What you need for a holiday in Italy. Traveling to Italy: travel tips. Holidays and events

Before going on a trip, many usually study information about a particular country in order to be in full force when faced with unforeseen circumstances.

For those who are going to Italy, I made a small one that you should know when going here:

• In most museums in Italy, video and photo shooting is not allowed, this mainly applies to museums that present old paintings to everyone's attention. shooting with a flash is especially not welcome;
• Museums usually close for a break from 13:30 to 16:30, and once a week on a weekend, often on Mondays;
• Shops in Italy open throughout the week, from about 8:00 to 13:30, and from 16:00 to 20:00, on Sunday they open for half a day or are completely closed;

• Italy is a very friendly country, and as we all know, is a trendsetter. However, it is still considered highly unacceptable. walk around the city in a bathing suit, without a T-shirt or T-shirt (including in summer when the heat is unbearable). Even in resort towns, it is considered bad form to enter a room (shop, restaurant) with a naked torso. It is also not allowed to enter the church in short shorts and a T-shirt; in extreme cases, open arms and neckline can be covered with a scarf;
• Wheelchair ramps near restaurants, bars and shops are rare. It is also rare to find equipped for people with disabilities, toilets and buses. In older buildings, elevators are rare;
• Sunbathing topless on the beaches of northern Italy is the norm, but this may not be understood in the southern part of the country, which is more conservative in this matter;
• For children in Italy plenty of entertainment, in the form of amusement and theme parks. but as a rule, hotels are not always focused on receiving children, there are no swimming pools, slot machines, Russian-language channels;
• Pharmacies are open from 8:00 to 13:30, in the afternoon from 16:00 to 20:00. Sunday is a day off, but there may be exceptions and the pharmacy is open until 13:00;
• bring a first aid kit with the most necessary medicines, since local pharmacies usually do not have many of the medicines that we are used to. For headache relief(and in general all painful sensations, temperature, etc.) here, as a rule, a strong painkiller is used Auline (Aulin), another analogue Oki. The average price of Aulin in Italy is 5.00 € (30 sachets of 100 mg);
• Police emergency number 112, ambulance 113;
• In emergency situations to attract attention, you need to shout the Italian word " Aiuto» ( Ayuto), which in Italian means " Help«;
• In large cities, you should be careful and carefully monitor your belongings so as not to become a victim of pickpockets and thieves;
• Most Italian tap water is highly chlorinated ( Aqua non potable) therefore it is undesirable to drink it. As drinking water, it is better to use bottled water, which happens: carbonated ( frizante or gassata), not carbonated ( naturale);
• A cappuccino (or a cup of coffee) and a croissant (cornetto) are considered a traditional breakfast in Italy - so for a while you will have to forget about scrambled eggs with sausage and other similar breakfasts;

• Tipping for service in restaurants Servizio“) are usually already included in the bill;
• The life of Italians is very measured and systematized, especially when it comes to meals, so everything is scheduled by the hour: breakfast from 7:00 to 10:30, lunch from 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:30 to 22:00;
• There are no special restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages in Italy, you can buy it on any day and time (if the schedule of the store or bar allows it);
• Officially, you can drink alcoholic beverages in Italy from the age of 16, in some families they start drinking wine mixed with water even at a much earlier age. Drinking such drinks on the street threatens with a fine;
• You can only rent a car to persons over 21 years old;
• Motorways in Italy are tolled;
• Parking places scarce in big cities. You should be very careful with this because a fine is immediately imposed on a car parked in the wrong place. The best option would be to leave the car in a guarded parking lot;
• Italians drive fast and honk often with or without reason, and this is considered the norm;
• Speed ​​limits on motorways 130 km/h, on city roads 50 km/h. I advise you to carefully observe all restrictions, since the fines are very large, they can exceed 1000 €, especially in cities where there are electronic devices for measuring the speed of "Autovelox";
• As a rule, there are no public toilets in Italian cities, only in rare cases can you meet one. It is quite normal to use the toilet of some bar or cafe, but by law you must be given permission to do so;
• Banks are open on weekdays from 8:30 to 13:30, after which they close for lunch for one and a half, two hours. After that, they continue to work until a maximum of 17:00. It should be noted that Italian banks perform some types of operations only in the morning (for example, exchange a check for cash, etc.);
• Churches are open from morning until 18:00, some are closed at lunchtime for several hours. Of course, this does not apply to the most visited churches, which are open throughout the day;
• Hairdressers and restaurants in most cases close for rest on Monday;
• Gas stations are closed on Sunday, alternatively self-service gas stations can be used;
• In summer, the peak season is August, as almost all Italians, by law, go on vacation. Therefore, you should plan a trip to the seaside resorts of Italy in advance, as there may be problems with finding accommodation, etc.

Finally, a short but very good video about Italy:

Safety

The security situation in Italy is rather ambiguous. On the one hand, it is one of the most criminalized states of the European Union with a high crime rate for such a developed country. In large cities, you should constantly be wary of pickpockets and petty thieves, cases of fraud in transport and in restaurants are not uncommon. You should not carry large amounts of cash with you or withdraw them from an ATM in front of everyone. Documents and money are recommended to be kept in hotel safes, or, if necessary, placed in the most inaccessible place. It is better to carry something valuable in a waist bag or a backpack - handbags, packages and handbags are opened by local "schipattori" (robbers) with grace worthy of a better use, and often they are simply torn out of their hands using scooters or motorcycles.

It is not recommended to leave anything of value in the car, and it is better to park the car itself in guarded car parks or on well-lit streets. In the case of direct contact with the robber, it is recommended to obey all his demands and not engage in direct confrontation. It is not recommended to run away from the robbers, scream or confront them (although this is not excluded - the law will be on the side of the victim in any case), but most local residents prefer to give money in such cases and then call the police.

Violent robberies, which are not uncommon in many "ethnic" quarters, are usually the biggest fear for most travelers, but there are a number of long-established rules regarding this danger, such as preparing a small amount of cash (usually 20-50 euros) that can be given to robbers without the risk of coming into conflict with them, and refraining from openly wearing luxury items and expensive samples of photographic or video equipment. Also, do not show the contents of your wallet, often consult a map of the area (a clear sign of a foreigner or a stranger in the area), get into unfamiliar cars (there is a developed and quite safe, albeit flawed, taxi system for travel), etc.

On the other hand, in provincial Italy, far from noisy cities, almost complete idyll reigns. Here it is enough to observe the usual security measures. Cases of petty theft or fraud are extremely rare (usually teenagers sin) and quite easily detected by the police. The notorious mafia minds its own business and is unlikely to pay attention to the tourist - this threat, circulated by newspapers, is considered greatly exaggerated even by the Italians themselves.

Police

Italy has a fairly extensive and multi-level public security system. The Carabinieri is the largest division of the Italian criminal police, which has fairly wide powers. The characteristic uniform of the Carabinieri - a semi-military cut with a white harness - catches the eye of all guests of the country. Their powers include the fight against crime, the protection of public order and control over the non-proliferation of drugs. They also need to be contacted with statements in the event of a robbery. To do this, you should find the address of the police station (Questura, in small towns - Commissariato) in the local telephone directory and call the investigator to the crime scene or apply directly with a statement. In some cases (Italian justice is slow) you will need to obtain permesso di soggiorno (permission to extend your stay in the country).

The city police (Vigili Urbani) mainly controls the situation on the roads. There is another unit with similar functions - the traffic police (Polizia Stradale), however, its employees patrol only freeways.

Working mode

The national tradition of Italy is the siesta. From 12.00-13.00 to 15.00-16.00 many institutions are closed. In fact, only street cafes, restaurants and transport are working, and even those are switching to a special mode of operation. In the afternoon, it is simply impossible to catch a taxi or get on a bus or train on time, there are certain problems with choosing a place to eat - many cafes and bars are also closed.

The whole country goes on a big vacation in July-August, so during this period there are also problems with both transport and catering establishments - there are simply not enough of them for everyone. To this should be added the crowds of Italians traveling to all the popular resorts, in which many foreigners are already resting. Therefore, planning a trip for this period is strongly discouraged - June is much calmer here.

Opening hours of religious institutions

Churches are usually open from early morning until 12.00-12.30 and from 14.00-15.00 to 19.00-20.00. The main cathedrals and basilicas are open all day. Visiting churches during religious ceremonies is not recommended. It is necessary to prepare a sufficient number of 50-cent coins for machines that turn on the lighting of church interiors. It is convenient to view the paintings on the ceilings and domes of churches through binoculars; photography is usually not allowed, especially with a flash.

Museum opening hours

Museum opening hours vary by region and depend on the time of year. Most of them are usually open from 9.00-10.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to 19.00 in summer, from 10.00 to 16.00-18.00 in winter. Many large gatherings operate free of charge every last Friday of the month, from 19.00 to 23.00. The day off for most museums is Monday. If museum employees show or explain something, then it is customary to give a tip when leaving the museum.

Shop opening hours

Shops are open from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00-15.30 to 20.00. On Sundays, all shops are closed, most are closed on Thursday afternoons. Large supermarkets are open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 21.00 (without lunch), on Monday they open at 14.00. On Saturdays, some shops are open only until lunch, but on pre-holiday days, large retail outlets are open even on Sundays. Small shops are open from 8.00 to 20.00 with a break for lunch (also closed on Thursday afternoon). Some even work on Saturday without lunch, as on this day the population usually buys food for the week and therefore there is a large influx of buyers everywhere. Bars and restaurants operate on an individual schedule. Most outlets close during the summer for at least two weeks (usually in August).

Smoking

In Italy, there is a state monopoly on the sale of tobacco products - they can only be purchased at kiosks with a special emblem. It is forbidden to smoke in public places (including train stations), public transport, taxis, most theaters, cinemas, and shops. In most bars and restaurants, smoking is also prohibited, with the exception of establishments with special rooms for smokers, as well as street cafes. Violators are fined between 250 and 500 euros (the latter for smoking in the presence of a pregnant woman or a child under 12). There are also penalties for owners of establishments that allow smoking on their premises, as well as (sic!) a fine for not informing the owners of such restaurants. But in Italy, as well as in Russia, the rigidity of the laws is compensated by the optionality of their implementation - many Italians have long found loopholes in the new rules. However, tourists are not recommended to take risks - it is much easier to just find out from the attendants where the smoking areas are.

On the territory of the Vatican, it is forbidden not only to smoke, but simply to light cigarettes, and to everyone without exception, regardless of citizenship, position and rank. They say that even archbishops and cardinals fell under the penalty of 30 euros several times.

The legal age to buy wine and go to bars in Italy is 16, although there has long been debate about raising this threshold to 18.

toilets

All airports, railway stations, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels have toilets (marked as WC). If the restroom is not classified as public, it can still be used for a fee. Public toilets are close to many major attractions, but major cities are experiencing a distinct shortage of these facilities. When using them, the main thing is not to confuse - men's rooms are indicated by the Signori sign, women's - Signorie, that is, the difference is only one letter.

