ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE
This page may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.
Like this? Share it with others!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO ITALY
ITALY: DID YOU KNOW?
BENVENUTO IN ITALIA
Welcome to Italy! Expert travel tips, guides, and itineraries, inspired from real adventures to help travelers over 50 plan their unforgettable journeys.
Languages in Italy
The official language is Italian, but the younger generation learn to speak English, French or German in school.
Italian Culture
Italian history goes way back. Its Western society is home to the Roman Empire and is steeped in the arts and architecture. Italians place high importance on the family and the extended family. Italians are predominantly Roman Catholic (90%), and there is a growing Muslim community.
Popular Activities in Italy
Outdoor activities range from hiking volcanoes; boating on Lake Como; lounging at Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, skiing in the Italian Alps; or wine tasting in multiple wine regions.
Home to endless basilicas, museums, high fashion stores, restaurants and bars, indoor activities are countless. Italy has world-class cities like Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.
Best Wine Tasting Tours in Italy
Italian Currency
Italy uses the Euro (€). Exchange rates are usually favorable for Europeans but could fluctuate in the other direction.
Tipping in Italy
Traveling in a new country is easier when you know the country’s tipping etiquette in advance as each country has its own rules. That said, country rules and norms can shift, so here is an international tipping resource for over 70 countries to use as a general guideline that I have found is constantly updated.
What’s not on there is how to tip a concierge, beauty salons or spas, travel or tour guides, etc. For these extras, it is acceptable to tip 10% at minimum. Remember, tipping is for good service only.
Additionally, you should always tip in the local currency (if tipping in cash), and do not be offended if your tip is refused as it may not be the norm. I feel it’s always better to offer a tip for good service than not, unless I know it will be considered offensive, like in Japan.
Italy Holidays
It’s a complete bummer to spend time and money on the holiday of a lifetime only to show up at a key attraction, or try to access travel or banking resources, only to find them closed due to a national or local holiday.
Therefore, a key activity to do in your early Italy vacation planning stage is to know the local and national holidays in Italy.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Travel Documents for Italy
From the U.S., you will need a valid passport with an expiration date greater than 6 months from your return date to the U.S. It is advised to always check the U.S. State Department in advance of traveling to Italy for pertinent, up-to-date Italy travel advisories and information. If you are not from the U.S., please check your government’s website.
Effective mid 2025, U.S. citizens will require a ETAIS visa waiver (the “ETAIS”) from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETAIS) for travel 90 days or less and within a 180-day period. Check online in advance for application requirements, timeline and cost.
If you are not from the U.S., check if your country is on the ETAIS list indicating whether you are required to obtain an ETAIS or a Schengen Visa.
Choose from Top Travel Document Holders
Vaccinations for Italy
There are normally no vaccinations required for Italy. The U.S. State Department provides up-to-date required vaccination information for traveling to Italy. It is advised to always check for any Italy travel restrictions and required vaccinations during your planning stage and again before you leave.
If you are not from the U.S., please check your government’s website.
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Electronics for Italy
Want to use your 110V electronics while traveling around Italy? Italy’s voltage is 230V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. If you do not already have electronics (hair dryer, clippers, curling iron, etc.) made for Italy’s voltage, you will need to bring a voltage converter to use your electronics. Below are top-rated power converters for you to compare and buy.
Choose the Converter That’s Right For You
Most smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras and similar electronics don’t require a converter (double-check your device(s) before you leave home), but you will still need a plug adapter.
Traveling to Italy, Type C, F and L adapters will fit Italy’s electronic outlets. I recommend bringing at least one of each adapter type accepted. I do not recommend using those single adapters for 100+ countries. They have been known to break and/or cause a power short.
Be prepared before you visit Italy. Bring a solid, reliable, and grounded power adapter to safely charge your electronics in Italy. Below are top-rated U.S. (Type A and B) to Italy power adapter options, from the only brand I travel with, for you to compare and buy.
Choose the Italy Adapter That’s Right for You
Type C Adapters
Type E/F Adapters
If you are going to another country in addition to your trip to Italy, check this international travel adapter guide to make sure you’re prepared.
