Where to Elope in Italy: Most Beautiful Locations in 2025

Italy is one of those places where you truly cannot go wrong, no matter where you elope. Every region of Italy has something beautiful and unique to offer, whether you’ve visited once or ten times! Which is part comforting, part stressful. . . because how in the world are you supposed to choose? To help make the process easier for you, I’ve put together this guide to where to elope in Italy, with my 8 best location reccs + more tips on how to plan your dream day in this idyllic part of Europe.

How to Choose Your Italy Elopement Location

Before we go through the dreamiest elopement locations in Italy, let’s go through the most important considerations you’ll need to keep in mind as you make your choice.

Landscapes & scenery

First off, figure out what kind of scenery you’re envisioning for your Italy elopement. Italy is SO diverse in terms of terrain, ecosystems, and landscapes, so you’ll need to define what you’re actually looking for before you get started!

Read through these different options that Italy has to offer, and notice what calls to your heart the most:

Rugged mountain ranges and vast, glacier-carved valleys
Rolling hills covered in lush, green grass
Rocky coastlines and turquoise blue waters
Romantic canals and pastel-colored buildings
Ancient ruins and breathtaking architectural wonders
Dry coastlands scattered with olive, almond, and fig groves

If more than one of those sound amazing to you, don’t worry—many regions of Italy offer a variety of beautiful landscapes that you can explore back to back!

Here’s a brief look at what each of the prominent regions of Italy has to offer, in terms of terrain:

—Northern Italy: Rugged mountain ranges, sparkling alpine lakes, picturesque mountain towns, rolling hills, glacier-carved valleys, winding rivers, expansive plains

—Southern Italy/coastal regions: Striking coastlines, vibrant blue waters, charming seaside villages, mountainous regions, volcanoes, coastal plains, steep cliffs, gorgeous beaches

—Central Italy: Big cities, ancient ruins, iconic landmarks, rolling hills, quaint countryside

Seasons & climate

Next, you’ll want to take into account the different seasons in Italy—and how the climate changes across different regions of the country. Italy’s climate varies from north to south, and inland to coastal, typically featuring hot summers and cold winters in the north and a more moderate, Mediterranean climate along the coast + southern regions. Keep in mind that the further into the mountains you go, the colder the weather will be, and the closer you are to the coast, the more rain + humidity you’ll experience! I’d recommend choosing your top favorite locations first, then looking more closely into how the seasons change in those specific regions.

Activities

Your elopement in Italy should be SO much more than just a quick ceremony and pretty pictures—it should be an entire experience that you get to enjoy together, immersing yourself in the culture of this beautiful country + finding memorable things to do that you’ll be able to look back on forever.

So when you picture your dream elopement adventure, think about not only the backdrop you’d love, but the activities you might want to include. This will determine what locations would best serve your ideal itinerary, as every different region of Italy offers different opportunities!

Off the top of my head, here are a few Italy elopement activities + ideas to consider when picking a location:

Visit ancient ruins, famous art museums, and historical landmarks
Book a private boat tour to take you along the coast
Lounge around a sandy beach and enjoy the warm, Italian sunshine
Kayak through a secluded cove
Hike through rugged mountain landscapes and swim in an alpine lake
Explore picturesque seaside villages
Take a food tour or cooking class with a local

Want an even bigger list of elopement activities + ideas to get you thinking outside of the box? Check out my blog post featuring 20 Bucket List Adventures to Have on Your Elopement Day!

Crowds

As much as I wish we didn’t have to worry so much about tourists during your elopement, unfortunately it’s just the reality of visiting Italy (and most of Europe) at this point—so it’s up to us to plan around the crowds. After all, it would be selfish to keep these magical landscapes to ourselves 😉

Different parts of Italy see peak tourist season at different times of the year, but in general, the high season lasts from May-September. This is when you’ll typically see the biggest crowds across the country, especially in hotspots such as Tuscany, Milan, Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. So if you’re looking for the best time to elope in Italy with small crowds, I’d aim for either winter, from December-February, or the shoulder seasons, between March-April and October-November.

Costs

Finally, the location of your elopement in Italy is going to be a major factor in how much you spend. The most expensive time to elope in Italy is the summer, from May-September, and the least expensive is typically the winter, from December-February. This is because summer sees major crowds, which means higher demand + higher costs for things like accommodations, airfare, venue, vendors, excursions, and ticket prices for popular museums, landmarks, etc.

