How much will a holiday in Italy cost on your own? Let's consider all the points when planning a trip on your own, from purchasing inexpensive air tickets, processing visa documents, selecting the best hotels to places where you can go without excursions.
A great way to start exploring Europe is to travel to Italy on your own. This trip will help you save money, get acquainted with local traditions, see the sights and visit not only tourist routes.
Getting to this country will not be difficult; there are regular flights from Moscow: Moscow - Milan, Moscow - Venice, these are the most popular destinations. It is best to purchase tickets in advance, their cost will be lower.
The best way to select air tickets directly is at Aviasales. When searching for options, we recommend using the calendar; as soon as you have found a suitable flight, do not hesitate, the price of an air ticket can change at any minute.
Prices for air tickets to Italy from Moscow:
- Moscow – Rome – from 6800 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Venice – from 7,400 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Milan – from 6,700 thousand rubles;
- Moscow – Naples – from 10,100 thousand rubles.
Prices are valid for the summer season; small discounts are possible in autumn. During the winter holidays, the cost increases by about 20 - 25%.
How to travel to Italy on your own?
To visit this beautiful country, you need to take care of the following points in advance:
- visa;
- what to see on your own in Italy from the sights;
- way of moving within the city;
- hotel selection;
- choice of food form: cafe, restaurant, self-cooking.
How to get to Rome?
Upon arrival at the international airport in Italy, the question arises, how to get to the center in Rome? It is possible to use the services:
- trains – there is a railway station on the airport territory. Cost – 650 rubles;
- bus – 300 rubles, departs every half hour;
- taxi - about 2800 thousand rubles.
- You can rent a car using , the service searches among all rental companies and offers the best prices.
- A complete overview of all proven methods by bus, train, plane.
Visa to Italy for Russians
What documents are needed to obtain a visa? This issue needs to be resolved by all citizens of the Russian Federation going on vacation to Italy. To enjoy a holiday in this country, you must have a Schengen visa.
To complete it, the following documents are required:
- a valid passport (valid for at least 3 months);
- photocopy of a valid passport;
- photocopies of registration and the main page of the Russian passport;
- questionnaire;
- photo size 3x4 cm;
- application form in English or Italian;
- a document from the enterprise confirming the tourist’s employment;
- a certificate confirming the availability of income;
- a document confirming the absence of credit debt;
- documents confirming full payment for the tour, hotel reservation for the entire stay, air tickets;
- a document confirming the availability of pocket money for other expenses during the trip.
- availability of health insurance.
You also need to know that there is a consular fee for a tourist visa, which means that you have to pay about 2,800 thousand rubles. Payment is made in Moscow at the Visa Application Center.
Choice of insurance. Your best bet is to go with the one that has $50,000 worth of health insurance coverage. Insurance can be purchased directly through Tripinsurance. The cost of standard insurance for one adult tourist will cost an average of 2,500 rubles.
The best hotels in Italy by the sea, prices
Let's move on to the best places to stay in Italy near the sea and choose the appropriate accommodation option according to your wallet and geographical location. We recommend booking hotels using RoomGuru; the search engine will find the cheapest options in all hotel databases on the Internet without any extra charge or intermediaries.
The best 3 star hotels in Italy:
- Martini Hotel 3* is a comfortable hotel located in the center of Verona, near the station. Cost – from 8,700 thousand rubles per room;
- Impero Hotel 3* – a good location in the center of Rome, from here you can quickly see all the sights of the city. Cost – from 7400 thousand rubles per day.
Best 4 star hotels:
- Welcome Piram Hotel 4* – located in the center of Rome, close to a very good transport interchange, there are metro stations and main streets. Cost – from 9,500 thousand rubles for two;
- Royal Continental Hotel 4* is a very beautiful and comfortable hotel located in Naples. Excellent service, rooms and view, located on the seafront. Cost – from 12,900 thousand rubles.
Best 5 star hotels:
- Palazzo Magnani Feroni 5* – located in the very center of Florence (), excellent view from the rooms. Restaurants and park areas are within walking distance. Cost from 8,500 thousand rubles for two;
- Excelsior Hotel Gallia 5* is one of the best hotels located in the center of Milan. Very beautiful and cozy design, convenient transportation. Easy access to main attractions. Cost – 17,000 thousand rubles.
You may be interested in learning about rentals, prices from owners and the best accommodation options.
Prices for food and meals
How much will food in a cafe or restaurant cost for one adult tourist who comes to Italy on his own to relax? Let's consider the average menu check of everyday establishments with good reviews and ratings.
Prices in the cafe:
- Pizzeria Gusta Pizza, Florence is a small establishment that serves delicious pizza. The average bill is from 400 to 1500 rubles per pizza.
- Pizzeria Pizzeria Impero, Verona - there are two terraces to choose from, open and closed, the menu is varied - from delicious pizza to Italian pasta. There is a vegetarian menu. The average bill is from 800 to 1700 rubles.
Prices in restaurants:
- Ai Barbacani, Venice is a great place for a romantic dinner. Italian cuisine, conveniently located next to the canal. The average bill is 5,800 thousand rubles for two, this includes two main courses, two salads, dessert, wine and coffee;
- da Robertino, Rome – the restaurant has an outdoor terrace, is located in the city center, and has a romantic atmosphere. They prepare Italian cuisine. The average bill is 3,500 thousand rubles. This includes pasta, wine, appetizer or pizza.
Prices for products in the store, price per kg:
- apples – 140 rubles;
- cabbage – 90 rubles;
- oranges – 100 rubles;
- bananas – 150 rubles;
- potatoes – 80 rubles;
- lettuce leaves – 75 rubles;
- tomatoes – 230 rubles;
- cucumbers – 170 rubles;
- eggplants – 320 rubles;
- chicken – 280 rubles;
- chicken legs – 140 rubles;
- pork – 480 rubles;
- cheese – from 560 rubles;
- sausages – from 160 rubles;
- loose oil – from 150 rubles;
- milk – 90 rubles;
- rice – 80 rubles;
- yogurt – 70 rubles;
- sugar – 95 rubles.
When calculating all the components of a vacation, the amount of an independent trip will cost approximately 80,000 thousand rubles for two weeks. Let's move on to places where you can go on your own without excursions.
What to see in Italy on your own?
This country has a very interesting history; there are many cultural and architectural values. If you are wondering what to see in Italy on your own, pay attention to the following attractions:
- The Basilica of Santa Crocevo is one of the most ancient churches, built in the 13th century. This temple reflects the entire turbulent history of Florence. Stunning frescoes and architectural masterpieces have been preserved here. City events are often held in front of the building to maintain the spirit of the 13th century.
- Palazzo Vecchio in Florence - seat of the government of Florence in the 15th and 16th centuries. This is a real pearl; all the cultural values of this small sunny region are concentrated here.
- St. Peter's Basilica is one of the key attractions in Italy. Everyone knows the role of the Catholic Church, namely the Pope. The Vatican is not only world history carved in stone, it is also a real architectural ensemble. The beautiful facades and interiors of the palace, cathedral and square will be equally interesting to all tourists.
- The Colosseum in Rome is a symbol of Rome and Italy itself. A unique architectural structure, it fascinates at first sight. The spirit of gladiators and games, as well as spectators hungry for bread and circuses, still hovers here. Visitors have the opportunity to explore the amphitheater and arena, walk along the ancient steps, and feel the excitement and awe.
- The Palatine in Rome is a real journey for lovers of excavations, secrets and legends; the mythical history of Ancient Rome begins here. All tourists will have the opportunity to walk through pagan shrines and look at the life of that distant time.
- The Rialto Bridge is considered the symbol of Venice. It is also recommended to take a boat ride along another local attraction – the Grand Canal. And from the water the view of the Rialto Bridge is simply magnificent.
- Piazza San Marco and the Palace of the Rains in Venice are the heart and soul of the city. These are not just architectural monuments, they contain the memory of all the events taking place in this country. What else is required?
- St. Mark's Cathedral, where everyone will see stunning frescoes and mosaics from the 15th century.
- The Gothic building of the Duomo in Milan is a luxurious cathedral, impressive with its external and internal decoration, which still retains an image of mystery. Here you can listen to the sounds of the organ. .
- The Sforzesco Castle in Milan is a magnificent Italian castle that was home to the most noble families of Italy.
- The Royal Palace is an interesting architectural structure with a rich history.
- Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous attractions in the world, it is an ancient and still active volcano.
- Pompeii in Naples is the ruins of an ancient city; many interesting excavations have been carried out here.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a world-famous building; visiting it has already become a kind of ritual. Who wouldn't want to try to hold the Leaning Tower of Pisa? But it is also recommended to visit the Pisa churches.
And yet, if you find yourself bored in terms of company while sightseeing, we advise you to take a closer look at excursion programs in Italy from, a popular resource among active travelers who like to have an exciting time. For example, here you can book a tour of Venice in the company of an opera singer and a history expert.a
Many tourists consider traveling to Sicily on their own for 2, 3 or more days. Let's briefly look at all the cheap ways to get there and the costs in this vacation destination.
