This guide of tips for traveling to Italy It is essential not to miss anything and make the most of time in one of the most incredible countries in the world.
Country that has absolutely everything, Italy can boast of having a great history as well as large archaeological sites from the Roman Empire and numerous masterpieces in painting and sculpture, among the most valuable in the world. In addition to all this, a route through the country will allow you to know medieval villages frozen in time and other more picturesque located between cliffs, cities with old town that look like open-air museums, fantastic landscapes of vineyard valleys and sunflowers combined with others from Alpine mountains and lakes.
And if all this was still not enough to convince you, we will tell you that a travel to Italia It is a real pleasure for the palate thanks to its extensive and varied cuisine based on products of the highest quality.
Based on the many trips we have made to this country, the last one we spent more than a month living in the Trastevere in Rome, during which we wrote this travel guide to Rome, we have made this selection of those we believe, are the 10 essential tips for traveling to Italy.We start!
1. What is the best time?
The best time for Travel to Italy They are the seasons of spring and autumn, when the weather is more pleasant, the prices are not so high, the colors of the landscapes reach their maximum splendor and there is not so much tourist crowding in their most famous places.
From mid-June to mid-September is when the high season begins, during which there is a significant price increase, which is consistent with the rise in temperatures and the number of tourists in the country. Despite this, summer can be a good time for those looking for the beach or hiking trails in the colder regions of northern Italy.
Instead, winter is perfect for visiting tourist attractions with fewer people and finding better prices in the most visited cities in Italy like Rome, Florence or Venice although you you risk Let the weather not be as sunny as you would like.
2. Entry requirements and travel insurance
For Travel to ItalyIf you are Spanish or a citizen of the European Union (EU), you will only need to show your ID or passport at the airport control. In case your country does not belong to the EU it is advisable to consult the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Italian Embassy, to know the required documents and if it is necessary to obtain a visa.
Another of the best tips for a travel to Italia or to any country of the European Union is to bring the European Health Card with which you will have free assistance in public hospitals. If you are not an EU citizen or want to have more coverage to avoid having to pay in cases of for example a repatriation, it is very advisable to have the best travel insurance to Europe possible.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.
3. Security
In general, Italy is a safe country with some problems of small thefts or thefts in the most tourist sites or that have a large concentration of people.
And although we would not say that there is danger, it is not recommended to go out at night through the peripheral neighborhoods of large cities such as Rome or Naples where the chances of suffering a robbery increase, especially if you do not know the areas.
If you are going to travel in Italy by rental car you need to take the international driving license, be alert to the areas where you can park (we have received several parking tickets), and do not leave any belongings in sight when you leave the vehicle parked.
In addition to these details, one of the best tips for traveling to Italy It is to carry a copy of the passport, ID and traffic permit in the cloud, to be able to quickly process these documents in case of theft or loss.
Carabinieri
4. How to travel to Italy?
The most common means of transport for Travel to Italy It is the plane, although also from Spain and the nearest countries can be reached by car or boat. It is common for the Mediterranean and Adriatic cruises to make several stops in this country to make small excursions to cities such as Venice or Rome, among others.
If you travel by plane from Spain, you have direct flights of just over an hour with companies such as Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia and Alitalia to the vast majority of Italian airports that have tourist attractions nearby.
Once you have decided on the flight, you can consider staying in a big city like Rome, Florence, Naples, Milan or Venice and from there make small getaways, by train or by bus to some of the wonders that are nearby such as Pompeii, Pisa, Cinque Terre or Lake Como.
If you have more days we recommend you rent a car to make a circular route through some of the most beautiful regions of the country such as Tuscany or Sicily.
Trevi Fountain in Rome
5. The best routes in Italy
For Travel to Italy with the intention of seeing most of its points of interest it is essential to have enough time, we believe that a minimum of 3 months, so depending on your origin, we recommend you to discover the country little by little by areas and on several trips .
To do all these itineraries we recommend renting a car to have the freedom to stop wherever and whenever you want, or combine the train and the bus.
Among the best routes by car in Italy that you can do are:
- The Toscana: After visiting Florence and Siena you can take a car route to see all the most essential places to see in Tuscany such as the medieval villages of San Gimignano, Volterra, Lucca, Montepulciano, Pienza and the beautiful landscapes of vineyards and sunflowers of the Valley of Orcia
- Sicily: a route through this island, located in southern Italy, will take you between a week and 10 days. Leaving Palermo you can visit charming cities like Taormina and Siracussa, climb Mount Etna, fall in love with ancient medieval villages such as Erice, visit spectacular archaeological sites such as the Valley of the Temples and Selinunte in addition to seeing landscapes from another planet such as Scala dei Turchi or Several of its natural reserves.
