12 Rookie Mistakes in Italy That Will Make You Look Like a Total Tourist
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For many travelers, Italy is a dream destination. There’s something for everyone, from world-famous historical landmarks and bustling cities to delicious cuisine and charming seaside towns. However, while there are many things travelers should do in Italy, there are also things that tourists shouldn’t do.
Anytime you visit somewhere new, there are bound to be cultural differences, rules, and regulations that differ from your home country, so it’s essential to familiarize yourself with what you should avoid doing. To learn more, we’ve compiled a list of 12 things tourists should never do when visiting Italy so you can enjoy a mistake-free trip.
Don’t Try To Do Too Much in a Short Space of Time
Let’s start with one of the biggest mistakes many tourists make when visiting Italy. As tempting as it can be to see and do as much as possible during your Italy vacation, you’ll quickly ruin your trip if you cram in too much. Yes, you’ll see more, but you’ll also spend a lot of time doing the things you don’t like.
For example, if you tried to visit Rome, Venice, and Florence in one week, you’d spend most of your time lugging bags around, sitting on public transport, and getting stuck in traffic. Instead, we recommend picking one or two places and taking your time. That way, you can better appreciate what you see and move more relaxedly.
Read also: Italian Trip Planning
Don’t Eat Near Famous Tourist Attractions
Unless you’re happy spending more money on food, we advise avoiding cafes and restaurants near major tourist attractions. Firstly, food establishments near popular tourist attractions are almost always more expensive than restaurants a few blocks away. Secondly, they aren’t usually as authentic as traditional restaurants because they have a tourist menu.
For example, you’ll find more expensive places to eat and less authentic Italian dining in the restaurants that sit alongside the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. Travelers are much better off going where the locals go to eat. You can find more traditional and affordable Italian restaurants by walking 10 or 15 minutes from the main attractions.
Read also: Tourist Traps To Avoid in Italy
Don’t Feel Pressured To Leave a Tip
Staying with the theme of food, never feel pressured to leave a tip in a cafe, bar, or restaurant. While it may be common practice to leave a gratuity in your country, tipping isn’t a necessity in Italy. Usually, a service charge will be included in your bill, or sometimes, a cover charge is included when you arrive.
Having said that, tipping is still appreciated, so if you were particularly impressed with your meal or received exceptional service, feel free to leave some extra money for your server.
Read also: Amazing Places To Retire in Italy
Don’t Just Visit the Most Popular Destinations
Most people planning a trip to Italy immediately look to places like Rome, Milan, Venice, and Florence. While all these places are fantastic and have much to offer every kind of traveler, it would be wise to respect lesser-known Italian destinations. Italy is much more than historic cities, so look further afield.
For example, you could plan a coastal road trip along the Amalfi Coast, soak up the sun on Sardinia, explore vibrant small towns, and sip Italian wines in Tuscany. The beauty of visiting lesser-known destinations is that they’re usually much quieter, too, so getting around and visiting local attractions is more enjoyable. You’re also more likely to find more authentic experiences and cuisine.
Read also: Spectacular Beach Destinations in Italy
Never Share Your Food
In many countries worldwide, sharing food at the table is common. In fact, sharing food with the table is recommended in some countries, such as Lebanon. However, in most parts of Italy, sharing food isn’t the done thing. For example, you should never share a pizza with your partner in an Italian restaurant.
It may surprise many people, but pizzas aren’t for sharing in Italy. Pizzas are served individually, which is excellent if you don’t want to compromise with your partner. Instead, you can pick the pizza you like best. It’s also worth noting that pizza etiquette in Italy is to cut and eat your pizza with a knife and fork.
Read also: Rome Travel Guide
Don’t Expect a Big Breakfast
We’re sorry, but if you enjoy having a big breakfast first thing in the morning, you’ll be disappointed when you visit Italy. In Italy, breakfast isn’t a particularly important or lavish affair, with many people choosing to have an espresso or latte with a brioche or croissant.
