What to Expect in Italy

Language

The primary language is Italian, but because Italy is such a popular tourist destination, you'll find plenty of people who speak English, especially in the larger cities and tourist areas.

Currency

Italy uses the euro (€). Exchange rates change frequently, so check the current rate before your trip rather than relying on an old conversion. The Euro generally performs better than the dollar, so expect everything to cost a little more in Italy than it normally costs in the US. 

Credit Cards & ATMs

Most places accept credit cards, but I recommend keeping some cash on hand, especially when visiting smaller towns, local markets, or more remote areas.

You can easily withdraw cash from an ATM (called a Bancomat), which are commonly found near banks, grocery stores, and shopping areas. I would avoid exchanging currency at the airport because the rates and fees can be significantly worse.

Always immediately store cash in a secure place once you pick it up from an ATM. Best practice is to keep a little cash on you (enough to use throughout the day) and keep the rest stored securely back at your airbnb). 

One important credit card tip: when paying by card, you may be asked whether you want to pay in U.S. dollars or the local currency. Choose the local currency (euros) rather than converting to USD at the point of sale. Your card issuer will generally handle the currency conversion, and the merchant's conversion rate may be less favorable.

It's also worth having smaller bills and coins. If you're buying something small, vendors may prefer cash, and local markets are especially useful places to have it. At markets such as the leather market in Florence, cash can also come in handy when negotiating prices.

Outlets

Italy uses plug types C, F, and L and operates on 230V. If you're traveling from the U.S., you'll need a plug adapter.

Most of your standard electronics should be fine with an adapter, but check the voltage requirements before bringing something like a hair dryer. If it isn't dual voltage, you'll need a voltage converter as well.

Safety

Italy is generally a safe destination, but pickpocketing can be an issue, particularly in crowded tourist areas.

Use the same basic precautions you'd use anywhere: keep your phone and wallet secure, don't leave valuables unattended, and if you're wearing a backpack or fanny pack, consider keeping it toward the front of your body in crowded areas.

When to Visit Italy

Italy is a great year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on what kind of trip you're looking for.

Spring (April–May) and fall (September–November) generally offer pleasant weather with fewer crowds than the peak summer months.

If you're dreaming of swimming and soaking up the Italian sun, June–August is ideal for the coast, but expect bigger crowds and hot, humid weather.

Winter is generally quieter, although some seasonal activities and restaurants may have limited hours.

A Note About Ferragosto

One thing I wish I'd known before planning our trip: Italy celebrates Ferragosto on August 15, and many Italians take vacation around this time. Some businesses close or operate on reduced schedules, while popular destinations can become especially busy.

If you have flexibility, keep Ferragosto in mind when choosing your travel dates.

Weather

Spring tends to be mild and pleasant, although rainy spells are possible.

Summer is generally hot and humid, with thunderstorms often rolling in during the evenings.

Fall brings cooler temperatures, although September can still have warm weather and relatively warm seas.

Winter in northern Italy can bring plenty of snow, which could make for an incredible trip to the Dolomites if you're interested in skiing. Otherwise, southern Italy tends to offer milder winter weather.

Transportation & Getting Around Italy

Honestly, this is one of the most important things to know before visiting Italy.

Getting There

Rome and Milan have some of the largest airports in the country. For this particular itinerary, I'd recommend flying into Rome and, if possible, flying home from Milan.

If that's not an option, flying round-trip through Rome works too. If you're taking the train you'll need to plan a full day of taking it back to Rome from Venice. 

Getting Around

Italy is fairly easy to navigate, especially between major cities, but there are a few KEY things you need to know about public transportation.

If you're using a physical public transportation ticket, make sure you validate it.

Depending on the type of ticket, you may need to validate it immediately before boarding. Physical tickets are typically validated using a stamping machine near the platform or vehicle doors.

Digital tickets have their own validation requirements, so follow the instructions in the app or on the ticket. 

And yes, inspectors really do check.

I personally saw a couple on a bus get fined because their tickets weren't properly validated. It's an incredibly easy mistake to make, so take the extra few seconds to make sure your ticket is actually valid before you board.