Electricity

The mains voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz. European-style sockets are used - round with two cylindrical pins (the usual Type C) and its version with two stampings on the sides of the plug for grounding contacts (Type F or Schuko), as well as rectangular connectors with three pins arranged in a line (Type L). Moreover, the appearance of the latter clearly indicates the permissible connection power - the smaller the pins and the closer they are located, the lower the permissible current (usually 10 A, large plugs with thick connectors are designed for a current of more than 16 A). For better compatibility of Italian connectors with plugs of other standards, special patch plates with shaped holes are used.

Museums and attractions

It is not recommended to swim in the city fountains - the fine can reach 500 euros. Also, in many cities, a popular tourist attraction is increasingly limited - feeding pigeons in city squares (in Venice, for example, it is completely prohibited).

According to the law that came into force in Rome on July 12, 2008, it is forbidden to eat, drink alcohol, scream and sleep near the historical monuments of the Italian capital. Violators will be fined 50 euros. Similar rules already apply in Florence and Venice.

Many popular museums and historical complexes have long queues. Waiting to enter the territory of the Vatican Museums can take up to several hours! Therefore, with a clear focus on Italian museums and historical monuments, it is recommended to go in winter - both prices are lower and there are no queues. Entrance to the territory of almost all historical and archaeological monuments is paid. If there are several objects related to the same theme nearby (palace - museum - gallery, etc.), then a ticket to one of them is usually valid on the territory of the entire complex.

Beaches

Many beaches, even those that do not belong to resort complexes, are paid. Sunbeds, umbrellas, towels are also paid separately. The same point should be paid attention to in hotels, in most of which beach equipment is a separate service. Moreover, it is often necessary to pay for a deck chair or a towel by purchasing a subscription, which, by definition, cannot be valid for less than 3-4 days, which is extremely inconvenient in case of short-term visits to several beach areas.

Hotels

The level of services in Italian hotels is a topic for another discussion. Almost anywhere you can find a good "troika" with excellent service and a very expensive "five" with a full range of services of dubious quality. Often, in a hotel restaurant, the quality of dishes is much inferior to the neighboring trattoria with incomparable prices.

Restaurants

If you want to have lunch or dinner, then it is better not to be led by guides or hotel employees, but to choose an institution yourself. It is extremely simple - there are a lot of various restaurants and cafes in Italian cities, and many of them have first-class cuisine. This is very easy to navigate - if a lot of Italians dine in an institution, then it will also suit a tourist. However, during the day, many restaurants are closed - siesta! Therefore, during this period it is easier to dine at the hotel or find out in advance the opening hours of the restaurants you like the most.

Guides and travel services

Often guides use a proven technique, leading groups to "baited" restaurants and shops - this manner has long been known to everyone, so it is not difficult to find opposition to it. Evening excursions should be avoided - almost all more or less well-known objects have backlighting, but they turn it on either on schedule or turn it on at half strength, so it’s almost impossible to see anything in the dark, and even more so - it’s almost impossible to take a picture. Therefore, when choosing a hotel, route, mode of transportation, and the like, you should carefully study all the conditions - Italy lives on tourism, so there are plenty of people who want to cash in on this. It is characteristic that in the south of the country, especially in Sicily and Sardinia, there are usually no complaints about the honesty of local residents - there is a slightly different mentality and a completely different attitude to the methods of making money. It is much easier with the service in the pre-Alpine regions, where in many establishments a comparison with the south will be considered a direct insult (and they will be mostly right, although the “south” here should be understood as the central regions of the country). It is fundamentally wrong to attribute all Italians to scammers - there are many more people here who sincerely want to acquaint a foreigner with the culture and traditions of their country. The warmth and hospitality of many simple locals is what you really need to go to Italy for.

Large sums of money

According to Italian law, it is forbidden to transfer from hand to hand an amount equal to or greater than 12 thousand euros. This is a criminal offense, so all large amounts must be transferred only through a bank or check.

Tips

Despite the ubiquity of complex prices, which include payment for all services, in case of good service, it is customary to tip 10-15% of the order amount or simply round the amount up (the latter is common in bars and small street cafes). Italians themselves may leave a tip in a premium establishment, but they never pay more than the bill in a cafe, taxi or pizzeria. Tips are not accepted when serving at the counter, and in general this method of eating is noticeably cheaper, since an additional “restaurant fee” is automatically charged when landing at a table, which, in the case of a small order, is quite capable of doubling or even tripling its cost.

Tipping is not required for taxi drivers, but doormen and porters are supposed to leave 1-2 euros.

Price level

Italy is the most expensive country in southern Europe, although on its territory there is a noticeable difference in prices between the northern and southern regions, as well as between large cities and the province. Top category hotels charge more than 200 euros per night for their services (usually breakfast or lunch is included in such prices), middle category hotels - 40-120 euros. In hotels of a low level (previously they were designated pension, or pensione, but now they are usually classified as one or two stars) you can spend the night for 14-40 euros, depending on the level of additional amenities and proximity to the city center. Private boarding houses and very popular in Italy private hotels in villages (denoted as agriturismi) are also subdivided depending on the level of services according to the European "star" system.

Hotels include VAT (IVA, 20-21%) in the room rates. The exception is expensive five-star hotels, where the IVA is 13% and is added as a separate item to the bill. According to local legislation, tourists are required to obtain an official receipt for the entire range of hotel services and keep it until leaving the country, but in practice this requirement is practically not observed (especially for groups). Also, the staff is obliged to provide the guest with comprehensive information about the work of local transport (including car rental offices) and other characteristic nuances of this place, but this service is almost not in demand, since only employees of hotels of large international chains or tourist centers usually know foreign languages.

Many Italian hotels, especially those located in historical buildings in the city center, do not have their own restaurant, serving food at a nearby street establishment. However, even if a restaurant is present, half board or full board meals are almost never found. Some hotels do not include breakfast in their room rates, adding it to the bill (often breakfast at a hotel can cost as much as a hearty dinner at a nearby city restaurant, so this point must be clarified before check-in). Also a characteristic feature of most local hotels is the small size of many rooms, especially single rooms.

Camping in Italy is very popular, with over 1,700 official campsites scattered throughout the country. Any tourist office of the TCI (Italian Tourist Club) will provide information and details on all nearby sites, as well as issue the Campeggi in Italia directory published by them. On large sites, you can rent tents and "caravans", they are usually equipped with restaurants, currency exchange offices and other infrastructure. It is forbidden to stop in places not intended for camping - all the land in the country is private, so a tourist in this way can violate not only traffic or environmental rules, but also be subject to criminal prosecution for violating private property rights.

Food prices are also quite high. You can meet 40-45 euros per day if you have lunch and dinner in street cafes (without alcohol!). Lunch at the hotel restaurant will cost 40-60 euros, dinner can cost twice as much. At the same time, with a certain skill, you can always find pizzerias and cafes where you can keep within 20-30 euros for lunch and 40-50 for dinner (wine can double this amount, although you can always find inexpensive ordinary varieties). A liter bottle of mineral water will cost 1-1.5 euros, a bottle of Peroni beer - 2-2.5 euros, a small pizza - 2-5 euros, a portion of pasta - 4-9 euros. However, in provincial restaurants and small city cafes (trattorie) prices are always somewhat lower, but the level of service is also the same. It should be borne in mind that almost all establishments in large cities consider themselves apologists for "author's cuisine", so the price of even a seemingly simple pizza or pasta here can reach up to 20 euros.

Despite the ubiquity of complex prices, which include payment for all services, in case of good service, it is customary to tip 10-15% of the order amount or simply round the amount up (the latter is common in bars and small street cafes). Tips are not accepted when serving at the counter, and in general this method of eating is noticeably cheaper, since an additional “restaurant fee” is automatically charged when landing at a table, which, in the case of a small order, is quite capable of doubling or even tripling its cost. Tipping is not required for taxi drivers, but doormen and porters are supposed to leave 1-2 euros.

When paying for any goods or services, the law for a long time obliged the buyer to require a tax receipt (ricevuta fiscale), without which the client was not entitled to leave the establishment. Recently, this rule was abolished, and now the buyer is not threatened with a fine if the seller did not give him a check. But it’s better to demand it anyway, if only to check if there is any fraud in the actions of the seller. However, the staff will most often complete all the documents themselves without additional requirements, since fiscal reporting in the country is quite strict.

A non-cash payment system for goods and services is widespread - in any store the buyer will be asked how he will pay. It is imperative to find out the terms of payment - for some products and goods it is more profitable to pay with a credit card (less taxes), but in some cases it is easier to pay in cash.

The variation in prices for goods is very noticeable even within the same shopping area. You can get an idea of ​​the average price by going to a large supermarket, but in general it is recommended to go through several stores of the same type in order to be able to choose the right option for the price - there are practically no problems with the assortment, unless we are talking about some exclusive goods. The system of seasonal discounts is widespread, especially in winter and spring - during the Christmas holidays, on Easter and on the eve of various local holidays, general sales are arranged, during which the cost of many goods from old collections is reduced by 30-40%. Discounts on sporting goods and equipment usually come at the end of the season. There is also a whole network of stock stores that sell items from last year's collections at heavily discounted prices.

Bargaining in stores is not accepted, although it is quite possible in the markets, and in street vendors this way you can bring down the price by 2-3 times.

When buying shoes, keep in mind that the Italian sizing system does not match the European and Russian ones. Approximately, you can focus on 1 size more - Russian 37 corresponds to Italian 38. Clothing sizes, on the contrary, are 6 units smaller than ours: Italian 38 corresponds to Russian 44.

Serious fines are imposed on people who buy counterfeit goods, so you should always be careful about the authenticity of the purchased items, especially if they are labeled with famous brands. Since May 2005, for the purchase of counterfeit wallets, sunglasses, watches, belts, and so on, you can fall under criminal prosecution, which for a foreigner usually ends in a fine of up to 10 thousand euros! The only salvation in this case can be a cash receipt from the store where the item was purchased - the punishment will fall on the head of the merchants, not the tourist. Therefore, buying anything in dubious establishments or on street stalls is not recommended.

Certain difficulties arise for people who import such goods into the country, even if these are personal items in one copy. However, the most interesting thing is that in the malls, which are usually concentrated near all popular attractions, there is no decrease in the share of Chinese or Albanian fakes.

Laws

Being on municipal beaches from 1 am to 5 am in Italy is prohibited by law. The beaches are patrolled by the police, violators are fined - about 150 €.

So I returned from a trip to Italy and now I will tell you how to organize your acquaintance with this country so that everything goes “like clockwork”. My solo trip to Italy lasted 24 days. During this time, I managed to visit so many sights that on the last day I could already work as a guide :) . Of the cities, I remember Venice, Milan and Rome the most. They are a must to visit.

