I finally got to check Italy off of my travel bucket list, and it did not disappoint! Keep reading for some tips and tricks for a vacation in Italy!
My husband and I took a 2-week vacation in Italy in September-October of this year! We visited Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento, and Rome. Yes, seven cities in basically thirteen days! We rode planes, trains, and automobiles (including buses, a car, and taxis)….even a boat or two! The best way to describe this trip is whirlwind: equal parts awe-inspiring and exhausting!
So now, let’s get into all the advice I have for you and your upcoming trip! (Don’t forget to save this post for later!)
1. Let’s talk about ice.
This and A/C were the two things that popped up the most as I did research before our trip to Italy. As someone who has traveled to other countries, I know that ice is not as common in other places as it is here in the U.S. But, I was expecting to be served room temperature drinks and be absolutely miserable based on how much it was mentioned. Y’all, it’s not that bad…at all! First, the drinks they serve you are cold, even if they aren’t served on ice. And second, you can ask for ice! So, the “lack of ice” didn’t bother me one bit.
2. Pack good shoes. And by good, I mean comfortable.
If I had to pick my top tip or trick for a vacation in Italy, it would be this one! During this trip, we walked SO much! Most of the places are cities and you pretty much have to walk everywhere. One thing I learned when we went to NYC last year was that the cuteness of your shoes doesn’t matter when you are walking 10-20,000 steps per day. For this trip, I brought three pairs of shoes: New Balance tennis shoes, Reef sandals, and nicer sandals (that I never wore), and my feet were MUCH happier!
3. Plan ahead.
There are a lot of tourists in Italy, and that means there are a lot of lines. You should definitely do some research before going to Italy…figure out what attractions you want to see, go ahead and book tickets, make reservations at any restaurants that you HAVE to eat at (especially if they are popular). Tickets that you absolutely have to book in advance, both to avoid waiting in crazy long lines and to ensure entrance are: Roman Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill (Rome), Sistine Chapel/St. Peter’s Basilica/Vatican City (Rome), the statue of David (Florence), truffle hunting (Tuscany), and a vineyard tour/tasting (location up to you).
This may be common knowledge, but also book hotels, Airbnbs, and travel from city to city (usually train) before your vacation in Italy!
4. Be prepared to carry your luggage…a lot.
This is another thing that I was aware of coming into this trip, but I didn’t realize exactly what it would be like. We traveled to seven different cities, which means seven different hotels and multiple forms of transportation between each one. If you can’t check in yet or if you have time to explore before you board the next train, you have to carry your luggage around. The sidewalks are cracked, narrow, often cobblestone, and crowded. Some of these cities have stairs galore (I’m looking at you, Venice!), but all of the train/bus stations usually have stairs in some variety. My poor husband willingly took the brunt of our luggage, and I am so grateful for that! All this to say, make sure you bring well-made luggage with good wheels, and try to pack light!
5. American bathrooms do not equal European bathrooms.
I’ve been in some questionable bathrooms in my time abroad, but I had higher expectations for Europe. Why, just why, do so many of the toilets not have seats?!??? (And if you don’t have a seat, at least make the toilet a better height for me to squat over! Is this T.M.I.? Sorry, not sorry!!!) And don’t get me started on the weird bidets that I could not bring myself to use, ever! Honestly, I’m still not sure how they actually worked.
6. There is A/C, but it’s not always great.
I think that is pretty self-explanatory! Some places had A/C (in fact, it’s something we looked for when choosing places to stay), but it doesn’t always work as well as in the states. We were also fortunate that it was cool enough at some places to leave the windows open at night.
7. Just pay extra sometimes.
In most of the cities we stayed in, we were a reasonable distance from the main part of the city…meaning we could easily catch a bus or walk into the city and explore. But, there were two times when this was not the case, and it really made things complicated.
The first was Venice. Did you know that there is the city of Venice, but then there is the Venice on the water that everyone thinks about??? Well, I didn’t! Our Airbnb was in the city part of Venice because it is a lot cheaper, and it was a loooong bus ride from the part on the water. We had several pretty awful things happen on two of those bus rides, and needless to say, we will pay extra next time to stay in one of the hotels on the canal.
The second was Rome. Another thing I didn’t realize is just how big Rome is! And unfortunately, the train only takes you so far. For our second Airbnb in Rome, we had quite a walk from the train station to the place we stayed…which is not fun in the dark or the rain, especially with your luggage. The place was cute and the host was an absolute delight, but it was waaaaay too far away from where we were exploring each day. So, all that to say, do thorough research about location of things and be willing to pay extra when necessary to prevent a ton of crazy and complicated travel time.
8. Bring an extra bag in your luggage for souvenirs.
Another pretty self-explanatory one, but I will say this was super helpful for us at the end of our trip!
9. McDonalds may become your best friend.
I know this may sound so cliché, but yes we went to McDonalds a few times while we were in Italy. There aren’t many fast-food-type options in Italy, so if you need a cheap and easy place to use the bathroom or escape a torrential downpour, go to McDonalds! You do have to buy something, but a drink or an espresso is super cheap!
10. You don’t have to eat your pizza with a fork and knife. And you can order coffee with milk after lunch.
When researching Italy, you find all sorts of dos and don’ts of the culture, and I get it! I want to know those things! But, also, if you want to pick up your slice of pizza or order a cappuccino in the afternoon, just do it!
11. The only place I recommend driving is Tuscany.
Y’all, roads in Italy are CRAZY!!! They are narrow, lanes are basically suggestions, motos weave in and out, and there’s people everywhere. Unless you have some sort of death wish, only drive in Tuscany! We rented a car in Florence using the company Sixt, and then drove in Tuscany for the two days we stayed there. (In fact, if you go to Tuscany, you almost have to drive, because public transportation doesn’t really exist and taxis are super expensive to take you to and from there.)
12. Laundromats are a great option and help with packing less…
Laundromats will wash, dry, and sometimes fold your clothes for you, and this is a God-send! We chose to pack less clothes, with the plan to do laundry while we were on our vacation in Italy. We actually booked a few Airbnbs with a washer, but in the end we took our clothes to a laundromat instead.
13. …also, packing cubes!
Packing cubes are something I used while on the World Race, but I haven’t really used them since. (These are the same brand that I have.) But, they came in clutch on this trip! I don’t have the compression cubes, but even the regular ones are so helpful. They do help to compact your clothes a little, but they also keep them organized. This was great since we were re-packing our suitcases almost every day.
(Here is another set that looks similar to mine and has good reviews.)
14. Lemon soda is my new favorite drink.
Why is this not a thing in the states??? It’s so good! Thankfully, you can get it on Amazon! Try it…I promise you won’t regret it!
15. The water is hard water, which is NOT a curly girl’s friend.
This one isn’t applicable to everyone, but just know that Italy has very hard water! I would recommend bringing some sort of hard water treatment for your hair if you are a curly girl!
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Now, it’s your turn to share! What advice do you have for someone who is planning a trip to Italy? Share in the comments below or reach out on social media!
