34 Tourist MISTAKES To Avoid In ITALY (things to know before you visit)

34 Tourist MISTAKES To Avoid In ITALY (things to know before you visit)

There are some things you should never do 
in Italy. Mistakes that waste your time, drain your wallet and instantly mark you as a 
clueless tourist. We’re Naick and Kim and after 10 trips to Italy, including a six week trip that 
we just finished, we’ll show you what not to wear, what never to do at a restaurant and the tourist 
traps that catch people every time. Don’t ever buy water in Italy. Buying bottled water in Italy 
is something that only rookie travelers do. The locals don’t do it and neither should you. Italy 
has thousands of free public fountains called nazoni, that pump out cold clean drinking water. 
They test this water daily. If it’s not safe to drink they’re going to mark it with a sign that 
says aqua non potable. So unless there’s one of those signs you’re good to go. Don’t assume 
locals speak English. A lot of travelers just walk into a shop or restaurant in Italy, start 
speaking in English and then get frustrated when the locals don’t understand them. That’s a little 
bit rude. Even in big cities like Rome or Florence your hotel receptionist might not speak English. 
Your waiter in that small family-run restaurant probably won’t either. Before your trip, memorize 
a few words and key phrases. Bongiorno, which is hello. Grazie, thank you. Il Conto per favor. 
The bill please. And Parla Inglese? Do you speak English? You can also download Google Translate 
and the offline pack for Italian onto your phone. People will appreciate the effort and they’ll 
usually go out of their way to help. And speaking of restaurants, what about tipping? Do the locals 
do it? Will you offend someone if you don’t? I’ll tell you exactly how it works in a second. Don’t 
dress inappropriately. Cathedrals like St peters in the Vatican or the Duomo in Florence 
have strict dress codes. No bare shoulders, no shorts or skirts and no low cut tops. I always 
carry a scarf or a light jacket with me, so that I can cover up a little bit as needed. Outside 
of churches, skip the flipflops baseball cap and big floppy sun hat. Locals don’t wear those and 
tourists who do tend to stand out. Pickpockets target people who look like easy targets, which 
brings me to my next point. The worst mistakes tourists make in Italy, they’re about money and 
safety. Don’t let the pickpockets win. Italy is very safe overall, but pickpocketing that is a 
different story. Rome consistently ranks among the top three cities in the world for pickpocketing. 
Italy sees over 25,000 cases a year and most of them happen in the tourist hotspots like the 
Colosseum and the Rialto Bridge in Venice. Some dress like tourists, some work in groups. One 
distracts you, while the other takes your stuff, before you even notice. Here’s how you avoid 
becoming a target in any crowd, especially at the popular sites or on public transport. Keep 
one hand on your bag or your phone at all times. If you’re a woman, don’t wear your purse on your 
shoulder behind you. Keep it zipped and in front of your body. If you’re a man, just ditch your 
wallet. Split your cash and your cards between your front pocket, which is what Naick does. If 
you follow these habits you’re already ahead of most people. Next don’t dial 911 in Italy. If you 
have an emergency, you need to call 112. That’s the European emergency number. It’s the same all 
across the EU. And yes there’s an English-speaking operator as well. So 112! Don’t get a €100 fine 
for using public transport the wrong way. This is one of the biggest and most expensive mistakes 
that people make. In Italy, buying your ticket to the bus or the tram is just step one. You then 
need to validate the ticket physically by sticking it into a little machine the moment you board. 
What the validation does, is it stamps your ticket with the date and the time, which proves you’re 
not trying to reuse an old ticket from last month. Ticket inspectors do random checks all the time 
and if your ticket’s not validated you will get hit with a hundred euro fine per violation. Don’t 
get suckered into tourist trap restaurants. That restaurant with the perfect colosseum view: 
the food is probably awful. Near every major tourist attraction, you’ll find the same setup. 
English menu, laminated photos of every dish they serve and a waiter waving you inside like it’s 
