Holiday in Italy… the land of wine, food, art and nature

Limit what you want to do on your first holiday in Italy

Italy is a large country, and there is an infinite amount to see on your first holiday in Italy – therefore, you need to decide from home what you want to experience. It's impossible to relax and be present in the moment if your thoughts are constantly revolving around what the next item on the "checklist" is. Therefore, first and foremost, consider what kind of trip you want to go on (city break, beach, countryside holiday, or something else) and then plan what major things you want to experience on the trip.

We highly recommend a holiday in Italy that combines both relaxation and experiences. How about, for example, staying at a vineyard in Tuscany and combining it with a day trip to Lucca or Florence?

Should I rent a car in Italy?

Something we are often asked about is the possibilities of renting a car during a holiday in Italy. It can be a really good idea to rent a car on your first holiday if you want to experience more than what your local area can offer. No matter which airport you land in, there are good opportunities to rent a car. Being a motorist in Italy is in some areas a little different from back home in Denmark, and there are various precautions you should be aware of, such as road tolls on motorways and environmental zones.

Read more about environmental zones in Italy here.

Incorporate the siesta into your plans

Even if you haven't been to Italy yet, you've probably heard of siesta (or riposa, as it's called in Italian), but in case you haven't: siesta is a longer afternoon break that many Italians use to go home to eat lunch with family and to get a little nap. Keep this in mind when planning your first trip to Italy. Many museums, restaurants, churches, and shops close during the afternoon hours for siesta (which can be anywhere between 1 PM and 4 PM), especially in smaller towns. Therefore, check the opening hours of the places you want to visit in advance so you can plan around the siesta if it becomes relevant.

"Riposo" - midday break in Italy

Wine is cheaper than water in Italy

Yep, you read that right. If your next trip is to Italy, it's a perfect time to enjoy a glass of wine or two. Besides producing some of the world's finest grapes, you can easily find that a "quartino di vino" of the house wine at a restaurant in Italy is cheaper than if you order water.

And what is a quartino di vino, you ask?
A quartino di vino is 250 ml of wine, often served in small carafes. This is equivalent to about one and a half glasses and is therefore perfect as a drink when you delve into Italian cuisine. Cheers!

"Quartino di vino" = a small carafe of wine

What does "coperto" mean?

Now that we're talking about eating at a restaurant, it's good for you to know in advance that in many restaurants in Italy, you have to pay coperto along with your food. Coperto is a kind of extra charge you pay for sitting at a table in the restaurant, and it's not the same as a tip.

"Coperto" is not the same as a tip!

Do you tip in Italy?

Regarding tipping, it is not a requirement in Italy, and there are no specific percentages of the bill you should leave as a tip. Most often, it's just a matter of rounding up or leaving a couple of euros when you leave the restaurant.

Tipping in Italy - Often it's enough to just leave a couple of Euros

All regions in Italy have their local dishes

We'll stay with Italian cuisine for a little longer, because you absolutely must not miss all the delicious food when you visit Italy for the first time. Italian cuisine is so much more than pizza, spaghetti, and lasagna. No matter where you go in Italy, the region has its specialties, which the local citizens have refined from generation to generation.
Find out which dishes the locals in your area are particularly proud of, and try to order them when you eat out.

If there's one piece of advice we particularly want to highlight, it's to avoid restaurants with "Menu Turistico" – that's not where you'll experience authentic, Italian food at its best.

All regions in Italy have their local dishes

Beware of pickpockets

Just like in almost all other countries, pickpocketing is, unfortunately, a problem in Italy. You should be especially vigilant if you visit some of the larger cities where many people are gathered in one place. However, it is important that you always have your antennae out, no matter where you are. Often, pickpockets work in "pairs," so one distracts your attention while the other empties your pockets.

How do you greet people in Italy?

If there's one Italian word everyone knows, it must be ciao. We even say it to each other here in Denmark, and there's nothing wrong with that, of course, but leave that phrase at home when you travel to Italy. Italians don't use it as a greeting to everyone and anyone, so neither should you.

Ciao is used between friends and family, or when speaking to small children. Adults who don't know each other beforehand are more formal with each other. It will therefore be seen as very good style and far less "touristy" if you, for example, say buongiorno (good morning) or buonasera (good evening) when you enter a shop or restaurant. However, Italians are an extremely friendly people, so if a ciao slips out, it's probably fine.

Use: buongiorno (good morning) or buonasera (good evening) when you enter a shop or restaurant.

We hope you now feel ready and prepared to experience Italy. Our holiday homes and apartments in Italy provide the perfect setting for your holiday in Italy.
Should you have any further questions, you are always welcome to call us.

You can also read the rest of our travel blog, which is packed with travel tips, recipes, and insider knowledge about Italy.