- Sardinia: This island is perfect for a dream vacation thanks to its paradisiacal beaches and natural landscapes. Among the most essential places to see in Sardinia are Castelsardo, the Gulf of Orosei, the Pelosa beach, the Emerald Coast and the city of Alghero.
- Northern lakes: leaving Milan you can make a good route through the lake area of northern Italy that includes Lago di Garda, Lake Maggiore and above all, the famous Lake Como. On this last Lake you can stay a few days to make a route by boat or car that includes a visit to the incredible Balbianello and Carlota villas, and the most charming villages located on the shore of the lake such as Bellagio and Varenna.
- Amalfi Coast: After visiting Naples and the Pompeii and Herculaneum sites, you can tour the spectacular Amalfi Coast in about 5 days. Among the picturesque villages frozen in time and nestled between cliffs stand out Amalfi, Positano and Ravello. To finish the route through this area you can take a boat to the exclusive island of Capri and put there the cherry From the trip.
- Cinque Terre: the 5 villages that form Cinque Terre (Vernazza, Corniglia, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore and Manarola), will leave you speechless because of their location between cliffs and their beautiful colorful houses. The best way to access all the places to see in Cinque Terre is by train from La Spezie, then stay in one of them and get to know the rest by boat, train or doing some hiking route.
Visit Cinque Terre when traveling to Italy
6. Main cities of Italy
On a trip to Italy if you do not want to make a route by car or public transport, you can dedicate every day to know some of the main Italian cities, located among the most beautiful in the world.
Among our favorites are:
Rome
The eternal city has endless wonders to see in the form of churches, monuments, museums, squares and fountains, which together with a great gastronomy make it one of the most visited cities in the world and a safe bet if you think Travel to Italy.
To not miss anything about this city we recommend you complete this list of 20 essential places to visit in Rome and one of the 100 best things to do in Rome.
In addition with these three guides you can plan the routes around the city making the most of the time:
Florence
Florence is an open-air museum that impresses with its squares full of buildings, monuments and sculptures made by the best artists of the Renaissance period such as the great master Michelangelo.
To not miss anything about this city we recommend you complete this list of 10 essential places to visit in Florence and this of the 50 best things to do in Florence.
You can also trace the route through the city with these practical guides:
Venice
The city of canals is also one of the most romantic cities in the world where getting lost in the streets of the old town full of charm is a must.
A good option to prepare the trip is to follow this list of 10 places to visit in Venice, this one of 50 things to do in Venice and not miss any details in the travel guide to Venice.
Also with these three guides you can plan the itineraries around the city optimizing the time:
Venice
Milan
Known as the city of fashion, Milan is another of the best cities for Travel to Italy If you have a weekend or a few days. In addition to shopping, you cannot miss its historic center where the Duomo stands out or see the fresco of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, among many other things.
To not miss anything about the city it is advisable to follow this list of the 10 essential places to visit in Milan and this of the 50 best things to do in Milan.
In addition to completing these two lists, you can prepare your trip with these personalized guides according to the days you have:
7. Other interesting cities
We always say that Travel to Italy Engage and once you visit the main cities, you can find other less known but equally charming places to make a good getaway.
These places to see in Italy have the advantage of not having so much tourism and more affordable prices, in addition to being much more authentic, so they are another safe bet.
Among our favorites are:
Naples
The chaotic Naples with the menacing Vesuvius volcano behind it, is a city that moves you to a bygone era thanks to its narrow streets, old buildings with balconies full of clothes, traditional shops with quality products, a great atmosphere that welcomes visitors With open arms and the best pizza in the world.
To get to know the city well, we recommend you complete this list of places to visit in essential Naples and complete the visit with one of the best excursions in Naples such as Pompeii.
Another good way to prepare the trip is to follow this guide from Naples and Pompeii in 4 days.
Pisa
This city, known for its famous Leaning Tower or Tower of Pisa, can be known perfectly in a day or two. In addition to its famous tower, do not miss the other buildings of the impressive Piazza dei Miracoli and the beautiful historic center full of charming corners.
If you complete this list of the 10 essential places to see in Pisa, you will surely take a great picture of this city.
Pisa
Turin
To the Travel to Italy, few think of Turin as a possible destination and we believe it is a big mistake. This great unknown, surrounded by the rivers Po and Dora, will surprise you with its squares and arcaded streets, historic cafés and delicious cuisine.
To not miss anything about the city we recommend you follow this guide of our trip to Turin in 3 days and complete this list of the 50 best things to do in Turin.