Disneyland. You did not fly all the way to Italy just to have microwaved lasagna. If you want the 
view, just grab a drink there. We do this all the time, but then when it comes time to eat, we go 
somewhere else. You open Google Maps and then you look for restaurants around you that have at 
least a four out of five rating and lots and lots of reviews. Don’t mess up tipping. So you 
found a great restaurant. You had a wonderful meal and then the awkward moment comes: do you 
tip? How much? You don’t want to offend anyone, but you also don’t want to overdo it and look 
completely clueless. Workers here get paid a full living wage. So they’re not counting on big 
tips to supplement their income. Most locals just round up the bill at a cafe or leave two or three 
euros at a restaurant if the service was great. That’s it. If you’re used to tipping 20% where 
you’re from, that might feel a little bit weird. But nobody is expecting that in Italy. And always 
tip in cash, otherwise your waiter might never see the money. Now there’s a lot of other pitfalls 
when it comes to restaurants. Most people don’t even know how to read the menu in Italy. We’ll 
get to that in a minute, but first: Don’t leave your hotel without cash. Italy is not as credit 
card friendly as you might expect. Most of the hotels and restaurants will accept cards, but 
some smaller places will outright refuse to let you pay with a credit card. Especially for small 
stuff like coffees or gelato. This is particularly true in Venice, where it was borderline impossible 
to find a bottle of Coca-Cola, which is just €2, if you didn’t have exact change on you. First 
of all, bring not one but two credit cards, in case you lose one or one gets blocked. 
Then hit up an ATM as soon as you land, so that you have some euros on hand. Now these 
next couple mistakes are a little bit sneakier than the ones that we just discussed. Don’t do all 
your sightseeing between 10:00 in the morning and 4:00 p.m. Have you ever seen the Trevi Fountain at 
dawn with no one around? It’s like stepping into a dream. But now picture that same place at 2:00 
p.m. Elbows in your frame, crowds five rows deep. Getting up early once or twice can seriously 
improve the experience that you have in Italy. You’ll have empty piazza’s, beautiful light. Next: 
don’t treat Italy like a checklist. If it’s your first time visiting Italy, it’s easy to get very 
excited and try to cram in as much as you can. Rome, Venice, Florence. Cinque Terre and the 
Amalfi Coast. All in just one week. And I get it! Time off is limited and Italy is beautiful. But 
if you try to cram too much into your itinerary, you’re going to need a vacation to recover 
from your vacation. So do yourself a favor and cut one place. Just spend a little more time 
in the other spots that you’re going to. Now this next one is a big one. Don’t show up to major 
attractions without reservations. Nothing will ruin your day faster than arriving at the 
Academia in Florence, the famous Vatican in Rome or the Doge’s Palace in Venice and seeing a 
line that wraps all the way around the block. The queues at the top sides are brutal. If you show up 
thinking you can just buy tickets at the entrance, you could be stuck waiting 2 or 3 hours, or just 
not get in at all. A lot of people just don’t realize that there’s a better way to do this, 
without the waiting, without the stress. But you can avoid all that simply by booking skip the 
line tickets in advance, like we did. With a skip the line ticket, while everyone else is stuck in 
line under the sun, you just walk right up to the entrance. They scan your ticket and boom you’re 
in. We got all our skip the line tickets on Get Your Guide. Get Your Guide is a website with over 
65,000 experiences worldwide and we use them all the time. Here’s a breakdown of what tickets we 
would recommend for the big three, which is Rome, Venice and Florence. In Rome, definitely get skip 
the line tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican museums. In Venice, for the Doge’s Palace and in 
Florence, we got the skip the line tickets for the Academia, the Duomo Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery 
and the Pitti Palace. I’ll put all the links to the tickets that we bought in the description 
down below. So you know exactly which ones to get. Don’t visit in high summer. In Italy, July and 
August are not just hot, they are brutal. Think 95 Fahrenheit or 35 C and surprise most restaurants 
in Italy do not have AC. Many hotels will advertise having it, but then when you get there 
it’s either kind of weak or it only runs between certain hours of the day. Try to visit Italy 
between April and June or September to October, when the weather will be a lot milder. Now if 
summer is your only option, don’t panic. You’ll totally still have a nice trip. Pack sunscreen, 
drink lots of water and if you’re in need of a break remember the churches. They are a godsend, 
literally. Don’t forget to check local holidays and unexpected closures. Some top sites randomly 
close for holidays, events or even random Mondays. We kind of made that same mistake in Florence. We 
forgot it was Easter Monday. Because where we’re from, that’s not really a big deal. But in Italy 
everything was closed. Now my favorite section: restaurants. Food is a big part of the reason 
why people travel to Italy and love it. But there’s quite a few unspoken rules when you go 
to an Italian restaurant. Mess these up and you might seriously offend some Italians. Don’t assume 
you’ll know how an Italian menu works. Ordering food at a restaurant in Italy can feel a little 
bit intimidating at first. Menus are usually split into several sections and in many places 
they’re entirely in Italian. Naick is going to explain to you how to read an Italian menu.
Italian menus are pretty much all the same structure. Antipasti, these are the appetizers. 
Primi Piatti: first course. Segundi Piatti: second course or the main course. And then the 
dolce:the desserts. You can go for four courses, you can have an antipasti and a main 
course or pick and choose a little bit. And speaking of dessert, if you’re planning to 
get gelato, there is one big mistake that we see travelers make all the time. We’ll get to that. 
Don’t mess up your coffee order. If you order a latte in Italy, you’re literally just going to 
get a big old glass of milk. Because in Italian latte just means milk. Here’s a quick summary 
of the four other types of coffee that you might want to order and what you should say. First off 
you have a cafe which is a small strong shot of espresso. This is what most Italians would order. 
Then you have a cafe macchiato which is that same espresso but with just a tiny dollop of milk in 
there. Then you have an Americano and of course the cappuccino coffee with lots of steamed milk 
and foam. Italians typically only drink cappuccino until about 11:00 a.m. Because it’s considered a 
breakfast only drink. Now I’m going to be honest, I broke that cappuccino curfew every single day. I 
just love cappuccino and guess what? Nobody cared. So have whatever you want, the cappuccino police 
is not going to care. Don’t expect American style service. If you’re from the US, you’re in for 
a little bit of a shock in Italy. In the US, service in restaurants is amazing. People check 
in on you constantly. They refill your water glass every 5 minutes. They’re hustling, because they’re 
working for tips. In Italy, that’s not the case. Your waiter is not being rude, this is just normal 
here. Italian waiters can be a little bit salty. Like when you go to Florence and order the famous 
bisteca al Florentina, this giant t-bone steak that’s a local specialty and you ask to have it 
well done, oftentimes they’ll either flat out tell you no or they’ll completely ignore your request 
and just serve it to you medium rare anyway. Don’t rush when you’re at a restaurant. In Italy, 
meals aren’t rushed. They’re a moment to relax and to connect with people. No one’s trying to flip 
your table or hustle you out the door. In fact, if you want the bill, you usually have to ask for 
it. In Italy, that’s not rude, they’re just giving you some space. Because your table is yours 
for the entire evening. Order a tiramisu for dessert or a digestivo, like a nice lemoncello and 
just soak up the vibe. Don’t think you can order spaghetti and meatballs in Italy. Spaghetti and 
meatballs, chicken alfredo, pepperoni pizza. These are Italian-American inventions. They’re tasty, 
sure, but in Italy they’re not really a thing. But this is actually great news, because it means you 
get to try the real Italian cuisine. Which brings me to my next point. Don’t just eat the same pasta 
and pizza on repeat. If that’s all you’re going to have on your trip, you’re going to miss out on 
90% of what makes Italian cuisine so amazing. Italy isn’t just one cuisine, it’s dozens. From 
region to region, the food completely changes. So when you’re in Florence, you really need to try 