Trip to Sicily
This is where many tourists strive to get - after all, this is a stunning island where you can swim in the warm sea (the best beaches in Italy are located here), visit the oldest volcano 3340 meters above sea level, and breathe in the healing Mediterranean air.
- Take an airplane. Flights are carried out from the airport:
- Naples;
- Milan;
- Pisa;
- Rome.
The ticket price ranges from 3,600 to 4,200 thousand rubles. It is better to book a flight to Sicily through Aviasales, which looks for suitable options even among low-cost airlines, which is a very profitable way to get to your destination.
- Use buses, they depart from:
- Rome;
- Naples;
- Bari;
- Milana.
Stay in Catania and Palermo. Flights operate daily according to schedule. Cost from 2800 to 3500 thousand rubles per ticket.
- Take a taxi - the fare will be about 5,000 thousand rubles.
- To use the train, the cost is about 3,000 thousand rubles.
- For those who like to travel by sea, you can take the ferry; the fare will be from 4,000 thousand rubles.
Holidays in Italy on your own with children
Of course, the question immediately arises: where to go on holiday in Italy with a child, so that the sea and entertainment are nearby?
According to tourists, the most interesting places to visit are:
- Grand Hotel Mazzaro’s Sea Palace 5* – excellent hotel, private beach, child care. The cost will be from 37,000 thousand rubles.
- Where to relax by the sea? We picked one with warm water and an excellent coastline.
Italy is one of the best countries for independent travel in Europe. This European country has a huge number of small but very interesting towns that you can wander around for hours. - this is the country where some quiet street on the outskirts of a provincial town can evoke strong emotions and make a greater impression than all the famous Italian attractions, near which there is usually nowhere to put your foot because of the huge number of tourist groups. Travel freely and thoughtfully, especially in Italy, decide for yourself when and where you want to go and what to see - this is the most important thing in independent travel.
Visa to Italy
Italy is part of the Schengen zone, so to travel to Italy on your own you will need a Schengen visa. You can easily obtain a Schengen visa yourself at an Italian visa application center. Italy visa centers are located in the following cities: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Lipetsk, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Samara, Stavropol, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Chelyabinsk. An Italian visa can be obtained in any of these cities. I recommend contacting the visa center directly, on your own, avoid travel agencies, they cannot guarantee a visa or greatly simplify the process of obtaining it, but they will gladly take money for “their help.” Why should you overpay travel agencies if you can easily do it yourself, especially if you live in one of these cities. The cost of an Italian visa is 35 euros plus 1,200 rubles for visa center services.Flights to Italy
Flying from Russia to Italy is not easy, but very simple, and besides, it is quite cheap. Prices for air tickets Moscow-Rome (Milan)-Moscow for May 2103 start from 7,000 rubles. In addition, there are often air ticket sales to Italy. I recommend following sales and looking for cheap flights to Italy on the Aviasales website, where you can compare all offers from airlines and ticket sales agencies in the form of a convenient list. When you select an air ticket on this site, do not forget to “play” with the dates and do not forget to put +- 3 days and look at the “Low Price Calendar”; sometimes the price of air tickets for neighboring dates can be 2 times lower. I also recommend watching arrivals to different cities in Italy, in case tickets to a neighboring city are much cheaper.There are regular direct flights from Russia to many cities in Italy, including Rome and Milan.
I wrote in more detail about how to find air tickets in a short note - "".
How to get from the airport to the center of Rome?
Rome's main airport is Fiumicino, or Leonardo da Vinci Airport, which is located 30 km from the city center. The easiest way to get from the airport to Rome is the Leonardo Express train, which departs from the airport station (Stazione Aeroporto). The train runs every 30 minutes to Termini train station, the journey time is about 30 minutes. The fare costs 15 euros, so if you are not alone, but in a group, then it will be cheaper to take a taxi that will take you directly to your destination. The price for a taxi is fixed and costs 48 euros to the city center, including luggage. If you want to save money, you can take the Terravision or COTRAL buses, the ticket costs about 6 euros, but the trip takes about 55 minutes. You can also get there from the airport by metro - the direct Sabina-Fiumicino line connects the international airport with the stations Tiburtina, Tuscolana, Ostiense, Trastevere and others. The cost of a metro ride is 5.50 euros.
How to get from the airport to the center of Milan?
Flights from Russia to Milan arrive at the international airports Malpensa (MXP) north of the center and Linate (LIN) in the east of Milan.
The easiest and fastest way to travel independently from Malpensa Airport to the center of Milan is to take the special Malpensa Express train, which runs from Terminal 1 of the airport to Cadorna train station. The train runs every 30 minutes from 5:30 am to 01:30 am, the journey time is about 40 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 11 euros.
In addition to the train to Cadorna station, there is a train to Milano Centrale station. Trains run approximately every hour from 5:50 am to 10:40 pm.
The bus is the best choice if you arrive at the second terminal. The Malpensa Shuttle bus will take you to Milano Centrale station in the center of Milan, the journey takes from 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the traffic situation. The fare costs 10 euros. The bus stop is located at the terminal exit, follow the signs. A taxi from Malpensa airport to the center of Milan is quite expensive and has a fixed price of 90 euros.
There are no trains from Linate Airport to Milan; you can go by bus or taxi. Since the airport is located only 7 km from the city center, regular city buses go there. City bus number 73 stops at the exit of the arrival terminal and goes to San Babila Square. The cost of the trip is 1.50 euros. The bus runs every 10 minutes. In addition to the city bus, there is an express bus that goes to the central station in Piazza Luigi di Savoia. The bus runs from 7 am to 8 pm, the fare is 1.5 euros. A taxi to the center of Milan will cost between 12 and 20 euros.
There is also an express bus between Malpensa and Linate airports; transfer from one airport to the other will take about 1 hour.
For convenience, you can use this form to search for hotels, just select the desired dates and click "Search".
Get ready for the fact that good hotels in Italy are quite expensive, but sometimes you can find interesting offers, for example, a 4-star hotel in Milan can be booked (for June 2013) for only 2,500 rubles. But there are usually few such rooms, so you need to periodically monitor the prices on the website that I gave above, sometimes very good prices for hotels appear there.
Currency of Italy
The official currency in Italy is the euro (EUR), so the question “What currency to take to Italy” is not worth it, take the euro, then you definitely won’t go wrong. In Italy, most shops and restaurants accept plastic cards.Transport in Italy
Public transport in Italy is very well developed; many cities have buses, metro, trams, and high-speed trains run between cities. But if you are going to go on an independent trip to Italy, then it is best, of course, to rent a car. Renting an economy class car will cost you from 30 to 70 euros per day, depending on the rental period and other parameters. Don't forget that there are tolls on motorways in Italy, but you can always get around them using free alternative roads. Also remember that many gas stations may close in the evening, so if you are planning a long evening or night trip, be sure to fill up in advance.Railways and railway services in Italy are considered one of the best in Europe, so most travelers prefer this type of transport for traveling around the country and to neighboring countries. Railway website - http://www.ferroviedellostato.it There are a number of categories for trains: IC-Intercity - domestic and near-abroad trains (first and second class); EC-Euricity – for international flights; EXPR – express trains for international services; DIR-Diretto – trains with multiple stops (second class with seats); Espresso – mainly second class carriages; Locale are quite comfortable trains. The fare is moderate, there are discounts for passengers under 26 and over 60 years of age. The fare depends on the type of train and class of carriage. Traveling Rome-Milan by high-speed train (travel time 3 hours) will cost from 30 euros and more.
Intercity buses are quite comfortable and cheaper than trains.
You can find out what and how to get to a city or attraction directly at the hotel where you will be staying or at the tourist office, which are found in many Italian cities.
What to see in Italy?
Italy has an enormous cultural and historical heritage. It is not possible to describe all Italian attractions in one place, and this is not particularly necessary. The good thing about Italy is that even far from the famous sights, you can find many interesting things. Every Italian town is a landmark of some kind. In Italy, you don’t have to be afraid to deviate from standard routes. The most interesting things always happen when you don't expect it.But we will still try to dwell on some Italian attractions in order to show the diversity and richness of the Italian cultural heritage.
Sights of Rome
All roads lead to Rome, as they said 2000 years ago, but even today you cannot visit Italy without visiting its capital. The ancient city on seven hills is not only the capital of Italy, but also shares territory with the Vatican City State. It was in Rome, in the Roman baths, which have survived to this day, that the fate of Europe was often decided. Rome is one big open-air museum; just listing the sights of Rome can take up a single page. At one time, 70 thousand people gathered to watch the performance at the Colosseum, the ruins of which are still visible to tourists. The Colosseum is located in the very center of modern Rome near the metro station of the same name - Colosseo. For just 12 euros, you can go to the territory of the Colosseum and touch its ruins. There, not far from the center, is the Pantheon or Temple of All Gods, one of the main historical buildings of Rome, where the Roman gods were worshiped.
