Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Italy. While many travel blogs will tell you things to do in Italy, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do during your Italy vacation! Here are our Italy travel tips to help you start planning a trip to Italy.
Only Visiting Major Cities
Many people who visit Italy will stick to Venice, Florence, Rome, and Milan. The cities are great, but they are more tourist-oriented, so you miss out on the “real” Italian culture. It’s harder to meet locals and get a feel for Italy when you are in a major urban area or a popular tourist destination. If you’re in Venice, take a side trip to Vicenza or Verona. If you’re in Florence, head over to Lucca or Ravenna. There are so many great places to go in Italy; don’t miss out on some of the small towns!
Not Understanding Bar Pricing
When you walk into a bar, you may wonder why so many people are crowded around the bar, when there is plenty of seating available in the restaurant. What many travelers don’t realize is that your drink at the bar could be cheaper than the same drink ordered from a table. If you are trying to visit Italy on a budget, you can save some money by ordering at the bar instead of from a table!
Eating Dinner Too Early
Most Americans are used to eating dinner around 6:00 or 7:00 pm. In Italy, that is super early. Many restaurants in Italy close after lunch and don’t reopen until 7 or 8 at night. If you’re in a very touristy area, there will be restaurants serving earlier dinner, but they are very much targeted at tourists, and you won’t see many locals eating there.
Expecting Fast Service
If you are coming from the US, you are probably used to fast service. In Italy, they like to savor the food and enjoy the ambiance of the dining experience. Dinner with friends can last for hours, and nobody is in a hurry. So, if you are going to eat out in Italy, be patient and enjoy the experience. Not only does dinner in Italy start late, but it can also last for several hours. If you’re in a rush or need to get the kids to bed, you might let your server know you’re in a rush, or go for a sandwich shop with quick service.
Not Carrying Cash
Many places are becoming almost cashless societies, so I see a lot of travelers in Italy trying to pay with a credit card everywhere they go. While many places in Italy will take credit cards, there are still places that do not take cards. So, you really need to carry some cash when you visit Italy. Cafes, hotels, and restaurants will usually accept cards, but if you want to grab some street food, or grab a gelato, you will need cash. Sometimes, you have to pay to use public toilets, and you’ll definitely need some coins for that.
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Falling for Tourist Scams
There are a lot of tourist scams in Italy, especially in the more popular cities. If someone wants to give you something for free, it’s most likely some kind of scam. Nothing is ever free. If anyone tries to give you anything, just move on. If you engage, they will continue to follow you and try to get money out of you, or may even have someone else pickpocket you while you’re distracted.
Forgetting to Pre-Book Tickets for Italy Attractions
Since Italy is so popular, the biggest attractions, like the Colosseum or the Vatican, can have extremely long lines that are several hours long. If you can pre-book a ticket or a skip-the-line tour, I highly recommend doing so. Otherwise, you are going to waste precious vacation time just standing in line.
Waiting in Line at the Train Station
Most of the train stations in Italy have automated ticket machines, so you don’t have to wait in a long line at the window. You can even choose your language and just use a credit card, so it’s much faster. Beware of scammers at the kiosk, though. If anyone tries to help you and they are not in a uniform of the train station, ask them to step back.
Forgetting to Validate Your Train Ticket
Some of the trains in Italy require that you validate your ticket before boarding. You’ll see a little machine, often at the top of the escalator before you descend, where you put your ticket in to validate it. If you forget to do this, you can be fined, even though you have a ticket.
Not Dressing for Churches and Religious Sites
You can wear whatever you want most of the time in Italy. They are sharp dressers, so you’ll almost always be underdressed, but it won’t matter. Unless you are visiting churches and religious sites. The general rule of thumb is that your knees and shoulders must be covered. So make sure you have something to wrap around your shoulders and have some pants you can wear. At places like the Vatican, you’ll see street vendors selling shawls to the travelers who forget and showed up in tank tops.
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Eating in the Tourist Zones
If you are eating in the shadow of a major tourist attraction, chances are, the restaurant is over-priced and under-Italian. If you’re willing to walk a few blocks off the main streets, you’re much more likely to find authentic Italian food at good prices.
Spending Too Much Time in Pisa
Besides the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a few museums, there aren’t that many things to do in Pisa. If you’re in the region, you can easily see Pisa on a day trip from Florence or Lucca, rather than spending a few nights there. The Tower is pretty touristy, but it’s one of those things you have to go see.
Trying to See Too Much
Most people who visit Italy for the first time try to squeeze too much into their vacation. Rather than choosing two cities to explore for a longer period of time, they will try to see five cities in a week. I recommend choosing a region of Italy and really spending time getting to know the area. Pick a solid home base, and use the trains to explore nearby cities on day trips.
Assuming Italian Food is Just Pasta and Pizza
Yes, pizza and pasta are everywhere in Italy, and it will be the best pizza and pasta you’ve ever had. Italy only became a unified country in 1861. Before that, it was several individual nations. So, each region of Italy has its own unique culture and cuisine. Roman pizza is different from Napoli pizza. You can also have delicious meat, seafood, cheese, and so much more. Don’t forget the wine!
Worrying About Language Differences
Sure, it helps to learn a little bit of Italian before you visit Italy. However, even if you don’t speak any Italian, you’ll get by OK in Italy. The locals are so friendly, if they don’t speak English, they will try their hardest to communicate with you anyways.
Only Eating Gelato Once a Day
There’s no reason not to have gelato multiple times each day when you are in Italy. Even when the restaurants are closed between meals, the gelato stands will be open! You won’t get gelato like this once you go back home, so I recommend getting as much as you can during your vacation in Italy! And don’t forget to try some new flavors!
Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and for good reason. From the countryside to the cities, friendly locals and amazing food, you can’t go wrong when you choose to visit Italy. I hope this helps you know some of the things to avoid doing when you visit Italy. Looking for more of our Italy vacation tips? Check out some of these other blog posts!