Here are a few ways you can save money on your Italy elopement:

Elope during the off season
Elope just the two of you, without guests
Have a symbolic ceremony instead of a legal one (more on this later!)
Elope (and find accommodations) further away from tourist hotspots
Get married at a private villa or Airbnb instead of a venue—and find one that’s already beautiful, so that you don’t have to spend money on decorations!

The 8 Best Places to Elope in Italy in 2025

1. The Dolomites

Obviouslyyyy I had to start this list off with the most iconic adventure elopement destination in Italy, the Dolomites! This section of the Southern Limestone Alps feature some of the most distinct and eye-catching mountain peaks in Europe, with idyllic blue lakes, rolling green hills, staggering cliffs, and deep valleys that will leave your jaw on the floor. The scenery is absolutely UNREAL, and is pretty much heaven on Earth for outdoor lovers, with the most amazing hiking, biking, climbing, and even base jumping opportunities. Who’s down for the most incredible alpine adventure of their lives?? I know I’m in 🙋

2. Rome

If you’re more into history than hiking, or are more drawn to ancient architecture than alpine wonderlands, then Rome is going to be your paradise. The capital city of Italy boasts some of the most iconic landmarks in the world such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Pantheon, plus thousand-year-old churches, incredible cathedrals, unique sculptures, world-famous ruins, and catacombs deep under the city. Spend your time strolling the city streets and checking out the local eateries, or hopping on a colorful Vespa to travel around the different neighborhoods!

My biggest tip for eloping in Rome is that you shouldn’t try to do it all at once. There is simply SO much to do, and it’s easy to try and pack it all into one little trip. But my advice is to really get to know the area you’re in, and stick to just one activity/excursion/tour per day. Save yourselves some energy to just relax and enjoy the sights, rather than trying to see everything in Rome in a day—after all, it wasn’t built in one 😉

Visit my Ultimate Rome Elopement Guide to learn more about getting married in this renowned city.

3. The Amalfi Coast

If you picture gorgeous blue water, hillsides dotted in colorful homes, and sandy beaches when you think of Italy, then the Amalfi Coast is where you need to be. Stretching along just over 30 miles of the Sorrentine Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is the highlight of Italy’s Campania region, featuring 13 little seaside towns and endless coastal beauty. Positano is a stunning town to spend some time in (as long as you’re okay being around tourists), with picturesque postcard-like views, whereas towns like Puglia and Praiano are often quieter and offer a more local experience. Take a scenic drive along the coast, a boat ride out in the bay, a kayak ride by a secluded beach. . . you can’t go wrong when eloping on the Amalfi Coast.

Dive deeper into this spectacular part of Italy in my Amalfi Coast Elopement Guide.

4. Lake Como

I’m pretty sure Lake Como is one of the first places most people think of when they hear “Italy destination wedding/elopement!” Located in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, this incredible lake + resort area is everything that Italy is most known for: wild mountain scenery, deep blue lakes, adorable towns, and amazing Renaissance architecture. The natural beauty of this area is out of this world, whether you want to check out the tree-covered hillsides, the incredibly blue waters, the historic villas and palaces, or all of the above! Lake Como is notorious for being expensive, but there are definitely ways you can save money while still enjoying a romantic and luxurious experience.

5. Venice

Famed for its classic canals, beautiful bridges, and public squares with stunning architecture, Venice is a must-visit during your time in Italy! I would say you don’t necessarily need to spend your entire elopement on the actual island of Venice—maybe make it a stop on a larger itinerary around different regions of Italy, or spend the majority of your time on one of the nearby islands. Venice is lovely and well worth the visit, but it definitely gets packed with tourists and isn’t somewhere that requires a full week or more to explore! You don’t need to plan anything fancy to elope in Venice, either; simply walk around and admire the endless details, textures, and design of the architecture around you, stop for a bite of gelato or sip on an Aperol Spritz, and enjoy the delicious seafood.

Of course I’ve got a Venice Elopement Guide for you, too!

6. Tuscany

Ahhh Tuscany, home to Italy’s most exquisite wine and fine dining, breathtaking countryside landscapes, and endless olive groves + vineyards as far as the eye can see. Tuscany is a dream of an elopement location as you can really get the best of both the natural and urban worlds: rural Tuscany is quiet and tranquil, while the nearby cities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena are filled with amazing architecture, art, and history. Plus, the natural landscapes of the region are SO diverse, boasting access to mountains, beaches, and rustic farmland! I highly recommend eloping in Tuscany if you’re drawn to the charm of the Italian countryside, luxurious dining, world-famous art, and lush hillsides just begging to be admired.

