Italy Vacation Planning & Expert Travel Guidance
Stress-free Italy vacation planning with authentic experiences and local expertise.
Your Trusted Italy Vacation Planners
Dreaming of Italy's magic but stressed about getting the details right?
You’re not alone. For busy professionals, families, couples, and food lovers who want more than a cookie-cutter vacation, our team of expert Italy travel planners crafts journeys that transform you from tourist to local insider.
We eliminate the stress of endless research by curating authentic Italian experiences tailored to your interests, pace, and group dynamics — no two trips are ever the same.
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When Is The Best Time To Visit Italy?
The best time to visit Italy depends on what you're after, but our answer after 15+ years of planning Italy trips is pretty consistent: April through mid-June and September through mid-October. These shoulder months give you the best balance of weather, manageable crowds, and full access to everything from outdoor dining to coastal boats.
Summer (July and August) is peak season, and it shows. Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast are hot, expensive, and crowded. If your dates are locked to summer, we steer clients toward northern Italy (Lake Como, the Dolomites) or Sicily, where the heat is more bearable and the crowds thin out. One thing to know: mid-August is Ferragosto, Italy's national holiday. A lot of restaurants and shops close, especially outside major cities. We plan around it.
Winter has its own appeal if you're the right traveler for it. Fewer tourists, lower prices, and cities like Rome and Florence take on a completely different energy. The trade-off is shorter days, some seasonal closures, and cooler weather in the north. But a November trip to Sicily or Puglia? That's one of our favorite recommendations for repeat visitors.
What Should First-Time Visitors Know Before Traveling to Italy?
We share these tips with every first-time Italy client. They're the things that make the difference between a good trip and one where you're constantly stressed about logistics.
1. Book trains early. Italian rail (Trenitalia and Italo) sells out, especially in summer. Buy tickets at least 60 days in advance for city-to-city routes. Last-minute tickets cost significantly more and the good departure times disappear.
2. Make restaurant reservations before you leave home. This is the one that surprises people the most. Any restaurant you actually care about in Florence, Rome, or the Amalfi Coast needs a reservation, sometimes weeks out. Walk-in culture exists for casual spots, but not for the places you'll wish you'd booked.
3. Carry cash. Many smaller restaurants, trattorias, markets, and shops outside major cities are still cash-only. We tell clients to withdraw euros from ATMs (not currency exchange counters) and keep enough on hand for a full day of meals and small purchases.
4. Pack layers, even in summer. Mornings in Tuscany and evenings on the Amalfi Coast can be cool. A light jacket is non-negotiable for shoulder season travel, and even July nights in the Dolomites get cold.
5. Don't rent a car in cities. Driving in Rome, Florence, and Naples is not worth the stress, the parking, or the ZTL restricted traffic zones that generate automatic fines. Rent a car only for the countryside: Tuscany, Puglia, the Amalfi Coast (if you're comfortable with narrow cliff roads), and Sicily.
6. Skip the Trevi Fountain at midday. Go at 7am instead. The same applies to the Colosseum, the Vatican, and basically every major attraction in Rome and Florence. Early mornings transform the experience.
7. Build in unscheduled days. We plan at least one completely free day per week into every Italy itinerary. The best Italy moments tend to happen when you're not rushing between sights. A long lunch that turns into an afternoon, a side street you wander down, a conversation with a shop owner.
8. Greet people. A simple "buongiorno" when you walk into a shop, restaurant, or hotel makes a real difference. Italian culture values the greeting. Skipping it comes across as rude, even if you don't mean it that way.
9. Budget more for food than you think. Italy is not a cheap food destination anymore, especially in tourist areas. A solid sit-down dinner for two in Florence or Rome runs €80-120 easily. The good news: lunch is where the value is. Most restaurants offer a lighter, cheaper lunch menu.
10. Get travel insurance. Flight delays, lost luggage, and medical emergencies happen. We recommend travel insurance for every international trip, no exceptions. It's inexpensive relative to the cost of the trip itself.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Italy?
Italy rewards slowing down, so we always plan fewer things done more deeply rather than racing through a checklist. That said, these are the experiences we find ourselves recommending again and again.
1. Walk the Cinque Terre coastal trail early in the morning.
Before the day-trippers arrive from La Spezia, the five villages are a completely different place. The light on the water, the quiet, the smell of focaccia from the bakeries. Start from Riomaggiore and work north.
