All about a trip to Italy: how to get there, prices in Italy for food, hotels and transport, a visa to Italy and traveling by car. We also calculate how much a trip to Italy for two for a week costs.
Tour rest may be cheaper than a solo trip. Look at the prices and decide what is more profitable and convenient for you.
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Exchange rate: 1 euro ≈ 73 RUB.
Travel to Italy: how to get there?
There are always inexpensive flights from Russia to Italy, which cannot but rejoice, because an impressive part of the amount set aside for travel is usually spent on a flight. Of course, most of the low-cost airline offers are in the capital - you can fly from Moscow to Florence and Venice for 10 thousand or more, you can get from Moscow to Rome and Milan from about 9 thousand rubles (round trip). A flight from St. Petersburg to Milan and Rome will cost several hundred rubles more; a flight to Venice costs from about 11 thousand rubles. Read a detailed article about not only using traditional airlines, but also on low-cost airlines.
Flights within Italy
You can fly within the country (as well as in Europe) very cheaply on. The cost of one-way air tickets starts from 10-15 euros (moreover, this price can be found for many directions of flights within Italy).
The budget airline Ryanair (Rome, Bari, Pisa, Milan, Genoa, Pescara, Turin, Palermo, etc.) flies between many Italian cities, as well as Volotea, easyJet, Blu-express, Vueling and others. The most convenient way to search for tickets for flights of European low-cost airlines is using the Skyscanner search engine.
An example of a cheap Ryanair ticket for a domestic flight:
Are you planning a holiday in Rimini? Read and also everything about this resort.
Visa for travel to Italy
A visa for a trip to Italy in 2019 needs a regular Schengen visa. The package of documents is standard. Documents must be submitted in advance, as for urgency you will have to pay a double cost - 70 euros.
What documents are needed to travel to Italy:
- a passport valid for at least 3 more months after returning from a trip;
- a copy of the passport;
- internal passport;
- photo (color, taken no earlier than six months ago);
- visa application form ();
- copies and originals of round-trip tickets (reservation / electronic tickets to choose from);
- hotel reservation;
- medical insurance (covering at least 30 thousand euros);
- certificate from the place of work;
- proof of financial guarantee (copy of passbook, checks, account statement, etc.);
- consent to the processing of personal data;
- fee payment receipt.
The cost of a short-term visa type C is 35 euros, the service fee at the visa center is 1350 rubles.
More detailed requirements for documents for a visa to travel to Italy can be found on the website.
(Photo © Hikesinatra aka creep / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Transport prices in Italy
- a bus / metro ride in Rome - 1.5 euros, in Milan - about 1.70 euros, in Florence - 0.85 euros;
- train from the airport to the center of Rome - 8 euros (express - 15 euros);
- 3 km taxi in Rome - from about 6.30 euros to 10 euros, in Milan - from 7 euros, in Florence - from 4.30 euros;
- taxi from the airport - from 100 euros;
- travel card for a day in Milan - 5 euros.
Taxi from / to the airport (and not only) can be ordered in advance at the service.
Food prices in Italy - 2019
Italy is considered a fairly inexpensive country for holidays and travel, and you can really eat on a budget here if you follow reasonable savings. This is where the catch awaits tourists: it is unlikely that you will be able to resist spending on food on a trip to Italy. Just think: cheeses, wine, pizza and pasta, fresh seafood, Italian ice cream and tiramisu!
How not to spend all the money on goodies? Follow this simple tip: when traveling in Italy, eat away from the tourist streets to save money. In restaurants and cafes for tourists, prices will be much higher. Do not eat at establishments at the hotel or located near it - most likely, the price tag there will be too high.
A budget breakfast will cost 3-7 euros per person (in addition, many hotels offer free breakfast). Lunch will cost 5-15 euros per person, and you can eat in an inexpensive restaurant in Italy for about 15 euros per person. A three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant costs between 40 and 60 euros.
Pizza costs about 4-6 euros and more, pasta - 6-8 euros, tiramisu - about 4 euros. Beer in a restaurant (0.5 l) costs from 4.5 euros, imported (0.33 l) - from 3 euros. A cup of cappuccino - 1-2 euros. Pizza to go in small bakeries will cost about 3-4 euros.
If you are staying in an apartment or apartment on a trip to Italy and you have a kitchen, we advise you to cook yourself at least sometimes, this way you will reduce your food costs. Look for fruits and vegetables at the food markets.
Estimated food prices in Italian stores in 2019:
- milk (1 l) - about 1.30 euros;
- a loaf of bread - about 1.20 euros;
- eggs (12 pcs) - about 2.80 euros;
- local cheese (1 kg) - about 10-13 euros;
- spaghetti - from 2.5 euros;
- chicken breasts (1 kg) - about 8.40 euros;
- apples (1 kg) - about 1.75 euros;
- oranges (1 kg) - about 1.5 euros;
- bananas - about 1.80 euros;
- tomatoes (kg) - about 1.80 euros;
- water (1.5 l) - about 0.40 euros;
- a bottle of wine - about 5 euros;
- local beer (0.5 l) - about 1.20 euros.
Prices may vary depending on the city, area and supermarket. Cheap supermarkets in Italy: Unes, Esselunga, Carrefour, U2, Lidl.
(Photo © Steve Webel / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Hotel prices in Italy in 2019
When planning a trip to Italy, we advise you to book accommodation in advance, especially if you are traveling during the high season. Firstly, this way you can save money (for example, Rumguru will find great deals for you - sometimes the remaining unbooked rooms in a three-star hotel can be rented at a ridiculous price thanks to discounts), and secondly, you will be calm - you don’t need to go around hotels with luggage in search of free number.
Why do we recommend looking for hotels at the best price on Rumguru? The service looks for cheap deals among several booking systems at once, compares prices and finds the best one for each hotel. This way you won't overpay for housing.
In the center of Rome in the summer of 2019, there are hotels from 35 euros per night for two - for example, the cute Mandarin Guest House hotel near the National Roman Museum. A night in a two-star hotel in the center of Rome costs from 100 euros (for example, the most inexpensive 2 * hotel is Sweet Dreams).
In Florence, you can find a standard double room in a hotel from 47 euros per night (near the Old Town), on average, the cost per room is from 60 euros. In Milan, near the Central Station, a double room also costs from 47 euros per night, on average from 60 euros. But hotel rooms near the historic center of Milan are very expensive.
If you prefer to live in private apartments and houses while traveling, then it is better to look for them on the popular rental service from the owners of Airbnb.ru - you can find very comfortable accommodation there at any price! Prices for apartments in Italy are approximately the following: in Rome and Florence - from 37 euros, many offers for 45-60 euros. Sometimes you can find interesting offers - for example, a cozy studio in the center of Rome, next to Villa Borghese, for 50 euros per night. We also have an article about - perhaps it will help you in choosing housing in the Eternal City.
Prices for attractions in Rome
Since many tourists go primarily to Rome, where the main sights of Italy are concentrated, we will tell you more about the Eternal City.
