The Best Tours

in Italy

The Best Tours in Italy

Tourism in Italy

Italy may not take up much space geographically on the globe, but it consistently ranks
among the top vacation destinations on the planet. When last I checked a couple years
ago, there were just under 40 million people spending some of their hard-earned vacation
money (not to mention time) in Italy. And while you might suspect that all of those 40
million people are in the country at the same time you are, as you fight the crowds at the
biggest attractions in Italy, in reality theres a steady stream of visitors all year long and
throughout the country.

Because of this constant influx of tourists, tourism in Italy is one of the countrys biggest
income sources. But because its Italy were talking about, things dont always work the way
youd like them to You might think, for instance, that the official Italian tourism website
would be a wealth of information and staffed by attentive and responsive people eager
to answer your every question. But youd be wrong. Yes, theres some good information
there, but if you manage to get a reply from anyone in the tourism department youre
doing better than I am.

So, toward that end, Im going to put some links here to articles Ive written that assist you
in planning the perfect Italian vacation. I could write about Italy travel for the rest of my
life (and probably will), so this list isnt comprehensive, but I think its a good place to start.
If you have a question that isnt answered by one of the articles on this list, please send

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me a message and let me know its possible

Ive already covered the topic but forgot to link
it up here, and its also possible your question
will make a great topic for a new article!

Getting Travel Deals to Italy

Italy is definitely an expensive place to visit, so

smart travelers will look for ways to save money
on their trips to Italy some of which are things
youll do in-country, and some of which are
things youll do before you even leave home.
Here are some tips to getting a good deal on an
Italy trip.
Travel Tips for Italian Cities

There is some information on this site thats applicable to the entire country, but Ive
also written city-specific articles for many of Italys top destinations. From each of the
destination articles linked below, youll be able to find many more articles about that
destination either on the menu on the right-hand side or linked from within the article.

Rome Travel Guide

Venice Travel Guide
Florence Travel Guide
Pisa Travel Guide
Milan Travel Guide
Naples Travel Guide

What to Do in Italy

You may not think you need help figuring out what to do in Italy, but its so easy to get
overwhelmed by the vast number of options that it pays to do at least a little bit of
strategizing before your trip. You may not want to do the same things I want to do, and
thats fine its great, in fact Im all for tailoring a trip to your personal taste.

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Getting Around in Italy

Most of the time I recommend traveling through

Italy by train, but there are all manner of
transportation options for the country and
good reasons for choosing one over the other, or
combining a few of them during one trip.

Eating in Italy

The food in Italy is such a big reason why many

people make the trip in the first place that I
wouldnt be surprised to find out that eating out in
Italy is responsible for a huge part of that tourist income the country enjoys. Im a big fan
of eating in Italy, which is why I end up writing about it so often!

>> If youre looking for more, click over to my Italy travel tips page and also this basic
Italy information and again, if you dont find the answer to your question from these
links or by using the search box at the top of the page, let me know!

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Travel Guide to Italy

When youre on the road, nothing beats
a travel guide book

Yes, even we admit that a web site can only

do so much. When youre traveling in Italy, we
recommend you carry one of the following
travel guide books with you for reference.

Prioritize Your Must-See List

The first thing to realize is that even with

a years time, you would likely not see all
there is to see in Italy. The country is chock-
full of historical sights, world-famous art,
ancient ruins, fantastic wine-making regions,
incredible food, fast cars and some of the
most animated and inviting people you will ever meet. Your first assignment when you
have decided upon a trip to Italy is to prioritize what do you want to see most?

What can you put off until your next trip? Limiting your to-do list when traveling is always
a good idea, and that is especially true in Italy if you try to rush yourself in Italy you will
end up disappointed and not having really seen much at all, even if you have checked off
lots of things on your list. Take your time and you are likely to enjoy your Italy tour that
much more.

Airfare to Italy

When you plan a trip to Italy, your first barrier will be getting there. If you are already
in Europe, you will be able to find inexpensive airfare or even hop on a train if you are
close enough. If you are not lucky enough to be on the continent already, however,
airfare to Italy can be a hurdle. If you have more time than money, one option you can

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investigate is flying into a different European city

London, Paris or Amsterdam, for instance and
then booking a separate ticket on one of Europes
budget airlines to get to Italy. This will take more
logistical attention on your part, because the
tickets would be two separate round-trips which
you would need to coordinate, but the savings can
be substantial and therefore worth it. This option
also allows you to look at other airports in Italy
than the big entry points of Rome, Milan or Venice
so if you are doing a tour of Tuscany or heading
to Sicily you can fly into an airport closer to your
ultimate destination.

Where to Stay in Italy

Choosing your accommodation for your trip is probably next on your to-do list, and youll
be pleased to know youve got lots of choices. From the simplest hostels to the most
luxurious five-star hotels, the entire spectrum is covered. But in addition to the usual
accommodation options, Italy also has some unique ones as well including the populara
griturismo (like a B&B on a working farm) and the many villas in Italy which have opened
their doors to travelers. There are options in all price levels, all over the country all you
need to decide is how much you want to spend on
where you sleep. Just remember that even though
things like agriturismo or renting a house in Italy
might sound expensive, they dont have to be.
Dont exclude those listings without seeing what
their prices are!

Getting Around Italy

You may have heard that Italy is a bit like organized

chaos and there is a certain amount of truth to
that. The old saying is that Mussolini might have

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been a bad guy, but at least he made the trains

run on time. Well, the fact is that the trains did
not run on time during Mussolinis reign, and
they run on time more often than not today. So,
rumors of chaos aside, traveling in Italy is not as
challenging as you might have heard.
Getting around Italy is easy with the countrys
extensive rail network. Cities and towns which
are not served by trains are served by buses, so
you will be able to get anywhere you want to go
without renting your own car. Of course, relying
on public transportation means you are at the
mercy of someone else, so pack extra patience
in your suitcase things are generally quite
efficient in Italy with both train and bus service,
but there are notorious strikes which happen
seemingly without warning (at least as far as tourists are concerned), so be prepared to
make alternate transportation plans.

