Independent travel around Italy. Detailed instructions. Tips and recommendations for traveling to Italy What you need to know when traveling to Italy

Are you going to Italy? To avoid joining the ranks of disappointed tourists, read my five tips on how not to ruin your impression of the country. I made all the mistakes myself, so every piece of advice is hard-earned!

1. Come to Rome, Florence or Venice for one day

Coming to Venice for a day means ruining your impression of the city!

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when arriving in Italy is to spend just one day visiting the city, which is popular with tourists all over the world. Ok, I hope few people come to Rome for a day - the city is too big for that. But with Florence and Venice this happens all the time: a tourist arrives with the general flow, walks in circles around the main square in a crowd of the same tourists, eats at a diner with menu turicstico, leaves in the evening, and then writes, they say, in this Venice of yours there are only tourists. Do you recognize yourself? I've done this myself many times! Don't repeat my mistakes! The more famous a city is (Venice, Florence, Rome are the top of the world list of attractions), the more time you should have in it. For what? To get away from the tourist trail, to see the city as the locals see it, to have time to walk right after dawn or after dark.

In small towns - Ferrara, Parma, Gubbio, Brescia, Trento, for example - you can come for a day to walk and look around. I do this myself often. There are usually few tourists in such places, and therefore even a short acquaintance with the city will be both pleasant and useful.

2. Go on an excursion tour in the summer and plan a vacation for August

In July, Milan suffers from heat and is filled only with tourists...

August is the worst time for Italy (and the entire Mediterranean as a whole, by the way). All of Europe is going on vacation, and Italians are no exception. What does this mean? Huge traffic jams on highways near the coast, soaring hotel prices in resort areas, a maximum of closed restaurants and shops in all other cities. Plus, there is sweltering heat, making it impossible to walk from the restaurant to the car during the day. I was in empty Milan in July, for example, you can read about it. There is practically no pleasure from the city. In cities where there are a lot of tourists, you will find only tourists and then write to me that Venice stinks. The best time for excursion trips around Italy is autumn and spring. For a resort holiday - July, when the sea is already warm and prices are not yet the highest.

3. Carry your gastronomic habits with you

Italians don’t eat sausage sandwiches for breakfast!

You may not like it, but Italians don’t eat sausages for breakfast, don’t know what pasta Alfredo and spaghetti Bolognese are, don’t drink Chianti from vine-braided vessels, don’t accept any freshly squeezed juice except orange juice, and besides, they eat strictly by the hour, and people generally drink tea when they have a cold. What to do? Adapt! Yes, now there are more and more places that operate without the traditional break between lunch and dinner, but many of them are purely touristic. In many places you will be served tea, but either the worst, or at an exorbitant price. Not even all hotels offer sausages for breakfast. It is better to choose wine from the region in which you are located. Each region has its own pasta, and the varieties I indicated above generally exist only in bad Italian restaurants abroad. And please don’t ask for freshly squeezed carrot juice anywhere. After all, there are not many countries in the world that would give the world an entire gastronomic system. Let's respect her!

4. Get around the city by car

You're a local - that's the only reason you can count on a car in the city center.

A car in an Italian city is a nightmare. Firstly, there is a problem with parking. Secondly, the streets are narrow. Thirdly, there are a huge number of restricted traffic zones. Fourthly, there are a lot of one-way streets. You can easily get by without a car in Italy - read, for example, where I talk in detail about traveling around the country without a car. If I come to a city by car, first of all, I never drive too close to the center: in busy traffic in a foreign city, you can easily get confused and drive into the wrong place. Secondly, I choose underground paid parking lots rather than street parking - they are easier to find and easier to park there. However, do not forget to check the opening hours - not all parking lots are open 24 hours a day, and some even have a couple of days off. If you are driving to a hotel or apartment, never rely on street parking and always check in advance if the hotel is in a restricted traffic zone (ZTL). If the hotel is surrounded by a ZTL zone, ask for a pass.

I take a car only to travel between cities if there are no route options by public transport, or in the summer, when renting a villa, in order to go to the beach and around the surrounding area.

