You’ll never forget your first time in Italy. The food’s sublime, there’s an outdoor adventure for every taste, and 3 millennia of history and culture are evident around every corner. But I’m sure you’ve got questions, so this post is full of practical tips for travelers to Italy that will provide the answers!

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Italy, where carbs are a love language, and every alleyway a potential scene from a rom-com, is one of my favourite countries in the world. Visiting Italy is on the bucket list of almost everyone I speak to, and even those who’ve been several times before always say they’re keen to go back.

I’ve trotted around Italy’s boot more times than I can count, dipping my toes in her lakes, sipping divine wines and trying to hit every tiramisu pit-stop. Starting as a 7-year-old to my current, let’s just say, more seasoned age, I’ve gathered a suitcase full of hints, tricks, and genuine “wish-I-knew-that-before” tips for travelers to Italy.

Whether it’s the lure of the Dolomites or the siren song of Naples’ pizzerias, there’s so much to enjoy. But with the overwhelming array of experiences Italy offers, first-timers often face the quandary: “How do I make the most of my Italian escapade?”

Tuscany might be famous for its vineyards, but where exactly should a wine enthusiast set their GPS to? And then, there’s the more practical stuff. Thinking about art in Florence? I’ll tell you not just about Michaelangelo’s David and the gems in the Uffizzi but when to hit it to avoid that two-hour queue.

These tips for travelers to Italy come seasoned with experience and a sprinkle of mistakes I made, so you don’t have to.

If you’re plotting your Italian getaway and want to do it with some sass, some class, and without the massive travel faux pas, this one’s for you. From the must-knows, the please-don’ts, and tips for travelers to Italy to ensure you won’t fry your hair or your credit card – I’ve got your back.

So let’s make sure your hair remains fabulous and not a victim of the Italian voltage!

Ready to dive into Italy without the touristy fluff and with all the good stuff? Strap in; it’s going to be a pasta-filled ride!

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PRACTICAL TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO ITALY | ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE

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The features in this post were hand-selected by a picky diva (that’s me) and some of them are affiliate links. If you buy via these, I may earn a commission on some of these awesome recommendations at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your wonderful support – Cat.

TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO ITALY

Where is Italy?

Located in Southern Europe, Italy’s the country shaped like a boot, hanging down into the Mediterranean. For some reason, I always found this incredibly entertaining when I was learning geography at school.

Italy has nearly 5000 miles of coastline and shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia in the north.

Although the region of Italy has a history stretching back almost 3000 years, the country of Italy as we know it has only existed since 1861. Just one of the many interesting facts about Italy.

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The capital, Rome, was founded in 753BC. No surprises then that it’s one of the most historically exciting cities on Earth! From the Colosseum to the Vatican, there are some spectacular museums and monuments in Rome alone.

Italy has 58 UNESCO world heritage sites, more than any other country in the world!

There are 59 million people in Italy, with a little over 4 million calling Rome home. 

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It’s important to plan your first trip to Italy in advance

Although Italy isn’t all that big, it is an incredibly popular country to visit. High season brings huge numbers of tourists, and it’s also holiday time for the locals, so accommodation fills up fast, and prices can skyrocket.

When you’re planning a trip to Italy, it’s an excellent idea to decide exactly what’s important for you. We’re all different, and although I’ve shared my favourite Italy itineraries, they might not interest you.

Unless you’ve got several weeks to spare, you won’t be able to cover everything you want to see in one trip. By planning your top things to see in Italy, you can create a list, pop it onto Google maps and see how to make it work.

Most cities and towns are very well connected by train, but other top spots such as Tuscany and the Dolomites are considerably easier by car.

Book your accommodation as early as you can, especially if you’re going in high season to popular cities like Rome, Venice and Florence. You’ll be able to get your pick of locations and probably save a decent amount of money too!

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Do you need a visa to visit Italy?

Italy is part of both the EU and the Schengen area. As such, citizens of many countries – the UK, USA, NZ, Australia and other EEA states – can travel to Italy visa-free for up to 90 days.

Bear in mind, though, that unless you’re an EU passport holder, you can only spend up to 90 days out of every 180 days within the Schengen area. 

Check whether you need a visa here.

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How long should you visit Italy for?

I’ve seen trips to Italy that are little more than a long weekend. Unless you live in Europe and can make frequent short trips, that’s really only enough time to explore one of Italy’s beautiful cities.

