The Most Must-Try Pasta Dishes While You're In Italy, According To Locals

Traveling the world can be fun. But standing out as a tourist? Not so much. As satisfying as it might be to wander the streets of a foreign city with a huge camera strapped around your neck, appearing too much like an outsider can result in bad outcomes. Pickpockets might spot you quicker. Restaurant promoters might harass you more. Some locals might find you exasperating, especially if you plan on traveling to a tourist hot spot like Italy.

Luckily, there are ways to avoid being an annoying tourist during your trip to Europe. Start by ordering authentic Italian food to connect with the local culture. Trying real Italian pasta dishes — instead of Americanized "Italian" eats — can help you blend in better with the locals. Plus, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in flavors you might not normally have the opportunity to experience. If you don't know where to begin your culinary journey, fear not. 

As huge foodies, we investigated the best kinds of pasta to try on your next trip to Italy. We parsed through hundreds of culinary reviews on Reddit, Tripadvisor, and independent blogs to determine which meals appeal to Italians. Of course, different dishes are popular in different parts of the country. With this in mind, we created a list of pasta dishes that reflect the regional diversity of authentic Italian eats. 

It's no wonder that lasagna is an Italian classic. With its delicious layers of freshly made pasta and baked filling, lasagna is definitely one of the best meals to order on a trip to Italy. That said, do not expect your Italian lasagna to resemble the ricotta-stuffed version you usually make at home. The reason? Lasagna, as we know it today, is believed to have originated in the region of Emilia-Romagna, where it is made with béchamel sauce and parmesan. This is largely considered the most traditional variation of lasagna in Italy. 

One local even warned against eating lasagna outside of Emilia-Romagna in the r/ItalianFood subreddit of Reddit, writing, "Pasta is a regional dish. There is no national pasta dish. Ordering lasagne [lasagna] outside Emilia [is equal to a] tourist trap ... " Of course, just because some locals resist the idea of eating lasagna in other Italian regions does not mean you have to abide by their preferences. 

The truth is that every Italian region specializes in a unique variation of this dish. And they are all delicious nonetheless; just be sure to order accordingly. While in the southern region of Molise, you might enjoy lasagne al brodo, which is stuffed with a mixture of shredded chicken and veal meatballs. In Sardinia, you might find a type of lasagna made with a crunchy noodle called pane carasau. If you keep an open mind, you might discover a whole new world of lasagnas to enjoy. 

As the old saying goes about adapting to new cultures, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." This expression rings especially true when it comes to eating pasta in Rome. If lasagna is most closely associated with Emilia-Romagna, then there are four main types of pasta that Italians associate with the country's capital: cacio e pepe, pasta alla gricia, amatriciana, and carbonara. 

Although it's difficult to recommend one of these pastas over the rest, many Roman locals will say to start with a delicious spaghetti carbonara. After all, the dish is a crowd-pleaser that's easy on the palate. As one local put it on Tripadvisor, "My favourite Roman pasta dish is 'Rigatoni con la pajata' but it is not something I'd suggest to a beginner ... Probably the most simple way to begin is with a good carbonara, [which] is probably the least traditional Roman pasta dish but one of the simplest to eat." 

According to a second local in a comment on the r/rome subreddit of Reddit, "For me getting a carbonara or gricia when I go out for dinner is very common and it's the same for friends. One reason ... [not to order these] is because they are very heavy and you [might] not be ready to eat [them] each time." With this in mind, make sure to show up to mealtime with a healthy appetite. Explore some of the best things to do in Rome, and then head to the dinner table ready to polish off your plate!

If you're planning a vacation in Sicily, beaches and delightful food are almost certainly a part of your future. You might want to swing by the resort town known as "the pearl of the Mediterranean." You can sip an Aperol Spritz by the beach and order a plate of busiate alla trapanese — at least, that's what locals recommend. 

While the phrase "busiate alla trapanese" may seem tricky to understand, it's quite simple once you break it all down. Busiate is a type of traditional Sicilian noodle known for its thick spiral shape. Alla trapanese just means "made in the style of the town of Trapani." There, a special type of red tomato pesto is king. And, naturally, if you order busiate alla trapanese in Sicily, you'll be sure to receive a huge plate of thick noodles covered in a delicious red pesto.

Many locals are particularly complimentary of this special dish. In the r/europe subreddit of Reddit, one Italian confessed that it's their absolute favorite pasta. Writing in the comments section, this person shared, "'Busiate alla trapanese': Busiate is a particular type of pasta and the sauce is Pesto alla trapanese which is made of tomato, basil, almonds, garlic and oil. Some people put also pecorino in it, I do prefer the version without." Regardless of how you prefer your pasta, it's worth giving this regional specialty a try.