the Bisteca Ala Fiorentina, of course. But there’s also incredible beef stews, made with local red 
wine from the Chianti region. In Venice you should order a seafood platter or try the local ciccetti 
as they’re called. These are small slices of bread topped with fried seafood, marinated veggies, 
many different things that are just delicious. And if you really don’t know what to order, do 
what I always do, which is just ask the waiter what their favorite is. They will be delighted 
to help you pick something. Don’t assume you can get food whenever you want. If you want to get a 
plate of pasta at around 4:00 p.m, you might be out of luck. Here’s how it works. Lunch typically 
lasts from noon to about 2:30 p.m and then after that everything shuts down in the afternoon for 
a couple of hours. Then from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m, the Italians do what is called aperitivo. 
This is when all the bars fill up with locals, sipping on aperol spritzes or wine and nibbling 
on small snacks like cheeses, cured meats, brusceta. And then dinner is later in the evening, 
typically from 8 to 10:00 p.m. In Florence, we went to this restaurant that flambeed pasta inside 
a giant cheese wheel. It was absolutely amazing. But when we called ahead for a table, they only 
had one table left for the next three days. So yeah definitely book early. Don’t be that tourist. 
I’m going to tell you about a major faux pas, that might surprise you. Because it’s something 
that lots of travelers do. Italians are passionate about their food and very particular about how 
it’s meant to be served. So if you’re asking to modify a dish like swapping out the sauce or 
holding the meat, asking to change a recipe is like repainting the Mona Lisa. Don’t ignore 
cultural etiquette. Italians actually aren’t that loud in public. Sure they talk with their hands, 
but when they go out to a cafe or a restaurant, they’re actually quite softly spoken. That 
also means that a lot of travelers especially Americans can really stand out. Americans often 
bring big energy and a little higher volume, which in general is great. In the US, it 
really is the norm, but in Europe it isn’t. So if it’s a little quiet around you, lower the 
volume a little bit and you will fit right in. Don’t sightsee without your ID. Here’s a 
mistake you don’t want to make. You show up at the colosseum, ticket in hand, but then you 
get turned away at the door because you forgot your ID. No ID means no entry. In most places your 
driver’s license and a copy of your passport will be sufficient. Always make sure to check, it only 
takes 30 seconds and it can save your entire day. Don’t fall for tourist trap gelato. Of course 
you’re in Italy gelato is a must. But not all gelato is created equal. If you see bright 
neon colors, gelato piled high in big swirls or flavors like blue bubble gum, run! That stuff 
is mass- produced and full of artificial flavors. Real gelato is made in small batches and stored in 
metal containers with these lids on top to control the temperature and preserve the freshness. Two 
rules of thumb that you can use: one, look for the words artigianale, which means handmade and two: 
go for natural colors. You want your pistachio to be pastel green, not look like the Hulk. Don’t 
rent a car, unless you’re a really confident driver. Italian traffic is not for the faint 
of heart. Narrow roads, constant honking, very assertive driving. If you’re not 100% confident 
behind the wheel, trains are a far better option. They’re fast, they’re scenic and they’re way 
more relaxing. For example Rome to Florence would take you 3 hours by car, but the high-speed 
train does it in just an hour and a half. Now, if you’re exploring the countryside, a rental car can 
make sense. But just remember stick shift is the norm in Italy and automatic costs more. Parking 
can also be a nightmare in small towns, so don’t get the biggest car you can afford. Really, the 
smaller the better. Also don’t assume your regular driver’s license is enough. If you’re visiting 
from outside Europe, you’re going to need an international driving permit in addition to your 
normal license. If you want to legally rent and drive a car in Italy, Italian police and rental 
agencies often require this document. The good news is that it’s really cheap and easy to get an 
international driver’s permit. If you’re from the US, you can just get it at AAA or whatever your 