Renting a car is always an option, although driving in Italys biggest cities is often more
of a headache than it is worth. If you would like to try your hand at driving on Italys
autostrada, your best bet is to use public transportation to visit the big cities and then, if
your travel plans include destinations off the beaten path (Tuscan or Umbrian hill towns,
and agriturismo in southern Italy) rent a car for just that portion of your vacation.

Italy Vacation Packages

Opting for a package vacation in Italy can be a good way to hit the highlights and get
a taste of the country so that when you return the next time you can know what you
want to do more of and what you want to avoid. The types of tours will obviously vary,
but it would be advisable to steer clear of the kind which ferry people around in a sort
of bubble, shielding them from the experience by housing them in big chain hotels in
Italy which serve big American-style breakfasts. Italy is best experienced at street level,
and Italys food is famous it is not to be missed. Your best bet is to look for a tour

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which emphasizes staying in smaller hotels or agriturismi and eating in cozy family-run
restaurants which specialize in local dishes. Your experience will be richer for it.

Have a Great Trip

In most of Italy, the pace of life is a bit slower than you might be used to. Go with it. Get
into the rhythm of this exceptional country. You will be very glad you did.

Italy Travel Deals

Check out the Italy deals listed on this page when youre
planning your trip save money on your vacation with
the Italy travel deals here, updated regularly!

Airfare to Italy from North America is notoriously

expensive (more so than flying into other European
countries, for reasons that escape logic and reason)
but there are often deals to be found. The links below
are all for travel deals to Italy youll find deals on flights
to Italy, hotel rooms, and even sometimes vacation
packages and Mediterranean cruises with Italian ports
of call.

This list is for all Italy destinations, with a few deals highlighted, so to narrow down your
search to exactly where youll be traveling consult the following pages as well:

Rome Travel Deals

Venice Travel Deals
Florence Travel Deals
Milan Travel Deals
Naples Travel Deals

And be sure to check back regularly, as these Italy travel deals are constantly being updated

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Weather in Italy
Italy Weather Throughout the Year

Italy in Winter Italy in Spring Italy in Summer Italy in Fall

Italy in December Italy in March Italy in June Italy in September

Italy in January Italy in April Italy in July Italy in October

Italy in February Italy in May Italy in August Italy in November

>> And for more helpful trip-planning advice, dont miss my Italy first-time visitor guide!

Italy is not a huge country, but the weather from the top to the toe of this boot will vary
pretty dramatically throughout the year. Plus, with the long coastlines and mountain
ranges, the temperature can change in a matter of minutes as you go from town to town.

Here is some information about the average temperature in Italy for a few cities, with
charts listing high and low average temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius as
well as the average number of wet days in each city below.

Since it doesnt make sense for me to list every single city in Italy here, Ive chosen to post
the seasonal averages for Milan (in northern Italy), Rome (in central Italy), and Palermo (in
Sicily) as examples. For the most up-to-the-minute forecast of whats happening weather-
wise in Italy, both in these cities and in any others youre planning to visit, I like the Italian
meteo.it weather site. It is in Italian, but its pretty easy to figure out.

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Italy is not a huge country, but the weather from the top to the toe of this boot will vary
pretty dramatically throughout the year. Plus, with the
long coastlines and mountain ranges, the temperature
can change in a matter of minutes as you go from
town to town. Here is some information about the
average temperature in Italy for a few cities, with
charts listing high and low average temperatures in
both Fahrenheit and Celsius as well as the average
number of wet days in each city below.

Since it doesnt make sense for me to list every single

city in Italy here, Ive chosen to post the seasonal
averages for Milan (in northern Italy), Rome (in central
Italy), and Palermo (in Sicily) as examples. For the most up-to-the-minute forecast of whats
happening weather-wise in Italy, both in these cities and in any others youre planning to
visit, I like the Italian meteo.it weather site. It is in Italian, but its pretty easy to figure out.

Milan Northern Italy

Month High (F) Low (F) High (C) Low (C) Wet Days
January 44 25 7 -4 8
February 47 27 8 -3 9
March 56 34 13 1 8
April 62 40 17 4 6
May 70 49 21 9 5
June 77 55 25 13 4
July 83 60 28 16 1
August 82 60 28 16 2
September 75 54 24 12 5
October 64 44 18 7 8
November 52 33 11 1 11
December 45 26 7 -3 10

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Rome Central Italy

Month High (F) Low (F) High (C) Low (C) Wet Days
January 55 39 13 4 6
February 56 40 13 4 7
March 59 43 15 6 7
April 63 47 17 8 8
May 71 54 22 12 8
June 77 61 25 16 9
July 83 66 28 19 6
August 83 67 28 19 7
September 79 62 26 17 5
October 71 56 22 13 8
November 62 46 17 8 10
December 57 42 14 6 7

Palermo Southern Italy

Month High (F) Low (F) High (C) Low (C) Wet Days
January 59 51 15 11 12
February 59 51 15 11 8
March 61 52 16 11 8
April 64 55 18 13 6
May 70 61 21 16 3
June 77 68 25 20 2
July 83 74 28 23 0
August 84 75 29 24 2
September 80 72 27 22 4
October 74 66 23 19 8
November 66 58 19 14 8
December 61 54 16 12 10

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Regions of Italy

Youve probably heard over and over again how Italy is a country of regions, perhaps more
so than many other countries youll visit. As a unified country, Italy is younger than the
United States the unification of the city-states and independent kingdoms only occurred
in 1861 and even today it sometimes seems like its a country held together by sheer
force of will rather than any sense of Italian national identity.

Its not surprising, then, that when many tourists visit Italy they think of the country in
region-sized pieces. Sure, most have specific cities in mind, but if you get beyond the city-
to-city itineraries you often find people planning trips in terms of regions. People come
to visit Tuscany, or Umbria, or Calabria were
more familiar with regional names in Italy than
we are in many other countries.

While we may know the names, however, we

may not know much about these regions.

There are 20 regions in Italy, plus two city-states

that remain independent to this day. Italys
regions are listed below (under the map), each
with a link to more detailed information to help
you plan your trip. If you have trouble finding
what youre looking for, please let me know.

