If you’re looking for the perfect destination, you may struggle to find anything better than Italy. This vast country offers a wide and diverse range of cultures with almost too much to experience. When it comes to places to visit in Italy, the only way to experience the vera Italia (real Italy) is to dig in and travel like a local.
Places to Visit in Italy
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I fell in love with Italy on my first international trip many years ago, and this country still remains at the top of my favorite destinations. Italy serves up an undeniable charm and appeals to people from all over the world, it is Italy.
Italy has a lot to offer, from the incredible food to the amazing attractions. No matter your tastes or your interests, from its incredible food and wine to historic attractions, the places to visit in Italy are many. Read on for tips to narrow down your search.
Find the Small Towns, Not Just the Tourist Traps
One of the most wonderful aspects of Italy is that there are so many towns throughout every region.
Venice or Rome might be amazing, but to truly experience Italy visit the main square of every town at approximately 5 pm. This is when the locals are enjoying their “passeggiata,” a mid-evening stroll.
And of course, you must follow this up with the finest Italian aperitivo and Italian wines out there. In fact, wine is your jam, after our visit to Italy, your taste buds will never be the same.
Read More: 5 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns of Italy
Take Public Transportation or Italian Traffic
It’s important to have an idea of the transportation system. Each city has its own, which includes trams, metro, or buses. Save a lot of money by purchasing a day pass.
If your preference is driving yourself around Italy, be prepared for the inner city Italian traffic! It may seem like most are not obeying the rules of the road! Don’t say you weren’t warned!
The best thing approach to public transport or driving is to know the peak rush hour times. Generally, it’s worth avoiding transport at these times as this will make your trip less stressful.
Make Room for Your Meals!
There is no point in snacking as you go!
The local restaurants always put snacks on the table before you’ve even ordered, consisting of olives, chips, and peanuts, and combine that with an aperitivo, a pre-meal drink, and welcome to an Italian cultural ritual. Consider it the warm-up for your stomach before the main event!
Keep in mind – the typical Italian meal can span more than three courses, it’s worth keeping your belt unfastened!
Save your snack time for your return to the hotel. At the end of the evening, your leftover pizza will be the best treat!
Set Reasonable Expectations for What You Can See
From the perspective of any tourist, the temptation is to go and see everything, but the reality is there are just too many places to go, and too many interesting sites, not to mention museums, in every single city in Italy.
Before you go, prepare your list of must-sees, like to see, and maybe want to see. Be sure to schedule downtime in between because you don’t want to overload your itinerary.
Keep in mind, that if you want to go to Milan, and are determined to see Venice, the travel time between the two can be almost half a day.
Get your itinerary right, and you can visit places en route. It’s the best way to do it.
Pack Less Than You Think You Need
Avoid the temptation to stuff more into a suitcase, Keep in mind that Italy is a place full of cobblestones and flights of stairs that can make dragging your luggage a disaster. Also, consider about the time of year you are visiting While the temperature is hot during the summer and cold in the winter if your visit is in the fall or spring months, there can be a fluctuation in temperatures.
Learn About Italian Regions
The inner cities of Italy are very different from the rural countryside, but if you want to experience real Italy, decide if you are going to venture deeper into a region such as Campania or Lazio.
No one region is the same, so if you really want to gain an appreciation for the rural settings, the best thing to do is prepare.
Learn Conversational Italian
While many Italians will speak English, if you really want to earn their favor, especially when ordering food, think about some of the simple questions, but also colloquial expressions and learn those in Italian.
If you are looking for an amazing experience, Italy provides it and even more! A few of these things can make a massive difference to the quality of your vacations, so be sure to try a few.