100+ Essential Italy Travel Tips : The Ultimate Do ’ s and Don ’ ts

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Dreaming of cobblestone streets , world-class cuisine , and centuries of art and history ?

Travelling in Italy extend all this and more , but knowing a few insider secret can translate your experience from average to extraordinary .

Your Complete List of Italy Travel Tips and Advice

These essential tip for travelling in Italy will help you navigate like a local while avoiding common tourist pitfalls .

Food & Dining Tips

Act ’ s

• Eat local and regional specialties– each region hold its own culinary tradition
• Try authentic gelato– flavor for pale , natural colors in metal containers with eyelid ( not bright artificial hue piled high )
• Tone for restaurants in use with localsinstead than touristy home with photos of food or staff outside
• Order firm wine ( vino della casa )which be normally good character and inexpensive
• Enjoy coffee at the barstand up like a local ( and devote less than sitting down )
• Stop at a saloon for aperitivoif hungry between standard meal times – get drinks with complimentary crisps , olives or finger food
• Ask waiter about availabilitybefore sitting down – walk in without introduction can appear raw and pretentious
• Practice “ fare la scarpetta ”– using bread to mop up leftover sauce , a dinner ritual in Italy
• Signal to waiters when you need somethingor when you ’ re ready to bear – they win ’ t regularly insure on you during your meal
• Tipping is not await– service charges are typically included in the bill as “ coperto ”
• Book popular restaurant in advanceor prove up mighty at opening time

Don ’ ts

• Don ’ t order cappuccino after 11am– Italians consider it a breakfast drink only
• Don ’ t ask for cheese on seafood pasta– it ’ s considered culinary sacrilege
• Don ’ t ask for pineapple on pizzaor other non-traditional toppings
• Don ’ t take bread put on restaurant tables is free– control your bill for a charge
• Don ’ t expect restaurant to be open all the time –lunch be typically roughly 12:00-2:00pm , and dinner 7:30-9:30pm
• Don ’ t expect massive breakfast– Breakfast is normally light with coffee , pastry or sandwich , and perhaps orange juice

Transportation & Getting Around

Do ’ s

• Validate your train ticketbefore board to head off fines
• Take advantage of high-speed trainsbetween major cities ( Frecciarossa , Italo ) – most have outlet to recharge your phone
• Consider regional trainsfor shorter journey and to save money
• Book first or occupation category on trainwhen convey luggage for more comfort
• Move by train act , not simply destinationwhen watch train
• Regard driving in Italyoutside major city – car rentals can be affordable
• Buy bus ticket in progressat tobacconists rather than on the bus
• Check if you need your hotel to register your carif delay within a ZTL zone
• Make to aim stations earlyto buy tickets and validate them
• Believe city passesto save money on attractions and transportation
• Live train to walk more than expectedin Italian city
• Check the expected taxi farebefore taking one to avoid make up overcharged

Don ’ ts

• Don ’ t ignore ZTL zones( Special Traffic Zones ) when push to head off fines
• Don ’ t park illegally– tickets and towing are common and expensive
• Don ’ t require public transportation to run on time– build in buffer time
• Don ’ t stop taxis by deposit your hand out– use taxi stands , apps , or phone numbers
• Don ’ t speedwhen driving – fines can make it months later on

Cultural Tips & Etiquette

Do ’ s

• Teach a few basic Italian phrase– even simple greetings get a long way
• Dress appropriately– comfortable but presentable clothes , stave off gym wear unless exercising
• Carry a lightweight scarffor treat shoulders and knee when visit church
• Greet shop ownerswhen go into and result small stores
• Low your voice– Italians in universal don ’ t speak as loudly in public
• Embrace “ il dolce far niente ”– the sweetness of make nothing and the dumb pace of spirit
• Choose your hat offwhen entering church
• Check if you can bring photobefore snapping in museum , church , etc .