The best app to use for trains is trenitalia. You can book your train tickets on the app or online! If you do book online, it's best to keep the app on your phone so you can validate the ticket when you get on the train directly from your phone. 

And Then There Are the Trains...

Italy's train system is pretty slick, and in my experience, trains were generally very punctual.

Also: the doors are not playing around.

Once they close, they close. If you're supposed to get off and don't make it out in time, you may have to wait until the next stop.

This actually happened to me and a friend. We were sleeping on the train while our friends got off at our stop. We woke up too late, tried to get the doors to open, and... nope. Because this was a Sunday there were no ubers or taxis to be found, so we ended up finding electric scooters to meet back up with our friends. 

Where to Stay

I personally prefer staying in an Airbnb or Vrbo because I like experiencing the housing styles of the places I visit. Just keep in mind that some rentals—especially older buildings—may not have air conditioning, which is worth considering if you're traveling in the summer.

For this trip, we stayed in Rome for a 2 days (plus 1 night before the flight home), Cinque Terre for 5 days, and Venice for one night.

We also took a couple of day trips from Cinque Terre, so I recommend choosing one or two main locations as your home base rather than constantly packing and unpacking.

Rome

If possible, stay near the center of Rome. The outskirts may be cheaper, but many of the major attractions are concentrated around the center, so I found it worth paying a little more for a convenient location.

We stayed in an Airbnb fairly close to the Colosseum and Vatican City and felt very safe in the area.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a little different because there are five main towns to choose from, and each has its own personality.

We stayed in Riomaggiore, which is (almost) the southernmost of the five villages. If you've ever searched for photos of Cinque Terre, there's a good chance you've seen Riomaggiore; it has those colorful buildings stacked into the hillside and the iconic harbor views.

We also took day trips to Florence and Pisa from here, so staying toward the southern end of Cinque Terre helped cut down on some of our train time.

Personally, I would stay in one of the five villages rather than La Spezia if the experience of waking up in Cinque Terre is part of the reason you're going. La Spezia can be a convenient transportation hub, but it doesn't have the same coastal village experience as it is a port city.

Venice

For Venice, my biggest recommendation is to stay on the island if your budget allows it.

Every corner seems to have another incredible view, and there's something so fun about walking out your door and immediately being in the middle of the city.

Our General Itinerary

Rome — 2–3 days

Cinque Terre — 4–5 days

Includes a day trip to Florence and another day trip to Pisa + Livorno

Venice — 1–2 days

Italy has way too much to see in one trip, but this itinerary gave us a great mix of history, food, beaches, smaller towns, and classic Italian destinations.

Here's the quick rundown of what we did:

Rome

Rome is packed with so much history that it can be difficult to fit everything into a few days.

My biggest tip? Go early.

Especially for major attractions like Vatican City and the Trevi Fountain, getting there early can make a huge difference.

Of course, you also need to see the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps.

One of my favorite experiences, though, was something completely different: a cooking class where we learned how to make two types of pasta and gelato. I'm a big foodie and love to cook/bake, so taking a class and meeting other travelers from around the world was a highlight for sure.

Cinque Terre

There aren't many places in the world where you can visit towns built directly into the side of a mountain. That's what makes Cinque Terre so fun.

It's also incredibly easy to explore all five villages by ferry or train.

If the weather is good, I'd recommend getting a ferry day pass and spending the day hopping between the villages. Spend some time at the beach in Monterosso, walk the hills and streets of Riomaggiore, and explore Vernazza.

And if you haven't already taken a cooking class, you can even try a pesto-making class in Vernazza. This region is known for their pesto and lemon, so if you don't take a cooking class here, make sure to try a pasta that has one of these sauces.

I didn't personally take the pesto-making class here, but I've heard good things!

Florence

Michelangelo's David. Absolute must, and in my opion, the main reason to visit Florence. 

David is located in the Accademia Gallery, and I'd recommend reserving tickets in advance. If you show up the day of it is highly unlikely that you will get in. 

Afterward, head toward the Duomo, one of the most recognizable buildings in Florence, walk across the Ponte Vecchio, and make your way to Piazzale Michelangelo for an incredible view overlooking the city.

Pisa

I'll be honest: I didn't feel like there was a ton to see in Pisa beyond the Leaning Tower.

