A Collection of Italy Travel Tips for Every Traveler

Visiting Italy on a whim sounds dreamy. Many have this idea, and while it may seem cinema-worthy, there’s plenty that can quickly derail your dream. Thankfully, with these curated Italy travel tips by your side, you’re in the right place for the trip of a lifetime.

But how exactly do you get the most out of your trip and your time in the country?

These hand-picked insider travel tips combine insights and bits of information pulled together over countless adventures to help make your trip as smooth as possible. So, keep reading for all you need to know when planning a trip to Italy.

General Planning Tips for Traveling to Italy

Long before your plane even touches down in Italy, you’ll need to have considered a few essential planning bits. So, here are some general tips for your Italy trip.

Choose the Perfect Season

The first step is choosing the best time to visit Italy. Both shoulder seasons (April to May and September to October) are best for a better balance of fewer crowds, pleasant weather, and lower prices. In terms of weather, expect more rainfall during autumn than in spring, as well as cold and rainy winters. Also, remember many attractions, shops, and restaurants have reduced operating hours during the off-season.

Check Your Travel Documents

It may seem obvious, but you need to make sure your documents for Italy are in order. Double-check to ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date (we prefer six to be saf). Not only is this smart in general, but it is a standard requirement for entry into the country.

Decide on Your Minimum Stay

When people say that there’s a lot to see and do in Italy, they mean it, so there’s no reason to rush through your visit. Don’t hurry from one place to the next or spend hours stuck in transit. Instead, make sure to spend three or more nights at each destination.

Add Lesser-Known Sites and Attractions to Your Itinerary

Famous attractions are popular for a reason, but you should try to visit a few off-the-beaten-track places as well. These spots are often outside the busy centers of big cities, so you’ll need to plan to visit them as thoroughly as possible. Alternatively, guided day tours from the cities allow you to explore the lesser-known towns and regions.

Research the Places You Plan to Visit

Many tourists are blown away by how diverse Italy and its various regions are, ensuring something new to do and discover visit after visit. That said, these varying landscapes and lifestyles do require some research beforehand since each region has its own uniquely Italian customs, dialect, traditions, and culinary specialties.

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Give Yourself Some Buffer Time

When planning your trip, always add some buffer time to your itinerary. Alongside the slower pace of Italian life, unplanned day-to-day occurrences can disrupt your trip and cause unwanted delays. So, it’s best to have time to spare.

Don’t Overschedule

Yes, there is a time and place for everything, and it can be tempting to fill your days with historical sites, many restaurants, and dozens of local markets. However, when you’re visiting the home of la Dolce Vita, overscheduling is almost sinful. Embrace the sweet life and spend a while simply enjoying the local culture.

Getting Around in Italy

From where to purchase train tickets to renting a car, making your way around Italy can be a bit daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Here are a few need-to-know tips.

Choose Trains for Travel Between Cities

The country’s rail network is extensive and efficient, connecting most major cities with charming towns throughout northern and southern Italy. That’s why it’s one of the best modes of transportation in Italy.

Hopping from one train station to the next also ensures that you see stunning sights along the way. Train travel is also fairly inexpensive, with regional trains offering out-of-season tickets that make budgeting easier.

Learn The Road Rules in Italy

Driving in Italy can be a convenient alternative to trains, especially if you want to explore off-the-beaten-path. Knowing the road rules and what you should expect makes driving there for the first time much easier. Pay attention to the ZLT-restricted traffic areas reserved for residents only, toll gate fees, speed limits, and other road rules.

Validate Train and Bus Tickets

Regardless of which method of public transportation you choose in Italy, you must validate all your bus and regional train tickets before boarding. If you forget, you could face hefty fines, even if your bus or train ticket was correctly purchased. You can only validate your tickets at the station, not onboard or with the conductor or bus driver.

Stay Up to Date on Strike Activity

Local labor-related train strikes are common in Italy, but they are usually scheduled in advance. It’s wise to read up on potential or ongoing strike schedules to ensure they don’t affect your trip.

Use Airport Transfers in Rome

With the number of affordable flights into the country daily, many of which arrive in Rome, it’s key to plan how you’re going to reach your hotel from the airport. To make things a bit smoother, choose an airport transfer, which you can generally arrange when booking your accommodation. These are either complimentary or come at reasonable prices.

Use Alternatives to Uber

It might surprise many visitors to find out that Uber isn’t all that common in Italy. Instead, there are a variety of similar services, with a dedicated app that you can download beforehand, for example, FreeNow. Keep in mind that some only operate in certain areas.

Accommodation Tips

Visiting Italy is always an excellent choice, but deciding where to spend your nights while in the country can be tricky.

Book Your Stay Ahead of Time

Unless you’re planning a trip during the off-season, it’s best to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible. Main tourist areas in both southern and northern Italy become exceptionally busy during the peak season, from June to August. Beyond the influx of visitors, prices also increase during this period, and accommodation is no exception.

