How much will a holiday in Italy cost on your own? Let's consider all the points when planning a trip on your own, from buying inexpensive air tickets, processing documents for a visa, selecting the best hotels to places where you can go without excursions.
A great way to start exploring Europe is to travel to Italy on your own. This trip will help you save money, get acquainted with local traditions, see the sights and visit not only tourist routes.
Getting to this country will not be difficult; there are regular flights from Moscow: Moscow - Milan, Moscow - Venice, these are the most popular destinations. It is best to purchase tickets in advance, their cost will be lower.
The best way to select air tickets directly is at Aviasales. When searching for options, we recommend using the calendar; once you have found a suitable flight, do not hesitate, the price of an air ticket can change at any minute.
Prices for air tickets to Italy from Moscow:
- Moscow – Rome – from 6800 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Venice – from 7,400 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Milan – from 6,700 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Naples – from 10,100 thousand rubles.
Prices are valid for the summer season; small discounts are possible in autumn. During the winter holidays, the cost increases by about 20 - 25%.
How to travel to Italy on your own?
To visit this beautiful country, you need to take care of the following points in advance:
- visa;
- what to see on your own in Italy from the sights;
- way of moving within the city;
- hotel selection;
- choice of food form: cafe, restaurant, self-cooking.
How to get to Rome?
Upon arrival at the international airport in Italy, the question arises, how to get to the center in Rome? It is possible to use the services:
- trains – there is a railway station on the airport territory. Cost – 650 rubles;
- bus – 300 rubles, departs every half hour;
- taxi - about 2800 thousand rubles.
- You can rent a car using , the service searches among all rental companies and offers the best prices.
- A complete overview of all proven methods by bus, train, plane.
Visa to Italy for Russians
What documents are needed to obtain a visa? This issue needs to be resolved by all citizens of the Russian Federation going on vacation to Italy. To enjoy a holiday in this country, you must have a Schengen visa.
To complete it, the following documents are required:
- a valid passport (valid for at least 3 months);
- photocopy of a valid passport;
- photocopies of registration and the main page of the Russian passport;
- questionnaire;
- photo size 3x4 cm;
- application form in English or Italian;
- a document from the enterprise confirming the tourist’s employment;
- a certificate confirming the availability of income;
- a document confirming the absence of credit debt;
- documents confirming full payment for the tour, hotel reservation for the entire stay, air tickets;
- a document confirming the availability of pocket money for other expenses during the trip.
- availability of health insurance.
You also need to know that there is a consular fee for a tourist visa, which means that you have to pay about 2,800 thousand rubles. Payment is made in Moscow at the Visa Application Center.
Choice of insurance. Your best bet is to go with the one that has $50,000 worth of health insurance coverage. Insurance can be purchased directly through Tripinsurance. The cost of standard insurance for one adult tourist will cost an average of 2,500 rubles.
The best hotels in Italy by the sea, prices
Let's move on to the best places to stay in Italy near the sea and choose the appropriate accommodation option according to your wallet and geographical location. We recommend booking hotels using RoomGuru; the search engine will find the cheapest options in all hotel databases on the Internet without any extra charge or intermediaries.
The best 3 star hotels in Italy:
- Martini Hotel 3* is a comfortable hotel located in the center of Verona, near the station. Cost – from 8,700 thousand rubles per room;
- Impero Hotel 3* – a good location in the center of Rome, from here you can quickly see all the sights of the city. Cost – from 7400 thousand rubles per day.
Best 4 star hotels:
- Welcome Piram Hotel 4* – located in the center of Rome, close to a very good transport interchange, there are metro stations and main streets. Cost – from 9,500 thousand rubles for two;
- Royal Continental Hotel 4* is a very beautiful and comfortable hotel located in Naples. Excellent service, rooms and view, located on the seafront. Cost - from 12,900 thousand rubles.
Best 5 star hotels:
- Palazzo Magnani Feroni 5* – located in the very center of Florence (), excellent view from the rooms. Restaurants and park areas are within walking distance. Cost from 8,500 thousand rubles for two;
- Excelsior Hotel Gallia 5* is one of the best hotels located in the center of Milan. Very beautiful and cozy design, convenient transportation. Easy access to main attractions. Cost – 17,000 thousand rubles.
