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AVOID BEING THE TYPICAL TOURIST WHEN TRAVELING TO ITALY WITH THESE ITALY TRAVEL TIPS
View from a beautiful street in Lake Como
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 amazing 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, with all its art, culture and natural beauty, that Italy is the leader of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Whether you are planning your first visit to Italy, or you are a regular traveler, there are some things you should know that will make your trip to Italy easier.
Italians are lovely and warm people, but they do 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
Table of contents
Food And Restaurants Travel Tips
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 and 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 just 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.
Coffee Shop in Tuscany – Italy Travel Tips
2. And you drink your espresso standing
Espresso means “fast” in Italian. And all Italians drink their coffee fast “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 cheap good coffee the Italian way, make sure you drink it standing at the bar.
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 go to busy touristic places, like Rome, Florence, Venice or Cinque Terre.
And it works only there because anywhere else in Italy you will never find an English menu anyway!
Although the food in Italy is simply amazing, you can still find places that serve awful food. If you want to eat really good Italian food avoid at all cost any restaurants that display an English menu outside (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 you think you at least understand what the ingredients are.
Please remember this: the best Italian food can only be found in restaurants with Italian menus.
4. And never eat in a restaurant with spaghetti bolognese on the menu
Similar to 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 of all, bolognese sauce in Italy it’s 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!
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 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, and 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 normally comes in half a liter or liter jugs and it’s local.
Chianti Vineyards in Tuscany – Italy Travel Tips
6. But get free water around the cities
In the big cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, you will always find water fountains around the main squares. Bring empty reusable bottles with you and fill them up 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 “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 quite standard in all the 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 are better off grabbing something quicker like a sandwich or tell the server ahead of time.
9. Breakfast will be a sweet start to the day
Italians normally 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.
A real 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.
Street in the Island of Murano, renowned for its long tradition of glass-making – Italy Travel Tips
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 normally 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. And always find an excuse to eat gelato
The most famous ice cream in the world is the 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, morning or afternoon snack or after dinner.
Any time is good for gelato in Italy!
RELATED ARTICLE: WHERE TO EAT THE MOST AMAZING ICE CREAM IN ROME
“Do It Like The Italians” Travel Tips
You are going to Italy, you want to blend in. These are the things you need to know to behave like a real Italian!
The beautiful Grand Canal in Venice – Italy Travel Tips
12. 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!
13. 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.
Italians are very warm and affectionate people and they are used to kiss anyone. Sometimes you’ll find that younger people even go for three kisses!
But definitely not just one!
14. 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.
15. Don’t queue politely
Italians have a very different idea of personal space. Don’t get crossed if they push you or if they 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.
Queue
The definition in the world
A line or sequence of people awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed.
Queue
The definition in Italy
Lots of people wiggling their way up to the front to make it look like they were the first ones there and have the right to be served first.
This happens everywhere: if you 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 just resign yourself to not go anywhere!
A view of Florence Cathedral – Italy Travel Tips
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.
16. Trains follow their “own” timetable
Trains have improved massively in the last few years in Italy. Some impressive high-speed modern trains are connecting 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 trains stikes as these might affect your travel plans.
17. Always validate your tickets
I will never get used to the way you need to buy your tickets in Italy, and I was born in Italy…so listen carefully.
Trains: quite simple
You need to buy your tickets before you get on the train. There are normally ticket offices in 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. There are no machines to buy tickets from and you can normally buy them in a Tabaccheria (tobacco shop) or Edicola (newspaper agents). These shops are normally 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!
18. 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 you will be able to discover some amazing hidden gems along the way.
BUT
Make sure you always keep an eye out for holes in the road ahead of you. Road maintenance isn’t one of the highest priorities in Italy, especially if you are driving on small countryside roads.
A Vespa in a beautiful corner in Italy – Italy Travel Tips
19. Look everywhere before you cross the street
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!
20. Never ever go to Italy in August
August is the national summer holiday month for Italians, a lot of companies shut down, schools are closed and many Italians will leave the cities to go on holiday.
- You will find a lot of shops 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 if you are planning sightseeing, it could be quite tiring to walk around.
If you have a choice, try to avoid August at all cost, and opt for more out of season months like April, May or October.
Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve in Sicily – Italy Travel Tips
21. Always have some cash with you
Most hotels and big restaurants will accept credit cards, but it’s still quite normal in Italy to have to pay by cash in many restaurants and small shops.
Make sure you always have some cash with you to pay for your meals or shopping, especially if you are planning to buy some food at the market.
22. Check the weather before you go
Everyone thinks of Italy as a hot sunny country, but the weather can be quite 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.
23. 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 make sure you 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.
24. 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 the summer months, 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.
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome – Italy Travel Tips
25. Book your museum tickets in advance
Italy has some of the most amazing museums in the world. The Vatican Museums in Rome or Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence are not to be missed.
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 will be able to skip massive waiting times of several hours.
26. Book your hotels outside the city center or stay in an Airbnb for a cheaper authentic stay
Hotels can get very expensive near the center of town, 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.
If you want to try out Airbnb, as we did, you can get $35 towards your next trip by CLICKING HERE.
RELATED ARTICLE: 15 BREATHTAKING THINGS TO DO IN CINQUE TERRE
A colorful street in Manarola, Cinque Terre– Italy Travel Tips
27. Don’t worry if someone is shouting
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 having a fight.
A British couple next to us started holding hands and moved away with a scared look on their faces.
We moved closer to them and told hem “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!
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!
OTHER TIPS ABOUT ITALY:
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OTHER TRAVEL RESOURCES THAT I LOVE
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Ginger says
This is a great read! Thank you!! My husband and I are traveling in July for a week. We are thinking of 3 days in Rome, then driving to Venice for 2 days. I would love any tips!!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Ginger! I am planning a post on 3 days in Rome! I wish I had it ready to help you 🙂
I can give you the basic itinerary I am putting together 🙂
Day 1 – Ancient Rome
Piazza Venezia
Campidoglio
Roman Forum
Coliseum
Palatine Hill
Day 2 – Vatican City
Castel Sant Angelo
Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Dome
Dinner in Trastevere
Day 3 – Buzzing City Life
Piazza del Popolo
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
The Pantheon
Piazza Navona
Campo dei Fiori
Largo Argentina
Be ready for hot weather and bring some super comfy walking shoes! Venice is an amazing city and 2 days are sufficient to see most of the main attractions. I would suggest you to simply walk around the streets and explore the canals. If you love Spritz and aperitivo, you need to eat chicchetti. They are like small appetizers that you eat with a Spritz. So amazing. I recommend going to a great place near Rialto Bridge called Osteria Bancogiro. Just take a seat outside, drink, eat and enjoy the view!
Kanika Bakshi says
Love this article! Going to Europe for a 2-month road trip this summer. This Italy road trip will fit in perfectly with my plan. Thank you!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Have a great time Kanika 🙂
Monica Sharma says
Your tips are very helpful for me..Thank you for the article. We are going to visit this country with my wife. Hotels and cars have already booked. It remains only to have a good time
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you Monica. Italy is a great country, I am sure you’ll have an amazing time 🙂
Krissy says
Thank you for the insight! We are traveling to Rome for the first time in a few weeks. I love coffee and wine so it seems perfect. I appreciate your information about restaurants and tipping. I had not heard that anywhere else, I am glad you reminded me that two Itialians yelling isn’t always a bad thing. Now I have to start planning my tours and cold weather clothes.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Krissy,
You’ll have an amazing time in Rome! And if you are going in 2 weeks it should be quite warm!
Nela Niemann says
Very helpful article. Thank you! My husband and I will spend 15 days in early October, traveling to Monterosso, Florence, Venice and Varenna. We would very much like to fit in a soccer game during our visit. Any suggestions about how we should plan this?
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hi Nela,
Glad you found the post helpful!
If you are going in October, I would probably start from Venice, then Varenna, Monterosso in Cinque Terre and then Florence.
Pretty much moving from the North to the South of Italy.
If you want to see a soccer game, the best thing to do would be to watch it in Florence. Fiorentina is a great team, and the stadium isn’t too far from the city center and you can easily get there by train in 15-20 minutes.
The stadium is called Stadio Artemio Franchi.