2. Spend a full day in the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Not a rushed 2-hour tour. A real, full day with skip-the-line reservations booked months in advance. The Raphael Rooms alone are worth the time. Most people speed through to the Sistine Chapel and miss half of what makes the Vatican extraordinary.
3. Take a boat along the Amalfi Coast from Positano to Ravello.
The coast is meant to be seen from the water. The drive is famous, but the boat perspective is what stays with you. Stop in Amalfi town for lunch, then take a car up to Ravello for the gardens and the view.
4. Explore Pompeii instead of the Colosseum.
Controversial opinion, but Pompeii is a better experience than the Colosseum for a lot of travelers. It's a complete ancient city you can walk through for hours. The Colosseum is impressive for 45 minutes. If you only have time for one Roman ruin, we'd push for Pompeii.
5. Do a food market tour in Bologna.
Bologna is genuinely Italy's best eating city. A guided walk through the Quadrilatero market district, tasting mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, fresh tortellini, and local wine is one of those experiences that changes how you think about Italian food.
6. Spend a few days on Lake Como.
The lake towns (Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio) offer a completely different pace from the major cities. It's where Italians go to decompress, and the combination of alpine scenery, lakeside dining, and villa gardens is hard to match anywhere else in the country.
7. Take a cooking class in Tuscany paired with a winery visit.
This is our most-requested add-on for Tuscany itineraries. Learn to make fresh pasta in the morning, visit a Chianti winery in the afternoon. It's hands-on, it's personal, and it's the kind of day that turns into a trip highlight.
8. Drive through Puglia's trulli country.
The Valle d'Itria (Alberobello, Ostuni, Locorotondo, Martina Franca) is the Italy that most Americans don't know exists. Whitewashed hill towns, olive groves, the best seafood on the Adriatic coast, and almost no crowds compared to Tuscany. We recommend it for repeat visitors who want something different.
Does Any Of This Sound Familiar?
You're drowning in endless Italy research but still worried you'll miss the real gems that locals treasure during your Italy vacation.
You want authentic Italian experiences beyond the viral TikTok and Instagram hotspots overrun with influencers during your trip through Italy.
You need an Italy itinerary that works perfectly for your group, whether balancing generations or different interests.
You're overwhelmed by logistics and foreign languages — restaurant reservations, transportation, timing — and terrified of wasting precious vacation time.
You want to feel like an insider discovering secret wine bars, not just another tourist with a guidebook.
Why Choose Salt & Wind Travel For Your Italy Vacation?
Deep Expertise
Our team has spent years exploring Italy's regions, building relationships, and discovering local treasures through countless personal journeys, experience we bring to every Italy vacation itinerary.
Custom-Crafted Journeys
We design each Italy trip around your group's interests, pace, and travel style, whether you're balancing generations or accommodating different energy levels.
Seamless Group Coordination
Whether you're traveling with multiple generations, different energy levels, or varying interests, we design Italy vacations that keep everyone engaged and happy throughout your journey.
Exclusive Local Access
We've cultivated trusted partnerships with family-run businesses, artisan workshops, and local guides who welcome you like extended family rather than just another tourist on vacation in Italy.
Zero-Stress Planning
We eliminate the stress and second-guessing by handling the details, from reservations to transportation, so you arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy your trip through Italy.
“Living in Florence taught me that Italy’s true magic isn’t found in guidebooks, it’s discovered through the stories shared over a perfectly prepared cacio e pepe at a neighborhood trattoria, or the pride in a vintner’s eyes as they pour their family’s Chianti Classico. These moments of authentic connection are what transform an Italy vacation from a series of sights into a collection of memories that become part of who you are.”
How to Plan a Trip to Italy
Italy rewards the people who plan well. With twenty regions, thousands of years of history, and a food culture that changes from town to town, the difference between a good trip and a life-changing one comes down to the choices you make before you go.
1. Decide When to Go
The best time to visit Italy depends on where you're headed and what you want to do.
Spring (April to mid-June) is ideal for most of the country. Crowds are manageable, temperatures are comfortable for walking, and markets overflow with artichokes, fava beans, and fresh peas. Tuscany and Umbria are green and gorgeous.
Early fall (September to mid-October) brings grape harvest season in Piedmont and Tuscany, plus warm water along the Amalfi Coast without the August crowds.
Summer works well for the Italian lakes and the Dolomites, but southern Italy and cities like Rome and Florence get punishingly hot. Avoid mid-August entirely. Ferragosto slows much of the country to a crawl, and many local restaurants and shops close for weeks at a time.
