Italy Travel Guide

florence italy

Italy Travel Guide

History, art, food, culture, wine, mountains, beaches, beautiful cities…Italy absolutely has something for everyone and is hands down my top European country recommendation. Each city/region is unique and beautiful with something entirely different to offer any traveler.

There is no area of Italy that I’ve disliked; from the dreamy canals of Venice, to the luxury of Lake Como, the picturesque towns of Cinque Terre, the perfection of Florence, the endless history of Rome, the sheer magnitude of Pompeii, to the stunning cliffs of the Amalfi coast, the charming towns of Puglia, & the epic sites of the Dolomites – Italy provides endless options.

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venice canals

Safety for Solo Female Travel: 4.5 out of 5

I also have travelled extensively both in a group and alone and have found Italy to be very safe. As always, just be smart at night and keep an eye on your belonging in train stations and other touristy locations!

Also, Italian men can be forward in terms of staring or making comments, but I have never been approached or made to feel uncomfortable aside from unwanted looks and comments.

Cost & Currency

Italy is fairly affordable, particularly food & drinks, etc. There are also tons of accommodations options to meet your budget. The currency is the Euro, but it’s also easy to use a credit card in most places.

cinque terre
matera

When to Visit

The weather makes travel worth it almost any time of year. Summer is peak tourist season, but if you like to avoid the crowds I’d recommend the fall, it’s still super warm and a little less busy!

I’ve also been there in the winter, most days are mild enough that you can still walk around and get the Italy experience, plus you’ll save money!

Spring is a lovely time to visit, and similarly to fall, a little less crowded than peak tourist season.

Getting Around

For the most part, I recommend travelling around Italy via train, especially if you’re sticking to major cities like Rome, Florence & Venice, or areas that are difficult to drive/park, like the Amalfi Coast.

Italy has an extensive local and regional train systems make travel super convenient which allows for a ton of flexibility when it comes to planning your trip.

The Trainline is a good resource for booking high-speed regional trains between major cities & Trenitalia is good for local trains (also these can be purchased at the station before boarding (make sure to validate at the machines in the station before getting on a train to avoid fines!)

There are a few regions where it is advisable to rent a car, particularly Tuscany, The Dolomites & Puglia. These regions are less well connected by public transport, and to see everything you want to see you’ll likely want a car. You can see my full guide on renting a car in Italy here.

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