What Should First-Time Visitors Know Before Exploring Italy in 2026?
Italy is one of my favourite countries on the planet, if not the favourite. I’ve visited Italy countless times, including living in Sicily for a couple of stints. Italy has so much to offer, but it isn’t always the easiest place to travel.
Local customs, unwritten rules, and funny superstitions will absolutely impact your time in Italy (good luck asking for parmesan on your seafood dish!), and if it’s your first time in Italy, should know that Italy rewards slower planning, advance bookings, and a deep understanding of city-specific etiquette.
The most common mistakes I see tourists in Italy make include:
- Trying to see too many destinations in a single trip
- Skipping crucial reservations for major sights
- Visiting inland cities in the month of August
- Attempting to drive in historic city centers
- Assuming that restaurant or shop hours will follow a continuous, all-day schedule
In this article, I’m going to share some practical tips for visiting Italy for the first time. I go into more detail about these things in my article about living in Sicily, and my article about things you should know before going to Italy, but if you’re looking for a quick and easy overview, you’re in the right place.
How far in advance should you book your Italian itinerary?
I’m typically a Type B traveller who rarely plans in advance and books things as I go, but if you’re visiting Italy in the summer months or during religious holidays, securing your travel arrangements ahead of time is essential.
Flights are always the first thing you should book, followed by accommodation (accommodation in Italy gets a lot more expensive, the longer you leave it), and then tours and tickets for any excursions you plan to do.
It may seem excessive to book tours and museum tickets before your trip has even begun, but popular sites like the Colosseum and Vatican City require advance timed-entry tickets to avoid sold-out slots and long queues, especially if you’re visiting in high season.
You should also plan to visit fewer places rather than more – limiting a seven-day trip to about two bases and a ten-day trip to three is ideal, because you don’t want to be racing around trying to cram in far too much.
Staying in a central, walkable area is also essential – you’ll be doing a lot of walking in Italy, and you don’t want to add to your step count even further by staying somewhere outside of town.
What is the most efficient way to travel between major cities?
Train travel in Italy is excellent, and high-speed and regional trains are the easiest and most efficient intercity option. Train tickets for high-speed routes typically open several months in advance, and digital tools like the official Trenitalia application can streamline the booking process.
While the train network connects major hubs like Rome, Florence, and Venice, you’ll want to rent a car if you plan on exploring more rural regions such as Tuscany, as many small towns in Italy are not well served by public transport.
If you do decide to rent a car in Italy, you must absolutely avoid driving in historic city centres (I cannot stress this enough!).
Restricted traffic areas (known as ZTL zones), are monitored by cameras and can trigger hefty fines for unsuspecting tourists, and Italians are very aggressive drivers. Within the cities, it’s best to rely on walking, local buses, trams, and metro systems.
How can you secure instant mobile data without roaming fees?
Staying connected is a modern necessity for:
- Navigating unfamiliar streets
- Checking train schedules
- Translating menus on the go
Traditionally, tourists have had to hunt down physical SIM cards upon arrival or face exorbitant charges from their home network providers.
I’ve written about the benefits of using eSIM before, but solutions like Amigo eSIM allow travellers to get online instantly, leveraging their global coverage to ensure a seamless connection without the hassle of retail stores or shipping delays.
By utilising a prepaid digital profile, you can activate your service by simply scanning a QR code. Getting an eSIM for Italy provides a reliable network connection across the country, completely avoiding surprise roaming fees through transparent pricing.
What are the essential rules of Italian etiquette and dining?
One of the most basic etiquette rules in Italy is that you should always greet shopkeepers and staff with a simple buongiorno or salve when entering establishments; failing to do so is often considered impolite.
Italians are also very preoccupied with looks, and dressing smartly (and being ‘put together’ overall) is also advised.
When it comes to food, look for busy, small trattorias or osterias filled with locals and avoid anywhere that has huge menu with photos outside, or a host trying to tempt you in. Authentic Italian restaurants will never have these things.
You should also do a bit of research into regional food traditions and local specialties rather than expecting a uniform national cuisine.
Additionally, while Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, it is smart to carry some cash for small purchases, public toilets, and older, family-run eateries.
READ | 70 Facts About Food in Italy That Will Surprise You
If you need to withdraw money, always use bank-owned ATMs labelled Bankomat to reduce fees and avoid unfavourable exchange services, ensuring you select the local currency at payment terminals. Never use Euronet!
Why is modest dress required for visiting historic churches?
Just like anywhere else in the world, religious sites in Italy are not merely tourist attractions; they are active places of worship that enforce strict dress codes.
Visitors to churches, including the Vatican, must cover their shoulders and knees, as security will deny entry to anyone in revealing summer attire. Packing a scarf or shawl in your bag is a good idea because it saves you from having to buy last-minute cover-ups at extortionate prices from street vendors.
READ | 15 Italian Landmarks to Add to Your Travel Plans
How do local coffee customs and midday closures affect your schedule?
Italian coffee rules are quite different from those in many other countries; for example, it is a cultural norm not to order a cappuccino after eleven in the morning, as milk-heavy drinks are strictly reserved for breakfast. With that being said, Italians are used to tourists ordering cappuccino at all hours, so you won’t raise too much of an eyebrow if you do this.
If you want to really feel like a local, though, you’ll order an espresso and drink it quickly while standing at the bar. This is to avoid paying the coperto (table fee), which can easily double the price of your coffee.
Another thing to be aware of is that many places will close for a few hours in the afternoon, and lots of museums and restaurants are closed on either Sundays or Mondays. Google Maps isn’t the most reliable when it comes to shop/restaurant opening times in Italy, so asking around is often the best way to find something open!
Why is comprehensive digital preparation crucial for international travel?
I always advise my readers to make backup copies of important documents such as passports, travel insurance policies, and reservation confirmations, storing them securely on fully backed-up mobile devices and in cloud storage in case of loss or theft. As another precaution, you can print these things off and keep them in a plastic wallet.
Creating a digital wallet for contactless payments can also significantly enhance your security and convenience when navigating busy markets and transit stations.
To ensure all these cloud-based documents and payment methods function properly, maintaining a constant internet connection is paramount. Setting up a travel eSIM before you board your flight guarantees that your global data plans are active the moment you land, providing the worldwide coverage necessary to access your vital digital backups without interruption.
What to pack for Italy
Summer in Italy can be intensely hot, especially in major cities like Rome, Florence, and Palermo.
Prepare for the heat by packing breathable, light outfits, a wide-brimmed hat, and plenty of sun protection.
Hydration is equally important, so carrying a reusable water bottle to fill up at public fountains is a must to avoid heat-related illnesses.
Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes are a must – the shiny cobblestones are often very slippery, and you’ll quickly regret trying to do your sightseeing in flip-flips (ask me how I know).
Finally, toilets in Italy will often lack toilet paper (and even toilet seats), so it’s worth carrying some tissues and sanitiser with you. This doesn’t only apply to public toilets either – even fancy restaurants tend to be lacking when it comes to their bathrooms.
First Time in Italy | Final Thoughts
Italy is one of the best countries on the planet, and there’s a reason why millions of people romanticise it so much.
It may have its quirks, and not everything always runs smoothly, but a little planning goes a long way when it comes to travelling in Italy, and being aware of a few local customs can make all the difference.
I hope you found this blog post helpful, and as always, leave any questions in the comments section below!
Until next time,
XOXO
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