Italy Travel Tips: Our best advices for an unforgettable journey!

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you’ll want to read this first! In this blog post, we will share 21 essential Italy travel tips with you. From what to pack, to how to say “good evening”, and everything in between – we’ve got you covered! Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world for good reason. The country is packed full of history, culture, and natural beauty. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of Italy travel tips!

Why Travel to Italy?

Italy offers something for everyone. From the food-lovers and wine-connoisseurs, to those who enjoy nothing more than exploring ancient ruins – Italy has it all. The country is also home to some of the most iconic cities in the world, such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. Whether you’re looking for a city break or a countryside escape, Italy is the perfect destination.

After all we said above, you will not be surprised if I tell you that Italy is the top 1 of the UNESCO World Heritage Site List!

What are our Italy travel tips?

Before traveling to Italy, either your are a regular visitor or it’s your first time there, you have to know some tips that will help you and make your journey easier.

We will talk here about 3 Italy travel tips categories:

Food and restaurants, being and acting like an Italian, and finally Touristy Travel tips.

Italy Travel Tips: eating outside

• There is a time for drinking coffee

What You should remember is that Italian never drink coffee during meal. You can order you coffee after finishing your meal.

If you want a milk with coffee don’t ever order “Latte”. Latte means Milk in Italian, so your order will be just a hot milk. Use “Latte Macchiato” instead, which means milk with coffee.

Cappuccino! In some countries, people drink it any time during the day. In Italy, you have to respect a rule: Never drink a cappuccino after 11:00 am. It’s just for breakfast.

Don’t be surprised if the waiter looks at you like you come from another planet if you order a cappuccino after lunch or dinner.

• There is a way for drinking ESPRESSO

Hmm! what is Espresso? Well, it’s an Italian word that simply means “Fast”.

You can enjoy your Espresso and drink it slowly by taking a seat at a table, but if you wanna do it as an Italian, you should drink it standing in front of the bar…

If you take a seat, you’ll probably pay more, so for an inexpensive coffee, try the Italian way.

Remember that in Italy, you need to pay your order before having it and ask for your receipt “Lo Scontrino”.

• For a good and authentic food, try restaurants displaying menus in Italian language

For a simple reason that they serve local population, so they will cook authentic meals and it will be cheaper obviously, and trust me, I Personally tried this tip in Rome City, it really works.

I was with my partner In a “Touristic Restaurant” And we’ve orderer Pizza. It was not delicious, not well cooked and too expensive. We were really disappointed, but luckily, we discovered a little restaurant in a little alley, which only speaks Italian and a tiny bit of English, and I can assure you that it was excellent, the best pizza I’ve eaten so far now.

• In Italy, we don’t directly Tip

If you come from a country where leaving tip is a mandatory, don’t feel so in Italy, people here rarely or simply don’t leave tip. Waitresses and waiters  are paid good enough, but if you want to, don’t hesitate to leave a tip, they will not refuse it even if they not expect it.

• Spaghetti Bolognese… wait! what did you say? this is not an Italian dish

In fact, we don’t eat bolognese with spaghetti but with tagliatelle.

Bolognese is called ragù in Italy, it’s a speciality of Bologna city or Reggio Emilia Region in north of Italy. If you want to taste the authentic sauce, you have to go there then.

Every region has its special dish, In Milan we eat risotto and i Sicily we eat Cannoli…

So, if you find a restaurant with an english menu (remember what we said before, never ever eat in a restaurant with an english menu) and hase Spaghetti bolognese, just run as fast as you can.

• Breakfast is sweet!

Italian breakfast is not as English breakfast composed with salt dishes and cold meats, Italian people prefer a sweet breakfast to start their day.

A classic Italian breakfast is made of: Orange or Multi Vitamines Juice, Cappuccino or coffee, Croissant called Cornetto in Italian.

If you are in an international hotel, you may find an english Hotel, but don’t be surprised of the quality if you are in a small hotel.

• Dinner: Never before 7:00pm

We are not in Norway, will say an Italian.

Italians are a lively people, and the evenings are long. if you want dinner at 6 p.m., it will be difficult for you to find an open restaurant. Most of them open at 07:00pm. You can go for an appetizer while waiting for the restaurant opening, you can have some crisps, nuts, soft drink…and meet Italians, you can discuss about everything, but if your are in Rome, dont talk about AC Milan… the discussion will go to another level 😉

• Gelato: How can you say you’ve visited Italy without eating Gelato?

Gelato is the most famous ice cream all over the world. It’s simply amazing, tasty and you can find a lot of choices (Try the authentic Stracciatella, you will thank me later). What is amazing with gelato is that you can have one any time you want. Miam!

