Italy is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe and attracts thousands of tourists each year on the search for its delicious cuisine, fantastic architecture and unrivaled art. With so much to see and do, including over 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, three active volcanoes and over 1,500 lakes, the hardest part is trying to fit it all in! If you’ve never visited Italy before, we’ve put together some top tips ahead of your trip.
Conduct Thorough Research
When you’ve never been somewhere before, you want to ensure you do your research so you don’t have any unwanted surprises once you arrive. With Italy being such a vast and varied place to head, you need to consider what you want to do when you’re there. Do you want to stay in one area? Or travel around? If you are only staying for a week, you might want to stick to one or two destinations, but if you have longer, your options are more varied. Look into the places you want to go and see how long it’s recommended you spend there so you don’t miss anything.
Choose The Best Season For Your Visit
Italy is blessed with a beautiful and luscious climate, yet this does mean in the summer it can get very hot. If you’re planning on heading to the Italian coast or relaxing around a pool, this won’t be a problem. However, if you are looking see the sights it make it exhausting and not so fun! We recommend you choose the spring season if this is the case, as the weather is less humid but still pleasant. This means you can make the most of your destination.
Pick The Best Way To Explore
Being such a vast and varied landscape, it’s recommended you explore Italy by road. Their public transport isn’t necessarily the most reliable, so by renting a car you can make the most of the freedom and flexibility this brings. If travelling with a family or just wanting to ensure you’re as prepared as you can, look into some cool car things to make it exceptional. This could be shades for the windows or a portable charger – all of which will help make your journey that bit more comfortable.
Don’t Overlook Local Locations
Take time to venture a little off the beaten path. For example, instead of going to Lake Como, think about exploring more of the local, surrounding neighborhoods or towns such as Lake Maggiore. Seeing the famous places is a must, but to get a real taste of authenticity, head to the smaller and lesser known destinations. Food and drink here is likely to be better, cheaper and more traditional. plus you should hopefully avoid the crowds.
Try Different Cuisines
Food is an integral part of going to a new place and if there’s one thing Italy is known for, it’s their food! Pizza is one dish that has travelled all over the world, but you must try it from where it originated. Head to Naples where you can try the original pizza and dine in the oldest pizzeria in the world. Be sure to sample Aperol Spritz in Venice and see what the other local regions have to offer.
Decide where to stay before you go
Once you have decided on the places you will visit, deciding where you should stay is crucial. Decide if you’re looking for somewhere plush and luxurious, or a simple place to rest your head. Italy has a range of different hotels, from small boutique B&B’s, to luxurious resorts. The choice is yours.
These are some top tips for visiting Italy for the first time that is sure to make your trip the best it can be.