Winter is underrated for cities like Rome and for skiing in the Dolomites, but coastal towns and smaller villages go quiet.
2. Choose Your Regions (and Be Realistic)
The most common mistake we see? Trying to fit too much in. Italy is longer than most people think, and train connections between regions aren't always fast.
A good rule of thumb: plan two to three regions for a 10-day trip. That gives you enough time to settle into each place, eat without rushing, and stumble into the moments that make a trip memorable.
If this is your first time, a combination like Rome, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast covers a lot of ground. But if you've done the classics, consider Puglia, Sicily, or the Italian Riviera. The regions most travelers skip are often the ones our clients talk about for years.
3. Set Your Budget
Italy can be surprisingly affordable or eye-wateringly expensive, depending on your choices. A realistic daily budget for a well-planned trip:
Mid-Range
$300–$500
per person per day. Boutique hotels, excellent restaurants, experiences.
Luxury
$750–$1,000+
per person per day. Five-star properties, fine dining, premium experiences.
Where to invest: accommodations with views or character, standout dining experiences, and a private guide for complex sites like Pompeii or the Vatican. Where to save: internal transportation (regional trains are affordable) and casual lunches at Italy's famous bars.
One thing worth knowing: professional trip planning often pays for itself. A good planner knows which boutique hotel offers the best value, which "must-visit" restaurant is coasting on its reputation, and which experiences are worth the splurge.
4. Build Your Itinerary
This is where trips either come together or fall apart. The logistics of Italy travel, from booking trains on Trenitalia vs. Italo, to knowing which restaurants require reservations months ahead, to understanding that "15 minutes from the train station" might mean 15 minutes by car on a winding hill road, can be genuinely complex.
If you enjoy the planning process, start with your must-dos for each region and build outward. Leave buffer days. Don't schedule a museum and a cooking class and a day trip on the same day.
If the logistics feel overwhelming, that's normal. It's also exactly what we do. Our team has planned trips to every corner of Italy since 2015, and we handle everything from restaurant reservations to hotel negotiations to getting you from place to place without the stress.
5. Book Early for the Details That Matter
For peak season travel (May through October), book as early as you can:
Hotels in popular areas like the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, and central Florence (six to twelve months ahead for the best properties)
Restaurant reservations at in-demand spots (one to six months, depending on the venue)
Museum tickets for the Uffizi, Vatican Museums, and Borghese Gallery (one to three months; the Borghese requires advance reservation with no walk-ins)
Private guides and experiences, especially wine tours in Piedmont and Tuscany (two to four months)
Cooking classes with local families (four to six weeks)
Shoulder season gives you more flexibility, but the best properties and experiences still fill up.
How Our Italy Vacation Planning Works
Step 1 → Share Your Travel Dreams
Complete our inquiry form with your destination preferences, travel dates, and budget. Share any special interests or must-have experiences that will help our travel planners craft your perfect Italy vacation. This foundation ensures we understand your vision from day one.
Step 2 → Speak With An Italy Expert
We'll schedule your complimentary 30-minute Discovery Call to dive deeper into your travel dreams. Our expert planners will review your intake responses and explore what makes your ideal Italy itinerary tick. No pressure, just possibilities.
Step 3 → Receive Your Custom Proposal
Within 3 business days, you'll receive a personalized service proposal tailored to your desired support level. Whether you need full-service Italy vacation planning, strategic bookings, or expert consultation, we'll outline the perfect approach for your journey.
Italian Vacations Tailored For Travelers Like You
Your Italy dreams are uniquely yours, and that's exactly how we plan every trip.
From best friend trips that create lifelong memories to culinary travel experiences featuring private tastings with local artisans, romantic getaways designed for intimate moments, and family getaways that balance everyone's interests — we curate authentic adventures tailored specifically to your travel style.
Below are real examples of how we've brought travel visions to life across Italy.
Family Discovery: Iconic Italy
Recreate The Grand Tour
Duration: 15 Days
Destinations: Venice, Bologna, Florence, Tuscany, and Rome
This immersive Italy vacation is a modern take on the famed “Grand Tour.” It balances cultural highlights with culinary adventures, ensuring everyone from grandparents to teenagers stays engaged.
Start by visiting the stunning cafes and artisan workshops in Venice, then dive deep into classic flavors with cheese and prosciutto tours and hands-on cooking classes in Bologna.
