27 Essential Italy Travel Tips: Everything You Need To Know

Going to Italy? Check out these essential travel tips before you go! Avoid being the typical tourist, blend in with the locals, and find out everything you need to know about Italy.

I was born in Italy, and although I now consider myself a citizen of the world, I think Italy is one of the most beautiful countries you will ever visit.

From the fantastic food to the spectacular history, there is so much to do and see that it’s easy to get lost.

It’s not a surprise that with all its art, culture, and natural beauty, Italy is the leader of the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.

Whether you are planning your first visit to Italy or are a regular traveler, there are some things you should know that will make your trip to Italy easier.

Italians are lovely and warm but tend to be very traditional in certain habits!

And by following these tips, I am sure you will have a great time in Italy!

Italy Travel Tips: Food And Restaurants

Everyone knows how amazing Italian food can be. But there are a few things you need to know before eating in Italy that will make your foodie experience more Italian.

1. There is a time for coffee

Italians do love their coffee. But there is a perfect time in the day for drinking it.

You never drink coffee during a meal. But you can have a coffee after a meal.

Cappuccino is only for breakfast; you should never drink it past 11:00 am. If you ask for a cappuccino after a meal at a restaurant, or worst, with a meal, don’t be surprised if they look at you like you come from Mars.

Latte in Italian means milk, so if you order a latte in a bar, you will get a glass of hot milk…not very exciting.

If you want what you call a latte, you need to order a “latte macchiato,” milk with coffee.

2. You drink your espresso standing

Espresso means “fast” in Italian. And all Italians drink their coffee “al banco,” standing in front of the bar.

Of course, you can take a seat at a table and enjoy your coffee slowly, but it will cost you a lot more. So if you want a good cheap coffee the Italian way, make sure you drink it standing at the bar.

And although it’s getting more common in big international cities like Milan to be able to ask for takeaway coffee, most of the traditional places won’t serve coffee in a paper cup.

And remember, in most bars in Italy, you need to pay before you can order a coffee. You need to get “lo scontrino” (your receipt) first.

3. Only go to restaurants that display menus in Italian

We gave this tip to many friends, and they said it was the best travel tip to eat well in Italy.

This tip mainly works if you are planning to visit busy touristic places like Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, or Cinque Terre.

And it works only there because you will never find an English menu anywhere else in Italy, anyway!

Although the food in Italy is simply amazing, you can still find places that serve awful meals. If you want to eat really good Italian food, avoid restaurants that display an English menu outside at all costs (especially if they have pictures of food, too!).

You might be tempted to go there because you will see some dishes you are familiar with or think you at least understand the ingredients.

Remember: the best Italian food can only be found in restaurants with Italian menus.

And on the same note, avoid eating next to tourist places. There are plenty of little gems often hidden just a few steps away, so avoid sitting next to the Trevi fountain or the Coliseum.

4. Never eat in a restaurant with spaghetti bolognese on the menu

Similar to the above, if you see spaghetti bolognese on the menu…RUN! And run as fast as the speed of light!

I am not kidding.

Spaghetti bolognese is not an Italian dish, or at least it’s not what Italians call spaghetti with bolognese sauce.

First, bolognese sauce in Italy is called ragù, and if you really want to eat it, you should go to Bologna or the Reggio Emilia region in Northern Italy.

And you don’t eat ragù with spaghetti, but with tagliatelle.

If a restaurant has spaghetti with bolognese sauce on the menu, it won’t be an authentic Italian restaurant. Eat there at your own peril!

The same thing goes for spaghetti and meatballs… It’s an American recipe, not an Italian dish! I had never even heard of it until I went outside Italy for the first time.

Italian food is a regional affair. You should only eat risotto in Milan or Northern Italy and Cannolo in Sicily. Always ask the server what the typical local dish is, and try new things.

5. Don’t ask for tap water in a restaurant

Or…I should say: you can ask for it, but you won’t get it!

In Italy, restaurants will always serve bottled water; if you ask for tap water, you will get an awful look. Most places simply won’t give it to you and will just charge you for bottled water.

You are much better off drinking wine. Plus, you are in Italy anyway, and wine tastes better than water.

If you want cheap but good wine, always ask for “vino della casa.” It usually comes in half a-liter or liter jugs, and it’s local.

Oh, and before I forget! Having ice in your drinks, it’s a very American thing to do. If you want ice in your water, you need to ask for it!

6. But get free water around the cities

You will always find water fountains around the main squares in big cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice. Bring empty reusable bottles and fill them with fresh drinking water.

