Italy, a country home to some of the world's best food, wine, and art. Add in gorgeous coastlines, beautiful beaches, world-class fashion, phenomenal hiking trails, villas in Tuscany, and gelato, and you have the ingredients for an epic vacation. Italy is a favorite destination for many travelers for a very good reason. Come live "la dolce vita," the sweet life.
Things To Know
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Language
The official language is Italian but many people speak and understand English.
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Power
220V 50Hz. Plugs C and F.
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Currency
The Euro (€). 1 € is approximately $1.2 USD.
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Visas
Citizens of the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan can enter Italy for up to 90 days without a Visa.
Travel Tips
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Expect large crowds of tourists in the summer
The summer months, Easter, and Christmas are the busiest times to travel to Italy. During the month of August, Italians go on their own vacations, leaving shops and restaurants closed for the month. For a better experience, travel during the quieter months of May, September, and October, when weather conditions can still be very pleasant.
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Slow Down
Don't try to see everything on your first visit and try not to be in a rush. Italians are very laid back and things move slower here. Wander the streets, drink the wine, enjoy where you are, and don't try to rush the experience. Your visit to Italy will be much more enjoyable if you slow things down a little.
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Coperto
This is the charge, per person, to sit at a table in a restaurant. This is not always advertised and can be a big surprise when you go to pay your bill. Ask your waiter or check the menu if you want to know the charge. Not all restaurants charge a coperto and we saw this the most in Venice.
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Rent a car in Tuscany
We read that the hill towns of Tuscany are easily accessible by bus...assuming the buses show up. We were left stranded on more than one occasion, standing on the roadside for hours, waiting for the bus to arrive. Yes, renting a car in Italy is expensive, but having your own transportation is worth the cost. Trust us on this one!
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Eat lots of gelato!
The more walking you do and the more towers you climb, the more gelato you get to eat. Delizioso!
Top Experiences
Renaissance Art. See the works of Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. With world-class art museums such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Borghese Museum in Rome, getting at least a peak at some of these masterpieces is not to be missed. A word of advice: during the high season, book your tickets in advance.
Cruise the Canals of Venice. Whether by gondola or vaporetto, drifting through the canals of Venice is an iconic Italian experience.
Hike the Cinque Terre. Spend one day hiking through the five towns of the Cinque Terre. It is a fabulous hike and what's better than refueling at each town with fresh fruit, gelato, pasta, and wine?
Visit the Blue Grotto in Capri. We weren't sure if this one was worth it, but once we did it, we loved it.
Visit the Vatican. The Vatican Museum is another "must-see" when visiting Italy. Definitely book your tickets in advance (this can literally save waiting in line for hours) and expect HUGE crowds during the summer months.
Climb the towers in Florence. The Duomo is the most popular tower to climb in Florence, but the Campanile was our favorite. Florence is a gorgeous city and the towers give some of the best vantage points.
Lake Como. Located in northern Italy, come here for alpine vistas and to visit the villas on the water. Lake Como is virtually deserted during the winter months, so plan to visit between March and October.
Verona. This underrated city is one of our favorite spots in Italy. What a gorgeous city to explore.
Pompeii. This ancient city was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Pompeii is one of Italy's most visited sights. The ash that covered the city preserved the streets, buildings, and even the bodies of those people unable to flee the eruption. Walking through Pompeii is like walking through history.
Pizza in Naples. Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Yes, it is worth coming to Naples just for the pizza. It is that good!
Go to an Italian soccer game. Call it soccer, call it football, or call it calcio, as they do in Italy, this sport is almost a religion for Italians. Attending a game can be a cultural experience, not to mention a lot of fun!
The Dolomites. The Dolomites were our favorite part of Italy. The hiking was epic, the scenery was stunning, and we loved the Austria meets Italy vibe.
Tour the Hill Towns of Tuscany. Tuscany is packed with quaint, hillside towns. Walk the cobblestoned lanes, dine on delicious Italian food, go on wine tastings, and go shopping. You could spend a week in Tuscany, visiting a new town every day.
See DaVinci's "Last Supper" in Milan. Tickets for a 15 minute viewing sell out weeks in advance, so this is an activity that needs to be planned ahead of time, but it's worth it. Visiting Milan can be done as a day trip and seeing the "Last Supper" can easily fit into your itinerary.
Visit the Greek Ruins in Sicily. Some of the best Greek temples in the world, even better than those found in Greece, can be found in Sicily. Some of these ruins date back to the 5th century B.C.!
The Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast is labeled as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It's beautiful, it's filled with hair pin turns, and some people call it a "white-knuckle" ride. Come see for yourself.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Do you think the Leaning Tower of Pisa is too touristy? Maybe. But it's a quick visit and it can easily be seen as a day trip from Florence or on your way to the Cinque Terre.
Posts about Italy
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0How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Como
Lake Como is a wishbone-shaped lake nestled in the foothills of the Alps. This is where the rich and famous vacation in luxurious villas and visitors flock to the colorful lakeside towns. It is one...
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Lake Como…a destination that is glamorous, romantic, and gorgeous. This lake is a slice of Italian paradise, and for many people, a visit to Bellagio is the highlight. Also called the Pearl of La...
1314 Day Italy Itinerary: How to Spend Two Weeks in Italy
If you are planning your first trip to Italy, this Italy itinerary is a great place to start. With two weeks in Italy, you can visit the highlights…Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, Tusca...
95Where to Stay in Venice: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods for Your Budget
Choosing where to stay in Venice can be exciting yet challenging. Venice is made up of neighborhoods, also called sestieri (singular sestiere), and each neighborhood has its advantages and disadvan...
1210 Gorgeous Views of Italy and Where to Photograph Them
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310 Best Things To Do On Your First Visit To Florence
Florence is one of Italy’s most popular cities to visit, especially for first-timers. Not only is Florence the art capital of the world, it’s a gorgeous city with streets to wander, towers to c...