7. Sicily

Want to head a little further south? Sicily may be way down there on the tip of the Italian Peninsula, but it’s absolutely worth the trek for its rich history and natural beauty. Home to a wide variety of attractions including ancient Greek temples, dreamy beaches, flavorful cuisine, turquoise waters, and even an active volcano! Sicily is super interesting because unlike the other regions of Italy, its history has been shaped by other ancient civilizations such as Greek, Roman, and Spanish—and that’s definitely reflected in the local culture you’ll experience when you visit.

8. A private villa/Airbnb

I know this isn’t an exact location, but I wanted to include it as a recommendation for whatever part of Italy you decide to elope in. Renting a private villa or Airbnb is an amazing option for eloping couples who don’t need a full venue, but still want somewhere to host a few guests—or just enjoy a luxurious home base for themselves during their trip! If you plan to host any sort of ceremony or reception, make sure to find a place that allows events, and that you get permission from the owner. Whether you elope on the beaches of Sicily, in the Tuscan countryside, or on the streets of Rome, having a cozy place to sleep, eat, and potentially host is a must!

How to Legally Elope in Italy As Foreigners

Now that you have a better idea of where you might want to elope in Italy, let’s go over the most important info you’ll need to know about making things legal (or not).

Can you legally get married in Italy as foreigners?

Yes! I’m going to speak for American citizens here as that’s what I’m most familiar with, and you can definitely get legally married in Italy as American citizens. As long as you follow the necessary process to get your marriage license through the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Italy, you’ll be official in the eyes of U.S. law.

What are the requirements to get married in Italy as American citizens?

To get married in Italy as American citizens, here’s what you’ll need to gather, obtain, and plan beforehand:

Valid U.S. passports
Birth certificates (originals or copies)
“Dichiarazione Giurata” – an affidavit sworn before a U.S. consular accredited in Italy
“Atto Notorio” — a declaration to get married from your nearest Italian embassy or consulate in the U.S.
A declaration of intention to marry at the town hall where your marriage will be performed
A civil ceremony performed by the mayor, or a religious ceremony performed by a Roman Catholic priest

While this is definitely a viable option if it’s important to you to legally wed in Italy, I’d also consider the idea of a symbolic ceremony instead.

What is a symbolic marriage ceremony in Italy?

A symbolic marriage ceremony is one that is not legal, and is instead purely symbolic—often an option chosen by couples getting married abroad who don’t want to go through the process of applying for a marriage license in a foreign country. This could look like having a ceremony where you exchange vows, letters, rings, and/or gifts, but there is no licensed officiant present to sign off at the end. Symbolic ceremonies are no less meaningful than legal ones, and honestly, are often way less stressful for destination elopements—which already come with a LOT of planning, preparation, and logistics.

So to make your Italy elopement as stress-free and simple as possible, you can consider having a symbolic ceremony while you’re actually in Italy, and getting the legal stuff done beforehand, in your home country. This is especially helpful for couples who want to elope at the last minute, and may not have the time needed to go through the whole process of gathering the necessary documents, applying for a license through the U.S. consulate, etc.

If you can’t quite decide what the best option is for your elopement in Italy, reach out here and I’d be glad to give you my personal recommendation based on what you’re envisioning!

How to Plan Your Italy Destination Elopement

I have one last resource that I wanted to share with you: my full guide to How to Plan a Destination Elopement. Inside this guide, I’ve written up a full step-by-step process to make planning your Italy elopement a heck of a lot easier, plus a simple destination elopement checklist to follow along with! 10/10 recommend having it as a handy resource in your back pocket, whether you save it to your phone to read later or you dive right in now to get all my juiciest tips + advice.

All-Inclusive Italy Elopement Packages

With that said, I guess it’s time to get to planning! My all-inclusive Italy elopement packages are designed to make your elopement experience a total breeze from start to finish, including support with hiring vendors, booking accommodations, scheduling activities, choosing locations, building your timeline, and more. Because planning your elopement shouldn’t feel overwhelming: it should be easy, relaxed, and exciting, knowing that you have an amazing team of people by your side to help make it happen.

Reach out about your Italy elopement today so I can hear about which of these locations spoke to you the most—super excited to start chatting ideas, inspiration, and dreams for your big day!

Not quite sure that Italy is the right place for your elopement? I’ve linked guides to two more of my favorite elopement destinations below that you should check out.

I’m Sarah, an elopement photographer traveling around the United States in my campervan.

I spend months at a time at each location I travel to, diving deep into the local elopement market in that area, so I can bring the important information to you from the comfort of your home.

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