Entrance to the temple is free. If you move further east, you will come to a thin white line that outlines St. Peter's Square and behind which is the smallest state on the planet - the Vatican. The square is home to the majestic St. Peter's Basilica, which houses the famous Sistine Chapel. Entrance to the Cathedral is free.
Sights of Venice
Venice is one of the most attractive and romantic cities in Europe. Venice is visited by millions of tourists every year, so during the summer months you won't be able to take a leisurely stroll and explore its main attractions. It is better to move away from standard tourist routes and stroll along the inner streets of the city. If you are traveling to Venice by car, you can get to Piazzale Roma (Piazza Roma). There you can leave your car in a paid parking lot and take the water bus to the city center. You can also leave your car in a special Tronchetto parking lot; parking costs about 25 euros per day. You can also leave your car in the suburb of Venice - Mestre, where parking is cheaper (10-15 euros), and you can get to the city by train (10-15 minutes). You can also get to Venice by train (to Santa Lucia station) from almost anywhere in Italy.
The main attraction in Venice is visiting St. Mark's Square, where the Basilica of San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale (or Doge's Palace) are located, and taking a gondola ride along the city's many canals. You need to pay for the entire gondola at once, which can accommodate 6 people. For a 40-minute walk you will have to pay about 80 euros (you can bargain). There is a less romantic way to look at Venice from the canals - use the local water public transport - "vaporetto", which runs along all the canals and to the nearest islands. The most scenic route No. 1 runs along the Grand Canal and costs 6.5 euros.
Venice is a city-monument where almost every building can lay claim to historical value.
Sights of Milan
Milan is one of the largest cities and business capital of Italy. Of course, its main attraction and calling card is the Duomo Cathedral (Milan Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente). The Duomo is the fourth largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The cathedral is located in the city center near the Duomo metro station. Entrance to the Milan Cathedral is free, but if you want to go up to the upper terrace, which offers stunning views of Milan, you will have to pay 7 euros (12 euros for the elevator).
Few people know that the world-famous fresco by Leonardo Da Vinci - “The Last Supper” is located in Milan, in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. If you want to see this masterpiece with your own eyes, you must book your ticket in advance (during the high season it is better to book at least a week in advance). The ticket costs 6.5 euros. 
Milan has deservedly gained fame as one of the main meccas for shopping lovers. I accidentally ended up in Milan during the sales season and all I had time to do was dodge the shopping lovers from Russia who were always running somewhere. Sales in Milan - "Saldi" - take place twice a year, in winter (January-February) and in summer (July-August). At the beginning of sales, discounts are smaller (20-30 percent), but there is a larger assortment; by the end of sales, discounts increase to 80 percent, but the assortment quickly dries up. All those who like to buy designer items one way or another end up on the main shopping street in Milan - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where boutiques from all the major fashion houses in the world are located. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is located in Piazza Duomo, next to the Milan Cathedral.
The main reason why people go to Milan to shop is that they can buy designer items from the latest collections at a price that is at least half as much as in Moscow stores.
How much money should you take for shopping in Milan? Despite the sales, shopping in Milan is not a cheap pleasure; do not expect to buy good branded items for 50 euros. If you want to seriously dress up, expect to spend several thousand euros.
While shopping, do not forget to apply for a tax refund (IVA in Italy), then when you travel back to Russia, you will be refunded 12 percent of the amount of your purchases. To qualify for Tax Free, the purchase price must be at least 155 euros. Don’t forget to save your receipt and try to make purchases in stores with the “Euro Free Tax” logo, then the process of receiving compensation will be much easier. 
Other attractions of Italy
Lovers of romance can travel to Verona to visit Juliet's House, where, according to legend, the young heroine of Shakespeare's play lived. Juliet's House is the main attraction of Verona. If you are traveling by car, be sure to visit Tuscany and its capital, Florence. The region of Tuscany is surprisingly rich in beautiful landscapes. There, not far from Florence, is the small city of Pisa, famous for its leaning Leaning Tower of Pisa. And for those who like to relax on the beach, I recommend going to Southern Italy, for example, to the island of Capri, where Maxim Gorky once loved to spend time.
I am sure that if you go on an independent trip to Italy, you will have an unforgettable experience.
If you are planning your first independent trip, I recommend reading the article
Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe with a great history and culture reflected in its many historical sites, ancient ruins and monuments. And cities such as Rome, Venice, Verona and Milan have long been considered individual open-air attractions.
An increasing number of tourists prefer an exciting journey in the form of independent trips to Italy, fortunately we live in the modern century, where any information about a completely alien country is available, you just have to extend your hand. Developed transport hubs make it possible to easily reach even the most remote point and move comfortably in any chosen region. In addition, Italy is civilized Europe, and not Asia, which is alien to us.
To Italy “on your own” - you won’t regret it!
All you need is good awareness of the peculiarities of organizing a trip to Italy by “savages”, which will be discussed in this article.
Advantages of traveling to Italy on your own
In fact, we can talk about the advantages of a holiday in Italy according to our own scenario for an infinitely long time, since there are a great many of them, and besides, each tourist has their own. However, it is worth noting the most striking moment. This is an opportunity to see Italy from a completely different, less touristy side, which is always inherent in package trips from a tour. agencies
This feeling can be compared to looking at a precious stone and discovering a completely new facet in it. It is this view that turns out to be more truthful and closer to the true essence, in this case - real life taking place in Italy. Below we will look at the main stages on the way to a wonderful holiday in Italy.
The first and also the last stage of “Visa”
What torments all independent tourist enthusiasts who are in the mood for a holiday in a particular country? Of course, there is the issue of obtaining a visa. If there is no visa, there is no future vacation. About, , has already been told a little earlier. It is worth noting the fact that they usually think about getting it in the first place. But the submission of documents to the embassy is carried out after all the points of the subsequent stages have been completed.
Stage two: “Choosing a travel method”
By train
Undoubtedly, the most popular form of transport to Italy is by plane. But there are also those tourists who are terrified of traveling by air. For them, the ideal (but more expensive) way to get to Italy is by train. There is only 1 direct train connection with Italy on this route Moscow-Verona-Milan-Genoa-Nice. With transfers there are a lot of options. The website of international Russian Railways will help you choose a railway route.
The only train "Moscow-Nice"
Train timetable "Mosca-Nice"
By plane
Those who believe that this method of travel is beyond their means are completely mistaken. Today, flight tickets can be purchased at a very low cost - from 200-250 euros, including all necessary fees, in both directions. Moreover, these will not necessarily be charter flights. Many airlines offer sales and promotions. There are also a sufficient number of budget flights from low-cost airlines.
But before you start looking for air tickets, you should know that:
You can “catch” the best price by purchasing a ticket 3 months before the expected departure date;
It is more profitable to take round-trip tickets;
The cheapest tickets are for evening/night flights;
Connecting flights are always cheaper than direct flights.
Connecting flights
Let's take a closer look at direct and connecting flights. What to give preference to? If the main goal pursued is to save money, and there is no time limit, it is better to go with the second option. So, by looking at some of the routes offered on the Internet, you can spend only 150 euros.
The main thing you should pay attention to is the time difference between landings, which should not be too large (so as not to be tiresome) and not too small (so that in case of force majeure with the first flight you will not miss the plane directly to Italy). Among other things, connecting flights are chosen in cases where there are no direct flights from Russia to some Italian cities in which you plan to spend your vacation. For example, with Florence and Naples.
A huge advantage of purchasing connecting flights (not to be confused with individual flights) is that upon landing at a “transfer” point, there is no need to re-check in and claim baggage. All information is already in the new airline's database. By the way, if the time allotted at the connecting airport is 5 or more hours, why not use it to your advantage by making a short “thrown march” through the main attractions of this city. And it’s not boring, and the boundaries of travel expand significantly.
So, how to create this coveted route? They will help you with this specialized Internet services, which are very easy to use. You just need to fill out the “from” and “to” fields and check a few boxes to narrow your search criteria. One of the most detailed and reliable such resources is Routes.ru. The service provides information about the cheapest, fastest and most optimal routes in terms of price-quality ratio. Here you can not only choose the most suitable route, but also purchase tickets immediately.
An example of a connecting route to Italy from Moscow:
There: via Frankfurt am Main
Moscow (Domodedovo) - Frankfurt am Main (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 30 minutes;
Free time at the airport - 50 minutes.
Frankfurt am Main - Rome (Fiumicino) (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 45 min.
Cash costs: 6,604 rub.
Return: via Munich
Rome (Fiumicino) - Munich (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 40 minutes.
Free time at the airport - 11 hours 35 minutes.
Munich - Moscow (Domodedovo) (Lufthansa) - 5 hours 5 minutes.