You are going to have a great time! All the places you are going to are beautiful! 🙂
Miki Fulbright says
Love your Blog… sent it to my travel companions. We have booked 2 weeks March 14-29 are headed to see bits of Rome, Florence, La Cinque Terre, Pisa and Naples…with whatever dreamy little bits of the Italian countryside we run into. We are expecting somewhat cool weather…
With mutual fondness for our traveling companions who have tons of travel experience, yet differing personalities and tastes … We’re hoping for an awesome Adventure. I’m not so worried about doing it wrong, as in trying to rush around and see too much.
Friends who have previously travelled to Rome loved their segway tour, (about 4 hours) that gave them an overall feel for the layout of the city. Then, return to several of the locations that most appealed, and spent some quality time… we are reserving at some locations. …Thanks for your insigHts
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hi Miki,
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Weather in Italy is pretty good at the moment, epsecially around Rome/Florence with high temeperature almost in the 20s (60F) so you might get some warm days if it keeps staying like this. I am sure you’ll have a great time. And yes, don’t rush around too much and take some time to sit in a cafe’ and enjoy the views!
Dianne Polome says
Thanks for the great tips. I’ll be travelling to Italy in May with my nephew. We only have about 36 hours in Rome, so I especially appreciate your tips on that.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you Dianne!
You are going to have an amazing time! May is wonderful! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks for all the wonderful travel tips for Italy. My husband and I are very independent TRAVELERS(no Tour bus!) In 2020 we will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary and are looking at going to Italy. We would travel by train and probably stay in B&Bs. Our thought was to stay in Florence and take day trips to Cinque Terre and Pisa. I would also include Venice, Siena, and Rome. I love planning trips. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hi Kathy! Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary!
How much time will you be spending in Italy? All the places you mentioned are lovely. If you have time, I would visit Montepulciano, Monteriggioni and San Gimignano (all in Tuscany). And while on your way to Venice, you could visit one of the lakes in the North. Lake Garda is wonderful! I would stop at Sirmione for a day or 2.
If you have any specific question let me know 🙂
I am sure you’ll have an amazing time!
Deb says
I suggest you skip Pisa, nothing interesting. Instead of Pisa, go to Lucca which is just an hour by train from Florence. It is a beautiful walled small city. If you go, make reservations for dinner at Bucca di San Antonio.
We have been to Lucca 4 times and love it!
Brittany says
My family is taking a girls trip to Italy over Thanksgiving this year. There will be 5 of us most of the time, with my youngest sister studying abroad at Cimbe. I will also have my 9 year old daughter in tow. Our plan is to fly into Venice and then head to Rome, then Florence and then back to Venice. We will have 7 nights available to us. This is our first time traveling to Europe. Is there any further recommendations or suggestions that we should be aware of prior to going? As far as Eating at the Italian restaurants that do not have English menus, what is the best way to know what we are ordering? Do you suggest a translation dictionary? TIA.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Brittany,
That’s a great plan! If you have 7 nights, I wouldn’t do much more. Venice, Rome and Florence are plenty to visit in that amount of time. Ideally, I would suggest 2 days in Venice, 4 days in Rome and 2 days in Florence. Make sure you bring layers as the end of November can be pretty cold in northern Italy (like Venice!) but it might be warmer in Rome and Florence.
You’ll find that most servants speak a few words of English in restaurants in these big cities but yes, I would suggest using Google Translate if you have access to your data network or a small dictionary.
BURHANUDDIN ABUWALA says
This was an extremely helpful blog. I really appreciate all the time you took out in putting all this information together.
if my viaA is approved this time we would be travelling to Nice (south of france), rome, capri, venice and one day in florence. All this would be in the month of april.
What would you suggest to visit in just one day in florence?
Also, being a photographer I look out for beautiful streets and higher view points to get the entire cities landscape.
Your suggest would be highly valuable. Thank you.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hi Burhanuddin,
If you have one day in Florence do not miss the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Ponte Vecchio, have lunch at Mercato Centrale and then wander around the beautiful streets.
If you love taking photographs from the top of the city, I would suggest climbing Santa Maria del Fiore.
You can get some beautiful shots of Florence’s terracotta rooftops from there!
Another great spot to photograph a panorama of the city is Fort Belvedere, not far from Boboli Gardens.
And make sure you go to Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s a huge terrace across the river from which you can have a magnificent view!
Michele says
Traveled extensively for many months in Italy and the very best gelato we found was at Vivoli in Firenze near Santa Croce. Just the most delicious, refreshing and satisfying we’ve ever experienced in Italia! Thank you for your informative post.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Good to know Michele!