5. Try to see everything at once

On any trip to Italy, it is important to take your time. Give yourself time to just live in the city and observe it.

Italy is a huge country. Each region, each city has its own characteristics, the north is not like the south, and Sicily is not at all the same as Sardinia. I've been traveling around Italy for many years, making several trips a year, and I still haven't seen everything that interests me. If you are traveling to Italy for the first time, then, of course, you want to see all the best at once. Take your time. It is better to see only Rome, but understand it, than to gallop through Rome, Florence, San Marino, Rimini and Venice. By the way, I wrote about proven routes for your first trip to Italy. Fear not - Italy has many faces, but each of them is immediately recognizable as the one you've been dreaming of seeing. Where every village hides a masterpiece, there is no hurry. After all, the main thing is not to see everything, but to love it. Both you and Italy deserve it!

Which of these mistakes have you made? Personally, I am everything! 😉

Everything about a trip to Italy: how to get there, prices in Italy for food, hotels and transport, visa to Italy and traveling by car. We also calculate how much a trip to Italy costs for two for a week.

Holidays according to the tour may cost less than traveling on your own. Look at the prices and decide which is more profitable and convenient for you.

Last minute tours search on the services and - they will find the best offers among different tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.

Exchange rate: 1 euro ≈ 73 RUB.

Traveling to Italy: how to get there?

There are always inexpensive flights from Russia to Italy, which is good news, because a significant portion of the amount set aside for the trip is usually spent on the flight. Of course, most of the airlines' inexpensive offers are in the capital - you can fly from Moscow to Florence and Venice for 10 thousand or more, and you can get from Moscow to Rome and Milan from about 9 thousand rubles (round trip). A flight from St. Petersburg to Milan and Rome will cost several hundred rubles more; a flight to Venice costs from about 11 thousand rubles. Read a detailed article about not only using traditional airlines, but also low-cost airlines.

Flights within Italy

You can fly within the country (as well as within Europe) very cheaply. The cost of one-way air tickets starts from 10-15 euros (and this price can be found for many flight destinations within Italy).

The budget airline Ryanair flies between many cities in Italy (Rome, Bari, Pisa, Milan, Genoa, Pescara, Turin, Palermo, etc.), as well as Volotea, easyJet, Blu-express, Vueling and others. The most convenient way to search for tickets for European low-cost airlines is to use the Skyscanner search engine.

Example of a cheap Ryanair domestic flight ticket:

Are you going on holiday to Rimini? Read and also everything about this resort.

Visa to travel to Italy

To travel to Italy in 2019, you need a regular visa - Schengen. The package of documents is standard. You need to submit documents in advance, since for urgency you will have to pay double the cost - 70 euros.

What documents are needed to travel to Italy:

• a foreign passport valid for at least 3 months after returning from travel;
• copy of international passport;
• internal passport;
• photo (color, taken no earlier than six months ago);
• visa application();
• copies and originals of round-trip tickets (reservation/electronic tickets to choose from);
• hotel reservation;
• medical insurance (coverage of at least 30 thousand euros);
• certificate from place of work;
• confirmation of financial guarantee (copy of passbook, checks, account statement, etc.);
• consent to the processing of personal data;
• receipt of payment of the fee.

The cost of a short-term visa type C is 35 euros, the service fee at the visa center is 1,350 rubles.

More detailed requirements for documents for a visa to travel to Italy can be found on the website.

(Photo © Hikesinatra aka creep / flickr.com / License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Transport prices in Italy

• a trip by bus/metro in Rome - 1.5 euros, in Milan - about 1.70 euros, in Florence - 0.85 euros;
• train from the airport to the center of Rome - 8 euros (express train - 15 euros);
• 3 km taxi in Rome - approximately from 6.30 euros to 10 euros, in Milan - from 7 euros, in Florence - from 4.30 euros;
• taxi from the airport - from 100 euros;
• 24-hour pass in Milan - 5 euros.

A taxi from/to the airport (and not only) can be ordered in advance on the service.