Cash costs: 6,604 rub.
Airlines operating connecting flights to Italy:
You can look for inexpensive offers from low-cost airlines Ryanair and EasyJet, which offer cheap flights to many European countries. Also, highly specialized sites that monitor the market offers of many airlines and travel agencies will help you find the cheapest air tickets. Be sure to check out Trip.ru, Momondo, Skyscanner and Aviasales
Charters
Charters in Italy are popular during the summer season. They are usually carried out 1-2 times a week from April to mid-October. Charters fly to Italian cities that are inaccessible during the rest of the year (for example, Naples).
Direct flights:
Direct flights to Italy are, of course, the most comfortable in all aspects, except for the money issue. You'll have to pay a little more for convenience and speed. But direct flights are also available if you search for them in advance.
Italian airline "ALitalia"
For example, regular flights fly to Bologna, which is still little known among Russian tourists. Meridiana fly» from Domodedovo, to Sicily (Palermo and Catania), Rimini, Pisa and Verona can be reached using the services "WindJet"
Inexpensive low-cost airline "Meridiana fly"
How to buy tickets?
Since the search for profitable air tickets was carried out via the Internet, you should buy a ticket for the selected flight through it. Once you have found what you think is the most suitable flight, you need to start booking it.
In the window that opens on the airline’s website, to which the search resource automatically redirects you, fill in all the empty lines indicating your personal data, e-mail address and credit/salary card information. The advantage of this form of payment is that the purchase of electronic tickets, as well as their payment, can be carried out for you by third parties. The main thing is to provide the correct details of the person for whom they are being registered.
Next, a confirmation of your air ticket reservation will be sent to the specified e-mail. Now this name will be listed in the database of tourists of a particular airline for a certain flight. All you need to do is come to the airport and present your passport. But since we are talking about Italy, in order to obtain a visa to this country, the embassy requires the provision of air ticket reservations. This electronic confirmation can act as it.
A simple and convenient service for booking hostels all over the world
The principle of booking rooms is identical to the rules for booking air tickets. According to the requirements of the Italian visa center, a room booked online must be paid for (at least for the first day).
Getting around Italy
Traveling in Italy with your own car is great. We will not consider this topic here, since it has been written about in detail. It is worth saying that in Italy there are no problems with any type of transport. You can travel by taxi, train, or ferry (between two resorts and to the islands).
Italy is an incredibly attractive country. It combines everything that vacationers love so much: a mild Mediterranean climate, a luxurious coastline, ancient architecture, interesting museums and attractions, delicious cuisine, good shopping.
Organized tours here cost a lot of money, and if you go on your own without prior preparation, you can end up in unpleasant situations. Therefore, it is worth knowing in advance all the nuances of an independent trip so that only great memories remain from it.
If you want to learn how to travel around Italy inexpensively on your own, this article is for you! Here you will find advice from experienced tourists, route ideas and a lot of other useful information.
Now let's move on to the details.
Where to start your trip to Italy
An independent trip to Italy (when searching for information using non-Russian-language services, you need to write the name of the country as Italy) begins not with crossing the border, but much earlier - with its planning. Your comfort and positive emotions during the trip depend on how well everything is organized. First of all, we recommend taking care of documents, tickets and transport logistics.
KalamurzingDocuments for entry into the country
To freely enter the country, you will need a passport with an open Schengen visa. If your passport has less than 3 months left until its expiration date, it will not be accepted. Read about what documents are required for Italian Schengen on the websites of visa centers.
It is very important:
For minor children, if they are traveling with one of the parents, a notarized travel permit from the other parent is required; It’s worth bringing along a birth certificate (if the child is under 14 years old).
You also need to purchase medical insurance (inexpensive and good insurance can be purchased on the website or on instore.travel) and print out a confirmation of your hotel or apartment reservation.
For travelers with a dog, a completed international veterinary passport, a veterinary certificate in form No. 1 from a state clinic (valid for 5 days from the date of issue), and a veterinary certificate in form 5a are required.
Remember:
The animal must be microchipped, and a microchip is required - a transponder, free from fleas and worms, vaccinated against rabies and major diseases (no later than 30 days before crossing the border).
Attention: importing fighting breed dogs into Italy is prohibited!
Air tickets - how to buy profitably
At first glance, nothing complicated: choose dates, city and buy tickets online. But we set a goal to travel cheaply, and there are nuances here. Here's what experienced tourists advise:
- buy tickets early in the morning or at night;
- do this a couple of months before departure;
- choose departure and arrival midweek;
- Don't go during high season.
If all these conditions are met, you will get plane tickets to Italy at the best price.
You can find inexpensive air tickets on the Aviasales website. This is a reliable service with a long history, it searches for tickets from trusted air carriers, and does not charge a commission. In general, a good site, use it.
There are ways to make your flight even cheaper, but be prepared to sacrifice convenience. For example, connecting flights always have a much lower cost, and night flights will be cheaper than day flights. You can use a low-cost airline, but in this case you cannot carry luggage (you can if you pay extra) - only hand luggage, and there will be no food on the plane.
Train tickets - what are the options?
If flying is not an option due to aerophobia or other reasons, you can consider the train. True, there is no choice here: there is only one train going from Russia to Italy, Moscow-Nice. It travels through Belarus, the Czech Republic, Austria and stops in the Italian cities of Bolzano, Verona, Milan, Genoa, San Remo, Bordighera and Ventimiglia. It will take almost two days to travel.
The train has compartment, SV and luxury class seats. Depending on the final destination and the comfort of the place, the ticket price ranges from 23,000 to 100,000 rubles per person.
How to create an interesting and optimal route
The most important component of success! Usually you want to see everything at once, but you shouldn’t turn your vacation into a race. Practice shows that on average it takes three days to travel to one large city. Start from this: if you are leaving for a week, let it be two or three resorts, but you can explore them slowly, enjoying every minute!
Which city to start with depends on what is your priority: excursions, a trip along the coast, visiting Christian shrines or famous Italian boutiques. Here are some popular large and small routes:
- Rome - Florence - Venice - Milan - Como;
- Palermo - San Vito Lo Capo - Agrigento - Taormina;
- Naples - Ischia - Capri - Pompeii (Vesuvius);
- San Remo - Genoa - Pisa - Florence;
- Bari - Matera - Alberobello - Grote di Castellana;
- Amalfi - Ravello - Sorrento.
The recipe for the ideal route is simple: use your imagination, but don’t forget about logic and common sense. The points should be located at a short distance from each other so that you don’t have to spend more time and effort on the road between them than on the rest itself.
You can first choose one most desirable city, then study the map, see what interesting cities are located within a reasonable distance, and plan the entire route.
TOP 15 best cities in Italy for tourism
To make your choice easier, we have made a selection of the most beloved cities in Italy by travelers, and summarized all their features, advantages and disadvantages in a table.
| City | pros | Minuses | Beaches | Attractions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is always something to see, even if you stay for a week or more. | Expensive housing. The main monuments are surrounded by tourists around the clock. | Outside the city, but you can easily get to them. | The Colosseum, Pantheon, Forum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican and a great many others. | |
| A paradise for shopaholics, beautiful architecture. | You need to be vigilant and watch your bags and wallets. | No. | The Gothic-style cathedral in the central square is the fifth largest in the world. | |
| Cool photos with the leaning tower in the background. | There is no point in staying longer than 1–2 days. | In the surrounding area, you can drive in 30-60 minutes. | The Leaning Tower of Pisa and other colorful buildings, the Botanical Garden. | |
| Overflowing with romance, gondola rides, a vibrant carnival. | There are an abundance of tourists, sometimes there is an unpleasant smell from the canals. | On the mainland. | Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Florian (the first cafe in Italy). | |
| Monuments of art and architecture of the Renaissance. | Expensive, sea of people, queues at museums. | No. | Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Boboli Gardens, Ponto Vecchio Bridge, churches and basilicas. | |
| Delicious pastries and pizza, gorgeous scenery. | You have to be careful on the road, the moped traffic is crazy. | There are also Capri and Ischia nearby. | Castles, palaces, cathedrals, catacombs; Vesuvius and Pompeii are nearby. | |
| Verona | A cozy and romantic place, the city of love. | - | By the lakes in the suburbs. | Courtyard of Romeo and Juliet, amphitheater, Scaliger Bridge, castles, panoramic platforms. |
| Palermo | Comfortable climate, fabulous views, lots of entertainment. | During the season, the beaches are crowded, and entrance to private ones is expensive; the city is not always clean. | Eat. | Capuchin catacombs, churches, squares and fountains, Palatine Chapel. |
| Taormina | Luxurious landscapes, climate, nature, ancient historical monuments. | High prices. | Eat. | Palaces, cathedrals, Greek Theatre, Messina Gate, Villa Communale, Odeon and others. |
| Sanremo | Wonderful climate, abundance of beautiful flowers, magnificent panoramas. | Expensive shopping. | Eat. | Casino, Nobel Villa, Ariston Theater, Empress Embankment, Cathedral of Christ the Savior. |
| Cinque Terre | Very colorful place, wonderful postcard landscapes, National Park. | In most of the territory it is prohibited to travel by car. It will be boring for more than three days. | There is, including one nudist. | Path of Love, Neptune statue, Aurora Tower, wine museum and cellars. |
| Alberobello | Authentic architecture that has no analogues. | A day is enough for inspection and photographs; then you’ll have to think about what to do. | No. | White houses with conical roofs are trulli; some of them house museums, cafes, and wine bars. |
| Positano | Picturesque houses clinging to the rock, suitable for families with children. | Impressive prices. | Eat. | Church of Santa Maria Assunta, street artist exhibitions, Li Galli archipelago. |
| Portofino | Unusual architecture in pastel colors, good diving. | There are a lot of people during the season and it's expensive. | Eat. | Church of St. George, Castle Brown, Church of St. Martin. |
| Como | Renaissance architecture, magnificent landscapes, famous lake. | - | Yes, near Lake Como. | Palazzo Broletto, cathedral, funicular, Villa Olmo, Tempio Voltiano, Camerlata fountain. |
Cinque Terre. elitravo
Alberobello. TOP67
Alberobello
Verona. Javen
Verona
Venice. Yasonya
Venezia
Taormina. Aleksandar Todorovic
Taormina
San Remo. S-F
Sanremo
Rome. Blue Planet Studio
Rome
Positano. Javen
Positano
Portofino. Olena Z
Portofino
Pisa. Balate Dorin
Pisa
Palermo. S-F
Naples. Leonid Andronov
Milan. Luciano Mortula – LGM
Milan
Florence. Catarina Belova
Firenze
Como. Feel good studio
Como
Now an independent trip to Italy will probably be easier to plan!