Dive into Renaissance gems in the shadow of Florence’s duomo and clock some time in the medieval villages of Tuscany. End with Rome's legendary sites and world-class street food, blended with discovery and relaxation every day.
Savor Italy: A Food and Wine Lover’s Tour
From Truffle Hunts to Barolo Cellars
Duration: 10 Days
Key Destinations: Milan, Bra, Alba, Barolo, the Langhe, and Turin
This itinerary begins in stylish Milan before diving deep into Piedmont's rolling vineyards and rich kitchens. It’s a journey of flavor, tradition, and insider access far beyond the typical tourist trail.
Start in Milan, where evenings begin with aperitivo in sleek cocktail bars and days are filled with market tours and culinary design flair. Head south into the Langhe hills for a full immersion into Piedmont’s food heritage. Hand-roll tajarin pasta with local chefs, hunt for white truffles, and taste Barolo and Barbaresco at historic family-run estates.
End in Turin where you’ll explore grand cafes, try your hand at gianduja chocolate making, and toast the trip with a vermouth tasting. With boutique hotels, private tastings, and moments crafted for culinary connection, this itinerary is a love letter to Italy’s most refined flavors.
Romantic Italy: Sicilian Escape
From Baroque Villages to Volcanic Vines
Duration: 14 Days
Key Destinations: Palermo, Cefalu, Taormina, Mount Etna, Catania, Ortigia
Sicilian romance with off-the-beaten-path charm for couples craving connection, beauty, and a taste of authenticity. Begin in Palermo, where late-night cocktails follow days spent exploring vibrant markets, Arab-Norman architecture, and live music in tucked-away piazzas.
Continue to Cefalù for barefoot beach strolls, golden-hour hikes, and boat rides along the rugged coastline.
Spend a few nights in Taormina, with sweeping views from the ancient Greek theater and private wine tastings on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna. End on the island of Ortigia, wandering Baroque streets, savoring seafood by the sea, and discovering the island’s mythical past.
Need Help Planning Your Trip to Italy?
Planning a trip to Italy doesn't have to mean dozens of browser tabs and second-guessing every decision. Our team of Italy specialists has designed hundreds of custom itineraries since 2015.
We travel in Italy regularly, our team includes members who split time between the US and Italy, and we handle every detail so you can focus on the trip itself.
John and I had an AMAZING time on our trip to the Amalfi Coast. Everything was perfect, from the Hotel Il San Pietro to the drivers and the dinner reservations. Kristen and her team made this experience one we will never forget. The only problem is now I want to go back every year!!! We hope to use you again soon, and we will most certainly recommend Salt & Wind Travel to our family and friends!
- Nancy Z.
Not Ready To Plan A Vacation In Italy?
Download our exclusive Italy Travel Planner. It’s packed with off-the-beaten-path experiences, authentic local finds, and the secret spots our clients can't stop talking about. Perfect for dreamers who want to explore their possibilities before planning an Italy vacation. We also have an Italy Trip Cost Estimator and an Italy Itinerary Planner for those looking to plan independently.
General Italy Travel Information
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Have you started planning your dream trip to Italy, only to feel lost in a maze of endless options, conflicting advice, and the pressure to make every moment count for your family, friends, or partner? Maybe you’re worried about missing those hidden trattorias or once-in-a-lifetime experiences that never make it into guidebooks.
That’s where we come in. As your Italy travel planners, we handle every detail — from boutique hotel bookings and local guides to restaurant reservations and exclusive experiences — so you can savor a seamless, stress-free journey curated just for you.
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Planning an Italy vacation involves six steps.
First, choose your travel window — April through mid-June and September through mid-October are the sweet spots for weather and manageable crowds.
Second, pick your focus: art cities (Rome, Florence, Venice), coastal (Amalfi, Cinque Terre), wine country (Tuscany, Piedmont), or a combination.
Third, book trains and accommodations at least 60 days in advance, especially for summer travel.
Fourth, make restaurant reservations before you leave home — the places you actually want to eat at book up weeks out.
Fifth, build in slower days — Italy rewards travelers who resist the urge to hit every major site and instead linger in one neighborhood.
Sixth, hire a travel planner if your trip involves three or more destinations or a special occasion. The logistics of Italy (train schedules, villa rentals, cooking class bookings, regional ferry connections) are genuinely complex to coordinate.
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For most Italy trips, start the planning process 4 to 6 months in advance.
