Ciao ragazzi!
When people think of visiting Europe, more often than not Italy is at the top of their list.
And there’s a good reason for that! Italy has everything: art and archaeology, the best food and wine (in our opinion), iconic regions and countrysides, and vibrant and friendly people.
However, travelling anywhere abroad can also come with challenges, and Italy is no different.
That said, if you’re prepared, you stand to have a fantastic, memory-filled vacation discovering what ‘La Dolce Vita’ is really all about.
Here are twenty pro tips to help you prepare and enjoy your Italian holiday:
1. Dress appropriately for the weather and culture. Especially if you are visiting during the Spring or Autumn, you can experience all manner of temperatures, depending on the region you are visiting. For instance, we’ve been in Tuscany in Spring when it was warm enough for a t-shirt, but then needed a thick jacket a couple of days later when we thought it would snow. Remember to bring something nice for eating out as Italians take their dining quite seriously!
2. Learn a few basic Italian phrases to communicate with locals. This is important, especially as English is definitely not as widely spoken as it is in a place like Greece. You don’t have to know a lot, just enough to make an effort. You’d be surprised at how happy people are when they see you making an effort to speak their language. At the very least it’s a sign of respect. You never know, you may get an impromptu Italian lesson with a local shopkeeper!
3. Be aware of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas. This goes for any place in southern Europe and Italy is no exception. Keep your purse or satchel in front of you, and your phone secure. It’s always a good idea to have some cash in a money belt or even your shoe. If you get money from a cash machine, have someone in your party watch your back while you do so. Also beware of scams where so-called artist put paintings on the sidewalk and ask you for money when you inadvertently step on them.
4. Take advantage of public transportation to get around cities. Driving in Italian cities can be a stressful affair, so it is best avoided. If you need to go somewhere you cannot easily walk to, use public transport. You should be able to get a map of the local transit system, especially if you are in a large city like Rome. Do your research before your vacation so that you’re ahead of the game and can enjoy when you get there. If you take a taxi, be sure to agree on the tariff ahead of time. Consider an affordable driver service like Get Transfer (see our ‘Travel Resources’ page) for trips to and from the airport before or after a flight, or to pick up a rental car.
5. Research and plan your itinerary ahead of time to make the most of your trip. We know a lot of people prefer to be spontaneous, but planning even a rough itinerary can save you a lot of headaches and confusion when there is so much to see. Prioritize the sites you want to see, and check if they sell tickets on-line so you don’t have to wait in line. If you're meeting hosts at your accommodation at specific times, or even if you have a reservation at a restaurant, it’s always a good idea to leave a bit of buffer time to allow for delays on the way there. Also, researching the historical and archaeological sites and art galleries you want to see will help you to get a lot more out of your visit. Look for site maps so that you know what wonders you’re looking at.
6. Don't miss out on the food and wine! Italy is known for its delicious cuisine. This is one of the best parts about travelling in Italy. Fine dining is nowhere near as expensive as it is in North America or the U.K., so enjoy the unique, fresh, regional ingredients that Italy is famous for. Be sure to ask your wait staff questions as well, for they are often just as excited about food as you are and are more than happy to talk about their local cuisine. Apps like Tripadvisor are perfect for finding great restaurants, reading reviews, and making reservations.
7. Take a guided tour to learn more about the history and culture of the places you're visiting. If you’re not an historian or art history student, the museums, archaeological sites, and galleries in Italy can be quite overwhelming, especially if you haven’t done any research before your trip. There are often guided tours given by historians who can give you all the information you need, plus added information that you won’t find on any signage on-site. If you do go for a tour, be sure that your guide is an accredited tour guide and that they show you the appropriate credentials. For more information on walking tours, check out the options on the ‘Travel Resources’ page of our website.
8. Visit during the shoulder seasons (April-June, September-November) to avoid crowds and high prices. This is a great rule to follow when visiting Italy, especially as the summer can get very hot and uncomfortable in crowded places. If you visit Italy during these ‘shoulder seasons’ then you will enjoy your time without the frustrations of waiting in line or paying a premium for things like accommodation or restaurants. Also, the countryside won’t be brown and parched, but rather green and filled with wildflowers, such as in Spring, or bursting with colour as in the Fall. There are even amazing deals to be had during these off-season periods!
9. Be respectful of religious sites and dress appropriately if visiting churches or other places of worship. This should go without saying, but it bears repeating. Remember, you’re a guest in someone else’s country and places of worship. Adhere to the rules and simply enjoy the wonderful settings you are privileged to walk through. If you wouldn’t wear something to church back home, you probably shouldn’t wear it into a church in Italy. Just use common sense.
10. Be aware of different customs and etiquette in different regions of Italy. This is a broad topic but it certainly applies in Italy to things like meal times, tipping, and even how to order a coffee. As in Greece, you may also find places that are closed for ‘siesta’ in the afternoon. If you run into a different way of doing things, don’t get upset, just roll with it and enjoy that aspect of a different culture.
