Ten Helpful Tips for First Time Visitors to Italy

The other day, I saw an article written by the one and only, all things Italian, famous actor Stanley Tucci, entitled Tips for First-time Visitors to Italy. It got me thinking, I might have some tips that are helpful as well. With that thought in mind, here are 10 tips for first-time visitors to Italy.

Why read this blog about traveling to Italy for the first time?

At this point, you may be asking, why should I read this blog? This guy certainly is not Stanley Tucci, and that is correct. I’m not. However, I have been to Italy each of the past 3 years with first-time visitors. I went in 2023 with my wife, in 2024 with my wife and stepkids, and this year with my younger son. I’ve written other blogs about these trips, so I won’t rehash what I’ve already covered. Needless to say, though, I’ve spent a lot of time planning trips for first-time visitors to Italy over the past 3 years.

Tip #1 – Stay in the big cities of Italy

Let’s dive in with tip number one. Stay in the big cities. This tip may be controversial. Several people will tell you to stay away from Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and I would add Bologna to that list. That is nonsense. For your first trip, you’re going to want to go to the major sights. They are popular for a reason. Go there. If you need to take a day trip, do it. Stay in the big city and take a day trip from there.

Tip #2 – Take the train, do not drive in Italy

Tip number two for your first time in Italy: no driving. Take the train between cities. Three reasons. Number one, the Italian rail system is excellent. Number two, Italian driving can be challenging. You might be stressed already. Don’t add to it by driving. And number three, a lot of people get parking tickets when driving in Italy because it’s hard to read the signage, and next thing you know, you get home from your trip, and congratulations, you got a 100 Euro parking fine mailed to your home.

Tip #3 – finish your trip in Rome

This tip is probably most relevant for travelers from North America. The reason to finish in Rome is that its airport offers the most direct flights back to the States. Milan has an excellent airport, as does Venice. However, there are not nearly as many direct flights back. At the end of your trip, you’re typically tired. You’re just going to want to get home. Ideally, you may want to round-trip in and out of Rome.

Tip #4 – Take a food tour

When visiting a new Italian city for the first time, I highly recommend taking a food tour. It is a great way to get a little history of the place, see some sights, and, most importantly, stuff your face with excellent Italian food. You can sample all the local dishes and decide what you like best for your next dinner reservations.

Tip #5 – Don’t overeat at each meal in Italy

I’ve learned this the hard way. It is easy to overeat at every meal because Italian food is so delicious. Here’s how I would handle it. Keep breakfast small, as you see in the picture, a cappuccino and a pastry. For lunch. Pizza, pasta, or a panini. Save your stomach space and calories for a big dinner. Once again, don’t overeat every single meal. Unless, of course, you’re young and you can get away with it. If that’s the case, bon apetite.

Tip #6 – Make reservations for dinner

I would not waste time waiting in line for a table for dinner. Go ahead and make reservations in advance, and then confirm once you arrive at your destination.

Tip #7 – Visit cafes to experience coffee culture in Italy

Every city I’ve been to in Italy has an abundance of excellent coffee bars, aka cafes. Be sure to visit plenty of them to experience Italian coffee culture. It’s better than Starbucks, that’s for sure.

Tip #8 – Take small group tours

I’m a big fan of taking tours to visit the major sites. That way, you can skip the line and learn from experts who know a lot more than you do without having to keep your nose tucked away in a travel guide. I’m not a big fan of large-group tours. We’re talking 50-plus people, where you can barely keep up, much less ask any questions. If you can afford it, I would recommend a small-group tour. It’s a better experience, and you can definitely ask the questions you want from the expert you paid to guide you.

Tip #9 – Bring good walking shoes with you to Italy

In most Italian cities, you’re going to do a fair amount of walking. That includes lots of hills, minimal elevators, and stairs galore. I highly recommend bringing some broken-in, good walking shoes. Don’t expect the pavement to be like it is in America either, especially in the ancient and medieval cities. Do yourself a favor: keep your feet happy. It’ll make your vacation better.

Tip #10 – Visit Italy in the off-season

This one’s a little tricky, so let me explain. You certainly don’t want to go in the high summer months, you face large crowds like the one pictured below. Italy offers minimal air conditioning, so you’re going to be hot and sweaty and packed in with a lot of other tourists. The other months you may want to avoid, oddly enough, are September and October. For some Italian cities, this is still high season. I think November or early in the year, April, and May are probably the best times to visit Italy.

Bonus  Tip – Stay in apartments if traveling with family

If it is your first time visiting Italy and you are traveling with family, I would recommend staying in apartments, if possible, so that everyone has their own bedroom. Hotels in Italy are excellent. However, if you’re with family, I would go with apartments. It’s going to give you peace of mind, and at the end of a long day together, you all can go to your separate corners and enjoy the Wi-Fi.

Go to Italy if you have never been

Let me finish with a word of encouragement. If you’ve never been to Italy, get there. It is an unbelievably beautiful and incredible country to visit. I highly recommend it. I hope these tips help. If not, leave a comment letting me know I’m an idiot. Or if you have some of your own tips for first-time visitors to Italy, put them in the comments.

I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.