15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Travelling to Italy; Know Before You Go!

Thinking about embarking on an Italian Adventure? A land jam-packed with beautiful streets, eye-opening architecture, rich history and delicious cuisine, it is definitely worth the trip. But there’s a few things that are good to know before you touchdown for a seamless and stress-free transition into Italian culture. 

1. Be Ready to Translate

One of the first things we noticed as we left the airport was that none of the signs had any English translation on them. Of course, it is not fair to expect a country to have signs showing English as well as the local language, so we weren’t bothered by it and even found it refreshing to feel like you truly were in a land away from home. But, if you don’t know much Italian, it is a good idea to have a translator app ready on your phone. Google Translate is great for this and you can even download ‘Italian’ on the app so that it works offline. You will mostly need your translation for signs and menus, especially in smaller towns or local areas, since most tourist hot spots and attractions have plenty of English available. Speaking the language is less important but it is much appreciated by the locals if you learn a few words for basic food and beverage ordering, politeness and casual greetings. 

2. Tickets, Tours and Souvenir Scams 

With so many historical sites and interesting attractions, Italy is a major tourist hub for travelers from all over the world. Unfortunately, some people choose to take advantage of the chaos and confusion of long lines, dense crowds and distracted guests by offering false tours, tickets and souvenirs. Many of the major attractions require a ticket for entry, and therefore there is always somewhere to purchase the ticket at the site or online. But often there are pop up stands and people walking around claiming to sell tickets or opportunities to ‘jump the cue’ that leads to tourists paying for fake tickets or paying higher fees for the same product. Be wary of where you purchase tickets and remind yourself that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Guided tours are also a major part of visiting these historic sites, and can be extremely worthwhile to the quality of your trip. But again, do some research into which tours you purchase and the experiences that others have had in the past. Around major sites, many ‘guides’ walk around asking if you want to “skip the queue and join a tour” but then have you pay and disappear into the crowd. One ‘guide’ even stopped us outside the Colosseum saying “the line will take 3-4 hours but if you join my guided tour you can skip the line AND I’ll give you 50% off the entry fee for today”. The line was wrapped more than half the way around the Colosseum and looked like it could take hours, but we elected to walk away and join the line anyway. In reality, it only took 1 hour to get to the front of the line and then discovered that all entry tickets were free on that day anyway! We were relieved to know we had not fallen for his trick. (More information about when tickets are free in point 14) 

Lastly, one of the most common and also most susceptible scams, were the individuals walking around ‘just looking for a conversation’ or claiming to give out free souvenirs. They walk around crowded sites, main streets and shopping malls and strike a conversation with a kind gesture or comment like “nice shoes, where did you get them?”. Once they have your attention, they will continue to compliment you, ask questions or make you laugh, all while offering a souvenir for ‘free’ or putting a bracelet on you (no matter how much you try to stop them). The routine usually ends when they mention a sick family member, young child or pregnant wife at home, guilting you into donating a few dollars. If you say no, the kindness quickly turns to frustration, disappointment and aggression as they remove the bracelet or take back the ‘gift’ that they had previously forced on you and move on to the next person walking past with the same starter line. In Rome, we sat on a bench near the Spanish Steps and watched these individuals walking from tourist to tourist with the same routines. Once we were aware of it, we unfortunately saw it more and more often throughout the trip. Quite a disappointing and upsetting tone to some of the attractions, but one that was easily forgotten when you focus on the amazing sites that you have travelled to see. Be aware but don’t let it ruin your trip!  

3. Accommodation ‘city tax’

The ‘City Tax’, also known as the ‘accommodation tax’ or ‘tourist tax’ is an additional fee charged per person, per night at any hotels, bnb’s, rentals and other lodging establishments throughout Italy. The rate to be charged is determined by the accommodation provider based on the local city’s regulations and the quality of the accommodation (i.e. the nicer the hotel, the higher the rate). Most places average around 5 Euros per person, per night. Therefore, if you book your accommodation online in advance, it is important to know that you will still need to pay an additional fee for your stay when you arrive. 