Stay Close to Historic Centers

From Vatican City to St Mark’s Basilica, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Sistine Chapel, the historic centers of most significant cities in Italy are jam-packed with popular sites worth a visit. Choose hotels that are within walking distance to these centers to make exploration a bit easier.

Consider Italian Stay Styles

There’s no denying that you’ll enjoy Italy regardless of where you stay, but don’t shy away from more traditional accommodations. Exchange your typical big-name hotel for an agriturismo in Tuscany or masserie (especially in Puglia). These farm stays perfectly blend overnight comfort and immersion in local cuisine, culture, and life.

Come to Terms with City Tax

When staying overnight in any accommodation in select Italian cities, you’ll have to pay a supplementary city tax. This is a normal charge and should be included in the small print of your booking, so be sure to check all the details. The tax is charged separately from your room and usually costs just a few extra euros, which you will sometimes be asked to pay in cash.

Tips for Sightseeing and Visiting Attractions

While your reason for visiting Italy might not be the same as every other tourist, chances are you will see at least one major attraction or landmark. These tips will come in handy.

Get an Early Start

If you intend to visit popular sites (which we definitely recommend), especially in major cities such as Rome, Venice, and Florence, the golden rule is to get as early of a start as you can.

Why? Early morning starts are ideal, allowing you to see usually packed attractions far less crowded. Without larger crowds, you have better conditions for taking pictures and genuinely enjoying your time.

Buy Tickets in Advance

Alongside your flights and accommodation, always pre-book your admission tickets to whichever attractions or monuments you want to see. Luckily, there are dozens of ways to purchase tickets before your visit, from tour operators to official websites,  helping you skip the notoriously long queues that significant attractions are famed for.

Go on Guided Tours

One of the best ways to appreciate the rich history of Italian culture is to immerse yourself in its many unique attractions, religious sites, and historical landmarks. How? Well, simply join a guided tour (or several). Considering that many major sights aren’t well-marked, having a local expert guide with you ensures you don’t miss anything.

Eating and Drinking in Italy

An integral part of the Italian lifestyle is a deep appreciation and celebration of quality food, drinks, and wine. As one of the country’s favorite pastimes, here are a few tips on eating and drinking.

Appreciate Italy’s Coffee Culture

Near synonymous with Italian cuisine is the country’s cultural love for coffee, and it’s easy to fill pages with local customs surrounding the drink. In Italy, bars are where you go to drink coffee, with a variety of options.

Espressos are what locals drink, but if you want something a little less intense, opt for an Americano. Keep in mind that milky coffee-based drinks like cappuccinos aren’t had after 11:00, as locals believe it can interfere with digestion.

Eating Out Like a Local

In keeping with the casual approach Italians take to daily life, it shouldn’t be a surprise that locals enjoy their meals slowly. At most restaurants, you’ll have to ask for the bill once your meal is done. Then, when ordering water, you’ll get bottled water instead of tap water served at the table.

If you’re thinking of having dinner at 19:00, think again. Italians consider that still too early, so you’ll have to show patience. Another top tip when dining out is to avoid restaurants close to big attractions, as they tend to be expensive and of lower quality.

Enjoy Aperitivo

Local habits in Italy dictate much of how people go about daily life, and the best example of this is the aperitivo. Like what most think of as happy hour, an aperitivo is a pre-dinner cocktail, usually accompanied by light snacks. This takes place countrywide from 18:00 to 21:00, as restaurants are packed with locals enjoying an aperitif.

Don’t Order the Whole Menu

Italian food is meant to be savored and is built on a rich culinary heritage that spans centuries. This means you’ll find extensive menus in most Italian restaurants spanning several regions. As tempting as it might be to order the entire menu, instead ask for recommendations from locals on specific dishes.

Always Choose Local Wines

Regardless of where you’re eating, keep in mind that each of the country’s 20 regions has a unique variety of local wines that perfectly pair with regional foods. For example, in Tuscany, have a Chianti, in Veneto, try a Valpolicella; or in Sicily, taste a Nero d’Avola. This makes it easy to enjoy a meal with a delicious house wine (or vino della casa) at a reasonable cost without sacrificing flavor.

One Gelato a Day

Okay, while one gelato a day doesn’t keep doctors away, in Italy, it does help you immerse yourself in local snacking habits. Plus, it’s simply delicious. While many wait until the late afternoon before indulging, it’s entirely acceptable to dive into at least one a day, any time.

Culture and Etiquette

Italy is famous for many reasons, including its welcoming locals. That said, there are a few cultural traditions and norms that you should keep in mind.

Learn Some Italian

In most popular destinations like Rome and the Amalfi Coast, many Italians speak English. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn some basic Italian phrases, if only for respect and pleasantries. You can rely on the Google Translate app, but knowing a bit before you land can help a lot.