Attractions in Rome are reasonably priced, and many of them are also free, which is a huge plus. Well, those that charge an entrance fee are definitely worth it to pay and see. Be aware that some monuments and attractions cause a stir among tourists - for example, the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum, so arrive well in advance to get in line. (better buy tickets online - for example, you can buy tickets to the Vatican Museum and Roman museums).
If you are in Rome in transit and you have little time left or only a couple of days, check out our guide article.
Here are the prices for some attractions in Rome:
- Colosseum - 12 euros for adults, from 18 to 25 years old - 7.5. The price includes a visit to the Roman Forum and the Palatine.
- Vatican Museum - 16 euros for adults, students - 4 euros, children from 6 to 18 years old - 8 euros.
- Borghese Museum and Gallery - 11 euros for adults.
- National Gallery of Modern Art - 10 euros for adults.
- Spanish steps - 1 euro.
(Photo © Moyan_Brenn / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)
Traveling Italy by car
A trip to Italy by car is wonderful! Traveling by car alone will give you many wonderful moments, but do not forget the car documents and their copies:
- vehicle registration certificate;
- international insurance policy (carta verde);
- rights;
- if the car is not in your possession, a notarized power of attorney from the owner is required. The same if the car is owned by the company - a power of attorney for management on the organization's letterhead.
When visiting several Schengen countries, prepare an itinerary.
You can also rent a car on Skyscanner Car Hire, an international car booking service. If you plan to rent a car, then among other documents you must have a contract for renting this car with you.
How much does a trip to Italy cost in 2019?
- air travel round-trip from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Rome - 150 + 150 euros (for two);
- accommodation in an inexpensive hotel near the center of Rome - 35 euros per night in a double room, that is, 245 euros for 7 days;
- food(3 times a day) - approximately 70 euros for two, that is, a total of 490 euros;
- Attraction- 36 euros (let's say you bought a Roma Pass to save on the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum - the most expensive attractions);
- insurance- from 10 euros for two.
So, how much does a trip to Italy cost? for a week for two? 300 + 245 + 490 + 36 + 10 = 1081 euros.
Of course, this is the minimum amount when living in one city - Rome. If you are planning a long independent trip around Italy, then add here the transportation costs to and between cities in Italy, the purchase of various souvenirs / clothes and various household expenses, accommodation in other cities, meals, and so on. In addition, all people have different requests - someone will want more of these delicious tiramisu :)
(Photo © sasha (fujin) / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)
Intro image source: © majamarko / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Instruction
A visa is the first concern for Russians who want to travel to Italy. Even if you are traveling on a tour package, you still need a visa. To enter Italy, you need a Schengen visa, and if you already have a sticker from any country from this agreement, then you do not need to get a new one. If you do not have a visa, it is recommended to do it at the consulate or visa center of Italy. Collect the entire package of documents, a complete list of which can be found on the website of the visa application center of the country. If you prepare everything well (and this is not at all difficult), then you can safely count on a visa - Italy practically does not refuse tourists from Russia.
Booking or is the next concern. If you want to live in a hotel where the staff will clean the room every day, but you may not have a kitchen at your disposal, then look for options on sites like Booking.com. For those who appreciate independence and comfort, renting an apartment is suitable. Everything is a little more complicated here, since there are a lot of resources offering apartments. Apartments are good because you will have a whole apartment with a kitchen at your disposal, and they are also usually much cheaper than hotels of a similar class. But if you need to book accommodation for a visa, then getting confirmation that you are renting an apartment can be more difficult.
Flights to Italy are another concern for an independent traveler. If you are planning a vacation ahead of time, it is recommended to subscribe to the Alitalia newsletter, as they often have various promotions and sales, including in the Russian direction. Newsletter subscribers can count on special coupons for which you can get a significant discount of one or two thousand rubles. In general, the destination is quite “hot”, and it is usually possible to fly to Italy even if you buy tickets at the last moment during the high season. Air tickets will also come in handy for a visa if you do it.
Be sure to check the weather forecast and general climatic conditions for the month of your trip. It happens that tourists from Russia do not take warm clothes with them, because they think that it is always summer in the south of Europe, but it also happens vice versa that the luggage of vacationers is full of sweaters and sweaters, which they never had a chance to wear during the whole vacation.
Public transport in Italy is quite well developed. You can move around the country by trains and buses. Railway stations are usually located in city centers. Trains are usually 2-3 times more expensive than buses, but bus stations are often difficult to find, so it is recommended to arrive at bus stations a little early. Also, in some places, maritime transport is developed, it may be cheaper than land transport. If you decide to move around the country by car, do not forget that all autobahns in Italy are paid. When you travel alone or as a couple, even trains are often cheaper.
Italian cuisine is one of the most famous in the world. Be sure to try delicious pasta and pizza, these dishes in Italy are really much tastier than anywhere else in the world. The famous espresso in this country is also prepared better than in the rest of Europe. Homemade cheese, delicious Italian wines, fresh fruits: one thing you can seriously fear is that you will have problems with a difficult choice of dishes! Be sure to stop by the Pasticheria for delicious tiny cakes and other Italian desserts.
Italy from its northernmost to its southernmost point is beautiful to the point of madness! Whether it's a big temperamental city or a small hearty village. Every corner of this beautiful country attracts with its exclusivity and unique charm. Traveling in Italy, I want to study it up and down, discovering unsurpassed beauty and filling my heart with new impressions.
Fans of such trips know that the bulk of the travel budget is spent on paying for hotels and buying tickets. Our invariable assistant in finding a hotel remains booking, because he often likes to surprise with prices:
We decided to devote this article to the second most expensive part of the budget of any trip, namely, the purchase of travel tickets for traveling around Italy.
Few people know, but you can travel all over Italy by spending only 10 euros!
It's not real, you say, but you'd be wrong. After all, we know exactly what we are talking about! And we have no right to advise our reader badly! Let's take a look at how a self-guided holiday in Italy can be extra cheap. For clarity, below we present several possible options for a trip to Italy.
So, let's imagine the following situation: from Milan we need to get to Rome. There are a lot of options for how to do this:
- air travel - saves time, but not money; Current ticket prices can be checked
- bus - the duration of the journey is from 5 to 10 hours (the best low-cost airline in Italy and Europe FlixBus);
- The train is the most common form of land transport among travelers.
We will focus on the last option. Buy a train ticket in Italy You can on the official website of the national railway. We wrote in detail about TRENITALIA tariffs, therefore, in this article we will not delve into the varieties of existing tickets for trains in Italy.
Let's go to the site trenitalia.com and see how much a standard travel document costs for the direction we are interested in. To do this, first of all, you need to enter a request on the main page:
- points of departure and destination,
- estimated travel date,
- and check the boxes: tutti treni(all trains) and solo data(one way only).
After that, you must press the big red button CERCA (Search).