4. Clothing requirements for sites

Italy is densely packed with grand historic and religious sites. It is easy to spend days wandering through churches, cathedrals, and castles, but if you don’t dress modestly and respectfully, you won’t even make it through the front door. Many historic sites (particularly ones with a religious origin) have strict dress codes that all visitors must obey in order to enter the grounds. Covering knees, shoulders and stomach is top priority and something that you might not think about when it’s a warm, sunny day and walking around the city in shorts seems like a wonderful idea. Regardless of the predicted weather, it is wise to bring some extra fabric (such as a scarf, shawl, jacket, long skirt etc) to cover up if you think that your outfit could be perceived as too revealing for a sacred site. 

5. Public toilets are rare or costly

If you’re out seeing the sites, it is important to use a toilet when you have access to one, otherwise you’ll find yourself searching around for a toilet, often needing to walk a fair way before you find one. There is very few available out on the streets or near the major attractions. I don’t blame them, since they can be smelly, unclean or damaged when they are readily available in other countries, but when you need to go, you need to go. If you do find a toilet, most will cost you a couple of euros on entry and some will only take coins.

Another popular option is to use the restroom in restaurants and cafes. Most venues have a bathroom for public use but will often require a purchase to be made in order to use it. Therefore, not as feasible if you’re desperate. 

This is not an issue that is likely to highly impact your trip, but I did find myself desperately searching around with no small change, frantically googling for a nearby bathroom early in our trip. In the end there were no nearby venues open so I walked a few hundred metres to a train station, used the ticket machine to break down a note for change and paid for the public bathroom. Needless to say, I didn’t make that mistake again; always carrying a few extra coins just in case. 

6. Table charge/Tipping (Coperto) 

Most restaurants and dine in services, add a mandatory charge to the bill called ‘Coperto’ that covers the service, the items on the table and of course, the bread. This is charged per person and usually varies between 1-5 euros (but the higher quality the restaurant or service, the higher the rate). This means that the bill will usually be a couple euros more than what you calculate from your meal cost. 

Conversely, tipping is not considered mandatory, and is only necessary in cases of exceptional service to show higher gratitude to the server. You may choose to tip or to round up your bill to a whole note, but it is not expected. 

7. Pickpocket Risk

Similar to the nature of scams, some people unfortunately choose to take advantage of distracted and unsuspecting tourists buy stealing purses, tickets, cash, and valuables without a trace. Crowded areas such as popular attractions, public transport, stations, and shopping centers are the most common areas for pickpocketing or theft to occur. When purchasing tickets, there is often a warning given by the machine or the teller to be aware of your surroundings and who is bumping into you to avoid having your ticket or your change taken. This is a really unfortunate aspect of the tourist culture, but a reality that is important to be aware of. 

In order to try prevent being pickpocketed we adopted the following actions, and were fortunately not affected during our trip; 

• Place money, phones and valuables (passport, tickets etc.) in internal or zipper pockets of clothing. 
• Do not use rear pants pockets for anything you are not willing to lose
• Carry a small backpack for water bottles, jackets, snacks, etc rather than a handbag
• Use carry bags with 2 straps or if only one strap, have it diagonally across the body (not just on one shoulder where it can be slipped off)
• In crowded areas (e.g. standing on buses and trains or in line), put your hands in your pockets holding any valuables if you are concerned. This also makes it harder to slide bag straps off your arms, but know that they can still cut the strap)
• Use a passport holder or travel wallet for valuables and wear it underneath a layer of clothing
• Never leave bags unattended or out of sight. 

There is no way to guarantee that you won’t get pickpocketed, but being aware of your surroundings and being conscious of how you carry your valuables is a good way to prevent it. Don’t be the easy target in a crowd with an open handbag on your shoulder or a wallet in your back pocket. 

8. Free Water Fountains

With so many sights to see, it is easy to spend an entire day wandering the streets, exploring architecture and admiring the scenery. Conveniently, there are free water fountains scattered all over the major tourist areas, perfect to fill up your water bottle and stay hydrated during your trip. The water was clean and cool, usually found on the side of a walkway or building. It is a good idea to keep a water bottle with you so that you can continue to fill it up throughout the day. We bought a disposable bottle of water at the beginning of our trip and continually refilled it. 

9. Cash vs Card

Like most of the world, Italy is becoming more accepting of card transactions, but there are still a few local businesses, cafes, and markets that only accept cash. It is a good idea to keep about 50 euros in cash for a day of travelling throughout the country, but if possible, smaller notes are best. Some venues and ticket machines will not accept 50, 100 or 200 euro notes, and as I mentioned earlier, public bathrooms, and sites that require a donation for entry will sometimes only accept coins or simply not provide change if you use large notes. Something to be aware of when you are converting your currency at the start of your trip. 

