Italy travel guide
Ancient Rome, Renaissance art, lake and coast views — and food worth the trip on its own.
#6 most visited country57.8 million international arrivals in 2024 (UN Tourism)Capital: RomeCurrency: EUR
Top destinations
Colosseum
Rome
Book timed tickets online in advance
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Vatican City
Closed most Sundays; book ahead
Amalfi Coast
Campania
Positano, Amalfi, Ravello — buses and ferries in summer
Pompeii
Campania
Roman city buried by Vesuvius
Cinque Terre
Liguria
Five cliffside villages linked by train and trails
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Tuscany
Climbing needs a timed ticket
Lake Como
Lombardy
Villas and ferries between lakeside towns
Dolomites
South Tyrol / Veneto
Hiking in summer, skiing in winter
🏝 Top islands
SicilySardiniaCapriIschiaAeolian IslandsElbaProcida
Top cities
Route & transport
From the airport
✈️ Rome — Fiumicino (FCO)
- Leonardo Express non-stop train to Roma Termini
- Regional FL1 train to Trastevere and Tiburtina
- Official white taxis charge a fixed fare to central Rome
✈️ Milan — Malpensa (MXP)
- Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale and Cadorna
- Shuttle buses to Milano Centrale
✈️ Venice — Marco Polo (VCE)
- Bus to Piazzale Roma
- Alilaguna water bus to Venice and Murano
- Water taxis (expensive)
🚆 Getting around
- High-speed trains (Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Italo) link Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and Naples
- Validate paper regional train tickets before boarding
- Metro and buses in cities; vaporetto water buses in Venice
- Rent a car for Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily — avoid ZTL limited-traffic zones in historic centres
Money & currency
- Currency: Euro (€, EUR)
- Cards accepted almost everywhere; carry some cash for small cafes
- A cover charge (coperto) on the bill is normal and legal
- Tipping is not expected; rounding up is appreciated
- Coffee standing at the bar costs less than sitting at a table
Live exchange rate — Euro (EUR)
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Rates by ExchangeRate-API, updated daily. Money changers and banks add their own margin.
What to avoid
🙏 Culture & etiquette
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches, including St Peter’s
- Lunch is roughly 12:30–2:30pm and dinner from 7:30pm
- Cappuccino is a morning drink for most Italians
- Greet shop staff with “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera”
📍 Places, scams & seasons
- Pickpockets around Roma Termini, the Colosseum, crowded buses and Naples’ centre
- Watch for the “friendship bracelet” and fake petition scams
- Summer heatwaves and crowds in July–August; many locals holiday around Ferragosto (15 August)
⚖️ Laws & restrictions
- Don’t sit on the Spanish Steps or wade into fountains — fines apply in Rome
- Venice charges a day-tripper access fee on certain peak days — check before you go
- Don’t buy fake designer goods from street sellers (buyers can be fined)
- Carry ID; police can ask for it
💬 Words & topics to avoid
- Avoid Mafia jokes and stereotypes
- Don’t mock regional pride — Italians identify strongly with their city or region
- Don’t ask for changes like pineapple on pizza or cream in carbonara too loudly
Safety situations change. Always check the latest official advice: UK Foreign Office — Italy · US travel advisories.
Accommodations
Rome
Centro Storico (sights), Trastevere (atmosphere), Monti (trendy, central)
Stay walking distance from the sights
Florence
Around the Duomo or Oltrarno
Small, walkable city centre
Venice
San Marco or Cannaregio; Mestre is cheaper
Expect stairs and no cars — pack light
Budget idea
Agriturismi and B&Bs
Farm stays in the countryside with home cooking
Widely available. Since 2024 every short-term rental must display a national identification code (CIN). Some cities, like Florence, restrict new rentals in the historic centre.
See today’s best-rated and best-value places (live prices):
Rome: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Florence: Booking.com — best rated & valueAgodaAirbnb
Top restaurants
Testaccio Market
Rome
Roman street food and local produce
Mercato Centrale
Florence
Food hall above the San Lorenzo market
Quadrilatero
Bologna
Old market streets with deli counters
Rialto Market
Venice
Fish market and cicchetti bars nearby
Top-rated restaurants right now: Rome on Google MapsFlorence on Google MapsVenice on Google MapsMilan on Google Maps
Top foods
Pizza Napoletana
Soft, wood-fired — Naples is the home
Pasta
Carbonara and cacio e pepe (Rome), ragù (Bologna), pesto (Liguria)
Gelato
Look for natural colours and metal tubs
Risotto
Creamy rice — try risotto alla milanese
Prosciutto & Parmigiano
Cured ham and aged cheese from Emilia-Romagna
Tiramisu
Coffee and mascarpone dessert
Language
Official: Italian
English: Common in tourist areas and with younger people; less in the south and countryside
Also spoken: German in South Tyrol, French in Aosta Valley, plus Sardinian and many local dialects
| English | Local | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Ciao / Buongiorno | CHOW / bwon-JOR-no |
| Thank you | Grazie | GRAHT-see-eh |
| Please | Per favore | pair fa-VOR-eh |
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore | eel KON-toh |
| Excuse me | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
Festivals
Carnival of Venice
February
Venice
Easter (Pasqua)
March/April
Rome and nationwide
Palio di Siena
2 July and 16 August
Siena
Festa del Redentore
Third weekend of July
Venice
Venice Film Festival
Late August – early September
Venice
Alba White Truffle Fair
October – November
Alba, Piedmont
Dates shift each year — confirm before booking.
Internet & SIM
📱 SIM & eSIM
- Main networks: TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Iliad
- EU SIMs roam free; others can buy a prepaid SIM (passport needed) or an eSIM
📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi
- Good 4G/5G in cities; patchy in mountains and rural areas
- Wi-Fi in most hotels and many cafes
🔌 Power plugs
230V, 50Hz — plug types C, F and L
News
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Explore Italy with a local
TourGuyed guides are ID-verified locals and students who know the hidden spots, the fair prices and the customs. Chat first, pay safely and only release payment when you meet.
Sources: Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence), UN Tourism, national tourism boards. Last reviewed 2026-10-11. Prices, rules and schedules change — double-check before you travel.