Italy was my first home away from home, and it has had a hold on me ever since. I studied abroad in Florence at the age of 19 and became a new person: one obsessed with pasta, art history, and feverishly devoted to figuring out ways to get back to Italy again (and again).
Italy holds more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country on Earth, which proves just how much history, art, and architecture is packed into one peninsula. From the ruins of ancient Rome and the canals of Venice, to the olive groves of Puglia and the volcanic coast of Sicily, no two regions are exactly alike. Having traveled across the whole country, what’s stuck with me most isn’t any single landmark… it’s the way Italians treat everyday life as something worth savoring, il dolce far niente, whether enjoying a perfectly pulled espresso or a Sunday lunch that stretches well into the afternoon.
Italy isn’t the cheapest European destination, but still doable on many budgets. Most travelers can expect to spend roughly $100–$200 per day on a comfortable mid-range trip, covering things like sit-down meals and ticket entries to all the sites, whereas budget travelers can get by on $70–$100 a day covering a hostel, street food, and public transit. The best bang for your buck will often be found in the south: destinations like Naples and Sicily tend to offer cheaper prices on meals and accommodations than the standard Rome, Florence, and Venice circuit.
U.S. passport holders can enter Italy visa-free for stays up to 90 days, provided your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date and has at least two blank pages. As of April 2026, the EU’s Entry and Exit System (EES) is now active, meaning your biometrics (fingerprints, facial image, and passport details) are collected on arrival at the border. ETIAS, a new pre-travel online authorization system, is also expected to launch as early as late 2026 and will require Americans to register before departure with a fee of €20 — similar in concept to how the U.S. ESTA works for inbound visitors. It’s worth checking for official updates if you’re traveling in late 2026 or into 2027.
Italy uses the euro (€), and the exchange rate has been pretty favorable for American travelers in recent years. Major cities are very card-friendly, but once you get into smaller towns, rural areas, or local markets, cash is king, so I’d recommend having at least $50–100 USD worth of euros on hand when you arrive. Skip the airport exchange counter and hit an ATM (bancomat) instead for better rates. I always recommend getting a Charles Schwab or Wise debit card before you go to save on transaction fees — Schwab automatically refunds all ATM fees every month.
Italian is the official national language, but the country is linguistically fascinating! In South Tyrol, German holds co-official status to Italian, French is recognized in Valle d’Aosta, and in the south you’ll hear Neapolitan and Sicilian actively spoken day-to-day. In fact, over 30 regional dialects exist in Italy, many different enough to be classified as separate Romance languages entirely. One of these is Sardinian, which linguists consider to be the closest living language to Latin.
English is widely spoken in major tourist cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan — especially among younger generations and anyone working in hospitality — but gets spottier once you leave those hubs. A few Italian phrases will go a genuinely long way!
Italy is generally very safe for solo female travelers. Violent crime rates are low, tourist infrastructure is excellent, and major cities are well-lit, walkable, and easy to navigate alone. The main thing to stay mindful of is petty theft, particularly in high-traffic tourist zones like Rome’s Termini station, lines at major sites like the Vatican or Colosseum, and crowded public transit where pickpockets are most active.
I’ve traveled solo through Italy multiple times and felt comfortable throughout — and in my experience, a little Italian goes a long way toward warmer interactions.
Tap water across Italy is safe to drink and meets strict EU safety standards, so go ahead and bring a reusable bottle — your wallet and the planet will both thank you! On public fountains, look for the phrase acqua potabile, which means drinking water; anything marked acqua non potabile is for decorative or irrigation use only and should be skipped. Rome’s iconic Nasoni street fountains are nearly everywhere and completely free to refill from, which is just one of many things to love about the city.
Italy uses plug Types C, F, and L at 230V. Travelers from the U.S. will need a plug adapter and, in some instances, a voltage converter. Most modern laptops and phone chargers have built-in dual-voltage capability; if your charger brick reads “100–240V,” you only need the physical adapter. For things like hair tools, it’s not so straightforward. Most hair dryers and straighteners in the U.S. are built for 120V, so plugging them into a 230V outlet will fry them. Voltage converters exist for this, but can be hit or miss — some travelers still report damage to their devices or accidentally tripping hotel breakers. My honest recommendation is to skip the converter and invest in a dedicated dual-voltage travel hair dryer or straightener instead.
One extra note if you’re hiking the Dolomites: many rifugios and hotels in the region use the older Type L outlets specifically, so make sure your adapter covers that. I travel with this universal multi-plug adapter that saves the headache upon landing.
Italy is a great option for digital nomads and remote workers, especially now that the country has a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (launched 2024) that lets non-EU remote workers stay legally for up to a year. Major cities have solid fiber internet and good coworking scenes, with Bologna and Turin being the sweet spots for lower costs without sacrificing infrastructure. All that said, WiFi isn’t always available at cafés in Italy — so if you’re working remotely long-term, budget for a coworking space rather than relying on coffee shop connections.
Detailed guides to Italy’s major cities (and lesser-known counterparts) are on the way! I’m sharing all the practical tips, hidden spots, and budget advice you’ll need. Want first access when they go live?
No spam! Just honest travel tips, free destination guides, and stories from a Bronx girl on a mission to prove travel is for all of us.