GENERAL TIPS FOR YOUR TRIP TO ITALY
What to expect
If you are visiting Italy's major cities and tourist attractions, chances are, you'll be spending a lot of time walking and on your feet. Be prepared, bring comfortable shoes, and keep a water bottle handy, especially in the summer months.
Impaired mobility?
If you, or someone you are traveling with has mobility problems here are a few things to keep in mind:
You will likely have to depend on taxis often to move around, the costs of which you should factor into your budget.
Old, uneven cobblestone streets and sidewalks are common, as well as, steep inclines in certain cities and towns, which can represent a challenge.
Depending on the degree of impairment some towns, city centers may not be accessible. Hilly, remote towns like Cinque Terre or San Gimignano are very challenging for those with impaired mobility. Always do research on the matter before you decide to visit.
While most National museums and major tourist attractions are generally equipped to aid those with impaired mobility, there may be parts that are simply not accessible because they were built long before anyone thought of ramps or elevators.
As someone who worked for a tour operator for years I strongly advise against group tours and walking tours for people with impaired mobility. There is generally a schedule to keep and you will be required to be at a meeting point at a certain time, or risk being left behind. I would recommend contacting a local guide for a private tour, so that you can go at your own pace, and have places recommended to you that fit your needs.
Traveling with kids?
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself.
Are my kids okay with walking and how much?
If they are not or are still toddlers and require a stroller, part one of the section above can also apply to you. For example, when I first visited Rome at the age of 12, I was not all that happy to walk for 8 hours a day, and I made sure my parents knew it.
Do they like art and history?
Most kids are not very interested in spending a day walking around looking at old buildings or inside museums, and that's like 80% of things to do in Italy. So keep that in mind, it might be best to wait a few years until they can appreciate these things and you can share these experiences with them.
What is the best time to go to Italy?
To answer this, keep three main factors to keep in mind, high/low tourist season, holidays and the weather.
The tourist high season generally lasts from May through October, with peaks in june, july and september. During this time cities and attractions are the most crowded, and hotels and related services are more expensive. While many families don't have a choice because of the kids summer break, if you can, we suggest avoiding the peak months. Christmas and Easter are similar in terms of tourism flows and prices to the peak seasons.
You may have noticed that we skipped August as a peak month during the summer tourist high season. Apart from the sweltering summer heat that envelopes most of the main Italian cities, it is also the time when most Italians take their yearly vacation, meaning you will find these cities devoid of locals, and many businesses and restaurants closed.
As far as seasonal weather is concerned, it can vary widely depending on what part of Italy we are talking about. Generally Italian summers are very hot, with temperatures regularly reaching and surpassing the mid or high 90s fahrenheit. Winters vary widely, in southern Italy they are very mild, while they can be very cold in the north and the mountainous regions. Temperature wise, the best months to visit are October through December and late March through mid June.
Check out our packing tips for your trip, including what temperatures to expect so you can pack accordingly (LINK)
How long should you stay in each place?
When we initially ask our customers what they want to see during their trip to Italy, very often they answer; Everything! This is obviously not realistic in a 10-14 day vacation, I live in Italy and there are lots of things I have not seen in my own city, let alone my region or the entire country.
Prioritize
You only have a limited amount of time during your trip, so define what your main objectives are during your trip, what's on your must see list?
Days per City Recommendations
One common mistake by first time visitors is trying to cram many cities in a short period of time. With this strategy you're likely to end up spending more time on, or on your way to trains than enjoying your vacation. Another useful tip is to look at a map before you book, that idyllic small town you want to visit, may be close to a major city, and you can visit it in a day trip, without having to spend one of your precious nights staying there.
These are general guidelines for the minimum amount of days you should spend in the major tourist cities in order to enjoy it, and get a good idea of what that city is about. You can adjust these depending on your interests and the amount of time available.
Milan- 2 whole days-
Venice- 2 whole days-
Florence- 3 whole days-
Rome- 3 whole days
Naples - 3 whole days
Transportation
For most travelers, trains are by far the easiest, most convenient and generally best transportation option for moving from city to city; we generally advise against renting a car, but if you must check out this article on driving in Italy.
High speed trains- These trains reach speeds of up to 180mph, they are generally on time, and very comfortable. As of 2020 the following cities are connected by high speed rail, with more to be added in the next few years: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Turin, Verona, Trento, Treviso, Udine, Venice, Padova, Ferrara, Bologna, Florence, Ancona, Rome, Naples, Salerno, Reggio Calabria.
Regional Trains- These trains connect major cities to mid sized cities and small towns, in most of Italy they are dependable, on time, and run often. Here are a two things things to keep in mind regarding tickets, firstly, ticket costs are based on distance and do not have a set time so if you miss the train you can catch the next one without having to get another ticket, secondly do not forget to timestamp and obliterate the ticket before getting on the train, failing to do so might get you a hefty fine.
Local Public Transport
There is public transport available in every mid-sized city or larger, busses, trams and subways. Keep in mind that similarly to regional trains, you must obliterate tickets once you get on the bus or tram, failing to do so might result in you getting a ticket. Also, tickets are generally not sold on the bus, if they are they are twice as expensive, so you must get your ticket at a cafè or tobacco shop, schedules are available online or at the bus stops and their dependability varies from city to city. Milan, Rome, Naples and Palermo also have subway systems, the tickets work the same way as they do all over the world, put money on the card, and go through the turnstiles.
