Being a city that attracted around 68 million tourists in 2024, Italy is without any doubt a dreamland for tourists. You don’t need to search ‘why to visit Italy’ because you already know the answer: The dazzling city of Venice, the stunning charm of Milan, and the mysterious, yet enchanting vibes of the Pisa Tower are just a few reasons that make Italy a must-visit destination.
So, it’s not why but how—how to visit Italy to get the most out of the country?
Well, you will find many answers to this question, mostly circling around the clichè points like by enjoying its diverse history, appreciating the architecture, and visiting famous sites. But that’s what everyone does and it’s obvious—no?
These are tried-and-tested ways, nothing special. So, what’s the extraordinary way?
This:
If you really want to indulge into the Italian charm without visualizing just its outer colors, visit it like a local. Take off your travelling cloak and wear the local gown to know what la dolce vita (the good life) means for Italians. After all, what can be better than embracing the energy of this strikingly amazing country with widely opened arms?
Here are the simple ways to visit Italy like a local citizen:
1. Plan a Private Trip—Bet on Fun
Hiring a travel agency for a trip cuts your hustle to the bare minimum. It means no fuss to map out an itinerary, no race to catch up with the clock, and no cry to find transportation.
But it also means clinging to set patterns, being bound to visit only scheduled places, and losing your freedom to get lost in the beauty of Italy to find the treasure of new meanings. And, ah, that’s not how locals enjoy it!
If bearing a bit of hassle means opening doors to signature Italian vibes, it’s worth it. Plan your trip on your own. It might be messy and fussy, but imperfection in Italy will also sound like an art.
2. Ditch Transportation Pain—Rent a Car
Italy has one of the best railway systems and public transportation networks. You can take a swift underground metro or a bus that is active throughout the week. However, it has a negative side—you get to visit only those same few places that you can see in posters too. That’s not Italy. That’s not even 20% of what Italy truly has to offer.
The actual Italian charm is hidden in the unwinding alleys of Italy, whispering spells of colorful villages, and its enchanting past stories, hidden in the Renaissance architecture and Roman ruins. You miss all this when you plan your itinerary according to the local transportation timings.
The car rental services are the best alternatives for those looking to claim the best Italy experience, exploring places that give you a glimpse of what it truly feels like being an Italian.
The good thing is that the tourist surge has given way to many reputable car rental companies like discovercsrs.com, operating globally in 50,000+ destinations in 164 countries, transforming the travel experience of tourists. Just imagine touching the soil of Italy with a fresh mind, knowing that you won’t have to solve the commuting riddle. A car of your choice would be ready to give you the ultimate travel experience the moment you would step out of the airport.
Sounds good? Let me tell you something better:
- Besides advance booking, you can customize your travel experience, choosing your type of luxury preference from among 1000+ suppliers
- 24/7, multilingual support that ensures you won’t be stranded in an unknown place at any point
- Change of mind wouldn’t be your punishment as you can cancel or change reservation 48 hours before the pick up time
- Choose a full coverage rental option and that would be the epitome of a hustle-free commute because you would have someone’s back throughout the trip
With all these perks and the Trustpilot rating of 4.6 from 214,000 reviews, download the app fearlessly. Reserve a car through credit card payment and plan your itinerary as it pleases you—without worrying about any hidden fee.
3. Please Your Tastebuds Like Locals
When you think of Italian cuisine, pizza and pasta are a must to shine in your mind. But they are not the ONLY shining Italian cuisine. They are just a tip of the Italian’s love for food and life.
It’s no wonder that Italian cuisine is a celebration of taste, spices, and the love for food. It isn’t just an energy source for Italians, it’s their way of life. So, when in Italy, make Italian cuisine a compass for planning your itinerary.
Cicchetti in Venice, stuffed pasta in Bologna, saffran-flavored risotto in Milan, pizza in Naples, and seafood are a few among many Italian cuisines that you must try to dig deeper into local Italian food.
Try famous restaurants but don’t miss out on local, hidden gems at the corner of the streets, where locals eat, meet, and greet each other at the end of the day. That’s where you would find the actual Italian taste with all its savory and richness. Even having a cup of tea in these local eateries feels like smelling Italian aroma in every sip.
4. Forget Luxury—Book a Hostel
A true local-like experience in Italy is impossible without having an interaction with locals—an opportunity likely to get skipped in hotels.
Italy is not short of world class hotels with everything luxury, comfort, and grandeur. But while these hotels make you feel royal, they also take away your chance to find the OG Italian lifestyle.
Walking away from Italy without having firsthand experience of seeing an Italian household, their strong family bonds, celebration of life and relations, is such a waste.
You can search good online hostels, bustling amidst Italy’s cities and villages to feel ‘THEM’ local energy gushes. Interacting with locals, eating with locals, living with locals—you can find all these three ways to enjoy Italian life in a good hostel.
It will save you many bucks too that you can spend on buying souvenirs for your family and friends.
5. Find Italian Culture and Art in Every Nook
Lenardo da Vinci, the creator of the iconic Mona Lisa painting was an Italian. The Tower of Pisa is in Italy. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling gleams in Italy. These facts are enough to tell that the art runs in the blood of Italians and the love for the art reflects in their culture and cultural symbols.
In fact, if someone says that Italy is an open museum and every street a hub to enjoy the enriched Italian culture, believe in it. That’s true! Italy thrives on art, breathes in its culture, and lives with love for them.
Don’t limit your trip to famous tourist destinations like Sforzesco Castle, Uffizi Galleries, Vatican Museums, or Saint Mark’s Basilica. The true colors of Italian culture and art unfold in theatrical performances, Italian music in local bars, graffiti art on street walls, and street performances of the local artists—all set to make people remember what it’s like being a local, an Italian.
You’re going to Italy for the first time or nth time, Italy never stops amazing you. If you want to amplify your amusement, visit Italy like a local—and now you know how. You will never regret it; this mesmerizing place will never let you!
