15 simple ways to travel like a local in Italy in 2024

Discover the most sustainable and intimate ways to immerse yourself in Italian culture with our ultimate guide from a local.

Traveling to Italy and looking to experience it like a local? I’ve got you!

I lived in Italy for almost 3 years and experienced the local side of life myself, so I’ve got all the secrets for ways to travel like a local in Italy. 

Traveling like a local to any country is more sustainable for the local community, allows you to get to grips with a new culture in a more intimate way, and also respects the local way of life far more than traditional tourism.

Top ways to travel like a local in Italy

1. Eat like a local

Eating like a local means embracing the local dining etiquette, knowing where to go, avoiding tourist traps, and timing your dinner plans to fit with Italian culture. 

Here’s a quick rundown of what to do:

• Italians eat dinner late – this means anytime between 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM. Any restaurant that serves dinner earlier than 7 PM is there for tourists!
• Eat first & second course – first course is often pasta, but you can choose something else! It’s considered good etiquette to eat both, and eat slowly!
• The best restaurants will be filled with locals – you’ll see lots of Italian families, couples, essentially local residents with kids if the restaurant is a local gem. 
• Want good pizza? Go to a pizzeria – don’t go to a normal restaurant and order pizza. Italians know that really good pizza only comes from specialist pizzerias. 
• PLEASE don’t cut your pasta – for real, you will be judged. Just twist it onto your fork and use a spoon to help the process if you’re not good at it. 
• Don’t bother trying to order a big, fancy breakfast – Italians are generally happy with ordering coffee and a pastry for breakfast. 
• Don’t go to restaurants near tourist attractions – off the beaten track you will find more authentic choices.
• Don’t bother with tips unless you’re in a restaurant – Italians often see cash tips as a form of showing off, so only tip in restaurants. It’s always appreciated in Italy, but not in the same way as the USA.

Here are all the ways to spot a tourist trap restaurant in Italy:

→ If there is a waiter standing on the street to hail you into the restaurant

→ If the menu is laminated

→ If the food is expensive but mediocre

→ If the restaurant is right next to a tourist attraction

→ If the restaurant serves too many dishes

PRO TIP: Want the real, authentic Italian restaurant experience? Ask a local for their favorite place and head there!

2. Rent a car in Italy

There are so many benefits to renting a car in Italy. If you intend to travel around the Italian countryside, it really is the best way to get around the region, and you’ll have far more freedom to experience more off-the-beaten-track Italian life. 

Most tourists stick to the cities and don’t venture beyond the city walls unless it’s for a beach or a specific tourist landmark. You, however, are different!

Renting a car allows you to traverse the region and experience local village life. Immerse yourself in La Bella Vita by going the road less traveled!

The best prices for renting a car in Italy are invariably from RentalCars. They’re super flexible and allow you to pick up and drop off from wherever you like. 

PRO TIP: Italians sometimes drive a teeny bit crazy. Embrace it, just stick to the speed limits!

3. Dress in elegant, neutral tones

Italians can often spot a tourist from a mile off just because of their clothes. 

It’s not the clothes themselves, it’s often how colorful you look! Italians love their muted, neutral tones and simple dress sense – think: pale linens, loose shirts, and comfortable but elegant shoes. 

This was a hard lesson for me when I first moved to Italy. I can tell you, I stood out like a sore thumb in the beginning! But slowly I got the idea and learned to dress with simplicity, and it helped me to understand and vibe with the culture in a more nuanced way. 

Dressing with simplicity in Italy isn’t just a way to blend in (you’re not Italian, you may never blend in fully), it’s also a way to immerse yourself in how the locals live: simply!

Italians have impeccable fashion sense, so leave your short shorts, big logos, polyester blends, and breast-enhancing corsets at home! 🤪

4. Adapt to Italian coffee culture

The vast world of Italian coffee culture may seem daunting. But it’s just different, and that should be embraced!

Don’t worry if you “break the rules” every so often, but learning to embrace a culture’s subtle distinctions begins with creating good habits.

Here are a few little things to get you started: 

• No cappuccino after 12 – it’s a morning drink! However, it’s ok to break this rule occasionally. 
• Latte means milk – if you order a latte, you will get a glass of milk. Instead, order a caffé latte.
• There is no X in espresso!!!
• On that note, don’t order espresso at all – want a short coffee? The correct, local term is just caffé, not espresso. 
• Iced coffee makes you look like a foreigner
• If you order coffee at the bar, drink your coffee at the bar – it’s basically like saying you don’t need table service. If you would like to sit down and enjoy your coffee, sit at a table first and then order from a waiter. 
• Italians will go to the same coffee shop every day – so choose your favorite place and make it your ritual. After all, Italians are ritualistic!

