Planning on visiting Italy or any of the neighboring countries? Italy was our first country in Europe and we did a lot of research prior to going, which made our trip rather smooth. However, here are a few things I wish we looked more into before our week trip to Italia!
1 You have to pay for water at restaurants. I know… absurd, right? For a city that has free clean running water from outdoor taps, you have to pay for water inside the restaurants? Yep. It’s true! So, what do Italians do? They drink lots of wine instead!
2 Most of Europe has a sales tax per night, per person, for hotel stays. We had charges ranging from 4 Euros to 6 Euros per night. Not too bad, but it can quickly add up. Plan for it because it’s in the fine prints when you book your hotels.
3 Pick pocketing is no joke. Keep your belongings close to you and always be aware of your surroundings. While we were at the Trevi Fountain, a lady had been pick pocketed nearby us. There are so many people in these tourist spots that it’s so easy for someone to come in close proximity to you and take something right out of your pocket! We were very cautious about this and kept an eye on each other and others around us all the time.
4 Italia is known for all the delicious lasagna, baked ziti, pizzas, salami, calzones, and more! With all that pizza and pasta carbs you’ll be eating, make sure to drink a lot of water or take something to prevent you from getting too stuffed up. No one wants to be feeling bad while on vacation!
5 The roads and sidewalks in most cities are not paved. They have cobblestones, which makes it harder to walk on. Having sturdy, comfortable walking shoes is key since walking the best way to get around in Italia. I recently got a pair of these Khombu Women’s Sandals from Costco for just $10 and I love it! I wore it every single day around Spain and wish I had it during my Italy trip.
6 The lines in the tourist areas are extremely long! It will help cut that down by a little if you are able to get the ROMA pass (or passes in other cities). I highly recommend the pass because it comes with free bus rides and quick entrance to some busy attractions. The easiest way to purchase them is to get it at the airport (you will need to show passports). We bought the 48 hour (2 day) pass and it was only 28 Euros per person- definitely worth it.
7 Read restaurant reviews BEFORE you go into the restaurant! Many restaurants with bad reviews add a tent-like extension to their store, hide the name, and try to attract tourists with menus and deals. One time during the trip, we failed to check the review before sitting down. Once we sat down and realized it was a terrible restaurant, I had to fake getting sick to leave. And they were not happy! >_<
Have you been to Italia? Anything else you would add to this list that I have missed?
On the side note, I also wish I knew just how good the food in Italy was. Check out this blog post to see all the must have food before your Italia trip!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.