You may be interested in learning about rentals, prices from owners and the best accommodation options.
Prices for food and meals
How much will food in a cafe or restaurant cost for one adult tourist who comes to Italy on his own to relax? Let's consider the average menu check of everyday establishments with good reviews and ratings.
Prices in the cafe:
- Pizzeria Gusta Pizza, Florence is a small establishment that serves delicious pizza. The average bill is from 400 to 1500 rubles per pizza.
- Pizzeria Pizzeria Impero, Verona - there are two terraces to choose from, open and closed, the menu is varied - from delicious pizza to Italian pasta. There is a vegetarian menu. The average bill is from 800 to 1700 rubles.
Prices in restaurants:
- Ai Barbacani, Venice is a great place for a romantic dinner. Italian cuisine, conveniently located next to the canal. The average bill is 5,800 thousand rubles for two, this includes two main courses, two salads, dessert, wine and coffee;
- da Robertino, Rome – the restaurant has an outdoor terrace, is located in the city center, and has a romantic atmosphere. They prepare Italian cuisine. The average bill is 3,500 thousand rubles. This includes pasta, wine, appetizer or pizza.
Prices for products in the store, price per kg:
- apples – 140 rubles;
- cabbage – 90 rubles;
- oranges – 100 rubles;
- bananas – 150 rubles;
- potatoes – 80 rubles;
- lettuce leaves – 75 rubles;
- tomatoes – 230 rubles;
- cucumbers – 170 rubles;
- eggplants – 320 rubles;
- chicken – 280 rubles;
- chicken legs – 140 rubles;
- pork – 480 rubles;
- cheese – from 560 rubles;
- sausages – from 160 rubles;
- loose oil – from 150 rubles;
- milk – 90 rubles;
- rice – 80 rubles;
- yogurt – 70 rubles;
- sugar – 95 rubles.
When calculating all the components of a vacation, the amount of an independent trip will cost approximately 80,000 thousand rubles for two weeks. Let's move on to places where you can go on your own without excursions.
What to see in Italy on your own?
This country has a very interesting history; there are many cultural and architectural values. If you are wondering what to see in Italy on your own, pay attention to the following attractions:
- The Basilica of Santa Crocevo is one of the most ancient churches, built in the 13th century. This temple reflects the entire turbulent history of Florence. Stunning frescoes and architectural masterpieces have been preserved here. City events are often held in front of the building to maintain the spirit of the 13th century.
- Palazzo Vecchio in Florence - seat of the government of Florence in the 15th and 16th centuries. This is a real pearl; all the cultural values of this small sunny region are concentrated here.
- St. Peter's Basilica is one of the key attractions in Italy. Everyone knows the role of the Catholic Church, namely the Pope. The Vatican is not only world history carved in stone, it is also a real architectural ensemble. The beautiful facades and interiors of the palace, cathedral and square will be equally interesting to all tourists.
- The Colosseum in Rome is a symbol of Rome and Italy itself. A unique architectural structure, it fascinates at first sight. The spirit of gladiators and games, as well as spectators hungry for bread and circuses, still hovers here. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the amphitheater and arena, walk along the ancient steps, and feel the excitement and awe.
- The Palatine in Rome is a real journey for lovers of excavations, secrets and legends; the mythical history of Ancient Rome begins here. All tourists will have the opportunity to walk through pagan shrines and look at the life of that distant time.
- The Rialto Bridge is considered the symbol of Venice. It is also recommended to take a boat ride along another local attraction – the Grand Canal. And from the water the view of the Rialto Bridge is simply magnificent.
- Piazza San Marco and the Palace of the Rains in Venice are the heart and soul of the city. These are not just architectural monuments, they contain the memory of all the events taking place in this country. What else is required?
- St. Mark's Cathedral, where everyone will see stunning frescoes and mosaics from the 15th century.
- The Gothic building of the Duomo in Milan is a luxurious cathedral, impressive with its external and internal decoration, which still retains an image of mystery. Here you can listen to the sounds of the organ. .
- The Sforzesco Castle in Milan is a magnificent Italian castle that was home to the most noble families of Italy.
- The Royal Palace is an interesting architectural structure with a rich history.
- Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous attractions in the world, it is an ancient and still active volcano.
