Episode #333: Italy Travel Q&A - Tips for both First-Timers and Frequent Visitors

This article may contain compensated links. See our full disclosure here

Listen to “333. Italy Travel Q&A: Tips for both First-Timers and Frequent Visitors” on Spreaker.

LISTEN ON APPLE LISTEN ON SPOTIFY DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT

Questions arising as you plan your Italy trip? In our latest listener Q&A, we cover a variety of topics from getting around Venice and celebrating Christmas in Sicily, to finding artisans in Florence and crafting the perfect northern Italy itinerary.

Contents

Summary

In this episode, host Katy Clarke tackles listener questions covering everything from first-timer travel tips – ATMs, tipping, taxis – to itinerary planning in northern Italy, tour pricing, artisan finds in Florence, and Christmas in Sicily. We also go behind the scenes on Untold Italy itself, sharing our philosophy, team, and what makes our approach unique.

GET: Our podcast episode guide here, to find the episodes that are best for you and your Italy planning journey!

What you'll learn in this episode

How to handle money and transport as a first-timer – avoid airport ATMs, use bank ATMs or bring minimal cash since cards are widely accepted, book pre-arranged transfers or local taxi apps instead of hailing taxis, and what to do if your Italy trip coincides with a train strike (FlixBus is the best backup option)
Breaking down what tour pricing actually gets you, with the different price tiers for experiences and tours, from €50-70 large group tours up to €150+ private guides, and what determines the difference between a rushed group walkthrough and a personalized, in-depth experience
How to celebrate an authentic Sicilian Christmas – the key dates to know (December 8th, Santa Lucia on the 13th, through to Epiphany on January 6th), plus specific traditions in Palermo, Ortigia, and Taormina, including candlelit processions, festive foods like arancine, cuccia and living nativity scenes
Where to build a two-week northern Italy itinerary around Venice – several route options are laid out, from a Venice-Verona-Lake Garda-Dolomites combination to a lakes road trip toward Turin, or a loop through Emilia Romagna hitting Bologna, Modena, Parma, and Ravenna
How to find real artisans and lesser-visited cultural sites – from Genoa's Palazzi dei Rolli UNESCO site to Florence's contemporary jewelers and craftspeople (including a visit to Alessandro Dari's studio), plus underrated cultural stops in Padua, Ferrara, and Mantua

Timeline Overview

10:29 Tour pricing and options – a breakdown of what you get at each price tier, from large group tours to fully private guides
17:57 Katie's vision for Untold Italy – why the podcast focuses on Italy and Italians rather than personal branding, and how the team's regional expertise shapes the content
23:54 Christmas events in Palermo – festive traditions, markets, and celebrations to plan around if visiting Sicily in December
27:37 Italy travel itinerary suggestions – multiple two-week route ideas for exploring northern Italy, from the Dolomites to Emilia Romagna
33:07 Contemporary art and artisan hubs – where to find working artists and craftspeople, especially in Florence

Still figuring out your Italy trip?

italy trip planning services katy and liv

The options are endless and the decisions are real. Whether you need someone to sanity check your route from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, figure out how to fit a Chianti winery into a Tuscany itinerary, or build your Italy itinerary from scratch, we have done it before. Our Italy experts can help because they know the difference between the Italy that looks good on paper and the Italy that you are searching for.

see how we can help

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

Piazzale Roma – main bus terminal, gateway to Venice’s core and Vaporetto stops
San Zaccaria – Venice Vaporetto stop convenient for reaching Piazza San Marco
Ortigia – enchanting old town island of Siracusa, Sicily, rich with Baroque architecture and Santa Lucia celebrations
Taormina – picturesque hilltop town in eastern Sicily, famous for its Greek theatre and festive Nativity traditions
Caltagirone – Sicilian town famed for its colorful ceramics and festive Christmas displays
Piazza Castelnuovo – main square in Palermo, often the site of Christmas markets
Mercato del Capo – lively food market in Palermo, noted for street food and festive spirit
Ballarò – historic open-air market in Palermo, teeming with fresh produce and local flavor
Piazza Duomo – central square in Taormina hosting many community and festive events
Teatro Massimo – grand opera house in Palermo, hosting concerts and performances, especially during festivals
Salerno – port city in Campania, gateway to the Amalfi Coast
Dolomites – dramatic mountain range in Northern Italy, popular for hiking, skiing, and breathtaking landscapes
Lake Garda – Italy’s largest lake, surrounded by charming villages and natural beauty
Verona – romantic northern city famous for Roman ruins and its link with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Turin – elegant city in northwest Italy, known for Baroque architecture and chocolate
Lago d’Orta/Lake Orta – serene lake in Piedmont, features the picturesque Island of Silence
Island of Silence (Lago d’Orta) – tranquil islet with a historic monastery, perfect for peaceful exploration
Lake Maggiore – scenic lake spanning Italy and Switzerland, dotted with islands and lakeside towns
Lake Iseo – tranquil Lombardy lake, home to the unique Monte Isola
Padua – charming city in Veneto, famous for Giotto frescoes and historic markets
Vicenza – northern city celebrated for Palladian architecture and refined atmosphere
Veneto Palladian villas – iconic Renaissance villas designed by Andrea Palladio, viewable near Vicenza
Brescia – Lombardy city with Roman remains and Renaissance architecture
Bergamo – hilltop city in Lombardy, known for its medieval Città Alta and vibrant culture
Emilia Romagna – fertile region celebrated for food, cars, and art cities
Bologna – historic city in Emilia-Romagna, renowned for medieval towers and culinary delights
Ravenna – city near the Adriatic coast in Emilia-Romagna, noted for its dazzling Byzantine mosaics
San Marino – tiny independent republic atop a mountain, surrounded by Italy
Modena – culinary destination in Emilia-Romagna, home of balsamic vinegar
Parma – Art and food city, famed for Parmesan cheese and Parma ham
Ferrara – Renaissance city with moated castle and historic buildings
Mantua – atmospheric lakeside city, rich in Renaissance art and architecture
Genoa – major Ligurian port city with grand palaces (Palazzi dei Rolli) and labyrinthine old town
Palazzi dei Rolli – collection of UNESCO-listed Renaissance and Baroque palaces once home to Genoa’s elite
Palazzo Strozzi – leading center for contemporary and classical exhibitions in Florence
Museo Novecento – Florence museum dedicated to 20th-century Italian art
Manifattura Tabacchi – contemporary arts and artisan hub in a renovated factory space in Florence
Alessandro Dari Studio – famed Florentine jeweler’s workshop and gallery known for innovative, artistic pieces

