Best time to visit
Savour melting gelatos in Capri during summer, take a pasta-making class in Bologna in autumn, ski down the Dolomites in winter and explore the gardens of Villa Borghese in spring. Every season is a good one in Italy, the country where la dolce vita (the sweet life) never takes a break.
Winter (Dec –Feb)
Be blown away by the most overlooked travelling season – winter. You’ll have room to move and indulge in an entirely different experience to those who only see summer. From exploring the Christmas markets in Bolzano to experiencing Carnevale in Venice, winter is when you get to live like a local. You won’t catch a tan (and some of the sea-side towns shut up shop), but you can still sport stylish shades – it is Italy after all…
Spring (Mar – May)
You can’t go wrong with Spring. There’s a sense of renewal in the air as towns spring back to life. Enjoy warm days sipping chianti in the hills of Tuscany, stroll through the park surrounding Sforza Castle in Milan, and dine alfresco on the cobblestoned streets of Rome. All this plus glorious temperatures make travelling in Italy carefree during spring.
Summer (June - Aug)
August is Europe’s summer holiday month and the sun burns late. Even the bambini in prams get involved in the passegiata, that lovely tradition of strolling the piazza long into the evening. There’s a reason travellers want to come : the sun, history, romance and unbelievable food in Italy are too tempting to resist. Many locals migrate to the Mediterranean, leaving the main cities emptier, giving you more room for you to roam the big cities.
Autumn (Sept – Nov)
Smoke curling from Milanese chimneys, the smell of Tuscan grapes being crushed for barrelling, the taste of roasted chestnuts on the streets of Rome: autumn in Italy is a feast for the senses. Autumn is when travellers reap rewards (literally) as harvests are gathered, resulting in astounding local produce. Bring your appetite and mangia bene (eat well).
Culture & customs
Pucker up, kisses are coming your way. Italians greet each other with two cheek kisses and expect to get caught in kiss crossfires on the daily. It’s just part of their passionate hospitality, so go with the flow. Siestas tend to stop the action from 12 – 4pm while most of the country takes a little nap, and dinner tends to happen around 9pm, with locals kicking on in public piazzas until the early hours. Did we mention la dolce vita already?
Language & useful phrases
Even the most experienced travellers find themselves lost in a foreign land. While you shouldn’t have a problem in big cities Rome and Milan, English can become quite sparse in regional Italy. Dov’è (where is) followed by the name of the place you’re looking for will see locals enthusiastically throw directions at you. Try it with us: dov’è il colosseo? (Where is the Colosseum?) Dov’è il bagno? (Where is the toilet?)
When it comes to greeting locals, with ciao handily meaning both hello and goodbye, it’s like two words for the price of one. Throw in a come stai (how are you?), and you’re on the fast track to friendship.
Health & safety
A pre-departure visit to your GP doesn’t go astray – they’ll let you know what you should take with you in case of illness. Also, be sure to visit your countrys official Travel Advisory website for current safety and travel information.
Electronics & devices
Like Australia, Italy uses 220-240 volt power, so you won’t need a voltage converter.
You will however, need a plug adaptor. Like most other European countries, Italy uses a round 2 or 3 prong plug.
A universal adaptor, that converts Australian plugs to fit any outlet globally, will make your life easier. Or you can carry individual adaptors for each country. Country specific adaptors can be bought individually or in set, which is great if you’re going to more than one place, and don’t want to travel with a universal adaptor.
It can be difficult to find adaptors for Australian appliances once you leave Australia, so make sure you have what you need before you leave home. Adaptors are easy to find at here. Department stores, electronic stores, luggage stores, large chemists and many stores at Australian airports carry them.
Money & costs
The quality of Italian produce and price is legendary – eat a sizzling hot slice of pizza washed down with a lemon gelato sitting by the banks of Florence’s Ponte Vecchio for less than ten Euro. A sit down lunch? Budget 15 Euros and up. Between 1 and 1.5 Euros will buy you a coffee. Sit next to the Vatican? Expect an extra 2 Euros for the view.
Visas & insurance
Please check with the relevant embassy for visa requirements.
We strongly recommend travel insurance, because the real travel magic happens when you’re worry free. We hope you don’t lose a bag or need a doctor (that’s not in our travel plan either!) but if the worst happens it’s good to have backup. Travel insurance is an easy way to take the worry out of travelling.
Top tips
Stand in a bar to eat or drink, it reduces the cost of sitting by almost half. Likewise, follow those crooked alleys and eat a street or two away from the main tourist strip, you’ll find local prices and often better food. Lastly, drink the house wine – always. You're in wine country! Chances are it will be delicious – and you’ll find great wines, who knows, their ‘local’ wine might just happen to be a drop from Montepulciano.