- Pompeii in Naples is the ruins of an ancient city; many interesting excavations have been carried out here.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a world-famous building; visiting it has already become a kind of ritual. Who wouldn't want to try to hold the Leaning Tower of Pisa? But it is also recommended to visit the Pisa churches.
And yet, if you find yourself bored in terms of company while sightseeing, we advise you to take a closer look at excursion programs in Italy from, a popular resource among active travelers who like to have an exciting time. For example, here you can book a tour of Venice in the company of an opera singer and a history expert.a
Many tourists consider traveling to Sicily on their own for 2, 3 or more days. Let's briefly look at all the cheap ways to get there and the costs in this vacation destination.
Trip to Sicily
This is where many tourists strive to get - after all, this is a stunning island where you can swim in the warm sea (the best beaches in Italy are located here), visit the oldest volcano 3340 meters above sea level, and breathe in the healing Mediterranean air.
- Take an airplane. Flights are carried out from the airport:
- Naples;
- Milan;
- Pisa;
- Rome.
The ticket price ranges from 3,600 to 4,200 thousand rubles. It is better to book a flight to Sicily through Aviasales, which looks for suitable options even among low-cost airlines, which is a very profitable way to get to your destination.
- Use buses, they depart from:
- Rome;
- Naples;
- Bari;
- Milana.
Stay in Catania and Palermo. Flights operate daily according to schedule. Cost from 2800 to 3500 thousand rubles per ticket.
- Take a taxi - the fare will be about 5,000 thousand rubles.
- To use the train, the cost is about 3,000 thousand rubles.
- For those who like to travel by sea, you can take the ferry; the fare will be from 4,000 thousand rubles.
Holidays in Italy on your own with children
Of course, the question immediately arises: where to go on holiday in Italy with a child, so that the sea and entertainment are nearby?
According to tourists, the most interesting places to visit are:
- Grand Hotel Mazzaro’s Sea Palace 5* – excellent hotel, private beach, child care. The cost will be from 37,000 thousand rubles.
- Where to relax by the sea? We picked one with warm water and an excellent coastline.
If you ask 10 people which country they would like to visit, at least 6 of them (maybe more) will answer Italy. This sunny, hospitable country, which carefully preserves its history and traditions, attracts many tourists.
People coming here not only want to visit more than 50 amazing cities, but also learn from the Italians how to enjoy life. An interesting fact is that Italy is in 8th place among the countries that receive the largest income from tourism (the leading places were taken by the USA - $488 billion, China - $224 billion and Germany - $130.8 billion).
To spend a minimum of money, see the maximum number of attractions and get a lot of positive emotions from traveling to Italy, you should go there yourself. So, you don’t have to adapt to groups of people - you can create an individual route, make a list of places where you would most like to visit, book a room in any hotel that suits your finances and ambience.
In this article you can learn the nuances of an independent trip to sunny Italy, as well as get acquainted with the best tourist routes and attractions of this state.
Visa
First of all, you will need to obtain a visa - a document that will allow you to enter the country. Since Italy is on the list of 26 European member states of the Schengen agreement, d To cross the border, it is enough to obtain a Schengen visa.
There are two types of this document - short-term and long-term. If you indicate tourism in the “Purpose of trip” item, then you will be issued the first type. This means that you will be able to stay in Italy for a month. You can find out what documents are needed to obtain a visa on the consulate website.
Flight
Once the visa issue has been resolved, you should start choosing a suitable flight. In the 21st century, many airlines operate and offer individual special offers. All you have to do is choose the direction and the company whose services you want to use.
Now we’ll tell you a little about domestic flights in Italy. Here everything is even simpler - there are many airlines in the world, so-called low-cost airlines, that offer plane tickets at very low prices. A good example is the Irish company Ryanair.
What cities should you visit in Italy?
And now we suggest you familiarize yourself with the list of popular Italian cities that you should definitely visit if you go on an independent trip to Italy.
Rome
This Eternal City combines in the best possible way the notes of modernity and great civilization. Historical monuments, busy streets and Art Nouveau buildings are very harmoniously combined here. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Rome to see the huge number of monuments, fountains, museums and other attractions.
Just look at the Fountain of the Four Rivers, St. Peter's Cathedral, the Colosseum, the Castel Sant'Angelo... Definitely, the Eternal City is capable of not only surprising you with its eclecticism, but also making you fall in love with it from the first seconds of your stay here.