The most interesting cities for tourists on the map
What is the most convenient way to travel around Italy?
Once you get to Italy, you need to decide how you will travel between the intended cities - by public transport or by rented car. Both methods have their pros and cons.
Car rental - how to do everything right
Ideal for traveling with children and for those who have a lot of things or a dog with them. It is better to decide in advance with a company providing car rental services: look at prices, reviews, and the amount of the deposit. If the decision was made spontaneously, then one of the options (not the best) would be to look for rental points at the airport, at large railway stations, and in tourist places in big cities.
It is more convenient and cheaper to rent a car on the Rentalcars website. The service compares offers from various car rental companies and issues the most advantageous offers. In addition, you can choose the most suitable make and model of car from a large number. Another advantage of the site is its security: by renting a car through it, you can be sure that the car will be at the appointed place at the appointed time, and the payment itself will go through without delay.
Preparation of documents for car rental
To rent a car, you will need an international driving license. We also recommend purchasing car insurance, because... The streets in Italy are narrow, and tourists often scratch their vehicles.
Note:
Carefully read the clause with the insurance deductible: you will have to pay no more than this amount if an insured event occurs (whatever is in excess of this amount is covered by the insurance). In order not to worry about this, you can (and preferably) purchase full insurance, without a deductible.
You will also need a card with at least 500 euros on it - this money will be frozen as collateral and then returned back.
Be sure to conduct a detailed inspection of the selected car for chips, scratches and other defects. To be sure, you can record them on video on your phone so that there are no misunderstandings or conflicts later.
In the summer, a day's rental from an international company will cost 20–150 euros, depending on the class of the car. If you book in advance (several months or at least weeks in advance) through Rentalcars, you can save 20-50% of your money. In winter, prices drop by another 15-30%.
Additionally, you can rent a child seat, navigator, roof holder, etc.
Advice: it is better to book a small car - it is easier to maneuver on narrow Italian streets and easier to find a parking space.
Roads and parking lots - important features
The roads in Italy are excellent, with detailed signs and an abundance of roadside eateries and hotels. But you need to understand that among them there are paid ones, driving on which will cost about 5–7 euros for every hundred kilometers. When entering such a site, you need to take a special ticket, and when leaving, pay with a credit card (blue sign) or cash (white sign).
This will help you save:
Almost every highway has a free alternative: a parallel road winding through neighboring villages. The choice depends on what is more important: saving time or cash.
As for parking, they are different.
Write down:
White markings mean that parking a car here is allowed for free (although sometimes this only applies to Italians); yellow markings indicate parking for the disabled, and blue markings indicate that you have to pay for parking.
The closer to the city center, the more expensive a simple car will cost.
Rules and fines - how to save your money
Experienced drivers won't learn anything new, but they may find some useful information.
For example, the maximum permissible speed within populated areas in Italy is 50 km/h, on highways - 110 km/h, on highways - 130 km/h.
You cannot enter the historical center of some cities without permission.
Please note the following:
The locals' driving style is quite aggressive: drivers brake sharply, cut off, and make bold maneuvers. Stay focused! If you are stopped by the police, there is no need to argue or try to come to an agreement; it is more expensive for yourself - it is better to silently accept the paper with the issued fine.
And the sanctions for violating traffic rules in the country are quite large.
Thus, for the lack of international rights, a fine of 300 euros is imposed, for speeding - from 40 to 3300 euros, for overtaking in the wrong place - 80-300 euros, for illegal parking - up to 90 euros, for unfastened seat belts of the driver or passenger - from 80 to 325 euros, and for talking on the phone while driving - up to 645 euros.
Moreover, if you have never been stopped by police officers, this does not mean anything: the violation could be recorded on a video camera, and notification of a fine sometimes comes even six months after leaving the country. And if you don’t pay for it, next time there will be problems with obtaining a Schengen visa. So you need to drive carefully.
Important: the price of gasoline in Italy is one of the highest in Europe: 1.5–1.7 euros per liter. Diesel fuel will be cheaper, but renting a diesel car will be more expensive.
And keep in mind that you can only refuel at some gas stations at night and on weekends in cash: some machines do not accept foreign bank cards.
Intercity trains - nuances of railway travel
Many people prefer to use the services of the railway: the train network covers all major cities, you can not worry about breaking the rules, relax and look at the landscapes passing through the window, and at any moment of the day allow yourself a glass of Italian wine without fear of getting behind the wheel.
Types of trains in Italy
Frecci (arrow) - high-speed comfortable trains of three types: Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento. They reach speeds of 200 to 360 km/h and often travel non-stop.
The fastest among them is Frecciarossa, the slowest is Frecciabianca.
All trains have first and second class carriages, some have separate carriages for the disabled and dining cars.
Intercity - trains that travel slower, make many stops and connect more than two hundred cities in Italy. Their maximum speed is limited to 200 km/h; the cars are also divided into classes based on comfort.
Interсity Notte - night trains, an excellent option for those who value time and do not want to waste daylight hours traveling. And at the same time you save on overnight stays. There are carriages with seats (but you can also sleep on the chairs) and compartment carriages. Moreover, the latter can be exclusively female or mixed.
Regionale is an analogue of our electric train, the least comfortable of all trains. There is also a variation of them called Regionale Veloce - they go faster and stop less often.
All the trains listed above are state-owned. But the Italo trains, decorated with the image of a running hare, belong to a private company.
Why is this good?
They run only between megacities and are not divided into classes: all cars are equipped with comfortable chairs, TVs, sockets and free Wi-Fi.
But at the same time, they have three categories of comfort: smart (vending machines with snacks, the ability to order food from a menu), prima (the chair is equipped with a footrest, there is a personal table, fresh newspaper issues are distributed in the morning, you can order food; a relax carriage has been added, where prohibited loud conversations and talking on the phone), club (small number of seats and large personal space, coffee and newspapers on demand, personal TV, you can choose food from the menu). Tickets for Italo private trains are the most expensive (you can catch promotions when the cost drops significantly).
And finally, there is a small autonomous train network called Circumvesuviana - these are electric trains that run along the coast of the Bay of Naples north of Mount Vesuvius.
Basic tariffs for rail travel
There are different ticket prices in Italy:
- basic (Base ticket);
- economical (Economi);
- super economical (Super economy).
Basic means that you can change the date and time of your trip an unlimited number of times, right up until the train departs and even within an hour after it leaves. The optimal choice for those who like to spontaneously stay in their favorite place for an unplanned couple of days.
This may come in handy:
It is also convenient for latecomers: with such a ticket you can leave on the next next train. If the ticket cost 10 euros or more, you can return it as unnecessary, losing 20%. But if the price of the basic ticket was less than 10 euros, it will not be refundable.
An economical fare gives you the right to change the day and time of your trip once. Unlike the basic one, you are only allowed to travel with it on the specified route - that is, it is no longer possible to transfer to a train in a different direction and pay an additional price difference. You can't give it away either. But there are often discounts on such economy tickets, sometimes up to 50%.
The super-saving fare has the lowest price, but it is not possible to change the date and time of departure, as well as return the ticket.