Train tickets Rome - Naples
Great deal from Rome to Salerno
Italy is an incredibly attractive country. It combines everything that vacationers love so much: a mild Mediterranean climate, luxurious coastline, ancient architecture, interesting museums and sights, delicious cuisine, good shopping.
Organized tours here cost decent money, and if you go by yourself without prior preparation, you can get into unpleasant situations. Therefore, it is worth knowing in advance all the nuances of an independent trip so that only great memories remain from it.
If you want to learn how to travel around Italy on your own on a budget, this article is for you! Here you will find tips from experienced tourists, route ideas and a lot of other useful information.
Now let's move on to the details.
Where to start your trip to Italy
An independent trip around Italy (when searching for information using non-Russian-language services, the name of the country should be written Italy) does not begin with crossing the border, but much earlier - with its planning. Your comfort and positive emotions on the trip depend on how well everything is organized. First of all, we recommend taking up documents, tickets and transport logistics.
KalamurzingDocuments for entering the country
To freely enter the country, you will need a passport with an open Schengen visa. If less than 3 months are left before the expiration date of the passport, it will not be accepted. About what documents are required for the Italian Schengen, read on the websites of the visa centers.
It is very important:
For minors, if they are traveling with one parent, a notarized travel authorization from the other parent is required; it is worth capturing a birth certificate (if the child is not yet 14 years old).
You also need to purchase medical insurance (inexpensive and good insurance can be bought on the website or on instore.travel) and print out a hotel or apartment booking confirmation.
For travelers with a dog, a completed international veterinary passport, a veterinary certificate in form No. 1 from a state clinic (it is valid for 5 days from the date of issue), a veterinary certificate of form 5a are required.
Remember:
The animal must be microchip-transponder, free from fleas and worms, vaccinated against rabies and major diseases (no later than 30 days before crossing the border).
Attention: it is forbidden to import dogs of fighting breeds into Italy!
Air tickets - how to buy profitably
At first glance, nothing complicated: choose dates, city and buy tickets online. But we set a goal to travel cheaply, but there are nuances. Here is what experienced tourists advise:
- take tickets early in the morning or at night;
- do it a couple of months before departure;
- choose a departure and arrival in the middle of the week;
- do not go during high season.
If all these conditions are met, you will get plane tickets to Italy at the best price.
You can find cheap flights on the Aviasales website. This is a reliable service with a long history, it searches for tickets from trusted air carriers, and does not charge a commission. In general, a good site, use it.
There are ways to further reduce the cost of the flight, but be prepared to sacrifice convenience. For example, flights with transfers are always much less expensive, and night flights will be cheaper than day flights. You can use a low-cost airline, but in this case you can’t carry luggage (you can, if you pay extra) - only hand luggage, and you won’t be fed on the plane.
Train tickets - what are the options
If due to aerophobia or for other reasons the flight is no longer possible, you can consider the train. True, there is no choice here: only one train, Moscow-Nice, goes from Russia to Italy. It follows through Belarus, the Czech Republic, Austria and stops in the Italian cities of Bolzano, Verona, Milan, Genoa, San Remo, Bordighera and Ventimiglia. It will take almost two days to travel.
The train provides compartment, SV and deluxe seats. Depending on the final destination and the comfort of the seat, the ticket price ranges from 23,000 to 100,000 rubles per person.
How to create an interesting and optimal route
The most important ingredient for success! Usually you want to see everything at once, but you should not turn your vacation into a race. Practice shows that on average it takes three days for one large city. Start from this: if you are leaving for a week, let it be two or three resorts, but you can explore them slowly, enjoying every minute!
Which city to start with depends on what is the priority: excursions, a trip along the coast, visiting Christian shrines or famous Italian boutiques. Here are some popular large and small routes:
- Rome - Florence - Venice - Milan - Como;
- Palermo - San Vito Lo Capo - Agrigento - Taormina;
- Naples - Ischia - Capri - Pompeii (Vesuvius);
- San Remo - Genoa - Pisa - Florence;
- Bari - Matera - Alberobello - Grote di Castellana;
- Amalfi - Ravello - Sorrento.
The recipe for the perfect route is simple: rely on your imagination, but do not forget about logic and common sense. The points should be at a short distance from each other so that the road between them does not have to spend more time and effort than the rest itself.
You can first choose one most desirable city, then study the map, see which interesting cities are located at an acceptable distance, and plan the whole way.
TOP 15 best cities in Italy for tourism
To make it easier for you to choose, we have made a selection of the most beloved Italian cities by travelers, and summarized all their features, advantages and disadvantages in a table.
| City | pros | Minuses | Beaches | Attractions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is always something to see, even if you stay for a week or more. | Expensive housing. The main monuments are surrounded by tourists around the clock. | Out of town but easily accessible. | Colosseum, Pantheon, Forum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican and many others. | |
| Paradise for shopaholics, beautiful architecture. | You need to be vigilant and keep an eye on your bags and wallets. | No. | Cathedral in the Gothic style in the central square, the fifth largest in the world. | |
| Cool photos against the backdrop of a falling tower. | Staying longer than 1-2 days does not make sense. | In the vicinity, you can drive in 30-60 minutes. | The Leaning Tower of Pisa and other colorful buildings, the Botanical Garden. | |
| Romance-filled gondola rides, vibrant carnival. | An abundance of tourists, sometimes an unpleasant smell comes from the canals. | On the mainland. | Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, "Florian" (the first cafe in Italy). | |
| Monuments of art and architecture of the Renaissance. | Expensive, a sea of people, queues at museums. | No. | Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Boboli Gardens, Ponto Vecchio Bridge, churches and basilicas. | |
| Delicious pastries and pizza, gorgeous scenery. | You have to be careful on the road, crazy moped traffic. | There are also nearby Capri and Ischia. | Castles, palaces, cathedrals, catacombs; near Vesuvius and Pompeii. | |
| Verona | A cozy and romantic place, the city of love. | - | By the lakes in the suburbs. | Courtyard of Romeo and Juliet, amphitheater, Scaliger bridge, castles, panoramic platforms. |
| Palermo | Comfortable climate, fabulous views, lots of entertainment. | During the season, the beaches are crowded, and the entrance to private ones is expensive, the city is not always clean. | There is. | Capuchin catacombs, churches, squares and fountains, Palatine Chapel. |
| Taormina | Luxurious landscapes, climate, nature, ancient historical monuments. | High prices. | There is. | Palaces, cathedrals, Greek theater, gates of Messina, Villa Communale, Odeon and others. |
| San Remo | Excellent climate, abundance of beautiful flowers, magnificent panoramas. | Expensive shopping. | There is. | Casino, Nobel Villa, Ariston Theatre, Empress Embankment, Cathedral of Christ the Savior. |
| Cinque Terre | Very colorful place, wonderful postcard landscapes, National Park. | In most of the territory it is forbidden to travel by car. More than three days will be boring. | There is, including one nudist. | Path of Love, Neptune statue, Aurora tower, wine museum and cellars. |
| Alberobello | Authentic architecture that has no analogues. | A day is enough for inspection and photographs, then you will have to think about what to do. | No. | White houses with conical roofs - trulli, arranged in some of them museums, cafes, wineries. |
| Positano | Picturesque houses stuck to the rock, suitable for families with children. | Impressive prices. | There is. | Church of Santa Maria Assunta, exhibitions of street artists, Li Galli archipelago. |
| Portofino | Unusual architecture in pastel colors, good diving. | There are a lot of people during the season, it's expensive. | There is. | St. George's Church, Brown Castle, St. Martin's Church. |
| Como | Renaissance architecture, magnificent landscapes, the famous lake. | - | Yes, by Lake Como. | Palazzo Broletto, Cathedral, Funicular, Villa Olmo, Tempio Voltiano, Camerlata Fountain. |
Cinque Terre. elitravo
Alberobello. TOP67
Alberobello
Verona. Javen
Verona
Venice. Yasonya
Venice
Taormina. Aleksandar Todorovic
Taormina
Sanremo. S-F
Sanremo
Rome. Blue Planet Studio
Rome
Positano. Javen
Positano
Portofino. Olena Z
Portofino
Pisa. Balate Dorin
Pisa
Palermo. S-F
Naples. Leonid Andronov
Milan. Luciano MortulaLGM
Milan
Florence. Catarina Belova
Firenze
Como. feel good studio
Como
Now an independent trip to Italy will surely be planned out easier!
