Last updated on June 30th, 2023 at 11:32 am

Italy is a country rich in history, so rich that it still preserves elements from the formative Julius Ceaser’s reign to the erupting Renaissance period. It’s very easy to navigate Italy all by yourself without relying on tour guides. But there are a few very important things to keep in mind before deciding to do that. From safety to food, below we have captured the top 10 tips from our personal experiences and lessons learned in Italy.

Oh and let’s not forget the natural beauty that the Italian landscape has to offer, from the green pastures of the Tuscan countryside to the blue waters of Amalfi shoreline to the shining gray Dolomites mountain range. Italy is a paradise for travelers of all kinds.

1. Mark the Italian Holidays & Hours of Operation

Especially for all the tourist attractions. You don’t want to miss out on your favorite museum, Galleria, or church because you planned to be there at a time when they were closed. So better account for the holidays and buy your tickets ahead of time (preferably online) where ever possible. For e.g. the Vatican is closed on Sundays but most of the museums in Florence on the other hand practice Sabbath on Monday instead. So guess what, if you planned to visit Uffizi, Academia Del Galleria, Pallazo Pitti, or local markets in Florence on Mondays, then you are out of luck. 

Bottom left: Botticelli’s famous painting “Birth of Venus” in Uffizi; Right: Michaelangelo’s masterpiece “David” in Academia del Galleria

2. Learn Basic Italian. Not Everyone in Italy Speaks Fluent English

This is especially true if you are planning on taking local transportation. It’s not too difficult to pick up some basic words that are enough to befriend the locals. However, if you can’t, all the major train stations and airports will have directions and signboards in English as well, so there’s some relief. Here’s a list of basic Italian phrases that you should keep handy.

3. Keep Your Travel Valuables Safe

Safety is a relative term, and it’s up to you how safely you want to travel. In a country like Italy which can be somewhat infamous for its pickpocketing skills, it is a necessity to keep your valuables, such as credit cards, IDs, cellphones, cameras, etc., safely. Wearing a money belt to stash all your valuables can be a good idea. Keep an eye on your stuff at all times in the open. 

4. Public Restrooms in Italy Are Generally Never Free to Use

Always have a few coins handy (preferably 50cents or 1 euro) to enter the exact amount in the machines to access public restrooms, including the ones in train stations. And if you so spot a free restroom, such as in museums, galleries, or restaurants, then make the most of it since you never know when you will find another one at no cost. 

5. Train Tickets Are Also Sold at Tobacco Stores

Commonly referred to as “Tabbachi,” tobacco stores in Italy are more like newspaper stands in the US that sell transportation tickets, cigarettes, and payphone services in addition to lottery tickets and snacks. Don’t be surprised if you do not find a ticket window (called “Bigletti” in Italian) at some smaller local metro train stations; instead, look out for a “Tabacchi” store which is more likely to be spotted. Another way to purchase tickets at some train stations is the ticketing machine kiosks. 

Traveling by train in Europe is very common and sometimes the most economical option. We took trains, specifically Trenitalia, to travel between different cities in Italy.

6. Validate Your Train Tickets Before Boarding the Train

The validation machines are either mounted on the walls or bars before you enter the platform. For online Trenitalia purchased tickets for intercity trains, make sure you ask at the help desk if you need to validate the paper copy of your e-ticket or not. Most of the long-distance trains have a ticket checker coming in your train car to check & validate your ticket.

7. Luggage Storage

All the major train stations in Italy have a baggage check room with a paid locker to store your luggage. You can choose to keep it for the entire day or just for a few hours. Just look out for signs that say “Deposito Bagagli” or Left Luggage signs.

8. Indulge in the Delicious Food

Being the mecca of flavorful food, don’t miss a chance to explore the local delicacies here even if it comes with a price tag. A bar in Italy servers both coffee as well as liquor. Head to a “bar” for yourCappuccinoCapuccino & Pastry/ Panini or ask the locals (bnb owners or your tour guides) for their favorite restaurants and dishes instead of just relying upon online apps.

Every city in Italy is famous for their own specialty food preparation, be it Limoncello in Amalfi coast to Sfogliatelle pastry & traditional Pizza in Naples to fresh Mozzarella cheese & Prosciutto in Rome to classic Tuscan pasta, Wine & Grappo in Florence to Squid ink pasta & Aperol Spritz in Venice or be it Gelato, Tiramisu & Panna Cotta all over Italy.. allow your stomach go on an adventure.

All my vegetarian friends, need not fret. You, too, are in good hands in Italy; vegetarian food options are plentiful here. I mean even the most famous Margherita pizza is vegetarian and more often than not you can get almost any dish made on the menu without meat in it.

9. Tipping is Not Required

Now here’s a Tip about Tipping – Unlike the US, you do not have to tip in an Italian restaurant, Italians and Europeans don’t. There is nothing to feel guilty about as waiters and servers are paid well and they don’t rely on or even expect tips as they do in the USA. Same goes for most other cities in Europe.

10. Haggle a Little Extra With Street Vendors

Don’t agree to pay the asking price when shopping around in Italy especially when engaged in street shopping. You will almost always manage to get a discount on the already inflated prices. Keep a target spending price in mind and haggle till you get there. You don’t want to over negotiate either and waste your time and energy. But definitely, don’t take any street vendor’s sale price at face value. If you do not have a target price in mind then start with an offer to pay half of their asking price and then pretend to walk away if they are not negotiating well ..  chances are you will be called back for further negotiations.

We hope these tips were helpful and will guide you to make the most out of your Italian vacation. We would love to hear from you whether it’s a question or a feedback, drop us a note below or on our facebook page.

Wondering where else to go in Italy besides the usual cities? Here is a list of off the beaten places in Italy you probably have never heard of. Now get exploring!

Ciao!