You could get a better taste of Italy in 10 days, but I think that a 14 day Italy itinerary is really the minimum for a decent first-time visit.

I find anything less than 3 nights in one place reduces my enjoyment of a place. The older I get, the less I enjoy having to pack and unpack constantly. 

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I enjoy wandering the streets of a place to get a feel for it. In Italy, I have lists of cultural experiences, museums and foodie spots to last me a lifetime, and I simply significantly prefer slow travel.

If you can spare more time, then 3 or more weeks will mean that you can explore both the north and the south, giving you time to get off the beaten path to some lesser-explored areas of Italy!

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When is the best time to visit Italy?

My favourite time to visit Italy is in the shoulder season, but that varies a little depending on where you are in the country. In general, autumn (or fall for my US friends!) is my preferred time to visit for fewer crowds and weather that’s usually pretty good.

Having said that, it really depends on what you want to do when you’re in Italy. 

Up in the north, you’ll find some of the most impressive mountains in Italy. They’re great for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. In shoulder season, though, the whole of the Dolomites basically shuts down.

Further south, peak summer is honestly horrible. Crowded beaches and ridiculous heat mean that you’re more likely to want to spend time in your hotel room than out exploring.

In general, April-May and Sept-Oct are my favourite times of year to visit.

Of course, you might want to time your visit with one of Italy’s best festivals.

There’s the two-week-long, masked Carnevale in Venice, held on February 25 every year. It’s still one of my life goals to experience it.

Maybe you want to see Siena (one of my favourite cities in Italy) all decked out for the Palio di Siena. This horse race happens twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, with the whole city turning out for a medieval celebration afterwards.

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If you’re feeling particularly brave (or just really like pain), then you can head to Ivrea in February for the Battle of the Oranges.

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Top Places to See in Italy

Choosing Where to Visit in Italy

Probably the hardest part of the entire process when it comes to planning your trip to Italy is working out where to focus your time.

Here are a few of my top tips, which will hopefully help clarify some questions that you might have!

Why do you want to visit Italy?

For me, it’s a combination of the art, history, hiking and foodie scene. For you, it might be something else.

Art and history lovers are basically spoiled for choice since everywhere in Italy has it in spades. Rome is basically an open-air museum, and I really think it should be on everyone’s itinerary for a first-time trip to Italy.

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Florence is another city where you get some serious bang for your buck when it comes to art and sculpture – Michaelangelo’s David anyone?

You should also give serious consideration to Siena and Venice, both of which are chock full of art, museums and historical importance.

Foodies and oenophiles can pretty much throw a dart at a map of Italy and find something wonderful. Special mentions go to Tuscany and Sicily though. They’re very different in terms of their foodie culture, but both absolutely incredible.

Outdoors enthusiasts will definitely want to head for some hikes in the Dolomites. Water babies are never far from the ocean, with Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast being highlights of a Northern Italy trip and Sicily or Puglia perfect if you want to head for Southern Italy.

On that note, the north and south of Italy are very different in terms of culture and attitude. The north is more industrial and home to the business centres of Italy, with the south being more laid back and agricultural.

What’s your budget for a trip to Italy?

Italy actually caters for almost every budget, but there are a couple of things that will push the costs up.

Travel by public transport is pretty affordable, but car hire can be expensive, and it’s difficult to explore Tuscany or the Dolomites without one. It can be done, but you’ll need to use the bus and plan ahead. In the off-season, this can be particularly tricky since many bus routes stop altogether in winter!

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In terms of food, you can eat at anything from top-end Michelin-starred restaurants to cheap but incredible family-run establishments you only hear about through word of mouth. To make the budget stretch a little further, local markets or grocery stores can be great places to pick up cheap local food on the go.

Large cities obviously provide a greater range of options for all budgets, but the smaller towns are where the real charm of Italy lies.

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Top Italian cities and Regions to Visit

Rome

Home to most of the major attractions in Italy – Vatican City and the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. The list of best places to see in Rome sometimes seems neverending! It’s busy, and it’s the most popular tourist destination in Italy, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it.

Rome, for me, is a must-see if you’re planning to visit Italy for the first time.

Florence

If I were going to move to Italy, I’d probably move to Florence.

It’s big enough to find something new every time you go for a wander but small enough that the streets begin to feel familiar after only a couple of days. The people are friendly, the food and wine are fabulous, and the museums are mindblowing. The list of things to do in Florence is constantly growing.