What to do in Italy? Yes, there is plenty of room for relaxation. Beaches, wines, walks along the embankments, getting to know the local passionate people :) , a huge number of attractions, but just enjoy life. I rode a bike through the cobbled streets of Florence, crossed Italy from north to south by train, walked at night with Italian women along the sparkling streets of Milan :) . And, as always, my knowledge of travel savings helped to cut costs several times over. And now to the specifics.

Travel itinerary

My route

According to the already established tradition, I began my independent journey through Italy from Novosibirsk. The flight was morning - Novosibirsk - Milan, with a transfer in Moscow. 10 o'clock and I'm there (I slept on the plane, so the time flew by :)). The plan that I had under the code name:) "Journey through the cities of Italy" consisted of visiting the following cities: Milan -> Venice -> Bologna -> Florence -> Rome -> Naples -> Palermo. From north to south in 24 days, and in cities such as Bologna and Naples I stayed only for 3 days, they just lay on my way, so I decided to visit them too.

What I was guided by when choosing these particular places. I wanted to see the peculiarities of life in all parts of Italy, to visit many sights that belong to different cultures and eras (in the place of modern Italy for many centuries there were independent states, such as the Republic of Venice, the Republic of Florence, the Kingdom of Sicily and others, each with its own characteristics and history). Therefore, I made such an itinerary that would include most of the most significant cities in history for cultural enlightenment, but also allow me to swim, sunbathe on the beach, and enjoy leisurely sea holidays. Attractions + sea = perfect holiday in Italy;) .

Because cheap flights from Russia to Italy involve landing in one of the largest cities, and, most often, these are Rome (the capital), Milan, Venice (the northern part of Italy, some of the cheapest plane tickets are sold here), then I decided that I will start my journey in Italy from its northern part, namely, from Milan, and gradually I will move south. Because Since my trip began in mid-June, I was not limited by weather conditions: the weather was good, there was very little rain, the sea had already warmed up well, in general, the perfect time.

Additional routes

I have compiled alternative routes in Italy for visitors to the site, so that everyone can choose the most suitable for him. Someone wants to focus on sightseeing, someone likes to spend their entire vacation on the beach under the sun, swimming and enjoying every moment of the sea, and someone (myself included) wants to combine beach holidays and sightseeing. In addition, the number of days allotted for holidays in Italy is different for everyone.

Up to 5 days

It makes no sense to include visiting 5-10 cities in a 5-day trip, you will only get tired of such a vacation and you won’t really see anything, it’s better to savor your stay in each city. Only have 5 days to rest? Then it’s better to visit 1, maximum 2 cities (for me, it should be a city with a large number of attractions, and a beach resort city, sometimes these concepts characterize the same city, for example, Naples, Genoa, but most often you have to change the place of rest to find better conditions and more comfort). If you do not want to move anywhere, then it is better to choose a good beach resort, like Rimini or Bari, sea holidays give the recharge of vitality so necessary for most people, so you should not neglect it.

6-10 days

If you have 6-10 days to rest in Italy and you want to visit several places, then choose cities according to the logic described above: city-attraction + seaside resort, the only thing you can increase their number, because. time is getting longer. A good option for this type of holiday would be the Rome-> Florence-> Genoa route (there are several good beaches in the vicinity of the latter, and there are enough attractions there).

11-15 days

With an independent trip to Italy, designed for 11-15 days, you can further expand the study area of ​​​​Italy. Milan->Venice->Florence->Rome->Salerno (the last city is a seaside resort, located near Naples) is a good route for those who want to see as much as possible, but it is important to understand that such a holiday will be eventful, but not so relaxed, because there will be a lot of places on the route, you will have to move often, such a route is justified if you travel around Italy by car, because. in this case, the time spent on the road is reduced, and there is more comfort, all the more, you will always be free to stop in the place you like as much as you want, without even completing your route. I like it better when the last place of rest is a seaside resort, because. a good swim before returning home favorably affects the overall impression of the rest.

From 15 days

If you want to get to know Italian culture well, to see as many places as possible, while not being in a state of a driven horse, then set aside more than 15 days for an independent trip to Italy. During this time, you can drive along the following route: Genoa-> Milan -> Venice -> Florence -> Rome -> Naples -> Palermo. This is a kind of alternative to my route, it begins and ends in seaside resorts. So you can see the sights and swim to your heart's content.

When planning your trip to Italy, stick to the following:

• Get to know the new city carefully. No need to visit 10 cities in 2 weeks, such a rush is very tiring. It is better to be in a new city for at least 3 days, then you will learn a lot about this place, and you will enjoy your vacation, and will not compete with time.
• Don't plan your trip in detail. It is better to indicate the main points of the trip (for example, cities or beaches), and already “on the spot” you will find out where you want to go and what to visit. With this form of travel there will be more freedom of action, which will give you more impressions, more positive emotions.
• Decide how you will move in Italy. Different modes of transport have different advantages and disadvantages. By plane you can quickly move from place to place, while traveling by train you can see amazing landscapes, when traveling in a rented car there is a huge freedom of action. If you buy tickets in advance (at least 2 months in advance), you can save up to 70% of their cost.
• Visit "non-touristic" places. Tourists are shown only certain places, and in order to learn interesting details about the country, you need to get acquainted with the daily life of the local population. So you will get much more pleasure from the trip.

Cheap tickets

A ticket to Moscow from Novosibirsk cost me 4,500 rubles, and from Moscow to Milan - 5,000 rubles, I booked it in advance, which I advise you, it's cheaper. Of course, you can still wait for sales of airline tickets, but, unfortunately, they are very rare, and a limited number of tickets are sold out in a few minutes, so you can miss low ticket prices just by early booking while waiting for sales (it’s better to buy air tickets 3-4 months before the trip), because the closer the departure date, the higher the prices.

Tickets on the route Moscow-> Rome-> Moscow in the summer will cost 10,500-14,000 rubles. Those who live in Moscow find it much cheaper to fly to Europe.

Airfare low price calendar

Check airfare prices:

Hotels

I lived in comfortable hotels that cost me quite cheaply (for example, in Rome, the capital of Italy, I paid only 17,000 rubles for 7 nights in a hotel with 3 * almost in the city center, in the same hotel you could book a 2-bed room for 19500 rubles, I will clarify that I booked in advance). Naturally, I used my knowledge of . In short, I used the site, which itself finds the best options in terms of price / quality, so I recommend it to you. On this site you can find great hotels, and in any country. It is convenient that photos, descriptions are added to each hotel, and tourists who have already visited it leave reviews for hotels, which greatly facilitates the choice of accommodation during the trip.

Some tourists are looking for hotels only on, and this is not entirely true in terms of efficient spending of money, because. you can often find exactly the same hotel room as on Booking, but much cheaper on another site that is just as safe and verified. After all, there are many other hotel booking sites where sales are arranged, and sometimes prices are reduced, which is why it turns out that prices are often higher on Booking. In order not to check all sites separately, while spending several hours or even days searching for the right hotel at the lowest price, the RoomGuru service was invented - it compares prices on dozens of hotel sites, including Booking, and offers you to book hotel room at the lowest price. The service is free, very convenient and reliable, I recommend using it, save a lot of money and time.

Here is a good example, a 3* hotel, 2 adults, 7 nights. Note that the lowest price is not on Booking (315€), but on Amoma (273€).

And here is another example for two in a 4 * hotel.

In addition to the fact that the price for the room itself is low (252€), in this particular case you can save 122€ (price on Booking 374€, price on Agoda 252€). As you can see, the price for the same hotel room can vary significantly on different sites, which is why it is very beneficial to use the RoomGuru service, which will compare everything for you and offer the lowest price per room (this is exactly what is shown in the screenshot).

There is an alternative service, but it's still better to use RoomGuru - it's more reliable, more convenient and more efficient. As for the search itself, if you want to save as much as possible, then choose accommodation away from famous sights and the city center, of course, you will lose a little in comfort, because. it will take longer to get to the right places by public transport, but the savings can be significant, it’s up to you to decide what is more important - comfort or savings. I try to choose accommodation either in the center or close to it, if there are good hotels at low prices (they are always available with early bookings), transport costs sometimes “eat up” most of the money saved on a cheap hotel far from the center, so, Ultimately, it is still preferable to choose those hotel options from which it is convenient to get to the main attractions.

The most expensive place to live is Venice. I would even say not more expensive, but very expensive. Here I had to pay 90 euros per night in a hotel. I was in Venice for 5 days, in total I paid 450 euros, for comparison, I could live on this money for a month and a half !!! in Thailand. But I must say that it was not the cheapest hotel, there were cheaper options, I just liked the view from the window of this hotel, so I booked it :) .
It is important for me that when booking there is a 100% guarantee that I will arrive at a comfortable hotel that matches the photos, the building is located in a convenient area of ​​the city for me, and that there are no problems when checking in like “wait another hour, we forgot to clean up the room” or “there was a mistake, we settled another person in this room 5 minutes ago, look for another hotel.” Does it matter to you too? Then use .

I have selected hotels in Italy with the best value for money (in my opinion), based on my travel experience, reviews of tourists, convenience of location, proven (reliability and safety), and, of course, attractive prices (hotels are listed in order of increasing comfort, from hotels with the lowest price to hotels more expensive). If you want to find a comfortable hotel, accommodation in which you will not be forced to drag yourself through the whole city to the sights in crowded public transport or look for a long time for a place to park your car, with good service (clean linens, convenience and hassle-free accommodation, good Wi-Fi, allowing you to seamlessly use social networks and immediately publish amazing photos from your holiday, communicate with relatives, search for the information you need), while at a low cost of living, then choose a hotel from this list and book as early as possible (these hotels are in great demand, rooms often there is not enough for everyone, and if you book in advance, you will certainly provide yourself with accommodation in one of the best hotels, and the price will be even lower).

Find a cheap hotel from RoomGuru right now:

Rental of property

As a kind of alternative to staying in hotels, it is possible to rent accommodation from the Italians themselves. Of the advantages of this method of finding a place to stay, one can only note an acceptable cost for a large company or for a large family (if 6 people or more go on vacation), because. a large apartment can accommodate a large number of people (but you still need to look for a large apartment at a good price, as a rule, such options are already booked 6-8 months before the summer months), and in terms of one person, the cost of a day's stay in Italy is slightly lower. But this plus, in my opinion, becomes insignificant when taking into account the many disadvantages of renting a home, such as insecurity, the risk of being deceived by the owner of the home, the lack of even basic tourist services, additional inconvenience when checking in and out.

Because There are some difficulties in renting a home abroad, so you have to use the services of intermediaries who charge a decent commission and, in some cases, include additional payments in the cost of living, which makes renting not very profitable.

One of the most famous rental services is Airbnb. If you decide to rent a house rather than book hotel rooms, then you can use it for a discount to save money.