Food prices in Italy - 2019

Italy is considered a fairly inexpensive country for holidays and travel, and here you can really eat on a budget if you follow reasonable savings. This is where a catch awaits tourists: you are unlikely to be able to resist spending on food while traveling around Italy. Just think: cheeses, wine, pizza and pasta, fresh seafood, Italian ice cream and tiramisu!

How not to spend all your money on treats? Follow this simple advice: when traveling in Italy, eat away from the tourist streets to save money. In restaurants and cafes for tourists, prices will be much higher. Do not eat in establishments at the hotel or located next to it - most likely, the price tag there will be inflated.

A budget breakfast will cost 3-7 euros per person (in addition, many hotels offer free breakfast). Lunch will cost 5-15 euros per person, and you can eat in an inexpensive restaurant in Italy for about 15 euros per person. A three-course lunch for two in a mid-price restaurant costs from 40 to 60 euros.

Pizza costs about 4-6 euros and above, pasta - 6-8 euros, tiramisu - about 4 euros. Beer in a restaurant (0.5 l) costs from 4.5 euros, imported beer (0.33 l) - from 3 euros. A cup of cappuccino - 1-2 euros. Pizza to go in small bakeries will cost about 3-4 euros.

If you are staying in an apartment or apartment on a trip to Italy and you have a kitchen, we recommend that you cook yourself at least sometimes, this way you will reduce your food costs. Check out food markets for fruits and vegetables.

Estimated prices for food in Italian stores in 2019:

• milk (1 l) - about 1.30 euros;
• a loaf of bread - about 1.20 euros;
• eggs (12 pcs) - about 2.80 euros;
• local cheese (1 kg) - about 10-13 euros;
• spaghetti - from 2.5 euros;
• chicken breasts (1 kg) - about 8.40 euros;
• apples (1 kg) - about 1.75 euros;
• oranges (1 kg) - about 1.5 euros;
• bananas - about 1.80 euros;
• tomatoes (kg) - about 1.80 euros;
• water (1.5 l) - about 0.40 euros;
• a bottle of wine - about 5 euros;
• local beer (0.5 l) - about 1.20 euros.

Prices may vary depending on the city, region and supermarket. Inexpensive supermarkets in Italy: Unes, Esselunga, Carrefour, U2, Lidl.

(Photo © Steve Webel / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Hotel prices in Italy in 2019

When planning a trip to Italy, we recommend booking accommodation in advance, especially if you are traveling during high season. Firstly, this way you can save money (for example, Rumguru will find good deals for you - sometimes the remaining unbooked rooms in a three-star hotel can be rented at a ridiculous price thanks to discounts), and secondly, you will be calm - you don’t need to go around hotels with your luggage in search of free number.

Why do we recommend looking for hotels at the best price on Rumguru? The service searches for cheap offers among several booking systems, compares prices and finds the best one for each hotel. This way you won't overpay for housing.

In the center of Rome in the summer of 2019, there are hotels from 35 euros per night for two - for example, the lovely Mandarin Guest House hotel not far from the National Roman Museum. A night in a two-star hotel in the center of Rome costs from 100 euros (for example, the most inexpensive 2* hotel is Sweet Dreams).

In Florence, you can find a standard double room in a hotel from 47 euros per night (not far from the Old Town), the average cost per room is from 60 euros. In Milan, near the Central Station, a double room also costs from 47 euros per night, on average from 60 euros. But hotel rooms near the historical center of Milan are very expensive.

If you prefer to live in private apartments and houses while traveling, then it is better to look for them on the popular rental service from Airbnb.ru owners - there you can find very cozy accommodation at any price! Prices for apartments in Italy are approximately the following: in Rome and Florence - from 37 euros, there are many offers for 45-60 euros. Sometimes you can find interesting offers - for example, a cozy studio in the center of Rome, next to Villa Borghese, for 50 euros per night. We also have an article about - perhaps it will help you in choosing housing in the Eternal City.

Prices for Rome attractions

Since many tourists go primarily to Rome, where the main attractions of Italy are concentrated, we will tell you in more detail about the Eternal City.

