Best spots to grab lunch or dinner in the center include:

• La Degosteria
• Caffe Giuliani
• Rosa Food
• Mazzini 62 Rosticceria

If you visit during the summer, take advantage of eating alfresco and grab an outdoor table under an umbrella. You’ll get to savor a wonderful meal and enjoy some people watching at the same time.

Dining tips in Ancona

Something to note if you decide to stop at the other local eateries in Ancona, Italians tend to adhere to meal times so don’t be surprised if some restaurants are closed before noon and after 2:30 p.m., and don’t reopen again for dinner until 7 p.m. Don’t despair, there’s plenty of cafes where you can grab a panino or enjoy a snack. Oh, and when possible, always make a reservation.

Must see places in Ancona

From above: Duomo of San Ciriaco, Parco del Cardeto

Between the northern end of Corso Garibaldi and the port is Piazza della Repubblica anchored by the Teatro delle Muse, the city’s performing arts center. Go up the inclined road to the right of the theatre, pass the popular nightlife spot Piazza del Papa, and make your way to Piazza San Francesco. There you’ll see the impressive Chiesa di San Francesco delle Scale. If your legs aren’t tired enough, keep trekking up the road to the top and make your way to the grand Duomo of San Ciriaco. The cathedral is reason enough to make the journey, but the views of the city and its port make it insta-worthy.

Timesaver trick! If you start your journey from the port, follow the road Lungomare Vanvitelli, pass the Grand Hotel Palace, and there will be an elevator on the right that will take you up to the Duomo.

From the port: Gli Archi, Lazzaretto

In an old town like Ancona, luckily you don’t need to travel far to come across ancient sites worth visiting. In the port, you’ll find two Roman arches, the Arco Traiano and the Arco Clementino, built during the age of the Roman empire. You can climb the stairs through the Arco Traiano and walk atop the walls or pass both arches and make your way to the red lantern at the far side of the port to get a good look out at the sea and at the city’s hilly landscape.

On the port’s opposite end, is the Mole Vanvitelliana, also known as the Lazzaretto of Ancona. This 18th-century pentagon shaped structure, originally built as a quarantine station, now hosts exhibits and shows. It’s usually always open during the day and is about a 10-minute walk from the port.

 Take a walk: Viale della Vittoria, Passetto

If you’ve got time, or let’s face it most of the city center has shut down for lunch, it’s worth your time to walk along the city’s largest promenade, Viale della Vittoria. About a 20-minute walk from the port, the viale is where you’ll find most of Ancona’s locals on any given day. The long viale cuts through residential neighborhoods and ends at the Monumenti ai Caduti. Connected to the monument is a long flight of stairs that go down to the city’s public beach: the Passetto. During the warm months, the beach is accessible via an elevator which can take you up and down for one Euro.

Hungry? On your way to the Passetto, plan a picnic and grab a few slices of pizza at the best pizza spot in town: Farinando

Best travel sites outside Ancona

If your layover in Ancona lasts more than a few hours and you have a day to spare, there are more than a few places surrounding Ancona you must travel to.

Riviera del Conero

Follow the coast south and drive along the Riviera del Conero, which starts at Portonovo down to the beach towns of Numana, Sirolo and Marcelli. If traveling during the early summer months, you’ll delight in the fields of sunflowers that line the roads to the beach. Beaches in Italy are typically covered with stabilimenti, which are beachside businesses that own a part of the shoreline and rent umbrellas and beach beds. These beachside towns are no different. You can choose to lay outside of these areas, but for a small fee, it’s more comfortable to rent the equipment for a few hours since the beaches aren’t covered in sand but in small smoothed rocks.

Hillside villages

If beaches aren’t your thing, go to Offagna, which has an impressive 15th-century fortress. The village hosts a medieval festival every July complete with games, demonstrations and typical food from the region. Camerano, located on a nearby hillside, is also a place to visit, especially if you’d like to beat the summertime heat. Underneath the town is a series of cool caves and tunnels excavated centuries ago replete with mysteries that still puzzle people today.

Best places to stay in Ancona

If you choose to prolong your stay in this special city, here’s a list of some of my top choices of where to stay.

For seaside views:

• The Seeport Hotel, my top choice and where my family usually stays when they visit. Perk: The rooftop bar during the warmer months is a great place to have aperitivo at sunset.
• Grand Hotel Palace, Closer to the center than the previous options, this hotel also has an adjacent wine restaurant worth visiting.
• Grand Hotel Passetto. Enjoy seaside views from Ancona’s other coast and be close to the Passetto.

There’s a number of centrally located Airbnbs in the area at affordable prices. But if you’re looking for more of the hotel feel outside the city, I say an agriturismo is the way to go. An agriturismo is usually mom and pop establishments similar to bed and breakfasts found in the countryside. Agriturismo Le Vigne del Conero is my top choice.

 Travel wrap up on Ancona

Ancona doesn’t carry the flashy branding of bigger cities like Rome, Florence or Milan, but next time you happen to travel to Ancona or are considering it as a layover before heading off to other parts of the world, give it more than just a passing glance and explore all the city has to offer

Other recommended places to stay: