A Complete Backpacking Guide to Italy: Everything You Need to Know

What happens when you travel to Italy solo? Fun. Ultimate fun. 

Italy is a country where you can have it all: you get to enjoy history, nature, mouth-watering food and wine altogether. 

I was on a backpacking trip to Italy in October 2017, and I thoroughly fell in love with this country. From seeing multiple colours in Cinque Terre to flying down to the extreme south to Sicily, from sky diving in Rome to relaxing beside the canals of Venice, I experienced it all. 

If you are a solo female traveller wondering if you should travel to Italy, do not think twice about it. If you can, I suggest you take your time in this country, for a trip to Italy must not be rushed. 

Below, I will talk about all the places I visited, how to reach them, visa, itinerary, cost-cutting and budget tips on travelling to Italy.

Visa Requirements and Formalities

You must apply for a Schengen Visa to go to Italy. If you are travelling as a tourist, you need to apply for a Type C visa. The most important thing to remember here is to be patient, as getting a Schengen visa can be a very tedious process. 

With a Type C visa, you can travel in Italy or other Schengen areas for a duration of 90 to 180 days. 

VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. is a commercial company working in partnership with the Italian Embassy in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata to provide Italian Visa Application services in India. You can apply for your Visa through VFS services. 

Further, it is always better if you apply for the visa way in advance. Also, ensure that you are aware of all the formalities and documentation required in the process. 

To know more about all the formalities and services offered by VFS to Indians, and how to apply for a Schengen Visa for Italy, read our detailed guide on visas here.

Entering and Exiting Italy

Make sure you book your tickets months in advance. I booked my tickets eight months in advance, and it turned out fairly cheap for me. 

Pro Tip: Check Skyscanner while booking your tickets. It shows you the cheapest available flights on any given date. This will help you plan your budget.

By Air

Travelling by air is the easiest way to reach Italy. I chose Milan as my entry point to the country, as the tickets were cheaper. However, there are several other airports that you can look out for – Rome, Florence, Pisa, Milan, and Sicily.

By Road

Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, making it well-connected by road with these countries. You can travel via shared taxis, buses, or trains.

Shared Taxi: You can use BlaBlaCar carpooling services (it is a carpooling service for intercity and cross-border travel). Download the app and check the timings over there. However, you need to make advance payments using a credit card. The availability depends on the route and local drivers offering rides. 

By Train: Trains can be booked using Italo Rail or Trenitalia, but if you are travelling to other parts of Europe, you can use the Eurail pass. You can also use this pass to travel to Italy. 

By Bus: Further, there are regular buses from France, Switzerland and Austria to Italy. Flixbus is the European leader in coach travel and connects several cities in Italy and Europe

By Water

There are numerous ferries leaving from Greece, Albania, Montenegro and Croatia. Major ferry routes arrive in cities like Venice, Bari, Ancona, and Brindisi.

How to Travel Intercity?

Travelling in and around Italy is straightforward. Italy is well-connected via trains. You can even order medicines on the trains. The train rides are not only comfortable but also very clean and not really crowded. Further, you can also opt for domestic air travel or buses. 

Trains

If you’re travelling within Italy, trains are the most convenient option for both short and long distances. The country has an extensive railway network connecting major cities, small towns, and even international destinations. 

Types of Trains in Italy

1. Regionale (Regional) Trains

Slow but budget-friendly trains connect small towns and cities. You do not need any reservation; just buy a ticket and board. 

Important: Always validate your ticket before boarding to avoid fines. Use the small yellow or green validation machines found on every platform.  

2. High-Speed Trains  

For faster travel between major cities, Italy has two types of high-speed trains:  

InterCity (IC):  

• Faster than regional trains, but not as fast as AV trains.  
• Covers mid-range routes between cities at moderate prices.  

Alta Velocità (AV) Trains (High-Speed):  

• Operated by Trenitalia (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca) and Italo Treno.  
• More expensive, but comfortable with first and second-class options.  

Night Trains: 

• InterCity Notte (ICN) trains allow overnight travel, especially useful for long distances like Rome to Sicily.  
• Saves accommodation costs and maximizes sightseeing time.  

3. Metro Networks in Italian Cities 

Italy’s largest cities have metro and local train networks:  

• Rome: 3 metro lines (A, B, and C) + urban rail services.  
• Milan: 5 metro lines, including trams and suburban rail.  
• Naples: Underground railway, suburban lines, and funiculars.

How to Book?

1. Trainitalia Application or the Website:

Download the Train Italia application on your phone, which will guide you on how you go from one destination to another. The Trenitalia app lets you book domestic tickets within Italy as well as international trains to France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia at cheaper prices with no booking fee. 