Chefs often say that the freshest ingredients are the best. In the hilly region just north of Italy's capital, that is certainly true. Locals say that if you're planning a day trip from Rome, you might want to swing by the Tolfa Mountains and get a taste of a special type of ravioli. In an interview published on the blog Instantly Italy, its author, an Italian teacher, shared, "In the Tolfa Mountains, the best dish you will get is where none of the ingredients have travelled very far. I love the ravioli with pumpkin and sage when I go to the Rischio."

If you're still hungry after your primo — or pasta course — the teacher recommends ordering a secondi (a meat dish). For a hearty addition to the pumpkin ravioli, try the roasted pork. "If you come to this region, the porchetta and cinghiale [are] a must. The porchetta is a whole roasted pig seasoned and roasted on a spit, while during hunting season, the wild boar/cinghiale becomes the specialty dish," the local insider shared.

Sometimes, in life, we have to appreciate the simple things. In Italy, this means savoring a classic plate of pasta and tomato sauce. Although this may sound a little too di basi – or basic — to order at a restaurant, it's important to remember that this dish holds a fundamental place in Italian culture. After all, locals have been known to view it as a daily staple. Writing about this matter on the r/AskEurope subreddit of Reddit, one Italian explained, "In Palermo (my city), there are many, many types of pasta. Like most of Italy, I guess. But the standard one, the one that is most popular for a normal day-to-day lunch, is very basic. Usually short pasta, like penne or rigatoni (but sometimes spaghetti or other long forms), with a basic tomato sauce."

In its simplest form, this dish will contain a tomato sauce with very few ingredients. In the same comment, the aforementioned Redditor described the classic lunchtime tomato sauce as a mixture of "Tomatoes, a little garlic, olive oil, salt, maybe some basil." That said, depending on where you go, you might find some very elaborate sauces. Noting this variety, one Quora user shared, "Among the sauces that include tomato, some might not have that much tomato while others have tomatoes as the number one ingredient." This individual then went on to observe that a "tomato-rich Neapolitan-style ragu takes about 4 hours to cook."

There are authentic pasta dishes Italians recommend, and those that Italian chefs says to try. To get a taste of the latter, order a plate of spaghetti al limone. Popular around Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, this dish blends the light flavors of citrus with the heavier consistency of parmesan cheese. Incidentally, Italian celebrity chef Chef Vincenzo considers it one of his favorites. In a video shared on the YouTube channel Vincenzo's Plate, the chef announced, "This lemon pasta will take you to Sicily or the Amalfi Coast. You pick! This is a beautiful, Mediterranean dish. Amazing!"

Part of what makes spaghetti al limone so delicious in Italy is the use of Amalfi lemons. Unlike the lemons you might find in your local grocery store, these are world-famous for their unbelievable flavors. According to Letitia Clark, who works as a chef in Sicily, this ingredient has the potential to transform a dish into something truly special. As she wrote on the Belmond blog, "Every true lemon-lover knows that the lemons of Amalfi are the Holy Grail. Famed for their enlarged size, their tapered shape and their sweetness, their official name is Sfusato Amalfitano ..."

There's nothing quite as magical as visiting Venice, Italy. Considered a great destination for history buffs, "La Serenissima" promises to enchant visitors with its iconic waterways and magical gondolas. That being said, there's more to Venice than its architectural and geological beauty. The city is also well-known for its culinary scene — where there is a lot to enjoy beyond your average touristy pizza joint. 

To order pasta like an Italian, order bigoli co l'arna in Venice. Locals say this hearty dish is a regional classic you definitely won't forget. Writing in the r/ItalianFood subreddit of Reddit, one Italian recommended this dish as a must-try pasta. "In Venice, [order] bigoli co l'arna," they wrote. "Bigoli in salsa would be more venetian and [is] good, but bigoli co l'arna is one of the top dishes in Italy in my opinion."

This dish consists of a thick type of Venetian pasta, which is then served in a meaty duck sauce. Unlike most Americanized pasta sauces, this one does not include tomatoes. Instead, you can expect a ragu sauce that's cooked in wine. Enjoy it with a glass of red or sparkling water. Either way, you'll be sure to soak some true Italian flavors.

