First Time Visitor’s Guide to Italy Travel

Italy is, relatively speaking, a small country overall – and one of the most popular vacation destinations on earth. And yet? Italy is a place that embraces its own chaos – celebrates it, in fact. Which means I still think it behooves the would-be Italy traveler to do some pre-trip research.

And yeah, that’s basically what this whole site is about.

On this page, I’m collecting all the Italy Explained articles that could be considered preliminary research for an Italy trip. There’s plenty more on the site to keep you reading for a number of days if you choose, but you can treat this page like a table of contents to get you started. This is the place to be right after you say, “Hey, I think I want to go to Italy.”

There are three main groupings of topics below. The sort of overarching stuff you’ll need to think about when you’re just beginning is first, followed by a section of transportation information, & the last group of links is about what you’ll do and see when you’re in Italy. Happy reading, and please let me know if you’ve got a question you can’t find answered here.

Getting Started: Italy Travel Planning 101

• Weather in Italy: Temperature averages for different parts of Italy
• Calendar of Italy Holidays & Festivals: Find out what’s going on when you plan to be there (or adjust your trip accordingly)
• Making an Italy Travel Budget: Overview of what to consider when you’re creating a budget for an Italy trip
• Accommodation in Italy: Different types of places to stay in Italy
• Packing for Italy: Tips on what to pack for an Italy trip
• Italian Language Tips: Some advice on communicating with the locals in Italy
• Italy Travel Safety: Tips for staying safe (& keeping your valuables secure) during an Italy trip

Transportation: Getting To & Getting Around in Italy

• Getting to Italy: Tips for finding budget-friendly airfare to Italy
• Transportation in Italy: Overview of options for getting around in Italy
• Train Travel in Italy: Tips for using the Italian train system
• Bus Travel in Italy: Tips for getting around in Italy by bus
• Cruise Ports in Italy: Information on Italy’s main cruise ports

Italy Itinerary: Where to Go, What to Do, & What to See in Italy

• Making an Italy Itinerary: Tips for creating the perfect itinerary for an Italy trip
• 2 Weeks in Italy: A suggested itinerary ideal for first-time visitors
• 1 week in Italy: Three options for a one-week Italy trip
• Italian Regions: Links to individual overviews of Italy’s regions & major cities
• Places to Eat in Italy: Different types of restaurants you’ll find in Italy & what to expect from each
• Wine Tasting in Italy: Must-know information for wine lovers

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