I go to Italy almost every year. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I see first-time visitors make — and how to avoid them.
I go to Italy almost every year, and I always see first-time visitors making the same mistakes.
First-timers often build their itinerary around popular cities while ignoring Italy's hidden gems.
It's wise to avoid eating at restaurants close to popular attractions or bringing a large suitcase.
Even after I've visited more than 40 countries, Italy remains one of my favorites. I try to go back every year, whether I'm island-hopping through Sicily or cycling through Puglia.
Yet on my first trip to Italy over 10 years ago, I made nearly every rookie mistake possible, whether falling for a scam in Milan or getting fined in Rome after a public transit mishap.
Since then, the nuances of traveling through Italy have become like second nature. But whenever I visit, I still see others falling into the same missteps that I did on my first trip.
These are the five biggest mistakes I see first-time visitors making in Italy — and how to avoid them.
Not validating train tickets
I find Italy's public transportation options are excellent and can be easy to navigate, especially for American travelers.
Signage is often in both English and Italian, and apps like Google Maps and Trainline make it easy to plan in-country travel.
Even still, I often see first-time visitors forgetting to validate their train tickets. Tickets for select transportation methods, such as regional trains without assigned seats, must be validated before boarding.
Luckily, validating tickets is straightforward. Digital tickets can be validated online, and paper tickets can be inserted into a small machine on the train platform.
The process takes only a few seconds, but forgetting to do so may lead to fines.
Eating at restaurants right near the main attractions
There's no denying that Italy is a foodie's paradise, but not all restaurants in the country are created equally.
Many eateries near the busiest attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain in Rome, feature high prices and (sometimes) lower-quality cuisine because they're catering to tired and desperately hungry tourists.
Unfortunately, I frequently see first-time visitors falling for tourist-trap restaurants. More often than not, they end up disappointed.
Instead, try eating at restaurants at least a few blocks away from busy attractions. This way, I've found, you're more likely to find higher-quality, more authentic dining options.
Falling for common scams and tricks
Stay alert in Italy's tourist areas as you would in any other busy city.
One common trick I see many tourists fall for involves being approached by someone holding a small item, such as a rose or bracelet. The seller hands it to a tourist, and once they grab it, they'll be pressured to purchase the item.
The sellers' sales tactics can seem intimidating, but it's important to remember that there's no need to actually grab the item from the seller.
A stern "no" usually steers the seller away, but if they throw the item in your direction, just let it drop to the floor and walk away.
Traveling with large, heavy suitcases
Without fail, I can spot first-time visitors in Italy by the size of their luggage. Many pack huge, bulky suitcases and look miserable when going from place to place.
Italy's cobblestone streets and lack of consistent elevators can make traveling with heavy suitcases a nightmare. Plus, most trains have limited luggage space, so bigger suitcases may not fit above the seats.
To avoid stressful travel days, I recommend traveling with a carry-on suitcase and a small backpack instead. Even though you'll have to pack more lightly, it's well worth the saved stress.
If you're struggling to fit all your belongings into a smaller bag, try using compression packing cubes.
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