This Italy Travel Guide will give you information on just everything you need, before embarking on your first trip to Italia. Italy is a great country to travel to, due to multiple reasons. The rich history (most is still visible as paintings or structures), devine cuisine or also great business oportunities (some of the most notable companies with italian roots are Illy, Ferrari, … just to name a very few). For sure the summer is an ideal season to travel to Italy, to visit beaches and hop by train from one city to another, however Italy offers unique experiences year round. In northern Italy you can go skiing in winter, truffle hunting in Fall, and discover not as croded cities in the spring till early summer.
Below I have concluded a comprehensive Travel Guide for Italy for you. It will give you basic information on Italy, its language, currency and how to navigate within the country by public transport, without an own car or vehicle (rental Vespas excluded, those are almost always recommended). I have already travelled to Italy multiple dozen times, it might be nearing the 100th-time mark, therefore I have experienced a lot of this country. Right below you can also find a map of Italy, with marks in each city that I have already visited and written Tipps about. If you are missing some specific information, dont hesitate to request a blog post.
Previous
Next
[display-map id=”28615″]
Good to know
Language of Italy
The official language of Italy is Italian. In the areas bordering to both Germany and Austria, especially in south Tyrol, German is widely spoken, too. The same goes for the region bordering France, where French is widely understood, or even spoken.
Currency in Italy
The currency in Italy, as well as in San Marino and the Vatican state, is the European Euro. As the Euro is the official currency in most countries in Europe, you won’t find as many changing offices (as there used to be, when every country had its own currency).
Paying cashless via debit/credit card or contactless via Google Pay/Apple Pay is usually possible in chain supermarkets (coop, LIDL,..) and bigger stores (coin, ZARA,..), as well as in some Restaurants. But be aware, as most restaurants in Italy, especially in not overly tourist-saturated areas, are privately owned, you most probably will only be able to pay with cash, not with card or contactless.
Popular destinations in Italy
<ul>
<li >
Rome
</li>
<li >
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/topic/milan">
Milan
</a>
</li>
<li >
Florence
</li>
<li >
Venice
</li>
<li >
Naples
</li>
<li >
Bologna
</li>
<li >
Palermo
</li>
<li >
Verona
</li>
<li >
Trieste
</li>
<li >
Genoa
</li>
<li >
Rimini
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Frequently Asked Questions about Italy</h3>
<a href="">Is Italy safe?</a>
<a href="">Power Outlets and adapter needed</a>
<a href="">Getting from A to B in Italy</a>
<a href="">Direct trains to Italy from which european countries?</a>
<a href="">Languages spoken in Italy</a>
Is Italy safe?
<p>Overall, I would rate Italy a safe country to visit, for families, couples, as well as solo travellers or youth groups. However, you need to be cautious of pickpockets, especially in touristy areas and in front or nearby public sights (Pantheon in Rome, for example).
Italy is definitely considered sage from an “is it okay to travel” perspective, however you should always keep an eye on your belongings, especially valuables. Furthermore, you should be aware of scammers, don’t bee too trusty with street vendors and don’t pay for anything in advance or for a service you didn’t ask for (forcing to help with your luggage, and harshly requesting money for it).
Power Outlets and adapter needed
Tab Content
Getting from A to B in Italy
Tab Content
Direct trains to Italy from which european countries?
Italy might not be in central Europe, with only a few countries bordering its north; however, the train connections to Italy are quite impressive. Not only by regional train but via high-speed train or even overnight train.
Coming in 2020, there will be a new highspeed train connecting Paris and Milan, giving travellers the opportunity to travel all the way from as far as London (via Eurostar) via Paris to Milan.
Otherwise, there are various direct connections to Italy, such as Munich – Innsbruck – Merano – Verona, Basel/Zurich – Como – Milan, Nice – Monaco – Genoa, Munich – Milan / Rome (sleeper night train), Vienna – Venice and more.
Languages spoken in Italy
The official language of Italy is Italian. In the areas bordering to both Germany and Austria, especially in south Tyrol, German is widely spoken, too. The same goes for the region bordering France, where French is widely understood, or even spoken.
In more touristy regions English is widely spoken, as well as in the big cities, and especially by younger folks. On the countryside, and elderly people, won’t understand English, and most probably Italian only. Even though the language barrier, I have always found a way to communicate, may it be pointing to things with your hand, or using an online translator as the very last straw.
