Episode #327: Your Italy Travel Questions - Choosing a base in Tuscany and for the Cinque Terre, hailing taxis and more

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Planning a trip to Italy and swimming in practical questions like plugs, taxis, and where to base yourself in Tuscany or Liguria? This Q&A tackles real traveler questions from the Untold Italy community, covering everything from electrical sockets and transportation options to rental cars, lake destinations, and choosing the perfect base for your Italian adventure.

Contents

Summary

Time for another of our Q&A sessions, this time with questions collated in the Untold Italy app. Host Katy Clarke answers real, practical questions from navigating Italy’s quirky electric plugs, hailing taxis, and understanding restaurant etiquette, to picking the perfect home base in Tuscany or the Cinque Terre – and even plotting out the best way to explore Italy’s beautiful northern lakes.

What you'll learn in this episode

Italy’s electrical system includes Type C, F (Schuko), and L sockets, with differences between modern and older buildings affecting compatibility, making it important to bring a reliable adapter and check whether devices are dual voltage, especially for high-wattage appliances
Taxi use in Italy generally requires going to official ranks, pre-booking by phone, or using apps like ITTaxi and FreeNow, with Uber limited to premium, expensive service Uber Black in major cities. Taxi fares are often based on meters or fixed airport rates
Choosing a base in Tuscany depends heavily on transport options, with towns like Florence and Siena offering different advantages and many itineraries working best with a combination of bases rather than a single location
In Liguria and the Cinque Terre, staying in places like Levanto or La Spezia provides better transport links and fewer crowds than staying inside the villages, making day trips into the Cinque Terre more practical
Renting a car in Italy involves considering airport versus city pick-up locations, one-way rental fees, and avoiding driving in historic centres, with cars best used for regional travel outside major cities
Italian dining structure and northern lake travel both require some planning, from understanding multi-course menus to using ferries, multiple bases, and realistic travel times when exploring Lake Como, Garda, and Maggiore

Timeline Overview

05:47 Italian taxi tips. Practical advice on how taxis work in Italy, including what to expect in terms of availability, pricing, and taxi apps
11:29 Choosing a base in Tuscany for key places in Tuscany and Umbria. Guidance on picking the right home base, depending on whether you want countryside stays, city access, or easy day trips
16:12 Staying in Liguria to access the Cinque Terre. Tips on booking a relaxed base, such as Levanto or La Spezia, as an alternative gateway to the Cinque Terre
20:07 Driving in Italy – key tips for renting and driving a car, including road rules, signage, and what to expect on Italian roads
25:46 Lake travel planning. Advice on selecting the best hub for exploring Italy’s lakes and whether a car is useful for getting between towns and viewpoints

