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Plan the perfect trip to Italy | Italy Holiday Guide
Traveling is one of the pleasures of life and traveling to this country in particular, Mama Mia! Will let you breathless. Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. With thousand years of history, incredible cuisine with delicious dishes to taste, amazing places to enjoy Italian architecture, the most famous paintings and sculptures, the religious country inside of Italy, and so much more. Keep reading and do not miss any of these tips to have the best travel to this country.
How to get there
If you are traveling to Italy on your next vacation, probably you want to visit one of the main cities before going to smaller cities. Luckily for you, the best and most popular airports in Italy are located in Rome, Milan, Bergamo, and Venice. The airports mentioned below are excellent when you fly from abroad:
First, we want to mention the international airport in Rome: Leonardo da Vinci, this airport is also known simply as Rome Fiumicino Airport. This is the most popular airport in the country, serving more than 43 million passengers in a year. Apart from being the most popular, it is also accessible. There are different ways to get to Rome’s city: by bus, train or taxi.
The next recommendation is an airport that serves a wide range of destinations. It is the Milan Malpensa International Airport located in Milan, which is the largest airport in this metropolitan area. The third busiest airport is the Orio al Serio International Airport, in Bergamo. It is recognized for working with low-cost airlines.
Finally, if you are traveling to Venice, then you will want to travel to Venice Marco Polo Airport. It serves more than 11 million people each year, and is accessible by taxi, bus and even by boat.
Visa Information
Since Italy is a member of the Schengen Area, some requirements are important to be familiar with before planning the trip to this country. Citizens from some countries around the world are allowed to enter Italy without a visa. They just need a passport, valid for at least 3 months after you finish your trip. However, those citizens from countries that are not on that list, need to obtain an Italian visa in an Italian Embassy or consulate. We recommend you to do some research about if your country of origin is included on the list of those that do not need an Italian Schengen Visa.
Best time to visit the country
When you plan to make a new trip, it is common to ask yourself what will be the best time of the year to travel to that country. In the case of Italy, if you have the freedom to choose a season, we recommend traveling during spring and fall. During spring (from March to May) you will find a slightly warmer climate as winter is left behind. The temperatures during this season are around 18°C. For sure, spring is a great season to assist in the events related to the Easter week in Rome. On the other hand, between September and November (the fall season), the temperatures are around 20°C but they cool down gradually. This time of the year is perfect to explore cities and visit some fairs and markets.
Safety
With low crime-related rates, Italy is a safe country to travel to. However, whenever we travel to a new destination we must take into account some measures to keep ourselves safe. Let’s see some tips that you should keep in mind when traveling around Italy. First, be careful about where you go. Like in any other country, there are places that are better to avoid, so it is good to remain in public places and to be accompanied. Talking about public places, it is always important to keep your belongings near you, so do not leave your things unattended. When traveling remember to be cautious, and of course enjoy the trip!
Budget
Do you know how much your trip to Italy will cost? According to data collected by travelers from all over the world that traveled to Italy, you could spend on average around €124 ($142) per day. This is including accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment, without fancy expenses. Let’s see in more detail the prices of these expenses in the following list:
With the average of €124 ($142):
- Hotel or Hostel: €64 ($73)
- Food: €33 ($38)
- Local transportation (taxis, buses, subway): €19 ($22)
- Entertainment (shows, movie tickets): €18 ($21)
Let’s break down some more specific food and drinks prices:
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €4-8 ($4.63-9.25) – A bowl of pasta at Barnum Café in Rome
- Mid-range restaurant: €26 ($30.07) – A three-course meal
- Soft Drink: €2.01 ($2.32) – 0.33-liter bottle
- Beer: €4.50 ($4.68) – 0.5 liter draught
Regardless of whether your budget is high or low, you will surely have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful country.
Currency
The official currency of Italy is the Euro and it is the only one accepted in the country. The most common payment method in Italy is the credit card and VISA and MasterCard are widely accepted. When you travel to a foreign country is always important to be sure your card will work in that country (in this case, Italy). So we recommend telling your bank first that you will be using your card abroad. If you need to get cash, the best way to do it is by using an ATM, which are all around the cities. It will discount an amount of money with each withdrawn so it is important to check the rates beforehand.
Interesting facts about the culture
Italy is a country located in the Mediterranean Sea known for its characteristic boot shape and delicious cuisine. The official language is Italian, which derives from Latin, and some phrases that could help you to communicate there are Buon Giorno (good morning), ciao (hello), Grazie (thank you), Parla Inglese? (Do you speak English?) and Piacere di Conoscerti (nice to meet you).
