Italy Tips for Travel
50+ Tips for Traveling to Italy for the First Time
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Traveling to Italy is a lifetime dream for so many! But planning a trip to Italy can also be overwhelming, especially if it is your first trip to Europe or maybe even the first time leaving your own country. Most people that are lucky enough to experience Italy’s magic and beauty want to share their experiences with everyone they know. If you even mention that you might like to visit one day, you will get a long list of everything you MUST do and see! There are so many helpful tips, tricks, do’s, and do not’s, that it can be hard to remember every little piece of guidance that you have been told.
After TONS of research and finally experiencing our own amazing trip to Italy in April, I wanted to put together a list of tips that we learned along the way. I’m sure this list will continue to grow (and grow and grow and grow…).
Just starting to plan a trip to Italy?
Read More Here:
Read below for my 50+ random tips for traveling in Italy - including everything for the following topics:
Italy Travel Essentials
1.) Travelon anti-theft crossbody purse
2.) Stall Mates individually packed flushable wipes
3.) European wall charger (2 pack)
4.) Anker power bank
5.) European Travel Plug Adapter (1 pack)
6.) The Foldie - foldable travel tote; fill with clothes for flight home to make room in luggage for wine/souvenirs
7.) Apple AirPods Pro - noise cancelling bluetooth headphones
8.) Travel size umbrella (fits in Travelon crossbody purse perfectly)
9.) Disposable Compressed Face Towels; just add water (biodegradable)
10.) Apple AirTag 4 Pack - easily track lost luggage or belongings
11.) Electronic Organizer - keep all your electrical plugs handy
12.) BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Ionic - Hair straightener and curler in one; dual voltage so no converter needed (just need adaptor)
50+ Italy Travel Tips and Advice
Ok…so I think we’re WAY over 50 Italy trip tips here! But I really just want to keep a running list so all of my best Italy tips and Italy trip advice are in one spot. Be sure to save this post so you can come back at any time!
Carry a wrap to cover shoulders in churches - I love this travel scarf from Zestt Organics! It’s soft, lightweight, and large enough for SO many uses. There’s over 28 versatile ways to wear this wrap shown on the website. Besides bringing it along as a convenient wrap for your shoulders when popping into churches, use it as a soft blanket on your flight, or relaxing in the hotel room. Several neutral color palettes to choose from as well.
Knees and shoulders should be covered at the Vatican - this includes all women, men, and children. Be sure that your knees and shoulders are covered at St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and throughout churches in Italy.
Wear comfortable walking shoes - prepare for TONS of walking while you explore Italy! Everyone wears sneakers during the day; both tourists and locals alike. Wear a cute pair of sneakers with any outfit; dresses, shorts, pants, jumpers like these On Cloud 5 Sneakers.
Don’t wear high heels - the cobblestones are no joke! Unless you are literally getting dropped off right in front of your location, I do NOT recommend heels. If you absolute must…go for a wedge or platform style. But honestly, no one is looking at your feet. Be comfortable and don’t risk rolling an ankle!
Dress in layers - the weather can change drastically from the early morning to late afternoon, especially during the spring/fall. Dress in lightweight layers to stay comfortable (another great reason to carry a lightweight wrap in case it gets chilly).
No cappuccino after 11am - Italians consider cappuccino a breakfast drink only. Ordering a cappuccino after 11am is probably one of the biggest faux pas in Italy! No joke…coffee culture is taken VERY seriously in Italy!
Skip restaurants with picture boards out front - these are usually tourist traps; you will get mediocre food and service at HIGH prices.
View restaurant menus on phone to translate to English.
Coperto - small per-person service charge at restaurants that is automatically added to your bill. The coperto charge should be listed on the menu. It is not a gratuity for your server. It is a charge for using the table, dinnerware, utensils. (While coperto is not a tax, think of it like how restaurants in the US charge more if you’re dining-in rather than taking food to go).
At cafés, ordering at the bar/counter instead of sitting down is cheaper (no coperto is added).
Aperitivo - pre-dinner cocktails with small bites/snacks. One of my favorite Italian traditions! Many restaurants offer discounted cocktails (usual Aperol Spritz) from around 6-8pm and include small bites. Some even offer elaborate meat and cheese spreads! Be sure to enjoy aperitivo all over Italy and find your favorite!
