he history, the art, and the architecture, Italy is famous for all these things but there are endless things that Italy will leave you speechless. With picturesque lands, rolling hillsides, miles of stunning coastlines dotting the Tyrrhenian and lonian seas, spectacular sights, ressential-italy-travel-tips-for-first-time-visitorestaurants, fashion, film, famous personas, and of course the world-famous Italian cuisines, you are assured to have the most splendid vacation in Italy ever.
However, Italy can be quite overwhelming to explore and if it is your first time, it can become a tedious journey with lots of confusion on what to do, where to go, and how to communicate. First time visitors often get lost and distracted by countless attractions and various influences. We have covered everything you should know when you are traveling for the first time.
Figure out where you want to trip and what you want to experience
As said, Italy has got it all; from countless tourist attractions to endless experiences including charming villages and sprawling vineyards.
When you plan to travel Italy, it is essential to consider what you want to explore, see, and experience including your food-hunting journey. So, here are some of the places that you will want to explore depending on your interest:
For art and architecture consider exploring France, Greece, and Rome
For fashion and relaxation consider exploring Milan and the northern lakes
For skiing and snow experiences consider exploring Milan and the Italian Alps
For love and romance consider exploring Florence and Venice
For a beach vacation consider exploring Sardinia and Sicily
Don’t forget your research on tourism
Although you go through the places and plan on what to see, during the peak seasons, attractions welcome up to 30,000 visitors every day. This means you will have to go through long lines, busy stations, crowded attractions, and more.
It is important for you to understand and learn which is the best season to visit Italy depending upon your interest and budget. Italy has beautiful weather and most parts of the country experiences mild temperature except for the summers. You can simply pick the right seasons that will not only contribute to most of your trip but also help you to plan and travel more.
Avoid the tourist traps
It is common that most tourist places across the world are flocked with various kinds of tourist traps and Italy makes no exception. While avoiding such scams is a matter of common sense sometimes it becomes more severe and disappointing. Avoid cafes and restaurants that are close to major attractions. Listed below are three rules to remember for first time visitor:
These places are often packed with loads of visitors. Not only you won’t get food worth your money, but is also way too overpriced.
As for authentic foods, rather than relying on reviews, learn how to read behind the lines and search reviews from Italians.
You can take local advice through social networks or the people where you are staying.
Take regular taxis
Opting for a regular taxi is what normally you do when in a tourist place, but despite common sense you will be surprised at how tourists often face such scams.
People may approach you at your arrival points in major cities offering private taxi services and it might be tempting for first time visitors. We recommend you never accept such an offer that will cost you a lot more money and you may end up in regrettable situations. You can always check for regular taxis or book a transport in advance before arrival in Italy.
Learn and understand the language and culture
The majority of the big cities such as Rome’s population communicate in English but southern Italy and smaller villages might be a different story. The people of Italy are friendly and some will do their best to communicate with you despite the language barrier in conversation. However, as a traveler you can learn some common phrases such as hello, thank you, no, and so on or you can also keep a translation app downloaded that will help you communicate with the locals.
Italy is a land packed with old streets and culture. While exploring the local corner make sure to wear comfortable and tree modesty when visiting churches.
Book in advance to cut the queues
Unless you are traveling during the off-season or get lucky, you are most likely to experience long lines at most Italian attractions. Such long waiting lines will take your precious time which can be disappointing on your first time visit. Therefore, if you plan on visiting some of the famous sights draw your Italy bucket list and book in advance or you can also buy skip-the-line tickets.
Some money-saving Italy travel tips
Following are some suggestions that you should avoid as a first time visitor in Italy:
Heavily tipping the taxi drivers
Tipping at the restaurants and check whether it is already included on your bill (most restaurants add a 10% service charge).
Beware of the “coperto”, a service charged simply for eating a the restaurant.
Avoid eating and drinking at the main city square as such places often are overpriced.
Take advantage of happy hours in most northern parts of Italy that offer discounted food and drinks.
Italy is a popular destination for all good reasons. Be it for a relaxing vacation or an adventurous one, a nature expedition or history learning, art lover or architecture admirer, you will have a wide range of options and opportunities that will elevate your experiences in Italy. And these come with a lot of challenges and distractions. So, make sure to follow our guide on travel tips to Italy for first time visitors that will not only give you a brief idea of what to do but also you can enjoy your trip without any unnecessary interruptions.
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