It is important to note that renting a home from the owners is quite a risky business. Increasingly, there are cases when housing does not match the photos presented on the service (especially true for cheap options with a small number of reviews). It is also possible that noisy neighbors live in a neighboring apartment, which will cause a lot of inconvenience (if in a hotel, for the most part, you are protected from bad behavior by neighbors by concierge, security, then in a rented apartment you will need to call the owner of the property or the police, which will require additional time and nerves). Several of my acquaintances got into a very unpleasant situation when the landlords simply canceled the reservation a few days before arrival (relatives may come to visit him, or he will be offered a higher price, or his plans will change - anything can happen), and travelers urgently had to to look for other housing, and after all, the time for early booking has already passed, which means that the new housing was much more expensive than the previous option, there were additional costs that spoiled the planned vacation. Therefore, I recommend not renting accommodation, but booking rooms in hotels, it is safer, more reliable and, in the vast majority of cases, cheaper.

The documents

The required documents, as in almost all of Europe, are the following: passport, visa and insurance. I have had a passport for a long time, and for those who do not have it, I recommend applying for it as early as possible, they make it for 1-4 months (you can get a passport through the State Services website in about a month if you live at the place of registration). I wrote a whole article about it, so I recommend that you read it, in short, you can buy the best insurance at low prices on the site.

Italy is part of the Schengen zone, which is why I received it. Here is a list of required documents to obtain it:

1. Round-trip air tickets (you can book, you can already bought)
2. Proof of accommodation (confirmation from the hotel, as a rule, it is automatically sent to your mail when booking a hotel)
3. Medical insurance (more than 30,000 euros)
4. Completed application form (can be downloaded from the website of the Italian Visa Application Centre)
5. Photo (1 piece, without frames, color)
6. Passport valid for more than 3 months on the date of return from the trip
7. Copy of the main page of the international passport (where the photo and personal data)
8. Financial guarantee (account statement with enough money (the amount depends on the number of people traveling and the number of days in Italy)
9. Confirmation of employment (certificate from work, or a copy of the certificate of entry into the USRIP (for individual entrepreneurs), or a certificate from the place of study, or a pension certificate)
10. Receipt of payment of the consular fee (it must be paid after the conclusion of the contract, if you submit documents through the visa center))
11. Russian passport (original and copy of pages with photo and residence permit)
12. Consent to the processing of personal data (can be downloaded on the website of the visa center)

Schengen visa to Italy will cost 35 euros (consular fee) + 2200 rubles service fee of the visa center. If you live in Moscow, you can save on visa fees by submitting documents directly to the Italian Embassy. It is important to note that if you are denied a visa, consular and service fees are not refundable.

Italy by car

Traveling alone in Italy by car has its pros and cons. Whether you should choose this type of travel depends on several answers to questions that you need to ask yourself: I really want to be free to choose a route, I really want to see the ordinary life of Italians, I can pay 20-40% more money ( compared to traveling using public transport) for the opportunity to travel in Italy, I am ready to solve problems with parking, I do not want to use public transport? If you answered “Yes” to all these questions, then indeed, traveling by car can turn your vacation into something completely different, very eventful, varied, unusual.

In short, a trip to Italy by car is super interesting, but expensive, and also, in some cases, problematic.

It will be more comfortable and cheaper not to travel from Russia in your own car, but to fly by plane to some major Italian city, pick up a rented car (you need to rent it in advance, on special, proven sites) and poison yourself to travel around Italy.

Some points about the road trip:

• The cheapest and safest way is to rent a car on the site. Book a car in advance, several months in advance, so the price will be much lower
• Be sure to purchase full insurance for the car. In Italy, narrow streets, there is a very high chance of scratching or damaging a car.
• During the trip, you will need a navigator with up-to-date maps (if you travel by car often, you can buy a navigator for yourself, and not pay extra for it every time you rent)
• Some large cities have special rules for entering the central part, sometimes you need to buy an additional entry permit, sometimes entry is prohibited at certain hours.
• In roadside cafes and shops, prices are much higher; to save money, you can stock up in advance in city supermarkets
• Refueling is cheaper in cities than on the autobahns. Gasoline on toll roads is more expensive.
• In Italy, there are two types of loading at gas stations: Self (refuel and pay for gasoline yourself) and SerV (a tanker accepts payment and refuels, the price for each liter of gasoline is 10-20 eurocents higher here).
• Most of the good roads north of Naples are toll roads. For travel from north to south on a toll road, you will have to pay 70-90 euros.
• In order not to suffer with the search for parking, book a hotel with its own parking.
• The crossing to Sicily will cost 50 euros.
• 1 liter of 95 gasoline costs 1.6-2.1 €.

Popular resorts and cities in Italy

Where exactly to go in Italy depends on your preferences. I have already given some recommendations in the "Routes" section of this article. In short, with a very limited budget, choose a seaside resort that also has attractions, for example, Rimini, Genoa, Naples (with the latter - be careful, thefts happen there very often, but there are attractions and the sea, which is a big plus). If you want to see the life of Italians, then make a route from north to south. For branded shopping, you should go to Milan, Rome, Florence. If you only need a beach holiday, and the best in Italy, then it is better to choose the islands - Sicily, Ischia, Elba. Well, for the sights, go to Rome, Venice, Florence. The choice is huge, each city has its own advantages, be determined based on the goals of recreation and budget.

Here is a list of the most popular places where you can relax in Italy. For convenience, I have indicated the main distinguishing features of recreation for each resort (in one form or another, there are attractions in each, just somewhere there are more of them, and they are world famous):

• Turin - attractions
• Genoa - attractions, sea
• Milan - attractions, shopping
• Venice - attractions, sea (in the vicinity)
• Bologna - attractions
• Pisa - Attractions
• Florence - attractions, shopping
• Rimini – attractions (few), sea
• Rome - attractions, shopping
• Naples - attractions, sea (in the vicinity)
• Salerno - the sea
• Bari - attractions (few), sea
• Palermo (Sicily) - sea (in the vicinity)
• Syracuse (Sicily) — attractions (few), sea
• Olbia (Sardinia) - sea

Money

What money to take on a trip to Italy? Take euro. And do not carry all your savings in cash, put the bulk of the money on a card, ruble or in euros - this does not play a special role when paying (payment will be made in both cases), because. even if you have a ruble card, then when paying for a purchase in Italy, rubles will be automatically converted into euros and there will be no problems.

If you often travel to Europe (several times a year), then in some cases it is beneficial to issue a bank card with a euro account, replenish your account, and pay for purchases in Italy with it, so there will be no fee for converting rubles into euros. Just choose to really be all right.

Attractions

Something, but there are more than enough sights in Italy. There was no plan to visit sights, museums and exhibitions. I just bought guidebooks for the cities from my route, and when I was already there, I figured out in 5 minutes where I should go today and what to visit. Without a plan, you can act from your momentary desire, which gives you freedom of action, a “flight of imagination” and more positive emotions when traveling, there is no need to rush anywhere, you are not late anywhere, but simply enjoy your vacation.

The only thing I did as soon as I arrived in a new city was to buy a discount tourist card, which gave me up to 50% discount on attractions, public transport, and skip-the-line access to some museums. Traveling around Italy on your own, visiting many attractions, actively using public transport - such cards for tourists will help you save money.

For Rome, this is the Roma Pass card, for 3 days it costs 36 €, for 2 days - 28 euros, allows you to visit 2 (for a card for 3 days) or 1 attraction (for a card for 2 days) for free and without a queue, free use of public transport and receive discounts on visits to other attractions. It is best used to visit the Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery, because. there are the longest queues, and with a tourist card you can bypass them by going through a special entrance.

Using the card data, you can skip the long queues at museums and exhibitions and pass as a VIP visitor. These cards are inexpensive, you can buy them on the official websites of cities, at airports, railway stations, and tourist centers. I wrote about how to save money while traveling.

Most of all I remember such places as the Duomo (Cathedral) in Milan, the Colosseum in Rome, La Scala (Opera House) in Milan, Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Pompeii near Naples. I recommend taking a look at the list.

If you want to see the sights as part of an organized excursion group, learn a lot more interesting facts about the memorable places of Italy from an individual guide, order unusual excursions from local residents, then use the site. Choose a few excursions you like, read reviews about them and you can safely book them to diversify your independent vacation in Italy.

Transport in Italy

Between the cities of Italy it is more convenient and, most often, cheaper to travel by train. The developed railway network and the availability of high-speed trains (except for the southern part of the country) allow you to get to the desired city very quickly. You can buy tickets for the desired route on the official website of the Italian railways Trenitalia.com (the earlier you buy tickets, the lower the prices).

There are several types of trains in Italy:

• Arrows (high-speed) - FrecciaRossa (the fastest and with a relatively high ticket price), Frecciargento (average in price and speed), Frecciabianca (the slowest of the arrows, but also with the lowest price). Choose these long distance trains for time savings like Rome-Milan or for better comfort.
• Ordinary long-distance - Intercity (they travel slower than the "arrows", but connect more cities, and the prices are lower). There is a lot of time, but if you want to save money, choose them, but still it is more convenient to use “arrows” for long distances.
• Intercity night-InterCityNotte (like the previous ones, only the conditions for a comfortable night trip are created). A good option for a trip to Sicily, because. it's a long ride, but the "arrows" don't go there.
• Electric trains - Regionale. A good, very inexpensive option for a trip to the suburbs and neighboring cities. There are many stops, so please be patient.

Domestic flights in Italy are also developed and inexpensive, but, for me, this type of transport is not always convenient. It is worth flying by plane if you are going to get to another part of Italy, for example, you can fly to Sicily from Rome or Milan. Although the prices for air travel are low due to the presence of low-cost airlines (Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet; even several times a year, low-cost airlines arrange sales for which you can buy tickets for 10-15 euros one way without luggage, for luggage you usually need to pay an extra 15- 30 euros, but such sales are rare, while you are waiting for them, you can miss the low prices for regular tickets), but the check-in time for the flight, the road to / from the airport, frequent delays in domestic flights make planes not very tempting transport.

You can also use intercity buses, but this is not very convenient, although the cheapest option in most cases. In the hot, summer months, it is stuffy in buses, air conditioners do not always save, and it is comfortable in buses at a minimum level. Better take the train.

Buy a tour or go to Italy on your own

I decided to travel around Italy on my own, without the help of travel agencies, and will continue to do so. But some tourists still choose the tour. The fact is that in rare cases, according to the special offers of tour operators, you can relax in the most popular resorts at relatively low prices, such last-minute tours must be carefully monitored and immediately purchased (if you are completely satisfied with this type of vacation), because. the most attractive options in terms of cost are sorted out in just 5-10 minutes. This specificity of cheap tours makes them elusive. you have to constantly monitor the offers of tour operators, most often for several months in a row, and, most often, such offers become available during business hours, which means that it is not always possible to purchase it even if there is a cheap tour, because. this takes time, you need to interrupt work (which is not always possible), you need to have Internet access and a bank card at hand.