An excellent budget option for travelers who strictly adhere to the intended route.
The best tickets - how to save money
Those tourists who do not have extra funds and are looking for a cheap holiday in Italy will benefit from information about the possibility of additional savings on travel.
If you are traveling for more than a week and intend to travel around the country by train, you can buy a green card (Carta Verde) for 26 euros - it gives a 15% discount on all train routes and is valid for a year. But there's a catch: it's only sold to young people under 26 and seniors over 60.
There are cards without age restrictions, they are called Amicotreno, but their price is higher: 50 euros. The discounts are higher - 10–20% on Intercity and 50% on regional trips.
Those who come with children need to remember that children under 4 years old have the right to travel for free. Although he will not be given a separate seat - he can only sit in the arms of his parents. Children from 4 to 12 years old will receive a 30% discount. And families and groups of six people or more receive a 20% discount.
If you order tickets on the website of the state company Trenitalia (the site often works with errors, payment does not go through, and tickets may not arrive in the mail, you will have to correspond with the support service for several days to get the money back, so it is better to use another service to buy tickets, o just below), look at the Promotions tab - promotions and special offers are displayed there. For example, 2x1, when two people can ride on one ticket. But you won’t be able to return promotional tickets.
How to buy and use train tickets - this is important to remember
In addition to purchasing online, you can purchase tickets at the ticket office or through a machine inside the station. If you speak Italian, you won't have any problems with the cashier. But not all railway employees understand English. In this case, it is better to write in advance on paper the day of the trip, the point of departure and arrival, the number of passengers and hand this information to the cashier. This will make it easier for you to communicate with each other.
In the machine you can select English and follow the instructions. The main thing is to enter the data carefully. You can pay in cash or by card. But some types of machines work exclusively with cards - check this right away, and if you were planning to pay for the trip with real money, go to the cashier.
If you are traveling by regional train or have tickets in your hands without indicating the day and hour of departure, they will be composted in a special yellow or green machine, which will stamp the time and date on them. Otherwise - a fine in the same amount as for traveling with a hare.
Important! A validated ticket in Italy is considered valid for only six hours!
And now about the most important service for purchasing train tickets. Its name is . It sells the same tickets as Trenitalia, but it works without failures. You can use it without fear that the ticket will not arrive in the mail, and you won’t have to spend several hours proving that your payment went through. One of the big advantages of Omio is that it also offers train tickets from other train companies, which may have promotions, and the ticket can cost you half as much as using Trenitalia.
And the last thing you need to know: Italian trains are often late and there are always inspectors on them.
Intercity buses in Italy - important points
Italians prefer railways because traveling by train is faster. But the buses in the country are modern, comfortable, and it’s convenient and pleasant to travel with them.
But keep this in mind:
The difficulty is that all carrier companies are private, each region has its own. Because of this, it is difficult to coordinate flights with each other and competently build a bus route between distant points. And taking into account that in a metropolis it is easy to get stuck in a traffic jam and lose time, we recommend following the example of the locals and, if possible, using trains, leaving buses for those points where there is no railway connection.
You can buy a ticket at the bus station or at kiosks. Just like trains, buses do not always arrive on schedule. And it’s better not to go far from the stop: if the driver doesn’t notice the people waiting for him, he can safely pass by.
You can also purchase bus tickets on the above-mentioned website (it’s more convenient and reliable).
How to easily find a transfer/taxi
When you travel on your own, you need to take care in advance of finding ways to get to the hotel. This could be public transport, a rented car or a taxi/transfer. In order not to add to the problems of finding a transfer on the spot, you can order it in advance on the website.
Accommodation in Italy - where is the best place to stay?
Another important point of the plan. Nothing should spoil your vacation, which means you should have comfortable accommodation in which to relax and sleep well after a busy day. And you should worry about such housing in advance.
The nuances of staying in hotels and inns
To avoid drowning in a sea of sites and offers, we recommend using the Roomguru service. There are collected the best and, most importantly, proven hotels for every taste and budget, which can be booked with a discount of up to 70%.
When checking in, check to see if there is a separate charge for using air conditioning - this is a common practice. Take repellent with you, as all sorts of living creatures such as centipedes and mosquitoes can seep into the rooms.
Important: Italian sockets are not the same as ours - take care of several adapters.
Hostels - an opportunity to save money
An inexpensive option for those who are willing to sacrifice a little convenience in order to spend money on something more interesting. Moreover, modern Italian hostels are quite decent, well-maintained and clean, most of them have an equipped kitchen, and some even offer breakfast. Yes, other people will spend the night in the room, the toilet and shower are also shared - but you can make new acquaintances, and if the neighbors turn out to be experienced travelers in Italy, then you can get practical advice.
If you are traveling with a family or a mixed group, find out in advance whether the rooms of the selected hostel are designed for sharing or whether men will have to spend the night separately from women.
Read the information on the website carefully: in some places you may not be accepted with animals or even children, and there are also age restrictions (guests must not be under 18).
There are noisier youth hostels and quieter family hostels. To avoid unpleasant surprises, take the time to read the reviews.
Villas and apartments - rental features
If you want to feel at home, be able to cook, do laundry and not have to deal with strangers, you can rent a villa or apartment. This is especially beneficial for those who travel with a team of 4–6 people, because the fee is charged for all accommodation, respectively, the larger the group, the cheaper the overnight stays will be for everyone.
Of course, a villa, especially one located in Liguria or Tuscany, will cost an order of magnitude more than an apartment (on average 2,000 euros/week).
But for a good apartment in a beautiful area that can accommodate up to six vacationers, they will ask about 1,000 euros per week. And keep in mind that during the high season, prices for housing near the sea jump sharply. So you need to book in advance, best in winter (January-February).
Food in Italy - everything a traveler needs to know
Well, how can you go to Italy on your own and not get an impression of its cuisine, one of the most delicious in the world? This is a mandatory part of the program!
Cafes and restaurants - prices and varieties
There are a great variety of establishments in the country, and here are their main types:
- trattoria - family restaurants with a large selection of homemade dishes;
- osteria - emphasis on wine and snacks; a more substantial menu is not always available;
- pizzeria - a good selection of hand-made pizzas cooked in the oven;
- Rosticheria - a la our canteens, buffet format (all dishes are ready-made);
- proshutteria - cold cuts and sausages, sandwiches and inexpensive wine;
- ristorante - a restaurant in the literal sense, with a beautiful interior and exquisite cuisine;
- pasticheria - a pastry shop with cakes, pastries, homemade pastries and coffee;
- gelateria - an ice cream parlor with a huge assortment, often in a “to-go” format.
Ristorantes are among the most expensive establishments, while rosticerias are among the most budget-friendly.
Average prices are as follows: appetizers - 5-8 euros, first courses - up to 10 euros, second courses - about 15-20 euros, desserts - 3-5 euros, pizza - about 7 euros. Wine costs from 6 euros, soft drinks - 2-3 euros, fresh juice - 4-5 euros, coffee - 1-4 euros.
Remember:
In Italy there is such a thing as coperto - table collection. It amounts to 1–3 euros per person and is automatically added to the bill. There is also a Servizio fee, this is a percentage of the service, or tip included. So be prepared to pay more than the menu.
Loosely translated, "coperta" means "tablecloth", meaning that if you are not sitting at a table, but drinking coffee or eating at the bar, the fee will not be charged. If convenience is not that important to you, you can save a lot of money on this over the course of your entire trip.
You can also use set lunches - in Italian this is the “menu of the day” (menu del giorno) or “tourist menu” (menu turistico). Paying about 20 euros for them, you will receive several dishes and sometimes a glass of wine. This is much more profitable than ordering dishes separately.
And finally, if you don’t know where to go, take a closer look at where the locals eat. This will be an establishment with the most delicious cuisine and reasonable prices. Most often, such bars and trattorias are located far from tourist sites and, by finding them, you can cut your costs in half.
Street food - it's worth a try
Connoisseurs say that you can’t leave Italy without trying street food. This could be the usual pizza sold by the slice, focaccia with cheese, piadina (something like a pita bread envelope) with vegetables, meat or cheese, fried pieces of fish or seafood.
But there are also more authentic dishes - olives alla ascolana, that is, olives stuffed with Parmesan or meat and deep fried, or Sicilian arancini - balls of rice with meat or cheese, also fried in breading. Cannoli are very popular - sweet tubes with ricotta cream with the addition of chocolate, candied fruits or fruits.
Do you want delicious and varied food?
The best place to try street food is at culinary festivals - the choice of dishes is impressive and the color is off the charts. Here are some of the most interesting holidays:
- Ham Festival (6–15 September, Parma);
- pizzafest (September 13, Naples);
- cheese festival (September 13–16, Bra);
- wine and grape festival (October 5, Marino);
- chocolate festival (October 17–26, Perugia);
- Slow Food Festival (October 23–27, Turin);
- white truffle festival (all weekends in November, San Miniato).
