Want to know the most essential travel tips for Italy? These are the tried and true most important tips you should know about.
Planning your first trip to Italy is so exciting! And if you’re anything like me, you’re doing all the research you possibly can to be prepared. As a traveler to Italy myself, I have gathered the top 9 travel tips for Italy that I wish I had known before my first trip to Italy last October!
You are going to learn about the most essential and practical travel tips for Italy, from what to bring on the flight to what ATMs are the best and most affordable.
After learning about all of these travel tips for Italy you are going to be a pro and more than prepared for your Italy trip!
This post is all about the top most practical travel tips for Italy that you should definitely know.
1. Essentials for the Flight
For most people, a flight to Italy will be 12+ long hours while you try to get some much-needed sleep. If you have difficulty falling asleep while traveling (like me:) sleep gummies for travel can be a life-saver.
Sleep gummies are game-changing hack for getting a full night’s rest while traveling. I wish I would have known about it sooner! These OLLY Sleep Gummies are perfect for a long flight! They are also helpful for preventing a restless night of adjusting to Italy’s time zones. Traveling to Italy is an absolute blast, and having a full night’s rest will be essential for enjoying every moment.
A sleeping mask and earplugs for the flight and hotels are also must-haves. I found these inexpensive soft sleep masks on Amazon: Sleep Mask, 2 Pack 100% Real Natural Pure Silk Eye Mask. Bring them in your carry on-bag or personal item, as well as a small travel-size hand cream and a face moisturizer. Flights can make your skin feel dry and stressed.
Lavender and Ylang-Ylang scented hand lotions are especially calming and relaxing for a long flight, as well as having a high-quality moisturizer on hand. These are personal favorites: Creation Lavender Hand Lotion and a small, travel-sized face moisturizer from Honest: Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream 1.7 fl oz.
2. A Good Cell Phone Plan for International Travel
Important! I cannot stress this enough. Make sure that your cell phone service provider covers international travel. Some cell phone service providers will allow you to buy extra data for international travelling. If not I highly recommend switching to a new cell phone provider service that covers international travel.
I do not recommend using a SIM Card. They can be difficult to understand for beginners. Before going to Italy, I purchased a SIM card which I was unable to use during my two-week trip to Italy. I was forced to rely on the kindness of other tourists and travelers for directions and phone calls. Again, consider switching your phone before an international trip if your cell phone provider does not cover international travel to Italy.
3. Where to Exchange Your USD for EUR
If you’re wondering, like I was, where in Italy to exchange your U.S. Dollars for Euros, the currency in Italy, wait until you leave the airport. ATMs in Italian airports often charge hefty fees, up to $70.00 or more for one exchange. Outside of the airports, local ATMs charge prices of around $5.00 to exchange your dollars into euros. Quite the difference, right?
Another great option that saves a lot of unnecessary stress is to order euro currency in cash from your bank before your trip. Often your bank will charge a very minimal fee for this and the process is fairly simple and fast. I highly recommend this option! Calculate your average daily expenses before the trip, and make an allowance for spending emergencies.
4. What Shoes You’ll Need (Your Feet Matter!)
In Italy, be prepared for a lot of walking. Italians walk much more than Americans usually do. Many places are only accessible by foot. Most walking is across cobblestone streets and pavement, which makes a comfortable and sturdy pair of shoes important!
Italians highly value fashion and a good sense of style. Steer away from shoes with bold brand logos if you want to blend in. (Italians don’t wear logos.) Well, with one exception. Adidas are extremely popular it Italy. You will see the Adidas logo brandished proudly on sneakers, jackets, pants and t-shirts.
A pair of good Adidas shoes will help you blend in with the locals.
An excellent combination of comfort and fashion for traveling to Italy is a pair of Adidas sneakers in a neutral color.
Lightweight with leather uppers, these Adidas Women’s Sneakers are a similar pair to the ones above and a great choice to bring on your Italy trip! I have not tried these specific shoes personally, but I highly recommend searching for a similar pair of Adidas if those particular women’s shoes don’t suit your style.
Make sure to break in the shoes before your trip!
5. What Clothes and Outfits to Bring
Stressed about packing the right clothes? Wondering if you have enough?
Packing the right outfits can make or break your trip, let me assure you. But have no fear! There are many sites dedicated to teaching you in detail what to pack for Italy. Search Pinterest, Google, and Social Media Bloggers for sites about travel capsule wardrobes.
Less is more. I brought only a carry-on to Italy, which was one of the best decisions I made! It saved so much time, hassle, and I didn’t have to wait for the luggage claim after flights. Bonus points!
In Italy, the last thing you want to think about is your outfits. There are so many amazing sites to see, mouth-watering foods to try, and things to experience that you’ll wish you had brought the bare minimum in you luggage!
Write down your itinerary and plan an outfit for each occasion. Strategically choose clothing items that match well together for a perfect capsule travel wardrobe. With a little work, you can save yourself stress and decisions later on the trip!