Italy

Italy is a fabulous country and offers so much diversity, but you will never be disappointed no matter which part you visit.

From the beautiful Amalfi coastline, to the serenity of Lake Como and the magnificent cathedrals in cities like Rome, Florence or Milan the savvy traveller needs to do plenty of research in order to pick those destinations that will excite and delight.

We have visited Italy several times, returning to our favourite places as well as visiting new ones. The time of year is important also, but as always we would suggest travelling on the cusp of the busy seasons. The visitor numbers in Italy are enormous so some well advanced planning is essential if you want to stay in your choice of accommodation, and visit some of the best attractions in the world.

Travel Tips

• Currency – the Euro is the only form of currency in Italy. However, like most countries, credit cards are widely accepted. Be careful, though, that you only use your card in reputable establishments. Not every merchant is safe!
• Visas – it is always best to check visa requirements for your own country. This link takes you to a comprehensive visa checklist and also provides other important information for the traveller.
• Train travel is extremely easy throughout Italy, and the most cost effective way to travel. Not only do you get to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery, but it is fast, efficient and extremely clean. If you are able to afford First Class travel, we would always encourage you to book these tickets. The seats are more comfortable and there is usually a food service on offer. Try some of the following sites to help you plan your train trip:
  • Rome2rio – this is such an easy site to use, and gives you all the options you need to get to your destination. We found this very helpful and straightforward. It also provides links to external sites where you can continue your research and do your bookings.
  • Eurail – another excellent booking site giving you all the options and timetables to plan your journey.
  • Rail Europe – explore these sites to work out which one covers the destination you are heading for, as they will often cover different areas within Europe.
  • Trainline – we have never used this site, so it is worthwhile exploring.
  • International Rail – offers a wide range of ticket options and provides a wealth of information relating to train travel.
• Driving – most tourists will balk at driving due to the many challenges with road rules and language barriers. But it is not as difficult as you might think. It is true that you can get caught out in parking areas if you do not understand the signage, but overall driving is a great experience and allows you to pull into those small towns that are never on tourist destination maps. All the major cities and towns have hire car centres, and it is easy to pick up your car from the train station, and drive to your next destination, dropping the car off when you have finished using it. However, it is probably not the most cost effective form of travel, and we still find that train travel is much easier and cheaper.
• Language – the Italians are generally easy people to communicate with, and if they don’t speak your language, they try very hard to understand what you need. They are friendly and outgoing and will ensure that your visit is a memorable one. In the larger cities language is usually not a barrier, but in the smaller centres you may find it a bit more challenging.

Travel Alerts

• Check out the Italian Department of Foreign Affairs for relevant travel alerts.
• When travelling by train please be aware that trains arrive and depart almost exactly on time. You will not find any delays occurring, so if you are travelling by train you need to ensure that you arrive in plenty of time before your train departs, make sure you are on the right platform and position yourself somewhere near your carriage. Italian trains wait for no man! If you cannot understand the Italian language, and are unsure about where you should be standing, then make sure you find some station staff to assist you.

Travel Adventures

• Italy is such a large country and there are so many great options for sightseeing. If possible we would suggest either a visit to the coast, such as Amalfi, or the lakes, such as Lake Como as well as a couple of major cities. Whatever you choose we are sure you will not be disappointed, but to get you started check out the Italian Tourism Board for some ideas.