Italy

Italy is one of the easiest countries to explore without a car, especially if you focus on the classic route between Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan. High-speed trains are the smartest choice for long distances: they’re fast, comfortable, and usually much easier than driving in city centres with limited traffic zones. For shorter hops, regional trains are handy for places like Pisa, Lucca, or the Cinque Terre, though they can be slower and less frequent.

In big cities, walking is often the best way to experience the historic core, with buses, trams, and the metro filling in the gaps. In Rome, for example, plan on a mix of walking and metro rides; in Venice, you’ll be relying on ferries and your own feet. If you’re crossing several cities, build your route in a logical line rather than zigzagging across the country.

A practical tip: keep your travel plans organized in the Hello app, especially if you’re booking multiple train legs and day trips. And if you want to stay connected without roaming charges, buy and activate a Hello eSIM before you land so you can check timetables, platform changes, and maps from the airport onward.

Food in Italy is best enjoyed as part of the rhythm of the day, not rushed between sights. Start with a proper breakfast at a bar: an espresso and a cornetto are the classic pair, usually taken standing at the counter. Lunch can be simple and excellent — a plate of cacio e pepe in Rome, tagliatelle al ragù in Bologna, or a slice of pizza al taglio in a neighbourhood bakery. In the evening, many towns come alive with aperitivo, when a drink comes with small snacks before dinner.

One of the smartest ways to eat well is to look for places busy with locals at lunchtime and avoid menus that feel overtranslated or overly touristy. Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner, so check opening hours rather than assuming you can eat at any time. In smaller towns, dinner may start later than expected, especially in summer.

If you’re travelling with friends or family, the bill can add up quickly once coffees, wine, and gelato are included. Hello’s expense splitting feature makes it easy to divide meals, taxis, and market runs in local currency, which is useful when one person pays for the table and everyone settles up later.

Italy uses the euro (€), and card payment is common in cities, hotels, and larger restaurants, but it’s still wise to carry some cash for small cafés, market stalls, church donations, or rural buses. ATMs are widely available, though it’s best to withdraw from bank machines rather than standalone exchange kiosks, which often charge poor rates. In many cafés, an espresso at the counter may cost around €1.20–€2.00 (about $1.30–$2.20), while a sit-down drink in a prime square can be several times higher.

Budgeting works best when you track spending as you go, because Italy tempts travellers with constant small purchases: gelato, train snacks, museum tickets, and a glass of wine here and there. Hello’s budget tracking tool is useful for seeing how your euros are adding up across transport, meals, and entrances, especially on a multi-city trip.

For shopping, remember that many shops shut for a midday break in smaller towns, and Sunday hours can be limited outside major cities. If you’re buying leather goods, olive oil, ceramics, or local food gifts, compare a few shops before committing — the same item can vary a lot in quality and price depending on where you are.

Italy rewards travellers who leave room for unplanned discoveries. Yes, the famous sights matter — the Colosseum, the Uffizi, St Mark’s Basilica — but some of the best memories come from quieter moments: a long lunch in a shaded piazza, a detour into a small church, or an evening walk along a seaside promenade in Positano or Borgo Marinari in Naples. The pace is part of the experience, and trying to fit too much into one day can make even the most beautiful city feel exhausting.

A good rule is to keep at least one flexible half-day in each major stop. That leaves room for a museum that takes longer than expected, a train delay, or simply an unexpected recommendation from a local café owner. In places like Florence, Rome, and Venice, that breathing space is often what turns a standard trip into a memorable one.

Hello’s trip planning feature can help you keep your itinerary clear while still leaving margin for spontaneity. Use it to map your must-sees, then leave space for the unplanned aperitivo, the extra gelato stop, or the sunset viewpoint you only find because you had time to wander.