Those who still decide to choose offers from tour operators do it on or on. Services are time-tested, there are convenient search filters, many options are available for various resorts. Just do not forget that the cost of most cheap tours includes only hotel accommodation (and not always good, only with breakfast or no food at all) and air travel, and does not take into account spending on food / cafes / restaurants, insurance, travel around Italy itself ( between cities and in the cities themselves), the purchase of souvenirs and other standard expenses on vacation, so if these expenses come to the cost of the tour (to see the real necessary budget), then offers from tour operators are often not profitable.

The main reason why I don’t buy tours, but travel around Italy on my own, is the constraint of choosing an interesting route, limiting myself to a rigid framework for specific dates of arrival and departure (last-minute tours with low prices are often not convenient for dates, departure may be “already tomorrow ” or vice versa, after a few months (which is less common), you have to change your plans, adapt to the tour operator, and most are given vacation only with a few weeks advance notice, or in general annual leave is assigned only on specific dates determined by the authorities, which creates difficulties for rest on a tour), a small number of days for rest (in a few days you will not be able to fully get to know different parts of Italy, you will have to limit yourself to one or two cities, which will bring not so many positive emotions compared to flexible independent travel), not very comfortable hotels (most often cheap tours include accommodation in low-level hotels sheep, with poor nutrition or none at all, in an area remote from the city center).

If you want to see several cities, visit the best beaches, see the real Italy (and not just the part that is beaten up and down by tourists), enjoy your vacation at a pace that is convenient for you, experience as many positive emotions as possible and get a lot of pleasant impressions (much more than a standard tour gives), then choose an independent trip to Italy.

How to save

The cost of a trip to Italy - prices and budget

How much it will cost to fly to Italy on your own is up to you to decide, this is a huge plus for independent travel. Different travelers have different travel styles. Someone likes to spend money right and left, lives in 5-star hotels and rents a Cadillac to move around the city. The price of such a holiday will be several tens of thousands of euros. And someone uses the advice, and. Such a trip can cost about 30,000 rubles per month of rest. My independent trip to Italy, which lasted 24 days and included many cities in different parts of the country, cost 125,000 rubles (if I lived in the European part of the Russian Federation, this figure would decrease by 10,000), I must say right away that it was not super economical travel, I just sometimes bought what I wanted, before I traveled around Europe for 25,000 rubles a month (it was an interesting adventure :)). First you need to decide how you want to travel and only then calculate the approximate budget. An independent trip to Italy for 10 days for two requires an average of 95,000-125,000 rubles, but consider the information indicated in this section.

Expenditure

To draw up your own travel budget, you will need this table with approximate costs:

The budget of the trip is strongly influenced by the number of cities that you want to see, how many sights you consider a must-see, how important shopping is for you, where you will eat (cafes, restaurants or just buy food in supermarkets). If you have already traveled to any countries, then be guided by your previous experience with an eye to the prices in Italy, which are given in this article.

Prices in Italy

Housing prices

Prices are for the cheapest options that can not boast of super service, fine cuisine, and, often, a convenient location. It is better to book accommodation slightly above the minimum price, focusing on the hotel rating, visitor reviews, location convenience. Hotels with the best price / quality ratio are indicated.

Food prices in supermarkets

Product	Price (EUR)	Price (rubles)
Milk	1.1	79.2
Eggs (12 pcs)	2.7	198
Pasta	2.1	158.4
Juice	1.6	118.8
hard cheese	12.8	950.2
Ham	13.9	1029.3
Sushi set (300 gr)	10.7	791.8
Apples	1.6	118.8
Potato	1.6	118.8
Tomatoes	1.8	134.6
Chicken breasts	7.5	554.3
Beef	15	1108.5
Shrimps	12.8	950.2
Wine	5.4	395.9
Vodka	8.6	633.4
Beer (0.33 l)	1.1	79.2
Water	0.7	55.4
A pack of cigarettes	6.4	475.1

Prices in cafes / inexpensive restaurants

Transport prices

Solo Travel to Italy - 18 Step Plan

1. Decide on the dates of the trip and the number of days to rest
2. Think over the route and decide on places (cities) for recreation
3. Buy flights to Italy and back
4. Book your accommodation
5. Buy insurance
6. Get a visa
7. Decide which mode of transport you will use when traveling between Italian cities
8. Buy tickets for long-distance transport in Italy (early purchase/booking of tickets for trains, buses, planes, car rentals can significantly reduce your expenses)
9. Choose and pay for excursions in advance if you need them (earlier booking is cheaper, and guarantees that there will be free places in the group with the guide, for individual excursions this is especially important, because popular guides have all excursions planned in the high season for several weeks ahead)
10. You can make a rough list of attractions that you want to visit (optional item, but it saves time "on the spot")
11. Download maps to your smartphone in order not to get lost and to navigate well in unfamiliar cities (it is advisable to download applications with maps that work without the Internet, for example, Maps.me)
12. Write down (or remember, if you have a good memory, but it is better to write down) important information about each city from the route (how to get from the airport, which metro or other public transport station is near your hotel, the name and address of your hotel)
13. Exchange part of the money for euros, take the necessary bank cards (and a credit card if you rent a car)
14. Pack your suitcases / backpacks (documents, first aid kit, equipment, clothes, Power Bank (external battery, needed to recharge your electronic devices, often needed when traveling), etc.)
15. Set an alarm in advance that will remind you at the right time that it is time to go to the airport
16. Check in for a flight in advance (online check-in usually opens 24 hours before departure (sometimes earlier, check on the airline's website)) to take the most comfortable and with a good view of the place, as well as eliminate troubles with possible overbooking (when the airline sells more tickets for the flight than there are seats on the plane)
17. A little time has passed since the collection of suitcases, and you remembered that you forgot to put it - take the missing things with you (just don't take everything in a row, there's no need for extra cargo)
18. The alarm clock rang. Go to the airport. Have a great trip!

Now you can go on your independent trip to Italy cheaply and comfortably. Italy will give a lot of positive emotions. After my trip to this country, I was very happy, and I wish you the same. Visit SpiritRelax often and relax anywhere in the world. All the best!

Souvenir from Venice

going on holidays in Italy, it was important for us to know as much information as possible about the sights of this country. But, as it turned out later, information is also important, allowing you to comfortably live in Italy during the days of rest, without conflicting with the laws of Italy.

Traveling Italy by car

So what is it desirable to know for a tourist going to holidays in Italy?

So the main points are:

Climatein Italy- soft, subtropical. The temperature in summer is +25°C, but sometimes it rises to +40°C. Winters are warm, temperatures can reach +10°C, snow lies in the north of Italy, in the Alps. In September, heavy rains fall on the Adriatic coast.

monetary unit in Italy is the euro, since Italy is part of the European Union. National currency lira ceased to exist since 2002.

Official language — Italian, in the border regions of Italy with European countries, they speak German and French. All Italians know English. Due to the fact that Russian-speaking tourists traveling to holidays in Italy, more and more, Italians are trying to speak Russian, especially sellers in stores. Many stores employ Russian staff.

Currency exchange. It is beneficial to change a large amount of currency in banks, as banks offer the most favorable exchange rate. But banks take a commission for each transaction, regardless of the amount being changed - in the amount of 3 to 5 euros.

It is advantageous to change a small amount in hotels and private exchange offices. Here they change the currency at an overvalued rate, but they do not take commissions for the transaction.

Credit cards. Credit cards of the following banking systems are accepted for payment for services (Visa, Mastercard, Cirrius-Maestro, Diners Club). But better before the flight on vacation in Italy, check with your bank whether your card will be a means of payment abroad. At ATMs in Italy, you can withdraw about 250 euros from your account daily. When paying by card, in hotels, restaurants, shops, you may be asked for a document proving your identity. Be prepared for this.

Health problems. If you have health problems, you should contact your insurance company by phone. The phone number of the Russian-speaking operator is indicated in the medical insurance that you must purchase before traveling in your country. All receipts, documents confirming your expenses for treatment must be kept so that upon arrival in your country, present to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Pharmacies- there are a lot of them in Italy . You will recognize them by the Farmacia sign. Pharmacy opening hours: 09:00 - 13:00, 16:00 - 22:00. There are on-duty pharmacies that work around the clock. The pharmacist on duty will serve you, you just need to ring the bell at the door.

Alcoholic drinks can be purchased in stores and small shops for every taste. Italians love to drink wine during and after meals. Traveling in Italy, you can see many grape plantations. Inexpensive local wines, in paper bags, cost from 1 to 4 euros. Popular with Italians and tourists wines Limoncello and Grappa. Stronger wines are more expensive.

Limoncello in a souvenir box

Drinking water considered good in Italy. Water can be drunk from the tap. The shops also offer a wide range of mineral and plain water. The price for one and a half, two liters of water is up to 1 euro. In tourist buses, each driver has a bar where you can buy water. This is their small business.

In Italian bars you can order all kinds of drinks: wine, bottled beer, water, cola, cocktail, espresso coffee, cappuccino, tea. The cost of drinks is from 1 to 9 euros. Moreover, the cost of the drink includes the rental of a table. Cheaper to drink drinks at the bar.

Internet present in hotels, restaurants and cafes. In hotels, in the lobby and rooms. As a rule, the Internet is free and it is called wifi free. But, in some hotels , you will have to pay for the Internet. The price varies from 5 euros per day. If wifi free is in the hotel, then in order to use the Internet, you need to ask the reception for a password.

Food in Italy. Estimated food prices in Italy are shown below. :

Lunch from 10 to 40 euros;

A bottle of wine from 3 to 5 euros;

Signature Italian blulo pasta from 6 to 12 euros;

Cup of coffee up to 2 euros;

Hamburger - from 5 euros;

Can of Coca-Cola - 2 euros;

A bottle of beer - 2.5 euros;

Museum and theater tickets - from 18 euros;

mobile connection cheap in italy . Mobile operators of other countries have roaming agreements with Italian providers: If the time travel in Italy long, it is more economical to purchase an Italian SIM card. It costs 15 euros. This card is valid for one year from the date of activation.

value added tax in Italy is 21% for luxury goods. This tax is included in the price of the item. This tax is not included in the price of services, for example, in the menu of restaurants and cafes.

famous amusement park located on the Adriatic coast, in Rimini. This park is called "Italy in miniature". All of Italy is represented in the park. Here are all the famous sights of Italy on a scale of 1:25 and 1:50. The park has attractions for children, there are cafes and restaurants, and you can travel around the territory by train resembling a subway train. A ticket to the park costs 20 euros, and the ticket is valid for the next day.

Amusement park "Mini Italy"

Food in Italy. Food in Italian hotels is of high quality, tasty without delicacies. The Italians offer vacationers in Italy, food to your national taste. Depending on the category of the hotel in the morning they offer:

simple breakfast, during which only tea-coffee, buns, croissants, butter, processed cheese, jam are served.

enhanced breakfast, during which juice, boiled eggs and sliced ​​\u200b\u200b(sausage, cheese) are additionally offered.

Buffet, offers a variety of salads, appetizers, but no hot food.