I am going to have to try it next time I stop in Florence 🙂
Rosa LAgunas says
Hello! Would you recommend visiting Venice in November?
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Rosa,
Venice is always beautiful. I went to Lake Como in the north of Italy at the end of October last year and it was 20 degrees! But that’s exceptional!
If you are planning to go in November I would go earlier in the month. It could be sunny, but it could also be cold and rainy. The good thing about going in November is that you will have the city to yourself. There won’t be many tourists around and you will be able to enjoy it more.
Have a great time 🙂
Melanee says
These tips are so true and helpful. Living in Southern Italy for many years I have seen menus written in English next to the Italian language in very good restaurants. I wish that I would have known these tips years ago.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you Melanee 🙂
Ryan Biddulph says
Good to know. I drink coffee solo – without meal – anyway, so i am doing it italian style. tweeted for you.
ryan
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
You are drinking coffee Italian style, Ryan! 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by! And for tweeting it!
Ingrid McQuivey says
I’ve only read part of the article but pinned it to read later. It looks like a helpful piece! I’ve only touched the surface of ITALY and am looking forward to returning. I’ll most definitely use your tips.
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you, Ingrid! 🙂
Italy is a great place to visit and I hope you’ll find my tips helpful!
Cheryl says
Once when with 2 other American ladies, we wandered in a quiet restaurant at about 10pm in one Of the Florence neighborhoods just for a glass of Italian wine. They insisted that we have food (free of charge) also even though we just wanted a drink. Do you know why? We were a little embarrassed because it seemed like it was a cultural clue we were unaware of.
Slavi says
Dear Cheryl, I live in Bergamo, northern part of Italy and in many bars if you have a glass of wine of some other alcoholic drink they will serve you with some free snacks…it’s part of aperitivo culture we do in Italy. I love that about Italy. Food is such a huge part of the culture. Thats how you show affection here. 🙂
veyroniqa says
This is incredibly insightful and helpful – thank you so much! It would be great if you could elaborate on four though, where to eat what in italy!!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hi Veyroniqa,
Thank you so much! That’s a very good point! I will definitely write more about where to eat what in Italy!
Thanks for the idea 🙂
Kristie says
I loved reading your post! Unfortunately, my husband and I will be going in august (in 2 days) this has been really helpful and I will definitely take your tip on not eating at a place with an American menu. Now we are doing one day in rome and one day in Florence, any advice how to do it all in a day? We dont get into either town till around 10:30.
Thank you again fornyour helpful blog!
Kristie
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Hey Kristie,
Thank you so much! I am sure you will have a great time!
If you only have one day in Rome, don’t try to see everything and I would avoid museums as you might end up spending too many hours in there.
I would suggest a your of piazza Navona-Pantheon-Trevi’s fountain-piazza Venezia-Inperial Forum-Coliseumm.
Then a quick view of Saint Peter Basilica, and dinner in a trattoria in Trastevere.
Florence is much smaller and easier to visit in one day. Do not miss the basilica and Ponte Vecchio, have lunch at Mercato Centrale and then wander around the beautiful streets.
Have a great time!
lifeonthemed says
There are some great tips here. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you 🙂 Glad you found the tips useful!
Sonette says
Really informative thank you! There is so much information about Italy but I loved reading yours, it felt like you were talking to me! Thank you! We are planning a trip to Venice, Florence and Cinque Terra in July and myself and my 11-year-old son will be doing a part of the trip by ourselves before my husband can join, and as this is our first trip to Italy, ( and being from Africa ) I was a bit nervous , but reading your information put me at ease and I will definitely try and remember your advice ! Thank you so much for sharing!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you Sonette! I am glad you found this post useful 🙂
You are going to LOVE Italy, and wow Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre are amazing! I am sure you will have a great time!
exploristanet says
This makes me so hungry for Italian food!!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Oh yes, Italian food is amazing! I would love a Neapolitan pizza right now! Yummy! 🙂
Tiffany | Damn Good Mom says
The photos are beautiful!! My husband and I went to Milan and Rome. I’d love to make it to Venice and Florence. I wish I had these tips to follow at the time. Great post!
Sara @ Gathering Dreams says
Thank you Tiffany 🙂