Planning Your First Trip to Italy

Focus your first trip on three core cities—Rome, Florence, and Venice—to minimize transit time and maximize exploration. Use high-speed trains to travel between these cities and book your major museum tickets at least 60 days in advance to avoid hours-long queues.

1. Define your route. For a 10-day first trip, stick to the 'Big Three': 4 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence, and 3 days in Venice. Avoid trying to cram in the Amalfi Coast or Sicily on your first visit.
2. Book your train travel. Use Trenitalia or Italo to book Frecciarossa high-speed trains. Buy tickets 2–3 months out for significant savings. These trains take you city-center to city-center, making air travel within Italy unnecessary.
3. Secure attraction entries. Book tickets for the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, and the Uffizi Gallery through their official websites as soon as your dates are set. If you wait until you arrive, you will likely spend half your day standing in line.
4. Understand the tipping culture. Tipping is not expected like it is in the US. Simply round up the bill at cafes or leave 5–10% at sit-down restaurants if the service was exceptional. Do not tip on top of a 'servizio' charge already included on the bill.

Do I need to speak Italian?

Not in tourist areas. Knowing 'buongiorno' (hello) and 'grazie' (thank you) is polite and appreciated, but English is widely spoken.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?

Yes, it is perfectly safe and delicious. Look for the small, curved metal fountains (nasoni) in Rome; the water is constant, fresh, and free.