Siena
The capital of Tuscany is perfect to use as a base to tour this beautiful region of Italy. In addition to its excellent location, you can enjoy quiet walks through the historic center that has in Piazza del Campo and the Duomo its most prominent places, thanks to its neighbor Florence takes the majority of tourism.
You can use this list of places to see in Siena to get to know the city better or make a trip to Italy more extensive with this guide of Tuscany in 4 days.
Bologna
This city nicknamed "The Red City" Because of the color of the buildings and the roofs, it is another of the great unknown of Italy. One of the many reasons to travel to Bologna is its medieval historical center, one of the best preserved in Italy, which has its landmark in Piazza Maggiore.
A good way to get to know the city is to follow this list of the 10 essential places to visit in Bologna.
Other recommended cities on a trip to Italy are: Verona, Bergamo, Livorno, Bari, Padua, Palermo, Lecce or Brindisi, among many others.
8. Tours and excursions
When traveling to Italy, a country with so much history, it is interesting to book an excursion or guided tour in Spanish in each city that you visit with which you can learn the history and curiosities of all the monuments and main buildings of each city, in a comfortable way and making the most of time.
In addition to these city-guided tours, you can book small day trips to the most interesting sites nearby, quickly and conveniently.
All these visits and excursions can be booked from this page, where you can choose the Italian city you want to visit and see all the information of each tour that it offers, accompanied by the traveler's ratings.
Among the tours and excursions best valued by travelers are:
- Guided tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine and the guided tour of the Vatican in Rome.
- Excursion to Murano and Burano and the guided tour that includes the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
- Excursion to Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena and the guided tour that includes the Uffizi Gallery and Academy in Florence.
- Excursion to Lake Como and the guided tour that includes the entrance to see The Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan.
- Excursion to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius in Naples.
Lake Como on a trip to Italy
9. Typical dishes to try on a trip to Italy
Another one of the best reasons for Travel to Italy is to taste its delicious cuisine, one of our favorites that is also among the best in the world.
Although the list could be endless, some of the most typical Italian dishes are:
- Risotto alla milanese: toasted rice with a stir-fried onion and oil, seasoned with grated Parma cheese and saffron.
- Bistecca alla fiorentina: thick cut of grilled beef tenderloin.
- Arancini: fried balls of rice, cheese, onion and pork.
- Spaghetti alla carbonara: pasta accompanied by a sauce made with egg, cheese (Pecorino Romano or Parmesan), extra virgin olive oil, pancetta and bacon black pepper
- Margarita pizza: Neapolitan pizza flavored with tomato, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt and oil.
- Focaccia: Very similar to pizza, although the dough is thicker and spongy and does not usually have tomato sauce.
- Ossobuco: a stew made with veal jar.
- Minestrone: soup made with tomatoes and vegetables, as well as legumes and macaroni.
- Panini: hot sandwich with ciabatta bread and stuffed with salami, cheese, mortadella or ham.
- Caprese salad: It is composed of slices of tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil pits, all washed down with olive oil.
- Bruschetta: It is an antipasto consisting of several slices of toasted bread with garlic and pieces of tomato and other products.
- Cannoli: rolled dough that contains ricotta cheese with other ingredients.
- Tiramisu: cold dessert layered with coffee and mascarpone cheese, among other ingredients.
After eating all these typical dishes you can have a glass of limoncello, a drink with alcohol and lemon flavor.
Margarita pizza
10. More tips
Other of the best tips for traveling to Italy They are:
- Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
- Visit the museums for free on the first Sunday of each month.
- Look at the prices of dishes, drinks and "coperto" before sitting on a terrace or tourist restaurant. Also, do not forget to review the account, it is not usual but in some very tourist spots, sometimes there are plenty some more.
- If you rent a car, drive with the 5 senses placed on the road, Italians usually have a peculiar way of driving.
- Get up early to visit the most famous places with few tourists and be able to take better photos.
- In the afternoon take the typical Italian appetizer, which consists of a small buffet accompanied by a drink like the typical Italian Spritz.
- Learn some words or phrases in Italian like Buon giorno (hello formal), ciao (hello and informal goodbye), prego (not at all), per favor (please), bene (good), grazie (thank you), non lo so (I don't know), scusa (sorry) and non capisco (I don't understand).
Appetizer
Do you want to travel to Italy?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Italy here
The best hotels at the best prices in Italy here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Rent your car in Italy at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
10 essential places to see in Bergamo
Book the best tours and excursions in Italy in Spanish here
The best offers of Flights to Italy here
The best hotels at the best prices in Italy here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Rent your car in Italy at the best price here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
10 essential places to see in Bergamo
Book the best tours and excursions in Italy in Spanish hereIf you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 essential tips for traveling to Italy, add yours in the comments.