For dinner, the hotels offer a multi-course menu (set dinner). In hotels of a higher category for breakfast and dinner, various options for complexes and hot dishes are offered. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the complexes. They must be purchased at an additional cost.

Difference in time with Russia about 2 hours, with the countries of Central Asia about 4 hours.

Cafes and restaurants in Italy. There are very expensive restaurants in Italy. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation, you need to choose a restaurant where the menu with prices weighs at the entrance. Average prices in restaurants:

snack 4-8 ​​euros,

first course 6-9 euros,

second course 10-20 euros,

dessert 3-5 euros,

wine - 5 euros.

Additionally, the bill includes the rental of a table, somewhere from 1 to 3 euros. In Italy, it is cheaper to eat in restaurants with set meals, it costs about 20 euros. In quiet places, away from the city center, you can eat in restaurants with home cooking, an analogue of Russian taverns.

Beaches in Italy divided into plots and leased to private individuals and hotels. If you are staying in a hotel according to the system "All inclusive" and your hotel has a beach, you don't pay for the beach. If you rest on the system "Half board" you need to pay for sunbed and umbrella. Each beach has an administrator who charges for the use of umbrellas and sunbeds. The cost of using a sunbed is from 4 euros per day. Sunbed with umbrella - 10 euros. Families are offered a complex: 2 sun loungers and an umbrella at a price of 15 euros. The beaches are patrolled by the police, you can’t be on the beach at night, lovers of night swimming are fined.

Law enforcement in Italy it is carried out by several police units: traffic police, municipal police (public order), simple police, carabinieri (criminal cases), financial guards. The police phone is 112, the carabinieri - 113.

Police in Rome

Hotel Rules not strict. You can bring drinks, fruit and food into the hotel. Cooking is prohibited. Guests can be invited to the room. The guest must leave an identity document at the reception. If the guest wants to spend the night at the hotel, then you will need to pay for this. You can take hotel towels to the beach. Towels are changed regularly. The hotel administration is not responsible for missing items. Therefore, it is recommended to use a safe. The use of a safe in almost all hotels is free, but in a few hotels this service is paid and costs about 5 euros. For the loss of the key to the safe, a sensitive fine is due.

municipal markets arranged in the cities of Italy according to a certain schedule. In these markets you can buy clothes and vegetables, fruits, wine. Markets are open from 8:00 to 13:00.

Transport. Travel around Italy possible by rail . Rail transport is popular in Italy. Using such transport, you can get to any region of Italy.

Public transport no less popular in Italy. Fare in public transport in Italy is quite budgetary. You can buy a ticket for public transport in tobacco shops or from the driver. It is more expensive to buy a ticket from the driver than in a store. The ticket is valid for one trip. By "one trip" is meant 90 minutes of travel with the possibility of transfers, the main thing is to meet the time. You also have the opportunity to purchase a ticket for the whole day. The cost of such a ticket in a tobacco shop will be 3 euros.

The ticket must be validated. Traveling without a ticket is subject to a fine. If you do not pay the fine, you risk not getting a Schengen visa anymore.

Tourist bus in Rome

Taxi is another popular transport in Italy. Taxi can be called by phone. Traveling a distance of 1 km will cost an average of 1 euro. Weekends and public holidays are slightly higher.

Customs regulations Italy do not differ from the rules of other European countries . You can bring into Italy up to 10 thousand euros or an equivalent amount in other currencies

In Italy there is a VAT refund. If you make a purchase in excess of 155 euros, take the check from the cashier in the store. When leaving Italy, presenting the receipt and the purchased items in the original packaging at customs, you will receive a VAT refund. In Italy, there is a strict financial discipline.

The financial police strictly ensures that all transactions are carried out through the cash register and documented in the form of a check. In case of violation, not only the trader is fined, but also the consumer. The merchant must not forget to write out a check, and the consumer must present it if necessary.

Fruits and vegetables locally grown in Italy and very tasty. Prices for vegetables, fruit are quite budgetary. The market is cheaper than the supermarket. Price from 1 euro to 3 euros. But by the end of the day, the cost drops to cents.

Tips. In Italy it is customary to tip. Tipping this action is optional, it depends on your desire. Tipping can be given to the maids, in return - the room will always be perfectly clean. It is customary to tip a bus driver, taxi driver, tour guide, waiter in a restaurant or cafe.

The work of institutions. All institutions in Italy are open from 8:30 to 13:30 and from 15:00 to 16:00. There are some options. Temples, cathedrals are open from morning to noon (morning service). Then they open at 14-00 and work until 19-00 (evening service).

Museums are open from 09:30 to 18:30 without a lunch break. During the tourist season, the working day is extended. Sunday is usually a day off. However, there are exceptions.

Venetian glass jewelry

Souvenir boutique in Venice

Familiarizing yourself with the rules tourists need to know departing on vacation in Italy, you can travel comfortably without conflicting with the laws of Italy.

Subscribe to blog news! If you liked the article, share it on social networks.
Book flights and hotels here and now!

Rome hotel map

Italy is a large state in southern Europe. There is a huge number of UNESCO-protected world heritage sites here - historical monuments and works of art are located throughout the country. The country is also famous around the world for its national cuisine, fashion, sports cars and luxury motorcycles, as well as beautiful coastlines, lakes and mountains with numerous ski resorts.

On the territory of Italy there are two independent dwarf states: San Marino and the Vatican. Although not formally part of the European Union, both countries are part of the Schengen Area and the European Monetary Union.

Italy is located in the Mediterranean part of Europe and borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The boot-shaped peninsula on which it is located is washed by the Ligurian, Sardinian and Tyrrhenian seas in the west, the Sicilian and Ionian seas in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east. Italian is the most widely spoken language among the majority of the population, but as you travel around the country, you will find that there are many different dialects of Italian depending on the region. The landscape of Italy is very diverse, but in the first place it can be called mountainous, taking into account the mountain ranges of the Alps and the Apennines that cut through it.

Current time in Rome:
(UTC+1)

The country consists of two large islands: Sardinia, located off the west coast, and Sicily, which is located near the southern tip (“toe”) of the boot. The capital of Italy is Rome.

How to get there

From the cities of Russia to the cities of Italy, it is most convenient to get, of course, by plane, since there is no shortage of flights. Regular flights from Moscow to Rome are carried out by the Russian carrier Aeroflot and the Italian AlItalia. Aeroflot also operates flights from Moscow to Verona, Venice and Milan, and AlItalia from Rome to St. Petersburg.

When flying from Moscow and St. Petersburg by the Italian national carrier to Rome, you can arrange a connecting flight to all more or less large cities in Italy, thanks to the wide route grid of AlItalia. In addition, since May 2010 it is possible to fly directly from Yekaterinburg to Rome with Ural Airlines. However, despite the regular status of this flight, it is still seasonal.

As for other cities in Russia, you can get to Italy by air with a connection by European airlines flying to some Russian cities. If these airlines do not fly from your city, you can always fly to Italy via Moscow with Aeroflot or another airline that operates flights to the Russian capital. Below the links you can go to a block with detailed information on how to get to the main cities of Italy.

From other European cities, in the case of a combined trip, getting to Italy is many times easier than from Russia. The number of flights is so large that it makes no sense to list them (it is better to use). Do not forget that you may have such a service as at your disposal, they are suitable for those who prefer comfort and are not inclined to save money.

Flight Search
to Italy

Vehicle search
for hire

Find flights to Italy

We compare all available flight options for your request, and then we direct you to purchase on the official websites of airlines and agencies. The airfare you see on Aviasales is final. We have removed all hidden services and checkboxes.

We know where to buy cheap air tickets. Plane tickets to 220 countries of the world. Search and compare prices for air tickets among 100 agencies and 728 airlines.

We cooperate with Aviasales.ru and do not take any commissions - the cost of tickets is absolutely the same as on the website.

Car rental search

Compare 900 car rental companies at 53,000 locations.

Search 221 car rental companies worldwide
40,000 points of issue
Easy cancellation or modification of your booking

We cooperate with RentalCars and do not take any commissions - the rental price is absolutely the same as on the website.

Climate and weather in Italy

The climate of Italy is predominantly Mediterranean, but this does not mean at all that the weather in all its regions is the same. In the depths of the country and in the northern regions, features of a temperate climate are manifested. It gets warmer from north to south.

The climatic features of the regions are determined by two factors: the influence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, since the mountains are a natural barrier to winds blowing from the west and north.

Summer in Italy is hot and dry (from +24 to +34 °C), winter on the coast in the center of the country is mild, in the north it is colder by 7-12 degrees.

Precipitation is unevenly distributed across the regions: up to 1200 mm per year falls on the vicinity of the Alps, including heavy snowfalls in winter. In the center of the country, on average, up to 750 mm falls, and a significant part of them falls on winter rains. In the south, the climate is drier, the amount of precipitation is within 500 mm.

Cities and regions

North of Italy. The most densely populated and developed part of the country. Cities such as Turin, Milan, Bologna, Verona and Venice attract many tourists, as well as wonderful landscapes like the Lake Como region, impressive mountains like the Dolomites and the Italian Alps, as well as first-class mountain resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo and others.

Central Italy. Everything here breathes history and art. Rome is famous for its preserved curiosities of the Roman Empire and world-famous landmarks such as the Colosseum. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is the most attractive city in Tuscany for tourists, although in the nearby cities of Siena, Pisa and Lucca, those wishing to join the rich cultural and historical heritage of the country will find a lot of interesting things for themselves.

Southern Italy. Bustling Naples, the dramatic ruins of Pompeii, the romantic Amalfi Coast and tranquil Puglia, as well as the growing agritourism, make this most unvisited area an attractive destination for travelers.

Italian Islands. These are primarily Sardinia and Sicily, a large island south of the peninsula (the "ball" that kicks the "boot"), as well as Capri, Ischia, Elba, Procida, the Aeolian Islands, the Aegadian Islands, Tremiti and Pantelleria.

Cities

There are several hundred cities in Italy, here are nine of the most famous of them:

• Rome is the capital of both modern Italy and the ancient Roman Empire; center of the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican).
• Bologna is the location of the first university in history. A city rich in history, culture and technology. Bologna is famous for its local cuisine. One of the most important university centers in the world.
• Florence is the city of the Renaissance. Known for its architecture and art, as well as its worldwide influence. It is also home to Michelangelo's famous statue of David and many world-famous art museums.
• Genoa is a rich and diverse city. The presence of the port has always contributed to the development of tourism and trade, as well as art and architecture. Genoa is a historic city, the birthplace of Columbus and jeans.
• Milan is the world fashion center.
• Naples is an important port city full of life and sun. The local pizza is the best in all of Italy. In addition, the famous volcano Vesuvius is located here.
• Pisa - Here is the easily recognizable Leaning Tower of Pisa. The city is very popular among tourists. There are many merchants on the streets offering all sorts of goods.
• Turin is the birthplace of FIAT cars. Turin is an industrial city, there are enterprises in the automotive and aerospace industries. The city hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Venice – Venice is famous for its history, art and world-famous canals. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy; here is the island of Murano, famous for its hand-blown glass products. The Cathedral and St. Mark's Square are very popular with tourists, and in the summer season there are a lot of people here.

