First Time in Italy? Read This Before You Make These Errors

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✅ Sitting Down at a Café Costs More : A coffee that costs €1.20 at the bar can jump to €3 or more if you sit at a table — especially in tourist zones. Why? Because you’re not just paying for the coffee — you’re paying to sit and be served. Locals drink standing up.

✅ Taxis Start Charging Before You Get In : Italian taxis begin the meter from when they’re dispatched — not when you enter. So if you call a taxi to your hotel, the meter might already read €5–€10 when you get inside. Also: luggage fees, night rates, and Sunday/holiday surcharges are common.

✅ Tassa di Soggiorno (Tourist Tax) : Nearly every town and city in Italy charges a local tourist tax — called the “tassa di soggiorno.” It’s a daily fee per person, added to your accommodation cost, and it varies depending on the city, hotel rating, and type of lodging.

✅ Not Saving Emergency Numbers :  Save these before your flight: 112 (emergency), 113 (police), 118 (medical), 115 (fire), and 116 (roadside assistance). They could save your trip.

✅ Driving Without an International Driving Permit :  You legally need one, even if the rental counter doesn’t ask. Police won’t care.

✅ Trains Are Your Best Friend (But Only If You Know How They Work) : Trains in Italy are fantastic — fast, scenic, and often cheaper than flying. But they come with a learning curve.

There are two main kinds: high-speed trains like Frecciarossa and Italo, and slower regional trains. High-speed trains are sleek and reserved-seating only — no validation needed. Regional trains? Cheaper, no seat assignments, and you must validate your paper ticket at the platform before boarding. Skip that step and you could be fined €50 or more.

Book high-speed routes in advance online to get the best prices. And always know your train number — destinations can repeat, but the train code is your anchor.

Strikes do happen (we call them "scioperi"), but usually services are reduced, not canceled. Just check ahead if your trip falls on a Friday.

TRAINLINE is best website to book your train in advance : https://www.thetrainline.com/it

or from  the national railway company TRENITALIA : https://www.trenitalia.com/it.html

Or from a new and growing Italian rail company like ITALOTRENO : https://www.italotreno.com/it

 

✅ Power Problems: Don't Fry Your Hairdryer : Italy uses 220V electricity and Type L plugs. That means many American devices won’t just need an adapter — they’ll need a voltage converter.

Most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage (check the fine print: if it says 100–240V, you’re safe). Hair tools? Not so much. If your hair straightener or curling iron only says 110V, plugging it in could kill the device — or the outlet.

Bring a European version or leave it at home. If you’re traveling with family, pack a multi-port USB charger — many Airbnbs only have one or two outlets.

✅ If You Get Sick: What Actually Works

Skip the emergency room unless it’s serious. In Italy, your first stop should always be the local farmacia — the green cross sign you’ll see on almost every block.

Pharmacists here are highly trained and will help with common issues like colds, headaches, allergies, and minor stomach bugs. For anything stronger, like antibiotics, you’ll need a doctor’s prescription. In bigger cities, there are tourist medical services with English-speaking doctors, though these are private and usually cost €50–€100.

Need medicine late at night? Each neighborhood has a rotating “farmacia di turno” — check the list posted outside any pharmacy or search online.

And don’t forget: if you take prescription medication regularly, bring enough for your entire stay, in the original packaging, and keep it in your carry-on.

✅ Not Validating Regional Train Tickets :  If it’s a paper ticket, find the yellow or green box and validate it—no excuses. Fast train no need validation

✅ Ignoring Transport Strikes :  Italy loves its scioperi (strikes), especially on Mondays and Fridays. Always check online before major travel days.

✅  Driving Into ZTL Zones :  Those sneaky “Zona a Traffico Limitato” signs? Miss one, and you’ll get a €100+ fine weeks later.

✅ Trusting Google Maps Blindly : in a Car It won't warn you about ZTLs or restricted areas. Use Waze or check with your hotel.

✅Booking Rental Cars Last-Minute In Italy, your reservation can vanish if you're late. Double confirm your pickup.

✅ Renting Oversized Cars Italy’s  : streets are not SUV-friendly. Small and nimble wins.

✅Not Photographing the Rental Car Document  at pickup and drop-off : Protect yourself from false damage fees.

✅ Skipping Travel Insurance :  A medical emergency or lost bag could cost you thousands. It’s not optional—get it.

✅ Not Using a Credit Card : in the Driver’s NameRental agencies require it. Debit cards often get rejected.

✅ Renting Electric Cars Without Planning Charging Stops :  Charging infrastructure is spotty. Know where to power up before committing.

✅ Ignoring the “Disco Orario” Rule Free parking zones need a paper clock in the window. Ask for one at a gas station.

✅ Dining in High-Rent Tourist Zones :  Restaurants next to monuments = high prices, low quality. Walk 3 blocks for better food.

✅ Sitting on the Spanish Steps or Monuments It’s banned :  Fines start at €250—and yes, they enforce it.

✅ Snacking on Historic Sites :  Eating on fountains, steps, or statues is a fineable offense.

✅ Feeding Pigeons in Big Cities They’re cute : until they destroy ancient buildings. Feeding them = up to €500 in fines.