50How to Travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast
How to travel from Rome to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast can be a little confusing. You can’t simply hop on a train in Rome and ride it all of the way to Sorrento or Positano. In this post, we ex...
107One Perfect Day in Siena, Italy
Siena is easy to visit if you only have one day since it is a compact city with just a few big sites. With one day in Siena, visit the Duomo, get one of the best views in Italy from the Torre del M...
42 Days in Rome: The Perfect Rome Itinerary for Your First Visit
If you are planning your first visit to Rome and have limited time, this Rome itinerary is perfect for you. With 2 days in Rome, you have just enough time to visit the highlights. Tour the Vatican,...
71How to Visit Pompeii when Traveling Between Rome and Sorrento
A visit to Pompeii is one of Italy’s most fascinating history lessons. Pompeii can be visited as a day trip from Rome, Sorrento, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast. For those in transit between any of ...
4310 Days in Italy: 3 Amazing Itineraries
Italy is a country that is on many travelers’ wish list. And why not? Italy has it all: fabulous cuisine, gorgeous cities, towering mountains and beautiful beaches, and ancient historical sites. ...
34512 Best Things to do in Verona, Italy
Have you ever visited a new place and instantly fallen in love with it? For us, that was Verona. Verona may not be as popular as other Italian cities like Florence and Venice, but don’t let that ...
20Racing Ironman Italy
Ironman Italy is destination racing at its finest. Swim in the Adriatic Sea, cycle past pink flamingoes and through Sangiovese vineyards, and then run through a charming coastal town. What a specta...
12San Marino: Europe’s Most Underrated Destination?
San Marino is a tiny, independent nation completely surrounded by Italy. It has a spectacular location, nestled in the mountains near the Adriatic Sea. The capital city, also called San Marino, is ...
1520 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Venice Italy
Venice is a photographer’s paradise. With its maze of canals, its colorful, crumbling facades, and gondolas silently drifting through the city, it’s hard to leave Venice without a memory card f...
520 Best Places to Visit in Italy (+ Map & Photos)
Are you planning a trip to Italy? If so, be prepared to fall in love with an extraordinary country. The food, the wine, the history, the art and architecture, the quaint, hillside towns in Tuscany,...
57Hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the Dolomites’ iconic hikes. Three massive rocky prominences rise up from the rolling scenery of the Dolomites, surrounded by amazing views and, during the summ...
23Best Views of Florence, Italy
Are you planning a trip to Florence? Sure, you can’t miss Michelangelo’s David, the Ponte Vecchio, Italian food and gelato, and the galleries of Renaissance Art, but you also cannot miss the best v...
69 Must-Have Experiences in Venice, Italy
Venice is one of our favorite spots in Italy. Why? It is small and compact, perfect to be explored with just a few days time. Venice is romantic, historic, and gorgeous. The canals, the gondolas, t...
83The Cinque Terre for Budget Travelers
The Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most scenic spots. It is here that five colorful, gorgeous towns precariously sit on the hills that tumble into the Mediterranean Sea. The popularity of the Cin...
22Day Trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, overrated tourist attraction or worthwhile destination? Regardless if you think Pisa is overrated or worthwhile, it still can be a lot of fun doing silly poses in front o...
26The Perfect Day Trip to Milan from Florence, Venice and the Cinque Terre
Why go to Milan? It’s the home of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” one of the most famous paintings in the world. Milan is also home to the Duomo, world-class museums, and trendy shopping...
9Hiking the Puez-Odle Altopiano in the Dolomites
The Puez-Odle Altopiano is a spectacular hike from start to finish. With jaw-dropping views of the Dolomites, fields of wildflowers, and endless alpine views, this is our favorite hike in the Dolom...
38Hiking the Lagazuoi Tunnels in the Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites, a commonly overlooked region of Italy for Americans when it comes to planning a vacation, is by far our favorite place in this amazing country. We spent four days driving incredibly...
26Touring the Hill Towns of Tuscany
We spent five days in Tuscany, staying in the town of Siena. We picked Siena as our home base because it is well connected by bus to the other hill towns in Tuscany and easy to get to from Florence...
10Hiking the Cinque Terre: What You Need to Know
The Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a group of five towns perched on the dramatic coastline of Italy, just north of Pisa. The towns are easily recognizable, with their pastel buildin...
78A Photo Tour of the Tuscan hill town, San Gimignano
Tuscany, Italy is known for its wine and splendid scenery, and we loved the time we spent here. The hill towns of Tuscany are small, walled, medieval towns perched on hilltops overlooking the coun...
13Positano, Our Favorite Town on the Amalfi Coast
One of the “must do” activities while visiting southern Italy is to visit the Amalfi Coast. This was something we were all looking forward to, a winding, white-knuckle ride along one of the mos...
0Three Days in Sorrento, Italy
During our tour of Italy we had three days to spend in Sorrento. Sorrento is a great home base for exploring this part of Italy, as it is well connected to the island of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, an...
31Is the Blue Grotto Really Worth It?
While in Italy, we spent three days in Sorrento and devoted one of these days to visiting the island of Capri. Tim and I couldn’t help but wonder is the Blue Grotto worth seeing? The Blue Grotto is...
59Napoli, the Birthplace of Pizza
Napoli, Italy is world famous for its pizza. And yes, we traveled to Napoli just to sample what some people claim to be the best pizza in the world. About Our Experience Our around the world trip b...
6Rome in Pictures
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4Biking the Appian Way in Rome
After spending two solid days touring Rome’s must see sights, we chose to go off the beaten path and bike the Appian Way. The Appian Way is one of Rome’s ancient roads, connecting Rome to the A...
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