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The Regions of Italy

Abruzzo
Aosta Valley
Basilicata
Calabria
Campania
Emilia-Romagna
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Lazio
Le Marche
Liguria
Lombardy
Molise
Piedmont
Puglia
Sardinia
Sicily
Trentino-Alto Adige
Tuscany
Umbria
Veneto

Independent City-States in Italy

San Marino
Vatican City

Cities in Italy
When people think of visiting Italy, the first question is usually, what cities will I visit?
There are so many worth stopping in, and many of them could eat up weeks of time, so
prioritizing your must-see list is imperative. Here are just a few of the cities and regions
most people visit in Italy, and why they are so popular.

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>> Also, dont miss this list of all 20 Italian regions theres a full page on each one, with
details about what to see and do there.

Rome

Italys capital and the one-time capital of an ancient and enormous empire, Rome is easily
one of the countrys most popular tourist destinations. It is a massive city, has the countrys
busiest airport (and is therefore where most airline tickets to Italy from overseas will get
you) and you will marvel at Roman ruins built right into or standing alongside modern
buildings this is really the charm of Rome. It is historically extraordinarily important and
interesting, but modern-day Romans have not let that stop them from continuing to live
in their city.
In Rome, the city itself could be considered a living museum but there are also actual
museums in the city, too, which house some of the most famous art on earth. The Roman
ruins of the Forum and Colosseum are probably the most obvious and most visited of
ancient Rome, but there are tidbits of history everywhere you look in The Eternal City.

Many of Italys great masters lived and worked in Rome at one time or another, so the
city is also dotted with their work. From fountains to church facades to statues, there is
history all around you.
Rome is also the city that completely surrounds the city-state of the Holy See, or Vatican
City. Even for non-Catholics, a visit to the Vatican can be something akin to a holy experience
the sheer volume of stunning art in the Vatican Museum is breathtaking, and St. Peters
Basilica is really something you have to see to believe.

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Depending on how focused you are on art or history, Rome is worth at least three days
one of which should be spent touring the Vatican. If you have more time to afford to
Rome, you will not be disappointed.

Florence

Florence is often called the birthplace of the Renaissance, and when you think of the
art and scholarship which was produced here you can understand why. The city is still
brimming with art, and some people say they have spent more than a week straight in
Florence and still felt like they had not seen it all.

The famous Michelangelo David is in Florence actually, David appears twice in the city.
The original now lives in the Accademia and a copy is in the place where the original once
stood. The Uffizi Gallery contains a room full of giant Botticelli masterpieces. The Bargello
has Donatellos David. And the list goes on. Outside museums, there are the remnants
of the time when the Medici family ruled Florence from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti
Palace and the bridge over the Ponte Vecchio in between.

But Florence is about more than art. It is famous for its leather market (this is the place to
buy a new purse or belt, ladies and gentlemen) and its food. Vegetarians will run frightened
from the size of the typical steak here, and Florentines will tell you theirs is the best gelato
in Italy. Who are we to argue?

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Venice

Depending on who you talk to, Venice is either a captivating and maze-like wonderland
where getting lost is the best thing you can do, or it is a smelly and crowded tourist trap
with bad (not to mention expensive) food. As with most things, there is a bit of truth to
both sides of the coin. The floating city of Venice is certainly going to attract hordes of
tourists, especially in the summer, and space is limited so obviously there will be crowds.
The food is not the best you will have in Italy, but there are ways to avoid the worst of it.
As for the odor, there are those who say during the summers the canals are always a little
on the smelly side and those who swear they have never smelled a thing during July and
August visits. All Venice asks is this come with an open mind.

There are sights to see in Venice, of course the Byzantine masterpiece St. Marks
Basilica, Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man, a great collection of modern art in the Peggy
Guggenheim Museum but the real sight in Venice is the city itself. It would behoove you
to get thoroughly lost as often as possible (you can always find your way home again
by asking for directions to St. Marks Square), getting away from the crowds which tend
to congregate in a few areas and seeing what is left of Venices population. You may find
yourself stumbling upon a gondola workshop, vegetable market (on a boat, naturally) or a
friendly game of bocce. Whatever you do, just do not assume that you know Venice until
you have tried it on for size.

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Milan

To those looking for an idyllic Italian experience, Milan is going to feel all wrong. It is Italys
financial capital, and it is about as far away from those medieval Tuscan towns you read
about as you can get. Still, for all its modernity and focus on fashion, Milan is home to a
few things which are well worth seeing if you are in the neighborhood. (And since Milan
is often the airport which most people use to get to Italy, it is easy to take a day on either
end of your trip and see a few things.)

Opera lovers will want to try to get tickets to a

performance at La Scala, Milans famous opera
house. Failing that, a tour of the building will do
nicely. The Milan Duomo is known as the wedding
cake for its multi-layered ornamentation on
its facade, and the view from the roof is pretty
cool. And if you plan enough in advance to get a
reservation, Milan is where you will need to go in
order to see Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper.

Of course, if you are into fashion, the window

shopping in Milan is second-to-none so even if
you cannot afford to buy anything, it never costs a thing to look.

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Pisa

Believe it or not, theres more to this city than a crooked tower. No, really. It does seem
to be most popular to visit Pisa as a break in a longer train ride from one city to another,
and its good to know that you can easily have a leisurely visit to the citys famous leaning
tower of Pisa in a couple hours or less. And, should you decide to stay longer, youll find
that once the day-trippers leave that even a city of this size can seem downright peaceful,
especially as compared with the nonstop noise and activity in Rome.

Naples

Think of Naples as the real Italy, or as real as most tourists are likely to get. It is more
than a little rough around the edges, and may be a shock to the system, but its gritty
charm can be addictive. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, so the food here is excellent,

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and it is also a great jumping-off point for visits to Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast. It is likely
to be less expensive than the more touristy cities in Italy, but it also has a reputation for
more than its share of pickpockets and petty crime. An alert traveler should be fine, but
be on your guard just in case.

Cinque Terre

The five villages which make up the Cinque Terre are intensely popular, so these tiny
towns are often stuffed to the gills in the summer. Still, there is no place quite like them,
and with a little advance planning a visit can be just fine. The hike between the five villages
is one of the big draws, as are the beaches along that part of the Ligurian Coast, but do
not miss the other reasons to visit. The Cinque Terre is famous for its dessert wine, called
sciacchetr, and its anchovies. If you like, you can have anchovies in just about anything
including spaghetti sauce and they are often whole. These are not the tiny salty fish you
are used to, so give them a try.