Attractions in Rome are reasonably priced, and many of them are also free, which is a huge plus. Well, those that charge an entrance fee are definitely worth paying and seeing. Remember that some monuments and attractions cause a stir among tourists - such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum, so arrive well in advance to get in line. (or better yet, buy tickets online - for example, you can buy tickets to the Vatican Museum and Roman museums).

If you are in Rome in transit and you have little time left or only a couple of days, check out our guide article.

Here are the prices for some attractions in Rome:

• Colosseum - 12 euros for adults, from 18 to 25 years old - 7.5. The price includes admission to the Roman Forum and the Palatine.
• Vatican Museum - 16 euros for adults, students - 4 euros, children from 6 to 18 years old - 8 euros.
• Borghese Museum and Gallery - 11 euros for adults.
• National Gallery of Modern Art - 10 euros for adults.
• Spanish Steps - 1 euro.

(Photo © Moyan_Brenn / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY 2.0)

Traveling around Italy by car

A trip to Italy by car is wonderful! Traveling independently by car will give you many wonderful moments, but do not forget the documents for the car and their copies:

• vehicle registration certificate;
• international insurance policy (carta verde);
• rights;
• If the car is not your property, a notarized power of attorney from the owner is required. The same thing applies if the car is owned by a company - a power of attorney for management on the organization’s letterhead.

When visiting several Schengen countries, prepare your itinerary.

You can also rent a car on the Skyscanner Car Hire website - this is an international car booking service. If you plan to rent a car, then among other documents you must have with you a contract for renting this car.

How much does a trip to Italy cost in 2019?

• air travel round trip from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Rome - 150 + 150 euros (for two);
• accommodation in an inexpensive hotel near the center of Rome - 35 euros per night in a double room, that is, 245 euros for 7 days;
• food(3 times a day) - approximately 70 euros for two, that is, a total of 490 euros;
• attractions- 36 euros (let’s say you bought a Roma Pass to save on the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum - the most expensive attractions);
• insurance- from 10 euros for two.

So, how much does a trip to Italy cost? for a week for two? 300 + 245 + 490 + 36 + 10 = 1081 euro.

Of course, this is the minimum amount when living in one city - Rome. If you are planning a long independent trip to Italy, then add here transportation costs within and between Italian cities, the purchase of various souvenirs/clothing and various household expenses, accommodation in other cities, food, and so on. In addition, all people have different needs - some will want more of these delicious tiramisu :)

(Photo © sasha (fujin) / flickr.com / License CC BY 2.0)

Introductory image source: © majamarko / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The natural and cultural riches of Italy attract the attention of a large number of Russian tourists. Russians are happy to come here at any time of the year. They are attracted by the rich history of Italy and numerous attractions, luxurious beaches, excellent national cuisine, excellent opportunities for shopping and sightseeing. Each region of Italy is unique in its own way, be it the sun-drenched beaches of Tuscany, Rome with its ancient architectural monuments or ski resorts in the Dolomites. Therefore, traveling to this country always becomes an unforgettable event and brings great pleasure. For travelers planning to visit Italy, we will give some tips.

Coliseum. Rome.

Flight and customs rules

To travel to Italy you will need to obtain a Schengen visa. It is more convenient to get to Italian resorts from Russia, of course, by air. Fortunately, there are no shortcomings in flights in this direction. In particular, the Russian company Aeroflot and the Italian AlItalia regularly operate flights from Moscow to Rome, Milan, Venice and Turin. You can also go to Rome from St. Petersburg. AlItalia offers connecting flights to almost all fairly large Italian cities. In a word, there should be no problems with choosing a flight. A flight from Moscow to the Italian capital takes approximately three and a half hours.

