Italy travel guide

Ski in Trentino’s Dolomites

Italy’s winter drawcard, skiing in the Dolomites is a must for any outdoor enthusiast and if you can’t handle the cold, then hiking the trails there in spring or autumn is equally exciting. 

Explore the Vineyards of Tuscany

Tuscany’s rolling hills really are as beautiful as they say, studded with medieval towns like San Gimignano. Savour glasses of Chianti Classico accompanied by some good old-fashioned Tuscan cuisine. 

Visit Florence for Art and Culture 

One of Italy’s prime attractions is the beautiful city of Florence with its dominating Duomo and plenty of museums and shopping.

Spend time in Rome for its History and Food

One of Europe’s great cities, Rome will keep you enchanted for days with all its historical sites and delicious food. A visit to the Colosseum is an absolute must of course. 

Take a Gondola Ride in Venice 

One of the most famous bucket list experiences in Italy, exploring the canals by gondola in Venice is easily a top thing to do in Italy… though there are real questions about the negative effects of tourism on Venice. 

Walk around the Ruins of Pompeii

The ruins of Pompeii are an incredible sight – when else can you experience wandering amongst the ruins from one of the greatest catastrophes. 

Road Trip along the Amalfi Coast 

A quintessential summer vacation is road tripping along Italy’s famous and incredibly stunning Amalfi Coast, stopping wherever your heart desires.

Hike Between the Villages of the Cinque Terre

For those wanting to get picture perfect views over this beautiful and colourful stretch of coastline, hiking the trail between the villages is a top experience

Explore the Island of Sardinia 

One of the lesser-explored places in Italy, other than the people who tend to sail around its coast, explore the island’s inland with small villages and rugged beaches 

Stroll around Umbria’s Medieval Town of Orvieto

Explore one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval towns: Orvieto in Umbria, although most people visit on a day trip, staying the night is when you come to understand its real charm

Marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa 

Another Italy bucket list experience, although terribly overcrowded in high season, seeing the leaning tower of Pisa with your own eyes is still a must for any traveller. 

Despite it not appearing to be such a huge country on a map, Italy has so many worthwhile sights and attractions that it is impossible to cover them all in one trip. 

If you’re wondering how long to travel to Italy, the real answer is how much time do you have? There’s plenty to see and do to keep you busy for weeks, months or years.

10-Day Highlights of Italy Itinerary 

A typical highlights trip for 10 days could cover:

Rome (3 days) – Florence (3 days) – Siena (2 days) – Venice (2 days)

Two Weeks in the South and the Islands 

Naples and Pompeii (3 days) – Sardinia, including Cagliari, Bosa and Costa Smeralda (5 days) – Sicily, including Catania, Palermo and Ragusa (5 days)

All Around Italy in a Month

A big trip for a month could cover many more places and could look like this:

Rome (3 days) – Florence (3 days) – Venice (3 days) – Lake Como (2 days) – Milan (2 days) – Cinque Terre (2 days) – Back to Rome – Naples (3 days) – Pompeii (1 day) – Amalfi Coast (2 days) – Matera (2 days) – Lecce (2 days) – Catania/Sicily (3 days)

Despite Italy having countless well-known cities and coastal towns to explore, the relatively small country is still brimming with underexplored corners, some of which are not so far from the overcrowded tourist hotspots. 

Places that are not often included in any Italy travel guide include: 

Noli, Liguria – the five towns of the Cinque Terre steal most of the limelight in Liguria province, however the small town of Noli nearby has the same charm with almost nonexistent crowds.

Bergamo, Lombardy – this walled town not far from Milan is the perfect trip from the city and is often overlooked but is one of the prettiest towns in Lombardy. 

Montefalco region, Umbria – the vineyards of Umbria are often overshadowed by their neighbours in Tuscany but Montefalco Sagrantino wine from Umbria is starting to make a name for itself. You can spend a day at vineyards like Winery Caprai in the Montefalco area and pay a fraction of the price for good quality wine.

