Things to know before your trip to Italy
General Tips
When heading to Italy, many hot-spot cities will be easy to get around using English. However if heading to a few small towns, a little Italian can help a lot!
Grab a little phrase book before coming.
💪🏻Safety
Tourist hot spots are known for a little petty theft. Be sure to only carry what you need with you. Carry an over the shoulder bag and keep your belongings in eye site, especially when on public transport! With regards to important documents, carry a copy of your passport, but leave your original at home. I also suggest getting a pre-paid card to bring with you, leaving bank cards and credit cards at home. Lately there has been a theft of gold jewellery, not to alarm anyone but i have seen an uptick of this, so I would recommend not wearing any real gold necklaces or bracelets out.
🗺 Getting Around
Before you leave for your trip, make sure to download Google Maps around the area you will be staying.
Other helpful apps to download are:
Moovit - for knowing bus routes and when they will arrive. This includes buses in all cities and private buses such as SITA (often used in Sicily & Amalfi Coast)
FreeNow - for booking taxis and paying through phone.
(Note, Uber service is not as popular but is in some cities, you can always have a look to see, but I would compare with a standard taxi for best price.)
Bus tickets-
Usually you buy them at a “tabacchi” a cigarette store with a clear big T outside. Or you can get them at a magazine kiosk, known as an edicola.
Parking for Rental Cars
Blue, means paid parking, you can pay at a meter and put the receipt in your front window. Or you can download the app EasyPark which will make it easier!
Yellow, you can't park there, it is for residents or transport.
White is free parking!
But always check the signs in the surrounding area!
☕️ When ordering at a cafe -
If it is an elegant spot, or in the city center, you might prefer to take your coffee standing up "al banco". Here the coffee will be normal prices, where as sitting down they may charge you quite a few euros more for an espresso.
Here are some more coffee tips:
🍴Meal times :
Normally in Italy lunch is eaten between 13-15, while dinner is often from 8pm
And if you are looking for how to pick the best place to eat, you might enjoy this article.
🚨Emergency:
If you need to call emergency services the number is 112.
If you need to seek out the police for any reason, you can go to the nearest Polizia or Carabinieri.
Women if you are traveling alone, you may want to look at the VIOLA app, this refers you to safe spaces if you are feeling threatened outside.
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