10. Breakfast Done Different

When I say breakfast, do you think of eggs, bacon, and avocado? Think again. While there are westernised restaurants and cafes that will provide your usual big brekky or scrambled eggs on toast, Italy has a slightly different idea of what the morning meal should be. Before 10am you’ll mostly only find coffee shops and bakeries open where you can get an espresso and delicious pastry for a couple of euros. Croissants, sandwiches and cakes will be the standard wake up snack to accompany your hot coffee in the morning. 

11. Luggage storage options

Travelling can be difficult with luggage and unfortunately, check in/check out times don’t necessarily line up with your trip plans. In order to not travel with large, heavy bags, (when leaving them at your accommodation is not possible) storage lockers are your best friend. Often found in main stations of public transport, such as the stations of the high-speed trains, these storage facilities are affordable, convenient and quite secure. Some storage facilities are conveniently placed lockers, while the more secure facilities involved a building with people checking in and out the bags for a small fee. (note: the more secure facilities will often need a copy of your passport so have it ready to be scanned when you drop the bags off and checked again when you pick them up. 

We visited Pisa on a day trip while travelling from Florence to La Spezia with our luggage. We left our bags in the luggage storage facility at Pisa Centrale high speed train station for 5 Euro per bag. The facility was well organised and secure, allowing us to enjoy wandering Pisa without worrying about our heavy bags. 

12. Limited Wifi Available

Unlike some countries, free wifi was fairly limited throughout the streets and businesses of Italy. Most accommodation provided wifi, but while you’re out exploring the cities, it’s worth having a data sim or international roaming so that you can stay connected on the go. 

13. Save with Multi-day Ticketing

The public transport system in Italy is fantastic. Affordable, convenient and easy to navigate. Tickets for local buses and trains can be purchased at train stations and can be bought as a one-off ticket or a reloadable pass. Most local tickets are purchased with a time limit, rather than per trip. So, if you plan on travelling around for a full day, or a couple days in a row, it is more affordable to purchase a 24 hour, 48 hour, or week pass for the area, since the value improves the longer the ticket is for. With buses and trains conveniently available to travel between many of the attractions in Rome, I would recommend at least purchasing a reloadable pass for the duration of your stay in Rome so that you can get around the city fast and cheap without excessive walking. 

The exemption of these multi-trip deals are the high-speed trains, which allocate each ticket to a specific train, time and destination and are used to travel between regions. 

14. FREE Entry for Major Attractions

On the first Sunday of every month, all Italian state attractions (more than 20 sites) offer free entry to all guests! This includes; the Colusseum, Palatine Hill and even Pompeii. Additionally, On the last Sunday of every month, the Vatican City offers free entry to all guests! 

These deals are great opportunities to see some of the major attractions, however, it is important to note that these will naturally be the busiest days for crowds. We explored Rome on the first Sunday of April and noted that there were significant crowds, but no line took longer than one hour (despite ‘tour guides’ telling us to pay them to “skip the 3 hour line” – don’t fall for their lies). We were happy to wait in line and once inside the attractions, the crowd tends to move quite freely, so we didn’t think it really impacted our trip, but rather just made it pleasantly affordable. 

15. Hat/Sunscreen is a Must-Bring

Italy is a beautiful country, filled with incredible sights at every corner. But this also means that it is easy to get carried away, walking the streets in the sunshine, waiting in lines at attractions and exploring open areas. All this time in the sun is a perfect recipe for sunburn and heatstroke, which can seriously impact your trip. Many attractions have stalls and vendors selling hats and umbrellas to tempt you while you’re waiting in line in the sun. Be one step ahead by starting your day with sunscreen, a hat and something that covers your shoulders (even if it is cloudy in the morning, because the weather can change drastically throughout the day) 

On day 2 of our trip, while exploring the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and other outdoor attractions in Rome, I exposed myself to the sun almost all day. By the time the sun went down, I was ill from heatstroke, with a churning stomach, sweats, exhaustion and a whopping headache… not to mention, all my photos for the following days had a very red face in them. Learn from my mistakes and bring a hat and sunscreen on your trip.