Ragusa, Sicily – many travellers don’t make it south to Sicily with limited time, and yet it’s one of the most underrated places to explore. Ragusa is considered one of the island’s most picturesque towns, sloping down from a hilltop. 

Paganella, Trentino – The area of Paganella in the Trentino province is a gem of a destination, both in the winter and the summer. Spend your days skiing, hiking or climbing in the spectacular Brenta Dolomites, then escaping to remote rifugios with mind-blowing views.  

Dishes to try

Of course, Italy is the land of pizza, pasta and gelato, but there’s definitely more to Italian cuisine than these three staples. The top dishes you can’t leave Italy without trying, include:

• Tagliatelle al Ragu – basically the real version of Spaghetti Bolognaise. It consists of flat ribbons of pasta in a meaty red sauce with parmesan cheese.
• Pizza Margherita – the ultimate Italian pizza of dough, tomato and mozzarella cheese, best eaten from Naples, the birthplace of pizza.
• Arancini – these leftover balls of risotto are crumbed and fried and originally from Sicily.
• Risotto alla Milanese – this saffron-infused rice dish even beats pasta as a popular dish in Northern Italy and is best tried in Milan.
• Tiramisu has become an ubiquitous Italian dessert of coffee, cocoa and cream, the best is arguably found in Venice.
• Speck Alto Adige – move over prosciutto, Speck Alto Adige boasts a rich flavour and buttery, rich fat that melts on your tongue in a slow explosion of delight. Best tried in the Trentino region.

Drinks to try

Coffee 

is obviously a must try, and you certainly must try it standing at a bar like a real Italian rather than at a sit-down coffee shop. 

You can find many varieties of coffee and Italians tend to have a stricter unofficial protocol as to when to drink what coffee. 

A cappuccino, for example, is considered a ‘morning’ coffee and is usually not bought after 11am. A caffè is basically what most people would refer to as a shot of espresso and is often ordered after a meal such as lunch or dinner. 

Grappa

Is a hard liquor made from the seeds, stems and skins of the wine grapes. 

It is generally as strong as 30-60% pure alcohol and was once considered a poor man’s drink, but is now one of the more popular alcohol beverages in Italy for tourists to try. 

Wine

Italy is also famous for its wine and almost every bar and restaurant will have an extensive wine list as well as their house wine. 

If you want to sample a number of the country’s wines, you should head to a wine bar or enoteca, especially in Florence which has some of the best in Italy.

Italy is certainly not as expensive as some of its other European neighbours. 

For a more comfortable budget, €100-150 per day would get you a hotel room, meals at a restaurant, the occasional wine and entry into museums. 

Travelling in shoulder seasons or in winter would also reduce costs, as prices can drop outside of summer.

Safety

Italy is generally a safe place to visit, although it is always a good idea to pay attention to your personal belongings and valuables, especially in large cities and tourist towns. Pickpocketing is not uncommon, particularly in Rome and Florence, but it can also happen in any of the big cities. 

Look out for tourist touts who may be distracting you on purpose. 

If you practice basic common sense and personal awareness though, you shouldn’t have any problems travelling in Italy.

Health

There is a relatively low health risk associated with travel around Italy, with preventable diseases at a similar rate to other European countries. 

Still, any basic Italy travel advice would recommend getting regular vaccines such as Hepatitis A and B, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, typhoid and influenza, as you would for travel to most countries. However, there are no required vaccines that will affect your entry into the country.

Tipping

Tipping in Italy is not necessarily a customary thing to do and most waiters and restaurants will not expect you to tip them on top of the bill. 

Many high-end or tourist-oriented restaurants will already add a service charge of around 10-15% of the total. 

However, if the service is good and you want to leave a tip, then it’s polite to leave the change.