7. Never put Parmesan cheese on fish

Never ever put Parmesan on fish. That’s it!

There is nothing else to say about this. You just don’t do it!

8. You don’t have to tip…but there is a “coperto” to pay

Italians rarely leave a tip in a restaurant, so don’t feel like you have to. Servers are paid good living wages, and although they will never refuse a good tip, they are not expecting one.

But you will always find something else on your bill that you might not be used to. It’s called “coperto,” a cover charge.

This cover charge includes bread. It’s pretty standard in all restaurants in Italy, and it should be listed somewhere on the menu.

Also, if you are used to American servers, you might find the service in Italy a bit slow.

Eating food in Italy is a ritual, and servers will leave you time to finish your meal. If you are in a hurry, you better grab something quicker, like a sandwich, or let the server know ahead of time.

9. Breakfast will be a sweet start to the day

Italians typically have a sweet breakfast. They never have salty food at the beginning of the day. If you go to international hotels, I am sure you will find English breakfast or cold meats, but please don’t be disappointed by the choice and embrace the local culture, especially if you are staying in a small B&B.

An authentic Italian breakfast in a bar is made of:

• Coffee or Cappuccino
• Cornetto (similar to a Croissant)
• An orange juice

In hotels and B&B, you will also find fresh fruit, yogurt, cereals, bread, and jam.

10. Dinner doesn’t start early

If you are going out for dinner at 6:30 pm and you see an empty restaurant, it doesn’t mean that restaurant isn’t popular. It just means no one in Italy is eating that early.

Most restaurants don’t even open before 7:00 pm or later!

If you are not used to eating late, embrace the “aperitivo” culture.

Italians usually go for a pre-dinner aperitivo between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. You can sit down in a piazza, and most bars will serve you some crisps, pizza, nuts, and nibbles with your Aperol Spritz (THE Aperitivo!).

If you want to blend in and hang around with the Italians (and stop starving!), try an aperitivo!

11. Never ask an Italian to share

Asking an Italian to share a pizza is like asking an Irish man to share his beer.

Italians love their food. We are passionate about each plate we consume, so sharing a meal isn’t really something we love to do.

This goes not only for pizza but for pretty much anything else. Please don’t ask me to share…

12. Always find an excuse to eat gelato

The most famous ice cream in the world is Italian gelato, and there is a reason for that! It’s simply amazing, and you won’t be able to stop eating it!

So there is no reason to resist! Just go for it at any time of the day. You can have gelato for breakfast, after lunch, for morning or afternoon snacks, or after dinner.

Any time is good for gelato in Italy!

And if you are planning a trip to Rome, check out this guide of Where To Eat The Most Amazing Ice Cream there.

Italy Travel Tips: “Do It Like The Italians”

If you are going to Italy and you want to blend in, these are the things you need to know to behave like a real Italian!

13. Ciao isn’t for everyone

Everyone knows Ciao, but remember that Ciao is a very informal way of saying hello. When you walk in shops, or you are greeting older people, make sure you use:

• Buongiorno (Good morning)
• Buona Sera (Good evening)

Another couple of words worth remembering are:

• Grazie (Thank you)
• Non capisco (I don’t understand)

And you should only say Bravo to men. If you want to praise a lady, remember to say Brava!

14. Greet everyone with two kisses (or three…)

Even if you barely know someone, don’t be surprised if you are greeted with two kisses on your cheeks (yes, even after Covid).

Italians are very warm and affectionate, and they are used to kissing anyone. Sometimes you’ll find that younger people even go for three kisses!

But definitely not just one!

15. Be aware of riposino

Most Italian shops will close for lunch. If you are trying to shop between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm in Italy, you might as well take a riposino (nap) yourself because you won’t find many places open for business.

It might be annoying for you, especially if you live in a busy city, but if you are visiting the Italian countryside, you will need to get used to this way of life.

Italians still think lunch is an important part of the day, and they will go home to enjoy a nice meal and relax during the hottest hours of the day.

You might find shops still open in the city center of big cities like Rome, Milan or Venice, but don’t be surprised if in smaller cities everything is closed.

16. Always check the opening times

On a similar note, always check the opening hours of attractions and restaurants.

Most places have a “giorno di riposo” (a rest day).

Some are closed on Mondays, some on Tuesdays, and others on Wednesdays, etc. If you have any place or restaurant you want to visit, check when they close so you can plan accordingly.

17. Don’t queue politely

Italians don’t queue. They have a very different ideas of personal space. Don’t get crossed if they push you or shove you around without saying sorry. It’s just the way it is.