If you are interested in trying real Italian comfort food, order a piling bowl of gnocchi alla sorrentina. This Sorrento-style gnocchi is popular throughout Southern Italy — but especially in the state of Campania. Locals say that this dish, which consists of gnocchi baked in tomatoes and mozzarella, truly reflects the spirit of the region. As Italian chef Christian Marino put it on his blog of the same name, "Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is not just a meal; it's a testament to the Neapolitan spirit of hospitality and the joy of shared tables. Each bite is a piece of history, enriched with the sun-drenched cherry tomatoes and the creamy mozzarella only Campania can offer."

The best part is that gnocchi alla sorrentina pairs well with some culinary specialties in Campania. If you are planning a vacation to the region's iconic Amalfi Coast, for example, you might want to enjoy your gnocchi with Amalfi lemons. While gnocchi alla sorrentina is not served with a side of citrus, it can be followed with a dose of limoncello. One Italian commented on the r/ItalianFood subreddit of Reddit that these two food items are high on his list of Amalfi Coast must-tries.

Pasta alla norma is not just any Italian dish. It's quite literally the stuff of legend. This iconic dish is said to have gotten its name when the Italian writer Nino Martoglio tasted it and called out, "Chista è na vera Norma!" In Italian, this sentence roughly translates to, "This is the real Norma," referencing Bellini's popular opera of the same name. To try this incredible dish, head to Sicily, where pasta alla norma is considered a wintertime classic.

This dish includes freshly made pasta, fried eggplants, and rich tomatoes to create a light yet hearty combination. Italian chefs add salted ricotta to the top to round it all up. Some people even say that this cheese is meant to reference the snowcapped Mount Etna. Regardless of all the symbolism baked into this dish, people who live in Italy love it. Sicily-based digital nomad Kassie Duggan recommends pasta all norma on her eponym blog as the top choice of the meal variation.

When vacationing in Bologna, Italy, you can sound like a local by ordering pasta served with ragù alla bolognese. This slow-cooked meat sauce is extremely traditional in "La Dotta." It pairs well with a number of different noodles. Writing about this fact on Tripadvisor, one Italian shared, "Despite the fact that a lot of people in Bologna say that ragù is suitable only for tagliatelle, in reality, [it is] used to dress several kinds of pasta. Gramigna, gobbetti, but even gnocchi sometimes."

Interestingly, though, there is no one way to prepare ragù alla bolognese. As with many traditional dishes, different restaurants — and even families — swear their unique way of preparing ragù alla bolognese is the best. On the Tripadvisor thread, the same commentator added, "When you read the recipe of the Bologna Chamber of Commerce, it's clearly stated that is not the only official one, but one of the several." With this in mind, travelers can visit restaurants to enjoy ragù alla bolognese. While each dining experience can differ, sampling ragù in various restaurants can give you a better idea of how much this dish can vary.

Pasta al forno, or "baked pasta," may not be the fanciest of pasta dishes. However, it gets to the heart and soul of Italian culture. Dating back at least to the Middle Ages, this dish used to be prepared in huge open-air ovens used by entire villages. By the Renaissance, however, it had become a staple at grand events like parties and banquets. These days, pasta al forno remains a popular comfort food that's especially prevalent in southern Italy.

In the r/sicily subreddit of Reddit, one traveler asked what kind of pasta they should order on a vacation in Palermo. An Italian immediately suggested trying pasta al forno, although they hinted that the dish might not be as prevalent in fine-dining establishments. In a comment, the Redditor wrote, "You should also try "baked pasta" (pasta al forno), you can find it in many bars/cafés." If you are in Palermo, feel free to pop into a casual eatery and try this centuries-old comfort food. You won't be disappointed. 

Putting together this list of pastas to try in Italy was not always easy. Italy is a diverse country that offers different culinary specialties, depending on where you go. With this in mind, we tried to choose dishes that are available in several regions. We were especially careful to select pastas from major tourist destinations.

As such, we were sure to choose spaghetti carbonara from Rome and Ravioli with pumpkin and sage from the mountains just north of the capital. Bigoli co l'arna, meanwhile, was selected to represent Venice, while ragù alla bolognese was picked as a must-try dish from Bologna. We also decided to include several pastas from Sicily, as the region is a hot spot for summertime beach travel. Busiate alla trapanese and Pasta alla norma are fantastic dishes from this idyllic destination. Spaghetti al limone and gnocchi alla sorrentina similarly represent the iconic Amalfi Coast. Lasagna, pasta and tomato sauce, and baked pasta were chosen as more broadly popular dishes that can vary a bit by region.