I recently returned from another visit to the bel paese—Italy. Although I’ve visited many times, the country never ceases to delight and enchant me. We have several friends in Italy now, too, which helps me better understand the country and in turn lets me help other travelers know what to try in Italy. I hope the following tips let you enjoy la dolce vita to the fullest.
Try to visit Italy in the spring or fall. Although one could say that Italy never really has an “off-season,” these times have nice weather and fewer travelers than the summer time. I would avoid August at all costs. Many Italians take their vacations in August, so you will find places closed, but there is a major national holiday on August 15 that will limit your ability to sight-see.
Try public transportation—Italy has a good train and bus system that will get you from one location to the next easily.
Try standing at the coffee bar. There are generally two prices at a coffee bar—the price for a seat and the one for standing. If you’re just getting a quick pastry and cappuccino for breakfast, try standing at the bar with the locales and avoid the surcharge.
Try these dining tips, like we do, for better dining experiences:
- Share courses and have several. Jon and I will order at least a pasta, a meat dish, and a vegetable for each meal and split each course. Pasta comes first and then the meat and side.
- Ask for the bill—don’t assume it will come to you. Just say, “il conto, per favore” or make the motion that you would like the check.
- Eat after 7. You will find that the better places don’t open until 7 or later. I’m generally suspicious of restaurants that are open all day or have big menus—they’re generally signs of a place that caters to tourists.
- Eat where the locals do. I listen to hear Italian being discussed by patrons. If a place caters to locals, then they are the place I want to eat at.
- Do understand additions to your bill like coperto and servizio. One or the other may be on your check. You may see coperto or pane e coperto. This is a cover charge that will be assigned to each person at your table. If it says pane e coperto, the cover charge will include bread. Occasionally, you may see servizio on the bill, which is a service charge. You shouldn’t see both charges at the same time. If there is servizio or coperto charged, it should be written down on the menu or somewhere noticeable.
- Have the house wine. The house wine is generally delicious; I’ve found many times that the house wine was sourced from a local vineyard and just as good, if not better, than bottled wine.
- Eat lots of gelato, but make sure you’re going to a place with small metal containers of gelato. Avoid the places with mounds of artificially-colored ice cream.
- Try aperitivo. Italians have this splendid tradition of a cocktail with a snack of food around 6 or so in the evening. Find a wonderful, picturesque place to enjoy a Spritz and the view while nibbling on some delectables.
Try to go on an Italian tour—Italy tours with reputable tour companies can be a good value. We like The Tour Guy and LivTours because they are unique, cool, and package everything up nicely. See our “Tours in Italy” page for recommendations and links.
Try to visit free attractions. Many Italian churches have awesome artworks and better yet they are in situ meaning that they are in the spot that they were commissioned for. You can also just enjoy traveling through the back lanes of a picturesque Italian neighborhood, visit artisan shops, enjoy street performers in a piazza, sit in a public park, or find a lookout point that gives you a stunning view of the city. These free attractions are often the best places to visit in Italy.
Try to pack light, but—for summer travel—don’t forget to pack a scarf or lightweight sweater to cover your shoulders in churches. Knees might also need to be covered, so bring at least one pair of pants or a longer skirt/dress.
Try the language, especially for etiquette, learn how to say thank you, please, good day, and goodbye. I find that knowing some basic Italian phrases is greatly appreciated.
Try a bidet. Although I have not fallen in love with the bidet, my husband has so give it a try and see if you enjoy freshening up that way.
Lastly, try to take a nap—aka riposo. You’re going to be busy, so relax after a big lunch during the time when shops and many churches are closed in the early afternoon.
There are many more tips I can think of regarding what to try in Italy, but I want this to be a blog, not a book, so I’ll leave it at the ones above. These are not rules, but just Italy travel tips so you can fit in and feel comfortable. I like to be a cultural chameleon and fit in as much as possible. I find that when I allow myself just to experience Italy—warts and all—that I have the best time I could have.
Buon viaggio!
We sell fabulous photographic prints from our travels on our Etsy shop! These are great for home decor or as a gift. If you see a photograph on our website that isn’t in our Etsy shop, let me know and I’ll likely be able to add it to Etsy.
Going on a trip? You will love our tour partners at LivTours, Tour Guy, and Viator. Check them out:
LivTours (semi-private/private tours): https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61
TourGuy (small group/private tours): https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1362329&u=4109975&m=89095&urllink=&afftrack=
Viator (small to medium size groups/private): https://www.viator.com/Italy/d57-ttd?sortType=external&pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
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