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Tuscany

Even before Frances Mayes wrote her best-seller, Tuscany was a hugely popular tourist
destination in Italy, and it only grows more so every year. The big destinations of Florence,
Pisa and Siena might get all the press, but there are plenty more glorious hill towns
throughout Tuscany. It is a good thing, too, because if everyone tried to squeeze into just
a few cities they would burst at the seams.

Some of the more popular towns to visit in Tuscany are Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San
Gimignano, Livorno, Volterra and Cortona. But the list does not end there. In Tuscany
you can see the famous Carrara marble fields (where Michelangelos David began his
life), acres upon acres of vineyards which produce the one and only Chianti wine and
more Etruscan history than you can shake a stick at. In short, if you are looking for the
quintessential Italian experience, the one everyone you have talked to oohs and aahs
about, Tuscany is where you will find it.

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Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi might be just a short stretch of Italys coastline, but it attracts visitors by the
boatloads. It is easy to see why the rich and famous love it here, and sometimes can be
hard to understand how anyone else could afford to love it. But if you can afford it or learn
the tricks to visiting without spending your life savings, the Amalfi Coast is everything
that Mediterranean living is supposed to be crystal water, gorgeous beaches, equally
gorgeous people, and life in full-color. Positano in particular is one of the more popular
cities to visit along this coastline.

The Lakes

Italys lakes region in the north can be crowded and expensive, and chances are good you
might run into more Germans than Italians, but the area is still home to some of the most
beautiful scenery Italy has to offer and that is saying something. The lakes can be a nice
day-trip from Milan, or a spot to relax for a few days if you have the kind of cash required
for a proper visit.

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Sorrento

Though not technically part of the Amalfi Coast, the city of Sorrento is a popular base
from which to explore both the famous coastline and the nearby city of Naples. In fact,
as it lies between these two destinations and is well-connected by both rail and bus, one
could argue it offers the best of both worlds. You wont get as remote as you can if you get
further along the coast, and you wont get the gritty reality of Naples here, but Sorrento
remains an incredibly popular spot for vacationers.

Verona

The setting for Shakespeares famous Romeo & Juliet, Verona offers many more sights
and activities than those related to the ill-fated couple (and, in fact, the Romeo & Juliet
attractions in the city are, to my mind anyway, skippable). The impressive Roman arena is
a must-see sight year-round, and especially so during the summer when the citys opera
performances take place inside. Verona is a beautiful and walkable city with a scattering

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of interesting churches to visit, and along the way there are several lovely piazzas that
almost beg you to stop and have a coffee.

Bologna

Bologna is a major draw for foodies, and since its a major rail and highway hub the chances
are good youd pass close by even if youre headed somewhere else so why not stop
for awhile and eat some of the best food youll eat anywhere on the planet? In addition
to its famous food traditions, Bologna is also home to the worlds oldest university, and
car-makers Ferrari and Lamborghini have their factories nearby. In other words, there are
plenty of reasons to find Bologna appealing well beyond your taste buds.

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Transportation in Italy
Getting around Italy is generally easy and efficient, thanks to the countrys excellent rail
network. But even though much of Italy is served by train, there are certainly plenty of
towns which dont have a train station. Your transportation options are listed below, with
links to more detailed information about each.

>> Need more help planning your trip to Italy? My first-time visitors guide may be just
what youre looking for. It includes tips for the Italy newbie as well as handy information
for the veteran Italophile.

Getting Around Italy by Train

Most of the country is served very well by the

railway, and if your Italy trip will be keeping you
in the bigger cities on the regular tourist path
you will have no trouble getting from place to
place using the trains. In fact, if your itinerary
keeps you on the tourist path its advised that
you stick with the train network and dont even
consider renting a car.

Train travel in Italy is an efficient way to get

around, and the only hiccup will be if youre
lucky enough to visit during a train strike. If
this happens, know that youre not alone and
youll probably have some great stories to tell
when you get home.

Getting Around Italy by Plane

For most people, an Italy trip begins with a flight to Italy. Most people choose from

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between two main cities in the country for their arrival, but there are other options. In
addition to the major international airports in the country, there are many more airports
in Italy to choose from and if your flight route from home includes a stopover in Europe
before you even arrive in Italy, you may be able to switch to a budget carrier at that point
to save money.

Italy may not be a huge country by some standards, but depending on your particular
Italy itinerary it might be both faster and cheaper to fly between certain cities rather than
take ground transportation.

Further Reading:
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Italy
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Rome
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Milan
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Venice
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Naples
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Tuscany
How to Find Cheap Airfare to Sicily
Budget Airlines that Fly to Italy
List of Major Airports in Italy

Some of the routes in Italy for which flying might be your best option are:

Getting from Italy to Sardinia

Getting from Italy to Sicily

Getting Around Italy By Bus

Even if your route through Italy is concentrated in the bigger cities, for some routes its
more efficient and cost-effective to take a bus than a train. As long as your trip is all within
one region, bus travel in Italy can be the best way to get around in many cases.
Many smaller towns that dont have train stations will have bus stops, so youll be able
to get a little further off the beaten path if you go by bus than if you rely solely on trains.
Remember that theres no national bus network in the country, however, so if your route

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crosses a regional border its better to look to another mode of transportation besides the
bus. The exception to this is if youre taking a Eurolines or Busabout trip through Europe.

Further Reading:
Italy Bus Travel Guide

Routes for which the bus is the best option include:

Getting from Florence to Siena and back

Getting Around the Amalfi Coast

Getting Around Italy By Car

If youre planning to get really off the beaten path, or if you dont have a set itinerary, or
if youre traveling as part of a small group, renting a car in Italy might be a good option.

You can also rent a car for a portion of your trip, say for a day or two to drive through
Tuscany, and then use the train for the rest. This is a particularly good option for those
who arent excited about the hassles involved with driving primarily city driving and
parking.

Driving in Italian cities can be extremely frustrating, and finding parking in historic town
centers even more so. In other words, while renting a car for certain parts of your trip
or for trips through less-traveled parts of Italy can be a great idea, renting a car to drive
through Rome or Florence is not.