For peak season travel (July, August, Easter week, or Christmas/New Year), 6 to 9 months is better — the best hotels and restaurants in Florence, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast fill well before summer.
If you want a cooking class in a specific region, a private villa, or access to high-demand experiences like the Vatican Museums at opening or a Chianti vineyard tour, 4+ months gives you real options.
For shoulder season travel (April-May or September-October), 3 months is workable for most destinations except the Amalfi Coast, which books out fastest of any Italian destination.
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We focus on Italy because its deep sense of place, vibrant food culture, and strong creative scenes make it unique. Having spent over a decade as Italy vacation planners, we’ve arranged everything from proposals at the Trevi Fountain and surprise birthdays at an Italian villa, to hot air balloon rides in Tuscany at dawn and bespoke wine experiences. We work across the country in Northern Italy, Central Italy, and Southern Italy.
Our Italy travel planning services include the following regions:
Lombardy: Milan, Bergamo, Lake Como, Lake Garda, & Franciacorta
Piedmont: Asti, Alba, Barolo, Barbaresco, Bra, & Turin
Liguria: Genoa, Camogli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, & Cinque Terre
Veneto: Verona, Padua, Bassano del Grappa, & Venice
Emilia-Romagna: Bologna, Modena, & Parma
Tuscany: Florence, Siena, Lucca, Chianti, & Val D’Orcia
Umbria: Orvieto, Norcia, & Perugia
Lazio: Rome, Tivoli, Bomarzo, & Ostia
Campania: Naples, Capri, Ischia, Procida, & The Amalfi Coast
Puglia: Bari, Gallipoli, Ostuni, & Lecce
Sicily: Catania, Cefalu, Palermo, Ortigia, Agrigento, Val di Noto, & Taormina
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Here are a few of our go-to apps when we travel to Italy:
Google Maps - Use the “offline” function to navigate a map without using up your data plan.
Google Translate - Just download the languages you want to go between, and you’re all set!
FreeNow - For the most part, hotels and restaurants can order you a taxi. Otherwise, you can use this app!
Uber - Uber is the primary rideshare service in Italy and is in most major cities, but it’s more costly than taxis.
XE Currency Converter - Use this app to keep track of the exchange rate.
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When you start to plan your trip to Italy, you may be wondering how many days your Italy vacation should be. Though it depends if it’s your first trip and what you plan to do, we recommend a minimum of 10 days (not including flights). Any less and you’ll be hard-pressed to see more than one region (and you’ll likely be fighting jet lag the whole time).
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How to get around in Italy really comes down to where you want to go during your trip. The classic Italy tour is to see the major cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan; however, we think it’s best to mix in small cities and villages to get a complete view of the country.
Traveling on a train in Italy is one of the most cost-effective (and scenic) ways to get around and, thanks to the high speed trains, you can easily get between the major cities. However, if you want to go across the country or to the islands, it may be easier to hop a quick flight. You can also drive in Italy but we do not recommend doing so in major cities, in Cinque Terre, or along the Amalfi Coast.
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Italy is a country the size of California so the weather varies vastly from the wintery temperatures of the Alps to the balmy beach weather in Sicily, so the best time to travel to Italy depends on where you’re going during your Italy vacation.
In general, we’re fans of traveling to Italy during the shoulder season period, generally from March to May and September to November. If you do travel in the high season, you’ll want to book in advance when it comes to lodging and tours, especially in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Avoid traveling to any Italian cities during the month of August when many businesses shut down for summer break, and cities turn into virtual ghost towns.
For the regions where we work, these are our favorite times to travel:
Piedmont: Its location in the Northwest of Italy means that Piedmont is one of the colder regions and has a rather frigid winter climate. The high season period for Piedmont is in the summer when the weather is gorgeous through the Fall when the region’s famed truffles come into season. While we generally travel outside of the high season, we recommend you visit Piedmont in this period as it’s the best combination of weather and seasonality. Also, since Piedmont is a lesser visited region of Italy, you’ll never experience the crowds you’d have in areas like Florence and Rome.