• How to Use: Booking usually opens 120 days before departure.  I suggest you book at least a day or a week in advance, as you will get cheaper train tickets. Also, the train stations are in the Italian language. Firenze means Florence, Roma means Rome, Milano means Milan, Venezia means Venice, Torino means Turin, and Napoli means Naples.
• Choosing Your Fare: Base fare is the fully flexible fare which one pays at the station on the day. This ticket is refundable before departure or at the station up to an hour after departure. On the other hand, Economy & Super-Economy are Trenitalia’s cheap fares that one needs to pay for in advance. There are limited refunds on this kind of fare, so make sure you book these tickets only if you are sure of the journey.
• How are Tickets Delivered: You can travel ticketless. All you need is a booking reference to show the conductor. You can also pick up the tickets from the self-service machines by entering your name and the booking reference number.
• Payment Problems: If your card gets declined, your bank may have blocked international transactions. Contact your bank to authorize Trenitalia payments. You can also contact Trenitalia’s web team: areaclienti@trenitalia.it or call them at: +39 06 6847 5475 (International call charges apply) 

2. At the Station – Trenitalia Self-Service Ticket Machines

If you want to book a train in person at the station, there are ‘fast ticket’ machines installed in all the stations that accept both cash and credit cards. They also have an English language facility and are quite self-explanatory to use. However, I am listing below the steps that you should follow to book the tickets:

• Tap the UK flag at the bottom of the touch screen for English
• Select ‘Buy Your Tickets’
• Select the destination, which is usually the station you are at by default, but can be changed
• Choose a departure from the timetable list
• Choose a class & price, and buy
• Make payment with Euros or a credit card

3. Alternative Booking Websites & Apps:

• Italo Treno – for high-speed trains.
• Trainline – user-friendly and accepts more payment options.
• Omio – compares multiple train and bus options.

Additional Tips for Train Travel in Italy

• Always validate regional train tickets (if printed) at the yellow/green validation machines before boarding to avoid fines.
• High-speed train tickets don’t need validation since they are linked to a specific train and time.
• Trains can get fully booked on busy routes (like Rome-Florence-Milan-Venice), so booking in advance is recommended.
• If booking at the station, allow extra time, especially in peak seasons, as lines can be long.

Italy Itinerary: For 2 Weeks

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Bla Bla Car

Bla Bla Car is a carpooling service which helps you travel from one place to another. This option is even cheaper than trains. The Train Italia app provides the schedule of BlaBlaCar (if available). Book the ride in advance through the app, and in most cases, you have to pay in advance with the help of a credit card.

And yes, it is safe and trusted, and if you are travelling solo, you get to talk to the locals.

Buses

Trains do not connect smaller towns or tourist centres in Italy. This is when the bus comes into the picture. Further, you will mostly find bus terminals next to the train station. 

Flixbus is the European leader in coach travel and connects several cities in Italy and Europe. You can check their website if you want to travel out of Italy or within.

The Best Time to Visit Italy 

Avoid going to Italy during the summer. Not only does it get really unpleasant because of the weather, but the price also skyrockets. It is best to explore Italy in the months of April to June (Spring) or September and October (Fall).

While the summer is hot, crowded, and expensive, the winters, on the other hand, are wet and cold in the north.

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Accommodation in Italy

Couch Surfing

Couch surfing is by far the best option to opt for when travelling to foreign countries. Not only does it help you to cut down on cost but with the help of this, you can connect with the local culture a little better.

Hostels

Personally, I prefer couch surfing any day. But another great way to cut costs is by staying in hostels. Not only hostels are cheaper but you get to interact with other travellers. 

Since most of the places such as Rome, Florence, Venice, etc., are major tourist hubs, you should easily find reasonable hostels to stay here.

Hotels

If you want to have a chill time with yourself and want solitude with a personal room, Italy has tons of hotels to choose from. No matter where you go, you will have massive options to choose from. 

Typical Cost

Accommodation

The average price for a dormitory bed in Italy is approximately €24 per night, where you may get breakfast and free WIFI. Private rooms average around €29 per night. The prices of Airbnb vary as per the city and on average, can be €180 per night. Couchsurfing remains a popular and cost-effective option in Europe, allowing travellers to stay with locals for free.

Transportation

Like I said earlier, the best way to travel around Italy is by taking trains. Ticket prices vary depending on the distance travelled. But if you are planning to travel a long distance, you can opt for domestic flights, as the cost difference isn’t that much and you will save a lot of time. However, for shorter distances, trains are a big yay!

Museum Entry

Entry fees to museums typically range between €13 to €20. The rates increase if you are planning to take a guide in places like the Vatican and the Colosseum. 

