Fifteen Things to Know Before Visiting Italy

Planning a trip to Italy? Here are fifteen things to know before you go so you’ll be better prepared, and your trip will feel more authentic. We live in Italy and travel around the country all the time, so we want to share some practical insight to help you have a true Italian experience.

15. Consider Visiting Some Less Popular Areas

When people think about visiting Italy, they usually think of Venice, Rome, Florence, or maybe the Amalfi Coast if there’s enough time. Those places are amazing, and you should absolutely visit them. However, you should also consider adding one or two less popular areas that many tourists skip.

Every city and town in Italy is rich in unique history, architecture, and great food. If you take a side trip to a lesser-known place, you’ll get a more authentic glimpse of Italian life. For example, if you are traveling from Florence to Venice, consider spending a day in the stunning city of Bologna. There, you’ll discover an amazing city center and some of the best food Italy has to offer. If you are traveling from Venice to Milan, consider stopping at Lake Garda. It may not be as famous as Lake Como, but its beauty is just as impressive.

14. Avoid the Peak of Summer

Most tourists come to Italy in June, July, and August, but those are not the best months to visit. During that time, cities are crowded, prices are at their highest, and it can be difficult to find availability for museums and attractions.

Summer temperatures can also be intense. On some days, it can reach 98.6°F or 37°C. If you don’t enjoy sweltering heat, consider visiting Italy in early spring or late fall. May and October are wonderful months to visit. During those periods, temperatures are much more comfortable, cities are less crowded, and prices are more reasonable.

13. Food Is Not the Same All Over Italy

It’s easy to assume that a trip to Italy means eating pizza, pasta carbonara, pasta al pesto, and bolognese everywhere. That would be a mistake. One of the most important things to understand is that Italian food is highly regional. Something that is very popular in one area may not even exist somewhere else.

For example, pasta alla carbonara is a typical dish of Rome. If you order it outside Rome, it may not be as good or as authentic. Doing a little research before your visit and checking the specialties of the places you’ll be visiting can make a big difference. Trying the local dishes will help you experience the best food Italy has to offer.

It’s also worth remembering that the Italian food you may be used to eating back home is often not what you will find in Italy. Dishes like garlic bread, chicken piccata, or spaghetti with meatballs are not authentic Italian food. If you see a restaurant serving those dishes, there’s a good chance it is aimed at tourists.

When it comes to pizza, Naples is the place to go for the most authentic version. As the birthplace of pizza, it offers something special. Everywhere else in Italy has its own variation, and it can be very different from what you’ll get in Naples. One other important tip: if you want a good pizza anywhere in Italy, go to a pizzeria with a visible pizza oven. If there’s no oven in sight, it’s best to stay away.

12. Dinner Doesn’t Happen Before 7:30

In Italy, dinner usually takes place between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., though this varies depending on where you are. In the north, 7:30 to 8:00 is common. In the south, dinner can begin much later, sometimes around 10 p.m. Regardless of the region, restaurants are usually closed before 7:30 p.m.

If you see a restaurant serving dinner at 5 p.m., it is most likely catering to tourists and may not offer the most authentic experience. If you get hungry around 6 p.m., try aperitivo instead. It’s a great Italian tradition and essentially the Italian version of happy hour.

11. As a Pedestrian, Be Careful

When you are exploring Italy, you’ll be walking a lot, so it’s important to be careful. Some streets are hundreds of years old and very uneven. Comfortable shoes are one of the simplest ways to stay safe. Cobblestones, worn pavement, and irregular surfaces can all cause problems if you aren’t paying attention. Flip-flops and sandals are better saved for the beach, and high heels are not a good idea.

Crossing the street also requires attention, especially outside pedestrian-only areas. Not every driver respects pedestrian crossings, particularly scooters, motorbikes, and bicycles. In high-traffic areas, it is safest to cross at traffic lights. Even in pedestrian-only zones, watch out for electric scooters and bicycles, especially food delivery riders, who often move quickly without paying much attention to pedestrians.

10. Drinking in Public Is Fine, Just Don’t Get Drunk

In Italy, it’s legal to drink alcohol while walking on the street, in public parks, or at the beach. Wine is a huge part of Italian culture, and Italians love to sit with friends and sip a glass of wine or an Aperol Spritz. The key is moderation.

Being drunk in public is considered very bad manners in Italy, and it can also lead to a fine between €51 and €309. Enjoy a glass or two with your meals, but know your limit.

9. Not Everyone Speaks English

This is especially true in more rural parts of Italy or when speaking with older people. These days, many young people speak some English, and in touristy areas, most people speak enough English to understand you.

Still, Italians really appreciate it when you try to speak at least a few words of Italian. Here are a few helpful phrases to know:

Greetings
Ciao = Hello/Goodbye (informal; best used with friends or people your age)
Buongiorno = Good day (more formal, appropriate for older people or polite situations)
Buonasera = Good evening (formal)

Polite Basics
Per favore = Please
Grazie = Thank you

Helpful Everyday Phrases
Il bagno, per favore? = Where is the bathroom, please?
Il conto, per favore. = The bill, please
Un caffè, per favore. = One coffee, please
Vorrei dell’acqua, per favore. = I would like some water, please

We’ve also put together a handy list of Italian words and phrases you can save to help you get around during your trip.

8. Pack Smart

One thing you should remember when traveling to Italy is to pack smart. Avoid bringing big, bulky bags. There’s a good chance you’ll need to carry them up and down stairs, onto trains, and through city centers.