Food / Drink

arancine – crispy, fried rice balls stuffed typically with ragù, mozzarella, and peas, a Sicilian specialty enjoyed especially during the festival of Santa Lucia
cuccia cake – traditional Sicilian dessert made for Santa Lucia, baked with farro and dried fruits, symbolizing the end of famine

Words / Concepts

Welcome Pickups – transfer company providing pre-booked rides from airports to accommodations, praised for reliability and easy online booking
App Taxi – local Italian taxi app, similar in function to Uber but specific to major Italian cities like Rome
Flixbus – modern long-distance bus company operating in Italy and across Europe, offering comfortable rides and onboard Wi-Fi
eSIM – a digital SIM card solution recommended for easy mobile data access in Italy without needing a physical SIM card – Airalois a great option
LivTours – Italian-based tour company offering private and group tours in Italy, known for a range of experiences and well-trained guides. Use code ‘untolditaly' for a 5% discount
Walks of Italy – reputable company offering high-quality tours in Italy’s major destinations
Windstar – cruise company whose smaller ships can still dock at the Venice cruise terminal, unlike larger vessels
Manifattura Tabacchi – Florence artisan hub
Sicilian Christmas events – feast day on Dec 8th, Santa Lucia on the 13th
Zuccata bonfires – also know as Lo Zuccu and U Zuccu in Sicilian, which means stump, is the traditional Christmas Eve bonfire celebrated in towns throughout Eastern Sicily, ignited on the night of December 24th
Presepe/Presepi – Italian term for Nativity scenes, sometimes enacted by local people as ‘Living Nativities’ in towns across Italy and Sicily
Alessandro Dari – celebrated Florentine jeweler, known for blending traditional goldsmith techniques with contemporary styles
Female Arts in Florence – collective or hub that promotes art by women in Florence
The Content Atelier – Instagram account and project documenting artisans and craftspeople in Florence
Giotto – master painter, creator of 14th-century frescoes in Padua

Plan your Italian adventures with Untold Italy

If you're enjoying the podcast and are excited about going to Italy but are overwhelmed by all the options, why not hire our Italy travel experts to help you build your dream trip. Our Italy Trip Planning services will get you from dreaming to booking the trip that suits you and your travel companions best – whether it's a week in Tuscany, visiting the iconic Italian cities or an off-the-beaten-path adventure in Sicily > learn more

THE BEST!

If you want a curated Italian adventure, this is your solution. We hired Tyla and the Untold Italy crew to put together our itinerary through Tuscany. We had the vacation of a lifetime! – Jamey Ice (Google) – read more reviews.

Untold Italy Tours

Founded in 2022, our small group tour company takes curious travelers on multi-day adventures to Italy's lesser-known regions and to secret spots in places that are better known. Departing in Spring and Fall/Autumn, each trip focuses on food and wine, local traditions and uncovering the Italy you've always dreamed of > learn more.

NEED SOME HELP planning your Italy trip?

untold italy founder katy clarke and olivia windsor in piazza navona rome

We are here for you. If you are planning the classic Italy trip, have a milestone event coming up and you want to celebrate at a villa in Tuscany or want to find the best stops for your Puglia road trip, we can help.

There is no shortage of Italy travel advice online. The problem is finding the right advice for your trip. Our Italy travel experts have helped hundreds of travelers go from overwhelmed to booked, with a plan they are excited about. Whether you have a loose idea or a half-built itinerary that needs a second opinion, we can help. Get in touch today to get your Italy trip in motion.

Talk to an Italy trip planning expert

Disclosure: Untold Italy assists our readers with carefully chosen product and services recommendations that help make travel easier and more fun. If you click through and make a purchase on many of these items we may earn a commission. All opinions are our own – please visit our disclosure page for more information.

Planning, Podcast episodes

Episode #333: Italy Travel Q&A – Tips for both First-Timers and Frequent Visitors