A cream color stone structure, with columns and carvings, of the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.

April 10, 2026

21 Practical Tips for Visiting Italy for the First Time.

If you’re planning your first visit to Italy, I’m honestly so excited for you – you’re in for an amazing trip! Italy is one of those places that completely lives up to the hype.

But as magical as it is, it can also feel a little overwhelming to plan, and you may be in for a few surprises when you get there.

That’s exactly why I want to share my best tips for visiting Italy for the first time.

A little planning ahead and knowing a few cultural quirks can make your experience so much better – and you can avoid some common (and potentially costly!) mistakes that I made.

Between reserving attraction tickets, understanding local restaurant customs, and figuring out transportation, there’s a lot to think about.

Let me give you some practical, real-life tips to help you plan smarter and avoid common surprises, so you can set your expectations, relax, and just enjoy your trip to Italy!

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In this article:

1. Plan a realistic itinerary

Don’t try to see everything in one trip. You’ll feel rushed, stressed and won’t enjoy your trip.

Instead, choose a few major cities or regions, based on your interest and travel time and give yourself ample time to explore.

We spent 2 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence, and 3 days in Venice – it was just enough time to see the highlights and take a few amazing day trips.

2. Travel off-season if you can

Both time I visited Italy was in the summer, and even though the trips were quite a few years apart, the crowds were the same.

So if you’re not bound by school vacations and schedules (like we were) try to avoid July and August – it’s VERY CROWDED and very HOT!

A crowd of people next to the edge of the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy. — *Late afternoon summer crowds at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.*

May and September are ideal with great weather and fewer crowds.

But – if those are the only months you can visit – no worries, just come prepared for people and heat and you will still have a great time. We certainly did!

3. Choose your transportation wisely

If you are planning to visit mostly cities vs rural areas, do not rent a car!

Train travel in Italy is easy, and most city centers have limited traffic zones called ZTL (zono traffico limitato) where you can’t drive at all. So the car will be more of a hindrance than a convenience.

You may be wondering – how do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Always reach out to your hotel; many of them offer airport pickup, often priced very reasonably.

For our recent trip, we flew into Rome and stayed at Hotel Le Petit, and they arranged for a driver to pick us up.

If that’s not available, try Welcome Pickups. We used them a couple of times in Portugal and were very happy with the service.

And lastly, the metro/train stations are located right near the airport and you can use public transportation to get to your accommodation.

If you’re visiting the Italian countryside, like the beautiful Tuscany, you will most likely need a rental car.

➡️ Need a rental car? Explore Expedia Car Rentals or Discover Cars for great deals!

Helpful hint: always check with your rental company if you need the International Driving Permit.

4. Choose your hotel in a convenient location

If you’re going to move around the country using trains, I recommend you stay near the train station – within walking distance is best.

Why? Because you’ll only have a short distance to walk with your luggage and you won’t have to rely on any mode of transportation to catch the train to your next destination. And most of the train stations are located either near the city center and major sights or near a metro station that will take you there.

A picture of the Colosseum in Rome. — *The Colosseum – a must for most visitors to Rome – is easy to get to on foot and by metro.*

Also – not staying in the heart of the historic area can save you some money!

Most of the time you’ll be doing a lot of walking, so just be prepared and enjoy both the major sights and all the charming side streets you’ll wander into.

Helpful hint: wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking on some cobblestones and hilly streets!

5. Book train tickets in advance

For high-speed trains between major cities (Frecciarossa), the popular routes can sell out, so you should book as soon as you know your itinerary and travel dates.

The routes typically open for online booking about 90 days in advance.

Make sure you either print or save your tickets on your phone. In some stations, we had to scan them to enter the platform and on most trains, they were checked by the conductor.

A picture of a train carriage with a red stripe and the word Frecciarossa written on it in white letters. — *A high-speed train in Italy.*

I booked most of my inter-city train tickets on Italia Rail or Trenitalia but you can also use Omio – they often offer discounts and free 1-2 day eSIMs with the ticket purchase, plus your tickets are stored in their app for easy access.