It’s also really easy to take day trips from Florence to other fabulous parts of the country.

Siena

The other top contender for an Italian city I’d actually want to live in.

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Siena feels like Florence on a smaller scale. Hardly surprising since the two cities have had a rivalry for hundreds of years (Florence finally got the top spot). Siena, though, has a charm that’s all its own. The biannual horse racing event in the city square has the different regions of the city flying their colours for weeks and makes for a really special time to visit the city.

Tuscany

Wine country. Enough said.

Actually, though, Tuscany is also olive country, truffle country and hot springs country. I know, right? Who knew Tuscany had so much to offer?! It’s a really incredible part of Italy for a road trip, and is particularly beautiful in late summer and early autumn as the fall colours start to show themselves.

The Dolomites

If you’ve been following my travels for any length of time then you’ll know all about my love for the Dolomites. Road trips, hiking in summer, skiing in winter and eating all the time. The Dolomites are what my dreams are made of.

Literally the only downside is the relative inaccessibility if you’re relying on public transport. I do think that the Dolomites deserve an entire trip in their own right, so unless you’ve got the time to spend 7 days here, it might be worth saving for a second visit.

Puglia

Down at the heel of the boot that is Italy, you’ll find Puglia. All whitewashed houses, azure seas and striped parasols, Puglia is perfect if you want to get a taste of what Southern Italy is all about.

The pace of life is very different down here than up in the northern cities. Everything’s quieter, more languid, more Italian. You need a car and a least a week to experience Puglia at its best, so take that into account when you’re planning your itinerary.

Sicily

Sicilian first and Italian second. Sicily has its own traditions, dialects and way of life that’s completely different to the more visited north. There are stunning beaches, an active volcano, wonderful food and wine, and archaeological sites everywhere you turn. Not only that, but you can even ski here in the winter!

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Again, Sicily deserves a couple of weeks of exploration but is best avoided in the summer months when domestic tourists flock here during the August public holidays.

Cinque Terre

This collection of five towns up on Italy’s Riveria in the northwest of the country has become insanely popular in recent years. The colourful fishing villages make for stunning photos, and there’s a lovely hiking path around the coast. However, Cinque Terre has become a bit of a victim of its own success.

In high season the streets are packed with tourists, accommodation sells out months in advance and getting a seat at a restaurant without a reservation becomes tricky to say the least.

My advice is to add this to the list if you’re here in the shoulder season but avoid it at the height of summer.

Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Naples itself is probably the most divisive city in Italy. Some people purport to love it, and others absolutely hate it. No matter which side of the fence you end up on, there are a couple of things impossible to deny…

Naples is where you’ll get some of the best pizza on the planet, and it’s a great place to use as a jumping-off point for a trip to the Amalfi Coast.

Like Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast fills to capacity in peak season but is absolutely delightful earlier and later in the year.

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Transportation Tips for Italy

How to get to Italy

The majority of visitors from outside Europe will likely fly into Italy. In the north, Milan and Venice are good options. There’s a large airport in Rome, and if you want to go further south, your best bet is a flight into Naples.

From Europe, you have a huge number of options. In addition to the above, you can fly direct to Sicily and Sardinia. For the north, trains connect to every neighbouring country and can get you closer to your final destination than a flight.

Transport in Italy | How to get around Italy

I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories about driving in Italy. Some of them are true.

I’ve personally made a long Italian road trip through the Dolomites and down to Tuscany with no problems whatsoever. I’m sure the folks stuck behind me as my van took mountain switchbacks uphill at about 10km/h weren’t all that impressed, but everyone was very well-behaved.

Conversely, I’ve been in a car where we sat for 10 minutes while another tourist in a colossal campervan refused to back into a passing bay. 

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Another memorable experience was driving the Amalfi coast, where it seemed as though the bus drivers were having a competition to see who could freak the foreign drivers out the most.

Basically, if you’re sensible and want to explore more remote areas, then you’ll be absolutely fine. You’ll want to brush up on driving in Italy and car rental in Italy. The roads are generally well-maintained and pleasant to drive on.

Having said that, it’s absolutely not necessary to drive if you’re going to Italian cities that are on the main tourist trail. Everywhere is incredibly well connected by train, and it’s straightforward to get around using nothing but public transport and the power of your own two legs.

