We made a few rookie mistakes during our first trip to Italy, and these lessons can help you avoid them.
Pack light
Going to Rome with two huge suitcases each was excruciating. The streets are cobblestones, and those suitcase wheels didn’t roll, they rattled and jammed in between stones.
Packing light is really just a life hack for when you’re traveling. You can make it through just fine with one pair of comfortable walking shoes, two or three outfits you can layer, and a lightweight jacket for cool evenings.
You will thank yourself when you can quickly hop on and off trains or hoof it to your hotel without sweating bullets. And you’ll also have more space for shopping because you will inevitably buy that extra bottle of olive oil and homemade pasta.
Dinner isn’t at 6 PM
We spent our first evening in Florence walking around, confused and hungry because every restaurant we passed looked closed. Italians take their evenings slow.
Restaurants don’t even open for dinner until 8 PM and when they do, dinner takes hours. We learned quickly to take advantage of the Italian aperitivo, meeting up at a local bar around 6 PM for a spritz and plate of snacks.
Coffee culture is different
We ordered cappuccinos after lunch one day in Milan and got the side eye from our barista. There are rules about drinking coffee in Italy. Save the lattes and cappuccinos for breakfast, and espresso (or “un caffè”) is what you order for the rest of the day.
Pro tip: it’s also quicker and less expensive to stand at the bar and drink your espresso. By day three, we began to feel like real Italians yelling out our order for “un caffè macchiato” and savoring every last drop.
Book popular attractions in advance
Waiting in an outdoor line for two hours under the hot sun was not how we wanted to spend our morning at the Vatican Museums. Moral of the story: don’t play it by ear. Some places, like the Vatican, Colosseum, and Uffizi Gallery, are bound to be crowded.
If you buy your tickets on the day of your visit, you’re almost guaranteed to spend way too much time in line. After this bad experience, we bought skip-the-line tickets in advance, which allowed us to not waste time in line and preserved our energy to actually enjoy the attractions.
Book your skip-the-line tickets for the morning if possible. They’re usually less crowded.
Transport can be chaotic
Italy’s trains are fast and efficient, but they can be unpredictable. Our train to Naples was delayed by more than an hour, and we had to scramble to change our itinerary.
And make sure to validate your ticket! We almost got fined because we didn’t know it could be done by the little yellow machines on the platform. Once we figured it out, train travel became one of our favorite things to do in Italy. It’s scenic and a whole lot less stressful than driving.
Not all gelato is equal
In Venice, we were lured by those brightly colored gelato mountains in touristy areas. But the flavors were overly sweet and artificial. Then we discovered the hidden gems, authentic gelaterias where the gelato is stored in covered metal tins.
Pistachio and hazelnut became our favorites, which tasted so rich and natural. Look for shops where the locals go, and don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations.
Cash is king
We didn’t understand it at first. We were in Siena and tried to pay with our credit card at a small trattoria down the street. They wouldn’t take it! You can use cards anywhere in big cities or popular tourist attractions, but if you’re venturing out into small towns and markets, assume they only take cash.
Bring a pocket full of coins and change for bus tickets, tipping, or that emergency scoop of gelato. ATMs are plentiful, but it’s nice to not have to wait those few minutes for cash.
Cover up for churches
We were stopped courteously at the entrance of the Duomo in Florence. The offense? Bare shoulders. Churches like this one dot the landscape of Italy. But they all require visitors to dress modestly. That means no bare shoulders or knees.
The fix? Pack a lightweight scarf or shawl. You never know when you’ll find yourself wandering into the most beautiful church and want to go inside.
Learn basic Italian phrases
It’s the difference between being noticed or ignored. Learning how to say “Grazie” (thank you), “Per favore” (please) and “Scusi” (excuse me) changed our entire experience.
One afternoon we were struggling to communicate in broken Italian with a shopkeeper in Bologna. She went above and beyond to assist us because we were trying. You don’t have to be fluent but show interest in learning the language. It’s fun to learn and will enrich your experience.
Pace yourself
We tried to cover Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast in one trip. The third day, we were so tired we couldn’t even marvel at the natural beauty. Italy is a place to enjoy slowly, just like its food and wine.
Pick a few key spots and spend some time in each. We actually had our best moments when we slowed down, such as standing on a quiet piazza in Siena and drinking wine and watching people pass by.