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Further Reading:
Guide to Driving in Italy
Car Rental in Italy

Nearly any route you might travel in Italy can be

done with a car, so you can consult any of the
city-to-city articles linked on the getting around
Italy page to find out how a driving trip stacks up
to other transportation methods for each route.

Getting Around Italy By Boat

With as much coastline as Italy has, its not

surprising that taking boats to get from place
to place is something to consider when youre
planning your trip. In some cases, its the only
ground transportation option youll have and
in other cases, its just a lovely excuse to add
another type of transport to your itinerary.

Ferry trips in Italy vary greatly from short commuter-style trips to long overnight journeys,
and the boats themselves vary quite a bit, too. For instance, not all ferries are equipped
to take cars, so if youre driving around Italy be sure you know whether youll be able to
drive onto the ferry before you show up at the dock.

Some of the routes for which you might consider a ferry trip include:

Getting to/from Major Airports in Italy

Once youve arrived in Italy, your first order of business is getting from the airport to
wherever youre starting your trip. Here are some articles about getting to and from the
main international airports in Italy, including all your transportation options.

How to get from Fiumicino Airport in Rome into Rome

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How to get from Malpensa Airport to Milan

How to get from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Venice

Getting Around Specific Cities in Italy

Sometimes the best option for getting

around within a city is your own two feet
but when a city is big enough, it makes sense
to get to know the public transit system
within the city so you dont wear yourself
out too quickly. Heres more information
about the public transportation within a
few specific cities in Italy:

Venice Transportation 101

Rome Transportation 101
How to Use the Milan Metro

Getting to/from Italy from Outside the Country

Here are some articles that may help you if youre planning to visit Italy in addition to
other countries in Europe during one trip:

Getting from Paris to Rome (and vice versa)

Getting from Greece to Italy (and vice versa)
Getting from Italy to Croatia (and vice versa)
Getting from Amsterdam to Milan (and vice versa)
Getting from Rome to Barcelona (and vice versa)
Getting from Lyon to Milan (and vice versa)

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Italian Food

Others may dispute this, but I happen to think Italy is the food capital of the world. Italians,
I think, would back me up on this. And really, whether or not you agree doesnt change
the fact that millions of people visit Italy every year to satisfy a hunger for more than just
Renaissance art.

While non-Italians tend to think of Italian food as one homogeneous menu, that couldnt
be further from the truth. Italy is intensely regional, and a dish considered one citys
signature will be unheard of 100km (or less) down the road. This is one of the many
reasons why ordering a good restaurants daily special is a great way to sample whats
truly local.

But well get to that.

Italian food is a subject Im passionate about, so Ive

written quite a bit about it on WhyGo Italy. In an effort
to help you avoid getting lost among the food articles
(there are worse ways to go, Ill admit), Ive tried to
organize this page into a sort of table of contents (no
pun intended) of the Italian food subject on the site.
Ill continue to update it as I write more articles on the
subject, and keep an eye on the menu to the right for

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links to the best articles about food in Italy.

Italian Food is Simple

Perhaps the thing that makes Italian food so

appealing the world over, both to those who eat it
and those who make it, is the focus on high-quality,
seasonal, regional ingredients and the simplicity
of the recipes.

Youll sometimes hear that every great Italian dish

has only three ingredients, and while thats often
not true, you wont find complicated dishes in
most of the countrys family restaurants. Instead
of complex combinations of ingredients or fussy
processes, Italians choose instead to use the best
fresh ingredients they can find meaning whats in
season and available locally and then not screw them up by adding a bunch of extras.

This means that no matter what kind of restaurant youre eating in, as long as its not one
set up just for tourists youre likely to eat well.

Italian Food is Regional

As mentioned above, Italian food is very regional.

There are special dishes that are unique to one
town or a small collection of nearby towns that you
cant find anywhere else. And because each of Italys
regions has specialties which will only be found
there, its impossible to really list all of the things to
look for in each region here. And such an exercise
would be pointless, anyway, because someone else
has already done it.

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The book I never leave home without when Im going to Italy is The Hungry Traveler: Italy
by Pat Mozersky. This pocket-sized guide is jam-packed with all the information a foodie
in Italy needs, even if you dont speak a word of Italian. Theres an alphabetical menu
guide, tips for shopping in Italian markets, and a section listing specialties by region and
season. Its been invaluable to me, and I highly recommend it to every traveler I talk to.

Update: Mozerskys book is now out of print, so if you happen upon a copy in a used
bookstore somewhere you should snap it up immediately. There isnt a great alternative
out there, but the Marling Menu Master: Italy at least covers the menu decoder portion
of Mozerskys book.

Italian Food is Not What You Think

Because there are Italian restaurants all over the world, many foreign visitors in Italy
think they know what Italian cuisine is as soon as they arrive. They walk into restaurants
expecting peperoni pizza to be pizza with spicy cured sausage slices on it (and wondering
why its missing one p on the menu). They think spaghetti always comes with meatballs.
And they cant believe no restaurant menu they look at has the famous fettucine Alfredo
on it.

If you dont know whats wrong with the three examples I just listed, then you need to keep
reading. (For a quick lesson, those three misconceptions are explained at the bottom of
this page.)

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As youve already learned from what youve read so far, Italian food isnt one big menu
available throughout the country. But whats more, its likely to be quite unlike the Italian
food youve gotten used to eating back home. The Olive Garden is absolutely not Italian
food. Its Italian-American at best. If you like the Olive Garden, thats fine but you cant
expect Italian food in Italy to be like the Olive Garden, or youll be sorely disappointed and
potentially upset the Italians who are cooking for you.

Italians take their food very seriously. As a guest in their country, its only polite to do the
same.

