Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world ― and perhaps also one of the most misunderstood by tourists.
HuffPost asked Italian locals and Italy-based travel experts to share what they wish visitors knew before arriving, from navigating local customs and cuisine to avoiding common tourist pitfalls. Tuck this wisdom away for your next trip:
Breakfast is sweet, not savory or protein-rich.
Protein is having a moment in our culture, but if you’re looking for a savory, protein-packed breakfast during your Italian vacations, you might be out of luck.
“We eat sweet things for breakfast in Italy,” said Italy-based travel writer Lisa Rivera. “Bars or pasticcerias (pastry shops) serve cornetti and brioche in the morning with espresso or cappuccino. Bigger cities like Milan or Rome are more likely to have cafes that serve eggs and bacon for breakfast. Other than that, hotels with catering facilities might serve more protein items.”
Say ‘buongiorno’ — not ‘ciao.’
“Many tourists learn ‘ciao’ as the default Italian greeting, but in reality it’s very informal,” Elisa Torello, founder of Elisa’s Italian School, told HuffPost. “Italians usually use it only with friends, family or in situations that already feel relaxed and familiar.”
While “ciao” is a useful word that can mean both “hello” and “goodbye,” it’s really for informal contexts and interactions with people you already know.
“Using it with strangers, older people, or authority figures can sometimes feel overly casual or even slightly disrespectful, especially in more traditional environments,” Torello said.
When interacting with strangers or in more formal settings, she recommended saying “buongiorno” (pronounced bwohn-JOR-noh) in the daytime and “buonasera” (bwoh-nah-SEH-rah) in the evening. “Salve” is a polite and neutral way to say hello at any time of day, and “arrivederci” (ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee) is the formal way to say goodbye.
Don’t stress too much over getting things perfectly, though. Italians appreciate the effort, which can make interactions feel warmer for everyone.
“Say ‘buongiorno’ when you walk into a shop,” said Valentina Telese, Italian tours director at Walks of Italy. “It sounds small, but skipping it is genuinely considered rude. Try a few words of Italian if you can. Even a broken attempt goes a long way.”
‘Bella figura’ is part of the experience.
Travel guide Audrey De Monte highlighted the cultural importance of the “bella figura,” which is all about presenting yourself in a manner that creates a good impression. This includes manners and behavior, as well as attire and physical presentation.
“Dressing appropriately is fundamental,” she said. “Italians would never dress like they are going to the beach unless at the beach.”
The goal, she added, is to take a comfortable and casual but thoughtful approach. If you’re visiting religious sites, respect norms around modesty. De Monte also advised against baseball caps and wide-brimmed hats in the wrong context as well.
Understand that Italian food is actually many different cuisines.
“Tourists often speak about ‘Italian food’ as if it were one thing. Italy disagrees. Loudly,” said Grace, founder of Italian with Grace. “Every region has its own recipes, traditions and a grandmother ready to declare the others wrong. And if you put ice in wine, congratulations ― somewhere in Italy, another nonna just felt a disturbance in the force.”
Understanding that Italian food is not a single cuisine and making an effort to try local specialties are key to having a top-notch, authentic experience.
“People will find ragù alla bolognese pretty much anywhere in Italy, but it would make more sense to try it when you’re in Emilia Romagna, not in Milan,” said Luca Castagnini, a travel photographer and content creator. “Same with carbonara outside Rome, or canederli outside northern regions within the Alps. Even pizza varies by region, but to understand which type is the best one remains a subjective thing!”
Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images
Make an effort to learn at least the basics of “buongiorno” and how to pronounce “grazie.”
Learn how to actually pronounce ‘grazie.’
“When saying ‘thank you’ in Italian, travelers can often mistakenly drop the final vowel, saying ‘GRAHT-see,’” said Martina Carucci, a strategist with the language learning app Preply. “Instead, make sure to pronounce it as ‘GRAHT-see-eh’ ― perfecting Italian gratitude and expressing thanks to locals.”
She added that worldwide Google searches of “how to say grazie” have been increasing, highlighting the importance of making an effort to be polite and pronounce things correctly in the local language.
“Don’t expect everyone to speak English,” De Monte said. “In Italy we not only speak Italian but also 31 other languages and also a number of dialects. So it is polite to first ask if they speak English, and if not, there is always Google Translate.”
Try to familiarize yourself with general communication norms before you travel to Italy as well.
“We are expressive people. We use our hands and volume to get our points across,” Telese said. “If you hear two Italians speaking loudly, please don’t assume they’re arguing. They’re probably just excited about something. Tourists misread this all the time, and I find it quite funny.”
Keep an eye out for scams.
