Why Women Keep Falling in Love With Italy—Again and Again

It’s well known among seasoned travelers: Italy doesn’t just stay with you. It calls you back.

While Paris might inspire a fluttering heart, London a sense of timeless sophistication, and Barcelona an artistic energy, Italy stirs something deeper in many women – a soulful pull that becomes impossible to ignore. This magnetic draw isn’t just anecdotal. Girls’ Guide to the World, a leading women-only travel company, is seeing this deep affection for Italy play out in a surge of demand.

“There’s something about Italy,” says founder Doni Belau. “While almost every woman falls in love with Paris, there is something about Italy that keeps calling you back.”

A recent poll conducted in the Girls’ Guide Travel Sisterhood Facebook group echoes this sentiment. When asked which destination they most longed to return to, Italy was mentioned more than any other place. It’s the hilltop villages, the golden light against faded ochre facades, the rustling of cypress trees, the Adriatic breeze, the 1,000-year-old olive groves, the ancient streets of Rome where even an 80-year-old woman on a Vespa looks like an icon. Italy is seductive, soulful, and endlessly discoverable.

The Women-Only Travel Boom

Women-only travel is one of the fastest-growing trends in the tourism industry, and Italy is right at the heart of it. A sense of safety, community, and shared discovery is fueling the rise of female-focused trips, and travel companies are responding.

“Every year our Amalfi Coast trip sells out quickly,” Doni explains. “We’re now doing three Amalfi tours, and we may increase that to four next year. We’re adding Sicily and the Italian Lakes, and in 2026, we’ve got Venice and Villas—an art and garden-focused itinerary—as well as more culinary tours.”

It’s not just about sightseeing. These trips are designed to foster connection – both to place and to fellow travelers. Whether it’s learning to cook with a nonna in Abruzzo, soaking in the thermal waters at QC Terme Spa near Rome, or wandering the art-filled corridors of Florence, these journeys offer a rich tapestry of experiences that feel both personal and profound.

Why Italy Speaks to Women

There’s something undeniably sensual and poetic about Italy. It’s a place where even the mundane becomes beautiful. A simple plate of pasta, a crumbling wall, a laugh shared over wine. “There’s a sultry, sexy quality to Italy that appeals to almost every woman,” says Doni. “Italian men are gorgeous, so are the women—especially the 80-year-olds still riding mopeds down ancient Roman streets.”

It’s not just about aesthetics. Italy’s timelessness and texture appeal to women seeking both escape and depth. “Knowing that ancientness lies beneath your feet adds to the mysterious appeal,” Doni adds. “Who doesn’t want a little bolt hole somewhere in Italy?”

The Ageless Adventuress: Women Over 50 Are Driving the Travel Boom

There’s also a larger trend driving this surge: the rise of women over 50 as a force in the global travel industry. Girls’ Guide to the World has seen unprecedented demand for its Italy trips, so much so, they’ve expanded their offerings from five to eight Italy-based tours in 2026 alone. These include multiple Amalfi Coast departures, a popular food-focused tour through Puglia, as well as new itineraries to the Italian Lakes, Venice and the Palladian Villas, and Sicily.

This growth aligns with findings from the new JourneyWoman survey, “Invisible No More: The Ageless Adventuress,” which reveals that 67% of women aged 50+ identify as solo travelers, with 41% preferring to travel completely alone and another 27% joining group-based solo adventures. These women are adventurous, independent, and eager to travel on their own terms. Girls’ Guide to the World is proudly meeting them there.

“For many women in this age group, the biggest barrier to solo travel is the single supplement surcharge,” says Belau. “We’ve seen that the number one reason clients book with us is that we never charge a single supplement. All of our tours offer private rooms with en-suite bathrooms in 4-5-star hotels, as well as wine with dinner, ensuring that women can enjoy a stress-free and meaningful experience.”

What’s Next: More Italy, More Connection

Girls’ Guide to the World is responding to this growing demand with an expanded roster of Italy-based tours in 2026. From springtime in the Italian Lakes to autumn in Sicily, and everything in between, the calendar is filling fast. There’s even a new art and garden-focused experience in Venice and the Palladian Villas, inspired by Doni’s recent winter trip to Venice, where she was reawakened by the city’s quiet charm, and finally got to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. “It’s not just about seeing the sights—it’s about rediscovering yourself in the company of women who get it,” Doni says.

For Doni, it’s the food that keeps her returning. For others, it’s the warmth, the wonder, or the whimsy. But whatever the reason, one thing is clear: women aren’t just visiting Italy—they’re falling in love with it, again and again.

Ready to fall in love with Italy, too? Discover upcoming tours at Girls’ Guide to the World or follow them on social media @gg2theworld

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