Going to Italy on your next trip? Don’t be the typical tourist and be prepared with these Italy Travel Tips. As someone who has lived in Florence, there is a lot to remember but these are some helpful tips that will make your trip more enjoyable.

 

Travel Tips for Traveling to Italy

1. Women bring a shawl or wrap 

• Remember that churches will not allow you to enter if your shoulders/arms are not covered.  Take this into account when visiting religious sites, especially in the Vatican (technically, not Italy, I know, but still…). Every woman I saw was wearing a shawl/sweater tied around their waist. And if you do forget, there are vendors nearby selling wraps.

2. Visiting the Vatican 

• Forget about taking photos in the Sistine Chapel, phones and cameras are forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.
• You can take photos but without the Flash!
• Low cut or sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts, and hats are not allowed. See above comment about bringing a shawl or wrap. Regarding shorts for men and women,  I did see men with shorts but I would make sure they are longer Bermuda shorts or close to your knees shorts or cover your knees. My daughter ended up wearing sweat pants just because her shorts were just too short and she did not want to wear a wrap around her waist to cover her knees.

3. Wear comfortable walking shoes

• Enough said. I personally wear slip-on vans because I just don’t like sneakers but that is me. Italy’s big cities require a lot of walking to get from one attraction to the next, while in small towns streets are often made from cobblestones and are not high heel-friendly or even flats friendly.

4. Bring a nice pair of shoes for dinner

• I brought a pair of cute flats for dinner. We went to a couple of nice dinners. After a long day of looking like a tourist in my walking shoes, I like to dress up so wearing cute flats made feel like a grown up.

 5. Learn some basic Italian 

• “Buon Giorno” and “Buona Sera” (Good Evening – this is one of those things that has always thrown me they to say it after siesta but that is still the afternoon so I go with closer to 5ish but that’s me)
• ” Ciao”
• Grazie” – thank you
• “Mi Scusi” – excuse me
• “Quanto Costa – how much
• Dov’e ..” – where is.. 
• “Non-Capisco” – I don’t know

Just these saying these few phrases will go a long way to smoothing the way with those you encounter! Even if you are staying at a hotel in which everyone speaks perfect English saying “Buon Giorno” or Buona Sera” is appreciated.

6. Do Not Shop Like an American

• Whether it’s a small boutique,  a souvenir shop or  a big department store acknowledge the salesperson with “Buon Giorno or” Buona Sera” when you enter even if everyone speaks perfect English.  Americans are used to shopping without help or don’t want to be bothered but trust me if you do want help or want to buy something it makes a difference in how you are treated.
• And if you see folded clothes on a table, DO NOT start opening them the way you would in the States.  Look around for nearby racks and there will be a range of the sizes of the item you are interested in. If the size is not there then ask but it’s likely that everything is on the floor.

7. Take the high-speed train between cities 

• Taking a train between cities is no big deal if you take the high-speed trains. It only takes an hour and a half to get from Florence to Rome or Florence to Venice, and only thirty minutes to get to Bologna. Seriously the trains are comfortable and always on time.

8. Always validate your tickets before boarding trains

• You can buy your tickets at the station or online. And definitely cheek prices before you on websites like Trenitalia. We saved quite a bit buying the tickets in advance.  And do not forget to validate your tickets before you board the train. Look for the self-service ticketing and yellow validation machines.  If you have questions, ask at the information office.  And beware of official looking clerks offering to help you get your tickets from the ticket booths. I was completely fooled by the women wearing white polos and blue pants. They helped me get my tickets and then asked for money. I gave them a couple of Euros and of course, they wanted more. I was so taken aback that I was fooled.

9. Beware of Pickpockets

• We were lucky on this trip not to be pickpocketed. But Italy especially in the highly touristed areas, crowded trains and buses are known for pickpockets.  Just be aware of your belongings especially if you are wearing a backpack. And don’t feel like you are being rude if women or children come up to you asking for money, it’s usually a distraction for their counterparts

10. Restaurant Tips

• Download app to make restaurant reservations
• Have the concierge help you make restaurant reservations. That said after they do recommend and make the reservation, look at the menu. You may not like the price or the options may not appeal to everyone especially if you have picky teens.
• They say do not eat at restaurants near the attractions and I would agree but sometimes, it can not be helped! Just do it otherwise you are going to faint from hunger.
• Scout out the neighborhood around your hotel for supermarkets to buy water, juice, snacks, and fruit as well as gelato or places to grab a quick breakfast.  You may not want to have gelato right after dinner but after walking back to your hotel,  you will definitely be up for a quick dessert before turning.
• Make room for gelato during the afternoon!
• Plan on going to dinner at 7-7:30 pm unless you are in a high trafficked tourist area. 

11. Expect to pay more if you sit and have a coffee

• Italians do not sit and sip their coffee. They go to the bar, order an espresso, drink it and go. And remember if you want American coffee to ask for it by name because if you ask for a coffee, you will get an espresso. Also if you use non-sugar sweeteners, I suggest you bring your own. A lot of bars carry it it’s not the same but I prefer Splenda or just have my latte with sugar.
• Also, don’t forget to order and pay first and then get your coffee with the paid receipt!!

12. Take taxis if you have early morning tours  or if you are traveling in the Summer 

• We had three early morning tours. Trust me, unless you want to deal with the subways at 6:30 in the morning,  just take cabs so you ensure you get to your tour on time.
• And if you go in Summer, it is no fun walking from one attraction to the next with the hot sun blazing.

13. Book your hotels outside the city center or stay in an Airbnb for a cheaper authentic stay 

 

We ended up staying on our first Airbnb stay in Florence. Oh my gosh, we had the best view of the Ponte Vecchio. Trust me, there was no way we could this view from a 5-star hotel without paying a small fortune.

14. Avoid Lines

Visiting popular sites means lines especially during the busiest tourist months. I would recommend skipping the lines and book tours. u have a few options for booking skip-the-line tickets to many attractions in Italy; you can either book a tour, book online, or call the attraction once you are in Rome to inquire about booking tickets ahead of time. Trust me, this is a HUGE time saver. Several tours we enjoyed included LivItaly Tours’ Vatican Early Entrance Small Group Tour is the way to go when visiting The Vatican Museum and tour the Top Levels of the Colosseum With The Roman Guy Tour.

15. Take a carry on or slightly larger suitcase

Do not and I am serious,  take anything larger unless you plan to have a porter with you the entire time. The likely hood is that you will be traveling by train from city to city.  You need to be able to push your suitcase but more importantly, lift it onto the overhead luggage rack.

16. Take an extra foldable bag

I can’t imagine you are going to Italy without purchasing anything. We brought two bags that fit into our suitcase which was perfect for all the stuff we bought.

17. Don’t forget a compatible power adapter and an external charger  

You will be traveling with lots of electronic devices. I brought a computer, 2 smartphones and an iPad to watch movies. That is 4 outlets and three charging cords. And you don’t want your phone or camera to run out juice taking those once in a lifetime photos so definitely don’t forget all your external chargers.

 

Do you have a travel tip for those visitors to Italy?