The most interesting cities for tourists on the map
What is the best way to travel in Italy?
Once you get to Italy, you need to decide how you will move between the designated cities - by public transport or by rented car. Both methods have their pros and cons.
Car rental - how to do it right
Ideal for traveling with children and for those who have a lot of things with them or a dog. With a company providing car rental services, it is better to decide in advance: look at prices, reviews, the amount of the deposit. If the decision was made spontaneously, then one of the options (not the best) would be to search for rental offices at the airport, at large railway stations, in tourist places in big cities.
It is more convenient and cheaper to rent a car on the Rentalcars website. The service compares offers from various car rental companies and gives you the best deals. In addition, you can choose the most suitable make and model of the car from a large number. Another advantage of the site is its security: by renting a car through it, you can be sure that the car will be at the appointed time at the appointed place, and the payment itself will pass without delay.
Paperwork for car rental
To rent a car, you will need an international driver's license. We also recommend purchasing car insurance, because. the streets in Italy are narrow, often tourists scratch their vehicles.
Note:
Carefully read the clause with the insurance deductible: you will have to pay no more than this amount upon the occurrence of an insured event (whatever is in excess of this amount is covered by insurance). In order not to worry about this, it is possible (and desirable) to purchase full insurance, without a deductible.
You will also need a card with at least 500 euros on it - this money will be frozen as a deposit and then returned back.
Be sure to conduct a detailed inspection of the selected car for chips, scratches and other shortcomings. For fidelity, you can fix them on video in your phone, so that later there will be no misunderstandings or conflicts.
In summer, in an international company, a day of rent will cost 20-150 euros, depending on the class of the car. If you book in advance (several months or at least weeks in advance) through Rentalcars, you will save 20-50% of your money. In winter, prices are reduced by another 15-30%.
Additionally, you can rent a child seat, navigator, roof holder, etc.
Tip: it's better to book a small car - it's easier to maneuver in the narrow Italian streets and easier to find a parking space.
Roads and parking - important features
Roads in Italy are excellent, well-signposted, with an abundance of roadside eateries and hotels. But you need to understand that among them there are paid ones, the ride on which will cost about 5-7 euros for every hundred kilometers. When entering such a section, you need to take a special ticket, and when leaving, pay it with a credit card (blue sign) or cash (white sign).
This will help you save:
Almost every highway has a free alternative: a parallel road winding through neighboring villages. The choice depends on what is more important: saving time or cash.
As for parking, they are different.
Write down:
White markings mean that cars are allowed to park here for free (although sometimes this applies only to Italians); yellow markings indicate disabled parking, and blue markings indicate that you have to pay for parking.
The closer to the city center, the more expensive a simple car will cost.
Rules and penalties - how to save your money
Experienced drivers won't learn anything new, but some things may prove useful.
For example, the maximum allowed speed within Italian cities is 50 km/h, on highways - 110 km/h, on highways - 130 km/h.
It is impossible to enter the historical center of some cities without permission.
Consider the following:
The driving style of the locals is quite aggressive: drivers brake sharply, cut, make bold maneuvers. Stay focused! If the police stopped you, you don’t need to argue or try to negotiate, it’s more expensive for yourself - it’s better to silently accept the paper with the issued fine.
And the sanctions for violating traffic rules in the country are rather big.
So, for the lack of international rights, a fine of 300 euros threatens, for speeding - from 40 to 3300 euros, for overtaking in the wrong place - 80-300 euros, for improper parking - up to 90 euros, for unfastened seat belts from the driver or passenger - from 80 to 325 euros, and for talking on the phone while driving - up to 645 euros.
Moreover, if you have never been stopped by the police, this still does not mean anything: the violation could be recorded on a video camera, and a notification of a fine sometimes comes even six months after leaving the country. And if you do not pay for it, the next time there will be problems with obtaining a Schengen visa. So you have to drive carefully.
Important: the price of gasoline in Italy is one of the highest in Europe: 1.5–1.7 euros per liter. Diesel fuel will cost less, but renting a car on diesel will be more expensive.
And keep in mind that refueling at night and on weekends at some gas stations is possible only for cash: some machines do not accept foreign bank cards.
Intercity trains - the nuances of rail travel
Many people prefer to use the services of the railway: the train network captures all major cities, you can not worry about breaking the rules, relax looking at the landscapes passing through the window, and at any time of the day afford a glass of Italian wine without fear of driving.
Varieties of trains in Italy
Frecci (arrow) - high-speed comfortable trains of three types: Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento. They develop speeds from 200 to 360 km / h and often follow without stopping.
The fastest among them is Frecciarossa, the slowest is Frecciabianca.
All trains have first and second class carriages, some have separate carriages for the disabled and dining carriages.
Intercity - trains that travel slower, make many stops and connect more than two hundred cities in Italy. Their maximum speed is limited to 200 km/h, the cars are also divided into classes according to comfort.
Intercity Notte - night trains, a great option for those who value time and do not want to spend daylight hours on travel. And at the same time saving on overnight stay. There are cars with seats (but you can also sleep on chairs) and compartment cars. Moreover, the latter are exclusively female or mixed.
Regionale is an analogue of our electric train, the least comfortable of all trains. There is also a variation of them called Regionale Veloce - they drive faster and stop less often.
All of the above trains are public. But the Italo trains, decorated with the image of a running hare, belong to a private company.
Why is it good?
They run only between megacities and are not divided into classes: all cars are equipped with comfortable chairs, TVs, sockets and free Wi-Fi.
