Tips Traveling To Italy – This site uses affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you use my links and make purchases at no extra cost to you.
If you’re visiting Italy for the first time, you’re probably excited, and maybe even a little nervous. Traveling to Italy for the first time can be a little overwhelming, so I’ve put together my top picks, Italy travel tips and first-time Italy travel tips. Here are ten tips to make planning your first trip to Italy a success. All in all, this is a beginner’s guide to Italy. And if you’re looking for more inspiration on where to go in Italy, I’ve teamed up with some of the best travel bloggers out there to create the ultimate Italy list.
Tips Traveling To Italy
My first suggestion to people traveling to Italy for the first time is don’t try and see too much. I know it can be tempting to want to check off everything on your Italy bucket list, but honestly, it’s better to take your time and enjoy the leisurely pace.
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If you have 10 days in Italy on your first visit, I would suggest limiting your stops to three different places, max.
If you try to visit more than three places, you will spend a lot of time traveling in transit, which can be tiring, especially if you arrived in Italy on a long flight and are trying to recover from the plane. delay (Pssst….here’s what to wear on a long flight.)
Generally, a mix of sightseeing and leisure makes for a good itinerary. Combine the sights of Rome or Florence with a little more laid-back places like the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Cinque Terre or Bellagio Italy.
If you want to drop another place for a unique Italian charm, Venice or Lucca Italy. Balancing these three themes will make for an incredible journey.
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Important packing advice for Italy. Don’t forget to pack a power adapter. I love this Italy power adapter because it has an outlet and two USB ports. And it’s less than $15.
Deciding whether or not to rent a car in Italy is one of the first things people ask when they start planning their trip.
My general advice for first-time visitors to Italy is that you should plan to use the train system for most of your transit, rather than renting a car. Driving in Italy, especially in the cities, can be a real challenge.
Many first-time visitors to Italy are well connected by the Italian train system, and trains are frequent and fairly easy to use.
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For example, routes limited to Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast will not require a car as these places are all very well connected by Italy’s train system.
The only exception to this advice is for people traveling to Tuscany or other rural areas of Italy, especially southern Tuscany.
Public transport is quite limited in this part of Italy, so realistically you’ll need a car if you want to really explore. Fortunately, in areas like southern Tuscany, the traffic is much less frenetic, so driving will be much easier as a tourist.
If you’re traveling to Italy for the first time, chances are you’ll be taking a train at some point during your trip to Italy.
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This is a very important tip for traveling to Italy. any time you board a train, don’t forget that there are actually TWO steps to getting your ticket. The first step is to purchase your ticket and the second step is to validate.
Most tourists in Italy assume that they are ready to board the train once they have their ticket in hand, but this is not the case.
Before boarding, you must insert your paper ticket into one of the yellow validating machines located at all train stations. The validation specifies the day and time of travel, which guarantees that the ticket can only be used once.
Ticket inspectors regularly come on trains to check that drivers have a valid ticket. They usually don’t have much sympathy for tourists, even if they are visiting Italy for the first time.
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This is why it is so important to know before traveling to Italy. if you do not have a validated train ticket, you may incur a fine.
Pro Travel Tip. These days, travel can be more uncertain than ever. Check for any COVID-related restrictions at your destination and never travel without travel insurance. I recommend SafetyWing because they have flexible + affordable insurance plans and also cover COVID-related impacts on your trip (not all companies do).
If your first trip to Italy is during the summer months, remember that it can get incredibly hot in most parts of the country.
Summer is the time of year when many Italians escape the city and head to one of Italy’s many gorgeous beaches. And for good reason. It can absolutely bake, especially in cities like Rome and Florence.
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Unlike in the US, many hotels in Italy do not have air conditioning. In the summer months, if you’re stuck without power, the heat inside can be suffocating, especially after a long day of sightseeing. When you book your hotel, be sure to specifically check whether or not the room has air conditioning.
I love using Booking.com to find the perfect hotel. Check out their top hotels in Rome, Florence and Venice.
Even if you’re making a light for Europe, don’t forget your power adapter. Although adapters are readily available in Italy, it’s worth keeping one in your bag so you don’t have to fumble for it when you’re out and about after arrival.
Here’s a three-pack of adapters on Amazon for less than ten dollars: I haven’t seen them cheaper anywhere.
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Note that busy train stations are popular locations for pickpockets to operate in Italy. Pickpockets often work in pairs, with one distracting you while the other swipes your wallet. If you are visiting Rome for the first time, this is especially important to be aware of.
Unfortunately, pickpockets can be quite creative when it comes to distracting you as well. I heard of a scheme where a woman asked a tourist to hold her child for a moment while she reached for something, only to have her “partner in crime” grab the tourist’s bag.
So one of my top Italy travel tips and advice is to keep your wits about you, fasten your money belt and walk with purpose. If you do all these things, you will have no problems during your Italian vacation.
, as it is known in Italy) is a few hours in the early afternoon when Italians usually go home for an afternoon break.
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When planning your first trip to Italy, be sure to keep this in mind. Many museums, shops and churches in Italy close for a few hours in the afternoon during holidays, especially in smaller towns.
Usually, it can be anytime between 1pm and 4pm. Check online ahead of time for any attractions you plan to visit during this time so you can plan for afternoon closures if necessary.
If you are going to Italy for the first time, it is the right time to enjoy wine. Why? In addition to producing some of the best grape juice in the world, ordering wine at a restaurant in Italy is usually cheaper than ordering water.
It’s true that a bottle of still or sparkling water will set you back 7 or 8 euros, but a quartino of house wine is only two or three euros.
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What is a quartino? A quartino means 250ml of wine and it is served in a small carafe. A quartino is roughly equal to a glass and a half of wine, so it’s the perfect amount to enjoy over a leisurely dinner. Greetings
. Coperto translates to “cover” and is a fee that restaurants charge you to sit at a table and, well, eat. It’s usually around 2 or 3 euros per person, but it varies quite a bit depending on where you go in Italy.
If you’re traveling to Italy for the first time, be prepared to see a coperto on your restaurant bill. It’s also important to know that a tip is a separate charge from a restaurant tip.
That said, tipping in Italy usually means rounding up your bill or adding a few extra euros to the check.
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If you’re from the US, you’re probably used to elevators and escalators EVERYWHERE. If it’s your first trip to Italy, remember that many places only have stairs.
This is important to remember when it comes to packing for your trip. When visiting Italy, I recommend only packing and making sure you can lift your suitcase yourself.
Being able to lift your own bag will also come in handy when getting on and off the train. Trains stop very quickly, so you’ll need it when you get to your station