I personally recommend booking your train tickets in advance and making sure that you book a seat. Travelling through Europe by train is easy, better for the environment, and gives you time to enjoy the scenery. Train stations can be found even in smaller towns throughout Italy.

Buses are also available but can be unreliable for longer trips or in out-of-the-way places where they aren’t regular.

Internal flights are cheap and a great option if you’re wanting to explore both the north and the south of the country on one trip.

There are hundreds of ferry routes in Italy, linking the mainland to the Italian islands and other countries. 

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Some ferries are passenger-only, and you’re likely to take these for day trips, such as going from Positano to Capri, but the larger ones also take vehicles. 

How to get around Italian cities

Public transport in Italy is pretty great, and most cities are actually compact and walkable. Metros, trams and buses are easy to find and use. Most public transport now has tap-and-go facilities, so you can purchase your ticket using a contactless payment method.

Crossing borders into Italy

Obviously, with all that coastline, some entries into Italy are via ports. The ferry can be a great way to get from Croatia to Italy by boat, particularly if you want to explore southern Italy. You’ll need to present your passport if you’re entering from a non-Schengen country.

If you’re travelling into the north of Italy, you’ll benefit from the open borders that are shared between Schengen states, and you won’t need to show your passport. In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anybody to show it to since the border guard posts no longer exist.

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Accommodation in Italy

In addition to regular hotels, holiday rentals and hostels, Italy has agriturismo and rifugios. 

An agriturismo is usually a farm with accommodation where you get at least one meal included. They often have activities such as cooking classes available, and you’ll find them in rural areas like Tuscany.

Rifugios are mountain huts with accommodation and are the best part of hiking in the alps. You’ll get a 3-course meal, a bed, a shower and some of the most incredible views on the planet. Find them in the mountains of Italy.

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Given Italy’s popularity as a tourist destination, I highly recommend booking your accommodation in advance. A stay in an agriturismo is becoming increasingly popular, and they sometimes book out a year in advance.

Rifugios have limited space and should be booked as soon as they open at the start of the season, usually in March.

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Money and Budget in Italy

Italy has embraced the use of contactless credit cards, which are the best way to pay in the vast majority of places.

It’s wise to have some Euros on you at all times too. Coins are the most useful for tipping, using public toilets (usually 50¢) and buying coffee or smaller items at local shops. If you’re driving, then sometimes you’ll need coins to pay for parking.

ATMs can be found in all major cities, and I always advise taking your money out of an ATM at a bank since you’re less likely to be charged exorbitant fees that way.

In smaller towns, you may find that local stores simply don’t accept anything other than cash. If you can’t see a card machine, then it’s wise to ask if they’re cash only before you order!

How much does it cost to travel in Italy?

Here’s a rough idea of what you’re likely to spend on a daily basis in Italy, depending on your style of travel:

• Budget travel: under €100/day
• Mid-range travel: €90-€250 daily
• Luxury travel: €250 and above

Italy is famous for the perfect €1 espresso. It used to be that the classic Italian breakfast of caffè and cornetto would get you change from €2, but news of the rising price of espresso might stop all that!

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A glass of wine is around €3, and an Aperol spritz will set you back €5-€6. You can get a great meal for under €20, but it’s just as easy to spend twice that on a swanky dinner.

The use of public transport for 48 hours in Rome is €12.50.

Tourist Tax in Italy

All accommodation in Italy charges a tourist tax. This is a per night fee ranging from €1-€7 depending on the location. Rome, not surprisingly, is the most expensive.

You’ll usually need to pay it directly to the accommodation, even if you’ve paid for your hotel in advance. It’s a good idea to have cash on hand for this.

The Cover Charge and Tipping in Italy

Tipping in Italy isn’t expected, and waiters here aren’t relying on tips to survive. You should only tip if you think you’ve had exceptional service when 10% is more than adequate. 

If you’re standing to have a coffee, then it’s common to leave 10¢ as a tip. This goes back to when your coffee was less than €1, and you didn’t want small change, so you’d simply leave it. With the rising cost of espresso, who knows what the Italians will come up with! 

On that note, you might be wondering why on earth you’d stand up to drink your coffee. Well, that’s all thanks to the coperto, or cover charge.

