Italy

Italian is Italy’s official language. While knowledge of the local language is not necessary, you may want to learn some fun and useful phrases to use during your walking tour. Italians are famously warm and friendly, but as in any culture, they appreciate visitors who make an initial effort to speak their language. By doing so with a smile, your interactions are likely to grow into rewarding exchanges. See BBC Languages for helpful hints. Country Walkers also recommends a phrase book or two in our Reading Guide that you’ll receive after you reserve.

Life in Italy

Shopping hours: Shops and stores are generally open Monday to Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.; department stores and supermarkets are open all day from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Open-air markets generally open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., although in larger cities such as Florence, open-air markets are typically open all day, even on Sundays.

Meal times: Breakfast is served at hotels from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. Italians generally break for lunch from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Restaurants typically open their doors for dinner from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. (Restaurant meal times may vary by region, trending from earlier to later as you travel from north to south.)

Tipping: Tipping in restaurants is not compulsory in Italy. The menu or bill indicates servizio incluso, meaning “service is included.” However, locals tend to leave a small amount in coins after a meal or a coffee—roughly one to two percent of the total, or one to two euros for a meal of up to 50 euros. For a coffee or a drink in a bar or café, 20 to 50 euro cents is appropriate. In addition, most restaurants have a “cover charge” or il coperto, a per-person fee of one to three euros that is added to your final bill. It is a legitimate practice and it is considered the “fee” for the place setting, the bread, tap water (which is fine to drink), and breadsticks.

It is generally not customary to tip taxi drivers, but it is typical to round up the total and let the driver keep the change. For luggage assistance, a small tip of one to three euros is appropriate.

Italian public holidays: Italian public holidays, festivals, or calendars of events may affect your travel planning. Visit the Italian tourist board’s website, then click on More Information at the bottom of the page. For local events, visit the regional tourism websites, which you can link to via the Discover Italy section).

Italian cuisine is one of the world’s finest; many consider it reason enough to travel here. Because it’s based on fresh local ingredients and generations-old recipes vary by region. Whichever region you visit, your hiking in Italy will be rewarded with incredible meals.

Northern Italy is the home of risotto, polenta, and slow-cooked meat dishes such as osso bucco. The cuisine of Tuscany and Umbria in central Italy also features meat and game dishes, such as bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak), sausages, and roast pork, as well as vegetable- and bread-based dishes such as savory bruschetta, ribollita (vegetable soup), and panzanella (bread salad).

Southern Italy and Sicily are justly known for fresh seafood—spaghetti with tiny clams, or a main course of swordfish braised in a light tomato sauce. Fresh vegetables are also prominent— spaghetti with zucchini or the well-known insalata caprese of tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Meals in Italy typically have several courses, starting with an antipasto (an appetizer); then a primo (first course), which is usually pasta or risotto; a secondo (main course), which is a meat or fish dish; and dolce (dessert).

Coffee is served throughout the day in its many different ways. Italians tend to drink caffe latte or cappuccino until about 11:00 a.m. (a latte is a cup of hot milk). Later, they usually drink un caffe (espresso). If you’d like it with a little milk you should order a macchiato. You’ll need to specify if you want it con latte caldo (with hot milk), con latte freddo (with cold milk), or con schiuma (with foam). There’s no charge to stand at the bar with your coffee, but a small fee is added to the bill when you sit at a café table.

Wine has been produced in Italy for millennia, and it’s the perfect complement to a walking vacation. The country’s climate, soil and varied geography of coastline, foothills, and mountains create ideal conditions for viniculture in 20 regions, from the Alps in the north to southernmost Sicily. Restaurants typically feature their regions’ local wine.

Italy has a range of climates that vary by region. In general, spring and fall are often the best time to visit Italy on an active vacation, with daytime temperatures in the 60s to low 70s, evenings in the 50s, and occasional short rain showers.

In the northern Alpine areas, summer through early fall is an optimal time to travel. Springtime brings wildflowers, long days, and, on the table, early tender vegetables such as asparagus and artichokes. By late summer and fall, the warm days continue with highs in the low 80s, landscapes take on a golden hue as the grape harvest gets underway, and autumn specialties appear, such as mushrooms and truffles.