A little about customs rules. You can freely import various personal items, computer equipment, and sports equipment into Italy. As for alcoholic beverages, you are allowed to transport a liter bottle of strong alcohol (more than twenty-two degrees), or two liters of liqueur, fortified or table wine. But back you can take 10 liters of strong alcohol, 90 liters of table wine and 20 liters of fortified wine. The import and export of foreign currency is not limited. However, if you take with you from Russia an amount of more than 10,329 euros, you will have to declare it. In principle, you can export any goods you purchase from Italy, with the exception of those related to antiques or works of art. Items over a hundred years old can only be exported from the territory of the Italian state if special permission is obtained. Keep in mind that it is prohibited to import meat and dairy products into Italy, including sausages or canned food.

As we have already noted, in the summer in Italy it can be quite hot and stuffy, so when packing for the trip, do not forget to take light, practical clothes with you so as not to “die” from the heat during some sightseeing walk. Look for lightweight, comfortable clothing that doesn't have long sleeves. Women should take a more or less formal outfit with them - they will need it to visit churches and temples, of which there are a huge number in Italy. If you are planning to visit Italian resorts in the summer or early autumn, then it is advisable to take with you not only sunscreen, but also various hats or Panama hats.

Accommodation

Choosing a hotel for accommodation in Italy must be approached very responsibly. If you decide to refuse the services of tour operators and travel agencies, then you should choose a hotel yourself in advance, having read all the necessary information on the Internet. During peak season it will be very difficult to book available rooms in the hotel you like. Accommodation in Italy is not cheap compared to resorts in Turkey or Egypt. For a night in a double room in an average hotel you will have to pay about eighty or more euros.

Those who want to save money on their trip to Italy can be advised to stay in a hostel, where prices for accommodation are much cheaper. The further south you go from Rome, the more attractive the prices for accommodation in hotels and hostels become. The cheapest prices in Italy are offered by Locanda hotels, which are located along the highways. In addition to hotels and hostels, you can stay in the private sector or campsites. If you did not have time to book a hotel before arriving in Italy, then kiosks with the words Hotels or TouristDesk located at airports and train stations in Italian cities will help you find a suitable option.

Inexpensive Italian three-star hotels usually offer fairly modest-sized rooms, so a large family may feel a little cramped in one room. Please note that standard Italian sockets are not compatible with domestically produced electrical appliances. Therefore, do not forget to get the appropriate adapter if you take any equipment with you.

Some hotels charge separately for air conditioning. It is prohibited to use an iron in the rooms - you must contact the maid service or laundry service. If your hotel stay is paid for by the boarding house, then try not to be late for the buffet breakfast, otherwise you may lose the opportunity to taste the various dishes at your discretion.

Transport

If you are going to travel to different regions of Italy, then the best way to travel is by train. Italy has a fairly developed railway infrastructure and there are several types of trains. The fastest are the AltaVelocita (AV) and Eurostar (ES) trains. The price for one trip on a fast train ranges from forty to seventy-five dollars. It is possible to book tickets in advance - in this case the price may be slightly lower. More economical but slightly slower are the regional trains Interregionale (IR), Regionale (R) and Diretto (D). A trip on them is cheaper, and the travel time may differ from the speedy one by only twenty to thirty minutes. True, during rush hours such trains can sometimes become jam-packed.

You can also get around Italy by bus. Tickets are sold at tobacco and newsstands, as well as at bus stations. By the way, buses in Italy can be stopped on request. But using a taxi is extremely unprofitable. In addition, it can be almost impossible to catch a taxi on the street; you will have to order a car by phone from a hotel or bar. There are also special taxi stands in Italy.

To travel around the country independently, you can rent a car. To do this, you must be over twenty-one years old, have an international driver's license and a credit card (or cash deposit). However, be prepared for the fact that gasoline prices in Italy are steep. In cities there is a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour. You can only park in approved areas.

In general, almost every Italian city is characterized by some main, dominant mode of transport. For example, in Rome it is very convenient to use the metro. And in Venice, in turn, there is a public water bus. You can also book a trip around this city on a luxury gondola. For such pleasure you will have to pay about eighty euros.

Nutrition

A trip to Italy, of course, cannot be complete without getting acquainted with the dishes of national Italian cuisine. Pastas, risotto, pizza, meat and seafood dishes, lasagna, cheeses and ice cream - all this and much more can be tried in Italy, but don’t expect good food to be cheap enough. On average, a bill at an Italian restaurant with various dishes and wine will cost about twenty-five dollars or more per person. In establishments located in popular tourist areas, a certain markup is added to this amount.