11. Consider purchasing a city pass or museum pass for discounts and skip-the-line privileges. If you plan on seeing several sites in one place, such as Rome or Florence, then this would be worth it. Not only will it save you money, it will also allow you to skip the lines which can be aggravatingly long during peak season. Do some research on-line ahead of time, and maybe even purchase the passes before you leave home. To get passes and 'skip-the-line' museum tickets, CLICK HERE.
12. Bring comfortable shoes for walking, as many Italian cities are best explored on foot. This is an important one. You may want to wear your Gucci heels - and yes, the Italians would appreciate that! - but you will want to reconsider that if you’re visiting a medieval hilltop town with cobblestone streets. It’s very likely that you will be on your feet for a large part of the day, so it’s important that you’re prepared. By all means, bring your nice shoes, but save them for a fancy dinner in the evening.
13. Try to stay in locally owned accommodations to support the local economy and get a more authentic experience. We’ve found that this is one of the best ways to get a real feel for Italian culture and life and, more often than not, the people are always extremely friendly and welcoming. Sites like AirBnB or TripAdvisor have a lot of accommodation to choose from, so do some research and read reviews. In the city, try renting a self-catering flat near the historic centre so that you can pop back home to rest or drop off bags before going back out. In the countryside, if you have a rental car, try staying an agriturismo outside one of Italy’s beautiful medieval towns. These are often traditional farmhouses on working farms that are full of traditional character and are often much more affordable than hotels. Browse accommodation options HERE.
14. Always carry some cash, as some smaller establishments may not accept credit cards. Even though it seems like much of the world is going ‘cashless’ it's always a good idea to have some of the local currency on hand in case of emergency, or for smaller purchases. If you’re trying to save money on souvenirs, some places will even give you a discount for paying cash, so you have a bit of bargaining power.
15. Be prepared for slower service at restaurants, as Italians tend to linger over meals and prioritize quality over speed. One of the nice things about ‘La Dolce Vita’ in Italy is the pace for enjoying a meal. Unlike North Americans who rush around with ‘to-go’ boxes of food, and paper coffee cups sloshing around, Italians will stop to savour a meal. Enjoy taking your time at a restaurant you’ve carefully picked. Go through the courses at a leisurely pace and enjoy the fact that the wait staff will never rush you out the door because they need the table. Eating in Italy is a wonderful experience. Take your time…enjoy…eat…drink…then go for a stroll.
16. Don't be afraid to haggle at markets and street vendors for souvenirs. This won’t be the case in boutiques, but when it comes to street vendors, you can indeed try to haggle, especially if you’re paying cash. However, try not to be too hard on the vendors as most are just trying to make an honest living. There is a lot of competition for common souvenirs as well, so take your time, shop around, and then make your move. Whether you buy an ‘I Love Roma’ t-shirt, a leather purse from Florence, or a Carnevale mask in Venice, in any outdoor market, get your Italian phrases ready to haggle. You may just go home with a great souvenir and a great story!
17. Take time to relax and enjoy the slower pace of life in Italy. This doesn’t just apply to restaurants. It applies to all aspects of Italian life, except for driving! A slow pace may be frustrating when it comes to bureaucracy, but for things like walking, eating, drinking, viewing a gallery or even a beautiful sunset, it’s the way to live. Most people are so rushed in their everyday lives in North America, and so it can be an eye-opening experience to slow down and enjoy the present moment the way the Italians do. Try it. You’ll be amazed at the different perspective you walk away with.
18. Be mindful of the environment and follow local waste disposal guidelines. You wouldn’t go over to someone’s house for dinner and throw your garbage onto their floor. Likewise, you shouldn’t litter in Italy, wherever you are. The Italians have a wonderful waste disposal system with bins for everything from compost to recycling to regular trash. Even in Tuscan villages, we’ve seen bins for textile, batteries, and electronics recycling! There’s no excuse for not using a bin when they are so plentiful.
19. Consider visiting lesser-known destinations in addition to popular tourist spots. There is so much history and archaeology in Italy, and so many beautiful historic villages in every region. If you’re tired of the crowds in the most popular tourist spots like Rome, Florence, and Venice, try getting a train, a bus tour, or rental car and getting into the countryside to see something new. Italy is a place of wonders, and there is something around every corner. Do some research about the region you’re staying in and see what other sites there are to see. You may be in for quite an adventure!
20. Be open to new experiences and embrace the Italian way of life! Travelling in Italy may seem like quite a culture shock for someone from North America, or even from the U.K., but for the traveller who makes even a little effort, it can be supremely rewarding. People dream of the Italian way of life, and the best way to see what that’s all about is to be open and embrace their ways of doing things while you’re there. Who knows? It may seem very strange to you at first, but chances are you’ll leave the country wondering how you could possibly manage to move there so that you can carry on living ‘La Dolce Vita’!
We hope you’ve found these twenty pro tips on travelling in Italy helpful.
It really is a beautiful, friendly country filled with some of the most magnificent art, food, and wine you will every experience.
We can’t get enough of this wonderful country, and if you manage to get there, chances are you’ll feel the same.
We all have an inner Italian!
Remember to check out our ‘Travel Resources’ page for recommendations around accommodation, food, site visits, and more!
Ciao e buon viaggio!
Comments