Venice
This floating city is one of the TOP 10 most beautiful places in the world. And this is not surprising! This romantic European corner is considered a real open-air museum.
Busy labyrinths of streets, majestic architectural monuments, a feeling of lightness and freedom - this is what you should definitely visit Venice for. By the way, the entire historical center of this city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Florence
True art connoisseurs should definitely visit Florence - the birthplace of such geniuses as Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Boccaccio. Arriving in the heart of Tuscany, you can stroll through the streets of the Renaissance, enjoy a delicious Florentine steak, immerse yourself in an atmosphere of beauty and grandeur... Florence is the center of masterpieces of the 13th century.
There is a huge amount of sculpture (David, Michelangelo; Perseus, Benvenuto Cellini; The Rape of the Sabine Woman, Giambologna), architecture (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Baptistery of San Giovanni, Basilica of Santa Croce) and painting of the time. Once you see Florence, you will definitely want to come back here again.
Pisa
Just by the name of the city it is clear that it is worth visiting for the visiting card of Italy - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. There are always a lot of tourists here - everyone wants to take a photo next to a falling architectural monument and embody the craziest idea in the photo.
By the way, if anyone thought that the creator of the tower initially wanted to “tilt” it, then this person is mistaken. The tilting effect was caused by a common engineering mistake. It is also surprising that the builders noticed the error after the construction of the second tier. But still, the decision was made to implement the two-century project.
Naples
Probably one of the few settlements in Italy that stands out from the general picture of peace and harmony. Naples is a city of contrasts. It can both amaze you to the core and sadden you. In my opinion, it is an ideal city for an independent trip to Italy.
While here, you should definitely look at the legendary ruins of Pompeii, founded in the 6th century BC, and Herculaneum, another ancient city that was flooded with lava during a volcanic eruption.
By the way, about the volcano - a mandatory point on your excursion is Vesuvius, which can be climbed along a walking trail.
Milan
The fashion capital is an ideal shopping destination. A large number of stores with branded clothing, shoes and accessories is what you need to lift your spirits.
If you are more interested in the cultural component, we recommend taking a look at the Milan Cathedral, visiting the best opera house in the world, La Scala, looking into the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology and taking a photo with the monument to the Middle Finger. Believe me, the days spent in Milan will be very eventful!
Italy: travel routes
If a group of 3-5 people is going on a trip, then the best option would be to rent a car. This way you can see a large number of attractions in a short time and will not depend on time.
We will give several examples of successful travel routes around Italy, depending on which city you will be in.
Bologna
This city has a very advantageous location. Venice, Milan, Florence, Verona are located at approximately the same distance from it. Therefore, the final choice will depend only on your personal preferences.
Milan
Many tourists prefer to go straight from Milan to the lakes. This is a great way to get rid of the stuffiness if you go on a trip in the summer and enjoy unity with nature. The most popular lakes are Maggiore, Como, Iseo, Orto, Lugano and Garda.
As for cities located near the fashionable capital of Italy, we recommend going to Bergamo - it is located next to Lake Iseo, so visiting these two places can be combined. Also, the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet - Verona - will definitely attract your attention.
Rome
If you want to see Italy in all its diversity, you will still have to leave the capital. The outskirts of Rome deserve the attention of tourists. Thus, in the small town of Tivoli you can look at the palace and park ensemble of Villa d’Est. In the village of Bracciano you will see the harmonious ensemble of the beautiful lake of the same name and the Odescalchi castle.
Another interesting day trip destination is Castel Gandolfo, the town where the papal summer residence is located and is open to the public.
Florence
If you dream of seeing Tuscany in all its glory, then from Florence go to cities such as Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano. The first settlement will captivate you with its neatness, well-groomed appearance and medieval sights.
While in the second city, you should definitely stroll through Piazza del Campo, climb to the top of Torre del Mangia and visit the cathedral with the Piccolomini Library.
As for San Gimignano, this is a real medieval Manhattan. There are unique skyscraper towers here - the real pride of the town’s residents.
Travel and enjoy life, and don’t forget to visit our website. If you liked the article “Independent travel in Italy,” then do not forget to rate the article on a five-point scale.
