50 Travel Tips For Visiting Italy
Visiting a new country, particularly one like Italy where there is so much to see and do, can be quite overwhelming. After 1 year living in Italy, I’ve learned so many tips and tricks on how to take the stress out of traveling here, and I’m so excited to share them with you! Without further ado, here are my 50 best tips on traveling in Italy from packing and planning to dining and spending-enjoy!
Travel Planning
1. Avoid traveling to Italy during high season (summer). You will experience longer lines, more expensive rates, and bigger crowds.
2. Don’t visit Italy in August. Many business owners head on vacation and close up shop during this month. While tourist attractions will still be open, cities are primarily filled with tourists (and pretty unbearable heat).
3. Visiting Florence in the summer? Check out these tips to get the most out of your trip.
4. Create a great itinerary. There are so many amazing places to visit in Italy, so do some research on which cities are the most important for you to see. Check out my 2 week Italy itinerary for inspiration!
Packing
5. Wear conservative clothing to avoid standing out and to ensure you are able to visit churches when out and about. Read my post What to Wear: How to Dress in Italy for more information.
6. Studying abroad in Italy? Try using my Ultimate Study Abroad Packing List For Ladies as a packing guide.
7. Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs, or be prepared to donate some clothing before you leave. (Here’s how to donate in Florence)
Transportation
8. Don’t forget to validate your bus and train tickets (and avoid a huge fine)! Purchasing the ticket isn’t enough, you must stamp it at the validation boxes. In train stations, do so before boarding the train. On busses, validate as soon as you enter.
9. Did you forget to validate your train ticket? Find the train conductor immediately and explain what happened, they will be able to manually validate your ticket.
10. Purchase Trenitalia and high speed train tickets in advance to save money.
11. When purchasing bus or train tickets, save time by grabbing a return ticket as well.
12. Bus tickets can be purchased at a Tabaccheria or tobacco shop.
13. Watch your luggage at the station, thieves are known to just run off with unsuspecting passenger’s luggage.
14. Be prepared to call a taxi or find a taxi stand, you cannot just hail a taxi in Italy.
15. For more tips on riding the bus in Italy, read this post.
Money
16. Don’t forget to inform your bank you will be out of the country.
17. Avoid exchanging money, as many places overcharge. Hit an ATM instead.
18. Get a bank card or credit card with no international transaction fees, or at least double check your card’s international policies.
19. Always carry cash. Most places in Italy do accept credit card, but cash is generally preferred, particularly for small transactions.
20. Break large bills (50 Euro or more) at larger stores, not on your 1 Euro espresso.
Dining
21. Avoid restaurants right next to popular tourist locations, they often overcharge and aren’t very good.
22. Ask locals where to eat for the best tips in town.
23. Don’t rely on TripAdvisor reviews alone. Many of my favorite Florence restaurants don’t rank highly on TripAdvisor.
24. Steer clear of restaurants with pictures of food. The best places don’t have pictures.
25. Try local dishes for the best dining experience (examples: try pesto in Cinque Terre, seafood in Amalfi, Chianti wine in Tuscany). Most dishes are better in the region they are local to.
26. You don’t have to tip…
27. But you will have to pay a coperto, or cover charge for sitting to eat, so don’t be surprised when your bill goes up ~2 Euro per person.
28. You will almost always have to pay for water. You can request tap, but you will probably get funny looks.
29. If you don’t want sparkling water, request aqua naturale. Be sure to double check the labels of any water bottles you are purchasing.
30.Always ask if a restaurant has a house wine or vino della casa, it will be delicious and less expensive than what is listed on the menu.
31. Warning: A lot of popular “Italian” dishes in the US don’t exist in Italy, so don’t be surprised if you can’t find spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini alfredo, or garlic bread on the menu. And if you can, try considering a different restaurant.
32. To look like a local, avoid ordering a cappuccino after 10:00 AM as it is considered a morning drink. In the afternoon, Italians prefer espresso.
33. Italians don’t eat bread with olive oil and balsamic together, so if you’d like this combo you will have to ask. Again, you’ll probably get a funny look.
Street Smarts
34. You (or someone you know) will probably get catcalled. “Ciao bella” is pretty normal, physical contact is not.
35. To avoid unwanted attention as a female I generally dress conservatively, avoid walking home alone at night, and completely ignore catcallers while walking purposefully.
36. Don’t do or purchase drugs in Italy. It’s illegal and the last thing you want is to be stuck in an Italian jail and not know the language. In larger cities you may even be approached by drug dealers in the street. Walk away. Immediately.
37. Beware of pickpockets, especially in larger cities and near tourist attractions. They are extremely good at their job.
38. For this reason, don’t carry a ton of cash.
39. Have copies of your passport, insurance information, and all of your credit cards secured in your luggage in the event your wallet does get lost or stolen
40. Avoid walking alone at night, especially in big cities.
41. This all being said, don’t worry-Italy is not a scary place, and I actually do feel pretty safe at night. By following these tips I’ve lived here for 1 year and have never (knock on wood) been pick pocketed!
Budget Italy
42. Use public transportation-busses, trains, etc. instead of expensive taxis. Another great money saving option is renting a bike.
43. You don’t always have to go to a pricy restaurant to eat-try Italy’s street foods like pizza, lampredotto, or a panino.
44. Bargain buy-when shopping for souvenirs in Italy’s markets, don’t pay full price, it is expected that you will haggle.
45. Visit museums on free admission days (For most museums this is the first Sunday of the month).
46. Entrance to many churches is free, just be sure you are dressed appropriately (shoulders, chest, and modest skirt length).
47. Skip a pricey hotel and stay in a hostel or Airbnb to save a few $.
48. Don’t impulse buy, many times you’ll find a similar product around the corner for less.
49. Create a travel budget, and actually stick to it!
The final tip:
50. Soak up every minute! Oftentimes traveling can feel rushed or seem to flash by. Live in the moment and truly enjoy your trip. Take time to actually learn about the culture and converse with locals. Don’t get stressed if you feel like you “missed” a landmark or experience, its impossible to see everything. Italy is an unforgettable experience.
Buon Viaggio!
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What are your favorite Italy travel tips? Let me know in the comments!
For more on Italy, check out these posts:
- Two Incredible Weeks In Italy: The Complete Itinerary
- Bucket List Italy: 20 Unforgettable Adventures To Add To Your List
- 50 Things To Do Before You Leave Florence
- Racing Through Roma: How to Conquer Rome in a Day