If you want to save on food in Italy, then give preference to local bistros and cafes located in back streets, away from tourist spots. You can also look into street pizzerias and trattorias (snack bars), which are predominantly family establishments. Their prices are quite affordable. In any case, bet that your daily food expenses will be at least fifteen dollars.

Tips in Italian restaurants are usually included in the menu; they amount to up to fifteen percent of the order amount. Street establishments, as a rule, close during the day (from 14:00) for an hour and a half. At this time, the country holds a traditional siesta. It is worth noting that each region of Italy is famous for its own culinary delights and, naturally, excellent wines. For example, in Lazio they prefer white wine “Frascati”, made in the vicinity of Rome. And in Tuscany, you should definitely try the famous red wines, for example, Brunellodi Montalcino or Chianti Classico. In the summer, crushed ice with all kinds of syrups is sold at Italian resorts, which is very refreshing and quenches thirst.

Attractions and beaches

Italy has a huge number of museums, galleries, architectural attractions and historical monuments. In the summer, there is a large influx of tourists, so it is better to purchase tickets to the largest and most famous museums in advance. Museums in Italy are usually open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with breaks, and visiting most attractions will cost about fifteen dollars. When going to Italy, immediately determine for yourself a list of museums and attractions that you plan to visit, and check their opening hours. This will save you a lot of time.

It is recommended to visit Italian churches and temples in appropriate clothing - avoid short shorts or tops, even during the hot summer. Bring a scarf or some light fabric to cover your shoulders if necessary. You may not be allowed into church if you have bare legs or bare shoulders. The best way to get to know the sights of Rome and some other Italian cities is by walking. To do this, you should get comfortable, practical shoes.

Seaside resorts and beaches of Italy have long been favored by Russian tourists. In Italy, pebble beaches predominate, although, of course, you can also find spacious, sandy ones. Most Italian beaches are municipal, with small areas rented out to private owners, and the cleanliness of the beach is monitored by special caretakers who charge vacationers a fee for the use of sun loungers and umbrellas. The rules here are quite simple. If you are located on the first five meters of the beach, starting from the edge of the sea water, then you don’t have to pay anything for using the beach. If you are located further, you will have to pay (10 euros). By paying this fee, you get a sun lounger and a beach umbrella, you can use the shower, cabins and some sports equipment.

Italian laws prohibit relaxing on municipal beaches at night (from 1 to 5 am), as well as drinking alcoholic beverages. Taking into account local climatic conditions, the optimal time for sunbathing and beach holidays in Italy, without the risk of sunstroke or burns, is from 9 to 12 in the morning and after 16 hours.

Shopping

You can talk endlessly about shopping in Italy. The main thing is to know a few things. In Italy, sales are regulated, that is, they are held within the allotted time frame. Namely twice a year - from January 7 to March 1 and from July 10 to August 31. Although specific dates may vary, sales are always held in early January in the winter and early July in the summer. Seasonal sales are a great opportunity to purchase fashionable clothes and other items at a very reasonable price. Italians themselves do not disdain sales and often line up in long lines in front of stores. In large Italian cities there are many boutiques, shopping centers and outlets, including tourists from Russia. Shopping lovers can be advised to go to the capital of Italian fashion – Milan. The shops of this city traditionally offer a wide range of goods in various price categories.

However, you can make profitable purchases not only in Milan. For example, shopping in Rome is also very good, and it can be combined with pleasant sightseeing walks around the city. You can also visit the town of Rimini, located near famous Italian factories. Here you can buy items from designer collections with discounts of up to 25 percent or more. Shopping in Florence, although inferior to Milan, allows you to get great pleasure from a cultural holiday. Those who want to save money on purchases in Italy should look for shopping shops and markets away from the city center - by the way, Italians themselves prefer to shop there. The goods here are of the same quality and variety as in large department stores, but more affordable.

When making purchases, always keep receipts and invoices to avoid penalties for aiding in illegal tax evasion. After all, the share of the “gray” economy in Italy is quite high and they try to strictly monitor such things. In addition, no one canceled Tax Free to refund VAT to the buyer. In Italy, the minimum purchase amount on which you can claim a VAT refund is just over one hundred and fifty euros.

When planning your holiday trip, try to learn a few basic phrases in Italian. This will allow you to quickly resolve various minor issues that always arise during a holiday abroad. After all, a significant part of Italians have difficulty speaking English.

Emotional, temperamental Italy enjoys unabating popularity among tourists. Here you'll find world-favorite Italian cuisine, beautiful beaches and countless attractions and activities.

Italy occupies the territory of the famous “boot” - the Apennine Peninsula. It includes the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as several small islands. The Ligurian coast is rocky, so there are few tourists here. But the water is much cleaner. The Adriatic Sea is the most popular among beachgoers; it is home to the resorts of Rimini, Lido di Jesolo and Riccin. The beaches here are sandy, the entrance to the water is very smooth, so the coast is very popular among families who come on vacation with children. The Ionian coast is famous for its cleanest beaches - almost all of them are awarded the Blue Flag. Holidays here are surprisingly inexpensive, there are few people on the beaches, and you can swim from May until almost November.

Tours to Italy

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow are given.

Visa

To visit this country, as well as to visit almost all countries within the EU, you need a Schengen visa.

Round-trip flights to Italy

Prices for tickets per person departing from Berlin are shown.

Weather

In Italy, above-zero temperatures persist all year round throughout almost the entire country. In the south, even in winter, the average is about +7°C at night and +13°C during the day. The only exceptions are the high alpine regions, where the thermometer in the winter months can sometimes drop to -20°C. However, even there, low humidity significantly softens the feeling of cold. It rains mainly in late autumn and early winter, and you can swim on the southern coasts from April to November.

In the Alps and Apennines, winter is cold, temperatures reach −15 °C. There is snow in the mountains for about six months, and on many peaks - constantly. Skiing begins in mid-December and ends in early April.

The swimming season in Italy starts at the end of May - beginning of June and lasts until the beginning of October. The water warms up to +23-26 °C. However, the best time for a beach holiday in Italy is considered to be September - the velvet season. Sicily is much warmer than mainland Italy. The hottest months are summer, the air temperature reaches +40°C.

Resorts

Any city in Italy can be called a resort and you can find several reasons to visit it. Despite its modest size, this country is so rich in attractions and so generously endowed with nature that even the most eventful trip only fuels hunger: you want to come back here again and again. Ancient history buffs usually spend a long time in Rome or in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago.

Those who prefer the Middle Ages go to Milan and Florence. Romantics adore Venice with its canals and bridges. Beach holidays are especially good on the islands of Ischia and Procida, Sicily and Sardinia. If you're tired of the sea, you can sunbathe and swim in the Lake District in the north of the country. The snowy slopes of Italy are most picturesque in the Dolomites.

Attractions

Italy is the cradle of a great civilization, the birthplace of the most famous artists, architects and musicians of all times, just mention the names of Raphael and Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Titian, Puccini and Verdi. The main symbols of this country are familiar to everyone from childhood: the Colosseum, the leaning Tower of Pisa, the Venetian Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square. Even when you see all this live for the first time, you always recognize it as something familiar.

The magic of Italy is such that fiction becomes reality here: thus, the story of Romeo and Juliet invented by Shakespeare has become an integral part of the tourist life of Verona, where the author decided to set the action of his tragedy. Even the most base things undergo magical transformations, and the sewer hatch of the ancient Roman Great Sewer becomes the Mouth of Truth. To find out whether you are lying or telling the truth, you need to put your hand in the mouth of the deity depicted on the hatch. Until now, people believe that it will bite it off you if you lied! They believe that by throwing a couple of coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome, you can find true love.

Kitchen

The cuisine here varies greatly from region to region and even from city to city, and sometimes even a tiny village can boast of its own recipes, which are a special source of pride for its residents, who carefully preserve traditions.