Order all meal courses all at once - in the US, we often order appetizers first, then order our meals later. In Italy, you’ll order all your meal courses at once, including drinks. (Dessert and after-dinner drinks can be ordered separately at the end of your meal).
It’s ok to just order a pasta dish at dinner - don’t feel like you have to order a pasta course and a meat course if you’re not overly hungry. Feel free to just pick one or the other.
You will need to ask for the check at restaurants - meals in Italy are a time-honored tradition for family and friends to enjoy each others company and spend time sharing stories. It’s typical for Italians to savor their dinner time for hours. For this reason, servers don’t want to rush your experience. They are not ignoring you! When ready to pay, just make a friendly gesture to get your server’s attention to request the check.
Wine can be cheaper than soda at restaurants - budget-saving tip: Italian table wine is cheap…and delicious!
Italian breakfasts are usually just an espresso and light pastry - many hotels offer larger American-style breakfasts.
Ordering a latte at a café will get you a glass of milk. Latte in Italian = milk! Try an espresso con latte for your typical “latte” from US coffee shops.
Water at dinner - the first question from your server/host will be still or sparkling water - usually around 2-3 euros for the bottle.
Limoncello is served after dinner for a digestive.
Italians eat dinner late - plan to eat after 7pm at the absolute earliest. Many restaurants don’t even open until 7pm or 7:30. If you’re used to eating dinner much earlier, plan to grab aperitivo for a quick bite early evening; then have a small pasta dish around 8 or 9pm.
The Fork - download The Fork app for dining reservations (similar to Open Table in the US).
Stay at least 2 nights per hotel to minimize packing/unpacking time and storing luggage.
Hotel tourism tax - tax on all hotels and all types of accommodations that charges a small tax per night and per guest. Typically, this tax needs to be paid in cash. So make sure you know what the charge is for each city/town you’re staying; and make sure you have enough euros to cover.
Many hotels include complimentary American-style daily breakfast; some offering endless spreads of delicacies!
Ask your hotel for the best restaurant recommendations to find quiet, off-the-beaten path local spots.
Air conditioning + elevators aren’t always available - if either of these amenities are non-negotiable, make sure your hotel includes either or both.
Energy-conservation is critical in Italy - many cities and towns are strict and do not allow air conditioning until May or later. With rising temperatures, spring and fall can still get HOT. Be sure you understand the restrictions in the locations you’re staying. You may want to pack a portable fan or see if you’re accommodations have fan options for the rooms.
Read More → Our Italy Hotel Recommendations:
→ Best Boutique Hotels in Rome
Tipping - not necessary at restaurants, servers are paid a decent wage in Italy and throughout Europe. Give a 1 or 2 euro coin for great service.
Tipping - tour guides/drivers - plan to tip approximately 10% of the price; more for exceptional service.
Most places take credit cards and it's most convenient - but always be sure to carry some euros as well.
Be sure you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
ATMs - use bank-run ATMs (bancomats) and avoid independent ATMs such as Travelex, Euronet, Moneybox, Your Cash, Cardpoint, and Cashzone.
ATMs - always refuse the conversion and choose the local currency for best rate.
Travel insurance - if Covid taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected. Make sure you're covered for all potential circumstances; medical issues, travel delays, needing to stay longer than expected for whatever reason.
Exchanging currency - most convenient just to get Euros from your own bank.
Exchanging currency - most banks need a couple days for the exchange order; plan accordingly.
Exchanging currency - while your bank may not charge fees for exchanging currency, they also probably do not offer the exchange rate that you see posted on Google. This exchange rate is only for the top customers. Ask your bank what YOUR current exchange rate is so you're not surprised once it's time to exchange the funds.
Overall, Italy is a very safe country to visit. You do need to be aware of pickpockets and scammers. Be smart, be aware, and you’ll be just fine!
Travelon crossbody purse or sling - Travelon purses are great for both convenience and safety. 5-point safety features include: strap locks, locking compartments, slash-resistant straps, RFID-blocking pockets, and rear-panel hidden pockets to safely secure passports, money and credit cards. Several different colors and style options available. I LOVE this Travelon Crossbody Bag for all my travels! Very spacious with several pockets and 2 expandable side compartments that are perfect for a water bottle and small umbrella.