Helpful tip: on most routes we ended up upgrading to 1^st class as the price difference was not that significant and we felt it was worth it. But in most cases, you can (and sometimes have to) also reserve seats in 2^nd class as well.

Important: check the names of the train stations carefully – most cities have more than one station, so make sure you’re checking the correct connections!

Regional train tickets (like from Florence to Pisa) do not sell out and you can get them online (which I recommend for convenience and ease of changing the day and time of travel) on Trenitalia website. There are no assigned seats, and those trains can get crowded.

6. Validate your metro ticket

If you purchase your metro (or train) ticket at the station, especially a 24-hour metro pass you have to validate it before the first use.

There are usually scanners right at the platform and your ticket will be valid from that first scan.

You may get a hefty fine if you get caught with a ticket that wasn’t validated.

7. Book attraction tickets well in advance

And I mean WELL in advance!

You can save a lot of money by booking on the official websites for popular tourist attractions like the Colosseum, the Vatican City, or the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

A picture of a round stone tower called the Leaning Tower and other decorated buildings in Pisa Italy — *The Leaning Tower of Pisa.*

Those sites may also offer discounts for youth or students, while the tour resellers like Get Your Guide or Viator rarely have that distinction, offering tickets for kids and adults only.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love those two companies and book my tours with them, but in the case of the above attraction tickets there is a significan cost difference.

But – if you’re late like me, trying to book Vatican and Colosseum tickets just over a month before our trip – you may be faced with the choice: pay Get Your Guide (which we did!) or not see those places at all (???!) as the official sites had no tickets left.

So plan to buy tickets at least 2-3 months in advance if you want to take advantage of the potential money-saving discounts from the official websites.

8. Show up on time if you have a timed ticket

There isn’t much leeway when it comes to admission to attractions requiring a timed ticket.

In most cases, you will have to line up in an area marked with your visit time, and if you’re not there on time, you may not be allowed to enter. That’s especially true in the busiest summer months.

three people sitting in front a pine shaped sculpture with stairs on both sides in the Vatican City, Italy. — The *Vatican Museums are an example of places that require a timed ticket.*

9. Carry your passport or another form of ID

We’ve been asked to show our IDs at many attractions in Italy. They want you to prove that you are, in fact, the owner of your ticket or why you are entitled to a discounted ticket (like for a child or a student.

Make sure the students have their school IDs with them and if you’re not carrying your passport, your ID must show your name, photograph, and age.

10. Dress properly for churches and some galleries

You will be expected to have your knees and arm covered inside churches. Some art galleries also ask for more modest attire.

A busy plaza in Italy with a sign asking tourists to wear appropriate clothing. — *We saw this sign at St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) in Venice*

We tried many different ways to follow those rules in the middle of our hot August visit.

Finally, after our morning at the Vatican wearing long pants (we were SO HOT!), we settled on my husband and son wearing knee-length shorts and T-shirts, and my daughter and I carried light cardigans. We also invested in two scarves bought from a street vendor to tie around our waist and cover our legs as needed when entering places with a dress code.

Highly recommend as it’s much better than spending your sightseeing days being hot! We just carried the scarves and cardigans with us at all times.

11. Be careful about pickpockets!

Sadly, it’s a common occurrence in Italy. You’ll even see the pickpocket warning signs, especially in more popular, crowded places.

A white sign with green and red figures warning people about pickpockets. — *One of many warning signs we saw during our trip – this one on the vaporetto (water taxi) we used to visit Venice Lagoon Islands.*

Always carry your documents and money close to you, wear your bags/backpacks in the front and if possible invest in some anti-theft items.

We have Zero Grid neck wallets and I also have this Baggallini crossbody bag.

If you’d rather have something bigger, this crossbody anti-theft backpack works well, too.

You just have to be careful and aware of your surroundings.

12. Some museums are closed on Mondays

Many museums are closed on Mondays (like the Uffizi Gallery and Acadamia in Florence), some are closed on Sundays (mostly churches and the Vatican Museums) or have limited hours (like the Duomo in Florence), and some attractions remain open all week (like the Colosseum in Rome).

