Italy is on the top of many travel bucket lists. There is so much to see and experience, it can get overwhelming deciding how to make the most of your time. With a little planning, you can easily visit multiple cities without relying on tour groups or travel agents.
How to Start Planning Your Italy Itinerary
Italy is not a place you can go without a plan. To maximize your travel time, you must plan ahead. Without a plan for your Italy trip, you’ll likely find yourself standing in line for hours, or risk not visiting your desired sites at all. If you are traveling to Italy for the first time and want to optimize the time you have, the most important step is deciding the places and attractions you want to visit.
1. Begin by noting down your dream Italian destinations.
2. Organize these gems according to their respective cities.
3. Categorize those locations into lists of “Can’t Miss”, “Want to See”, and “If Time Allows”.
4. Pull up a map of Italy and gauge the proximity of the majority of your Can’t Misses and travel feasibility.
5. Align your travel days with the cities you can realistically cover.
6. Refine your Italy itinerary based on practicality.
7. Research and note the operating days and hours of your desired Italian destinations.
8. To maximize your travel time, determine which days to spend in each city based on the days those attractions are open.
Selecting Your Italian Haven
To make the most of your trip, opt for a centrally located stay close to your chosen points of interest. By doing so, you should be able to walk to most of the sites you want to see. Renting a car is not necessary and can be stressful due to traffic rules and designated streets that are off-limits to drivers. For my Italian stay, I used Booking.com and which unveiled a treasure trove of rental apartments and cozy boutique hotels. Staying in my desired areas and having a point of contact for any questions was pleasant and convenient. I received seamless assistance through the Booking.com app or WhatsApp when I had any questions about my accommodation.
Making Reservations and Booking Tickets
Airline Tickets
To ensure that you get the best airline prices to Italy, start tracking them as soon as they become available. If the price is within your budget, don’t hesitate to book your tickets. I made the mistake of waiting for better deals and ended up paying more than originally priced.
Points of Interest and Activities
You must plan ahead when visiting the popular Italian destinations, as tickets for these locations and activities sell out quickly. Research and plan your trip at least a year in advance, and book tickets 3-6 months before your visit, depending on the activity. Buying tickets ahead of time can also give you access to special areas or skip-the-line options. Most tickets for smaller museums and sites can be purchased same day. Popular activities also sell out quickly, so if you want to bike ride through the streets of Florence, make your reservations before you arrive.
Hotels and Other Accommodations
Once you find the ideal accommodation, book it. I would suggest starting to look at least 6 months in advance, however I found great accommodations when reserving about 3 months before my arrival.
Determining What Airport to Fly Into
If you’re spending any time in Rome during your trip, which you certainly should if this is your first time in Italy, I recommend a roundtrip ticket through the Fiumicino airport (FCO). This is one of the larger international airports in Italy, which means you’ll have more options if any issues arise. I had some trouble with my flight out of Florence and ended up taking a train to Rome in order to catch a flight back to the U.S. It’s worth noting that most airports are not typically located in the center of town. You will need to plan for longer travel times, and transportation fees getting to and from the airport. Rome is centrally located within Italy however, so you can take a train to many other cities, north or south with ease.
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Guided Tours or Self-Exploration?
Visiting attractions on your own is certainly plausible, yet pre-booked tickets and skip-the-line perks are invaluable to make the most of your trip. For sites like Pompeii, having a guide who can navigate the crowds and show you the highlights at the right times can be incredibly helpful. On the other hand, for places like St. Peter’s Basilica, it may be better to explore on your own so you can take your time and fully appreciate everything. The advantage of a tour is that you’ll be able to enter the site more quickly or see areas off limits to the public, which can make up for not being able to stay inside for as long as you’d like.
The Best Way to Exchange Currency
If your credit card has free currency exchange transactions, you do not need to exchange money before or during your trip. However, if you plan to buy from street vendors or tip tour guides, you may want to withdraw some Euros. During my 10-day stay in Italy, I withdrew €80 from an ATM, and that was enough. I used my credit card for everything else. There are mixed recommendations on how to get the best exchange rates, but exchanging from an ATM once you’re in Italy seems to be the majority’s suggestion. For the safest option, do this within a bank lobby, not a machine on the open street. This could also reduce the ATM fees you’ll pay. Make sure your debit card has zero foreign transaction fees. If it doesn’t, apply for one that does well before you leave, in order to get it on time.
Using your Cell Phone in Italy
There are many ways to keep in touch with loved ones and access data while abroad, even if your current plan doesn’t offer international data. Before leaving, I bought a mobile hotspot from Amazon that included 1GB of data with the option to add more. I tested it before leaving and made sure everyone back home downloaded WhatsApp for easy communication. A perk of this is it works in over 130 countries, so I can use it on future trips. Another option is purchasing a SIM card in Italy. I was apprehensive with this option because if there were any issues, I would have no way to reach anyone in a pickle. If you’re using public Wi-Fi, make sure to have security measures installed ahead of time to protect your information. It’s not ideal to have your identity compromised while traveling.
Ready for your Italian adventure? Discover our pre-made itineraries here!
Bonus Tips for Planning Your Trip to Italy
• Avoid the scorching summer heat if possible… It was unbearable even for a desert dweller.
• Adjust your air-conditioning expectations, they are not what you’re used to in the U.S.
• Don’t keep all your funds in one place. If a bag is stolen or lost, you’ll want to have other means to get through the day.
• While the colorful gelato piled high looks inviting, it’s full of air and ice. Go to the shops that have it covered to keep it creamy and cold. You can thank me later.
• Pay attention when you’re walking. If you step on the art laid out on the ground, you’ll be expected to buy it.
• Bring a reusable water bottle. The free water from the fountains are cold, tasty, and perfectly safe to drink. Also, restaurants don’t offer free water, you will have to pay for it.
• Dive into the local cuisines for the most rewarding authentic flavors.
• Embed downtime in your Italy itinerary for local exploration or a much needed nap after all the walking you’re going to do.
• Bring additional luggage wheels if using rolling suitcases on the cobblestones, but if you’re able to, use a travel backpack instead.
• Check-in at the airport and print all your boarding passes. Don’t rely on your phone, or online check-in only.
Check out more insights as I delve deeper into suggestions for visiting Rome and Florence! Discover hidden gems and masterful tips to maximize your time during your own unforgettable Italian adventure.