In the north, in the mountainous regions, the basis of the meal is goat and deer meat combined with honey and wild berries. In the Veneto region in the northeast, polenta (a porridge made from corn flour), rice and baccalao are preferred, and truffle dishes appear in season. In Abruzzo, right in the middle of the Italian "boot", lamb with saffron and rosemary and saffron is excellent, and in Basilicata, in the far south, no dish is complete without red pepper. Along the coasts, fish and seafood are held in special esteem: pasta with cuttlefish ink, mussels, shells, octopus, sea urchin caviar and, of course, fish soups, for which Sicily is especially famous.

Map

It’s easy to remember what the cutting of an Italian “boot” looks like. Above, on the “turns,” are the southern slopes of the Alps. The Apennine Mountains run like “lightning” across the entire boot. At the heel is Apulia, at the toe is Calabria, the main agricultural regions of the country. Further, the toe rests on Sicily, and above it, like a skillfully lifted soccer ball, Sardinia froze in the Tyrrhenian Sea. In total, the “boot” is surrounded by five seas. Therefore, no other European country can boast as many beaches as Italy.

Currency

The currency in Italy is the euro. It is better to exchange rubles for euros for a trip at home, because there, on the spot, it will be extremely difficult to find ruble exchangers.

It is most convenient to use cards, both for non-cash payments and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Italy is the dream of every tourist; it is wonderful both from the point of view of the excursion program, and from the point of view of a beach holiday and for those who like to ski. Tourists from all over the world come here. Despite the fact that Italy occupies a small place on the world map, this country has such a huge number of places where it is worth visiting at least once.

Italy - Venice

Why is it worth going to Italy?

1. Italian Cuisine- today it is the best in the world. All kinds of products are used to prepare dishes, and the main highlight is spices, sauces and seasonings. Italy has become so famous thanks to: olive oil, pasta, cheeses, wines, desserts, salads and risotto. Every tourist necessarily buys something from this gastronomy as a souvenir for his homeland, friends and family. No one who has tasted these Italian delicacies will be able to remain indifferent.

2. Italian painting- the most famous museums and exhibitions: the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Roman galleries of the Borghese Museum in Rome (Palazzo Barberini, Galleria Spada, Galleria Corzini and Galleria Borghese), the Triennale Exhibition in Milan.

3. Italian fashion- It is in Italy that most of the world's fashion designers were born; famous fashion houses of such brands as Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Alberta Ferretti, Gianfranco Ferre, Romeo Gigli, Dolce and Gabanna, Prada, Fendi, Moschino and Gucci are located here. This is a paradise for shopping lovers; you can buy branded items much cheaper than in other countries; it’s especially nice to come here during sales.

4. A huge number of world attractions- It would take a long time to list them all; a single city is already a valuable heritage.

Rome - Pantheon, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, several Arc de Triomphe, Circus Maximus.

Venice is famous for its bridges, it is located on 122 islands, and there is also the famous Palace of the Venetian Doges.

Florence - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Monastery of San Marino, Franciscan Church of Santa Groce.

Naples - Pompeii, home to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

5. Great opportunities for a beach holiday for any budget- the most famous and most affordable Emilia Romagna, the more sophisticated Venetian Riviera, ancient Liguria with San Remo, the Neopolitan Riviera for the discerning public, as well as the well-known Sicily.

6. Availability of a resort with thermal springs- Abano Terme is the largest thermal center in Europe, which specializes in mud therapy and balneotherapy. The most affordable Montegrotto Terme with the same focus.

7. Wonderful opportunities for ski tourism- all skiing takes place in the Dolomites, there are a large number of resorts connected by a lift system, you can move from one to another, which is a very big plus.

Italy is an amazing country that is perfect for all tourists. Great opportunities for recreation with children: water parks, amusement parks, many gardens and beautiful embankments for walking, excellent beaches with a good gentle approach to the sea. And the Italians themselves are very hospitable, they love children madly, they are always smiling and good-natured.