Cost-cutting tips

Flight Bookings

While booking a flight, you can use the services of kiwi.com, which will give you the best options and availability of the flights, wherein you will also be able to compare the prices on different dates and times and thus book accordingly.

Hostels

If you want to have a flexible plan, you can reserve your rooms on booking.com instead of booking the hotels. Advance reserving will not only provide you with the cheapest price but won’t cost you anything as you do not have to make any payments immediately. However, do read the policies and if your plan is changed, cancel the reservation accordingly, or else, you will be charged if you do not show up. 

Tap Water

Well, you do not necessarily have to buy water bottles in Italy to drink. Tap water works fine, and they are absolutely clean! Also, during your meals, ask for tap water, or else the cost of the water will automatically be included in your bill. Moreover, you can also fill your bottles at any drinking fountain, which is something every Italian does. 

Walking Tours

A city in Italy can easily be covered on foot. For instance, in Florence, I walked all the way from one place to another. This works best as you can soak in the culture more deeply. And who knows, while walking, what an unknown corner can surprise you with?

Buying Souvenirs at 99 Cents Store

There are many souvenir shops on every corner of the street in major cities, which will cost an average of 2-3 EUR, but if you have many souvenirs to buy for a lot of friends, you can opt for 99 cents store. The same 2 EUR souvenir will cost just 99 cents.

Couch Surfing

Hotels and stays in Italy are costly, and it is not surprising since Italy is visited a lot by tourists. Instead of spending 20 EUR every day on a hostel, it is best to stay at a local place instead. You can find many couch-surfing websites and check their ratings on them, talk to them and stay as per your comfort. Not only will it save cost, but it will also give you wonderful experiences, and you will be able to learn the culture of Italy even better.

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Things to Pack for Your Trip

Money

The official currency of Italy is the euro. I did not carry any dollars or euros from India. Rather, I used my credit card to withdraw money in Italy. ATMs are very easy to find in the cities, but make sure to carry cash when you visit remote villages and regions.

Power Adapter

Indian sockets are different from the sockets used in Italy. Electricity in Italy conforms to the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. Wall outlets typically accommodate plugs with two or three round pins. Do buy a power adaptor for Italy.

Clothes

Italians love to dress well. Of course, you will find many people wearing casuals but usually, most of them are well-dressed. So be fashionable here. Have a pair of sunglasses, good dresses and a pair of heels while exploring the streets, to blend in with the locals.

Further, if you are like me, who travels all over the country, it is essential to pack in such a way that it is not a burden on your shoulders. Try to pack light and as fashionably as you can.

Travel Insurance

It’s mandatory to have travel insurance if you are going to Italy with a Schengen visa. Moreover, it’s always a good idea to have international travel insurance. If you want to understand more about insurance, do read my visa guide here – Italy visa guide.

Food and Drinks

Italy is famous for its wine and pizza. No matter where you go, you will find tons of cafes serving these. Further, Gelato originated here. So, you know you have to try the ice cream from its home country.

Further, if you are a vegetarian (like me), finding vegetarian food won’t be an issue. The least you can find is a Margherita pizza.

Food and Drinks to try in Italy are – Italian Coffee, Tiramisu, Pizza Margherita and Risotto.

Some Key Things to Remember:

Don’t Put Ketchup on Pasta or Pizza: Every time you ask for ketchup in a restaurant for pizza, you break an Italian chef’s heart. Ketchup is totally acceptable on a burger or fries, but do not put it on pasta or a pizza.

The Closing of Shops: Most of the shops close for lunch break in Italy, especially in summer. Relax during that time and try finding food post 4 PM.

Drinks to Have: With food, have water, beer or wine. Most restaurants don’t serve cocktails.

People & Culture

In Italy, people are not only stylish but also very patient. No one is in a rush, really. If you start talking to them, they will talk with you as well in length. Chatting with locals is important during travels to better understand the culture of a place. End the conversation with the phrase “buona giornata” which means “have a good day”.

Further, Italians love to spend time with their family. Their family solidarity is focused on extended family, and you will come across many family gatherings as well.

Religion in Italy

The major religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. This is also because the Vatican City is located in the heart of Rome, and that is where the Pope resides. The population of Roman Catholics make up 80 per cent of the population.

Language

The official language of the country is Italian. While the majority speak the language, there are a number of other dialects such as Sardinian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Venetian, etc. Milanese is also spoken in Milan. However, the majority of Italians are fluent in English, so there is no language barrier.

Italy is a country to savour. The Italians believe in Dolce Far Nient,e which means the art of doing nothing. This is exactly how the country must be explored too. Every corner in this country has a story to tell. So, if you are travelling to Italy, make sure that you keep track of the things I mentioned and have a good number of days to explore the country.