Lombardy: The Northern Italian region of Lombardy is sandwiched between the Italian Alps and the Po River Valley, and it experiences a notoriously dense and humid fog in the colder months. Aside from that, Lombardy has relatively temperate weather. But, outside of Milan and Lake Como and Lake Garda, the region doesn’t have a rush of tourists so you can enjoy it year-round without too large crowds. All in all, our favorite time of year to be in Lombardy is in the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
Venice: Of all the regions we work in Italy, Venice has been the hardest hit by overtourism. Therefore, we highly recommend you merely take a day trip there or spend a night or two in nearby towns rather than contribute to the overtourism. There are shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in the center of Venice during the high season, so we encourage you to avoid that time of year. Instead, we recommend you visit the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
Emilia Romagna: Of all the areas where we work, Emilia Romagna is one of the less visited by travelers, so you can go pretty much any time of year. The weather is best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
Tuscany: Thanks to cruise ships and general popularity, Tuscany is one of the busiest regions in Italy. To put it in perspective, the relatively small town of Florence (fewer than 400,000 full-time residents) itself gets about 10 million visitors annually. As with Venice, we recommend you avoid traveling to Florence during popular times of year — especially Spring and Summer break. The weather is best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
Lazio: Between the capital city of Rome and the Vatican, the region of Lazio always has a lot of travelers. It has a climate similar to Portland, with four seasons, but the temperatures are never all that extreme. We feel the crowds and weather are best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
Sicily: Aside from the various cruise ships that come into Sicily, you don’t see many American tourists throughout the island. However, you can see large crowds in popular destinations (like Taormina) during the high season. The weather is nice in Sicily year round but we feel it’s best during the shoulder seasons — March to May and September to November.
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Most U.S. cell phones can operate internationally. Check with your service provider before leaving home for information about international calling and data plans, and on making and receiving international calls.
If your cell phone is unlocked and operates using a SIM card, you may want to consider purchasing a SIM card from a local cell phone company. These should be readily available at airports and convenience stores and typically come loaded with prepaid credit which can be used for domestic and international calls and data service. Rates will vary.
Most major U.S. carriers have plans that will work in Italy, but you'll want to contact your carrier to clarify the details of international coverage. Data and roaming charges may apply so plan ahead!
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U.S. citizens traveling in and out of Italy must have a valid passport that is valid 6 months beyond the last day of their trip.
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If you travel abroad frequently, you'll want to look into the CBP Trusted Traveler programs, which grant you expedited border crossing.
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It’s not required by law but we require travel insurance to attend our group tours and we recommend you have it any time you’re traveling. There are a variety of services for providing trip insurance and note that many credit cards (such as Chase Sapphire and AmEx) include travel insurance as part of a trip purchase. Check with your credit card to confirm. Aside from that, we recommend World Nomads or Allianz for travel insurance.
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From the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October, Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific time.
In Europe, the 24-hour clock is used. Times are the same as what you’re used to in the United States up until noon. From then on, just keep going: 1 PM becomes 13:00, 2 PM becomes 14:00, and so forth. To convert these times into “PM” times, simply subtract 12 and add p.m. (19:00 minus 12 is 7 PM).
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Shops and supermarkets are generally open from 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. and from 3:30 PM until 7:30 PM, Monday through Saturday.
Most banks are open 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM –4 PM, Monday through Friday. Post offices are generally open 8:30 AM–4:30 PM during the week; on weekdays, main branch post offices stay open until 6:00 PM.
All post offices close on Sundays and at noon on the last day of the month. (But you can buy stamps at just about any newsstand or tobacco vendor.)
Most museums are closed one day of the week, usually Monday or Tuesday. For specific museum hours—as well as entrance fees, free days, special events, and more—refer to the museum’s website or check at the local tourist information office.
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Always tell the driver in advance if you’re going to pay by credit card and ask for a fare estimate when you get in a cab. There are often flat rates between the airport and the city center (It’s ~ 95 Euro from Malpensa to Milan, FYI) and everything else pretty much runs on meter. By asking for an estimate, you’ll be prepared if a cab is pricier.
Note: To you use a taxi in Italy, you can have the hotel or restaurant call one for you. Otherwise, we highly recommend you download the FreeNow app, which is useful in a ton of countries, by the way. Regardless of how the taxi is booked, you will be given either the car’s license plate number or a “name” for your taxi (usually something like an Italian city + a number, say, Roma65 or Torino40). To identify your taxi, so look on the side of the taxi to ensure you’re in the right one.
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Voltages and frequencies are different in Europe (220 volts instead of 110), so, if you want to use US electrical devices, you'll need a three-prong plug power adapter when you travel to Italy.
Italy Travel Etiquette
So long as you conduct yourself as you do at home, you should be golden during your Italy vacation. Here are some specific dos and don’ts.