All events are fun, cheerful, emotional, accompanied by music, educational stories, master classes and competitions.
Food markets and shops - where and what you can buy
If you rent an apartment or house, you obviously plan to cook on your own sometimes. Products can be bought at markets or supermarkets, and the prices in the latter are often lower. This is explained by the fact that many of the goods at the bazaar are farm products and are environmentally friendly.
The average cost of a kilogram of vegetables and fruits in Italy fluctuates around 1–4 euros, cheeses cost 8–15 euros per kilo, meat - 5–13 euros, poultry is a little cheaper, pasta is about a euro per pack, olive oil is 4–5 euros per bottle . The price of homemade milk is 1.5 euros/liter, store-bought milk is three times cheaper. Natural sausages are expensive: 1–3 euros per 100 g. Wine - from 2 euros.
In general, such meals are much cheaper than ordering food in establishments.
You need to know that when entering a small grocery store, even just to get acquainted with the assortment, it is customary to say hello to the sellers. But it is not customary to hand over cash: the money is placed on a special stand at the checkout.
Neither in the markets nor in the store should you touch vegetables and fruits with your hands: in the markets there are disposable gloves for this, and in the bazaar the seller will give you everything. During siesta, that is, from 13:00 to 15:30, shops may be closed. And on Sunday and even Monday morning, many people have a day off. Markets are open from 7–8 a.m. until lunchtime, in small towns on special market days.
Food culture in Italy - how not to get into trouble
As the proverb says, when you come to Rome, behave like a Roman. Before you get to Italy, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few unspoken rules regarding meals. Thus, an Italian’s breakfast is the easiest meal, but lunch and dinner are dense, leisurely and consist of several dishes following each other in strict order.
You can skip something, but changing places is bad manners! You should eat at about the same time.
The traditional breakfast is a cup of cappuccino and a brioche or croissant between 7 and 10 am, and often not at home, but in a bar nearby.
At other times of the day it is not customary to drink cappuccino, only espresso or macchiato. It’s better not to ask for an Americano with milk in Italy; it’s not considered coffee at all.
Lunch takes place between 13.00–16.00 and begins (but not necessarily) with an aperitif.
Then there are cold or hot appetizers - antipasti, first course (primo, usually pasta or risotto), second course (secondo, meat or fish), side dish (contorno, potatoes, salad or vegetables) and dessert. The meal ends with an espresso. After coffee the food is finished.
The situation is similar with dinner. It starts late, around 20:00–22:00.
Remember:
Fruits, even apples, are eaten peeled. Pasta is eaten hot, immediately after serving, and without bread. If you are served pasta at a party, you need to start tasting it right away, otherwise you may offend the hosts - it is believed that its taste decreases with every minute. Pizza can be combined with beer, but never with wine!
And no mayonnaise in salads, only balsamic and olive oil. You can also soak the leftover food from the plate with bread; this is not considered bad manners, but, on the contrary, indicates that you appreciate the work of the cook.
The most interesting things to do in Italy
This is what the vacation was all about. Entertainment is the main pastime of tourists, so plan it well! You can do almost anything in Italy: have fun in one of the water parks, paraglid or hot air balloon, scuba dive, surf, ski, climb to the top of a volcano, relax in the botanical gardens... But the main thing is sightseeing and trips to famous museums. Every traveler includes them in his schedule. And here you can’t do without homemade preparations.
Buying Event Tickets - Worth Remembering
Tickets for major museums and galleries can be ordered in advance online. Don't neglect this opportunity! Sometimes there is such a queue at the box office that it is easier to refuse a visit altogether than to spend so much time buying tickets, which at the last moment may not be enough.
This will save time:
Among other things, you can buy tickets online for the Colosseum (it also allows you to enter the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill), the Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Gallery, the Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie for Da Vinci’s fresco “The Last Supper,” the Uffizi Gallery, in the Palazzo Vecchio, in the Doge's Palace, in the Palazzo Ducale. True, enterprising Italians quickly figured out how to make money on this, and they can ask for an additional fee for booking tickets on the website.
Carefully study the information from official websites: some museums and exhibition galleries offer free days (or free hours), and you can visit them without spending a penny.
Thus, in state museums in Italy they do not charge an entrance fee on the first Sunday of any month, although it is likely that you will still have to wait for a free ticket or pay for its reservation in advance.
Also, some tourist cards entitle you to a discount on entrance tickets. For example, in Rome this is the Roma Pass (valid for 2–3 days, costs 28–38 euros, respectively, allows you to see one (2-day card) or two (3-day card) attractions of your choice free of charge and without having to queue, and without paying for travel on a bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and some trains).
Be sure to check out the available entertainment on the website. On it you can book excursions, buy tickets to visit attractions without queuing (for some), purchase a City Pass (a tourist card that gives discounts on transport and museums), and also find other entertainment in the city you need.
One of the best (if not the best) sites for finding interesting excursions in Russian is. With local guides who offer their services on this site, you will definitely learn a lot of new things about Italy, the excursions will be interesting and memorable. It would also be a good idea to look at another site with excursions - sometimes you can also find something unusual.
Where to go with children in Italy
A small child is unlikely to be interested in paintings by ancient artists and ancient ruins, so when traveling with children, you need to think about separate entertainment options. Fortunately, in Italy there is room to expand!
Etnaland - an exciting holiday on the water
An open-air entertainment complex known throughout Europe, located in Sicily, in Belpasso (province of Catania).
On its territory there are a lot of water attractions and speed slides, waterfalls, swimming pools, jacuzzi, rafting for children and adults, a pizzeria and a cafe. Next to the aquazone there is a zoo, a park with dinosaurs and a theme park with a cable car and a large children's area with carousels.
Etnaland is open from April to September.
Gardaland - exciting attractions
Due to the abundance of cool attractions, this huge park, located near Verona on the shores of Lake Garda, was nicknamed the local Disneyland. There is a Fantasy Kingdom area with entertainment for children from two years old; themed adventure zone for children over 10 years old; red adrenaline zone for those who like to tickle their nerves; a huge aquarium area with the opportunity to watch shark feeding and dolphin shows.
The park is closed in February-March.
Zoomarin - the largest water park
One of the largest family water parks in Italy, located in the suburbs of Rome. Here you can ride roller coasters, take part in sea battles, go to a small zoo, see a show with parrots, dolphins and fur seals, watch a 4D movie, lie on a tropical sandy beach and take an interactive journey into the prehistoric world. The territory is surrounded by greenery. During the cold season, visiting may be limited.
Italy in miniature - all the sights of the country
The park, built in Rimini, makes it possible to see the most memorable sights of Italy and Europe in a reduced size. There are almost 300 replicas of various architectural monuments, including the Eiffel and Leaning Towers of Pisa, the Colosseum, Mount Etna, the Greek Acropolis and the German Neuschwanstein Castle.
At the same time, you can ride the attractions for free, and if you are tired, the monorail is at your service, you can ride the train and listen to the stories of the guide.
The park is open from March to October, the rest of the time it is open only on weekends.
But keep in mind that the entertainment in these and similar parks lasts the whole day!
Interesting places for children on the map
When going to a small town or village, make sure you have cash in your wallet - in such places ATMs can be tight. At the same time, when stocking up on money, try to remove it out of sight of everyone - thieves do not sleep, and thefts most often occur in tourist areas. For the same reason, it is advisable to park your car in a paid parking lot or at least in a well-lit place and not leave valuables in the car.
It is important:
Smoking is prohibited in public places in Italy, including streets, bus stops and outdoor cafes. The exception is rare establishments that have special rooms for smokers.
Don't break this rule! If you are caught, you risk a fine of up to 500 euros.
If the purpose of your vacation is a beach holiday, keep in mind that in Italy you cannot be on the beach at night (namely from 01:00 to 06:00), you will also be fined for this (150 euros). It is also prohibited to massage each other, unless you are a professional massage therapist and are at work.