“One of the biggest mistakes tourists make in Italy is letting their guard down around major attractions,” Telese said. “Around places like the Colosseum and Vatican, visitors are often approached by unofficial ticket resellers, but these tickets are usually overpriced and may not even work properly.”
She recommended booking your tickets through reputable tour providers or directly with the attraction at least a few days in advance if possible.
“We also see tourists caught out by so-called ‘free’ experiences, whether that’s gladiator photos or friendship bracelets that suddenly come with a charge attached,” Telese said. “If something is being offered to you unsolicited on the street, it’s always best to be cautious and politely decline.”
Preparation is crucial, especially for a summer visit.
“Italy gets hot in the summer, especially the city center of Rome,” said content creator Brianne Bartolini. “Midday sightseeing in July or August can ruin your trip if you don’t pace yourself, dress for the weather and bring water.”
She also recommended not waiting until the last minute to book major attractions and popular restaurants, especially if you’re visiting in peak summer tourist season.
“Don’t visit in August without preparation,” echoed Italian language teacher Margherita Berti. “Many local restaurants and shops close as Italians take their own vacations in August. The heat is also brutal, and many places do not have AC.”
Pack the right footwear as well.
“Be ready to walk a lot and at any time, as sometimes walking is the easiest route,” said Lucrezia Oddone, founder of Learn Italian with Lucrezia. “Plus, you get to enjoy the surroundings as you go!”
Mario Martinez via Getty Images
Embrace slow travel in Italy and you’ll be rewarded with an authentic experience.
Locals rarely eat right next to the major attractions.
“Everyone dreams of having dinner facing the Trevi Fountain or near the Colosseum, but it’s hard to find somewhere that’s truly good ― it’s usually either very fancy or very touristy,” said Denyse Pantaleo, the Rome tours manager at Walks of Italy. “There are clear signs of a tourist trap ― if someone is outside trying to pull you in, calling out and waving a menu, that’s not a good sign.”
She also recommended booking a food tour with a local guide to avoid tourist traps and learn a particular region’s culinary identity.
“Some of the worst food experiences happen right next to famous attractions,” said Instagram travel creator Marco D’Isanto. ”In Italy, walking even just a few streets away from the main tourist areas often leads to much better food, atmosphere, and prices.”
There are other ways to avoid overpriced, lower quality restaurants and identify authentic dining experiences.
“If you want to eat at a restaurant where you’ll sit next to locals, avoid places that stay open mid-afternoon and offer dinner service at any hour, as our typical dinner time is after 8 p.m.,” Oddone noted.
Slow down. Seriously.
“Italy is a large and incredibly diverse country, and while transportation is convenient, many travelers try to cram too much into one trip,” said Samone Rich, a travel blogger and content creator. “They spend most of their vacation checking in and out of hotels, rushing between cities and exhausting themselves trying to see everything. My biggest recommendation is to slow down. Italy is best experienced gradually.”
Rather than trying to squeeze all of Italy in a week, she recommended visiting different regions (there are 20, after all) during different seasons and embracing slow travel. It’s the Italian way.
“Give yourself time to rest, wander, sit at a café or visit a museum because you genuinely want to ― not because you feel pressured to check something off a list,” Rich said. “Italy has so much to offer, and I think people appreciate it more when they allow themselves to actually breathe and experience it instead of racing through it.”
Consider exploring smaller, less touristy towns in addition to a major city or two. Don’t just do day trips but experience the morning and evening feel of a place.
“By slowing down, you connect with the local pace of life, interact with locals and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture,” De Monte said.
A little research goes a long way.
“It would be important for tourists to learn about Italy and its history, as history is an important part of understanding a destination,” De Monte said. “Our history is not only Roman, but Phoenician, Greek, Longobard, Etruscan, Royal etc., and for every part of our history there are sites, not on the main tourist trail, that are very much worth visiting.”
She also recommended researching holiday and event schedules and other things you might want to plan around.
“These are our busiest times, restaurants are full, roads are busy, and museums could be closed and more expensive in some cases,” De Monte said. “And don’t assume everything is open all the time. Learning to follow the local Italian rhythm promises a better experience all around. Find out times stores are open and when restaurants open.”
Other relevant research areas might be train options and how things like Uber and taxis work in Italy, as it’s not exactly the same in every country. Find out where things are located too.
“The most common thing I hear in St. Peter’s Square is visitors asking where the Sistine Chapel is,” said Elyssa Bernard, the founder of Romewise. “The Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums. You need a ticket, and you need to walk through the entire museum to reach it. You can’t just pop in. Don’t show up and hope for the best.”
She also suggested finding out if you have a data plan with your provider or need to buy an eSIM, rather than relying on free public Wi-Fi everywhere you go.
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