my most recent Blogposts about Italy
Italy
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/sicilian-street-food-in-palermo-at-rasca-palermo/">
<img width="1024" height="768" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rasca-Palermo.jpg" alt="Rasca Palermo" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rasca-Palermo.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rasca-Palermo.jpg?resize=250%2C188&ssl=1 250w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rasca-Palermo.jpg?resize=500%2C375&ssl=1 500w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Rasca-Palermo.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/sicilian-street-food-in-palermo-at-rasca-palermo/">Sicilian street food in Palermo at Rasca Palermo</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/fast-pizza-in-verona-near-arena-di-verona/">
<img width="768" height="1024" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fast-Pizza-La-Conchiglia-Verona-Arena-JoyDellaVita_01.jpg" alt="Fast Pizza La Conchiglia Verona Arena" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fast-Pizza-La-Conchiglia-Verona-Arena-JoyDellaVita_01.jpg?w=768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fast-Pizza-La-Conchiglia-Verona-Arena-JoyDellaVita_01.jpg?resize=188%2C250&ssl=1 188w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fast-Pizza-La-Conchiglia-Verona-Arena-JoyDellaVita_01.jpg?resize=375%2C500&ssl=1 375w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/fast-pizza-in-verona-near-arena-di-verona/">Fast Pizza in Verona near Arena di Verona</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/the-best-time-to-visit-palermo-italy/">
<img width="850" height="560" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/8e306623-fbcb-4fa9-8b5e-41be88d4c6f2-850x560.jpg" alt="Palermo Sicily" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/8e306623-fbcb-4fa9-8b5e-41be88d4c6f2.jpg?resize=850%2C560&ssl=1 850w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/8e306623-fbcb-4fa9-8b5e-41be88d4c6f2.jpg?resize=455%2C300&ssl=1 455w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/the-best-time-to-visit-palermo-italy/">The best time to visit Palermo, Italy</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/hotel-restaurant-nh-collection-roma-palazzo-cinquecento/">
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HotelRestaurant_NHCollectionRomaPalazzoCinquecento_JoyDellaVita-1.jpg" alt="Hotel Restaurant NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento JoyDella" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HotelRestaurant_NHCollectionRomaPalazzoCinquecento_JoyDellaVita-1.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i2.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HotelRestaurant_NHCollectionRomaPalazzoCinquecento_JoyDellaVita-1.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1 700w, https://i2.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HotelRestaurant_NHCollectionRomaPalazzoCinquecento_JoyDellaVita-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/hotel-restaurant-nh-collection-roma-palazzo-cinquecento/">Hotel Restaurant NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/tips-on-how-to-successfully-haggle-at-a-market-in-italy/">
<img width="409" height="255" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita-409x255.jpg" alt="Tips for haggling at a market in Italy - Fish market in Genoa - Travelblog JoyDellaVita.com" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita.jpg?resize=409%2C255&ssl=1 409w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita.jpg?resize=270%2C168&ssl=1 270w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita.jpg?resize=760%2C474&ssl=1 760w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita.jpg?resize=370%2C232&ssl=1 370w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tipshagglingmarketitaly_fishmarketGenoa_JoyDellaVita.jpg?zoom=2&resize=409%2C255&ssl=1 818w" sizes="(max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/tips-on-how-to-successfully-haggle-at-a-market-in-italy/">Tips on how to successfully haggle at a market in Italy</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/why-you-should-visit-galleria-darte-moderna-palermo-on-the-first-sunday-of-a-month/">
<img width="1024" height="683" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Galleria-dArte-Moderna-Palermo.jpg" alt="Galleria dArte Moderna Palermo" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Galleria-dArte-Moderna-Palermo.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Galleria-dArte-Moderna-Palermo.jpg?resize=250%2C167&ssl=1 250w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Galleria-dArte-Moderna-Palermo.jpg?resize=500%2C333&ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Galleria-dArte-Moderna-Palermo.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/why-you-should-visit-galleria-darte-moderna-palermo-on-the-first-sunday-of-a-month/">Why you should visit Galleria d’Arte Moderna Palermo on the first Sunday of a month</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/gelato-florence-lebotteghedileonardo/">
<img width="1000" height="667" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a82dc414-21ac-4396-aaa3-741f2fb0dab1.jpg" alt="" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a82dc414-21ac-4396-aaa3-741f2fb0dab1.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1 1000w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a82dc414-21ac-4396-aaa3-741f2fb0dab1.jpg?resize=250%2C167&ssl=1 250w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/a82dc414-21ac-4396-aaa3-741f2fb0dab1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/gelato-florence-lebotteghedileonardo/">The best gelato in Florence, Italy – Le Botteghe Di Leonardo</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/where-to-find-casa-di-romeo-in-verona-the-house-of-romeo-of-romeo-juliet/">
<img width="1024" height="682" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Casa-di-Romeo-Verona_01.jpg" alt="Casa di Romeo Verona" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Casa-di-Romeo-Verona_01.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Casa-di-Romeo-Verona_01.jpg?resize=250%2C167&ssl=1 250w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Casa-di-Romeo-Verona_01.jpg?resize=500%2C333&ssl=1 500w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Casa-di-Romeo-Verona_01.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/where-to-find-casa-di-romeo-in-verona-the-house-of-romeo-of-romeo-juliet/">Where to find Casa di Romeo in Verona, the House of Romeo of Romeo & Juliet</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/blog-girl-in-florence/">
<img width="640" height="640" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/11348398_655504701249530_155176223_n.jpg" alt="Instagram: It's about time to leave Florence and Italy" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/11348398_655504701249530_155176223_n.jpg?w=640&ssl=1 640w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/11348398_655504701249530_155176223_n.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/11348398_655504701249530_155176223_n.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/blog-girl-in-florence/">Recommendation – Blog about Florence “Girl in Florence”</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/train-to-cattolica-gabicce-mare-from-rimini-riccione/">
<img width="1024" height="682" src="https://joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg" alt="Train Cattolica Gabicce Mare Monte" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?resize=250%2C167&ssl=1 250w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?resize=576%2C384&ssl=1 576w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1 800w, https://i1.wp.com/joydellavita.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Train-Cattolica-Gabicce-Mare-Monte-01-joydellavita.jpg?resize=165%2C109&ssl=1 165w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> </a>
<h3><a href="https://joydellavita.com/train-to-cattolica-gabicce-mare-from-rimini-riccione/">Taking the Train to Cattolica / Gabicce Mare from Rimini / Riccione</a></h3>
<a href="https://joydellavita.com/travelblog/travel/europe/italy/" role="button">
read more: Italy
</a>