Independent trip vs tour - what to choose
For those who still doubt whether it is worth organizing an independent holiday in Italy or whether it is better to buy a group tour of several cities from an agency, we have prepared a comparison table. She will help you weigh everything again and make a final decision.
| Evaluation criteria | Independent trip | Ready group tour |
|---|---|---|
| Route | At your request, you can make adjustments along the way by introducing new points or, conversely, shortening the path. | Pre-planned by the operator, cannot be changed, includes the most popular cities. |
| Directions | Whichever way is most convenient for you: plane, car, bus or train. | Only the type of transport with which the company works. |
| Accommodation | You need to personally book and pay for apartments or rooms; you can choose the most suitable area. | You cannot choose the area and the hotel, but all the hassle of checking in lies on the shoulders of the tour operator. |
| Nutrition | Cooking yourself, going to the market or a cafe for food - it’s up to you to decide, as well as how many times a day to eat. | Most often it consists of not particularly filling and varied breakfasts and snacks on the run. |
| Excursions | You need to be prepared to find your way, stand in line for tickets and pay extra for the guide’s stories, but you don’t have to adapt to someone else’s schedule. | The tickets have already been purchased, they will take you to your destination, the services of a guide are often included in the price of the tour, but the time is strictly specified, and most often, such excursions are uninteresting and unmemorable. |
| Free time | Unlimited - you can give as much attention to the object you like as you want. | It has strict limits and is often limited to a couple of hours. |
| Shopping | At your discretion: you can spend maximum or minimum time on shopping, go around any shopping centers, shops and markets. | As a rule, it consists of purchasing souvenirs and visiting sponsorship points with which the agency has an agreement. |
| Society | Choose a company you like or refuse it altogether if you want to be alone. | You have to get used to the constant presence of people and accept it if you don’t like someone. |
| Colourfulness | You can include non-tourist places in your plan and refuse to go to the promoted ones if you don’t want to visit them; get the maximum experience from communicating with local and original establishments. | There are enough bright emotions, but there is no element of freshness: the trip follows well-worn tourist trails, the group leader accompanies you everywhere, there is no feeling of freedom. |
| Price | You can save on agency commissions, buy cheap tickets ahead of time, find budget accommodation, adjust your food costs and ultimately spend less on your vacation. | Cannot be changed, but travel agencies rarely have their own discounts. |
Decide to go to Italy on your own - this vacation could be the best of your life!
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.com
I managed to see an incredible number of sights, ate delicious food, switched gears, rested (walking 35 thousand steps a day!), and now I’m ready to share my impressions and useful information about the trip.
And the first thing I want to talk about is the travel budget, because... when planning a trip, this is one of the determining factors for most travelers.
Italy is considered an expensive country to travel, but let's see how much this really is, how much money you need for a small independent trip and how you can save money. So, how much does a trip to Italy cost?
I went on a trip alone, The flight was from Chelyabinsk, pre-arranged there was no visa, so all these additional costs had to be included in the budget.
The trip lasted 10 days, during which time I managed to visit two cities - Milan(where I arrived) and Florence. I traveled between cities by bus, and around the city by public transport or on foot.
I ate both in a cafe and cooked it myself, buying food in the supermarket, which allowed me to save a lot.
The bulk of the budget in Italy- spending on housing, after all, hotels here are quite expensive, one of the highest prices for accommodation in Europe. I decided not to stay in hotels, rented accommodation from local residents (of course, through the airbnb service) and even stayed in a hostel, but more on that a little later.
The purpose of my trip was to see as much as possible attractions, so I didn’t skimp on visiting attractions (although here, too, there were ways to reduce the overall budget).
If you travel as usual (rather than in the “see all” mode), you will spend much less on attractions.
Additional metro(I haven’t received the card yet and on the last day): 4.5 euros.
Cost of 1 trip by metro (or any other type of transport within 90 minutes): 1.5 euro.
In Florence I mostly moved on foot, because... I lived close to the center, so I only took the bus 2 times: 3 euros.
Total public transport: 26.5 euros.
4. Accommodation
In Italy, I was able to live in three formats - in a separate apartment, in a room and in a hostel. Each experience is interesting in its own way, and I will be sure to describe each accommodation in detail.
As I wrote above, I booked the room and apartment through airbnb, so I was able to significantly reduce this part of the budget. I already had accumulated points on my airbnb account, which I could use to partially offset my housing costs.
By the way, if you register using my link in the airbnb service, you can use discount 28 euros already upon your first booking!
In Milan I ended up twice, the first time, the cost of 4 nights: 9741 rubles, of which I paid only 2740 rub., the rest was covered by bonuses.
Apartment in Milan:
It is profitable to rent an apartment on airbnb for three days, because... The price usually includes cleaning, so on the last day in Milan I stayed in a hostel (I arrived from Florence at 9 pm, and had to leave in the morning).
Recreation room in the hostel:
Hostel I found it on reviews (the best in Milan!), the cost of 1 night in a room for 6 girls is 2552 rub., and breakfasts and dinners are included! You can view all accommodation options and current prices on the agoda website (the prices for this hostel were the lowest there).
In Florence I rented a room with a private bathroom (simply gorgeous!), the cost for 4 nights was 8414 RUR.
Bathroom in an apartment in Florence:
If you are traveling together, then multiply only the cost of the hostel by two, other prices will remain the same.
In total, 13,706 rubles were spent on accommodation. (182 euros).
5. Attractions
I saw as many attractions as possible, some were free (churches, parks, squares), some were paid.
Also, in each city I took a sightseeing tour of the city, booking excursions in advance (for Milan - at, for Florence - at, I wanted to compare the 2 services). As a result, due to the fact that it was off season, there were 5 people on the excursion in Milan, and only 3 in Florence! Almost an individual tour turned out to be 20 euros!
As a result, I paid for two excursions 40 euros.
Of the entrance tickets, the most expensive ticket was in Milan (where the original Da Vinci Codex is on display) - 13 euros.
In Milan I had to pay separately for each attraction, the only thing is that I bought a card that allows me to visit all the city’s state museums for 3 days, the cost is 12 euros. Without a card, entrance to each museum is 5 euros minimum.
In total I saw about 20 attractions, including museums, parks, Sforza Castle, ancient churches, Duomo, Galleries and Monumental Cemetery.
I bought almost all the tickets on the spot, with the exception of Comprehensive ticket to the Duom CathedralO. I bought it specifically in advance to avoid queues, and for good reason, instead of 2-3 hours I stood in line for only about 10 minutes. A comprehensive ticket, which includes a visit to the cathedral itself, the archaeological zone, cost me 14 euros.
View from the roof of the Duomo:
I bought the ticket on the English-language website getyourguide, where they sell not only tickets to various events/attractions, but also excursions. Because The site is international, there are much more offers there than on the same satellite, so I recommend paying attention.
I spent on all the tickets in Milan 65.5 euros O.
In Florence I bought a special one in advance Firenze Card tourist card behind 85 euros. It allows you to freely visit almost all attractions for 72 hours (there are 72 places on the list, an hour for each). Naturally, you won’t have time to visit everything; three hours is not enough to visit some museums/palaces, but if you want to see as much as possible, a map can be useful.
Of course, the feasibility of buying a card must be considered, but I ended up saving a lot.
Another reason to buy a card is separate queues for card holders, i.e. You will get to the museum much faster than most tourists. And this is really very cool, it saves a lot of time! There is no need to buy any additional tickets, the main thing is that what you want to see is on the list of those available for visiting on the card.
I visited only 1 additional museum; it turned out to be private (small), so the Firenze Card was not valid there; the ticket cost 6 euros.
Total I spent 195.5 euros on all attractions/excursions.
6. Food
I tried to eat on a budget in Italy. I read in many reviews that when planning a travel budget in Italy, you need to focus on the amount 100 euro per day, taking into account paid housing.
Of course, I got it much cheaper. I will write more about food in each city in separate articles (), but basic life hacks(ways to save money) - compare prices, go to a cafe away from tourist places, buy food in a supermarket.
In general, at the entrance to any cafe there are stands with prices, so you can immediately estimate approximately how much lunch/dinner will cost.
There are also often promotional offers. For example, in Milan after 18.00 many cafes and restaurants offer the so-called menu "apperitivo"— buy a drink for one price (for example, 8 euros), and you can take any food from the buffet. In some places it will be only mini-snacks, and in others there will be a wide variety of normal food, so you get a full dinner for 8-10 euros.
In Milan, I had breakfast in my apartment with food from the supermarket, and throughout the day I bought inexpensive snacks.
In Florence, small breakfasts were included in the apartment, so we also managed to save money.
This doesn’t mean that I was strictly saving, of course, I tried the most delicious things (is it possible not to try local dishes when traveling, especially in Italy?) - risotto, pizza, pasta, the most delicious ice cream in the world... From the memories immediately I'm hungry))
Seafood risotto in the famous cafe:
In the end, I spent on food 26 (shopping in supermarkets) + 114 (cafes) = 140 euros.
7. Communication
Back in Russia, I bought a special SIM card with which you can travel around the world. It is valid everywhere, as soon as you arrive in the country, it is immediately activated (you need to register the card first).
Basically, the SIM card was needed for the Internet - daily Skype, photos and stories on Instagram, Google maps and audio guides. Wi-Fi worked in the apartments, although in Florence the connection in general is not very good - there is too much interference.
The cost of ordering a SIM card is 10 euros, I also spent it on communication in general 15 euros.
You can view the tariffs and order a SIM card.
Total contact: 25 euros.
8. Insurance
Without insurance, you simply will not be issued Schengen, so you need to do it. I compared different offers and in the end chose inexpensive insurance from Alfastrakhovanie for 10.4 euros. Moreover, I bought it not on, as usual, but through the website, it was a little cheaper there.
You can view available insurance on the website or through this form.