Don't set your purse down at dinner (or anywhere for that matter).
Don't carry your wallet in your back pocket.
Be extra aware at train stations - train stations are busy, crowded and full of tourists paying more attention to platform signs than their own belongings. For this reason, pickpockets often target train stations. Just be a bit more cautious of your surroundings and keep a close eye on all your gear. Keep backpacks and luggage in front of you when possible. Don’t engage with strangers that approach you…it could be part of a scam to divert your attention.
Don't accept "gifts" from street vendors like bracelets or flowers - typically this leads to getting harassed for money, or could be part of a scam to divert your attention.
In case of emergency, dial 112 - Italy’s version of 911 in the US. Use only in case of emergencies.
Carrying your passport - you will see differing opinions on whether carrying a colored copy of your passport is sufficient. As a foreigner in another country, it is technically the law to carry your actual passport with you at all times.
Have a copy of your passport as well - while you technically should have your actual passport on you at all times, if anything does happen and you lose your passport or it is stolen, make sure to have an extra photocopy of your passport so you can still provide identification. This will make it easier to replace your passport as well. (Not likely, but better to be safe and over prepared).
Hotels/accommodations must scan your passport at check-in - Don’t be concerned when your hotel or accommodation asks for copies of every traveler’s passport. This is required for anyone traveling to another country other than their own (all over the world, not just Italy). This goes for Airbnb’s as well.
Know where your embassy is located - more than likely, you will NEVER need this! But again…doesn't hurt to be overly prepared.
Bathrooms - free for all paying customers at bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Bathrooms - not all public toilets in Italy have toilet seats and may be short on paper products. Be prepared and always carry a toilet seat cover, individually packed personal hygiene wipes, and individually packed hand sanitizing travel wipes. Click the links for my cheap recommendations. Bring an extra for the stranger in line behind you and you’ll find a new best friend!
Bathrooms - train stations and some other public locations charge 1 or 2 euros to use the facilities. Always keep a few euro coins with you. Need coins? Pay for a cup of coffee with a 5 euro bill and ask for coins for the change.
Get an international phone plan or sim card - don't rely on wifi everywhere. I have Verizon. We upgraded to the Ultimate Unlimited plan for the month which included full international data and cellular service. It worked great everywhere we went in Italy and well-worth the piece of mind. You can also pay $10 per day/per line to add the international data/cellular service.
ESim Cards - check out Yesim for virtual esim cards. They offer options for unlimited data by the day, or you can purchase a specific amount of gigabytes. Here is the link for Yesim Italy ESim cards.
Checked luggage is fine if not lugging it all over the city and mainly getting dropped off at your hotel, train stations, etc - but you’ll still want to pack as light as possible. Make sure you can easily carry luggage up stairs and on to train platforms as needed.
Bring a foldable tote to allow more room for souvenirs - foldable totes pack up flat and small. Bring one folded up in your luggage. Use the extra tote for dirty clothes. Then you have more room in your actual luggage to securely pack wine and other souvenirs. Purchase the official “The Foldie” here . I use this cheaper expandable tote - this one works great and holds a ton but I do wish it had a shoulder strap like The Foldie (or even the option to add a shoulder strap).
Language - you don’t need to be fluent in Italian. Most places in the bigger towns/cities can speak some English; at least enough to get by. Learn a few key phrases in Italian like: please, thank you, good morning, good evening, how much, where’s the restroom, another glass of wine please ;)
Language - download the free Google Translate app.
Language - request restaurant menus in English (“Hai un menu in inglese?”) or view menus online and translate the website to English (tap the aA on your web browser on your phone to translate).
Language - to learn some key phrases and basics, try Duolingo or Babbel.
BYO Wash cloths - Europeans don’t use wash cloths so they are not available in many hotel rooms. Bring an anti-bacterial microfiber cloth that dries quick like Norwex body cloths or disposable (and biodegradable) face cloths - or check out these individually packaged, compressed “just add water” face towels.
Water fountains are available all over Rome - but look down at the ground. It’s the pipes sticking out of the ground - fresh, clean drinking water.
Tabacchis and Farmacias - local convenience stores. Farmacias also have pharmacists on staff. If you forget your medication or have an ailment, they are able to give you medication.