But at the same time, they have three categories of comfort: smart (snack machines, the ability to order food from the menu), prima (the chair is supplemented with a footrest, there is a personal table, fresh newspapers are distributed in the mornings, you can order food; a relax car has been added, where loud conversations and phone calls), club (small number of seats and a lot of personal space, coffee and newspapers on demand, personal TV, you can choose food from the menu). Tickets for private Italo trains are the most expensive (you can catch promotions when the cost drops significantly).
And finally, there is a small autonomous network of trains Circumvesuviana - these are electric trains that run along the coast of the Gulf of Naples north of Mount Vesuvius.
Basic fares for rail travel
In Italy, there are different fares for tickets:
- basic (Base ticket);
- economical (Economi);
- super economical (Super economy).
Basic means that you can change the date and time of the trip an unlimited number of times, up to the departure of the train and even within an hour after it leaves. The best choice for those who like to spontaneously linger in their favorite place for an unplanned couple of days.
This might come in handy:
It is also convenient for latecomers: with such a ticket, you can leave on the next next train. If the ticket cost 10 euros or more, it can be returned as unnecessary, losing 20%. But if the price of the basic ticket was less than 10 euros, it will not be possible to return it.
Economy fare gives the right to change the day and time of the trip once. Unlike the basic one, it is allowed to travel with it only along the indicated route - that is, it will not work to transfer to a train of another direction, having paid an additional run-up in price. You can't give it up either. But on such economy tickets there are often discounts, sometimes up to 50%.
The super economical fare has the lowest price, but at the same time it is impossible to change the date and hour of departure, as well as return the ticket.
A great budget option for travelers who strictly adhere to the intended route.
The best tickets - how to save money
For those tourists who do not have extra money and are looking for how to cheaply relax in Italy, information about the possibility of additional savings on travel will be useful.
If you are traveling for more than a week and intend to travel around the country by train, you can buy a green card (Carta Verde) for 26 euros - it gives a 15% discount on all railway routes, and is valid for a year. But there is a catch: it is only sold to young people under 26 and older people over 60.
There are cards without age restrictions, they are called Amicotreno, but their price is higher: 50 euros. Above and discounts - 10–20% for Intercity and 50% for regional trips.
Those who come with children should remember that a child under 4 years old has the right to ride for free. Although they will not give him a separate place - you can only sit in the arms of your parents. Children from 4 to 12 years old will receive a 30% discount. And families and companies from six people are entitled to a 20% discount.
If you order tickets on the website of the state company Trenitalia (the website often works with errors, payment does not go through, and tickets may not arrive by mail, you will have to correspond with the support service for several days to get the money back, so it’s better to use another service to buy tickets, oh it just below), study the Promotions tab - promotions and special offers are displayed there. For example, 2 × 1, when two can ride on one ticket. But return promotional tickets will not work.
How to buy and use train tickets - it's important to remember
In addition to buying online, you can buy tickets at the box office or through a vending machine in the station. If you speak Italian, there will be no problems with the cashier. But not all railway employees understand English. In this case, it is better to write in advance on paper the day of the trip, the point of departure and arrival, the number of passengers and hand this information to the cashier. This will make it easier for you to communicate with each other.
In the machine, you can select English and follow the instructions. The main thing is to carefully enter the data. You can pay both in cash and by card. But some types of vending machines work exclusively with cards - check this right away, and if you expected to pay for the trip with real money, go to the ticket office.
If you are traveling by a regional train or you have tickets in your hands without indicating the day and hour of departure, they must be stamped in a special yellow or green machine that will stamp the time and date on them. Otherwise - a fine in the same amount as for the passage of a hare.
Important! A validated ticket in Italy is only valid for six hours!
And now about the most important service for buying train tickets. Its name is . It sells the same tickets as Trenitalia, only it works flawlessly. You can use it without fear that the ticket will not arrive in the mail, and you will not spend several hours proving that the payment on your part has passed. One of the big pluses of Omio is that it also offers train tickets from other rail companies, which may have promotions, and the ticket can cost you half as much as using Trenitalia.
And the last thing you need to know: Italian trains are often late and controllers always go to them.
Intercity buses in Italy - important points
Italians are more fond of railways, as it is faster to travel by train. But the buses in the country are modern, comfortable, it is convenient and pleasant to ride them.
But keep this in mind:
The difficulty is that all carrier companies are private, each region has its own. Because of this, it is difficult to coordinate flights with each other and correctly build a bus route between distant points. And given that it is easy to get stuck in a traffic jam and lose time in a metropolis, we recommend that you follow the example of the locals and, if possible, use trains, leaving buses for those points where there is no railway connection.
You can buy a ticket at the bus station or at kiosks. Just like trains, buses do not always arrive on schedule. And it is better not to go far from the stop: if the driver does not notice the people waiting for him, he can safely pass by.
Also, bus tickets can be purchased on the aforementioned website (it is more convenient and reliable).
How easy it is to find a transfer/taxi
When you travel on your own, but you need to take care of finding ways to get to the hotel in advance. This can be public transport, a rental car, or a taxi/transfer. In order not to add problems to yourself with finding a transfer on the spot, you can pre-order it on the website.
Accommodation in Italy - where is the best place to stay
Another important point of the plan. Nothing should spoil your vacation, which means you should have comfortable accommodation in which to relax and sleep well after a busy day. And you should take care of such housing in advance.
The nuances of living in hotels and inns
In order not to drown in a sea of sites and offers, we recommend using the Roomguru service. There are collected the best and, most importantly, proven hotels for every taste and budget, which can be booked with a benefit of up to 70%.
When checking in, check if there is a separate charge for the use of air conditioning - this is a common practice. Take repellent with you, as all living creatures such as centipedes and mosquitoes can seep into the rooms.
Important: Italian sockets are not the same as ours - take care of several adapters.
Hostels - an opportunity to save
An inexpensive option for those who are willing to sacrifice a little convenience in order to spend money on something more interesting. Moreover, modern Italian hostels are quite decent, well-maintained and clean, most of them have an equipped kitchen, and some even offer breakfast. Yes, other people will spend the night in the room, the toilet and shower are also shared - but you can make new acquaintances, and if the neighbors turn out to be experienced travelers in Italy, then you can get good advice.
If you are traveling as a family or a mixed company, find out in advance whether the rooms of the chosen hostel are for shared accommodation or whether men will have to spend the night separately from women.
Carefully read the information on the website: in some places you may not be accepted with animals and even children, there are also age restrictions (guests must not be under 18).
There are noisier youth hostels and quieter family hostels. To avoid unpleasant surprises, do not be too lazy to study the reviews.
Villas and apartments - rental features
If you want to feel at home, be able to cook, do laundry and not run into strangers, you can rent a villa or apartment. This is especially beneficial for those who travel in a team of 4-6 people, because the fee is taken for all accommodation, respectively, the larger the company, the cheaper the overnight stay will cost for everyone.
