car is the easiest and most flexible way to travel around the Abruzzo region. The best locations to pick up a rental car in Italy for an Abruzzo trip are Rome (at the airport or major train stations), Ancona, Pescara, or even L’Aquila.
Is driving in Italy hard?
Driving in Italy is not nearly as intimidating as some might make it out to be. The most important considerations when driving in Italy (or any foreign country) are familiarizing yourself with road signs and main laws, checking to see if an IDP is needed (more on that below), and choosing the right rental options.
Taking a bus to Abruzzo, Italy
While probably the least common, taking a bus to Abruzzo is a viable and affordable option. If coming from farther away, most bus’s main arrival point in the region will be Ancona, Pescara, or L’Aquila. It is possible to take buses within the region too, which can work well for those exploring without a car. Extra time should be budgeted though, as this is essentially a “slow-travel” method.
When is the best time to visit Abruzzo?
Any time is a great time to visit Abruzzo! That might seem like an exaggeration, but it really is true. It just depends on which part and what type of trip. Even August *can* be a good time to visit: which is generally the worst month to take a vacation to Italy.
Summer in Abruzzo
Late May into early September are a great time to enjoy the wide variety that Abruzzo offers. Explore dramatic coastlines, wildflower plains leading to mountains, and charming stone villages. Plus there will be far fewer “European Summer” tourists than better known destination around Italy.
Generally August is best avoided for travel to Italy. It’s peak tourism season in many destinations and gets compounded by the “Ferragosto” holiday for Italians. It lasts roughly two weeks, making numbers (and prices) surge in both seaside and mountain vacation spots.
However, August in small mountain or countryside villages throughout Abruzzo can still be delightful. Beaches will be packed but outside of that there are many Abruzzo attractions to choose from. There are often festivals and special events, plus cooler temperatures once in the mountains.
Spring & Fall in Abruzzo
Commonly considered “shoulder” season, either is a wonderful time to visit. Peak Spring months are April and May, although in higher reaches it could take until June to reach peak. Fall is just the opposite, as the days turn brisk and harvests (especially wine) are underway.
April typically brings festivals centered around Easter, depending on when Easter falls in a given year. There is also a daffodil festival in Rocca di Mezzo. The Madonna della Libera festival runs a whopping 10 days in early May, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show.
Fall brings vineyards turning golden, a perfect time to tour one of the many wineries in the region. October is peak fall festival time, typically centered around wine and seasonal foods like chestnuts. Truffle festivals quickly follow going into November.
Winter in Abruzzo
Winter brings excellent skiing and alpine pursuits, holiday markets, and the fewest crowds. Winter festivals abound, especially Christmas Markets. Snow begins to fall, turning already charming villages into to true fairytale scenes.
What is there to do in Abruzzo?
Abruzzo is ideal for nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, foodies, wine lovers, and anyone who enjoys escaping the often hectic and commercialized tourist track. It pairs ideally as part of a larger itinerary that could include destinations nearby like Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, or Umbria. However there is definitely enough to see and do to easily fill a week or more.
Skiing & Winter Sports
Abruzzo holds roughly 250 miles of ski slope. Campo Imperatore and Prati di Tivo are two of the better known, but there are numerous ski spots throughout the region. Other winter activities in Abruzzo include snowshoeing, sledding, and alpine climbing.
Beaches & Water Sports
Kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding … Vasto is ideal for these and just south on the tiny stretch of the Molise coat traditional surfing is an option too. With many lakes and rivers in addition to the sea, fishing experiences abound too. Of course beach bums will do just fine, with numerous beach clubs and resorts peppering the coast.
Cultural Exploration
Castles, museums, and hermitages provide insight and context for culture vultures visiting the region. Small towns themselves function as a sort of living museum, though some architecture was damaged in the earthquake of April 2009. L’Aquila was especially hard hit, and scaffolding was still up on a number of buildings when I visited in 2021.
Food & Wine
Abruzzo produces excellent wines. Best known for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, oenophiles and casual cork dorks alike will want to make time for the wineries of the region. Food is rustic and hearty inland, while the seafood is nothing short of spectacular on the coast! “Trabucchi”, the iconic fishing platforms, dot the coast and many also serve as restaurants.
Outdoor Adventures
Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and rock climbing. You name it, Abruzzo probably has it. With tremendous mountain ranges (Like the Gran Sasso), gorgeous lakes, and breathtaking coastline (particularly around Vasto) provide an active playground for the adventurous traveler.
Rustic Luxury
One of the most famous villages for luxury is Santo Stefano in Sessania. It’s known for the “alberghi diffusi” aka scattered hotels. One of the most famous – and the peak of luxury – is found in the hamlet of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.
Sexantio Albergo Diffuso offers peak rustic elegance in its thoughtfully decorated rooms. An “albergo diffuso” is a scattered hotel essentially. Rather than a single building, rooms are in varied locations but owned and managed as one.
It’s become more common in towns like this, as it finding a single building to become a hotel is not always feasible. They are also common in Matera, down south, for the same reason.
Village Hopping
The largest cities in the region are L’Aquila, Teramo, Chieti, and Pescara. Even then that tops out at about 120,000 residents. Seemingly endless villages with just a few thousand residents are scattered throughout. Charmingly picturesque villages with stone streets and ancient homes feel timeless. Highlights of these Abruzzo villages include, Sulmona, Scanno, Vasto, and Chieti to name just a tiny handful.
Is Abruzzo expensive?
Compared to Italy’s more famous destinations, Abruzzo is pretty friendly to the budget travel. While there are ample opportunities to splurge, there’s great value for the money. For example, skiing in Abruzzo will be kinder to the wallet than the Dolomites or Switzerland.
Abruzzo provides excellent value across nearly every category, from accommodation to dining out to activities. The largest expense will be renting a car (and the subsequent gas cost), plus any highly specialized activities or tours.
Expect to budget as little as $1600 for a week for two people, however bumping it up to around $2000 will make for quite a vacation, and $3000 would make for a fairly grand experience. This does not include primary flights from home, which naturally varies widely depending on time of year and just how far said flight has to take you.
So what are you waiting for? Time to plan the next adventure!
Need help planning a trip to Italy?
- Don’t Make These 6 Travel Budget Mistakes
- Abruzzo: The amazing & uncrowded Italian travel destination!
- 9 Important Things You Must Do Before Vacation
- Fall in Love with Puglia: Italy’s secret fall travel destination
- 4 Stunning Non-Touristy Italian Travel Destinations
- Understanding ISO: How it Works, What it Does, and How to Make the Most of It
- 7 Must-Have Accessories for the DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone