You don't want to make these mistakes in Italy

Whenever we travel to a new place, we always try to understand the local customs and avoid making any mistakes. That is, mistakes that would negatively impact our trip. Of course, we also want to be respectful to the local people. For example, during our time in South Korea, we tried (and managed) to learn their complicated dining etiquette.

And while we lived in and traveled to Italy on numerous occasions, we still made our fair share of mistakes. However, we’ve written this article, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes as we did. And I’m not talking about the “don’t order a cappuccino after 11 AM” kind of things. Nobody cares that much, especially if you are traveling to popular places.

I’m referring to mistakes in Italy that could impact your budget or journey. We paid fines, we overpaid for mediocre food, and we almost starved.

Let’s see how you can avoid all that, and more!

This post contains affiliate links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Read more about this on our disclosure page here.

Table of Contents

Don’t make these mistakes in Italy

Don’t make these mistakes in Italy

Getting around – not taking into account waiting time

This might be the number one mistake we see people making, especially when traveling on the Amalfi Coast. And to be honest, it’s a mistake I also made years ago. Until you go to a place, you don’t actually know how things work and how much time you need to get from A to B.

Buses run late or are overcrowded; trains get cancelled; roads are closed (and sometimes that’s not even marked on Google Maps). Also, plan for alternative transportation options!

A friend almost lost her flight from Milan because the train on the Cinque Terre didn’t come. At all.

During peak season on the Amalfi Coast, we had to wait for the 5th bus so we could squeeze onto the stairs. That made us waste one hour of our short time there.

So, plan your itinerary to enjoy the places at a leisurely pace. And don’t rely on official schedules.

Wanting to see too much

This is another mistake I often see people making. They travel to Italy for the first time and want to visit Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan, Venice, and everything in between in just one week.

Learn from Italians: slow travel is better travel, slow living is better living.

Focus on a region at a time, and allow yourself to get lost. Plan day trips to lesser-known places – that’s how you truly experience a place. And Italy’s regions are so different that you will always feel like returning to a different country.

Read also: Mistakes to avoid in Florence

And if you’re unsure about how to organize your trip, we have a variety of itinerary samples to choose from. No matter if you want to see the north, the center, or the southern part of Italy.

Not remembering when you can eat

When I first visited Naples with my mother, we arrived just before lunchtime and decided to walk first and then eat. We walked for a few hours and decided to sit down at a restaurant and eat at around 3:30 PM.

You guessed it – that’s the time when restaurants close in Italy. Thus, we had to look for a supermarket, grab a snack, and wait until 7 PM so we could have a proper meal.

Moral of the story? If you want to eat at a restaurant in Italy, you must go between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM for lunch, and starting from 7:00 PM for dinner.

Don’t worry, you won’t starve anywhere in Italy. That’s because you can always find a “pizza al taglio” place, or a cafeteria bar for a panino. But not in smaller villages.

Leaving valuables in the car

Italy is generally considered a safe country. I never felt unsafe walking on the street or traveling by public transportation.

However, petty crime and theft are unfortunately common, especially in areas frequented by tourists.

I recently saw a reel from a family who left their luggage in the trunk of their rental car while they stopped for a quick coffee in a small village. Unfortunately, their bags were stolen. With the help of some locals, they were able to track down only one of the missing suitcases.

Needless to say, that ruined their holiday.

One of my friends had her car window smashed just because she left a small bag with toys on the seat. The thief didn’t even take the bag, but she still had to pay around 300 EUR to replace the window.

In conclusion, never leave valuables in the car. If you stop at gas stations on the highway at night, park where you can see your car.

Asking for pineapple on your pizza

pizza in San Gimignano - mistakes in Italy

No, pineapple on pizza isn’t banned in Italy – it’s more of a running joke than a rule. Italians are very proud of their culinary traditions, and many consider pineapple on pizza a culinary crime, so you’ll rarely (if ever) see it offered in a traditional pizzeria.

With that in mind, be mindful of what you ask for. Once, we passed by a tourist group in a small Tuscan village. They were talking to the staff at a restaurant, and the waiter was screaming that they don’t make paella here.

Also, in Lucca, there’s a local restaurant I often pass by that has a big “no burgers” sign.

Not validating your train ticket

Italy mistake - validate your train ticket

In Italy, one thing that often surprises visitors is the need to validate their paper train ticket before boarding.

At the station, you’ll see small yellow or green machines near the platforms where you have to stamp your ticket. This adds the date and time, making it valid for travel.

If you skip this step, even by accident, you will get fined on the train, and inspectors are usually strict about it. I have a friend who has lived here for some time, and she once forgot to validate it and got a fine.

For regional trains, validation is always required, whereas high-speed trains typically come with reserved seats and don’t require it.

Also, don’t expect to be able to buy a train ticket once you are on the train. You should always purchase it from the train ticket machine or at the train station ticket counter. In Florence, for example, you cannot even go to the train platform without showing your ticket.

By the way, that’s also valid for the bus. You must always validate your ticket on the bus.

Not knowing about the first Sunday of the month

Because that’s when you get free admission to many museums around Italy. We visited Pompeii and the beautiful gardens of Florence without paying a ticket by taking advantage of this tip.

And yes, places like the Uffizi Galleries in Florence or the Colosseum in Rome also offer free admission.

Not carrying cash

While things have changed and you can pay by card in most places, you will still be better off with some cash.

For example, you must pay for public toilets in popular areas. Thus, make sure you have 50 cents – 1 euro for that.

Additionally, we experienced an issue where we could no longer pay by card on the highway between Salerno and Naples. One day we could pay, the next the option was no longer available.

So, better safe than sorry!

Eating next to popular attractions

You see this recommendation a lot, but that doesn’t mean the food is not good. But the food is often overpriced, and the quality doesn’t match what you’d find just a few streets away.

Many of these places cater mainly to tourists, which means you’ll pay more for the view than for what’s on your plate.

Sure, we sometimes feel like going for a coffee with a view and are willing to pay extra for that. However, if you are trying to keep an eye on your budget, avoid doing that. We usually pay around 1.5 EUR for a cappuccino, and you can expect to pay around 5 EUR for one close to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, for example.

Not knowing that many museums are closed on Mondays

Yes, many museums in Italy are closed on Mondays. This tradition goes back to giving staff a rest day after the busy weekend.

While major landmarks like the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums usually remain open, many smaller museums, galleries, and even some churches close their doors.

Thus, if you’re planning a Monday in Italy, it’s smart to double-check opening times and maybe focus on outdoor attractions, piazzas, or food experiences instead.

You might also want to read :

Renting a car and driving in Puglia

Driving on the Amalfi Coast

You don’t want to make these mistakes in Italy

Don’t make these mistakes in Italy