Therefore, if your hotel includes a complimentary breakfast, don’t expect a mountain of food to land on your plate. The reasoning for this is pretty simple. Italians need a quick breakfast before they go to work and usually eat larger meals later in the day. Although, on occasion, some Italians have meats, cheeses, and bread for breakfast.
Read also: Famous Landmarks in Italy
Avoid Taking ‘Free’ Souvenirs From Strangers
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Across Italy’s major cities and outside iconic tourist attractions, you’ll likely come across strangers offering ‘free’ souvenirs. While it might seem alluring to grab one of these tiny souvenirs, especially when such friendly locals offer them, the whole thing is a scam. Once you take the souvenir the stranger provides or take a photo with someone dressed in costume, they’ll hassle you for money.
Examples of this scam include pedestrians dressed in costumes asking tourists to take fun photographs with them, people giving out bracelets, and florists giving away flowers to couples at the Spanish Steps in Rome. Someone once threw a bracelet at us to try and make us pick it up.
Read also: Fairytale Villages in Italy
Don’t Sit Down on the Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps is a beautiful staircase in Rome that leads up a steep slope from Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. At the top of the steps, you’ll find a gorgeous church called Trinità dei Monti. The Spanish Steps have been a famous tourist attraction in the city for many years, but new rules have been put in place to protect them.
Until recently, tourists could sit on the stairs, take photographs, and admire the panoramic views of the city. However, after a major cleaning and restoration project in 2016, the Italian government banned tourists from sitting down on the steps. Now, you must keep moving to avoid being fined, which, according to CNN, can be as much as €400 ($429).
Read also: Capri, Italy
Don’t Dress Inappropriately in Sacred Sites
Generally, you can wear whatever you want when visiting most places in Italy. However, there are certain times when it’s deemed inappropriate to wear specific clothing items. This is usually the case when visiting sacred sites. Many churches in Italy, especially cathedrals, have dress codes.
These dress codes often require visitors to wear skirts or shorts that reach their knees. Other sacred sites require visitors to cover their shoulders. Examples of famous sacred tourist attractions in Italy that have dress codes include the Vatican Museums, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Pantheon.
Read also: Things To Do in Lake Como
Don’t Touch or Get in the Water at the Trevi Fountain
There’s a good chance you’ve seen the Trevi Fountain before, but for those who haven’t, let us explain. The Trevi Fountain is a breathtaking 18th-century fountain located in the Trevi district in Rome. It was designed by famed architect Nicola Salvi and was completed by Giuseppe Pannini in 1762.
This iconic fountain attracts millions of tourists yearly, and many throw coins in it for good luck. However, unsavory behavior at the fountain has led to other issues. In recent years, tourists have jumped in the fountain, stolen coins, and climbed the statues. As a result, the Italian government has considered installing physical barriers. To avoid being fined or, worse, arrested, don’t touch or get in the water at the Trevi Fountain.
Read also: Venice Travel Guide
Never Vandalise Historical Landmarks
This next tip should be common sense, but you’ll be amazed how many tourists vandalize historical landmarks across Italy. For example, in 2023, a man from the United Kingdom was seen etching his and his partner’s names into a 2,000-year-old wall in the Colosseum in Rome.
Similar to the issues we discussed regarding the Trevi Fountain, acts like this not only damage sites with extreme significance, they also lead to governments putting things in place to limit and restrict tourists who simply want to enjoy some of the most famous landmarks on earth. When visiting a historic landmark, always follow the rules and treat the site respectfully.
Read also: Cinque Terre, Italy
Don’t Forget To Buy Tickets in Advance
Our final advice for you is to remember to buy tickets for famous attractions in advance. While you don’t have to purchase tickets for most attractions in advance, as most attractions have ticket offices on site, doing so will save you much time and aggravation.
You also reduce the risk of missing out on a particular attraction if it gets too busy. This is especially important when visiting Italy during the high tourism season because the most popular attractions can get very busy. For example, the queue to purchase tickets for St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican can easily be up to 60 minutes long. You can book tickets for most attractions on Get Your Guide.
Read also: Europe Trip Planning
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