A cluster of historic buildingg including a dome and a clock tower in Florence, Italy. — *Piazza del Duomo in Florence.*

Always check the opening hours of the places you want to visit, especially if your visit falls on a Monday.

13. Expect tighter spaces

If you’re coming from the US you’ll find everything in Europe smaller than you’re used to and that goes for hotel rooms too.

The rooms and bathrooms will be smaller, the beds typically single for each guest.

An entry door to a historic hotel in Rome, Italy with a sign saying "Hotel Petit" — *Entrance to our historic hotel in Rome.*

Also, some hotels (especially the older, historic buildings) have really small elevators (like our hotel in Rome), often fitting just one person and luggage, or no elevator at all (like our hotel in Florence or the apartment in Venice)!

14. Bring some cash

You’ll need cash to pay the city tax – you will typically be asked for it in cash at the time you check in.

Cash will also come in handy for small purchases from street vendors or at small stores where there is a minimum purchase requirement for a credit card. And some public restrooms!

Italy’s currency is the Euro (€)

15. Bring a plug adapter

Italy runs on 220-volt electricity.

While most modern-day electronics, like phones, tablets, laptops etc., are set up for worldwide voltage, you will need a plug adapter to be able to charge them.

I use this plug adapter for my electronics and this one to plug in other small appliances like a travel hairdryer or a flat iron.

Make sure all your other small appliances are dual-voltage compatible!

16. Don’t plan on too much laundry

If you rent an apartment, you may find that it has a washer but no dryer.

Instead, you may be provided with a collapsible drying rack or – like in our apartment in Venice – with a basket of clothespins and instructions on how to use the drying lines right outside our window!

A picture of a page with instructions on how to use a clothes drying line in an apartment in Italy.

A courtyard with clothes drying lines and tiled rooftops in Italy.

17. Stay connected

It’s important to have cell phone connection for your trip. You’ll need it for sightseeing, directions, communicating with your accommodations and of course sharing those amazing photos from your trip!

Most hotels and even some museums, restaurants, trains and even tour buses offer free Wi-Fi connection, but I like to have it everywhere I go.

You can look into purchasing an international data plan from your cell phone provider but before you buy, compare prices of eSIM packages.

The most popular ones are Airalo, Saily and Sim Local – the last option also offering 24/7 human customer service and a 5% discount with my promo code PLANPACK.

An ad displaying a cell phone and text advertising a Sim Local eSIM.

Helpful hint: I personally don’t think you need to add the calling option to your plan as you can use Wi-Fi supported apps like WhatsApp to make calls.

18. You will be charged for water in restaurants

You won’t automatically be served a glass of water when you sit at your restaurant table. You have to order water and specify if you want it still or sparkling.

A narrow cobblestone street with restaurants and outdoor tables in Italy.

19. Ask for the bill at the restaurant

Or just go to the register and pay when you’re ready. In Italian restaurants, you can take as long as you need for your meal, and the wait staff will not be checking in with you, so you don’t feel rushed.

Helpful hint: tipping is appreciated but not required. You can just round up the bill or add 10% if you felt the service was excellent.

20. Drinks are just cool, not ice cold

Soo… just in the spirit of setting expectations here – no matter how hot the day was, we were not able to find a cold drink anywhere! And I mean a REALLY cold drink – not at a restaurant, not in a store fridge. Drinks were cool, chilled but not COLD.

And it’s true not just for Italy, we found this to be true in other European countries.

We still love to travel there 😊

21. Coffee in Italy is small and strong

That goes with my earlier point of things in Europe being generally smaller but for me – the coffee fanatic – the cups are really small… The taste, though – delicious!

This wraps up my list of Italy travel tips.

As you can see, Italy runs on its own rhythm – slower meals, more walking, and lots of little customs that aren’t obvious until you’re there.

And now that you know about them, you won’t be caught off guard so you can just enjoy your adventure!

➡️ Check Italy Travel Guides and Italy itineraries for some inspiration for your trip!

✈️ First trip to Europe? No problem! Just follow this guide: How to Plan a Trip to Europe: My Favorite Travel Resources Revealed to plan your Italian adventure!

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!