Essentially, as soon as you sit down in a restaurant or cafe in Italy, you’ll be subject to a small charge of €1-€2. It dates back to the middle ages and is basically a fee you pay for the privilege of occupying the space. Sure, you might get some bread, salt and pepper, but equally, you may not.

Basically, it’s usually €2 cheaper to stand up to have your coffee or get a takeaway!

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Business Hours in Italy

Oh, Italy. Home of the unpredictable opening hours.

Most shops will close at lunchtime for at least an hour, more commonly 2 hours. 

Expect that not much will be happening between 1pm and 3pm. Saturday is often a half day with stores closing at lunchtime. 

In smaller towns, nothing but the bar will be open on a Sunday.

Most restaurants close between lunch and dinner service, and Italians tend to have dinner late at around 8pm. Cafes stay open all day, so you won’t starve! 

Bars and pubs will often be open until 1am.

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What to Eat and Drink in Italy | Italy Foodie Tips

Italian food is incredible, but it may not be exactly what you expect. Although you could just eat pizza and pasta for every meal, you’ll also find lovely seafood, salads and cheese. Here are some of my favourite things to eat in Italy.

Gelato

I’ll eat gelato in any country, but it just hits different in Italy. The Medici family of Florence is credited with starting a competition that led to the creation of gelato, so be sure you taste it extensively when you visit!

Pizza

You’re hardly going to go to Italy and not eat pizza. It’s basically the culinary symbol of Italy for the rest of the world at this point.

Naples is pizza’s spiritual home, with the oldest pizzeria and some of the top-rated pizzerias in the world.

Pasta

They’ve been making pasta in Italy for about 2000 years, so they’re pretty good at it. Many regions have their own unique shapes or sauces, and you should be sure to try any in the area you visit.

I’m planning to visit Sardinia to try the world’s rarest pasta!

Coffee

14 billion espressos are consumed every year in Italy, with most adults drinking 4 a day. Hardly surprising then that they’re a nation that takes their coffee seriously.

For the purists, you can’t beat an espresso or caffé in Italian. I prefer a caffé macchiato, where a splash of milk softens the boldness of the coffee.

There’s also an unwritten rule that nobody orders a cappuccino after 11am!

Aperol spritz and Hugo

When you visit Italy, there’s a strange phenomenon that occurs at around 4pm. Little cafes in cobbled squares suddenly sport tables covered with vibrant orange drinks in wine glasses. 

This drink that looks like cough mixture is actually the famous Aperol Spritz, a bitter herbal apéritif mixed with prosecco. I absolutely love them and, for me, they’re the taste of a European summer.

If you find Aperol too bitter, then you should definitely give the Hugo a try. The Aperol is substituted for elderflower cordial, mint and lime, and it’s bloody delicious!

Wine

Italy is actually the world’s largest wine producer and exporter. For some of the best wines in the country, you should think about visiting some wineries in Tuscany.

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How to Plug In – Electricity in Italy

Obviously, as a blogger, my life sometimes feels like it revolves around my ability to keep my electronics charged and stay connected. While you’re probably not quite as high maintenance as I am, it helps to know what to expect.

Italy works on a 230V system, the same as most of the world. But not America, Japan or Taiwan, where the voltage is lower at 100-120V.

The implication for those of you from countries with lower voltages is that if you plug in your hairdryer, curling tongs or travel iron, you might literally blow up your appliance.

Things like laptops, tablets and cellphones usually run on DC current and convert 100-240V without any issues. You can check by looking at the plug if your charger is ok for Italy. You’re looking for a label that says ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’.

To add to your misery, Italy has 3 different plug types – the C, L and F. In good news, however, a 2-pin C-type plug will fit every socket you’ll come across in Italy, so that’s what you should get.

I personally use a Skross adaptor that deals with 90% of plugs and sockets worldwide, and it has never let me down. 11/10 recommend purchasing one no matter your destination.

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How to Stay Connected – Internet and SIM cards in Italy

I am a big believer in getting a local SIM since you always get a much better deal than by roaming with your home provider. Unless, maybe, you’re grandfathered into some phenomenal plan and a data roaming ninja.

I? Am not.

Having said that, it’s getting harder to register local SIM cards in a lot of Europe, so I’ve recently made the switch to using e-SIM cards when I travel. It saves me the hassle of switching out SIM cards, and I can still be contacted on my home number in an emergency.

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Airalo or Holafly seem to be the most recommended options.