Of course, a villa, especially located in Liguria or Tuscany, will cost an order of magnitude more than apartments (on average 2000 euros / week).
But for a good apartment in a beautiful area, accommodating up to six vacationers, they will ask about 1000 euros per week. And keep in mind that during the high season, housing prices near the sea skyrocket. So you need to book in advance, best of all in winter (January-February).
Dining in Italy - everything a traveler needs to know
Well, how can you go to Italy on your own and not get an impression of its cuisine, one of the most delicious in the world? This is a mandatory part of the program!
Cafes and restaurants - prices and varieties
The country has a great variety of establishments, and here are their main varieties:
- trattoria - family restaurants with a large selection of homemade dishes;
- osteria - emphasis on wine and snacks, a more satisfying menu is not always available;
- pizzeria - a good selection of handmade pizzas cooked in the oven;
- rosticheria - a la our canteens, buffet format (all dishes are ready);
- prosciutteria - meat and sausage cuts, sandwiches and inexpensive wine;
- ristorante - a restaurant in the literal sense, with a beautiful interior and gourmet cuisine;
- pasticheria - a pastry shop with cakes, pastries, homemade muffins and coffee;
- gelateria - an ice cream parlor with a huge assortment, often in the "to go" format.
Ristorantes are among the most expensive establishments, rosticeries are among the most budgetary.
The average prices are as follows: appetizers - 5-8 euros, first courses - up to 10 euros, second courses - about 15-20 euros, desserts - 3-5 euros, pizza - about 7 euros. The cost of wine - from 6 euros, soft drinks - 2-3 euros, freshly squeezed juice - 4-5 euros, coffee - 1-4 euros.
Remember:
In Italy, there is such a thing as coperto - table collection. It is 1-3 euros per person and is automatically added to the bill. There is also a Servizio fee, this is a percentage for the service, or tips included. So be prepared to pay more than the menu.
In a free translation, "coperta" means "tablecloth", that is, if you are not sitting at a table, but drinking coffee or eating at the bar, the fee will not be charged. If convenience is not so important to you, you can save a lot on this for the whole trip.
And you can also use complex lunches - in Italian this is the "menu of the day" (menu del giorno) or "tourist's menu" (menu turistico). Paying about 20 euros for them, you will receive several dishes, and sometimes a glass of wine. It is much more profitable than ordering dishes separately.
And finally, if you don't know where to go, take a look at where the locals eat. This will be an institution with the most delicious cuisine and sane prices. Most often, such bars and trattorias are located far from tourist sites and, by finding them, you can cut costs by half.
Street food is worth a try
Connoisseurs say that you can't leave Italy without tasting street food. It can be the usual pizza sold by the slice, focaccia with cheese, piadina (something like an envelope of pita bread) with vegetables, meat or cheese, fried fish or seafood.
But there are more authentic dishes - olives alla ascolana, that is, olives stuffed with parmesan or meat and deep-fried, or Sicilian arancini - rice balls with meat or cheese, also fried in breadcrumbs. Cannoli are very popular - sweet rolls with ricotta cream with the addition of chocolate, candied fruits or fruits.
Do you want delicious and varied food?
It is best to try street food at culinary festivals - both the choice of dishes is impressive and the color is off scale. Here are some of the most interesting holidays:
- ham festival (September 6–15, Parma);
- pizzafest (September 13, Naples);
- cheese festival (September 13–16, Bra);
- festival of wine and grapes (October 5, Marino);
- chocolate festival (October 17–26, Perugia);
- slow food festival (October 23–27, Turin);
- white truffle festival (all weekends in November, San Miniato).
All events are fun, cheerful, emotional, accompanied by music, informative stories, master classes and competitions.
Grocery markets and shops - where and what you can buy
If you're renting an apartment or house, you obviously plan to cook on your own sometimes. Products can be bought in markets or supermarkets, and in the latter prices are often lower. This is explained by the fact that in the bazaar many farm products are environmentally friendly.
The average cost of a kilogram of vegetables and fruits in Italy fluctuates around 1-4 euros, cheeses cost 8-15 euros per kilo, meat - 5-13 euros, poultry is slightly cheaper, pasta is about euros per pack, olive oil is 4-5 euros per bottle . The price of homemade milk is 1.5 euros / liter, store-bought is three times cheaper. Natural sausages are expensive: 1–3 euros per 100 g. Wine - from 2 euros.
In general, such food comes out much cheaper than ordering food in institutions.
You need to know that when entering a small grocery store, even just to get acquainted with the assortment, it is customary to greet the sellers. But it is not customary to give cash in hand: the money is placed on a special stand at the checkout.
Neither in the markets nor in the store can you touch vegetables and fruits with your hands: in the markets there are disposable gloves for this, and in the bazaar the seller will give you everything. During the siesta, that is, from 13:00 to 15:30, shops may be closed. And on Sunday and even on Monday morning, many have a day off. Markets are open from 7-8 o'clock until lunch, in small towns - on special market days.
Food culture in Italy - how not to get into trouble
As the saying goes, if you come to Rome, behave like a Roman. Before you get to Italy, it does not hurt to learn a few unspoken rules regarding meals. So, an Italian's breakfast is the easiest meal, but lunch and dinner are dense, unhurried and consist of several dishes following one after another in strict order.
You can skip something, but swap it - mauvais ton! It should be eaten around the same time.
A traditional breakfast is a cup of cappuccino and a brioche or croissant between 7 and 10 am, and often not at home, but in a bar nearby.
At other times of the day, it is not customary to drink cappuccino, only espresso or macchiato. Americano with milk in Italy is better not to ask, it is generally not considered coffee.
Lunch falls between 13.00-16.00 and begins (but not necessarily) with an aperitif.
Then there are cold or hot appetizers - antipasti, first course (primo, usually pasta or risotto), second course (secondo, meat or fish), side dish (contorno, potatoes, salad or vegetables) and dessert. Ends the meal with an espresso. After coffee, the meal is over.
With dinner, the situation is similar. It starts late, around 20:00–22:00.
Remember:
Fruits, even apples, are eaten peeled. Pasta is eaten hot, immediately after serving, and without bread. If you were served pasta at a party, you should immediately start tasting, otherwise you can offend the hosts - it is believed that with every minute its taste is reduced. Pizza can be paired with beer, but never with wine!
And no mayonnaise in salads, only balsamic and olive oil. And you can also soak the leftover food from the plate with bread, this is not considered bad manners, but, on the contrary, indicates that you appreciated the work of the cook.
The most interesting things to do in Italy
That's what the vacation was for. Entertainment is the main pastime of tourists, so plan it well! You can do almost anything in Italy: have fun in one of the water parks, paragliding or hot air ballooning, scuba diving, surfing, skiing, climbing the top of a volcano, relaxing in the botanical gardens ... But the main thing is sightseeing and hiking in the famous museums. Every traveler includes them in his schedule. And here you can not do without home preparations.
