Italy Travel Tips

A mention of Italy brings forth images of beautiful countrysides, romance, historical ruins, modern cities, cultural insights and food that everyone loves. It is a country where everyone can find something to love.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Italy:

Where to stay?

Italy is a country with a vast history and is culturally diverse. There are certain similarities that we see as Italian, however, each region has a distinct variety of that culture. The part of Italy you visit will give you a different experience. Milan with its fashion center is different than the plains of Tuscany and its capital Florence. The crowded city of Rome and its traffic to the canals of Venice, Italy shows many faces. You can stay in a small bed and breakfast or a five star hotel, the experience is under your control.

Activities and excursions in Italy

The ancient Holy Roman Empire spread its influence throughout what was then the known world. Italy’s influence continued with the spread of Christianity. The relics of this old culture mixed with the modern cities gives the visitors many options. Also, there are different regions within the country with their own flair. Here are some examples:

• Ancient Sites of Rome: The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore are just a few of the most popular ancient Roman sites within the city of Rome.
• Vatican City: Technically not a part of Italy but a separate country and the seat of the Catholic Church. Surrounded by the city of Rome it is a destination of its own.
• Pompeii and Amalfi Coast: In AD 79, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the city of Pompeii at its base. Some portions of the city has been excavated. Today it is a UNESCO-listed historical site.
• Venice: The city of Venice has no motor vehicles within the city. Transportation in the city is mostly by the waterways that make up the transportation system of the city.
• Florence: This is another ancient city that is known for its architecture, art and its museums.

Best time to visit Italy

Italy is a year round destination with activities for the summer and winter. If you have flexibility in your travel the best times may be April to late June, and September or October. July and August is the summer holiday season. December brings out the Holiday travelers. Many Europeans take a winter vacation in January or February and head either to Italy, or the famous Red Sea. They travel to Italy either for the skiing in the northern mountains or the warmer climate in southern Italy.

Health and Safety

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Italy has the second best health care system in the world. Under Italian law, health care is a right of it’s citizens and legal residences. The national health plan (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) has a network to free or low cost medical services covering the entire nation. Life saving emergency care is provided on a take action basis, and worry about the paperwork later.

There is also a system of private medical services, which doctors and hospitals cater to individuals who carry private insurance plans.

The overall crime threat assessment for Italy is a medium threat. Tourist are often picked out for petty crimes, such as pickpockets and purse snatching: 97% of crimes against tourist are of this nature and non-violent.

Cyber and economic crime are a growing concern for Italian authorities and should be a priority for anyone visiting Rome. According to authorities, credit card fraud, ATM skimming, and identity hacking account for 75% of all financial crime in the city. It is recommended that tourist use ATMs attached to or inside a physical bank as opposed to a stand-alone machine. This alert applies to other cities as well.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Italy, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is Italy located in the world?

Italy is a southern European country, forming a boot shaped peninsula on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It has land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The small nations of San Marino and Vatican City are totally encircled by Italy.

How to get to Italy?

The open borders of the European Union makes it very easy to travel to and from Italy from within Europe. Depending on where your travel originates and your destination, you may have many options.

Flight into Italy are frequent both from within Europe and from other continents. Overall there are 70 airports within the country with 40 having international flights. The top 20 busiest airports each serve over 2 million passengers a year. All the major airlines fly into the country. There are direct flights from the UK to 20 different Italian cities. Alitalia, the Italian state airlines, serves 26 domestic and 68 international destinations.

The ItaliaRail system connects not only domestic destinations but cooperates with the rail systems of other countries to form an interconnected rail network that covers all of Europe. There are also a number of bus lines between neighboring countries.

Last but not least is ferry service. Ferry service is available from some Italian coastal cities to other destinations within the Mediterranean.

Do I need a visa for Italy?

Italy is a member of the European Union and therefore a participant in the Schengen area visa system. Nationals of member States are allowed to freely cross borders. Nationals of other countries may require a visa, however, only one visa is needed for the entire Schengen area.

Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa for visits up to a maximum of 90 days, for tourism, on missions, business, invitations, ought to take part in sports events, study:

• Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia
• Dominica, El Salvador, Emirati Arabi Uniti, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
• Georgia, Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan
• Malaysia, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Marianas
• Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Santa Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St-Vincent & Grenadine
• Taiwan, Timor Est, Trinidad e Tobago, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.

Getting Around

Italy has an advanced mass transportation system. Each city has its own system of local transportation that included buses and often subways and tram. The major cities are connected by a modern highway system. Bus and train service crisscross the nation. Domestic air service provides easy access to distant portions of the country.

Italy is a country that needs to be explored in an extended manner. It deserves your visit many times over. Each visit can reveal something new to you.

Italy Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Italy Diving