Italy is a very popular European destination that can cater to various budgets. You might want to spurge a bit in Milan, Lake Como or Venice. But places like Matera and Umbria are just as beautiful and will save you some bucks!

If you’re traveling on a budget or backpacking, you might want to consider at least 60-80 euros a day. For a mid-range, more comfortable stay, 140-160 euros should go a long way.

For those on a very tight budget, you might want to explore some of the volunteering opportunities available on Worldpackers. Volunteering through this platform is one of the best ways to travel almost for free, as accommodation and food are usually provided!

The official language of Italy is Italian. It is the primary language and unless you’re in one of the popular tourist destinations such as Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice, you might find it difficult to find English speakers here. We visited Sardinia during winter in 2022 and had to communicate in mimic as we didn’t have service to use Google Translator!

To help you not go through the same thing as us, here are some useful Italian words to learn before you go:

• Ciao: Hi
• Sí/No: Yes/No
• Per favore: Please
• Grazie: Thank you
• Quanto costa?: How much is it?
• Prego: You’re welcome

If you are a citizen of an EU country, the EEA, or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to visit Italy. Some other countries are Visa-Exempt too such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

If you’re not on that list, we recommend checking Passport Index website, where you can select your passport and see all the countries you can travel to, with or without a visa.

Yes! Italy is considered a safe destination for travelers. Like any popular travel destination, it presents some safety concerns, but they are mostly related to non-violent crimes. Attenzioneeeee Pickpocket!

In any case, we always recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. Better safe than sorry! We use Heymondo and highly recommend it.

The best time to visit Italy depends largely on your preferences for weather, crowd sizes, and regional activities.

High Season (June to August): Summer brings warm weather and is ideal for beach holidays, especially in coastal regions like the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

Low Season (November to March): Winter is quieter and cooler, except in ski resort areas like the Italian Alps, which are popular for winter sports. Some coastal and rural tourist destinations may be closed or have limited hours.

Here are some of the must-try dishes you can’t miss when in Italy:

• Pizza Napoletana: Originating from Naples, this world-famous pizza features a thin, soft crust with simple, fresh toppings like San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil.
• Pasta Carbonara: A classic Roman dish, Carbonara is made with spaghetti, eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, guanciale (cured pork cheek), and black pepper. It’s rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful. No double cream here!
• Lasagna: A traditional dish from the Emilia-Romagna region, the original Lasagna is made by layering lasagna noodles with ragu, béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, then baked to perfection.
• Risotto alla Milanese: From Milan, this creamy, slow-cooked rice dish is characterized by its use of saffron, which gives it a distinctive yellow color and a unique flavor. Often, it’s made with beef stock, lard, and Parmesan cheese.
• Tiramisu: A beloved Italian dessert originating from the Veneto region. Tiramisu consists of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavored with cocoa.

• We recommend booking tickets in advance for activities in popular Italian destinations. Get Your Guide is our go-to platform!
• Uber and FREE NOW are the most trustable taxi apps in Italy.
• While credit cards are widely accepted, it’s good to have cash for smaller shops or rural areas.
  
• We recommend using a travel debit card such as Wise which have the lowest conversion and withdrawal fees.
• Use the app FreeFork to find the best restaurants with discounts around Italy.