Electricity - Italy and Europe use a completely different electricity wattage than the US. Do NOT use any electrical tools that are not dual-voltage without a converter!
Electricity - know the difference between a Converter and an Adaptor. Converters will convert the wattage from US wattage to Euro wattage; adaptors only adapt a US plug to the 2-prong plugs that work in European electrical outlets.
Electricity - I recommend to only use dual voltage tools so you don’t need to worry about using a converter. You will only need an adaptor.
Electricity - anything with a USB plug is safe to use (smart phones, laptops, tablets, earbuds). Many hotels will have USB ports available. Be sure to have an adaptor plug just in case no USB ports are available. Check out these 2 cheap adaptor options: European Wall Charger for USB ports and Foldable European Travel Plug Adaptor with 3 USB ports.
Hair tools - most hotels and accommodations offer hair dryers.
Hair tools - I recommend BaBylissPRO because their tools are dual-voltage. You will not need a converter, just an adaptor. Check out the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Prima Styling Iron; a straightener and curling iron all-in-one.
Weather - weather and temperatures can vary drastically from northern Italy in the Dolomites to southern Italy and the Amalfi Coast. Know what the typical weather is like in each of the areas you’re visiting. Use the free Il Meteo app for local weather.
Buy tickets to big tourist spots in advance - Tickets on official sites will sell out quickly.
Book tours early or late in the day if possible to avoid the heaviest crowds.
Take early morning walks in the cities for the least amount of crowds.
Free museum days - the main sites in the cities usually offer 1 free entry day per month; try to avoid unless you're on a strict budget - tons of crowds.
You are a tourist - just like every other tourist in Italy (and there’s millions daily!), everyone is trying to visit the same museums and tourist spots that you are. Remember to have patience, plan plenty of time to account for long lines, and always remember to be kind! Sometimes you just need to embrace the chaos! Lean on the Power of Positivity and you’ll have a magical time and memories to last a lifetime!
Trevi Fountain - when in Rome, be sure to throw a coin in the fountain to ensure your return trip to Italy!
Click Below for Tours in each City and Town
Train travel - Buy train tickets ahead on the Trenitalia app.
Train travel - fast trains are more expensive than regional trains but provide nicer, more convenient, and faster transport to your destination. If traveling between the main cities in Italy (like Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples) consider taking the fast trains.
Train travel - Ticket validation; you must validate all paper tickets and regional train tickets that are purchased online. Fast trains are auto-validated in the Trenitalia app; for regional trains, check-in within 24 hours of departure to validate (it’s easy on the app…within 24 hours of your ride, you’ll see a “check-in” button on the app).
Train travel - get to the train station with plenty of time to understand station layout so you're not rushing trying to find your train platform.
Train travel - platforms are announced 10-15 minutes prior to departure. Be sure to be ready in front of the large platform sign as soon as your platform is announced so you can make your way to the platform as soon as it’s announced (the platform number will show on the Trenitalia app earlier, but this is always subject to change).
Car rentals - check out GetRentacar.com for car rentals in all countries.
Car rentals - ZTL zones; if driving, know the rules or face hefty fines.
Car rentals - if renting a car, you will need an international drivers license (no, your US license will not work).
Uber and Lyft aren’t really used in Italy yet - the FREENOW app offers similar services, but still not too widely used. Taxis are still the most offered option.
Taxis - easily available in major cities. Taxi stands are located near all main tourist spots. Ask your hotel to find the nearest taxi stand.
Taxis - make sure to look for the white cars with the “Taxi” sign on top. These are the official taxis. Non-official taxis will charge more.
Taxis - most take credit cards and cash (euros) but check before getting in.
Taxis in smaller towns - there may only be 1 or 2 taxi drivers in smaller towns and villages. Check with your hotel early in the day if needing transportation around town to ensure the driver(s) can accommodate your pick up location and time.
Private transportation - while it is more expensive, the convenience and comfort of private transfers can make the additional cost well worth it. To book private transportation and transfers, take a look at Joe Banana Italy and GetTransfer.com.
So there you have it!
My (never-ending) list of travel tips for Italy to make sure your travel to Italy is magical, delicious, well-planned, & safe!
What did I leave out?
Share your Top Italy Tourist Tips and Italy Travel Suggestions in the comments below!
