When you’re visiting Italy, there’s so much to experience that you’ll find your trip is over and done with in the blink of an eye. But what are you left with after you’ve arrived back home, other than a few gifts for your loved ones?
With each trip you take, it’s important to try and combine a few tourist hotspots with some lesser-known areas, attractions, and experiences. But how are you going to actually find that true Italian adventure when there’s so much available to you?
Here are a few simple tips and ideas to help you make your next trip the most memorable one yet with a true Italian experience.
1- Learn some basics of the language
If you want that authentic experience and you’re looking to interact with the people who live there, learning a few basic Italian greetings can make all the difference.
Not only will it help to pull you further into the culture, but you’ll get a better idea of the customs and interactions of people beyond the boundaries of tour guides and hotel receptionists.
2- Look for experiences over anything else
It’s easy to get lost with all the other tourists and end up at the same locations and sights that everyone else gets exposed to when they take a trip to Italy. Of course, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but in order to make memories that last, it’s also important to seek out some experiences that are going to last a lifetime. Why not immerse yourself in the culture of the country and discover Italy’s opera events?
3- Don’t book with a big hotel chain
Let’s face it – if you’ve been in one big chain hotel, you’ve pretty much experienced them all. There’s no personality or surprises to be had there. Instead, why not check out some smaller hotels or places to rent within a more intimate community?
Of course, it’s important to carefully research the area you’re staying in to be as safe as possible, but you’ll be shocked at how much culture and art can be found away from the tourist paths!
4- Don’t set dining plans every night
You’re never short of options when it comes to dining in Italy. But it’s easy to be distracted by the more flamboyant and eager places looking to nab some tourists. To avoid this, try taking a few unexpected turns and within a few minutes, you’re certain to find somewhere that’s local, independently run and free of other tourists.
5- Wake up early and explore
This is the best way to avoid other tourists who are still in bed and gives you the chance to watch the local area wake up, set up stalls, and go about their days. The true personality of an area can be found here, amid the soft bustle of commuters and businesses just opening.
Take it in. Chat with locals. Stop by a fruit stand and grab a nice early morning snack. Put the map to one side and simply exist at that moment for a true Italian experience unlike any other.