Tips and practical recommendations for touristsHaving decided to travel around Italy on your own, you, of course, get almost limitless scope for imagination and the opportunity to develop your own travel route. However, you need to understand that responsibility for all organizational issues falls entirely on your shoulders. However, if 10–15 years ago solving all these issues was a rather complex task, now everything is much simpler. The main desire. And don’t be afraid that you won’t succeed. We, the authors i- I talia.ru, and thousands of other tourists have wonderful independent travels around Italy :)
This article is based on our own experience. Below are our tips to help you plan and organize a trip to Italy on your own, no matter what interests you pursue, be it a beach holiday, a gastronomic tour, sightseeing or something else.
So, where to start planning an independent trip to Italy? There may be at least two options here. We will conditionally call the first “economic”, when the desire to save as much as possible comes to the fore. The second is conditionally “targeted”, when the purpose of the trip is of paramount importance (visiting the Uffizi Gallery, shopping in Milan, a beach holiday in Sicily, a trip to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, etc.). Next, we will consider the indicated approaches in more detail.
An “economic” approach to planning a trip to Italy
The starting point in this case will be to search for the best deals on the tourism market. We are, of course, not talking about tour operator vouchers, although this option is quite possible. To have a cheap vacation, you don’t have to go to Italy like a wild person. For example, for some dates it is possible to find a week-long tour to Rimini for 200–250 euros. If you wish, you can search for cheap tours and even buy them online (for example, on and other similar sites). For this money you will receive flights and hotel accommodation. At the same time, nothing prevents you, having arrived in Rimini, to continue traveling on your own, using this city as a base for trips to other cities in Italy (for a more detailed description of travel routes from Rimini, see). This option may be ideal for novice travelers to feel confident in their abilities and next time organize a trip to Italy on their own from the very beginning, especially since Rimini is far from the best Italian resort (read more about independent holidays on the beaches of Italy in this review).
So, when we talk about the “economic” approach to travel planning, we mean, first of all, searching for cheap air tickets. Indeed, it can be difficult to resist the temptation when tickets turn up, for example, to Rome or Milan for some 100–150 euros (and this is quite possible, yes, with all the fees, round trip, regular flight, not charter) . Most often, these will be either direct flights of low-cost airlines, or flights with a transfer somewhere in Germany, Austria, Latvia or another European country, but for the sake of saving, you can tolerate this inconvenience. Here, however, a logical question arises: where to find cheap air tickets? We answer. There are several good search services: www.aviasales.ru, www.momondo.ru, etc. A similar air ticket search service is also implemented in the section "Air tickets", where the corresponding search form is presented.
All these services search both on the websites of ticket agencies and on the websites of the airlines themselves. By specifying different search options (for example, Moscow–Milan, Moscow–Rome, Moscow–Venice, etc.), you can find the best deals. Much depends on the dates of the planned trip and other factors (for example, on weekends and on the eve of public holidays, tickets are usually more expensive than on other days), and therefore the search can often last for several hours, or even days. However, this is a very exciting process.
These services find almost all possible flight options. In general, on this topic (about air travel between Italy and Russia), you can additionally read the article “To Italy by plane”, which discusses in detail which airlines fly to which Italian cities from Russia. In addition, you can find detailed information on the best way to get to Italy, how to create a travel itinerary and how to get around within the country in the section "Routes".
Once you find suitable tickets, you can buy them without leaving your home. It's quite simple. However, if you have never bought air tickets online before, we recommend that you read this material.
A “targeted” approach to planning a trip to Italy
If the key importance for you is not the desire to save money, but the desire to visit specific cities, attractions, shopping centers, events, etc., then when planning a trip to Italy, you can again start by looking for air tickets, but pay more attention not on their cost, but on factors such as the proximity of the airport through which you plan to fly from your main destination, dates and times of departures (large companies operate several flights daily, with flights in the early morning and late evening, as a rule, cheaper), etc. For example, if you are interested in a three-to-five-day raid on Milanese shops, then there is no point in flying to Rome, even if you have found cheaper air tickets to this city. Or if you need to be in Bologna on specific dates for an exhibition, then it makes no sense to buy tickets for other dates, even if they are half the price.
In short, with a “targeted” approach to organizing a trip, the main thing is the goal. In this case, almost everything depends on your interests and preferences. However, we recommend that you pay attention to the section "Cities ", where you can get some travel ideas.
