Trip Tips and What to Pack For Your
Italy Singles Vacation

passport and Visas

Visas are not required for US, Canadian and European citizens. To enter Italy, a passport valid for at least three months beyond the length of stay is required by all nationals. South African citizens must have a passport that is valid upon their arrival, and a valid Schengen visa, to enter Italy. All other citizens please check with your local embassy.

Money

Currency in Italy: Euro
Euros come in both paper and coins. Paper Euros come in different colors and sizes depending on the face value, 500 bills are violet, 200 bills are yellow, 100 are green, 50 are orange, 20 are blue, 10 are red and 5 are grey. The coins are either 1 Euro or 2 Euros, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. The bigger the coin the bigger the value... the 1 cent coin is very small.
For todays conversion rates - click here

Time

Italy is Central European Time (CET).
5 Hours ahead of EST / 8 Hours ahead of PST

Electric Plugs

Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at a 50 cycles per second. In North America, electricity comes out of the wall socket at 110 volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. Not only the voltages and frequencies, but the sockets themselves are different. Italy's outlets are two (or three) round-prong socket. You will need an electric converter.

Weather

Throughout the year, the climate in Rome, Florence and the entire Tuscan region is very mild. The summers can be dry and very hot but averages in the low 80s F.. Spring and Fall cools off to the mid 60s and can be rainy but there are still lots of sunny days. In the winter the days are sunny and cool, around 50° but at night it can get very cold.

The Amalfi Coast has a typically Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers where temperatures can reach 30C (86F) in the peak months of July and August, and the average temperature does not usually dip below 23C (74 F)

What to Pack for Your Vacation

One suitcase and an overnight bag are allowed. The suitcase should have good, sturdy wheels as you will need to roll them to the hotels, which are very close to the train stations. Please check individual airlines for weight limits.

The most important item you will need on your vacation to Italy is footwear. Pack comfortable sturdy shoes for walking in the historical center's of Rome, Florence & Venice. The streets will be cobbled stone in Rome, uneven in Venice and there are lots of bridges to cross.

All religious sites like the Basilica require everyone to wear clothing that covers both shoulders and knees. For men a long pair of shorts that reach the knees and a shirt. Ladies a shawl is great to cover the shoulders and for cooler evenings.

For what to pack on all singles vacations and more tips - Click Here

Phones:

Nowadays it’s relatively easy to use your own mobile phone in Italy, however, the costs of both making and receiving phone calls can be high. Texting is a more economical way to contact others. Please check with your carrier for availability and rates.

While in Italy, if you would like to use your phone for the internet, only when there is free internet, turn your phone to airline mode.

Calling Italy from the United States explained:

011 - US exit code; must be dialed first for all international calls made from the USA or Canada
39 - Country Code for Italy
area code - 2 - 4 digits
phone number - 5 - 8 digits

Shopping in Italy

Rome: Shopping in Rome is fantastic, no matter if you are searching for haute couture, antiques, or a bargain. Some of the biggest names in Italian fashion - Fendi, Valentino, Bulgari - come from Rome and you will find their flagship stores, as well as boutiques by Prada, Armani, Versace, Ferragamo, Cavalli, Gucci, and many others, along the streets near the Spanish Steps. Via Condotti is Rome's main drag for haute couture and window shopping, though you'll also find high fashion boutiques on Via Borgognona, Via Frattina, Via Sistina, and Via Bocca de Leone.

There are several good outdoor markets, flea markets, and places to buy antiques in Rome. You'll find everything from antique housewares to secondhand clothing and music to original art, jewelry, posters, furniture, etc.

Florence is one of Italy's top cities for shopping and is known for designer fashions, leather goods, gold, and fine stationery. Beyond designer duds and vintage finds, Florence is a great city to purchase leather goods. Gold is a classic item often purchased in Florence, just cross Florence's most famous bridge, and you'll see gold sellers lining each side of it. Whether the gold here is a bargain is unclear, but you can find high quality, unique necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches, rings, and more.

Venice is famous for local crafts that have been produced here for centuries and are hard to get elsewhere: the glassware from Murano, the delicate lace from Burano, and the cartapesta (papier-mâché) Carnevale masks you'll find in all the local stores.

Amalfi:  Shopping for ceramics on the Amalfi Coast is one of the real treats of exploring this gorgeous coastline in southern Italy’s Campania region. The Amalfi Coast is a vibrant landscape of pastel colored houses, steeply terraced gardens and rocky cliffs plummeting down to the Mediterranean Sea. Filling this scene with even more color and life are the brilliant ceramic shops you’ll find in each town along the Coast.

Apulia: the products for shopping are localized and each province has its own special products. In the Foggia province, food processing is quite famous. In Barletta visitors would find textiles, furniture, wooden artifacts and footwear. In the area of Murge visitors would again find wooden artifacts and furniture etc. Locally made products of footwear, food, clothing and textiles are popular gifts.

Local Foods

Rome: There is no lack of places to eat, from family run trattorias and pizzerias, to fancier, gourmet restaurants. Food is important to the life and culture of all Italy. While many try to reproduce Italian dishes, there's nothing like enjoying a dinner in Rome. The best Italian chefs appreciate simplicity and have learned to complement relatively plain recipes with rich, flavorful tastes.

There are so many Gelaterias that you will never tire of trying to figure out which one is the best.

Florence: Enjoying great food and excellent wine in Florence is not hard to do. The food is simple and abundant with local produce, mellow cheeses and grilled meats. The meals range from the original and traditional to more adventurous. You can try one of the restaurants recommended in the guide books or just walk down any street in Florence and select a trattoria, wine bar or restaurant that seems appealing and you'll surely enjoy a nice meal.

Venice: Chinese and Indian restaurants have a small presence, but Venice is the place to go for excellent seafood and good Northern Italian cooking. Among the typical seasoning of Venetian cuisine, you will find butter, olive oil, sunflower oil, vinegar, kren, senape, mostarda, salsa verde.

Amalfi Coast: Food and wine is a way of life on the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. The local cuisine is mainly Neapolitan and is famous for its use of tomatoes, lemons, fresh vegetables, red peppers and olives. You will find world-famous specialties like pizza, pasta, the pastiera cake, buffalo mozzarella cheese and fresh Mediterranean seafood.

Puglia: Consisting mainly of farmland and coastline, Puglia is famous for its fresh produce and delicious dishes. Food fairs date back to the days when farmers used to gather in towns to buy and sell produce. Today’s celebrations are dictated by tradition, what is in season, and the town’s whim; they reach a peak during the holiday season of July and August.

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