Always say “Buongiorno!” when entering a restaurant or shop, use “permesso” to pass someone when walking, and don’t forget please, “per favore”, and thank you, “grazie”.

Dress Modestly When Visiting Churches

When visiting religious sites around the country, keep in mind that many churches have strict dress codes that you’ll have to follow. Generally, you shouldn’t dress to show your shoulders or legs above the knee. Remember that this applies to the Vatican Museums as well.

Stay Off the Monuments

It might seem like a good idea to picnic next to the Grand Canal or to pose in a quirky way against the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but it’s best not to. Sitting on or picnicking around monuments is heavily frowned upon and forbidden in many places.

Don’t Talk About The Mafia

This might seem obvious, but bringing up the mafia when visiting Italy is considered in bad taste. Avoid topics of conversation around the subject, as a majority of Italians view it as very rude and unacceptable.

Health and Fitness

If you’re coming to Italy with the aspiration of seeing its biggest attractions and cities, there are several health and fitness tips to know.

Prepare to Walk

A significant benefit of touring through Italy’s cities is that most are very walkable, and you’re going to walk a lot — which means you will have to be fit enough. You can easily do up to 10-15,000 steps a day.

Respect the Summertime Midday Break

Summers in Italy are hot, and you’ll definitely see locals participating in a midday riposo. This break usually begins at 12:00 and lasts until 14:00, when many shops, butchers, and other businesses close their doors.

Stay Hydrated

With the heat and all the walking, you’ll need to stay hydrated regardless of what you have planned for the day. Now, while you’ll find street vendors selling bottled water, you can save money and use a reusable water bottle to refill at water fountains in places like Rome and Venice.

How to Find Pharmacies

If you’re feeling under the weather, keep in mind that pharmacies in Italy are more there to cure minor ailments, and you’ll need to seek medical care for more complex health issues. You can spot pharmacies by the large flashing green cross outside their doors.

Public Restrooms Are Hard to Find

In Italy, public restrooms are very few and far apart. Those you come across in public will often require you to pay to use them. Instead, visit a restaurant or museum or buy something at a bar to gain access to their facilities.

Packing for Your Trip to Italy

Before diving headfirst into your packing list for Italy, here are some insider tips on simplifying it.

Pack Light

Pack light and stick to the basics. There’s plenty to explore, and you don’t want to do it while hauling luggage around. Beyond the physical strain it can put on you, moving around cobblestone streets and steep stairs with a massive bag isn’t pleasant.

Remember to pack appropriately as well. You’ll be walking a lot, so bring flat shoes and laundry detergent sheets to help you clean up any dirty, small clothing items.

Electrical Voltage and Plugs

Italy’s electrical grid supplies the country with 220V, although devices requiring 240V will still work. It’s best to bring a universal adapter with you, as Italy uses two – or three-pronged round pin plugs.

Staying Safe in Italy

While you can’t always guarantee a safe trip, there are a few things you can do to help stay safe as you explore Italy.

Always Stay Alert

Just like any other country, when you’re roaming Italy and its cities, it’s wise to stay as alert as possible, especially when going into crowded areas or withdrawing money from ATMs. Italy is generally considered safe, but pickpocketing and petty theft can happen.

Also, invest in a crossbody bag to keep your belongings safe instead of a backpack.

Buy Online Tickets From Authorized Vendors

When planning your trip to Italy, remember that just because admission tickets to attractions are available on-site, it’s better to get yours online ahead of time. This ensures you buy legitimate tickets from authorized vendors with enforceable terms and conditions.

Be Careful Crossing the Street

Always look both ways before crossing a road. Italian driving can be chaotic at times, and local drivers have a lighthearted approach to road rules. This applies to small towns and big cities, as local traffic can get manic.

Money and Shopping

Retail therapy is good no matter where you do it. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at some money and shopping tips for Italy.

Visa and Mastercard Are Widely Accepted

Regardless of which region in Italy you visit, ATMs will be widely available. Visa and Mastercard (debit and credit cards) are accepted countrywide, however, be aware that other popular card issuers like Amex and Diners Club aren’t always accepted.

Don’t Touch Produce at the Local Market

Buying fresh produce from markets in Italy is a rite of passage for many visitors, and you’ll stumble upon a variety of markets across the country. While you can typically select what you buy yourself, the vendors will choose for you, so don’t touch anything.

Check Opening Hours

There are a lot of factors that play a role in many shops, restaurants and businesses’ opening hours in Italy. Always double-check afternoon hours, especially from 12:00 till 14:00 during the daily riposo.

Tipping In Italy

Tipping is not customary in Italy, and you’ll rarely be expected to tip at all. That said, you are welcome to tip a small amount to show gratitude for outstanding service.

Wrapping Up Travel Tips for Italy

And that’s a wrap on this collection of Italian travel tips. Whether you’re still dreaming of a visit to Italy or are in full planning mode for your upcoming getaway, these tips will come in handy time after time.

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