Do not book that plane ticket without hearing out we learned, and what we wish someone would have told us!

1. Plan everything around meal times.

If you’re anything like me, Italian food is a half the reason you are visiting. Find restaurant recommendations ahead of time and make dinner reservations.

While pizza and pastries are easily accessible, if you are looking for a hearty helping of authentic pasta, make sure to carve out time and make reservations.

12:00pm – 2:00pm are typical lunch hours. Most restaurants have a short dinner window, reopening from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.

Restaurants that keep late hours will likely turn you away if you aren’t there an hour before closing time. We cannot stress enough – plan around meal times!

2. Don’t let menus outside of restaurants scare you away.

There are places like Rome where inauthentic vibes are clear with “servers” standing outside shoving menus into your hand. Don’t eat there! In quieter towns like Siena or Bolzano, plenty of menus are displayed outside of authentic, delicious restaurants. Trust your instinct!

Follow the smells of cigarette smoke to find where the locals are, and chances are, you won’t be disappointed.

3. Prego does not only mean “you are welcome.”

Depending on context, prego can also mean:

• “Next in line.”
• “Are you ready to order?”
• “Sit here/over there.”

Be ready to read the room, pay attention to hand gestures, and know it’s okay to ask for clarification.

4. Invest in a global SIM card!

Phone companies can get expensive for daily use overseas, and it’s likely your phone won’t work much anyways.

Don’t get stuck with no way to call a taxi, no way to navigate back to your hotel, etc. Global SIM cards ensure even when WIFI is scarce, you can stay connected and get where you need to be.

Amazon’s overall pick, Plug & Play’s Europe Travel SIM Card has enough data to get you by (as long as you avoid scrolling through socials) and is more cost effective than paying a phone provider.

5. Public transportation can be a struggle bus, literally.

Public transportation is not a walk in the park to navigate, and the cost adds up quickly!

We stood at a bus stop only for the scheduled bus to fly past us, leaving us with a 40 minute walk or a 40 minute wait for the next one.

If you are going to one or two destinations, public transportation may be more ideal for your trip. If you are trying to explore as much as possible with limited time, a rental car is worth a cost comparison.

We spent nearly $700 on public transportation for the eight days we did not have a rental car. Different regions use different apps and taxi services – the confusion and cost can be an absolute headache.

A 12€ taxi fare here and a 3€ bus ticket there add up very quickly. I would highly recommend looking into a rental car if you plan to travel to different cities and regions.

6. Lake Como is doable in a day.

Perhaps not a popular opinion, but if you’re wandering with no specific destination or goal in mind, stay in Milan or Verona, make Lake Como a day trip.

We happily visited Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna all in a day and did not need a minute more.

Varenna is an easy connection to Milan via train, so start there. For 9€ per person, you can get a daily ferry ticket to easily explore the lake!

Purchase ferry tickets at the ports! Getting your tickets in advance online is next to impossible and ferries run all day, everyday.

While you can check timetables here: Lake Como Timetable, stick to the ticket office hours and you’ll be alright!

7. Strategic planning saves money!

If plan to visit Florence (Firenze) try to plan your museum day for the first Sunday of the month!

All city museums, including Galleria dell’Accademia that houses the famous David by Michelangelo and the famous Galleria degli Uffizi, housing work by legends like Leonardo da Vinci himself.

While ticket prices aren’t going to break the bank, free admission is a relief for the wallet on vacation! There are plenty of hacks out there, just make sure to do your research according to the specifics of your itinerary.

8. Your experience will be different depending on the season you visit.

Be mindful of the seasons! The best time to visit Italy is the last week of October into the first week of November.

Cooler temperatures, no heavy rain quite yet, shoulder season crowds, beautiful fall scenery, and local fall flavors.

While fall in Italy can be a dream – daylight is limited. The sun comes up around 7:00a.m. and sets around 5:00p.m. daily.

Sightseeing is doable after the sun goes down, but make sure to check hours of operation!

Season mindfulness is especially important if you plan to visit the Dolomites or the Amalfi Coast.

In the Dolomites, accommodations shut down on November 1st to flip for the upcoming ski season in early December. So make sure you get there with plenty of October days left if you are planning a fall visit! You can’t beat larch season in the Dolomites. Absolutely stunning!

Places like Amalfi essentially shut down for fall season as well. Yes, local dining and accommodations are still accessible, but ferry’s stop running from Naples and business hours become even more limited.

9. Cash is King

Get those euros! Public restrooms, taxi cabs, some shops, and most gas stations are easier to navigate with cash and change on hand.

Not all gas stations accept US credit cards, many taxi drivers do not have the internet connection to process cards, and it’s much easier to hand over 1€ than find a quick gelato shop to spend 6€ at for another sweet treat you didn’t really need just to use their restroom.

We got by with 150€ for the two weeks of our trip. Make sure your travel credit card has a pin set up in case you need to find an ATM.

10. Relax, and enjoy your trip!

Much like the menus outside of restaurant warnings, there are so many social media “tourist beware” myths that can make you forget to relax and enjoy every minute.

TikTok warns against clearing your pasta sauce with bread in a restaurant. Most dining facilities literally give you bread for this exact purpose. It is called “Fare La Scarpetta.”

They say it’s a sin to share a plate at dinner. We shared a plate, we were not questioned, we were not turned away, we survived! And you will too!

Order the 12:05pm cappuccino, you might get a glare, but who cares? It is your vacation, your money you are giving the establishment, you will be okay.

You don’t have to dress like it is fashion week in Milan. You can bring your basic neutrals, comfy sneakers and getaway with a carry-on and personal item. We did, and honestly, we over packed.

Italians can be some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and also, you are a tourist. You will likely be low-key judged no matter how hard you try, so be the tourist you want to be, respectfully of course, and enjoy your trip!

We hope this helps as you prepare for your Italian adventure. Leave your Italy trip tips in the comments below!

As always, thanks for adventuring with us!

Cheers!

M + M