Tips for travelling

• Learn some Italian words and phrases before your trip, it will help you get by and the locals will appreciate your effort. 
• If you enter into any cathedrals and churches it’s generally required that you cover your shoulders and legs, particularly women. 
• You can drink the tap water safely in Italy and it will save you money if you ask for tap water rather than bottled in restaurants and it’s also better for the environment to reduce your waste. 
• In the big cities like Rome, Milan and Florence you can purchase Tourist Cards which will usually save you money for most of the attractions and local transport, you can find them at Tourist Information Centres. 

How to see the best for free

Free Walking Tours

Free walking tours are some of the best ways to get to know a city for free. 

There are free walking tours offered in many cities in Italy, although in Rome you’re particularly spoiled for choice. 

Generally, these tours meet at a certain start point at a certain time and go for a couple of hours around the city with a local guide. 

There is no obligation to pay, although it’s mostly a situation where you pay whatever you feel it’s worth, from as little as 5 euros up to 15. 

Free Walking Tour Italia offers free tours across 20 different cities in Italy.  

Visit Some of Italy’s Free Public Attractions

There are also a number of sights across Italy that don’t have entry fees and are completely free to visit. 

Some of these are experiences, while others are simply public attractions, but they mean that you can experience a lot of Italy for free. Top free experiences and attractions include:

•     Hike between villages of the Cinque Terre (from November to Easter)
•     People watching at Trevi Fountain, Rome
•     Walk up the Spanish Steps, Rome
•     Visit the Pantheon in Rome
•     Walk around St Mark’s Square in Venice 
•     Explore the Rialto Bridge across Venice’s Grand Canal
•     Get a great view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo 
•     Enter the Duomo in Florence (only climbing the tower has a fee)

Packing

Depending on whether you go in summer or winter, a swimsuit or a snow jacket will be essential.  

If you’re planning on hitting the coastal areas in the warmer months, then pack your sunglasses, a nice sun hat, sandals and beach towels. A flowing dress and loose cotton shirts will also fit the sunny Mediterranean vibe.  

In winter, you’ll need to pack for cold temperatures – especially if you’re planning on hitting the slopes in the north. Thermals and a warm down jacket are the most practical options, as well as a nice jacket for the days you spend in the cities.  

A rolling suitcase usually seems like a good idea – however, they are not necessarily the best option for all those cobblestoned streets you’ll be walking through to get to your accommodation. So, a backpack or even a rolling backpack can be a better option.

Travel insurance

It’s important to arrange travel insurance before you depart for your trip. If you pay for full comprehensive cover, it should protect you for illness, injury, theft and cancellations. 

Italy also has strict insurance policies for those wanting to hire a car or scooter. 

Rental companies will be able to arrange this for you and it should cover any accidents or theft of the vehicle.

Suggested guidebooks

Lonely Planet and Rough Guides both have an Italy country guidebook and either one is a good resource to have as you plan your trip. 

If you prefer not to carry the heavy book with you, it’s also possible to buy e-book versions which can make it easier for you to access information while you’re travelling without weighing down your bags.

Interesting facts

• 90% of the population are Roman Catholics
• All three of Europe’s active volcanoes can be found in Italy 
• Italy is the fifth most populated country in Europe 
• The Vatican City is an independent city-state and is the smallest official country in the world

Handy phrases

Ciao – Hello

Buongiorno – Good morning 

Arrivederci – Goodbye

Per favour – Please

Grazie – Thank you

Prego – You’re welcome

Si/no – Yes/no

Non parlo Italiano – I don’t speak Italian 

Mi dispiace – I’m sorry

Parli inglese? – Do you speak English

Quanto costa? – How much is it?

Dove si trova la stazione ferroviaria? – Where is the train station?

Che ora sono? – What time is it?

Time zone

Italy uses Central European Time (CET) as standard, while Central European Summer Time (CEST) is observed while Daylight Saving Time is in force, from the end of March to the end of October.

Electricity and adapters

Italy’s electricity conforms to the European standard of 220V to 230V with two or three round pinned plugs, although the former, known as type C, would fit into all plugs in the country and is more practical.