For up-to-date forecasts, see qwikcast.com. For historical average temperatures and rainfall, see weatherbase.com.

U.S. citizens: Passports are required and must be valid for at least three months beyond the dates of travel. Visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days. For more information, see travel.state.gov.

Italy uses the euro (EUR). The current exchange rate is 1 USD = 1 EUR. Exchange rates can vary greatly month to month, so we recommend you visit oanda.com for the latest.

Many businesses in Europe will no longer accept credit cards without PIN numbers (chip and pin cards). Contact your bank or your credit-card company for details on fees and card use when travelling, and to inform them of your travel destination and dates so they do not freeze your accounts when they see charges appear from a foreign country.

We recommend having a variety of payment options readily available to help you start your trip: ATM card(s), credit card(s), some U.S. dollars to exchange, and some euros in small denominations.

No immunizations are required to enter Italy. Requirements and recommendations change frequently, so always check directly with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC: cdc.gov/travel; 800-232-4636), a travel clinic, and/or your personal physician for the most current information. Plan ahead for immunizations, as some require administration several months prior to departure.

Electricity: Alternating current of 220V and 50Hz is used in Italy. Plugs have two round prongs. For a full listing of electrical outlets worldwide, see electricaloutlet.org. If you are bringing your own hair dryer or other electrical device, you will need a travel converter, available at most hardware, travel, or consumer electronic stores. For laptops or an electronic device with a dual voltage switch, you will only need the adapter plug, not the converter.

Phone: Italy’s country code is “+39.” Cell phone coverage throughout Italy is extensive, but we cannot guarantee adequate signals on all American phone models or while on walking trails or in remote areas. For more information regarding international phone use, please refer to this blog post.

Internet: Internet access is generally very good in towns and villages; however, all of the hotels used on our tours do not necessarily provide it, or they provide it at an additional cost. Details regarding Wi-Fi availability in each hotel are available in the Itinerary Overview that you’ll receive once you’ve reserved.

Italy is in the Central European Time Zone, Eastern Standard Time plus 6 hours. For more information on worldwide time zones, see: worldtimezone.com.

A wealth of travel information is available at italia.it.

Airports

Many international flights fly direct from the U.S. to Italy. Internal flights are available on Italian airlines to larger cities.

International Airports in Italy

• Alghero – Fertilia Airport
• Ancona Airport
• Palese Airport
• Bergamo – Orio al Serio Airport
• Bologna Airport
• Brescia Airport
• Brindisi Airport
• Cagliari Airport
• Elmas Airport
• Catania – Fontanarossa Airport
• Cuneo Levaldigi Airport
• Florence – Peretola Airport
• Genoa – Cristoforo Colombo Airport
• Lamezia Terme Airport
• Milan – Malpensa Airport
• Milan – Linate Airport
• Naples – Capodichino Airport
• Olbia – Costa Smeralda Airport
• Palermo Airport
• Parma Airport
• Perugia – San Egidio Airport
• Pescara – Abruzzo Airport
• Pisa – Galileo Galilei Airport
• Rimini – Federico Fellini Airport
• Rome – Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport
• Rome – Rome Ciampino Airport
• Trapani – Vincenzo Florio Airport
• Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport
• Turin – Caselle Airport
• Venice Marco Polo Airport
• Verona Airport

Trains

Italy’s national train company is Tren Italia. You may book your train travel directly with them. Or, if you plan to travel for longer periods, consider Rail Europe, a U.S.-based company that provides schedules, reservations, and ticketing for all European train networks. Their multi-day, -week or -month passes in one country or combinations of countries may be a more economical and convenient choice. For more information, go to raileurope.com or call 800.622.8600.

Other local transportation

Most major car rental agencies are available at airports and train stations, although it may be best to rent through a local agency branch. Taxis are available at all major airports, train stations, and in smaller towns, and can be reserved in advance (your hotel can usually provide assistance).

For additional hints and guidance about travel to Italy, visit the Italian tourist board’s websites at italia.it and enit.it.