Italy is one of the most incredible countries in the world, but there are some big mistakes that can ruin your trip. In this video, we’re sharing 34 things you should never do in Italy.
Get your skip-the-line tickets here! 👇🏻(don’t wait until the last minute, many of these sell out)
1. ROME
🏛️ Skip-the-line for the Colosseum (includes a guided tour & the Roman Forum): https://gyg.me/UIhwuRvy
⛪ Skip-the-line for the Vatican: https://gyg.me/I47gdyHt
2. FLORENCE
💒 Skip-the-line for climbing the Duomo: https://gyg.me/27JDPAFj
🗽 Skip-the-line for Accademia & David: https://gyg.me/bAqENah7
🖼️ Skip-the-line for Uffizi Gallery: https://gyg.me/YUxBdn6J
👑 Skip-the-line for Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens: https://gyg.me/li5FYnnJ
3. VENICE
🏛️ Skip-the-line ticket Doge’s Palace: https://gyg.me/grpSvwck
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29 Comments
I'm flying into Rome the first week of September, meeting my wife who's going to Croatia ahead of me for scuba diving. We were bummed to find out that the Colosseum is closed the first Sunday of the month, so I won't be able to take a tour. Fortunately, she is going to have an extra day ahead of me, so she will be able to do a tour, but I'm out of luck. Fortunately, that just means we can lave Rome earlier than anticipated and head up the road to Orvieto where we spend night #2.
Great video, Kim. I particularly appreciate and want to stress what you said about dressing appropriately. I have been to Florence several times with friends and each time I have told them, "I will NOT be seen with you wearing a paper bag in the Duomo, so wear a collared shirt (men) or a nice blouse (women) and long pants!" I'm not particularly religious, but any church/cathedral/basilica is still someone's place of worship and deserves respect.
Tip: The first time I went to the Duomo in Florence was with two friends of mine. It was a zoo. Tourists everywhere, some wearing paper bags. 😂 I asked one of the docents (in Italian), "Do you have a chapel for prayer?" He replied (in English), "Yes, but NO PICTURES!" "Certo," I said. He led us to a chapel in the south end of the transept where you could barely hear anything going on in the nave. We were effectively alone. We sat, relaxed, appreciated the architecture and artwork, meditated, lit candles, and prayed for our loved ones. That was one of the best experiences I had in Florence.
St. Peter's Basilica is not a cathedral. 😉
Thank you so much for all this information!
You skip the lines in paying it. Just you do pay more…That’s the secret……..
Ok. Yes. Not every Italian wants to overcharge you. But be careful with the taxi drivers. In Firenze we took a taxi, 4 Weeks ago to our place we stayed. 15 Euros. OK. A Lady driver she, a lady wanted 30 Euros. What ? For what the double price ? Your languages……What ? Just one big and a small ? Yes there is the list. And yes we did see 15 Euros. But we took the time and translated the whole list.
15 Euros is the maximum. Normally you pay over 1 euro per bag. So please be careful. In an other town, sorry again a lady driver took us to the train station from the place we stayed. She asked for 30% more then we payed wenn we arrived. All at daytime so no extra charge. I told here I am not paying this. She mentioned she had to come to collect us and this costs extra. I told here in English that she can call the police BUT I am not paying 30% more.
At the end she accepted. So please be carful in using taxis…… and please also comment your experiences.
I work in tourism and the last thing I recommend is overpriced getyourguide. Go directly to the source of tickets no to a middle man
I have never been to Italy.
I lived the majority of my life in a city with a large Italian population. Hamilton, Ontario Canada
There is also a large population of Italian's in the City of Windsor, Ontario Canada.
To this day the majority of my friends have Italian heritage.
They love to share their culture and are generous to a fault. My family were cycling champions and the sport of cycling has a large number of people who are Italian. Cycling is definitely a more European sport and I was blessed to meet people whose heritage is from all across Europe.
I do plan to visit Italy. Thank you so much for sharing your insights.
19:20 Do NOT count on trasportation being late! It happens (in some places more than others: in the North usually less than in the South), but less than you may think, and you can ruin your day/trip if you rely on it. Where I live, in a city in the North of Italy, usually, public transportation is on time.