Italian Food Terminology

Luckily, many of the words youll see on

menus in Italy will be familiar to you. I used
to tell my Italian language classes that you
can be pretty sure you wont starve in Italy,
even if youre afraid to talk to anyone but
the waiter. But here are a few articles that
may help you sound like you know what
youre talking about when it comes to food
in Italy:

Menu Tips for Italy This brief article will

help guide you through an Italian menu,
but scroll back up the page a bit to find
the book I recommend every traveler bring
with them (it includes an outstanding menu
guide)
Italian Pasta Names There are more than
350 different kinds of pasta in Italy; this article lists a selection of popular varieties
Italian Coffee 101 Order like a pro from this list of coffee drinks in Italy (and some non-
coffee options at the bar, too)
Italian Gelato Flavors I always say you should have gelato every day in Italy; this article
will help you diversify your flavor choices

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Tipping in Italy Whether or not to tip is a question travelers always forget to look up
the answer to until theyre staring at a bill; this article has what you need to know about
whether to tip in Italy (and heres a bonus article on what that service charge listed on
menus actually covers)

How to Eat Well in Italy

I realize not everyone who visits Italy considers

eating a pastime. You may not want to spend
your precious vacation time sitting in a cafe for
a two-hour lunch, and you cringe at the idea
of spending more than 50 on a nice meal
for two. For me, great meals are some of my
favorite souvenirs, even though they dont
leave me with anything to pack in a suitcase or
display on a shelf. Still, I know not everyone is
like me.

The good news is that you dont have to be

willing to spend a fortune to eat well in Italy,
and you dont have to linger for hours over a meal, either. I will still strongly encourage
you to avoid restaurants where the menu is translated into several languages, theres
a waiter standing outside the front door trying to lure people in, or theres a big golden
arches logo on the door. Yes, theres fast food all over Italy, and its reliable for a quick
(and cheap) meal of exactly what youd expect it to be. Youll typically find lots of Italians
there, too. And Id still tell you to stay away.

With a little know-how, anyone can step outside their translated-menu or fast food comfort
zone and enjoy great and simple food in Italy thats inexpensive and delicious. Here are
some articles that will help you on this path:

Different Kinds of Restaurants in Italy This article helps decode the difference between a
trattoria and an osteria, and a ristorante and a bar
How to Find Good Gelato in Italy There are bad gelato places, and theres no sense in

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wasting any valuable stomach real estate on

gelato thats not sublime
How to Order Gelato in Italy After youve
found the good stuff, heres what you need to
know to get some (because the rules can differ
from place to place)
Eating Cheap in Italy: Aperitivo Sort of like
happy hour, aperitivo is increasingly popular
(especially in Italian cities) and can be a fun
way to eat well and very cheaply

If your mouth is already watering at the

prospect of eating in Italy and youre not afraid
to abandon your old ideas of Italian food in
favor of what the Italians are serving, then
here are some articles foodies traveling in Italy will find useful in planning trips:

Home Food Through the Home Food program, travelers can sign up to eat a meal in a
real Italian home
Italian Market Guide Shopping in Italys food markets is fun, whether youre picking up
picnic items for a quick and cheap meal or filling the cupboards of your apartment rental
Cooking Schools in Italy For those who arent content letting someone else cook all that
fabulous food

WhyGo Italy Recipes

Ive posted a few recipes over the years here on WhyGo Italy a few of them are recipes
I make, and others come from my Italian foodie friends. Here are links to all the Italian
classics you can make at home:

Strawberry Gelato Recipe

Limoncello Recipe
Chocolate Gelato Recipe
Italian Lentil Soup Recipe

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Fried Zucchini Flowers Recipe

Pasta alla Carbonara Recipe
Tiramisu Recipe

Italian Food Misconceptions: The Answers Revealed

If youve read through this whole article, youll remember the three Italian food
misconceptions that I listed above under Italian Food is Not What You Think. Dont feel
badly if you didnt understand all of them theyre popular misconceptions, and youre
not alone. Here they are, with explanations:

Why does my peperoni pizza not have sausage on it? And hey, why is there
only one p in the word? As youve probably guessed, peperoni doesnt mean what
you think it means. With two Ps, its spicy sausage thats thinly sliced and one of the most
popular pizza toppings outside Italy. With one P, its the Italian word for peppers. So that
peperoni pizza you ordered will come covered with peppers. Want something like the
cured sausage you love back home? Then youll want to order salame piccante (hot salami
slices).

Wheres the spaghetti and meatballs on this menu? Spaghetti and meatballs is an
Italian-American creation, and although there are pasta sauces that have meat in them,
Italians tend to eat the meat course separately from the pasta course. Which means big
meatballs wouldnt do on a plate of pasta. The Italian word for meatball ispolpetta, and
youll sometimes see it as a meat course (with no pasta in sight).

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Why did the waiter look at me funny when I

asked about Alfredo sauce? Yes, Alfredo sauce
comes from a chef named Alfredo who named the
dish after himself, but he neither invented it nor
popularized the name in Italy. In Italy, the sauce
in question is simply melted butter and a little bit of
parmigiano mixed with otherwise plain pasta. Its
the Italian equivalent of Saltine crackers and ginger
ale what my mother always gave me when I had
an upset stomach. And I dont expect to find Saltine
crackers and ginger ale on any menu. Italians still
eat this simply-dressed pasta, most often when
theyre ill, and they call it pasta in bianco or pasta
al burro, depending on where you are, for white
pasta or pasta with butter. But youll understand now why you wont find it on a menu.
Incidentally, the article Who is Alfredo Sauce, and why do Americans keep asking about
him? is an excellent read on the subject, both funny and educational.

Italian Language

Wanna get right to the good stuff? Check out my favorite Italian swear words, and reader
contributions to the Italian cuss words list! Just make sure youre careful about who you
practice them on or at least dont tell them who you learned them from. I dont want to
get blacklisted from entering the country again.

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If you, like me, find that Italian music is a great way to learn the language, then check out
some of my favorites on my Italian music player!

And while you might think youve got a head start on Italian because you can say ciao,
find out why you shouldnt say ciao in Italy.

Why would you want to learn Italian?

When I first started learning the Italian

language, Italians would ask, Why would
you want to do that? On some level, Italians
understand that their language as beautiful
and poetic as it might be isnt exactly
essential in todays world. While its spoken
by about 62 million people worldwide, the
only country for which it is the main language
is Italy itself.

If you think about it, the Italians werent

exactly great colonizers so they didnt end
up with territories in far-away lands whose
inhabitants they converted to speaking
Italian. The result is a language which doesnt prove very useful beyond the borders of its
home country.

To be fair, there is a portion of Switzerland for which Italian is the official language (not
surprisingly, its the portion which borders Italy), and there are other countries which are
close to Italy where you might also find Italian being spoken in some form. But unlike
Spanish or English, which youll find forms of in several different parts of the world, Italian
is a bit like an island. All this is to say that if you want to learn a little bit of the language
before you visit Italy, be prepared to have Italians ask, Why would you want to do that?

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Italian Pronunciation is Straightforward

Italian is, as I call it, something of a WYSIWYG language what you see is what you get.
Once you learn the basic pronunciation rules, you can be confident when guessing at
new words because nearly everything is pronounced just as you think it might be. Italian
vowels are clipped while consonants are given more weight double consonants even
more so.

While theres no tonality to the language, Italian is incredibly musical. Many of the exceptions
to the rules were made because something just sounded better a different way. You will
still find regional dialects throughout the country most of which sound almost nothing
like Italian but the official language of Italy, the one youll find in newspapers, hear on
TV, and be taught in schools, is the Italian of Dante, who is considered the father of the
Italaian language.

Depending on where your travel in Italy takes you, you are likely to find lots of people
who speak English and are eager to practice with you. This is especially true of younger
generations and of bigger, more touristy, cities. If you get off the beaten path, however,
or want to communicate at all with older generations, speaking a little Italian will not only
be a polite thing to do itll be absolutely necessary.

Be Polite: Learn the Basics Before You Go

My advice to you is to take a beginners Italian class most towns have a community
college which offers adult education non-credit classes or get a good self-study book
and some CDs. Learn the terms of basic politeness, and a few conversation starters if
youre feeling adventurous. And above all, dont be afraid to try out what youve learned
the Italians are, by and large, extremely forgiving with their language. Theyll encourage
you when youre on the right track and politely redirect you when youre not. Again, they
understand that their language isnt on the top of everyones list of languages to learn, so
they always seem pleased when someone makes the effort.

>> Check out the popular Rosetta Stone language learning CD-Roms

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Recommended Italian Self-Study Guides

Italian: A Self-Teaching Guide, by Edoardo Lebano

Italian the Easy Way, by Marcel Danesi
Italian Without the Fuss, by Living Language (comes with audio CD)

Recommended Phrase Books to Bring Along

Rick Steves Italian Phrasebook, by Rick Steves

The Hungry Traveler: Italy, by Pat Mozersky

A Few Polite Words to Master

(If you see a blue arrow button next to a word, click on it to hear a sample thanks to the
folks at Forvo.)

Hello before noon, buongiorno (bwon|JOR|noh) - after noon, buona sera (bwon|ah
SEHR|ah) - at the end of the night, buona notte (bwon|ah NOH|teh) notte
Thank You grazie (GRAHT|see|eh)
Please per favore (pehr fah|VOH|reh), or per piacere (pehr pee|ah|CHER|eh) piacere
May I? Posso? (POH|soh)
How much? Quanto costa? (qwahn|toh COST|ah)

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Travel Insurance

When youre planning a vacation, travel insurance might be the last thing on your mind.
Youre thinking about all the fun stuff and why shouldnt you be? Italy has lots of amazing
sights, sounds and tastes in store for you, so its only fitting that you should be focused
on that. But on the off chance that something goes wrong, you dont want your whole
trip spoiled because you have to pay for an unexpected stay in a hospital or something.
Getting travel insurance for your Italy trip isnt inviting disaster its just like with umbrellas:
better to take the umbrella and have it not rain than the other way round.

So, lets look at the different kinds of travel insurance that are available, so you can make
an informed decision about what kind of travel insurance is right for your Italy trip.

Types of Travel Insurance

(Includes Emergency Evacuation Insurance)

This insurance covers just what youd expect from the

name if you have a medical emergency while youre
traveling or living abroad, this is the insurance youd
want to have. If you have health insurance coverage at
home, it may or may not cover you when you leave the
country and even if it does, it may not cover all your
expenses. Whether or not you have medical insurance
at home, getting Travel Medical Insurance is a good
idea. It will at least prevent you from worrying about
spending all your savings on a medical emergency

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during your trip. At that point, youll have enough to worry about medical insurance
shouldnt add to your stress.

What Italy travelers should consider travel medical insurance? Italy travelers whose home
health insurance does not cover them when they leave their home country, and especially
those who are planning to do any kind of adventure activity (biking, skiing, hiking, etc.).

>> Click here to get more information or a quote on Travel Medical Insurance

Trip Protection Insurance

This is the kind of insurance that will pay you back for most of your non-refundable trip
expenses in the event of a death, sickness, airline strike, bankruptcy (on the part of the
tour provider, not you!) and some acts of nature. It would be horrible to pay thousands
on a vacation to Italy and then have to cancel the whole thing at the last minute because
of some unforeseen emergency and then to lose most of that investment because you
didnt have Trip Protection Insurance.

What Italy travelers should consider trip protection insurance? Italy travelers who are on a
cruise, or a package trip, or who have booked any kind of pre-paid tour/accommodation/
transportation for which you wouldnt get a refund if you had to cancel your trip at the
last minute.

>> Click here to get more information or a quote on Trip Protection Insurance

Flight/Travel Accident Insurance

This is very specific insurance that covers something catastrophic happening to your flight
that would result in your death or the loss of a limb or the loss of your eyesight.

What Italy travelers should consider flight/travel accident insurance? Italy travelers who
want to make sure they or their beneficiaries get a sum of money if something happens
to their flight.

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>> Click here to get more information or a quote on Flight/Travel Accident Insurance

Annual Multi-Trip Insurance

Do you travel often? Would you prefer getting one package that covers you every time
you leave the country over the course of a year without having to get another quote for
each trip? This is the insurance for you.

What Italy travelers should consider annual multi-trip insurance? Italy travelers who go
to Italy (or elsewhere outside their home country) on a regular basis, multiple times per
year.

>> Click here to get more information or a quote on Annual multi-trip Insurance

Should you or shouldnt you?

The ultimate decision on whether to get travel insurance for your Italy trip lies with you,
but if youve never even gotten a quote you should try it just to see how inexpensive travel
insurance can be. Especially as compared to the cost of your vacation, travel insurance is
downright cheap. And for loved ones at home, the peace of mind of knowing that youll
be taken care of if something happens to you may be worth it. In fact, if anyones asking
whether they can get you something for your trip, travel insurance may be an ideal gift!

