A Woman’s Guide on How to Visit Italy in only Two Weeks

You have seen the pictures and have probably imagined walking the cobble streets of Rome. Perhaps you’ve even envied the men and women who have floated down the narrow Venice canals and marveled at the beauty of the city on water. But regardless of the reason you want to go – whether it’s for the food, the sights or the history – Italy dominates many travelers’ bucket lists. Italy, as Lonely Planet describes it, “is the serenity of Venice at sunrise, is ethereal light on the Tuscan hills [and] is turning one more [street] corner.”

However, since there are over 100 municipalities in Italy, trying to get a well-rounded Italian experience in a tight deadline – like two weeks – is a challenge. As Christian Bonetto writes on The Lonely Planet, “Italy’s 20 regions feel more like 20 independent states, each with its own dialects, traditions, architecture and glorious food.”

So, here are some tips to help you indulge in Italian culture.

1 PICK YOUR DESTINATIONS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

The first thing you should do when picking your destination is to think about what you want from your trip. Do you want to spend the afternoon burying your feet in the black sands of Positano? Are you looking to enjoy the quiet elegance of the Florentine countryside? Do you want to squeeze in as many places and cultural events as you can?

Figure out if your travel plans are for entertainment, historical purposes, adventure or all of the above. A good suggestion would be to start searching online or flip through a guidebook to see what each city has to offer, then bookmark anything that catches your eye. You should be able to create an extensive to-do list just by doing this. From there, you can start narrowing down your choices.

Once you’ve decided on the cities you want to visit, think about your must-see locations. Some companies like Bus2alps (for students) and Florence for Fun offer package deals that usually include transportation, lodging and activities for people looking to experience a city in a day. Many of the activities even include tours of museums, chapels and other historical landmarks to help you grasp just how much history – and beauty – Italy holds.

If you would like to plan a trip yourself, however, here are some of the different places to visit, as suggested by The Trusted Traveller and Italy Explained.

VENICE
Some of Venice’s main attractions include St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza, the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge. However, Italy Explained suggests simply wandering the streets of the small city, exploring the different buildings and glass artwork and soaking up the Italian character.

CINQUE TERRE
This collection of five villages is adorned with charming pastel houses that seem to “grow right out of the rocks.” According to Italy Explained, this area is one of northern Italy’s most popular places to visit and can easily be explored in a day. Here, you can hike, swim in the sea or just relax in one of the restaurants serving freshly caught seafood.

FLORENCE
This city has so many “must-sees,” you could spend an entire summer exploring the streets. However, some of the places that travelers usually visit are the Uffizi Gallery (home to the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art), the Galleria dell’Accademia (where you can visit the statue of David), the Ponte Vecchio and the Florence Duomo (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore). Also, if you’re interested in wine tasting, you could take a day trip to the Tuscany wine region.

ROME
Rome is home to the famous Coliseum, the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and the world. Rome also possesses the Roman Forum, which is, as The Trusted Traveller writes, “one of the most celebrated meeting places in the history of the world.” Many people also travel into the Vatican City, which is the home of the Pope and the Catholic Church. There, you can see the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and even take guided tours of the Vatican Museums.

ASSISI

Assisi is about two hours away from Rome and it is a UNESCO World Heritage listed town, famous for its medieval architecture and for being the birth place of Saint Francis. There, you can visit the ruins of Rocca Maggiore, a castle from the times of Charlemagne. You can also go to the Basilica of Saint Frances, the Piazza Santa Chiara and the Piazza del Comune.

MILAN
Milan is ornamented with elegant Renaissance architecture, Gothic cathedrals, and world-class art, and is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Here, many people travel to go to the Duomo of Milan, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world; it took 500 years to complete! Aside from that, visitors also trek to the Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Leonardo Da Vinci’s Supper fresco, or the Sforza Castle, which is home to various art museums, including one that contains Michelangelo’s last sculpture.

POMPEII
Italy is home to Pompeii, an ancient town fossilized after Mount Vesuvius’ eruption. Here, you can take a tour and walk the streets just as the men and women who once lived there . If you’re looking for an even bigger adventure, however, you can also hike up Mount Vesuvius to the crater’s lip and enjoy the view of Naples, the bay and Pompeii. Who says you can’t go on a vacation and exercise at the same time?

2 CREATE A BUDGET AND FIND A PLACE TO STAY.

After doing your research and jotting down all the beautiful places you’re excited to experience, start creating a budget of how much you are willing to spend on airfare, room and board, food, tours, activities, souvenirs, et cetera.