Great review
I would recommend one more thing. Well, maybe two. I planned a month in Italy, mid April to mid May. Great weather with occasional showers and a few hot days. I downloaded a Trenitalia app on my phone and booked all my train travel with it. I chose business class so I could change reservations if needed. The second thing I did was to buy city transportation passes. I got five day pass for Florence and explored a lot using the city trams. I did the same in Venice using their boat systems. I bought rolls, cheese and fruit in markets for lunch and then found out of the way restaurants for dinner. I had margarita pizza for the first time in Siena with a view of the Duomo, malfetta in Siena, Gnudi in Milan, and squid in Venice. A complimentary limoncello came with my lunch in Florence and every restaurant wanted to bring me a free serving of their family recipe of bread & tomato soup. Compliments and thanks go a long way as do smiles.
I would add one more thing. I stayed in monasteries for all of my trip. They were clean, centrally located, priced well and often in lovely converted buildings donated to the church. Several offered a modest free breakfast and had small gardens for relaxing in the evenings. Since I was out all day all I really needed was a bed at night so when I go back to Italy, I will stay in monasteries again.
I apparently did it right, as tourists would use broken Italian to ask me if I spoke English and ask for directions. While it has been 10 years I would recommend dressing up with a dress or nice skirt and top. A t-shirt and shorts is too tourist. Bring a folding shopping bag if you plan to purchase anything. I kept my cash in a money belt and used a travel purse with locks, RFID and a cable in the strap to ward against cutting. Put it over you head cross body rather than just on the shoulder. Do not loiter but move with a purpose, especially in train stations.
Hi, although most hints apply almost exclusively to the main cities, I have to say that your video is one of the most accurate guideline for tourists. Thanks for your work.
If you ever plan to return to Italy, please do get in contact with me and I will make sure to give a full list of almost unknown to tourists places that are sooo worth visiting👍
It is BIZARRE that Americans think that constant intrusions from waiting staff are a sign of 'good service'. Nobody in their right mind wants this. In Europe, eat, talk, relax, take your time. If you need help, just look around and catch the waiter's attention. The waiter is NOT the star of the show: the food is. So concentrate on the food and enjoy the lack of interruptions.
Sorry, I disagree about the credit card topic. I was in Venice last month and managed to pay everything with my card. Even coffee and ice cream.
And in Milan Central train station I could use the paid toilet with a Wise card.
Don't confuse Italy with Sicily-huge difference
I've been to Italy and plan on going again. I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Thanks so much.
thank youuuu
A very nice video! Thanks!😉
Really great tips!
Thank you. This has been the best most informative video about traveling through Italy I have watched, God bless you❤
I have been to Italy, and I didn’t enjoy Rome. There were young kids begging, and they shuffled around trying to look as pathetic as possible. When we left the airport, the woman who opened the door to go outside demanded money for pointing out that a taxi was ready. I didn’t need her to point it out because it was right in front of me, so I didn’t pay her. She was yelling and I just kept walking to the car. Everyone wanted money for everything. I tip well, when I was happy with my service. I loved Luca, and I adored Florence!
Thanks for this! Valuable info 😉
Love this video. I’ve been to Italy three times and now I want to go for a fourth time. One thing that I would add is to be very aware of your surroundings. When traveling in any foreign country it’s easy to feel that you are safer than you might be in a large city in your own country. Actually, based on my experience, I think it’s easier to miss signs of danger in a foreign country where one is less familiar with what is “normal”. That said, I traveled alone as a 50-year-old woman, used common sense and tips from an Italian friend and I did just fine. Italy is an amazing country that I think everyone should visit at least once.
Bah. How is that "amazing service" when the waiter is bothering you every couple of minutes? Nothing amazing about that! I prefer the Italian way. 🙂
I'm Italian and I buy water bottles. Water fountains are not everywhere as you said
But I am a clueless tourist. But, ok, your video is awesome!
Good tips! For one living in an Italian City I would ad: Watch at your wardrobe in general. Tourists often come with a ttiny wardrobe: Shorts, Tanks and Sandals to get the best tan. It is really unpleasant seeing all these red fleshes and it will keep you colder wearing a flattering shirt and wide pants. Italians like to roast themselves but only at the beach. Beside this they dress themselves. So what counts for the church counts in a moderate way also for the streets. You will be treated differently. And sadly I have to ad: Guys: Never walk without a shirt in the streets or even bars/shops. This is really rude.
The last thing you should bother about is having a cappuccino in the afternoon. First of all, everybody will identify you as American anyway, from your general behavior and your language. Not drinking Cappuccino in the afternoon will not cover this up. At all. Second, there are lots of Italians who also drink cappuccino or latte macchiato in the afternoon. Since an espresso is not the perfect companion to a slice of cake. Just don’t order it after food. Or with wine. Not because you want to blend in. But because of your stomach.
St. Peter's in Rome is NOT A CATHEDRAL! The Cathedral of Rome is San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran).