Italy Travel Tips-Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Visit
Italy is one of the dreamiest destinations, but it is also a destination that requires extensive planning, especially if you plan to visit multiple cities. After 10 days of exploring Italy, we’ve compiled a list of Italy travel tips. Here is everything you need to know before your first visit.
Italy was always on our bucket list, but it was a trip we had to work our way up to. In our first years of travel, we mainly focused on the U.S., and when we finally got our passports, we took a short trip to Mexico then Canada. This year has been our year of major international adventures, starting with Iceland in the spring, then Ireland and Italy this summer.
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I spent so much time planning and researching for our trip, and I thought we were well prepared. However, upon arriving in Italy, I realized I wasn’t as prepared as I thought. We learned so much after spending 10 days traveling all over Italy and have so many tips to share with you!
Italy Travel Tips-Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip
General Travel Tips
Purchase an eSIM before you travel.
Purchasing an eSIM before you travel is one way to better prepare for an international trip. We purchased an eSIM through Holafly and activated it while we waited for our luggage in baggage claim. It was so easy to use, and we had unlimited high-speed data throughout our trip.
Try not to overpack.
Emphasis on the word try…I love having several outfit and shoe options when traveling, but strategically packing light will help you in the long run. If you plan on visiting multiple cities, not only will you have to wheel your luggage through the city streets and carry it up steps, but you will also have to pack and reorganize every time you head to a new place. Plan your outfits in advance and maybe stick to a carry-on size suitcase if possible.
Pack comfortable shoes for walking.
You’ve probably seen several posts about how you can always spot a tourist in Italy because of their white sneakers, but oh well. When it comes to walking miles a day as you explore Italy, a comfortable pair of shoes is the way to go. Whether that’s a white sneaker or a memory foam sandal, (a white sneaker with a memory foam insert?), save your feet.
Take your passport with you everywhere.
As you travel around Italy, the Italian police can stop and ask for your passport at any time. This must be your original passport, not a copy.
Make sure your phone is fully charged before heading out for the day.
As you use your phone to navigate, take photos and videos, etc., the battery can drain fast. Fully charge your phone before you leave your hotel or airbnb for the day or consider a portable charger.
Bring coins and tissues for public restrooms.
Public restrooms in Italy usually coast 50 cents or a euro to use. Make sure you have change on hand when out and about. Don’t be surprised if the toilet seat is missing or there is no toilet paper.
Be prepared to pay an accommodation tax or tourist tax at airbnbs and hotels.
Tourist tax varies from 1-5€ per day per person depending on the city. While this may be included in the cost of your hotel stay or airbnb rental, it may need to be paid in cash at check-out. That is one thing I must have missed when booking one of our airbnb stays, because I was confused when the host asked for the tourist tax in cash. Our other airbnbs included the tax when booking.
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Train Travel
Download the Trenitalia and Italo apps and book your train tickets in advance.
We used both apps to compare ticket prices and book train travel. The one instance we wouldn’t recommend booking a train ticket in advance is if you will be taking a train somewhere right after landing in Italy. For example, we landed in Venice and had to take a bus to the train station to head to Florence. We booked these tickets after we landed in case there had been any flight delays or delays in customs.
Validate your tickets and check in for your trip.
This was one of my biggest concerns when traveling via train; I had heard too many stories of people getting fined and kicked off trains because they didn’t validate their ticket. It does happen, and we saw it happen a couple times. When booking a train ticket online, you technically do not have to “validate” it. However, you do have to check-in on some trains to activate your ticket.
Traveling with Trenitalia
When traveling on a Trenitalia Regionale train, you will have to check-in online. When traveling on a Trenitalia Freccia or InterCity train, you do not have to check in. The link to check-in can be found in your confirmation email, and the option is in the Trenitalia app as well.
Check-in opens 24 hours before your trip. Once you check in, you may not make any changes to your trip. Your ticket is activated and validated after you check in.
Traveling with Italo
When purchasing a ticket online, you do not need to check-in or validate your ticket.
On any train in Italy, your ticket may be scanned. Do not take an earlier train or a later train without speaking to a customer service representative or getting a new ticket.
Check the train number BEFORE you get on.
Always check the train number listed on the platform monitor before getting on the train. This is especially important if your train has been delayed, as other trains may be arriving on the platform.
If you have booked a trip with multiple transfers, know the platform you need to go to, and be prepared to move quickly.
The transfer time is usually just a few minutes, so know the platform you’re heading to and be ready to run (sometimes up and down stairs with your luggage in tow) if necessary.
Be at the train door with your luggage before your stop.
You need to be at the train door with your luggage before the train arrives at your stop. You will need to exit the train quickly as people will be waiting at the door to board.
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In the event of a train strike, try to avoid traveling.
While you can’t really prepare in advance for a train strike, consider not traveling if a train strike occurs. Maybe delay your trip until the train strike ends. If you must travel within the hours of a strike, your journey might be severely delayed or cancelled. If your train is cancelled, you are able to take the next train provided it is heading towards your final destination and it is with the same train company.
We dealt with a train strike towards the end of our trip when traveling from Cinque Terre to Rome. Unfortunately our train was delayed repeatedly before being cancelled along with most of the other trains leaving that day. We found an intercity train that stopped at the Roma Termini Station, boarded, and sat on the floor for the entirety of the ride. Because our original tickets were booked through Trenitalia, they were accepted on this train due to the strike.
Driving in Italy
An International Driving Permit is required.
If you plan on renting a car and driving in Italy, you must have an International Driving Permit. This can be obtained at your local AAA office and is valid for one year.
Avoid driving in major cities.
Having a car in major cities like Florence, Rome, etc. is more of a hassle than anything. Consider renting a car for only part of your trip to avoid parking in paid lots. Many of Italy’s cities have ZTLs or no traffic zones. Accidentally entering one of these areas can incur hefty fines.
Have a basic knowledge of road signs.
Study the road signs used in Italy before you get in a car and start driving.
Know Italy’s general speed limits.
Italy has general speed limits like most countries do, however these speed limits are not always posted. This is where your knowledge of road signs comes in handy. Green signs indicate motorways, blue signs are for suburban areas, and white signs are for cities. Make sure you pay attention to the signage as you drive, especially the signs that indicate a drop in the speed limit. (See our next point.)
Speed cameras are everywhere.
Italy has thousands of speed cameras, so make sure you are driving the speed limit.
Parking
Italy has color-coded parking spaces.
Because Italy has color-coded parking spaces, be careful where you park.
White lined spaces are usually free parking.
Blue lined spaces are paid parking. Look for a pay meter nearby.
Yellow lined spaces are for residents only.
Pink lined spaces are for expectant mothers or mothers traveling with an infant.
Safety
Be aware of common scams.
Don’t accept any “free” gifts and don’t step on any artwork in the streets. These are common scams in the city centers of Italy. If traveling via taxi, make sure you can see the pay meter before leaving. While not necessarily a scam, avoid eating at restaurants close to major tourist attractions and those that have staff standing outside the restaurant inviting people to dine.
Stay vigilant, especially in train stations and crowded areas.
Pick-pocketing is common but easily avoided. Keep your phone out of your pockets and keep a hand on your bags at all times. Don’t ever leave your luggage unattended.
Italy is an amazing country to experience, and we hope these Italy travel tips make planning for your trip a bit easier. If you’ve been to Italy, add a tip in the comments below!