If you book hotels in the historic center of most Italian cities, keep in mind that they may be in buildings that are 200 or 300 years old. Often, they have very small elevators that won’t fit large suitcases. Sometimes there are steps to climb as well. Trains are another factor. If you are traveling between cities by rail, you will likely need to lift your bag on and off the train by yourself.

The bottom line is simple: pack the essentials and avoid overpacking.

7. Cold Air or Water Is Bad for You, According to Many Italians

Italians are famously wary of cold drafts and cold air in general. Many truly believe that cold air can make you sick or give you a sore neck. Because of that, air conditioning is often used only when it is very hot outside, and even then, it may be kept at the lowest possible setting.

For that reason, when you book a hotel, make sure it has air conditioning and, more importantly, that it is actually turned on. It’s not unusual for the weather to be very hot while hotels still haven’t switched on the AC because it is not officially summer yet. It’s also not unusual to get into a taxi on a 40°C day and find the AC turned off. If that happens, just ask the driver to switch it on.

Italians are also cautious about cold drinks. Many believe they can cause an upset stomach or bad digestion. That’s why you usually won’t get more than one or two ice cubes in a drink in Italy. If you want a lot of ice, ask for “molto ghiaccio”. Even then, you may still get only a few cubes.

6. Driving Is a Good Option, But Only in Certain Places

Some parts of Italy are best reached by car or on an organized tour. For example, if you want to explore the Tuscan countryside, renting a car can be a good option if you don’t want to take a bus tour.

Driving in Italy is doable, but there are a few important things to know before renting a car. First, I strongly recommend not driving on the Amalfi Coast. The roads are often narrow, winding, and crowded. For similar reasons, it’s also best to avoid driving around Lake Como.

I also wouldn’t recommend driving in big cities. Traffic is heavy, parking is limited, and then there is the infamous ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), or limited traffic zone. These are city areas where only residents and taxis are allowed to drive. The fines for entering them can be steep, and you may not find out about the ticket for months or even years. By then, penalties and interest may have piled up.

If you do rent a car in Italy, choose a very small one. Many streets are narrow, and parking spaces are tight. It is also a good idea to rent an automatic, since many cars in Italy are still manual.

5. Buy Train Tickets in Advance

If you are planning to take trains in Italy, book your tickets in advance. Lines at station ticket offices can be long, and you could waste a lot of time waiting to buy your ticket. High-speed train tickets are also usually cheaper when purchased two to three months ahead of time.

Planning ahead can save both time and money.

4. The Bill Doesn’t Come by Itself

Restaurant service in Italy is very different from service in North America. In Italy, people generally do not want to be interrupted by waiters checking in repeatedly or making small talk. Instead, the waiter will usually come shortly after you are seated and take your entire order. If you are not ready, that’s no problem. Just ask for a little more time.

After that, your meal will begin to arrive. If you need anything during the meal, simply get the waiter’s attention and say “scusi.” The waiter will come over. What you should not expect is constant proactive check-ins, because that would be considered rude.

It is also considered rude to bring the bill without the customer asking for it. Italians would feel as though the restaurant were trying to push them out. If you want the bill, get the waiter’s attention and say il conto, per favore. Better yet, say “il conto e il pos, per favore”, which means ‘the bill and the card machine’, please.

One more thing: don’t expect restaurants to split the bill according to exactly who ordered what. If one person had a glass of wine and pasta, and someone else had a beer and pizza, most restaurants will not calculate each person’s individual total. The usual approach is to split the bill evenly. So if the bill is €100 and there are four people, the restaurant will happily charge €25 per person.

3. The Early Bird Gets the Worm

If you are visiting Rome, Venice, or Florence, get out and explore very early in the morning. That’s one of the best ways to avoid the crowds and, in summer, the heat. Late at night can also be a beautiful time to walk around when the streets are quieter.

This is especially true in Venice, where the lights reflecting in the canals at night create an especially romantic atmosphere. During the hottest part of the day, indoor activities such as museums are often the best choice. They usually, or at least hopefully, have air conditioning and offer a comfortable break from the heat.

2. City Tax Might Be Paid in Cash

When you check into a hotel in Italy, you may be surprised to learn that you need to pay a small amount of cash at checkout. Hotels often charge a city tax on top of your bill. The amount varies from city to city, and the payment method can vary as well.

Some places are more modern, allowing hotels to charge the tax by credit card or even collect it at the time of booking. Others still require the city tax to be paid in cash at the hotel. This can happen even if you prepaid for your hotel through a platform like Expedia or Booking.com. You may still need to pay a few euros per person, per day, in cash.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to carry a small amount of euros with you when you check in.

1. Coffee Is Cheaper at the Bar

If you want an espresso in Italy, you should know that drinking it at the bar usually costs between €1.00 and €1.50. A cappuccino is often around €2.00, no matter how fancy the coffee shop is. But if you sit at a table, you may be charged a servizio, which can be very expensive, especially in famous places like Piazza San Marco in Venice or the Piazzetta in Capri.

In some cases, you can pay many times the price of the coffee just for table service. So if you want to enjoy a coffee in a historic café without overpaying, standing at the bar is the smart move. That’s what Italians do.

Italy is full of unforgettable places, incredible food, and experiences that feel even better when you understand how things work. Knowing these small details before your trip can help you avoid common mistakes, save money, and enjoy a more authentic visit. 

Ciao!