This also means they don’t know what queuing and standing in a line means:

Things are so chaotic that sometimes you need to take a ticket with a number to make some order out of a queue…

This happens everywhere: if you are buying food, ice cream, cinema tickets, or trying to board a flight.

If you just wait around for your turn politely, you will be the last one in. So you either get in there and fight the fight or resign yourself to not going anywhere!

Italy Transportation Tips

Traveling around Italy is fun! But it comes with its own experiences. Some of the tips below will help you to navigate your way through the transportation system in Italy.

18. Trains follow their “own” timetable

Trains have improved massively in the last few years in Italy. Some impressive high-speed modern trains connect big cities like Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples.

But if you move to less touristic cities or more rural areas, especially in the South of Italy, don’t be surprised about delays.

Make sure you allow plenty of time to get where you need to be, especially if you are catching a train to get to the airport.

Also, check for train strikes, as these might affect your travel plans.

19. Always validate your tickets

I will never get used to how you need to buy your tickets in Italy, and I was born there…so listen carefully.

Trains: quite simple

You need to buy your tickets before you get on the train. There usually are ticket offices at every station. If you are traveling quite a long distance, you can save a lot of money by buying your tickets in advance. Make sure you always check prices on websites like Trenitalia for the best price.

Once you have your ticket, don’t forget to stamp it before you board the train! There are ticket-validating machines on all train platforms. If you are not sure if you need to validate your ticket, ask around. The validating machines will stamp the date and time on your ticket.

Buses: not so much

If you want to hop on a bus, you need to make sure you buy a valid ticket before you get on the bus. You can generally purchase tickets in a Tabaccheria (tobacco shop) or Edicola (newspaper agents). These shops are usually closed in the evenings, so buy enough tickets ahead of time or opt for a daily or weekly pass to avoid any problems.

After you buy your bus ticket, remember to validate it on the little time stamp machines on the bus.

If you don’t validate your ticket, you will be fined by the inspectors that randomly check on trains and buses.

It doesn’t matter if you tell them you didn’t know about the time stamp validation!

20. Driving around is fun…but keep an eye out for holes!

Driving around Italy can be a bit crazy. Traffic is quite chaotic, especially in cities like Rome and Naples.

Public transport is a much easier stress-free alternative than driving in big cities.

And I know Italians have a reputation for being quite ‘enthusiastic’ drivers. But if you are visiting the countryside, like Tuscany, the Alps or the Northern lakes, driving a car is the best way to see the beautiful scenery around Italy.

And only by driving around will you discover some fantastic hidden gems along the way.

But ensure you always keep an eye out for holes in the road ahead. Road maintenance isn’t one of the highest priorities in Italy, especially if you are driving on small countryside roads.

21. Oh, and don’t trust the GPS

Yes, this is a great one. I know Google Maps is excellent. But Italy is full of surprises – she says after she had to pay for several tickets…

Always pay attention to the signs, especially when you get closer to the city center. It’s full of “zona traffic limitato.” These are areas that only locals can enter at certain times of the day.

Your navigation system might not be aware of these areas and often gives you directions that might end up with a ticket.

22. Look everywhere before you cross the street

Don’t assume pedestrians have the right to pass – to most Italian drivers, they don’t.

As mentioned above, traffic can be quite hectic in big cities like Rome. Sometimes cars don’t bother stopping to let you cross the road, and scooters tend to appear from nowhere.

So make sure you always look both ways and everywhere before you cross the road (yes, even on a pedestrian crossing!).

Better safe than sorry!

Touristy Travel Tips

Well, if you are reading this, you are a tourist!

So you need some special tips that will make your tourist’s life in Italy a bit easier!

23. Never ever go to Italy in August

August is the national summer holiday month for Italians. Many companies shut down, schools are closed, and many Italians will leave the cities to go on holiday.

• Many shops are closed, even in big cities like Rome and Florence. Especially some of the most authentic shops.
• If you decide to visit the best beaches in Italy, in regions like Sicily or Sardinia, everything will be crowded and expensive, and the service won’t be as good as if you go in June or September.
• It can get really hot in Italy in August, and walking around could be pretty tiring if you plan sightseeing.

If you have a choice, try to avoid August at all costs and opt for more out-of-season months like April, May, or October.

24. Always have some cash with you

Most hotels, shops, and restaurants will accept credit cards, but it’s still quite normal in Italy to pay by cash in many small restaurants and shops.

Make sure you always have some cash to pay for your meals or shopping, especially if you plan to buy some food at the market.

And remember that most banks close at 1:30 pm. You can always use an ATM, but if you need to go to a bank for any reason, keep that in mind.