Having decided on your travel goals, you can move on to choosing a place (or places) to stay during your Italian tour.
Search and book hotels in Italy
You can book a hotel room, apartment (apartment), a place in a hostel, etc. Moreover, booking accommodation, as well as purchasing air tickets, can be easily done via the Internet, fortunately there are a huge number of hotel booking systems: www.booking.com, www.hotels.com, etc. Alternatively, you can use the hotel search service (including not only hotels, but also apartments, apart-hotels, guest houses, hostels and other accommodation facilities) in the section "Hotels". This service allows you to compare offers from the world's largest online hotel booking systems and choose the option that suits you best at the best price. If this is your first time encountering the task of booking hotels via the Internet, you can get more detailed information. Finally, do not forget about sites such as www.interhome.ru, with the help of which you can find houses and apartments for rent in various parts of Italy. Read more about online booking of apartments.
Regarding the criteria for choosing a place of residence, we will consider several nuances.
Firstly, when choosing a hotel, you should pay attention not only to the cost of living, but also to the convenience of the location in relation to attractions or transport hubs. Many independent travelers prefer to book hotels directly in historical city centers and, at the same time, close to public transport stops, from which it is convenient to get to the airport or other cities along the travel route. This allows you to significantly save not only time, but also energy, allowing in many cases not to use public transport at all (with the exception of transfers from the airport and back) and thus eliminating the need to make daily trips. Our recommendations for accommodation in various cities of Italy are presented in more detail in the subsection “Tips for choosing hotels”.
Secondly, you need to take into account that hotel reservation confirmation is included in the list of required documents submitted along with the application for a Schengen visa. The Italian consulate is very loyal to this issue. Therefore, a reservation printed from a hotel booking site will be quite sufficient. However, there may be changes in this regard, so it is better to clarify this issue at the Italian visa center or directly at the Italian embassy/consulate.
Thirdly, you should definitely read the booking conditions. In many cases, after you have booked a hotel room or, say, an apartment in an apart-hotel, not a penny will be debited from your bank card, but, nevertheless, the hotel has the right to block an amount equivalent to the cost of the first night of stay (or more). This is fine. After some time, the blocked amount will be “unfrozen” (however, this often does not happen immediately, but approximately within 10–20 days). However, hotels often offer prepaid reservations. As a rule, these are the best deals, but by making a non-refundable reservation, you risk losing money if you decide to cancel the trip, even due to circumstances beyond your control. In general, you should not ignore the description of the conditions for making a reservation, especially since these conditions are spelled out in detail on all popular booking sites. Read more on this topic.
Obtaining a visa to Italy + insurance
Getting an Italian Schengen visa is quite simple. To do this, it is most convenient to contact one of the offices of the Italian visa center, of which there are plenty in Russia.
On the visa center website you will find all the necessary information about the requirements for documents submitted for a visa. As practice shows, the main thing is to strictly follow all the requirements and you will not have any problems with obtaining a visa (even if you are a twenty-year-old unmarried blonde with a pristine foreign passport, yes, yes, yes). Read more about the process of obtaining a visa to Italy on your own.
Please also remember that you will need medical insurance – both for your visa to Italy and for your own peace of mind. Details in this article.
That's all, actually. Having tickets, hotel reservations, insurance and a visa in hand, you can go on a trip. Hooray!
Flights with numerous transfers, hitchhiking, couchsurfing, house sitting and eating from supermarkets are all cheap, but damn tiring. Most people just want to take a break from everyday affairs, and not struggle for every penny. These tips will help you save on travel, but at the same time have a great rest and get a lot of new experiences.
Transport
Railway
This is the most convenient, safe and economical way to travel around the country. Italy does not have a monopoly on passenger rail services, so you can compare prices and conditions between different providers, for example on the websites of Trenitalia and Italo.
On the Trenitalia website you can find discounts on hotels and attractions, special offers for families with children and couples. Both companies have sales and offer discounts on tickets. From Italo you can buy a train ticket from Rome to Venice or Venice to Milan for just 9.90 euros. There is no catch: these trains run on time the same as regular ones. You just have to adapt to the schedule - trains depart on certain days and times.