local automobile club is. Don’t underestimate the Italian sidewalks. Walking is one of the best ways 
to experience Italy. But the Italian sidewalks are not so great. Especially in places like Rome 
where the cobblestones are super uneven and really brutal on your feet. Trust me, your ankles might 
not survive Rome in flipflops, so just bring the most comfortable shoes you possibly can. Now even 
if you do all these things right, for some people Italy still doesn’t live up to the hype. Sometimes 
that’s because of us and our expectations. Don’t expect punctuality in Italy. Trains run 
late, buses skip stops and that tour you booked at 10:00 a.m, might very well leave at 10:20. 
Build in buffer time. Don’t make your plan too tight. That means no back-to-back tours or any 
of that kind of craziness. Don’t just hit up the highlights. The Colosseum. the Duomo, the Rialto 
Bridge. Go and see them, for sure. But if these highlights are all you do, Italy is going to start 
to feel like copypaste tourism real fast. The best moments are often found off the beaten path. In 
an untouristy piazza, a quiet park, a tiny little restaurant where nobody speaks English. Wander 
through Trastevere in Rome, Oltrarno in Florence or maybe include a day in a sleepy little town 
outside of the main tourist hubs. Don’t take a hop on hop off bus. Lots of people take these cruising 
around the city all day, on a bus that takes them to the main sites and then they complain about how 
Italy isn’t really that charming. Plus these days they’re kind of overpriced. If you’re really 
short on time, this might actually be a good solution for you. But if you have time to walk 
it, just walk it. You’ll see a lot more of those beautiful alleyways and quaint little squares 
that make Italy so special and most importantly if you walk it, you’ll find a lot more good gelato 
shops. Don’t assume locals are after your money. A few days ago, we got a comment on one of our 
Italy videos where we said “If you don’t know what to get at a restaurant just ask your waiter 
for a recommendation.” And someone replied “Yeah but don’t they just recommend whatever is about 
to go bad?” So I’m going to say it most Italians aren’t trying to scam you, they’re trying to 
share their culture with you. In Florence we were eating at this tiny family-run Trattoria and 
the chef saw how much we were enjoying the meal and he started bringing us all these samples like 
five or six dishes all for free. Without us even asking. Just because he wanted us to try the food. 
That is the real Italy. If you keep an open mind, people are going to go out of their way to 
make you feel at home. On the other hand, don’t expect Italy to look like a dream 24/7. 
There’s going to be graffiti, construction, loud traffic. Some streets are going to smell 
a little bit funky. Italy isn’t Disneyland, it’s a real country and real countries are 
messy sometimes. If you fixate on that stuff, you’ll miss the magic that’s right in front 
of you. And this one’s really important: don’t stress too much. Look, you’re not going to get all 
this stuff right all of the time. Occasionally, you’re going to mess up and that’s normal. Welcome 
to the club! Italy will still blow your mind. You’re going to see so many cool things and you’re 
going to have more gelato than your doctor would ever approve of. But if there’s one thing that 
can ruin your holiday, it’s scams. And Italy’s got a bunch of them, so go and watch our scams 
video here if you want to know how to avoid them. Or if you want to see some more Italian food, 
go and watch our Rome food tour right here!

Italy is one of the most incredible countries in the world, but there are some big mistakes that can ruin your trip. In this video, we’re sharing 34 things you should never do in Italy.

Get your skip-the-line tickets here! 👇🏻(don’t wait until the last minute, many of these sell out)

1. ROME

🏛️ Skip-the-line for the Colosseum (includes a guided tour & the Roman Forum): https://gyg.me/UIhwuRvy
⛪ Skip-the-line for the Vatican: https://gyg.me/I47gdyHt

2. FLORENCE

💒 Skip-the-line for climbing the Duomo: https://gyg.me/27JDPAFj
🗽 Skip-the-line for Accademia & David: https://gyg.me/bAqENah7
🖼️ Skip-the-line for Uffizi Gallery: https://gyg.me/YUxBdn6J
👑 Skip-the-line for Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens: https://gyg.me/li5FYnnJ

3. VENICE

🏛️ Skip-the-line ticket Doge’s Palace: https://gyg.me/grpSvwck

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