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

Siena – medieval city in Tuscany famous for its historic center and the Palio horse race
Pisa – Tuscan city renowned for the Leaning Tower and architectural marvels
Lucca – charming walled city in Tuscany, known for its intact Renaissance walls and relaxed atmosphere
Barga – picturesque hill town in northern Tuscany, off main transportation routes
Anghiari – medieval town near Arezzo in eastern Tuscany, celebrated for its preserved historic character
Arezzo – Tuscan city with an Etruscan-Roman history and beautiful medieval squares
Cortona – hill town in Tuscany, noted for its views and charming narrow streets
Perugia – capital of Umbria, a vibrant university city known for chocolate and historic sites
Assisi – town in Umbria, famous as the birthplace of St. Francis and for its beautiful basilica
Liguria – coastal region in northwest Italy encompassing the famous Italian Riviera
Cinque Terre – collection of five colorful villages on the Ligurian coast, known for dramatic cliffs and hiking trails
Genoa – atmospheric old port city in Liguria, known for its food, historic architecture, and lively events
La Spezia – real Italian city and major port near the Cinque Terre, good for value hotels and train connections
Levanto – laid-back seaside town north of the Cinque Terre, quieter with a local European vibe and sandy beaches
Monterosso – one of the five Cinque Terre villages, known for its beaches
Milan – cosmopolitan city in northern Italy; ideal transport hub for northern lakes, fashion, and culture
Lake Como – glamorous lake famous for villas, gardens, and stunning alpine scenery
Lenno – town on Lake Como, home to the renowned Villa del Balbianello
Tremezzo – village on Lake Como, site of Villa Carlotta and its celebrated gardens
Villa Carlotta – renowned for its spectacular botanical gardens, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and lakeside views
Villa del Balbianello – elegant terraced gardens overlooking the lake, featured in several films
Varenna – charming village on Lake Como's central shore, ferry hub, romantic setting
Menaggio – beautiful lakeside town on Lake Como, popular with travelers, offers lake views and access
Bellagio – upmarket resort town on Lake Como famed for its gardens and location at the intersection of the lake’s branches
Lake Maggiore – grand lake straddling Piedmont and Lombardy, dotted with islands and garden villas
Borromean Islands – group of islands in Lake Maggiore, including Isola Bella and Isola Madre, celebrated for ornate gardens
Isola Bella – island on Lake Maggiore, noted for theatrical Baroque gardens and palazzo
Isola Madre – largest Borromean Island, famed for lush botanical gardens and white peacocks
Lago d’Orta (Lake Orta) – serene, less-visited lake near Lake Maggiore, prized for its tranquility and beauty
Lake Garda – Italy’s largest lake, known for its size, variety of landscapes, and quaint lakeside towns
Stresa – elegant resort town on Lake Maggiore, primary ferry departure point for the Borromean Islands
Desenzano – lively town on the southern shore of Lake Garda, good train access
Peschiera – picturesque lakefront town on Lake Garda with historic fortifications
Gardone Riviera – town on Lake Garda with the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio’s estate and gardens
Sigurtà Garden Park – large, landscaped botanical park near the southern tip of Lake Garda

Food / Drink

caciofi – artichokes, used especially in antipasti and revered for their delicate flavor
polpette – Italian meatballs, usually made from ground meat and served as an appetizer or main
crostini – small toasted bread slices topped with a variety of flavorful spreads and ingredients
antipasti – starter course, often a great choice to enjoy local flavors
primi – often pasta or risotto
secondo – the main protein course in an Italian meal, highlighting either expertly prepared meats or fresh seafood
contorni – side dishes of fresh or cooked vegetables or mixed green salads that accompany main courses
dolce – the sweet course or dessert at the end of a meal, ranging from pastries to cakes and more

Words / Concepts

Bipasso socket – (also known as bivalente) is a common type of electrical outlet found throughout Italy. Designed to accommodate both 10-amp and 16-amp Type L plugs, it allows a wide range of devices – from phone chargers and laptops to higher-powered appliances – to be plugged into the same outlet. Its distinctive three-hole design makes it one of the most versatile and widely used sockets in Italian homes, hotels, and public buildings
Stazione dei Taxi – official taxi stands in Italy
itTaxi – popular taxi app across Italy
FreeNow – taxi app used in Rome and other cities in Italy
Genoa Piazza Matteotti DJ set – Charlotte de Witte played to 20K people in Genoa (Genova) piazza in April 2026
Cinque Terre Treno Card – includes unlimited travel on the Cinque Terre Express trains between Levanto and La Spezia, access to the Via dell'Amore and paid hiking trails, local buses within the villages, and other park services, making it the most convenient pass for exploring the Cinque Terre. The card can be purchased on the day at every train station in the Cinque Terre, Levanto and La Spezia, as well as here (cards do not sell out)
Auto Europe – car rental search engine, useful for finding good deals and options. Generally offers the most competitive one-way rates
Navigazione Laghi – the official portal for ferries on lakes Como, Maggiore and Garda

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Episode #327: Your Italy Travel Questions – Choosing a base in Tuscany and for the Cinque Terre, hailing taxis and more