✅ ATMs with High Withdrawal Fees : Stick to ATMs (called “bancomat”) at actual banks. Many independent machines — especially those near tourist sites — charge outrageous fees and bad exchange rates. If the machine prompts you to accept a conversion rate, always decline it and let your bank handle the exchange.

✅ Bring some cash for the little things like : City tax (tourist tax is mandatory by low depends on the star rating of your hotel as to how much it costs per person per day) more and less € 5/€ 8 per day/per person , Ice cream, some souvenirs, tips

✅ Flying a Drone Without Authorization : It is  strictly regulated, especially in historic zones. Huge fines.

✅ Tipping it is not mandatory but it is always well apreciated  :  if the service is good obviuously,  the "Coperto" on your bill , it is not a tip for the staff , but only for the owner Wages in italy are very low Tipping only cash (no credir card) No tipping in dollars

✅ Drinking in Public Without Checking Local Rules :  Some cities have time or zone bans. Look for signs.

✅  Lugging Giant Suitcases Around  : Italy Cobblestones, narrow doors, and trains make them a nightmare. Go carry-on size.

✅ Signing Petitions in Tourist Areas :  It’s almost always a scam to pressure you into donating.

✅ Playing the Shell Game on the Street : It’s a setup. “Winners” are actors. You will lose.

✅ Letting Strangers “Help” After a Spill  : Fake accidents are a pickpocketing tactic. Stay alert.

✅ Using Cards with Foreign Transaction  Fees :  Get a travel card with no international fees to avoid extra costs.

✅  Not Asking for Gelato Prices :  Some places scam tourists with €10 cones (more common Venice , Florence , Milan , Rome ) . Always ask first.

✅Visiting Churches Dressed Like It’s the Beach :  no shorts, no sleeveless tops. Bring a scarf or cover-up.

✅ Booking Museums Without Checking Time Slots : Many big sites use timed tickets. Miss it, and you’re out of luck. Same for Pompeii 

✅ Showing Up for a Tour Without Checking Email Tour times :  sometimes change. Always confirm 24 hours in advance.

✅  Bringing Huge Bags or Selfie Sticks to Museums :  They may not be allowed, and cloakroom lines can be long.

✅ Expecting Free Beach Access :  Many Amalfi and Ligurian beaches charge €30+ per day. Reserve in advance.

✅ Coming in August Without Reservations : It’s peak chaos. No tables, no rooms, and lots of heat.

✅Museum Add-ons and Booking Fees : Booking online often includes a “pre-sale” or “booking” fee of €2–€4 per ticket. Also, some museums charge extra for temporary exhibitions, special access, or guided visits — even if you already have a general entry ticket. Always read the fine print.

Italy isn’t expensive by default — it just plays by different rules. If you know what to expect, you won’t be surprised. And that makes all the difference.

 ✅  Avoiding Tourist Traps (and Finding Real Italian Food) : If you see a menu with photos, flags, or five different cuisines — run. Real Italian restaurants don’t need signs that say “We Have English Menu!” — we just do.

The best food is usually two or three blocks from any famous landmark.

The menu will be handwritten or short. There may only be a few dishes — and that’s a good thing.

We don’t eat spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, or fettuccine Alfredo. We do eat whatever’s in season, drink house wine by the carafe, and linger at the table.

And yes, bread and water cost money — it’s called pane e coperto. It’s normal. If a Margherita pizza costs €15 and tastes like cardboard? You’re in a tourist trap.

How to Handle Yourself in a Restaurant (Without Looking Lost)

In Italy, restaurants work differently. No one will rush you. You can stay as long as you like. But that also means the waiter won’t bring you the check until you ask. Want to leave? Say: “Il conto, per favore.”

Tipping? It’s not expected. We leave a couple of coins if the service was great.

Don’t order cappuccino after lunch. It’s not illegal, but it will get you looks. Ask for “un caffè” — that’s an espresso.

Tap water? You can ask for acqua del rubinetto, but many places prefer to serve bottled. Always check.

And if the place looks charming but only accepts cash, it’s probably still worth it. Just be prepared.

✅ Assuming Shops Stay Open All Day :  Riposo/Siesta  (afternoon break) still exists. Plan shopping for morning or evening.

✅ The Coperto (Cover Charge)  Sit down at most restaurants, and you’ll see a charge of €1–€3 per person on the bill labeled “coperto.” This is not a scam. It’s a long-standing custom that covers bread and table service. It’s charged per person — even if you don’t eat the bread. The coperto is not for the staff but only for the owner

✅ Planning Train Trips With Tight Lay overs :  One late arrival can ruin your whole itinerary. Leave wiggle room.

✅ Adding Cheese to Seafood Pasta :  Italians don’t do this. You’ll get side-eye from locals.

✅ Relying on Just One Phone Charger : Bring a power bank—your phone is your lifeline.

✅ Not Downloading Offline Maps Cell :  signal drops in small towns. Google Maps offline is a lifesaver.

✅ Ignoring Weather-Based Regional Challenges :  Floods in Venice, heatwaves in Rome, wind in the Dolomites , sea conditions on Amalfi coast - Capri - Ischia and Naples —pack and plan accordingly.