Cyber Security While Traveling
Having a virtual private network (VPN) service and portable WiFi is always a good idea to not just stay connected, but stay connected securely in your hotel and all public spaces, like airports, train stations, and restaurants.
- Connects to Multiple Carriers: Mobile hotspot provides up to 16 hours of reliable and safe WiFi coverage worldwide via a virtual multi-carrier network for your worldly adventures or business trips
- Global Coverage: Portable WiFi hotspot for travel connects 10 devices and covers 140+ countries with a network of over 300 carriers, offering a reliable signal with high-speed data wherever you go
- Data Included: Portable hotspot includes 1GB of high-speed data per month for the life of the unit, with additional data available for users who need more
- Perfect Case for SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot
- Featured Design: Strong compact light weight case, the round square design best matching the round shape of the Solis and making it easy to in and out of the case
- Assured Protection: Semi-hard carrying case protecting the device from shock, shake, scratch. PEVA materials with pressure or hit absorbing and water resistant. The round square design make it best to...
CITY GUIDES & ITINERARIES
Use my travel guides, itineraries, travel tips, day trip ideas, and recommended things to do in these top Italian destinations, all from my travel in Italy, to plan your best Italy travel.
The more I travel in Italy, the more that gets added to this Italy Travel Guide. Keep checking back.
Rome & Vatican City Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Rome
Best Day Trips from Rome
Siena & Montalcino Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Siena
Venice Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Venice
Florence Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Florence
Milan & Lake Como Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Milan
Verona Guides and Itineraries
Best Things to Do in Verona
Italy 2 Week Itineraries
It has been many years since I was in the following Italian destinations. I hope to revisit these destinations in Italy. Until then, here are my recommended things to do in Italy (from what I’ve already enjoyed or would do when I revisit).
Cinque Terre
Best Things to Do in Cinque Terre
Pisa
Best Things to Do in Pisa
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TIPS
There are ways to reduce your eco and carbon footprint through air travel, accommodations, tours, and activities in Italy. To help avoid greenwashing businesses, here are some eco-friendly or sustainable travel (also called responsible travel) tips and resources, you can use to book your travel.
Air Travel Tips
Skyscanner provides a ‘Greener flights’ filter highlighting flights that emit less CO2.
Purchase carbon offsets through your airline or through a third party, like MyClimate.org, Carbonfund.org, or terrapass. Carbon offsetting allows you to buy a certificate to reduce carbon emissions, a major contributor to climate change, which in turn contribute community projects across countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Ground Transportation
The best eco-friendly forms of ground transportation in Italy are public transportation, walking, or renting a bicycle or electric scooter. They are also apt to cost less than other ground transportation.
Explore Italy Bike and Electric Scooter Rentals
Try to avoid renting a car in Italy by using the amazingly convenient and inexpensive buses and/or trains.
When booking a rideshare in Italy, select the Bolt Green or Uber Green options instead of a traditional rideshare, or use Carpoolworld, to support the use of electric cars and carpooling for cleaner transportation in Italy.
Bolt and Lime also have electric scooters to rent in Italy for faster and cleaner commuting. Search Bolt and Lime for select city availability.
Accommodation Tips
Look for accommodations with the following self and third-party assessed certifications when you book:
Green Globe – Green Globe certifies hotels, resorts, conference centers, transportation, attractions, tour operators, and other tourism businesses globally on sustainable operations and management. Look for Italy and other European Green Global members.
Green Key Global is an internationally recognized environmental certification for the lodging and meetings industries, including hotels and hostels, campsites and holiday parks, restaurants and attractions in 65 countries. Search for Green Key awarded sites.
Living Building Challenge – if you want to stay in a true, sustainable building, find one certified by the Living Building Challenge. LBC’s certification directory shows all project types globally. Hopefully they will put in a filter soon to allow searching by hotels or hospitality type.
LEED Certified – the USGBC’s LEED Certified label on buildings, like many of the Marriott’s hotels, are those that have verifiably employed multiple and varying green building strategies to improve human and environmental health. Search the LEED directory for Italy certifications.