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Keep in mind that none of these types of insurance cover theft or loss of the stuff youre
carrying with you, like your laptop or iPod or Eurail Pass. For your personal items, check
with your homeowners or renters insurance to see whether theyll cover those things
when youre traveling. For things like a Eurail Pass there is an insurance policy you can buy
when you buy the pass itself that will refund some of your train tickets in the event you
lose your pass or it is stolen.

Italy Travel Tips

In some ways, you could rightfully consider this entire website a collection of Italy travel
tips and if you spend some time clicking around, I think youll see why. But even though
the search box at the top of the page works well and there are navigation menus at the
top and the side of each page, sometimes its hard to find what youre looking for on a site
thats been around for a few years and has hundreds of entries. I understand that, and
Id like to make it as easy as possible for you to find what you need here on WhyGo Italy.

So, heres a page with some of what I think are the most useful Italy travel tips on the site,
broken down by subject. If you think something is missing from this page, please send
me a note to let me know. Its possible I either forgot to include it here, or its something I
need to add to my list of topics to cover. In either case, Id love to hear from you it helps
make the site better for everyone.

>> Also be sure to check out my First-Time Visitors Guide to Italy, which is chock full of Italy
travel tips, too.

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Travel Tips for Italy

Destination-Specific Travel Tips in Italy

While some Italy travel tips are good for the whole country, some are better done at a
smaller level. So Ive written several travel guides for Italys top destinations, and they
contain valuable travel tips.

Italy Regions Learn a bit about all of Italys 20 regions (plus the two independent city-
states within Italys borders) to help you plan your trip.

Rome Theres an overall Rome travel guide,

a list of the top things to do in Rome, things you
should know about Rome, free things to do in
Rome, a guide to Romes public transportation, a
list of transport options for the trip between Rome
and Fiumicino airport, some tips to survive Rome,
and even some tips for traveling to Rome with
kids.

Venice Theres an overall Venice travel guide, 5

Venice survival tips, things you should know about
Venice, a list of the top things to do in Venice, a guide
to public transportation in Venice, suggestions
on places to eat in Venice, some money-saving
discount cards for Venice, a list of free things to do
in Venice, and a guide to gondola rides.

Florence Theres an overall Florence travel guide, a list of the top things to do in Florence,
a guide to leather shopping in Florence, some of the free things to do in Florence, and lots of
reviews of Florence hostels.

Cinque Terre Theres an overall Cinque Terre travel guide, and a guide to hiking in the
Cinque Terre.

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Milan Theres an overall Milan travel guide, a list of the top things to do in Milan, your
transportation options for the trip between Malpensa Airport and Milan, and instructions on
how to use the Milan Metro.

Pisa Theres an overall Pisa travel guide, a guide to the leaning tower of Pisa, instructions
for buying tickets in advance to the leaning tower of Pisa, and a list of what to do in Pisa.

Naples Theres an overall Naples travel guide, a list of the top things to do in Naples,
information about some of the weird attractions in Naples, and my tips for how to fall in
love with Naples.

Budget Travel Tips for Italy

Italy is notoriously expensive to visit, but its not just

for rich travelers. Here are some articles to help you
figure out a budget for your trip and also some good
ways to cut the costs of an Italy trip.

Making a Budget for Italy Travel

How to Visit Italy on a Budget
Budget Airlines that Fly to Italy
How to Save up to 30% on Italy Train Tickets
Free Things to Do in Italy

Travel Tips for the Weather in Italy

You cant control the weather, but the weather can definitely influence how you travel. Ive
written about what the weather is like in Italy throughout the year (although you should
always check current forecasts to see if theres some unusually warm or cool weather
going on), in addition to providing some tips about what to wear in Italy.

Italy Weather (including links to information about Italy weather in each month)
What to Wear in Italy

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What to Wear in the Summer in Italy

What to Wear in the Winter in Italy

Travel Tips for Transportation in Italy

There are lots of ways to get around Italy, whether its from town to town or from one
place to another within one city. Ive written lots of articles about transport in Italy, many
of which are listed here.

Guide to Transportation in Italy

Cheap Airfare to Italy
Cheap Airfare to Rome
Cheap Airfare to Milan
Cheap Airfare to Venice
Guide to Italian Trains
When to Buy an Italy RailPass
Guide to Italian Buses
How to Drive in Italy
Getting Around in Venice
Getting Around in Rome
Using the Milan Metro
Car Rentals in Italy

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Sightseeing Travel Tips for Italy

There is no guidebook or even website that could cover every single thing there is to do
and see in Italy but the truth is that many people come to the country with the same
things on their to-do lists. So Ive tried to cover most of those on this site over the years.
Ive still got more to write about, but here are some travel tips for Italys biggest tourist
attractions.

Travel Tips for Italy Accommodation

There are some things that should need very little

explanation when it comes to your accommodation
options in Italy. You will, for instance, already know
what hotels and hostels are, most likely. But there
might be some things about accommodation in Italy
that you didnt know and I hope Ive covered those
things in these articles.

Guide to Italy Accommodation

Accommodation Options in Italy (with information about what each kind of lodging means)
Hotels in Italy
Hostels in Italy
Guide to Agriturismo in Italy
Guide to Monasteries and Convents in Italy
Guide to Camping in Italy
Guide to Vacation Rentals in Italy
Guide to Villas in Italy

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Travel Tips for Dining in Italy

The food is one of the things Im most passionate about

when it comes to Italy, so I end up writing about it often.

Italian Food Guide

Italy Menu Tips
Tipping in Italy
Types of Restaurants in Italy
Guide to Italian Markets
Guide to Italian Gelato
Guide to Italian Coffee
Guide to Italian Pasta
Italian Cooking Schools

Language Tips for Travel in Italy

You dont need to speak Italian fluently to have a successful vacation in Italy, but it doesnt
hurt to learn a few words especially the polite ones before you leave. This is even more
important if youre traveling outside the main touristy areas.

Italian Language Guide

Why You Should Not Say Ciao to Everyone
Italian Travel Phrasebook
Learning Italian Through Music

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