25. Check the weather before you go

Everyone thinks of Italy as a hot sunny country, but the weather can be pretty extreme and different in North and South Italy.

Some places in Italy can get really cold during winter, like Venice and Milan.

Venice Average Temperature in January: 7° / 0°
Milan Average Temperature in January: 7° / 2°

But it can get as cold as -5° if you are unlucky!

Make sure you check the weather and the temperature before you go to be prepared for what you will find.

26. Keep a close eye on your bag in busy train stations

Italy is a very safe place. I never felt in danger while walking around, even if I was alone.

Having said that, if you are going through busy stations like Roma Termini, keep a close eye on your possessions.

Pickpocketers are in every crowded place, especially where they know they can find some disoriented tourists.

Just use your common sense, like you would do in any other city in the world.

27. Cover-up in churches

Many churches will ask ladies to cover their shoulders and legs above their knees when entering inside.

In some churches, men with shorts aren’t allowed as well.

It can be hot in Italy during summer, so you might be underdressed. Make sure you wear at least a t-shirt to cover your shoulders, and bring a shawl with you to cover your legs.

This will help you to avoid disappointment. I have seen many people traveling thousands of miles to visit a church just to be asked to turn around because they weren’t dressed adequately.

28. Book your museum tickets in advance

Italy has some of the most impressive museums in the world. The Vatican Museums in Rome and Galleria Degli Uffizi in Florence are not to be missed.

And with all these incredible attractions come hoards of tourists at all times. Honestly, the lines will shock it.

You might not like planning your days, but if you want to avoid disappointment and very long lines, I strongly suggest you buy your tickets online before you go.

You will still have to go through security checks, but you can skip massive waiting times of several hours.

Don’t expect cheap luxury

Luxury brands typically standardize prices across countries. Brands like Armani, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana won’t be cheaper in Italy.

You will pay pretty much the same for your Gucci shoes, whether in Milan, Rome, or Paris.

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

Hotels can get very expensive near the town center, especially during the busy summer months.

Moving a few miles out could save you a lot of money.

One of my favorite ways to visit Italy is by staying in a local Airbnb.

When we visited Cinque Terre, we decided to stay in one of the beautiful and colorful houses in the villages to live the real Italian local experience. And we are so glad we did!

We met some wonderful local people, Simone and his mum Nicoletta, and they were so kind as to share where we could find the best local restaurants and food.

30. Don’t worry if someone is shouting

Italians are loud…and the further South you go, the louder they get, lol!

Years ago, Dan and I were waiting for a bus to go to the airport near Naples. Two guys stopped with a scooter and started shouting and pushing each other around. If you couldn’t understand what they were saying, you would have thought they were fighting.

A British couple next to us started holding hands and moved away with scared looks on their faces.

We moved closer to them and told them, “Don’t worry. They are just saying hi to each other and talking about what they should be doing tonight!”.

So don’t be alarmed by Italians shouting!

Italians are really passionate people. Two people shouting are probably just talking about what they should have for dinner!

31. Don’t forget to relax 

Italy is a big country full of unique places. It’s easy to try to rush through it all and concentrate on the most touristy spots like Rome, Florence, and Venice.

But there are plenty of other incredible destinations to check and see. Here you can find a list of 35 beautiful places you should consider adding to your list.

But above all, don’t forget to relax and live a little La Dolce Vita. Spend hours sipping some wine and eating at a restaurant, talking and watching people passing by.

Italians call this il dolce far niente. This literally means “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

Do nothing and enjoy it!

Have you already been to Italy? Do you have any other tips to share?

If you have any questions about your time in Italy, feel free to ask me anything in the comments, and I’ll do my best to help you with my Italy travel tips!

My guides to Italy

• Best Time to Visit Italy
• 15 Most Romantic Places in Italy
• 19 Most Beautiful Beaches on The Amalfi Coast
• 23 Best Things To Do in Capri, Italy
• 13 Best Italian Lakes
• 15 Best Italian Islands To Visit To Live La Dolce Vita
• Alberobello: Everything You Need To Know
• A Guide To Cinque Terre: Everything you Need to Know
• The Best Restaurants in Cinque Terre
• Where To Stay In Cinque Terre
• 10 Best Beaches In Sicily You Have To See
• 11 Best Places To Visit In Sicily
• 15 Best Beaches in Sardinia That Are Paradise on Earth
• 15 Best Things To Do In Lake Como (From A Local)
• 15 Best Cities To Visit In Italy Revealed!

And also, check out these great travel hacks for a stress-free vacation!