PRO TIP: If you’re on a budget, order your coffee from the bar and drink it there. It will be half the price of a coffee sat at a table!

5. Take a walking tour with a local

On your first day in a new place, trying to act “like a local” is difficult when you’re lost and don’t know where you’re going.

So as soon as you’ve had your caffé and pastry, go on a tour with a local to get your bearings.

Wherever in Italy you’re traveling, my recommendation is Guruwalk. The tours are totally free (you just tip the tour guide at the end) and the guides are true locals who know all the ins and outs of the place. 

When we first moved to Italy, I had no clue which way was left and which was right. So I went with a Guruwalk guide in Milan, and it helped me get my bearings. I no longer felt totally lost – it was the perfect way to begin my cultural immersion.

6. Learn the language

You don’t need to be fluent in Italian to visit Italy.

HOWEVER.

Learning the basics promotes a better experience and allows you to travel freely, with more flexibility, and more respect for the local culture. 

Although many Italians speak English, not everyone will be fluent. Many Italians don’t want to be approached in the first instance with English, and some find it disrespectful, so if you try your hand at Italian you’re much more likely to elicit a positive response. 

Learning Italian to a fluent level might be difficult for many people, since the grammar can be a little confusing! 

But you can learn basic Italian phrases, including asking for directions, ordering food and drink, and basic conversational skills. 

And even if you get it wrong, they’ll appreciate that you’re trying!

When I moved to Italy, I already knew a little bit of Italian, but I wanted to learn more so I could get around easier and ingratiate myself to their culture. So I learned more through Mondly! Their app is excellent, and you can practice offline as well. 

7. Learn how to use public transport

Even if you hire a car, the best way to get around in an Italian city is public transport.

Don’t just use Uber all the time. Traveling like a local means joining the Italian masses and using buses and trains to get around the city center, whether you’re in Rome, Florence, Milan, or anywhere else.

When I lived in Pavia (just south of Milan), I learned pretty quickly how to use the bus system as it was the best way to get around aside from cycling. The buses were usually on time in Lombardy, and I used the app Autoguidovie.

I recommend downloading CityMapper as well, it’s pretty reliable! 

For trains, use Trenitalia or Trenord apps, depending on where you are. 

PRO TIP: When using the bus services in Italy, don’t forget to activate your ticket when you get on the bus! If you don’t activate it, you might get fined. Which is embarrassing in front of a bus load of Italians. Stay safe, amici!

8. Stay in an apartment

I know hotels can be convenient. But traveling like a local means living like one, too!

Apartments can be found pretty easily on Airbnb and VRBO if you’re traveling for a short Italy trip (less than 3 weeks), and Facebook groups are more reliable for long-term lets (a month or more). 

Staying in an apartment means you’ll have more freedom, more privacy, and more flexibility to make your own meals with locally-bought groceries. 

If you’re on a budget, this means you can cook a good meal without worrying about the price too much. 

Don’t forget to say good morning to your neighbors if you’re staying in an apartment! Introduce yourself, speak in Italian to them, and ask them for recommendations for the best local spots to visit.

9. Dress modestly in religious buildings

You don’t need to totally cover up to enter a church in Italy, but some degree of modesty is required. 

• Take off your hat when you enter
• Cover your shoulders and knees (no shorts or short skirts, tank tops, or spaghetti straps) – men, this applies to you as well!
• Avoid showing excess cleavage or cover up with a scarf

Whatever you wear in these spaces, remember to show the utmost respect. Turn off your phone, don’t talk loudly, and don’t bother people who are praying. And close the door quietly on your way out!

Many Italians take their religion seriously, so showing respect for this will help you take in the experience better and ensure that these spaces remain a quiet haven for those worshippers. 

Remember, tourism doesn’t have to be invasive!

10. Embrace the drinking culture

Italians love a drink, and it’s an important social aspect of the culture. 

However, the binge drinking that is so rife in some other Western cultures (I’m looking at you, Britain) is not popular here.

Instead, drinking usually revolves around food in Italy. People will usually have a pre-dinner drink with aperitivo (a board of snacks) in the afternoon and a glass of wine with dinner. 

When I lived in Italy, I ADORED aperitivo. It’s typically just a wooden or slate board with different cheese, charcuterie, breads, olives, and chips. It’s super common, especially in the north of Italy! My favorite drink to have with aperitivo was always an Aperol Spritz. 

While drinking in public is normalized in Italy, public drunkenness is highly disrespectful – and you can even be fined for it. 

As my Italian friend puts it, drink elegantly, friends!

11. Shop at local markets

So, you’re staying in an apartment, and you need groceries, right?

Time to explore the local shops!

