How to be a Confident Traveler in Italy

No matter if you’re traveling in a group, with a partner, or by yourself, traveling to a new place can be intimidating. If you’re planning a trip to Italy, here are some tips to help ease your anxiety and boost your excitement for this beautiful destination!

What to Expect

Language: Italian is the official language in Italy. While basic English is spoken throughout (especially in tourist areas), don’t expect everyone you talk to to be fluent. Here are some Italian basics:

Ciao (hi/bye)
Buongiorno (good morning)
Buona serata (good evening)
Arrivederci (goodbye)
Per favore (please)
Grazie (thank you)
Prego (you’re welcome)
Scusi / Scusa (excuse me- formal/informal)
Si (yes)
No (no)

Currency: Italy uses euros. In most cases, it’s less expensive to convert using your debit card in foreign ATMs than going to a currency exchange office. Check with your bank before traveling to see if there are any charges for using your debit card abroad.

Credit Cards: Most places accept credit/debit cards, however, I’d keep a small amount of cash on hand for the occasional cash-only small businesses or vendors. Remember to inform your bank before traveling about transactions made abroad so your card doesn’t get declined or shut off. If you’re in need of a travel card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card is a travel card with some amazing benefits like no foreign transaction fees, easy transferrable points to airline or hotel partners, baggage delay and rental car insurance, and coverage for a canceled or delayed trip.

Weather: The summer months of June to August tend to be hot and humid. Temperatures get up into the 90s which can make walking around slightly uncomfortable. In the winter, temperatures can get into the 30s which is also not ideal for exploring in my opinion.

The Best Time to Visit: If you’re looking for budget-friendly, the cheapest time of year to visit Italy is in the winter. Because of the cold weather, Italy will have the least amount of tourists from December to March, making exploring more effortless and more affordable. Flights to Italy will be cheaper around this time as well.

Springtime in Italy is my favorite! April and May are another great and affordable time to visit Italy before the summer crowds arrive and the weather decides to crank up the heat. Nothing beats the first blossoms in Italy.

Howeverrrr, there really is no place like Italy in the summer. Even if it’s crowded, it’s Italy, and honestly, she can do no wrong.

Outlets: The plugs in Italy are type C, F, and L, so make sure to bring a universal adapter when traveling abroad. Any universal adapter should work, but double-check before you purchase. I’ve been using this universal adapter for a while and highly recommend it!

Food & Drinks: Everyone loves a good Italian meal, but there may be some things you need to be aware of before traveling to Italy. Because it’s normal for dinner to be really late, some restaurants won’t open until after 7 PM so it might be wise to plan out your meals accordingly if you’re used to eating dinner early. If you find yourself hungry before dinner time, go for an aperitif – a drink taken before dinner. Many bars offer a complimentary snack buffet with meats, cheeses, and nuts to go with your cocktail.

Also, unlike in the United States where water is typically complimentary, water isn’t free in Italy and needs to be asked for during your meal. It’s also common to be given the option of sparkling or still.

The last tip about mealtime – don’t assume the bill will be brought to you once you’re done eating. In Italy, it’s normal for meals to last a couple of hours, so even if you’re done eating and the empty plates have been cleared off of the table, make sure to ask for your bill when you’re ready or you might be sitting there until closing time.

Getting Around

Trains: One of my favorite things about Italy is the ability to just hop on a train and get to my next destination. The Italian train system is quite extensive and connects all major cities with smaller cities across the country, making it easy to venture out into lesser-known areas. I recommend booking your tickets beforehand either online or via the app for a less stressful travel day, BUT if showing up at the station to see the next available train is your jam, go for it, my friend!

On Foot: Once you’re in a city/town, I have found the best option to exploring this one of a kind country is on foot. Even major cities like Rome and Florence are a highly walkable. Just make sure to pack some comfortable shoes so no one is complaining about blisters when walking around on cobblestone for long periods of time. Personally, if it’s warm enough for sandals, my all time favorite travel shoes are Chacos! You can shop my favorite go-to sandals here.

Driving: I don’t recommend renting a car in Italy. Like I said before, Italy has an awesome train system that will get you from city to city, or different parts of town for bigger cities like Milan. Because the streets are narrow, traffic can be crazy, and parking seems to be slim to none, I promise you’re better on those two beautiful feet.

Uber/Taxis: Ubers are not available in Italy, but taxis are. While I’ve never used a taxi here, I’ve heard they can be a pricey option.

Safety

Overall, Italy is a safe country to travel to for groups, pairs, or singles. Just be aware of your surroundings and pickpocketing. Keep important documents like passports, money, or any other valuables out of your pockets or easy to access areas. Having an anti-theft backpack or purse can help prevent this in crowded areas. I HIGHLY recommend the Lululemon belt bag.

Other Tips

Bring along copies of all of your important documents while traveling abroad, but make sure to keep them in a safe place.
Try to avoid traveling with a suitcase if at all possible. I promise you don’t want to be that person lugging around your 50-pound suitcase on cobblestone roads throughout the city. Osprey has some great travel backpacks that my husband and I swear by! I’ve been using the Osprey 40L Fairview Backpack for YEARS and it’s still in tiptop shape.
Prebook your must-haves tours in advance. The worst feeling would be getting hyped to see Michelangelo’s David and then learning tickets to see him are sold out when you get there.
Since you’ll be out and about exploring, taking pictures, and/or updating social media with all of your travel tidbits, it may be a good idea to carry a portable charger with you throughout the day so you can use your phone without worrying about its battery life. I use this portable charger from amazon and it has saved my phone many times!