Buying tickets for events - it's worth remembering
Tickets to major museums and galleries can be booked online in advance. Don't neglect this opportunity! Sometimes there is such a queue at the box office that it’s easier to completely refuse to visit than to spend so much time buying tickets, which at the last moment may not be enough.
This will save time:
Among other things, you can buy tickets online to the Colosseum (they also let you into the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill), to the Sistine Chapel, the Borghese Gallery, to the Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie to Da Vinci's Last Supper fresco, to the Uffizi Gallery, in the Palazzo Vecchio, in the Doge's Palace, in the Palazzo Ducale. True, enterprising Italians quickly figured out how to make money on this, and they can ask for an additional fee for booking tickets on the site.
Carefully study the information from the official websites: some museums and exhibition galleries practice free days (or free hours), and you can visit them without spending a dime.
So, in Italian state museums they do not charge an entrance fee on the first Sunday of any month, although it is likely that you will still have to stand for a free ticket or pay for its reservation ahead of time.
Also, some tourist cards give you the right to receive a discount on entrance tickets. For example, in Rome, this is the Roma Pass (valid for 2-3 days, costs 28-38 euros, respectively, allows you to see one (card for 2 days) or two (card for 3 days) sights to choose from for free and without waiting in line and not pay for travel by bus, trolleybus, tram, metro and some trains).
Be sure to look at the available entertainment on the site. On it you can book excursions, buy tickets for sightseeing without queues (for some), purchase a City Pass (a tourist card that gives discounts on transport and museums), as well as find other entertainment in your city.
One of the best (if not the best) sites for finding interesting excursions in Russian is this. With local guides who offer their services on this site, you will definitely learn a lot about Italy, excursions are interesting and memorable. It will also not be superfluous to look at another site with excursions - you can also sometimes find something unusual.
Where to go with children in Italy
A small child is unlikely to be interested in the paintings of ancient artists and ancient ruins, so when traveling with children, you need to think over separate entertainment points. Fortunately, in Italy there is where to turn around!
Etnaland - an exciting vacation on the water
An open-air entertainment complex known throughout Europe, located in Sicily, in Belpasso (province of Catania).
On its territory there are a lot of water attractions and high-speed slides, waterfalls, swimming pools, a jacuzzi, children's and adult rafting, a pizzeria and a cafe. Near the aqua zone there is a zoo, a park with dinosaurs and a theme park with a cable car and a large children's area with carousels.
Etnaland is open from April to September.
Gardaland - exciting attractions
For the abundance of cool attractions, this huge park, located near Verona on the shores of Lake Garda, was nicknamed the local Disneyland. There is a Fantasy Kingdom zone with entertainment for kids from two years old; themed adventure zone for children from 10 years old; red adrenaline zone for those who like to tickle their nerves; a huge aquarium area with the opportunity to watch shark feeding and dolphin shows.
The park is closed in February-March.
Zoomarin - the largest water park
One of the largest family water parks in Italy, located in the suburbs of Rome. Here you can ride roller coasters, take part in sea battles, go to a small zoo, see shows with parrots, dolphins and fur seals, watch a 4D movie, lie on a tropical sandy beach and take an interactive journey into the prehistoric world. The territory is surrounded by greenery. Visits may be limited during the cold season.
Italy in miniature - all sights of the country
The park built in Rimini gives you the opportunity to see the most memorable sights of Italy and Europe in a reduced size. There are almost 300 copies of various architectural monuments, including the Eiffel and Leaning Towers of Pisa, the Colosseum, Mount Etna, the Greek Acropolis and the German Neuschwanstein castle.
In parallel, you can ride the rides for free, and if you are tired, you can use the monorail railway, you can ride the train and listen to the guide's stories.
The park is open from March to October, the rest of the time it works exclusively on weekends.
But keep in mind that entertainment in these and similar parks is designed for the whole day!
Interesting places for children on the map
When going to a small town or village, make sure that you have cash in your wallet - in such places with ATMs can be busy. At the same time, stocking up on money, try to shoot them out of sight of everyone - thieves are on the alert, and theft most often occurs in tourist places. For the same reason, it is advisable to park your car in a paid parking lot or at least in a well-lit place and not leave valuables in the cabin.
It is important:
In public places in Italy, including streets, stops and summer cafes, you can not smoke. The exception is rare establishments that have special rooms for smokers.
Don't break this rule! If you are spotted, you risk running into a fine of up to 500 euros.
If the purpose of the vacation is a beach holiday, keep in mind that in Italy you can’t be on the beach at night (namely, from 01:00 to 06:00), you are also fined for this (150 euros). It is also forbidden to give each other massage, unless you are a professional massage therapist and are not at work.
Independent trip vs tour - what to choose
For those who still doubt whether it is worth organizing an independent holiday in Italy or is it better to buy a group tour of several cities in the agency, we have prepared a comparative table. It will help you weigh everything again and make a final decision.
| Evaluation criteria | Independent trip | Ready group tour |
|---|---|---|
| Route | At your request, during the course you can adjust by introducing new points or, conversely, shortening the path. | Pre-planned by the operator, not subject to change, includes the most popular cities. |
| Directions | Whichever is more convenient for you: plane, car, bus or train. | Only the type of transport with which the company works. |
| Accommodation | You must personally book and pay for apartments or rooms, you can choose the most suitable area. | You can’t choose the area and the hotel, but all the hassle of settling lies on the shoulders of the tour operator. |
| Food | Cooking yourself, going to the market or cafe for food - it's up to you, as well as how many times a day you eat. | Most often it consists of not very satisfying and varied breakfasts and snacks on the run. |
| Excursions | You need to be ready to find your way, stand in line for tickets and pay extra for the guide's stories, but you can not adjust to someone else's schedule. | Tickets have already been bought, you will be brought to your destination, the services of a guide are often included in the price of the tour, but the time is strictly stipulated, most often, such excursions are uninteresting and unmemorable. |
| Free time | Unlimited - you can give the object you like as much attention as you want. | It has rigid frames and is often limited to a couple of hours. |
| shopping | At your discretion: you can spend a maximum or minimum of time shopping, go around any shopping centers, shops and markets. | As a rule, it consists of the purchase of souvenirs and a visit to sponsorship points with which the agency has an agreement. |
| Society | Choose a company to your liking or refuse it altogether if you want to be left alone. | You have to get used to the constant presence of people and accept if you do not like someone. |
| colorfulness | You can include non-tourist places in the plan and refuse to go to the promoted ones if you don’t want to visit them; get the most out of communicating with local and original establishments. | There are enough vivid emotions, but there is no element of freshness: the trip goes along well-trodden tourist trails, the leader of the group accompanies you everywhere, there is no feeling of freedom. |
| Price | You can save on agency commissions, buy cheap tickets ahead of time, find budget accommodation, adjust food expenses and, as a result, spend less on vacation. | It cannot be changed, but travel agencies rarely have their own discounts. |
Decide to go to Italy on your own - this vacation can be the best in your life!