Green Lodging Program – Audubon International has an environmental stewardship certification through third-party verification. Search its certified members directory.
GSTC Certified – the Global Sustainable Tourism Council provides global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, as well as international accreditation for sustainable tourism Certification Bodies. Booking sites that offer GSTC certified sustainable are bookdifferent, EcoHotels, and Transat.
Another way to find an establishments implementing eco-friendly or sustainable practices, certified or not, is through Booking.com in which you’ll need to find and review each establishment’s ‘Sustainable Initiatives’ within the booking process. Starting 2022, however, you’ll be able to filter searches for accommodations with the Travel Sustainable badge.
Find Your Travel Sustainable Stay in Italy
Eco-Friendly Things To Do
Italy has ecotourism ideas available to explore for your next vacation.
Search Green Global and Green Key awarded members for eco-friendly activity providers in Italy. Some may also have the GSTC Certified logo.
Top Eco Friendly Activities in Italy
Eco-Travel Products
There are more ways to do your part for the planet in your responsible travel, like bringing sustainable and eco-friendly products to protect Italy’s environment.
There are more ways to do your part for the planet in your responsible travel. Read my 10 Easy Eco-Travel Tips and view my suggested Eco Travel Resources to learn more.
ITALY SAFETY TIPS
Before You Go
Always consult your government’s Italy travel advisory for your Italy travel destination in the beginning travel planning phase and up to your departure date.
Buy Italy travel insurance and international medical insurance for traveling Italy alone to protect yourself and cover for emergencies.
Safety in Italy
The U.S. State Department has continually placed Italy on a Level 2 alert as “terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Italy”. However, these “terrorist” activities could simply be demonstrations. I’ve never felt unsafe traveling in Italy.
Theft or pickpocketing, which could happen in most places to be honest, is typically the normal tourist concern, which could happen in most places to be honest.
Beyond that, there is nothing I can recall from Italy making it more of a “safety concern” than traveling in my own home country, so my standard tips for solo and female travelers in Italy are:
- always carry photo ID with you; if you don’t want your passport on you at all times, at least carry a copy of it.
- always be “street wise”.
- always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you feel the need to imbibe or feel the need to “let loose” – you’re on vacation so have fun!
- never leave your food or drink unattended.
- keep your belongs on your person, or at least in your view in close proximity, at all times.
- be open to meeting and talking with new people – that is where a lot of the travel experience lies – but be careful on how you divulge personal information.
- research places in advance, if possible, so you know what to expect (i.e., “have a familiar view” – I like to Google the street view of new addresses I’m going to first).
- if something, someone or someplace makes you feel uncomfortable, go with your gut – leave.
BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS
Best Time to Visit Italy
Like other countries in Europe, Italy’s high, tourist season, and most expensive time, is the summer (June and July). Crowds are not as heavy in the spring (April and May) and Fall (September to October), and prices in these months are better than the summer season.
The least expensive time to go to Italy would be November to March. Keep in mind, however, if you are going to a ski or winter sport area – prices could be high and you may want to book in advance.
If you want good weather and prices, try booking well in advance for Spring or Autumn, or you can try in August when most Italians take vacation and crowds tend to drop.
Budget Accommodations
Staying in hostels could save you a lot of money on accommodations in Italy, especially if you stay in a dorm-style room. Save more money by booking well in advance.
Many Italy hostels also offer private rooms, which I choose from time to time. Private rooms in hostels could possibly be cheaper than hotels in Italy – it depends on where you stay and how far in advance you reserve.
Don’t overlook exploring hostels in Italy if you’re on a budget.
Reserve Your Italy Hostel
Best Time to Book Travel
Ready to book your Italy travel? The sooner you book your reservations, the more you’re likely to save money and get the best flight, accommodation, and rental car choices and deals.
Don’t miss out and find the best Italy flight deals. The best time to book travel is now. Bundling flight, hotel and/or transportation reservations may even save you more money on your trip to Italy.
Do You Know What Italy Flights and Hotels Cost?