Regions of Italy

What to watch

Apart from the Italian cities filled with sights, in Italy there will still be something to admire. At least by nature - the famous islands in the Gulf of Naples, the picturesque lakes of Garda and Como in northern Italy, the Italian Alps, including the magnificent ski resorts of Italy, and much more. But still, the main treasure of the country is its richest cultural heritage. All the sights are more than realistic to see on your own, or, to order a couple of detailed excursions, the benefit is quite democratic.

Below are the main attractions of Italydivided into groups:

• Sights of Rome- the world famous Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and many others.

• Vatican and Michelangelo's painted Sistine Chapel, as well as St. Peter's Basilica and the Pontifical Pinakothek.

• Sights of Florence- Uffizi Gallery, Palatine Gallery and Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts with a statue of David.

• Sights of Milan- here is not only shopping, but also Milan Duomo, Sforza Castle and the most famous opera house La Scala.

• Sights of Naples- the legendary city of Pompeii and its executioner - the mighty volcano Vesuvius.

• Sights of Venice- San Marco Cathedral, Doge's Palace and of course the famous canals, led by the Grand Canal.

Where to go in Italy

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Leisure

Transport

Wellness vacation

Private guides in Italy

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Italy in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do

Thermal resorts in Italy

The thermal capital of Italy is the small town of Montecatini Terme, which already betrays its destiny with just one name. The first springs were built in the second half of the 18th century - these are Bagno Regio, Terme Leapoldina and Terme Tettuccio. However, Montecatini truly became a city of thermal springs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was then that new luxury hotels, restaurants, theaters, nightclubs and even casinos began to be built. In various institutions one could meet celebrities and the Russian elite. For example, Giuseppe Verdi restored his health here every year for 20 years, Benito Mussolini also visited the resort.

Thermal baths of Montecatini Terme

• Baths "Leopoldine"
• Thermae "Excelsior"
• Baths "Tamerici"
• Baths "Tettuccio"
• Thermae "Regina"
• Thermae "Redi"
• Baths "La Salute"

You can read more about the thermal springs of Montecatini, the properties of local waters, accommodation features and much more related to this type of holiday in our material. "The thermal side of Italy" .

Alpine skiing and snowboarding in Italy

The most popular ski regions and their resorts

Follow the links to find detailed information about the resorts - descriptions of slopes and lifts, the cost of ski passes, location, accessibility and much more. You can also go to the page where all ski resorts in Italy are collected in a convenient form.

Valle d'Aosta

Monterosa Ski

Traveling in Italy

Traveling in Italy by train

Various types of trains are used in Italian railway transport: TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Eurostar City Italia, IntercityPlus, Intercity, Espresso, Interregionale and Regionale, Eurostar Italia and TBiz are the highest class trains. In general, there is a certain hierarchy, and travel on one train can cost twice as much as another.

The carriages used by TBiz and Eurostar Italia have electrical sockets, which can be useful for those who are going to work during the trip, or write notes about travels in Italy. On the other hand, in Intercity trains (intercity) there are cars divided into compartments with six seats each, which can be useful for traveling groups.

Intercity trains are generally pretty consistent, but if you need to catch a plane, for example, then perhaps the best solution would be to go with Eurostar Italia for an additional fee. The Interregionale and Regionale types are not as stable and stop at more stations along the way. Another feature that distinguishes TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity from Interregionale, Regionale and Espresso is the seat designation on the tickets. that is, on higher-class trains, each passenger is guaranteed a certain seat. This also means that you have to buy tickets in advance. You can check the travel time on the Trenitalia website or by using the printed timetable, which is usually located near the exit of each platform.

On long routes, such as Milan - Rome, Trenitalia has introduced special night trains Treni Notte. They leave at about 10 pm and arrive at their destination in the morning. Depending on the train, you can choose between seating, compartments or sleeping cars of different types. Seating is the cheapest, but even sleeping places are not prohibitively expensive and are very comfortable for traveling long distances. Please also note that not all trains have air conditioning.

In train timetables at railway stations, each train is marked with its own color (for example, blue, red, green). Arrival times are shown in parentheses next to the destination name. Please note that some trains run only at certain times of the year or periods of time (for example, only on holidays).

Ticket lines are sometimes very long and move slowly, so it's best to arrive early at the station. The ticket can be purchased both at traditional ticket offices and at convenient multilingual machines. You can also buy tickets on the Trenitalia website. In this case, you will receive a code (codice di prenotatione, PNR) with which you can collect your ticket from the ticket machine at the station. For some trains, you can choose the option in which you have to print the ticket yourself. By default, the site will only display the "best" (usually the most expensive) travel options, but you can see if there are slower, cheaper ways to get to your destination by selecting the "Show all options" option.

There may be no seats left on Eurostar trains, so if you need to travel at a strictly defined time, buy tickets in advance. The Italian Railways Authority has launched a campaign against fare evasion and introduced large fines (from 50 euros). If you're really late and don't have a ticket, it's best to talk to the conductor ("il controllore or il capotreno") outside the train during boarding.

Remember that before boarding you must validate your ticket by stamping it in one of the yellow boxes (marked Convalida). Traveling with an unstamped ticket is technically the same as traveling without a ticket at all. It is very important not to forget to confirm the ticket, because the conductors do not show indulgence towards negligent passengers in this case.

The cheapest way to travel around the regions is to buy a local ticket . On the diagram next to the ticket validation machine, you will see how much you need to pay to travel between certain stations. To buy a pass for the next area, you will have to get off the train, and since the stops are very short, you can only leave on the next train (usually in about an hour).

There are many discounts and special offers. Some concessionary passes allow unlimited travel for a certain amount of time, others are regular tickets with some restrictions at cheaper prices. Before choosing a pass, make sure it costs less than buying a regular ticket (or a regular discounted ticket, if available).

If you are not Italian and travel a lot, you can purchase a Trenitalia card: you buy the opportunity to ride a selected number of days and you can use it for the next two months. However, on trains with a ticket reservation (TBiz, Eurostar Italia, Intercity Plus and Intercity) you will have to pay a surcharge (from 5 to 25 euros depending on the type of train).

Traveling in Italy by car

The north of Italy has a well-developed motorway system, while the roads in the southern parts of the country are of poorer quality and have a shorter length. Each highway is identified by the letter A followed by a number. Most highways (motorways) are subject to tolls. In some cases, access to a certain section of the road is paid for; in some cases, payment booths are placed at the entrance and exit. Do not lose your entry ticket or you will be charged for the longer distance (for example, if you are on the A1 Milano-Naples highway, upon arrival in Milan you will be charged for the entire 700 km distance). The blue lanes (labeled "Viacard") of toll stations accept major types of credit cards and prepaid cards, which can be bought at tobacconists, eateries, or gas stations.

Many Italians use an electronic payment device and drive through special lanes marked with a yellow "Telepass" or simply "T" sign. These roads are monitored by video surveillance systems and if you drive on them without a device, you will be forced to pay a fine and pay the maximum fare. By agreement with other countries, foreigners will have to pay extra to search for the violator in his country.

While speeding on the freeway is common, be aware that there are many automatic and almost invisible systems on the roads to detect and punish speedy and dangerous driving. In addition, the Italian Highway Patrols (Polizia Stradale) use unmarked vehicles equipped with speed radars and video cameras. On unfamiliar roads, it is better to drive at a legal speed.

Many Italian motorways are equipped with automatic systems called SICVE or TUTOR, which monitor the average speed of vehicles over long distances (5-10 km) and their coverage area is constantly expanding (currently the beginning of the system coverage area is indicated by signs, a complete list of covered roads can be found on that website).

A signal that a control system is nearby can be a sharp decrease in the speed of surrounding vehicles. If you see many drivers staying within the speed limit and not exceeding it, it's best to do the same. If oncoming vehicles flash their headlights at you, you may be approaching speed radars.

Please note that the meaning of the headlights here may differ from those in your country. Flashing can mean a request to give way, or vice versa, an offer to go first, depending on the situation.

The following speed limits apply:

• 130 km/h on toll motorways (motorways);
• 110 km/h on normal highways;
• 90 km/h on local roads;
• 50 km/h within the city.

Italian laws allow a deviation of 5% (minimum 5 km/h) from these norms when setting local speed limits. Fines for exceeding are usually very high.

Riding motorcycles is allowed only with the headlights on, for other vehicles this rule applies only outside the city.

Drunk driving is a very controversial issue. The permitted limit of blood alcohol content is 0.50 g/l; exceeding this level is punishable by a high fine, loss of driving license and imprisonment, but many drivers do not worry about it. All passengers are required to fasten their seat belts, and children under 10 years old must ride only in the back seat of the car. If there is no sign on the road to the contrary, you must give way to vehicles traveling on the right side of another road. Road signs are designed according to EU guidelines and mostly use pictograms rather than text, but there are some peculiarities (for example: directions of highways are written on a green background, local roads on white, and other roads on blue).

Avoid using roads marked in blue for long distance travel. Although the highways are more expensive, they significantly reduce travel time, while driving on the roads marked in blue, you will have to pass through many cities and villages.

Traveling in Italy by bus

As in many European countries, buses in Italy are one of the main modes of transport not only within cities, but also outside them, often connecting such settlements that are simply not accessible otherwise. This explains the popularity of buses among local residents. However, they can also make life much easier for tourists, especially in areas such as the Dolomites, extremely popular with skiers and snowboarders.

There is no clear leader among bus companies in Italy, such as Greyhound in the United States. But at the same time, nothing prevented them from uniting in the transport alliance IBus, which controls the sphere of intercity bus transportation. In total, the alliance included 9 companies - Baltour, Marino Autolinee, Inter Saj, Consorzio Autolinee Cosenza, Salga, Rome Marche linee and others. Thanks to this diversity of companies, the IBus system covers all regions of Italy. In addition, the alliance has partnership agreements with European carriers, such as Eurolines, which makes it easier to travel from Italian cities to cities in other European countries.

culture

Italians are usually affable and friendly, and in order not to experience difficulties, it is enough to adhere to elementary politeness.

People in Italy often gesticulate a lot during a conversation, and this is not regarded as a sign of bad manners. This casual love of gesture usually surprises and amuses foreigners, because the generally accepted degree of gesticulation varies greatly from country to country.

In Italy, a fairly large percentage of the population is made up of elderly people, who will be treated with respect. Assist them whenever possible, such as giving up your seat on the bus. You will be grateful.

Italians are ready to discuss many things, but not income: they never talk about their salary and inquiries about it will be considered faux pas. Talking about politics and complaining about politicians is practically a national sport, so if you criticize the government, there will definitely be someone who will support you. At the same time, inquiries about personal political beliefs can be considered tactless. Also Italians talk a lot about football, it is a national sport and it is taken very seriously, perhaps even more seriously than politics.

