Italy · EuropeItaly
Art, history, pasta, and la dolce vita
from $80/day Very safeculturefood
Quick Facts
Capital
Rome
Population
59 million
Best airports
FCO (Rome), MXP (Milan)
UNESCO Sites
58 (world's most)
Avg temp (spring)
18°C / 64°F
Safety
Very safe
Vibes
culturefoodromancehistoryart
Best Time to Visit
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best months This month
Daily Budget
Backpacker
$80
per day
Mid-range
$180
per day
Luxury
$500
per day
Top Experiences
🏛️$18
Colosseum & Roman Forum
Walk through 2,000 years of history in the heart of ancient Rome
🚤$90 (shared)
Venice Gondola at Dusk
Glide through narrow canals past Renaissance palaces as the city glows amber
🎨$25
Uffizi Gallery Florence
Botticelli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo - the world's greatest Renaissance art collection
Must-Try Food
Carbonara (Rome)
Only four ingredients - guanciale, Pecorino, egg yolk, pepper. Never cream.
Pizza Margherita (Naples)
The original pizza, cooked in a 900°C wood-fired oven for 90 seconds
Gelato
Real Italian gelato: denser, creamier, less airy than ice cream. Pistachio or lemon
Getting Around
🚄
Trenitalia / Italo$20–60
Fast inter-city trains connect Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan in 2–3 hours
🚇
City metro$1.50 per ride
Rome, Milan, and Naples have metro systems - buy day passes
🛵
Vespa rental$40–70/day
The classic Italian way to explore coastal towns and Tuscany countryside
⛴️
Ferry (Aeolian/Amalfi)$15–40
Essential for island-hopping and coastal towns without roads
Cultural Tips
Dress code strictly enforced at Vatican and churches - no bare shoulders or knees
Eat at local 'trattorie' away from tourist squares - 30% cheaper and far better
Aperitivo time (6–8pm) - many bars offer free snacks with drinks
Don't order cappuccino after 11am - Italians drink it only in the morning
Coperto (cover charge) on bills is legal - not a scam
Pickpockets are common around the Colosseum and Vatican - use a money belt
Hidden Gems
Matera - ancient cave city in Basilicata, one of the oldest inhabited settlements on Earth
Civita di Bagnoregio - the 'dying city' perched on eroding volcanic tufa, only reachable by a single footbridge
Procida - tiny, colorful island off Naples, far less crowded than Capri, named 2022 Italian Capital of Culture
Going beyond the trip?
Explore the Italy country profile
Cost of living, visas, healthcare, taxes, expat life and everything you'd need to actually move and stay long-term.