Author: Ashleigh Thia

Other than being the birth place of pasta and pizza, Italy is renowned for its beautiful cities like Rome, Venice, and Tuscany. Add all the beautiful nature and sightseeing spots and your trip to Italy will be the best experience of your travel life.

However, as a first-timer, you'd probably be wondering – what do I bring? What do I wear? How do I communicate with the locals if I don't speak Italian? Well, we've got those questions covered, so read on to see some tips to make your trip a lot easier!

1. "Do as the Romans do" and eat as the Italians eat

Italy is a heaven for foodies – there's so much to choose and try! Take your pick from Michelin-starred restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, wine bars and the like. However, if you're going to eat like a local, take note that Italians generally eat late for lunch and dinner, at about 1:30PM and between 8:30 to 9:30PM. The further south you go in Italy, the later the locals eat. Interesting, huh?

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Remember to eat your spaghetti with a fork, not a spoon. Don't eat bread with pasta too, unless you're scooping up some delicious leftover sauce with it. And when you're done with your meal, politely ask for the bill as it won't be delivered to you automatically.

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2. Dress the part

When travelling in fashion-conscious Italy, comfort remains king. Wear shoes that are comfortable and suitable for long walks – ladies, keep the heels at home as they'll be a pain when walking on the cobble-stoned streets. While style is important, comfort is more; simplicity is best.

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If you're planning to enter religious sites, please note that their dress codes are very strict. If you want to get into St Peter’s Basilica or St Marks in Venice for instance, play it safe and cover your knees and shoulders.

3. Brush up on your Italiano

Another big tip to have a great Italian trip is to learn the language. After all, a big part of travelling is to meet and interact with the locals. Make some effort to learn basic phrases like 'please', 'thank you', 'good day', and 'how much?'

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Here are a few phrases to start you off with:

• Hello = Buongiorno
• Goodbye = Arrivederci
• Please = Per favore
• Thank you = Grazie
• Do you speak English? = Parla inglese?
• I’d like to reserve a table for two at eight o’clock = Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due per le otto.
• Where is the washroom? = Dov'è il bagno?

4. How to skip lines at museums

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Italy has some of the world's most famous museums featuring some of the best art and architecture in the world. It is no surprise then, that these captivating attractions have throngs of tourists waiting for their turn to enter.

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Your best bet is to book the tickets online in advance to avoid the long queues. Another tip would be to visit these tourist hotspots in the early morning, or late afternoon when all the queues have dispersed. Museum opening times vary, but many are closed on Mondays. Also, state museums are free on the first Sunday of each month.

5. Coffee

When visiting an amazing country like Italy, coffee is something that's not to be missed.

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Coffee lovers, this one's for you. To do things like a local, order and pay for your drink. After that, collect your receipt and give the barista your order. When it arrives, drink standing at the bar – sitting at a table is fine but takes longer and you'll most likely be charged more.

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The classic Italian caffè is an espresso – though, strangely, the term espresso is hardly ever used in Italy. Cappuccinos are popular for breakfast and are often paired with a fresh cornetto (an Italian croissant). They are never drunk later than mid-morning.

When eating in restaurants, un caffè after dessert is OK, but don't have it with your main meal - it's frowned upon.

6. Navigating transport options

Exploring on foot is the norm when in Italy, but taking public transportation is a good idea for when the aches become a little too much to handle.

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Tickets, which must be bought from a tabaccaio or street kiosk and validated once on board, are generally valid for a set time period. In Rome, for example, a single €1.50 ticket is valid for 100 minutes. During that time you can use as many trams and busses as you like and take one metro journey. However, you'll probably need to look for travel passes to save some cash if you're staying for more than a few days.

7. Cash vs credit

Not every place in Italy accepts credit cards. Museum ticket offices, some pizzerias, cafes, shops, and trattorias only accept cash.

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However, ATMs (known in Italian as bancomat) are widely available and generally accept cards from Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro systems. Nevertheless, it'll always be a good idea to keep cash on you at all times in case your card ends up being rejected.

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Source: Lonely Planet