Italy Travel Tips: Acting Like an Italian

If you are here is because you decided to travel to Italy. Good choice! it’s an amazing country. Here ara some Italy travel tips to act like a tru Italian:

• Shopping at lunch Time? Seriously? Come on , your are in Italy

Launch is a sacred moment. 90% of shops will close between 1:00pm and 3:30pm, it’s RIPOSINO time which literally means nap time.

It can be disturbing if you are coming from a big state Like Montana, but you have to gest used with this way of living, specially in the Italian countryside.

If you are in big cities like Naples, Milan or Rome, you can for sur find shops open.

• Be patient

Italy is known for its relaxed lifestyle, so don’t rush around or you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.

The best way to avoid getting stressed on your Italy vacation is to take everything in stride and go with the flow.

If you can manage to do that, you’re sure to have a fantastic time!

• Be social

Italians are known for their warmth and friendliness, so don’t be shy about striking up a conversation with a stranger .

You never know, you might just make a new friend!

• Dress well

This is an important Italy Travel Tips. Italians take pride in their appearance, so it’s important to dress well if you want to fit in.

That doesn’t mean you need to break the bank, but make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free. After All, Milan is Fashion Capital…

• Learn some Italian

This must be in the top Italy travel tips. Even if you only know a few basic phrases , Italians will appreciate the effort and be more likely to help you out if you get lost.

Plus, it’s a great way to practice your language skills!

Here are some few words to learn:

-Ciao: Hi

-Grazie: Thank you

-Per favore: Please

-Scusi: Excuse me/Sorry

-Parla Inglese? Do you speak English?

-Non parlo bene l’Italiano. I don’t speak Italian well.

-Mi dispiace. I’m sorry.

-Posso aiutarla? Can I help you?

-Dove si trova il bagno? Where is the bathroom?

-Quant’è? How much is it?

-Che cos’è questo/a? What is this?

Touristy Italy Travel Tips

Now that your are acting like a true Italian, read these Italy travel tips for an incredible journey in this beautiful European country:

• AUGUST is not a month for travelling to Italy

Never ever think to travel to this country in August. This month is the national summer holiday, 90% of compagnies close their doors and Italians go for holidays.

-Many Shops will be closed even in big cities, specially local shops (Big brands stay open, but if your are in Italy, is because you want to discover Italian thinks… isn’t it?)

-It’s really expensive during this month to visit famous beaches. It will be full of people (Italian and others) and you will not enjoy your trip

-Be carful, Temperatures can reach 40°C sometimes

In my opinion, prefer Mai/June to July August to travel to Italy.

• Have some cash on hand

Italy is a largely cash-based society, so it’s always good to have some euros on you.

Credit cards are widely accepted, but there are still many places where cash is the only option.

• Cover your body in churches

When visiting a church in Italy, you’ll need to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered.

If you forget, don’t worry – most churches will have shawls or sarongs that you can borrow . Just be sure to return them when you’re done!

Men can be refused in some churches if they wear shorts.

It won’t be fun to drive or fly thousands of miles to visit a church and be refused entry just because you’re not well dressed. So bring adequate clothes.

• Try to find your Hotel outside the city center or an aribnb appartement

Italy’s cities are full of narrow streets and even narrower parking spaces.

If you’re renting a car, it can be very difficult (and expensive) to find a place to park

Check your hotel’s website or give them a call before you book to see if they have any parking options available.

If not, try to find a hotel that’s located outside the city center. Italy has an excellent public transportation system, so you’ll still be able to get around without a car.

And if you’re really set on staying in the city center, look for an Airbnb apartment – many of them come with private parking spaces.

• Take advantage of Italy’s trains

Italy’s train system is one of the best in Europe, so take advantage of it!

You can use trains to get around the country quickly and easily. Just be sure to book your tickets in advance, as Italy’s train system can get very busy during peak travel times.

• Use Italy’s public transportation and keep a close eye to your bag in busy stations

Italy’s public transportation is excellent and very affordable.

You can use buses, trams, and trains to get around the country quickly and easily. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your belongings, as pickpockets are known to target tourists in busy areas like Rome’s Termini station.

 

• Italians speak loudly and with passion, don’t be afraid if someone is shouting!

If you find yourself in the middle of an animated conversation, don’t be alarmed – Italians just tend to speak loudly and with a lot of passion.

It’s considered rude to interrupt, so just sit back and enjoy the show!

• Italy is a very safe country, but there are still some things you should know

Italy is generally a very safe country, but there are still some things you should be aware of.

Italy is also home to a number of organized crime syndicates, so it’s best to avoid any confrontations with locals.

If you do find yourself in a situation, just be calm and polite – Italians are generally very friendly people.

Conclusion

Italy is an amazing country with so much to see and do. I hope these Italy travel tips have helped you plan your trip to this beautiful country!

Have you ever visited Italy Before ? What was your favorite part?  Have you other Italy travel tips? Let us know in the comments below!

Ciao for now, and happy travels!