Don ’ ts

• Don ’ t be entitle or impolite with service staff
• Don ’ t autumn for bracelet scamsor “ free ” gifts – only ignore these approach
• Don ’ t leave valuables displayin crowded field – live vigilant against pickpockets
• Don ’ t overuse “ Ciao ”with stranger or former masses as it ’ s believe informal
• Don ’ t follow Instagram course blindly– many viral spots exist overhyped
• Don ’ t eat in restricted public domainin sure cities like Venice

Planning & Preparation

Make ’ s

• Book major attractions well in progress( Colosseum , Vatican , Uffizi , etc . )
• Consider impose in shoulder season( May , September ) for few crowds and in effect weather – It gets real busy and extremely hot in summer
• Believe housesittingas an affordable room to receive life like a local
• Have a local SIM cardif staying for more than two week to head off roaming charges
• Check Google Maps street viewbefore push back to accommodations to head off ZTL zones
• Download offline mapto navigate the twisty street of Italian city

Don ’ ts

• Don ’ t presume Google first step hour exist exact– business may follow their own schedule
• Don ’ t effort to learn also much in one trip– tone over amount cost key
• Don ’ t overpack– many hotel and Airbnbs don ’ t get elevator

Money & Practical Matter

Make ’ s

• Carry cash for small purchasesas some places hold minimum card amounts
• Fill your water bottle at free world springsort of than buy from vendors
• Visit tobacconists ( Tabaccherie )for bus ticket , maps , phone top-ups , etc .
• Hold a few coins handyfor public toilets

Don ’ ts

• Don ’ t wait to employ credit cards everywhere– some little workshop live cash only

Regional Difference

• Italy change massively between regions– in culture , food , and attitude
• Northern Italy feels more coherent and restrained– similar to Cardinal European rural area
• Southern Italy is louder , fond , more expressive– that passionate Italian vibe

City-Specific Travel Tips

Rome

• Book Colosseum and Vatican ticket well in advance
• Apply the world springfor free , sporting drinking water
• Visit major attraction early morning or recent afternoonto avoid the bad bunch and midday passion

Venice

• Don ’ t eat in public space – it ’ s prohibit to eat and drink ( except water ) while sitting on monuments , church steps , or in extremely trafficked areas like Piazza San Marco
• Never feed the pigeons– it ’ s illegal and contain hefty fines
• Remove vaporetto ( water bus ) line 1along the Grand Canal for cheap sightseeing
• Remain away from restaurantslocated near by to tourist attractions
• Don ’ t wait Venice to equal subduedunless inflict in off-season
• Haggle with gondoliersin Venice and part with early tourists to split the price

Florence

• Book Uffizi and Accademia ( David ) tickets in progress
• Pre-book Your Duomo climb( or you won ’ t exist able to do it )
• Visit Piazzale Michelangelo at sundownfor panoramic scene

Cinque Terre

• Buy the Cinque Terre Cardif planning to boost between village
• Visit in shoulder seasonto avoid utmost bunch
• Park in La Spezia or Levantoor else of repel to the villages – parking cost extremely special and expensive in Cinque Terre
• Require the train between Cinque Terre townsas it ’ s much faster than labor

Naples

• Stay alert in sure neighborhood– particularly around the train post
• Try authentic Neapolitan pizza– it ’ s the birthplace of pizza
• Use as a standfor inflict Pompeii , Herculaneum , Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast

• Consider utilize buses or boatquite than driving the narrow coastal road
• Be prepared for circle of stairs– the terrain be real vertical
• Pack water shoes– the gorgeous beaches are generally pebbly
• Pack water shoes or sturdy sandal– the gorgeous beaches be mostly pebbly rather than sandy
• Stay in Praiano or else of Positano– enjoy like stunning views at a lot more affordable accommodation cost ( find Praiano hotel here )

Pack Essentials

• Comfortable walk shoes– multiple pair to alternate between
• Church-appropriate clothingthat covers shoulders and knee
• Lightweight scarffor covering shoulder when demand
• Reusable water bottleto meet at public fountains
• Handheld fanfor summer warmth
• Sunscreen and hatfor sun security
• International travel adaptersfor electronics ( Italy uses Type F or C plug )
• Small crossbody bagor secure daypack to dissuade pickpockets
• Travel umbrellaas rain can cost sudden in some seasons – also handy for shade whilst standing in long queues in the Sunday
• Light layeras weather can change and AC isn ’ t universal

Final Thoughts on The Best Italy Vacation Tips

From taste utter pasta to navigating ancient cobblestone streets , these Italy trip tips will help you experience la dolce vita like a local .

Ready to start planning your Italian adventure ? Check out our related to guides :

• Which is Best : North vs South Italy
• Best Medieval Towns in Italy to See
• Walled Cities in Italy to Visit

For more skillful Italian travel content , explore our blog for everything you want to make your utter Italian getaway .

Jolene Ejmont