It's okay to take pictures, but some people don't want to be in the frame, so it's best to ask permission first. It is not recommended to take pictures of children: this can make Italian parents very angry.

Kitchen

As a language and culture, Italian cuisine is very different in different areas. Pasta and olive oil are staples of southern Italian cuisine, while rice and butter are more consumed in the north (although there are many exceptions these days). The use of local ingredients is also very important. In warm Naples, citrus fruits and other fruits play an important role in the preparation of food and drink, while in Venice one of the most important traditional ingredients is fish. To get around, know that in the south pasta and dessert play an important role, while in the north the focus is on meat, although these principles may differ depending on where exactly you are.

Lunch is considered the most important part of the day, a whole hour is specially allocated for it and an additional hour is set aside for the afternoon rest ("pausa pranzo", or more familiar to us - siesta). At this time, all shops are closed and resume work only after a two-hour break. To make up for this, they work until a later time. This rule may not be observed in the center of the largest cities or in shopping centers.

Cooking in Italy is considered an art form. Famous chefs such as Gualtiero Marchesi or Gianfranco Visani are considered to be somewhere between TV stars and magicians. Italians usually don't like foreigners ordering spaghetti and pizza all the time, so read the menu carefully and remember that almost every restaurant has a signature dish, and many cities have centuries-old traditions that you are invited to join. Keep in mind that the most famous Italian dishes like spaghetti and pizza are typical of the cuisine of Southern Italy, so when traveling to other areas, don't miss the opportunity to try the lesser known traditional dishes.

To eat cheaply, you can visit the aperitivo bars (somewhat similar to Spanish tapas eateries), where in the early evening (about five o'clock) they serve plates of light snacks, cheese, olives, meat products, bruschetta (small local sandwiches with various fillings) and although it is meant to be just an appetizer before the main meal, everything is provided free of charge for those who order liquor. This type of food is especially popular in Milan, where you can often replace dinner with it.

National dishes

Pricing in restaurants

The bill in Italian restaurants increases (usually doubles) if you book a table instead of eating at the bar or taking food to go. The line in the menu that says this is usually printed in very small print. Sometimes it may also indicate that the restaurant charges a coperto (fee for a set of cutlery and a basket of bread) or a service charge. Eating on the run can save you money - many eateries charge extra for seating.

Sequence of dishes

Typically, a meal consists of (in order) antipasto (appetizer), primo (first course - pasta or rice), secondo (second course - meat or fish), served with contorno (usually a side dish of vegetables), cheeses/fruits, dessert, coffee, alcoholic drinks. Typically, Italians serve all the dishes on this list to the table, and in restaurants, customers are expected to follow this pattern; old restaurants and restaurants with a name usually refuse to change dishes at the request of the client (the exception is only for children and sick people) or serve them in a different sequence, and you will never be served a cappuccino between primo and secondo.

In Italian restaurants, smoking is either completely prohibited or allowed only in a special area separated from the non-smoking area; and although Italians are usually not very attentive to laws and regulations, this rule is strictly enforced almost everywhere.

The Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) certificate specifies which grape varieties can be used to make a particular wine, but is not in itself a guarantee of high quality. The same applies to the Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG). These two restrictions define a typical wine for each region, well suited to the local cuisine. Some of the best Italian wines are labeled with the Indicazione geografica tipica (IGT) certificate, which is often a sign of a more modern, "international" wine.

Before arriving in Italy, do a review of the most popular local wines (for the area you are going to), such as Barolo or Nebbiolo for Piedmont or Chianti and Sangiovese for Tuscany. Italian cuisine is very different from region to region (sometimes even from city to city), and the wine reflects these differences. Therefore, for example, avoid ordering Chianti unless you are in the center of Tuscany. Italians have a long tradition of matching wines to their dishes, and every dish often has a wine to match.

The well-known “color division” (red wines for meat, white wines for fish) can be completely ignored if the sommelier suggests it or if you are well versed in this: in Italy there are many strong varieties of white wine that go well with meat (for example, Sicilian or Tuscan Chardonnay), as well as red wines suitable for fish (for example, Pinot Noir from Alto Adige).

Vino della casa (house wine) is a good drink of choice in small outlying communities (especially in Tuscany), where farm owners often make and drink it themselves. You can also drink it in good city restaurants. As a rule, if the restaurant is run by decent people and is not aimed at tourists, the house wine in it is not so bad.

Italians are rightly proud of their wines and rarely serve foreign brands, although they allow themselves to use imported grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, in production.

Beer

Beer is not part of the Italian tradition; although most bars serve beer, it is usually not of very high quality and there is not much to choose from. You can find good beer, but for this you will have to spend some time looking. Among the brands of beer, the products of international firms and their local branches are in the lead, which will completely satisfy the inexperienced consumer, which is the majority of Italians. The main types of Italian beer are Peroni, Moretti and Raffo. If you're into beer, it's best to stop by one of the smaller private breweries, often run by enthusiastic local brewers affiliated with an association called Unionbirrai.

Limoncello

Limoncello is a liqueur made from alcohol, lemon zest and sugar. You can consider it as a kind of moonshine, because almost every Italian family, especially in the central south (near Naples) has its own recipe for making it. Lemon trees thrive in Mediterranean climates and produce large yields, so in many areas you can find plants bending under the weight of lemons. From them you can produce lemonade or drive your own version of limoncello. It is usually considered a dessert liqueur and is served after a large meal (like amaretto), often at various festivities. To taste, the liqueur resembles a thick concentrated lemonade with a hint of alcohol. Best served chilled or at room temperature and sipped rather than gulped down.

Grappa

Grappa is a strong alcoholic drink produced in the northern regions of Italy. As the Italians say, you will either love it or hate it. Grappa is made from fermented grape pomace. When tasting grappa, make sure it has been distilled multiple times.

Despite the fact that there are not as many places with available Internet in Italy as, for example, in France or Germany, since 2005 a special law has been in force here that provides secure access to the World Wide Web. After the terrorist attacks in Madrid and London, it is impossible to enter the network in Italian cafes without presenting a passport or ID. So if you need urgent access to the Internet, then do not forget your passport.

Connecting to the Internet using phones with a Russian SIM card is extremely expensive, so the best option is to purchase a SIM card from one of the Italian operators such as Vodafone, Telecom Italia or Wind Telecomunicazioni. But it should be borne in mind that in order to connect, you will have to tinker with the settings, which, most likely, will be in Italian. As an option, buy a special Mi Fi (mobile Wi-Fi) device that is suitable for both Apple products and simple laptops or smartphones. It acts like a wireless modem. In addition, this gadget can be rented, especially if you do not have much time to spend in Italy.

Telephone

When calling Italian numbers, they must always be dialed in full, with codes. Landline numbers start with zero, mobile numbers start with three. Numbers starting with 89 belong to paid services.

To call from Italy abroad, you need to dial 00 + area code + local number; The type of local number depends on the country.

To call Italy from another country, dial the international code + 39 + the local number. Please note that if you are calling a landline in Italy, you cannot skip the zeros that begin the local number.

In an emergency, call the appropriate number listed below. Such calls are usually free of charge and even from pay phones you can call 112, 113, 115, 118 without inserting a coin or inserting a card. Calls to 112 (general emergency call number for GSM standard) are always free of charge from any mobile phone (you can call even if you have no funds on your account).

Useful Phones

Emergency calls	112
Police - any emergency	113
State hotline - emergencies involving children (especially various forms of violence)	114
Financial service - to solve customs, trade and tax issues	117
fire protection	115
Emergency Medical Services - call if you need emergency assistance, otherwise ask for the number of a local medical service that can send a doctor to you	118
Information about the situation on the roads	1518
Coast security	1530
Italian Automobile Club means roadside assistance provided to members of this club or similar clubs of the European Automobile Association. If you are not one of them, you will have to pay for the service (the cost is approximately 80 euros)	803116

If you are in an emergency and don't know where to call, dial 112 or 113 (outside big cities, it's best to use 113 for an English-speaking dispatcher).

There are public telephones, most often at stations and airports. In the age of cellular communication, the number of machines has decreased significantly. Some accept only coins, others accept phone cards, some accept both. Only a small number of machines (in major airports) accept credit cards directly.

mobile connection

There are three major mobile operators in Italy - Vodafone, Telecon Italia and Wind Telecomunicazioni. All of them provide roaming services to subscribers of the largest Russian mobile operators, but the prices in this case can be very, very biting. However, you should inquire about the cost of outgoing and incoming calls directly on the websites of MTS, Beeline and MegaFon. Coverage in Italy is almost universal, with the exception of the most high-altitude and remote areas. A more budget option than roaming can be to buy an Italian SIM card, as mentioned above in connection with the Internet. The option with tourist SIM cards Goodline and SimTravel is also gaining popularity. An outgoing call to Russia with such a SIM card will cost 0.49 USD.

Safety

Like most developed countries, Italy is safe for tourists. Incidents of terrorism and serious crimes are quite rare, they are usually provoked by domestic politics and rarely directed against foreigners.

Careless tourists can become victims of petty hooliganism. You need to know that pickpockets often work in pairs or teams, sometimes in alliance with street vendors. The level of crimes against the person in Italy is considered moderate, and although foreigners sometimes become their victims, this cannot be considered a serious threat. However, the number of robberies and rapes under the influence of drugs is on the rise. Tourists should be careful when going out alone in remote areas at night.

You should inquire about prices before making a purchase. When photographing with fun and friendly people in costumes, be prepared to be asked for a fee. The same goes for taking pictures with pigeons. When buying ice cream or cleaning shoes on the street, ask about prices first, because there have been cases of fraudulent price gouging.

There are many bars in Italy, these places are popular with many Italians, but sometimes there are thieves who ply these establishments in search of confused or drunk tourists. The easiest way out is to go to such establishments in groups.

In an emergency, call the following numbers: 113 (police), 112 (emergency calls in any dangerous situation), 115 (fire department) 118 (emergency). All tourists, regardless of citizenship, can count on the provision of emergency medical care.

Where to stay

In major cities and tourist areas, a wide range of accommodation can be found, from world-class branded hotels to family-run guesthouses, but tourist hostels are few and far between. Staying at a campsite is a good way to save money and still get decent service, but generally receptionists are reluctant to check in unexpected large groups of young people, especially in summer, for fear of possible damage, so it's best to book a room in advance.

Farm accommodation is gaining popularity among tourists, especially in the rural regions of Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sardinia and Apulia. Farms provide guests with delicious and healthy food, excellent views, and all this for a relatively low fee. If you prefer self-catering accommodation, it's pretty easy to find on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast and coastal areas in general.

More detailed information about accommodation in hotels in Italy and amenities in the rooms can be obtained in the "Hotels in Italy" section on our website. You can book rooms in selected hotels on Tourister.ru in the "" section.

Photo: (except separately noted)