ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE
Whether your reason for travel is to immerse yourself in the breathtaking work of medieval Italian artists or stuff yourself on enough pasta to kill the average gluten-free yoga instructor, Italy is the place to be. The issue is, most people don't really know where to go to truly understand what the Italian Dolce Vita really means. Sure, you can spend your days shoulder to shoulder with small brained, sweaty tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of Michelangelo's Statue of David through the sea of iPhone's & selfie sticks OR you can get lost in the streets of Florence and bask in the beauty of some lesser known works like the intricate ceilings of San Martino del Vescovo, the choice is yours.
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Listen I'll say it right now, major tourist hot spots are that way for a reason. Yes, the Statue of David is an amazing piece of art and carries with it some major historical significance BUT the beauty is quickly taken from you when your forced to pay €35 just stand in a crowded room and bump shoulders with a family from Wisconsin who thinks Fettuccini Alfredo is the most popular meal in Italy. So if you're here to find a way to beat the crowds and wander through the areas unknown, you've come to the right place.
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If you're looking for information about a particular city, click the corresponding icon in on the map below to take you to that page.
The Basics of Traveling Italy
Italy is one of those countries I recommend to everyone, especially those new travel. Now I might be bias, this was the first country I solo-traveled so it does hold a special place in my heart but aside from that, Italy is a very inviting country and relatively easy to navigate.
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First off, since the Italian education system pails in comparison to that of your typical American public school, a large percentage of the population here are bi-lingual with English being the common second language. So as long as you know some basic Italian and you're not acting like a typical American expecting everyone to communicate on your standards, you should be able to get by without any troubles. As for the stereotypical Italian "🤌" hand gesture, don't do it. Yes, it is a real thing in Italy that people do but everyone knows the guy with the American flag hat is doing it mockingly, so keep you're hands down.
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Another reason I recommend Italy to everyone I know is because the country is relatively safe. With almost everywhere (maybe except Japan) there are areas you should be more cautious in and
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As for safety, trust me when I say movies like the Godfather are movies for a reason. Lets clear the air now, NO, there aren't mobsters walking around everywhere controlling the local government and putting horse heads in their rival mob leaders beds. This is fiction.
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Getting There
Getting to Italy should be as easy as getting to any country in Europe, with Italy being home to several well established and easy to navigate hubs. When it comes to specific Airport, I always suggest flying into Rome Fiumicino due to its central location and large number of inbound flights from the US every day, however you really can't go wrong with any of the major airports.
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If this is your first time on a long haul flight I recommend you check out my article about How to Survive a Long Haul Flight. Trust me when I say, I wish I knew the things I know now about surviving being stuck in a tube for 10+ hours at a time.
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When it comes to finding flights to Italy I don't have a preferred site to book from, truthfully if you don't know how to book a flight properly in 2024 then that's on you. No but all my asshole-ness aside, you really can't go wrong with any major travel site when it comes to booking international flights. I like to first search on google flights since it tends to consolidate all the major travel sites all in one and makes it easy to sort based on specific criteria like total travel time & layover locations.
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If you are looking for specific airline recommendations I've created a quick snapshot of the most popular airlines by country and which ones I recommend but do keep in mind you pretty much cant go wrong with any of the major brands.
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So okay, you've boarded the flight, you've read all about How to Survive a Long Haul Flight, and you're on the way to the land of wine and carbs, but what do you do once you land? Getting from the airport to the adjacent major city will be the easiest and most nerve wrecking part of the journey but trust me when I say this, the first 2 hours in any new country is the most exciting part. You are now in Italy and there is no turning back.
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My only advice to you, follow the signs. Everything will be in English so you don't have to worry about not finding you way. Follow the signs to the Frecciarossa terminal (translates to red arrow in Italian incase you were curious) and you will be at the central station in no time! Just remember to buy your ticket at the station before boarding the train, the train police are out to get any unknowing tourist with a fine for riding the train for free.
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And thats it! You are now either standing in whatever the central train station is in that city (if its Rome then you should be in Roma Termini) or you are halfway to some small village on the outskirts of town and in that case, good luck.
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Where to Stay
So where to stay, thats the big question isn't it. Italy has a wide array of accommodation types that can suite just about any travel style. As for most countries in Europe, if you are a solo-traveler I recommend staying in a hostel, especially if you are the outgoing type and want to find a group of like minded travelers to explore the city or get shit faced at a local pub with. Maybe you're traveling by yourself but the idea of hanging out with a bunch of 20 year-olds out living their own version of Eat, Pray, Love makes your stomach turn then guess what, Italy has accommodations for you. Or maybe you're a family of 4 who would rather settle into a more traditional Italian home for your stay and find that an Airbnb would be more your speed. I'm telling you, the choices are endless.
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I've stayed in everything from €20 a night hostels in Bologna full of foreign college students to a tiny apartment in Pescara where stumbling drunk up 6 flights of stairs was absolute hell but the view from the balcony was unbeatable.
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When it comes to hostels in Italy I always recommend using Hostelworld.com to book your stays, it's the premier site for hostels around the world and gives truly accurate recommendations based on proximity to major stations and the vibe (whether you want a party hostel or something more relaxed). I'll go into my specifc recommendations on a per-city basis
Anda Hostel in outside of Venice, Italy (Mestre, Venice)
If hostels aren't your thing there are plenty of other options to choose from, like conventional hotels or Airbnb's. When it comes to hotels there are really two main options, a western style hotel that offers larger rooms and more updated amenities or a more traditional Italian room. Obviously since you're in Italy and the goal should be to immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible, I recommend staying in a more traditional Italian hotel.
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These hotels, while small in size (remember, size doesn't matter...ask my ex-girlfriend) and lackluster in amenities, they offer a more rustic feel and are typically located in older buildings across the city. The big perk is, since they are located in buildings that have been there for centuries, they tend to be more centrally located within the city and offer easy access to public transport. These rooms can range from €50-€100 per night, sometimes more if you're in cities like Venice.
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As for your more western hotels, while they can be located within easy access to public transport they just tend to miss that "traditional Italian" appeal. They can be great if you are traveling with family or really don't feel adventurous enough to stay in a room the size of a shoebox...but then again if you feel that way you probably aren't my target audience anyways. Western style accommodations can range from €75-€200 per night, even more for some of your fancier options.
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Ah now Airbnb's on the other hand, that is the way to go. If you're not someone who is into hostel hopping but still want to fell immersed in Italian culture, then Airbnb's are your best choice. The process to rent an Airbnb in Italy is just as easy as it is in the US and during my 2 month stay in Italy back in 2022 I stayed in several without any problems. I can't recommend them enough, especially if you're staying in some of the smaller, lesser known areas. When I went to see family in Pescara, Italy I stayed in a really nice 4th floor walkup near the train station and it was probably the best place I stayed all trip, plus the owner was very accommodating when I had to make a last minute change of plans and leave early (trust me, there's a story there). Average cost per night for an Airbnb in Italy can vary drastically, anywhere from €35 a night all the way to €250 for some of the nice villas in Tuscany.
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Getting Around
Getting around in Italy can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. While yes, like most countries in Europe, Italy has great public transportation compared to that of the United States so getting city to city via the nationwide trains system is something even a child can do. However, the train system can be a bit complicated since there are several options you can take to get around. Arguably the best and most popular option is the Frecciarossa which is Italys bright red bullet train. This tends to be the most expensive option but unless you are a psychopath who enjoys spending half the day sitting in an uncomfortable train seat, I suggest you take it. I once took the much slower InterCity train from Pescara to Turin (long story) and those 9 hours