As we said before, one of the things that represent better this country is the food. Who does not like pizza, pasta, and lasagna with mozzarella cheese? The pizza is original from Italy, invented in Napoli more than 150 years ago. The same happens with pasta and the different sauces with which it is usually accompanied.
The most popular sport in Italy is football. The national team has won the FIFA world cup in four opportunities, and just like in almost all the countries of Europe, they have fans that follow the events very closely.
Italians are very friendly and enjoy a lot of good humor; they like to dress elegantly because the country is a center of European fashion. We are sure that while you travel around the country, you will be impressed to learn more about Italian culture.
What to do in Italy
Italy is a historical country, which has been an influence all around the world due to its culture, cars, food, and it is one of the quintessential art centers worldwide. So, the list of things you can do here is huge! Rome, the capital, is famous for its world’s wonder, the iconic and legendary big building called the Colosseum. You can visit Pope Francisco in Vatican City; see the museums or the historical buildings.
Places to visit in Rome
- The Colosseum, in Piazza del Colosseo: Legendary amphitheater in the center of Rome.
- St. Peter’s Basilica, in Piazza San Pietro: The biggest basilica in the Catholic religion.
- Fontana di Trevi, in Piazza di Trevi: Great monumental fountain of the baroque.
- Vatican museums, in Vatican City: Public paintings and sculptures all around the Vatican.
- Sistine Chapel, in Vatican City: Famous chapel in the Apostolic Palace, ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
One of the cities in Italy that you cannot forget to see is Venice, an island complex located in the north of the country, in contact with the Adriatic Sea. This city has no roads, it has water canals instead. Enjoy the beautiful views than this city offers, and drive above the water in a gondola to have a unique adventure.
Places to visit in Venice
- St. Mark’s Basilica, in Piazza San Marco: The most popular Catholic church in the city.
- Piazza San Marco: Emblematic square and meeting point dating from the 12th century.
- Doge’s Palace, in Piazza San Marco: Ornate palaces, symbols of the glory and power of Venice.
- Rialto Bridge, in Sestiere San Polo: Beautiful 16th century roofed stone bridge across the Grand Canal with shops and restaurants.
Milan, fashion and design capital, a metropolis in the Lombardy region. Milan is a city with beautiful buildings, art rooms, museums, theaters and an excellent place to buy very good quality clothes. One of the important events in this city is the Milan Fashion Week, celebrated twice a year.
Places to visit in Milan
- Milan Cathedral, in Piazza del Duomo: A wonderful cathedral church dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in Piazza del Duomo: Shopping center, covered with glass that offers exclusive clothing and restaurants.
- La Scala, in Via Filodrammatici: A popular Opera house.
- Santa Maria Delle Grazie, in Piazza St. Maria Della Grazie: Church and convent, the refectory of the convent is decorated with the famous mural painting “The Last Supper” painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
How to get around in Italy
One of the most important things when planning a trip is to think about how we will move around the cities because at the end that is the purpose of the trip, to walk the streets and get to know everything we can about that city that we are visiting. The most popular way to get around Italy is by train, due to all the destinations you can get to thanks to the great systems that the country has. Depending on where you are going, you could consider renting a car, however, it is going to be expensive and the parking rules may be confusing for foreigners. Due to the length of the coast that this country has, you can also consider moving by boat.
How to stay connected in Italy
The main mobile networks in Italy are TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), Vodafone, and Wind. Any of these three options will allow you to stay connected during your trip to Italy. TIM, for example, offers different packages that cost from €4.90 ($5.67) to €9,99 ($11.55) and provides you with enough data to navigate and use your favorite apps. With Vodafone, you can get unlimited services (data, minutes, and SMS) from €24.99 ($28.90), and finally, if you choose Wind, you can get 50 GB of data and 300 min to call abroad from Italy, for €9.99 ($11.55). These are the best local providers; however, you can also choose an international SIM card provider. In this case, we want to recommend you SimOptions that has seven different prepaid cards to use in Italy and stay connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I rent a car?
The best and most popular way to get around is by train, but if you travel by yourself, you should know that renting a car is not cheap.
Which airports can I fly to?
The best airports are the Leonardo da Vinci, the Milan Malpensa International Airport, the Orio al Serio International Airport, and the Venice Marco Polo Airport.
What are the most popular types of hotels?
The most popular and common are hotels or hostels, B&B, and vacation rentals.
How much does a holiday cost?
On a day, you can spend around €124 ($142), without including luxury entertainment or food.
What are the best things to do?
We recommend you to visit the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