But... it's the Leaning Tower of Pisa. So you kinda have to make it a point to see it, but don't worry about staying too long.

Afterward, we had a pretty memorable experience that had nothing to do with sightseeing. My friend Emily had some friends who invited us over for a homemade meal, and afterward we went swimming at a spot near Livorno.

Venice

Venice is one of those places where simply walking around is an activity.

There's something fun about getting slightly lost, turning a corner, and finding another canal or beautiful building.

Of course, you should also make your way to St. Mark's Square, see the Rialto Bridge, and take a gondola ride.

And if you want a much cheaper gondola-like experience, look into a traghetto, a local ferry service that uses traditional gondolas to cross the Grand Canal.

Must-Try Italian Foods

I would be completely remiss if I didn't talk about food.

One of my favorite things about Italy was how fresh and simple the food felt. And as someone who is VERY enthusiastic about pasta, I was living my best life and never felt bloated thanks to the freshness of the food. 

Here are some things you absolutely need to try:

Carbonara

Carbonara is a Roman classic, so Rome is a great place to try it.

Traditional carbonara is made with ingredients such as egg, cheese, cured pork, and black pepper. It's rich, creamy without actually using cream, and ridiculously good when it's done right.

One rule: if the restaurant has giant pictures of every dish plastered across the menu, I'd keep walking.

Pesto

Pesto is especially associated with Liguria, making Cinque Terre a great place to try it.

Put it on pasta. Put it on bread. If you can take a class to learn to make it, it's actually a lot easier than you would think. 

Lasagna

This one felt kind of random to me because I honestly thought it was a dish from the US, not Italy... but this was one of the main dishes my friend Emily recommended. 

Pizza

Obviously. Pizza originated in Naples, and both Naples and Rome are famous for their own styles of pizza.

You'll also find plenty of casual spots where you can buy pizza by the slice for a quick and inexpensive meal.

One of my favorite varieties had potatoes on it. It sounds questionable but it was actually pretty good. 

Focaccia

Not all focaccia is created equal, but when you find a really good one, it's absolutely worth it.

Focaccia is strongly associated with Liguria, so Cinque Terre is a great place to try it.

My favorite sandwich of the trip was a caprese sandwich on focaccia from Lunch Box in Monterosso. The focaccia was so flavorful and had an incredible texture. With the pesto on it and fresh mozzarella it made for a perfect afternoon lunch. 

Arancini & Supplì

Arancini are stuffed, breaded, and fried Italian rice balls, typically made with a risotto-like rice mixture and a savory filling.

Supplì are another similar fried street food, traditionally made with tomato-flavored rice and mozzarella.

Translation: fried rice + cheese.

Gelato

Gelato is obviously mandatory. I recommend getting it at least once a day, but you're really only doing Italy right if you have it at least three times a day. 

One tip you'll often hear when searching for good gelato: avoid shops where the gelato is piled dramatically high in huge, brightly colored mountains. Instead, look for gelato stored in covered metal containers and shops with a more modest selection of flavors.

The goal is quality, not a gelato mountain trying to get your attention from three blocks away.

Cannoli

A staple of Italian desserts.

There was a bakery right outside our Airbnb in Cinque Terre, so I ate an orange-flavored cannoli almost every morning. While not the healthiest decision, it did make my mornings very happy as we started each day. 

Parmigiano Reggiano

If you like parmesan in the U.S., you need to try authentic Parmigiano Reggiano in Italy.

Before you head home, I recommend grabbing a few blocks from a local supermarket to bring back with you.

Just make sure you check the current customs and airline rules before packing food in your luggage. Last I checked you should be fine! Bring me back a block too... Please.

Final Thoughts

Italy has an almost ridiculous amount to offer, and this trip only scratched the surface.

What I loved most about this itinerary was the variety: we got history in Rome, coastal villages in Cinque Terre, art and architecture in Florence, a quick stop in Pisa, and the completely unique experience of Venice.

And, obviously, the food was incredible. 

I'll be writing more detailed guides for each destination with specific things to do, places to eat, and what I learned along the way.

Until then, save this itinerary, pack your walking shoes, and eat the pasta.