Key things to know before visiting Italy include booking major attractions like the Colosseum and Vatican months in advance, validating train tickets to avoid heavy fines, and expecting a slower dining pace with a mandatory service charge (coperto). Bring cash for small purchases, wear comfortable shoes for uneven cobblestones, and know that coffee is usually espresso, with milk-based drinks limited to the morning.
12 things to know before traveling to Italy
Avoid bright colors and opt for more neutral or muted tones. Italians generally dress up a bit more than casual tourists, so bring some stylish outfits. Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring, but leave the flip-flops for the beach.
Circulatory diseases remain the leading cause of death in Italy, followed by cancer. In 2022, Italy's adult smoking rate was slightly higher than the EU average at 19.6 %, marking a resurgence of smoking during the pandemic following a decade of gradual declines.
In 2023, the metropolitan city of Milan ranked first in terms of crime rate, as it recorded 7,100 felonies per 100,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, the provinces of Rome and Florence followed with around 6,000 cases reported.
Even though vegetables are a vaunted part of the Mediterranean diet, Italians don't eat more vegetables than Americans do. Italians do, however, eat much less meat. Americans eat 67 percent more. Italians also eat slightly less added sugar, 71 pounds per person in 2021, compared to 74.3 pounds in the U.S.
Paying by card makes traveling much easier; however, it is important to remember that it might not be available in some destinations. In most places in Italy, paying by card is no problem, yet having at least some local currency in cash is always a good idea for unexpected cases.
Yes! Italians wear jeans year-round, especially well-fitted or tailored, stylish ones in darker washes. Italian style is more dressy and the locals take pride in how they dress. Jeans are fine to wear, especially during the day – you'll stand out more by wearing shorts outside the summer months.
Italians tend to dress up, and rarely leave the house in flip-flops or gym clothes. To avoid looking like a total tourist, leave the flip-flops behind and dress up a bit. Just be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, as old cobblestone streets can make walking a bit challenging!”
Google 'the best and worst times to visit Italy' and just about every source you find will tell you that the best months to visit Italy are April and May or September and October and that the worst times to visit are July and August, when the weather gets uncomfortably hot and high season brings high prices and crowds.
There are multiple major native mafia-like organizations that are heavily active in Italy. The most powerful of these organizations are the Camorra from Campania, the 'Ndrangheta from Calabria and the Cosa Nostra from Sicily.
Cavargna is the poorest city in Italy: the explanation
According to ministerial data, Cavargna is the municipality with the lowest income on the entire peninsula.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas. Thieves and pickpockets take advantage of large gatherings to target travellers. People may approach you on the street to sell tickets to events.
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion challenges: the viral TikTok trend of creating outfits with 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes (9 items total) for many combinations, and Project 333 by Courtney Carver, which challenges you to wear just 33 items (including clothes, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, but excluding underwear, sleepwear, and workout gear) for three months to reduce decision fatigue and declutter. Both methods encourage mindful consumption and creating versatile capsule wardrobes from existing items.
It is improper to put one's hands on one's lap, or to stretch one's arms while at the table. Resting one's elbows on the table is also considered to be poor manners. Do not leave the table until everyone has finished eating. Drinking beverages other than water or wine with a meal is quite uncommon.
Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers, preferably dark in color to withstand dirt, are the most practical way to go. During the summer sandals are more popular due to the heat, so make sure your sandals cover and protect your feet as much as possible and have comfortable soles.