The price of a ticket for the same route may differ by 2–3 times. It depends primarily on the class of the train. Passenger (Regionale), fast passenger (Regionale veloce) and intercity (Intercity) trains are usually cheaper than branded high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciaargento), but they are also slower. If an extra hour on the road is not significant for you, but saving 15–20 euros - yes, feel free to choose a more attractively priced option.
The date of purchase also affects the cost of the ticket. The sooner you purchase it, the cheaper it will be.
If you bought a ticket at the station at a self-service terminal or at the ticket office, do not forget to validate it in special green machines located at the station or in the transition to the platforms. Remember that traveling with a non-validated ticket may result in a fine.
By buying a ticket online, you save time and money, as you have the opportunity to choose the cheapest fare in advance. In addition, such a ticket does not need to be validated.
Taxis and scooters
Don't try to hail a taxi in Italy by waving or giving a thumbs up. The maximum that awaits you is an ironic smile. You can take taxis (which, by the way, are white) at specially designated parking lots in squares, near popular attractions and shopping centers.
Thanks to the powerful union of taxi drivers, the cost of a trip via Uber will be much more expensive than using an official taxi. However, in Italy there is the MyTaxi application, through which you can call a car at regular prices.
There is also Scooterino, an Italian startup created by a 24-year-old native of Rome. The application, which works in Rome, Milan, Genoa and Florence, will help you get from point A to point B on a scooter. Scooterino functions similarly to BlaBlaCar, meaning it's more of a way to split the cost of a trip between driver and passenger, so the price will pleasantly surprise you. Weaving through traffic jams on a cute scooter, you will certainly feel like a hero from the movie “Roman Holiday”.
Bus, metro, tram
The cost of a standard ticket in Italy for one trip (Biglietto semplice) ranges from 1.2 to 2 euros. And it doesn’t matter whether you are going to drive one stop or are going to the other end of the city. Within 90–100 minutes you can transfer from bus to tram or metro using the same ticket. This is why composting is mandatory.
There are also 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets and a weekly pass. If you plan to travel a lot by bus, metro or tram, it will be more profitable to purchase a pass. And thanks to the Moovit program, you can build travel routes taking into account public transport schedules. The application works in Milan, Rome and Naples.
You shouldn't ride like a hare. Conductors, of course, are not found on every route, but if it turns out that you are traveling without a ticket, you will have to pay a fine of 50 euros or more. If all ticket composting machines suddenly turn out to be inoperative, you must write the date and time on the ticket with a pen.
Automobile
Compare prices on different car rental aggregators, such as Auto Europe, Economy Car Rentals, Rentalcars. It often happens that it is cheaper to rent the same car from local Italian companies (Sicily by Car, Maggiore, Noleggiare) than from international ones (Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Dollar, Europcar). However, you need to carefully read the rental conditions and reviews.
Hotels
Large chain hotels are quite expensive. A significant part of the price is the overpayment for the brand. Luckily, Italy has a large selection of family-run guesthouses, boutique hotels, B&Bs and apartment hotels with relatively affordable prices and friendly hosts.
A little tip: first look at the hotel price on Booking or another popular booking site, and then try to find the hotel's official website and compare prices. It often happens that on the hotel website they are lower. If you write to the hotel representatives directly by email and ask for a discount, then there is a high chance of getting it.
Many people recommend booking apartments and apartments, but this option has disadvantages, so you need to weigh the pros and cons. Please note that there are no additional room cleaning fees or property deposits (this amount may be placed on your credit card).
But for a long term (from four days), an apartment with a kitchen and washing machine is the best option. Italians themselves book apartments and apartments through. For longer rental periods (from 1 month) there are local Italian sites.
Excursions
Those who recommend saving on excursions and exploring everything on their own do not value their own time. Yes, you can and should take a walk, explore different historical areas, read guidebooks and articles to broaden your horizons. But even if you read dozens of articles before your trip, without the help of those who live in Italy, you will not be able to 100% get to know and experience the country.
Modern excursions have moved far from the standards of the last century, when guides loaded tourists with memorized history, a bunch of dates and meaningless names. Generations Y and Z need a completely different approach - live communication, emotions, an element of interactivity and games. It is important for them to receive impressions, not just information.
It’s more interesting to communicate with a guide as a friend who will share life hacks, show you secret attractions and romantic spots for selfie-kissing, and tell you where the pizza is tastier and the shopping is better. As a result, by going on at least one excursion in a modern format, you will save time and see much more than if you walked on your own.