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Do learn a few words of Italian. Locals really appreciate the effort!
Do greet people. Say "Buongiorno" (or "Buonasera" in the evening).
Do always have I.D. on you (a photo of your passport is adequate) - it's the law in Italy.
Do be careful when crossing the street as crosswalks are often ignored by motorists.
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Don’t be a jerk. Do drugs. Start fights. Display public drunkenness. Urinate in public. Jump in fountains. Climb on monuments. Litter. You get it.
Don’t sit at a "bar" in Italy. When you go to a "bar" (whether it serves coffee or alcohol), you will usually pay 2 to 3 times as much the minute you sit. Instead, stand at the bar like the locals do and save a few Euro!
Don’t buy anything from illegal street vendors. It's illegal and, if caught, you could be hit with a fine.
Don’t eat food on the steps of churches or other monuments — this is not only looked down upon but is becoming a ticket-able offense in quite a few Italian cities.
Money Matters
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That depends on the type of trip you’re doing (budget or luxury or adventure or lounging around) and where the exchange rate currently is. However, we suggest budgeting about $6,000 for a solo traveler from the United States looking to do a week-long midlevel trip as follows: $1000 for flights, $350/day for lodging, $500 for the week for transport (more if you rent a car or get a driver), $700 for meals for the week (not accounting for fine dining, and at least $500 for activities or tours. Of course, these prices will increase or decrease depending on if you’re sharing lodging, if you need a rental car, and what sort of meals and activities you plan.
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The standard unit of currency in Italy is the euro (EUR). At the time of writing this, 0.89 EUR = 1 USD. For the most up-to-date exchange rate, visit www.xe.com (Universal Currency Converter). You'll want to bring along money and credit cards for any extra purchases on your trip (we don’t rec using traveler’s checks as they’re pretty obsolete these days). Please see the advice about ATMs and credit cards below.
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We recommend you pull out Euro at ATMs once you land in Europe as opposed to using a currency exchange service. Keep in mind your bank will charge you a fee each time you use the ATM so it’s best to pull out the max amount of money each time you use the ATM. However, you can use credit cards in most places so you shouldn’t need more than 50 Euro on you in cash at any given time.
Also, we recommend you call your bank and ask for a higher ATM daily withdrawal limit so that you can pull out more Euros as desired for larger purchases. Finally, before using an ATM, be sure to look at the logos on the ATM (ie Cirrus, Plus, etc) and make sure they match the logo on your card before using the ATM. If you use an ATM without a matching logo, it may eat your ATM card!
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Just a reminder to let your credit cards know that you will be abroad before you travel. Also, keep in mind that many places in Europe will not accept American Express so it is best to always have another type of credit card (ie Visa or Mastercard) in addition to American Express.
Keep in mind that chip credit cards (which you dip instead of swipe) are the norm in Europe so it’ll be quicker for you to pay if you use a credit card with a chip.
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If you plan to do any significant amount of shopping, you’ll want to know about the VAT (called the IVA) tax. This is a value-added tax of 22% that is added to almost anything. If you spend more than €155 on any one purchase, you can claim a refund. Keep in mind this only applies to purchases from retail outlets that have a “Tax-Free” sign. Before you make your purchase, ask the vendor for a tax-refund voucher.
FYI, in order to complete the voucher, they need your passport information. We recommend carrying a photocopy of it in your phone for this purpose rather than walking around with your passport on you.
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In general, in Italy, it is not necessary to tip but always appreciated. If a bill includes a line item listed as “servizio,” then it is already including a few Euros as a tip.
When there is “servizio” listed, we tip by simply rounding the bill up to the nearest Euro. Otherwise, we usually tip 10% (or 15% for exceptional service). When you pay a bill by credit card, they will bring over a handheld credit card reader and usually cannot add a tip to the credit card so it’s best to plan to leave tips in bills. And, despite what you may hear, it is never considered rude to tip! Here are some guidelines:
Cafes: It is most common to just round up whatever your bill is to the nearest Euro. So, if you order a €0.90 espresso, you can just leave the extra €0.10.
Hotels: As you would in the United States, it is common to tip the porter if they have helped with your luggage and the cleaning staff. We recommend €1 per bag (a max of €10) and to tip at least €2 per day of your stay (ideally more like €5 per day for luxury hotels) for the cleaning staff.