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.com
Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe with a great history and culture reflected in many of its historical sites, ancient ruins and memorial buildings. And cities such as Rome, Venice, Verona and Milan have long been ranked as separate attractions in the open air.
An increasing number of tourists prefer an exciting journey in the form of independent trips to Italy, since we live in the modern age, where any information about a completely alien country is available, you just have to lend a hand. Developed transport hubs allow you to easily get to even the most remote point and move comfortably in any chosen region. In addition, Italy is a civilized Europe, and not Asia alien to us.
To Italy "on your own" - you will not regret it!
It is enough just to be well aware of the peculiarities of organizing a trip to Italy by "savages", which will be discussed in this article.
Benefits of solo travel to Italy
In fact, you can talk about the advantages of vacationing in Italy according to your own scenario for an infinitely long time, since there are a great many of them, moreover, each tourist has his own. However, it is worth noting the brightest moment. This is an opportunity to see Italy from a completely different, less touristy side, which is always inherent in complex trips from tours. agencies.
This feeling can be compared with the fact that you look at a precious stone and discover a completely new facet in it. It is this view that turns out to be more truthful and closer to the true essence, in this case - the real life that takes place in Italy. Below we will consider the main stages on the way to a great holiday in Italy.
The first and he is the last stage "Visa"
What torments all independent tourists-enthusiasts, tuned in to the wave of relaxation in a particular country? Of course, the issue of obtaining a visa. If there is no visa, there is no future vacation. About, , already mentioned a little earlier. It is worth noting the fact that they think about getting it, usually in the first place. But the delivery of documents to the embassy is carried out after all the points of the subsequent stages have been completed.
The second stage "Choosing a way of travel"
By train
Undoubtedly, the most popular mode of transport to Italy is by plane. But there are those tourists who are terribly afraid to travel by air. For them, the ideal (but more expensive) way to get to Italy is by train. There is only 1 direct train connection to Italy on the route Moscow-Verona-Milan-Genoa-Nice. With transfers, there are plenty of options. The website of international Russian Railways will help you choose a railway route.
The only train "Moscow-Nice"
Timetable of the train "Mosca-Nice"
by plane
Those who believe that this way of traveling cannot afford them are completely mistaken. Today, air tickets can be purchased at a very low cost - from 200-250 euros, including all necessary fees, in both directions. Moreover, these will not necessarily be charter flights. Many airlines arrange sales and promotions. There are also a sufficient number of budget flights from low-cost airlines.
But before you come to grips with the search for air tickets, you should know that:
You can "catch" the best price by purchasing a ticket 3 months before the expected departure date;
It is more profitable to take round-trip tickets;
The cheapest tickets are for the evening/night flight;
Connecting flights are always cheaper than direct flights.
Connecting flights
Let's take a closer look at direct and connecting flights. What to give preference? If the main goal pursued is to save money, and there is no time limit, it is better to stop at the second option. So, by looking at some of the routes offered on the Internet, you can meet only 150 euros.
The main thing you should pay attention to is the time difference between landings, which should not be too big (so as not to be tiring) and not too small (so that in case of force majeure with the first flight you will not miss the plane directly to Italy). Among other things, connecting flights are chosen in cases where there is no direct flight connection from Russia with some Italian cities where you plan to spend your vacation. For example, with Florence and Naples.
A huge plus of acquiring connecting flights (do not confuse with individual flights) is that upon landing at the “transshipment” point, there is no need to re-check in and receive baggage. All information is already in the database of the new airline. By the way, if the time at the connecting airport is 5 or more hours, why not use it for your own good by making a short "march" through the main attractions of this city. And it is not boring, and the boundaries of travel are expanding significantly.
So, how to make this coveted itinerary? This will help you specialized Internet services which are very easy to handle. It is enough just to fill in the "from" and "to" fields and put a few checkmarks that narrow the search criteria. One of the most detailed and reliable such resources is Routes.ru. The service provides information about the cheapest, fastest and most optimal routes in terms of price-quality ratio. Here you can not only choose the most acceptable route, but also immediately purchase tickets.
An example of a connecting route to Italy from Moscow:
There: via Frankfurt am Main
Moscow (Domodedovo) - Frankfurt am Main (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 30 minutes;
Free time at the airport - 50 min.
Frankfurt am Main - Rome (Fiumicino) (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 45 minutes
Cash costs: 6.604 p.
Return: via Munich
Rome (Fiumicino) - Munich (Lufthansa) - 1 hour 40 minutes
Free time at the airport - 11 hours 35 minutes.
Munich - Moscow (Domodedovo) (Lufthansa) - 5 h. 5 min.
Cash costs: 6.604 p.
Airlines with connecting flights to Italy:
You can look for low-cost offers from low-cost airlines Ryanair and EasyJet, which provide cheap flights to many European countries. Also, highly specialized sites that monitor the market for offers from many airlines and travel agencies will help you find the cheapest air tickets. Be sure to check out Trip.ru, Momondo, Skyscanner and Aviasales
Charters
Charters in Italy are popular during the summer season. Usually they are carried out 1-2 times a week from April to mid-October. Charters fly to Italian cities that are inaccessible during the rest of the year (for example, Naples).
Direct flights:
Direct flights to Italy are, of course, the most comfortable in all aspects, except for the money issue. For convenience and speed, you will have to pay a little more. But direct flights are also available if you are puzzled by their search in advance.
Italian airline "ALitalia"
For example, Bologna, which is still little known among Russian tourists, is regularly flown by the airline " Meridiana fly» from Domodedovo, to Sicily (Palermo and Catania), Rimini, Pisa and Verona can be reached using the services Windjet.
Inexpensive low-cost airline "Meridiana fly"
How to buy tickets?
Since the search for profitable air tickets was carried out via the Internet, then you should buy a ticket for the selected flight through it. After you have found, in your opinion, the most suitable flight, you need to start booking it.
In the window that opens on the airline's website, to which the search resource automatically redirects you, fill in all the empty lines with personal data, e-mail address and credit/salary card information. The advantage of this form of payment is that the purchase of electronic tickets, as well as their payment, can be carried out for you by third parties. The main thing is to provide the correct data of the person to whom they are issued.
Further, a confirmation of the reservation of air tickets is sent to the specified e-mail. Now this name will be listed in the database of tourists of one or another airline for a certain flight. All you have to do is come to the airport and present your passport. But since we are talking about Italy, in order to obtain a visa to this country, the embassy requires the provision of air tickets. This electronic confirmation can act as it.
A simple and convenient service for booking hostels around the world
The principle of booking rooms is identical to the rules for booking airline tickets. According to the requirements of the Italian visa center, the room booked on-line must be paid for (at least the first day).
Traveling in Italy
Traveling in Italy with your own car is great. We will not consider this topic here, since it has been written about in detail. It is worth saying that in Italy there are no problems with any type of transport. You can travel both by taxi, trains, and by ferry (between the two resorts and to the islands).