One of my favorite places to shop when I lived in Italy was the local butcher. The meat is UNRIVALED compared to supermarkets like Carrefour and Esselunga, and you get better service, more tender cuts of meat, and it will be super fresh.

Get your cheese from the local salumeria, meat from the butcher, vegetables from local marketplaces, and miscellaneous groceries from Esselunga.

It’s a fantastic way to practice your Italian, speak with locals, get local recommendations, save money, and live like a local!

12. Be aware of Italian hand gestures

Watch this video from Inevitaly, it will give you all you need to know about gesticulations in Italy!

Here’s some sage advice: don’t point in Italy.

Just don’t do it. People find it abrasive and rude. Instead, tilt your palm upwards and point with your whole hand if you need to gesture towards a specific direction. 

There are other hand gestures to be aware of that differ entirely from those used in other cultures. Be aware of cultural body language!

13. Explore local spots over tourist landmarks

Visiting landmarks as a tourist in Italy is one thing, but ONLY going to touristy places and not exploring the normal, local side of life is another. 

Go visit the Colosseum, sure – it’s an amazing place. But afterwards, don’t go for lunch next door. Instead, go at least a few blocks away and find a hidden restaurant. 

Marvel at the Tower of Pisa, definitely – it’s incredible, and going to the top is a fantastic experience. But afterwards, go for a self-guided walking tour around the river to discover boutique shops, local cafés, and parks off the tourist path.

The amazing thing about exploring the normal side of Italy is that you’re actually helping the local economy more than the average tourist. You’re spending your money in proper, local establishments rather than tourist traps, and living a more sustainable life while traveling. 

14. Spend at least 2 weeks in Italy

Traveling for a slightly longer period will give you a greater insight into the workings of local Italian life. 

You’ll experience more, have more flexibility to travel around, and you’ll return with a greater understanding of the culture. You’ll also be more satisfied and will have learned SO much.

I can’t imagine traveling somewhere new for less than a week, to be honest. It’s never enough to just dip in, see the touristy bits for a couple of days, then dip out. 

If you’ve never been before, stay a bit and open your heart and mind to a new and different way of life!

15. Get involved in local events

Italians are community-focused, so you’ll often find them celebrating something – whether it’s a time-honored tradition like a festival, a birthday, a graduation, or live music. 

Getting involved in local events allows you to see more of the nuances of the culture. And you’ll also be a part of something fun! Italians definitely know how to bring the party, so I highly recommend joining whatever local events you hear about – even if you’re an introvert!

Living in Pavia, we joined local events all the time. The European Football Championship was a BIG one, and the streets were filled with people, it was insane! But it was an incredible experience, and it felt good to be a part of something. 

So how do you find these events in Italy? Here are a few resources to get you started:

• Italia.it – great for finding local festivals
• Zero – for art and film events
• Eventbrite – for daily events

PRO TIP: Ask a local if there are any events! They know best what’s going on in the area, and you’re more likely to find interesting, hyper-local events that only they know about. 

FAQS about how to travel like a local in Italy

🇮🇹 What’s the best way to look like a local when traveling in italy?

Opt for clothing with neutral tones! I recommend paying attention to eating and drinking culture as well, as hanging out in touristy restaurants is a big sign you’re a foreigner. 

😜 What do locals in Italy do for fun?

Italians are sociable creatures, so you’ll often find them hanging out in groups having aperitivo. Find a group!

🚆 What is the most efficient way to travel around Italy?

The most efficient form of travel in Italy is driving, so rent a car! If you’re staying in one of the cities and not planning to venture elsewhere, the best way to get around is by bus or train. 

🤌🏼 What is the etiquette in Italy for tourists?

General etiquette dictates that tourism in Italy shouldn’t be invasive or disrupt local community life. Learn a few basic Italian phrases, be aware of how you dress in public spaces, and drink in moderation.

👫 How do I meet locals in Italy?

You can meet locals in Italy through local events! In the south, Italians are super approachable and you may easily meet people in bars. However, in the north, life is slightly more individualistic, so your chances of meeting people extend mainly to local community events.

👗 What should I wear in Italy to not look like a tourist?

Wear loose linens, simple pants, simple shirts, and comfortable shoes. Italians love well-made clothing, so leave your polyester at home and opt for silks, wool, cashmere, linen and cotton clothing, depending on the time of year you’re traveling. 

Conclusion

That’s it! Now you know how to travel like a local in Italy. 

We covered so much information, so feel free to save this post for later if you need to check back. 

If you have any questions, just drop me a comment and I’ll assist! As someone who lived in Italy for almost 3 years, I understand the struggle, so let me know if you need help 😊

Ciao for now,

Lizzie