According to Italy Explained, airfare to Italy is “almost always going to be the biggest expense of your trip, but the actual cost can vary quite a bit depending on the season and your airport of origin.” Italy’s peak season is around May through September, so if you want to save money, try to avoid traveling during the busy times of the year (especially during Christmas, Easter and other major holidays). Because of the weather, the cheapest flights tend to be in the fall before Christmas (November) and in the winter months of January and February.

Next, you have a number of options when considering room and board. You can choose to stay at a hotel, but you will save more money if you stay at a hostel or at an Airbnb (especially if you are planning on traveling from city to city). Italy Explained says beds in hostel dorms can range from $15 to $40 a night and the more expensive ones are those closest to the tourist destinations.

Though staying at a place away from the main tourist areas may not be very convenient, you have a number of transportation options to choose from. You could rent a car, but if you’re uncomfortable driving in an unfamiliar location, many tourists opt for taking the train and buses. Italy Explained says most travelers get around Italy by train and this option is “the happy medium between the most cost-effective and the most convenient.” Buses, on the other hand, are typically cheaper than the other options, but there’s no national bus network, which means it could be difficult to get from one region to another by bus alone. (For more information about transportation, visit Italy Logue’s website.) Aside from that, many people also choose to walk as the best option. So grab a map and start moving!

Overall, budgeting is really about figuring out how much you will need and accounting for any emergencies along the way. If you save money on the main expenses (travel and housing), then you’ll increase the amount you have to spend on other things. But as Lonely Planet reminds, the most important thing to remember about budgeting is to be flexible. “Allowing for on-the-road splurges (and the odd belt tightening) will take the stress out of your trip, but will also mean that when you get home, you won’t be met with a huge credit card bill.”

3 BE A GOOD TOURIST AND LEARN THE CULTURE.

Once you’ve done all the main planning, be sure to spend an extensive amount of time conducting the appropriate research. Fun and games set aside, going to another country is a privilege. Taking part in another culture is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly; instead, think of it as a beautiful learning experience that can trigger personal growth and be shared with others after your trip. As Huffington Post writes, “Traveling or living somewhere completely different gives you a new perspective that’s different form just hearing or reading about it. The act of being somewhere new allows you to fully immerse yourself and appreciate that new place, from the people, the language, the clothing and everything in between.”

So before you leave, here are some facts about Italian culture that you should know and may help you along the way (courtesy of Live Science, Pink Pangea and Huffington Post).

• Family is extremely important in Italian culture. Italians have frequent family gatherings and children are reared to remain close to the family upon adulthood.
• Italy’s major religion is Roman Catholicism and Roman Catholics make up 90 percent of the Italian population. Many churches in Italy will also require you to abide by their “no shoulders, no knees, no sandals” rule before entering churches. Dressing appropriately is a sign of respect for their beliefs.
• Because of the religious beliefs that resound in Italy, Italians don’t typically show very much skin. So short skirts, daisy dukes and crop tops “do not epitomize the classical fashion taste of Italians.” If you want to blend in, cover up!
• Dinner is between 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. It is also appreciated if you call for a reservation or dress up for dinner.
• Shredded Parmesan cheese is only given to tourists. Italians don’t add extra cheese to their pasta because they already cook it with cheese.
• Italians don’t typically smile at strangers. Smiling at a stranger may be misinterpreted as a sign of flirting.
• There is no such thing as “personal space” in Italy. Although Americans may find this rude, it is not a part of Italian culture.
• The drinking age in Italy is only 16. Italians drink a lot, but they don’t drink to get drunk. Wine is a crucial part to their meal, but it is seen as inappropriate to be belligerent in public settings.
• Tipping isn’t necessary in Italy; you are charged a cover charge (coperto) with every bill. This is the amount charged, per person, to sit at a table. Pink Pangea, however, warns that some places leave the cover charge off your bill in order to “try and trick you into leaving a tip.”
• The service you receive at Italian restaurants may be different from American restaurants. It’s not rude for your server if he or she does not inquire whether you are enjoying the meal or not. In Italian culture, meals are a social time that can often take up to two hours. So servers may not want to intrude during that time.
• Italian restaurants typically have smaller portions than American restaurants serve. Therefore, it is not in their culture to ask for a “to-go box.”
• Many Italians carry their purses close to their body or have it drape in the front of their body in order to avoid pickpocketing.

There are a number of other things to learn about Italian culture, but those things you’ll just learn along the way.

Italy is a beautiful country rich in art, history and delicious food. It will be difficult to experience everything it has to offer in just two weeks, but with careful planning, it will be worthwhile! Remember that you can always return to soak up that Tuscan sun if you find yourself needing more of Italy.