Most Asked Questions About Traveling to Italy

Italy is one of the most visited destinations in the world. Full of beautiful natural landscapes, bustling and exciting cultural cities, and a gorgeous coastline dipping down into the Mediterranean. It’s a location that’s likely on everyone’s bucket list, whether you are a die-hard traveler or not. Italy is definitely a location not to be missed and it’s best to do your research ahead of time to make the most of your time in this gorgeous country.

If you have never traveled to Italy before, you are likely to have some questions about planning your trip. Questions and concerns about safety, affordability, and transportation are all important elements in planning a trip to Italy. To help guide you through your preparation process and to reduce stress and questions upon arrival, we have answered 10 of the most common questions about traveling to Italy. Keep scrolling to learn more!

Italy has over 130 airports spread out across the country, but it’s likely you will arrive in one of the busy international hubs. Most big airports have easy connections to downtown or other smaller villages via the train system, or quick and easy domestic flights. The biggest airports in Italy include the following:

• Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
• Leonardo da Vinci Airport/Rome Fiumicino Aiport (FCO)
• Milan Lanate Airport (LIN)
• Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP)
• Sicily Catania Airport (CTA)
• Bergamo Airpot (BGY)

The climate in Italy will vary depending on location. The further south you go towards the mediterranean, the warmer and more comfortable the climate becomes. The further north you go into the mountainous region of the Alps, the colder and wetter the climate becomes. Italy experiences all 4 seasons in most central regions and rainfall is most likely to occur in the spring and fall seasons, mostly in northern territories.

Summer is the high season in Italy and definitely the time of year that has the best weather. The coastal cities are dazzling and beautiful, while popular cities are in full swing. If you are looking to avoid the higher crowds and tourist, prices, consider traveling in the spring. While the weather may be chilly in some regions, it’s still just as beautiful and without the floods of people.

Overall, Italy is a safe country to visit. Locals are welcoming and very used to tourists being in the country, the crime and murder rate is low, corruption is nowhere in sight, and random violent crimes are almost unheard of. If you run into any trouble, it’s likely to be petty theft or pickpocketers in big cities. Just like any other destination in the world, crimes, and unfortunate incidents still happen.

Traveling around Italy is very easy whether by car, train, bus, or plane. Train travel is the most widely used and is often the fastest way to travel between major cities and tourist hotspots. Carn rentals are convenient and affordable if you are planning to roadtrip around more uncommon destinations, and gondola and ferry rides are available in select locations, such as Venice or Amalfi Coast.

Italy isn’t the most expensive country in Europe, but it’s not the most affordable either. A budget in Italy is pretty common to what you would think traveling around Europe would be like. The Euro is the currency used, and it’s typically around the same value compared to the US dollar. Due to exchange rates and inflation, now is one of the best times to visit Italy as an American, as the Euro and Dollar are almost equivalent in value.

Italy is obviously known for its delicious and traditional pizzas and pasta dishes. While these meals are certainly not ones to miss out on, there are other tasty meal choices in Italy that you mustn’t miss out on. While in Italy, be sure to indulge in dishes like Tiramisu, Bruschetta, Panzanella, Risotto, and, of course, sweet flavorful homemade gelato.

Italian is the most common language spoken by the people of Italy. If you are only able to speak English, many Italians will still be able to communicate, and getting around shouldn’t be much of an issue. While it’s not a complete necessity to learn the language, it’s polite to learn a few common words, such as thank you, hello, please, and excuse me.

Whether or not you need a Visa to travel to Italy will all depend on your nationality and how long you are looking to stay. Italy sits within the Schengen zone within Europe, allowing many visitors, including Americans, to stay up to 90 days Visa-free. As of 2022, Americans will now need to apply for ETIAS, which lasts for 90 days and takes the place of tourist visas.

Tipping is one of the most commonly asked questions when visiting Italy. Tips and gratuities are likely already added to your bill at restaurants and hotels, so tipping isn’t absolutely necessary. Leaving a few small bills is very common and appreciated, but overtipping more than 15%, like in the United States, is often considered rude and excessive.

Did we forget anything? If you still have questions about traveling to Italy, please reach out and let us know!