Every year there are fewer and fewer blank spots on my map of Italy. I can create dozens of interesting routes in all regions of the country. For this material, I have come up with several options that will interest you if you are going to Italy for the first time.
For you, I have built five routes to places that are among the most popular in the country. For your trip, please choose not the summer months and certainly not August. Many of the routes do not require renting a car. I wrote more about traveling around Italy by train.
Option 1. Rome.
Arrival and departure - Rome. 7-10 days.
If you have the opportunity to see only one city in Italy, then let it be Rome, great, multifaceted, at the same time noisy and cozy, recognizable and not fully known. Going here for 2-3 days if you are traveling to both the city and the country for the first time is not the best idea. A week is the amount of time that can be considered adequate.
When planning your days in the city, please allow enough time to see not only the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona and be stunned by the beauty and number of tourists, but also to get to know another, residential, calm, but no less beautiful Rome. I talk in detail about one of these areas.
Leaving the noisy and deafening Rome for a day to see a different Italy is a great idea. I know that many people go to the sea (I didn’t go there myself), to Florence (not the best idea - you need to spend the night in Florence). By train you can easily travel to - it will be a great contrast. If you are by car, consider getting to Orvieto (this is Umbria, a different cuisine and one of the most beautiful Duomo in Italy) or, for example, to Aricci, which chef Christian Lorenzini told me about with such pleasure.
Useful materials on the topic:
Option 2. Bologna and surroundings.
Arrival and departure: Bologna. 7-10 days.
Bologna is a standard, one might say, Italian city. Not small, not big, beautiful, colorful, instantly recognizable as Italy, interesting, with wonderful museums, restaurants and shops. In addition, Bologna is a major railway junction, making it easy to reach neighboring cities. You will happily spend a couple of days walking under the Bolognese arcades, exploring the city, visiting historical cafes, and then you can take the train for another dose of beauty to Ravenna, Parma, Ferrara, Modena and return back the same day. When I lived in Bologna, I traveled almost half the country in this way.
This route will give you an understanding of how Italians themselves see Italy. You will visit cities, each of which is a masterpiece, where local life is not overshadowed by the tourist bustle. This is a respectable, attractive, well-ordered Italy without slums, trash and with a minimum amount of carelessness.
Useful materials on the topic:
And a lot more about restaurants, shops, streets, people of the city
Nearby cities are well described by me in a series of materials for gazeta.ru: one, two, three.
Option 3. Rome, Florence, Milan.
Arrival - Rome, departure - Milan. 7-10 days.
These three cities are famous, beautiful, and conveniently connected by rail. Spend 3-4 days in Rome, from there go to Florence for 2-3 days, and from there, again by train, to Milan for a few days. This way you can compare northern and central Italy, see many of the country's main architectural masterpieces, and get an idea of different types of cuisine and wine.
From Milan it is easy to take a trip to Lake Como, for example, to breathe in the lake-mountain air and look at the villas of the aristocracy and celebrities. I wrote about Como.
Useful materials on the topic:
Option 4. Venice, Trieste, Verona, Lake Garda.
Arrival Venice, departure Verona. 10-14 days.
Venice deserves at least 4-5 days in your schedule. I have been to the city many times at different times, I came for a day, two, three and more days, so I can say for sure that in a day the only thing you will manage to do is hate the city, that’s not at all deserving. Venice has a hard time - at the same time it cannot live without tourists, and at the same time it does not like them. I talked about why you can’t come to Venice for a day.
Once you've spent enough time in Venice, you can take a day trip by train to Trieste (read about why I love Trieste) to take a break from the tourist hustle and bustle and catch your breath.
It is worth spending 2-3 days in Verona - this is a beautiful and stately Italian city, whose glory is not limited to the love story of Romeo and Juliet.
From Verona, your path will logically continue in a northern direction - you can easily ignore the southern part of Lake Garda, because the beauty of its northern part significantly exceeds the beauty of the southern part. Your base can be the beautiful town of Riva del Garda, from where you can take a boat for day trips around the lake and see the charming towns of Limone and Malcesine. Finish your trip with a trip to Trento, a frescoed city that is one of my favorites in Italy.