TIM network has the best coverage and speeds in Italy, and you’ll find their stores at most major airports. This is definitely the most convenient place to buy a local SIM, but may not be the cheapest. If you can wait until you’re in a city, then you’re likely to get a better deal.

Expect to pay €20-€50 depending on how much data you want, and bear in mind that your phone will need to be unlocked to use a local SIM.

TIP | Be sure to turn off 2-factor authentication for anything you might want to access if you swap your SIM card out. Nothing worse than not being able to approve payments or access vital information because you can’t get messages!

If you’re going to be hiking in the Dolomites, then there will be areas where you don’t get a signal, no matter who you’re with. I recommend having a GPS emergency beacon for situations where you’ll be in remote areas with poor cell service.

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Health and Safety Tips for Italy

As a general rule, Italy is a pretty safe country, especially outside the bigger cities. 

Expect to be pestered by street vendors and restaurant staff trying to lure you in for a meal if you’re in tourist areas. They’re no worse than any other country, and usually, a firm “no, grazie” will be enough to deter them.

Petty crimes like bag snatching and pickpocketing are a sad reality in big cities like Rome and Naples. Be sensible with your safety when you travel, and you’ll be fine. 

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Expect to find mosquitoes in Italy from March through November, particularly in the country’s south. In the north (at altitude), you’ll rarely find them. Another reason to travel outside of peak summer!

Europe is experiencing more extreme weather, with heat waves becoming more and more common. Make sure you cover up in the sun – take a hat, sunglasses and plenty of factor 50+ sunscreen!

Can you drink tap water in Italy?

Absolutely!

For reasons I don’t fully understand, Italians seem addicted to bottled water (although I can’t talk since I’m all about that San Pelligrino life). Despite that, their tap water is perfectly safe to drink.

You’ll find water fountains dotted around Rome and other cities, but otherwise, just grab a reusable water bottle and fill it up before you leave your hotel in the morning.

The only tap water that sometimes isn’t safe is up in the mountains, but it’ll be clearly signposted if that’s the case. 

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Essential travel items in Italy

My number 1 recommendation for travelers to Italy is to wear comfortable shoes! You’re likely to be walking a lot, and blisters are not a fun souvenir for anyone.

Unless you’re from Europe, you will need a travel adaptor. Consider taking a multiplug if you’ve got a lot of electrical gear that needs charging.

In summer, a sunhat, factor 50 sunscreen and sunglasses are essentials. I’d also recommend an umbrella and raincoat, both of which are essentials at all other times!

If you’re a wine drinker, bring a corkscrew. Unlike most of the rest of the world, Italian wine is usually sealed with a cork. Learn from my mistakes.

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Bring your reusable water bottle, but you can leave your coffee cup at home. Part of the fun of Italy is taking your coffee like the locals, standing at the bar.

If you’d like to visit churches and other religious sites, I’d advise bringing a scarf to cover your shoulders. Be sure to bring long trousers or a skirt too.

Lastly, don’t forget your camera!

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Sustainable Travel Tips for Italy

Responsible hiking and camping in Italy

Italy is a hikers’ paradise. The Dolomites, in particular, are home to incredible day hikes as well as multi-day options.

This is a gentle reminder to practice leave no trace principles and pack out everything you bring in. That includes your personal waste. I’m sick to death of having to navigate my way through other people’s literal shit when I’m hiking.

If you can’t hold it in, you need to carry it out or bury it. Pack accordingly.

Another thing to note is that wild camping isn’t legal in Italy, and camping of all kinds is forbidden in the National Parks. 

Learn some basic Italian

Even if you only manage to learn a few phrases, it will be appreciated. I recommend getting a translation app such as Google Translate before your trip and downloading Italian for use offline.

Please, thank you and hello tend to be the most used and useful phrases that you’ll need as a tourist.

• Please – per favore
• Thank you – grazie (you’ll probably hear prego in return, which means “you’re welcome”)
• Hello – ciao
• Goodbye – arrivederci

I hope you’ve found some good tips to help you plan your first trip to Italy in this post. If you’ve got any questions, then comment below, email or come and find me on social media.

Planning a trip to Italy?

Learn more about Italy with these essential posts:

DOLOMITES HIKING | 10 of the Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

BEST DOLOMITES VIEWS | A Guide to Cadini di Misurina, the Dolomites Best Viewpoint

THE DOLOMITES | A Guide to Alpe di Siusi

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