Restaurants: Note that Italian restaurant bills may include charges for coperto or pane neither both of which are common and neither of which is a service charge/tip. However, for larger groups (usually 8 or more), you’ll find a line item for servizio and this is in fact a tip. If you do not see servizio listed, it is common to leave €1 per person or to round the bill up at more casual spots. We tend to leave 5 to 10% at very high-end restaurants. However, if you have bad service, it is perfectly fine to leave no tip at all!
Taxis: Tipping is not really done for taxi drivers in Italy. However, a lot of people will round up the fare and leave that as a tip.
Cultural Travel Tips
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The Italian culture is known for its hospitality and the locals for their kindness. However, things tend to go at a slower pace than in the United States and there are often long lines and service at restaurants tends to move much slower. An open-minded traveler who is sympathetic to the changing environment of a foreign country will have the best time.
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Strikes and demonstrations are common in Italy. The good news is that they're usually announced in advance and don't tend to last longer than a few days. Transportation strikes are the most common type of strike that interrupts travelers to Italy so be on the lookout for them.
Also, the Italians are very politically vocal so you may come across a demonstration or two. They are pretty much always non-violent but they may just cause general chaos as big crowds tend to do so you’ll want to try to avoid them and give yourself extra time to head out.
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Keep in mind that people eat both lunch and dinner later in Italy (as 1 PM is the common time for lunch and 8 PM is pretty much standard dinner time). So most of the time the restaurants you go to may be quiet or feel like they have foreigners only when you arrive but they will fill up with locals by the time you leave.
If you find yourself hungry between meals, you can usually grab a slice of pizza or sandwich at a bakery or, if it’s around happy hour, sit down at a cafe and order aperitivo (Italian happy hour) where they’ll usually also give you some small snacks (say focaccia, nuts, potato chips, olives, etc).
Tbh, there are a lot of things to know before dining and eating in Italy so we have not one but two articles on Salt & Wind to help you with just that! See our Must-Know Tips For Eating In Italy as well as our tips on Italian Dining Etiquette to be in the know.
Health & Safety
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In general, no, environmental pollution is no bigger an issue than it is in the United States. The northern Italian cities of Turin and Milan are both near the Alps so the pollution tends to get trapped in those areas.
The only time of year this seems to be an issue for us is in the winter when people have their heaters running so we tend to avoid the area during that time.
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Yes, very much so, particularly in the central and southern parts of the country. Even so, we recommend that you keep your hotel or apartment keys, wallet, phone charger, and a pair of shoes near your door so that, in case of emergency, you can easily leave. Also, be sure to pack any specific medications (prescription or OTC) you may need.
General Travel Safety
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All in all, Italy is a safe country to visit. The average issues travelers run into are bag-snatchers or pickpockets so keep an eye on your valuables.
The major cities in Italy should be thought of like Boston or New York: safe so long as you stay aware and don’t seek out trouble. As you would in any big city, do your best to stay aware of your wallets, cell phones, pockets, and bags when you’re in crowded areas.
When traveling, there is always a possibility of theft. While you're enjoying the sights, remember to stay alert and always be aware of your immediate surroundings, especially in crowded locations and tourist areas. The best rule of thumb is to carry only the cash you need for the day, along with a copy of your passport on your phone (leave your hard copy passport at the hotel!), and leave the rest in a locked safe in your room. For more safety tips, refer to the Country Specific Information page on the US State Department's website at travel.state.gov.
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Yes, we highly encourage you to travel solo to Italy.
Our team is majority women and we often travel by ourselves throughout the country. Of course, we think it best for you to keep your wits about yourself and to be particularly diligent at night.
For more specific tips on traveling solo as a woman, see our article: 7 Tips To Travel Solo As A Woman (And Love It).
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That depends on where you’re going!
We generally find that driving on the highways is doable for most Americans but driving inside of cities can be overwhelming. And, we pretty much do not recommend you drive in the regions of the Amalfi Coast or in most of Sicily as the drivers are aggressive and the roads windy.
Still not sure if you should drive during your Italy vacation? Contact us and we’ll help you decide.
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Dial 112 in case of any general emergency, 115 for fires, and 118 for health emergencies.
Still Have Questions?
We’re here to provide the personalized guidance you deserve.
We know every traveler's questions are unique, especially when it comes to planning an unforgettable Italy vacation. Whether you're curious about the best time to visit, want advice on family-friendly activities, or need help narrowing down your must-see regions for your Italy trip, our team is here to help.