Here are all the tips on how to plan a trip to Italy on a budget and saving the most money. You’re sure to have an incredible experience in the country.
1. Choose the low season months in Italy
Our first tip for traveling cheaply to Italy is to choose the low season. This way, you’ll save a lot on everything from airline tickets and accommodation to attraction tickets, for example.
This season runs from November to March and offers a totally different experience, with a unique landscape. The average temperature is between 5°C and 15°C, making it a cozier environment for sightseeing.
For those who don’t like the intense cold, a good option is to travel in spring or fall. These are the times we recommend the most. Spring runs from March to May, while fall runs from September to November. Both seasons have mild temperatures, ranging from 15°C to 25°C.
The landscapes in Italy are enchanting. And as the crowds are not yet at their peak in the mid-seasons, you’ll be able to visit the main attractions throughout the country without difficulty.
2. Save on travel insurance for Italy
The main tip for getting the best travel insurance for Italy is to search for it on this incredible travel insurance price comparison website. It’s much better and cheaper than going straight to the insurance companies or travel agencies.
To use it, simply enter your destination and the number of days you’ll be there. In just a few seconds, it will show you quotes from the biggest and best insurance companies in the world. It’s much more practical and we always find the cheapest prices on this comparator.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Italy?
Travel insurance is mandatory for almost all of Europe, including Italy, as it is part of the Scengen Treaty. Therefore, before you travel, you must have International Travel Insurance with a minimum coverage value of 30,000 euros in medical assistance.
Among the benefits offered by travel insurance are medical assistance, dental assistance, insurance against theft, loss of luggage and many other useful coverages.
3. Save on accommodation in Italy
Another essential part of your trip is accommodation. However, it’s also possible to save a lot on accommodation and travel cheaply to Italy. The main tip for paying less is to use this Italy Hotel Finder. Here you’ll find great hotels in the area you want, and the best thing: at incredible prices.
It’s the largest hotel booking site in the world, so it’s the best place to book with confidence and security. Not to mention that it has all the hotels in Italy and around the world in its searches, as well as unbeatable prices due to the strong negotiation they have with the hotels.
One advantage of this search engine is that it has a very strong partnership with the establishments. That’s why they offer free cancellation for almost all hotels. This is great because you can book your nights in advance to guarantee the best prices.
Then, if you find better accommodation or don’t want to stay at the hotel you’ve booked, you can cancel at no cost.
More tips for saving money on accommodation and traveling cheaply to Italy
Another tip is to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible to get the best prices at the best hotels. Another point to consider is location. The closer you are to the tourist attractions, the more expensive your accommodation will be.
On the other hand, the time and cost of getting around will be less, allowing you to enjoy the sights even more. In the main Italian cities, such as Rome, Venice and Milan, it’s best to stay close to the sights, so you can make the most of your trip.
However, if you really want to travel cheaply to Italy, you can also stay in neighborhoods around the tourist center. These are cheaper, without losing out on safety and quality. And then use a rental car or other means of transportation to get to the attractions.
4. Save money by renting a car in Italy
The best way to get around Italy is with a rental car. The country is huge, with many incredible cities, and there you can make routes by car with beautiful landscapes all around. Plus, you have greater freedom, safety and comfort in your travel itinerary. So take a look at the tips below and make the most of it.
Book your car in advance
Make your reservation online as soon as possible, because another tip on how to plan a trip to Italy on a budget, and get a cheap car, is to book as far in advance as possible and online. The earlier you book, the cheaper you’ll pay. It’s well worth it and you’ll save a lot with promotions, paying much less than renting a car on the spot.
Don’t rent a GPS in Italy
Another good tip is not to rent a car with a GPS, as it costs a lot per day. Instead, you can buy a good chip, like the one we listed above, unblocked for international calls and with unlimited Internet. That way, you’ll be able to use the map and location apps with your own cell phone.
Use this incredible price comparator
There are some car rental price comparators in Italy (and throughout Europe) that are sensational and search all the main car rental companies there, finding the best prices and excellent deals.
We recommend one that you can use by going to the website and entering the date of your trip. It then searches for all the best car rental companies in Italy.
If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in Italy from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
More tips: prefer larger and reliable rental companies, such as Europcar, Budget and Avis. Take out basic insurance when booking, which is super important and is usually included in the price. But don’t fall for the companies who, when you pick up the car, try to push extra insurance that isn’t worth it.
5. Save on transportation from the airport to your hotel with a transfer in Italy
If you’re not going to hire a car, another great way to get from the airport to the hotel, and vice versa, is by transfer. It’s cheaper than a cab, it’s much safer and you don’t have to wait in queues and risk wasting time looking for one. With a transfer, you book and pay for everything in advance.
And using a transfer is very practical: when you land at the airport in your destination country, there will already be a driver waiting for you. They usually carry a little sign with your name on it for easy identification.
The main advantage of using a transfer in Italy is that when you leave the airport you can be sure that you’ll have reliable transportation to take you to your hotel. This way you don’t have to pay more with variable taxi fares, for example.
We have a reliable website to find the best transfer prices in all destinations in Italy. It gives you the price, the journey time and all the information. We found it much cheaper than taking a cab from the airport and everything was always very quick and easy. It’s very worthwhile if you’re not going to rent a car. It’s also an excellent place to buy the tickets and tours in Italy.
6. Save money on train travel in Italy
One tip for finding the best tickets at the lowest prices is to use this Europe Train Finder. As well as being the largest train ticket website in the world, it searches all the best train companies in Italy and Europe and, plus, finds the best options.
We always make our reservations there, as they have the best prices. The search system is very good, it’s super easy to book and it’s the most reliable site in the world for train bookings. This is the best way to buy train tickets for your trip through Europe.
7. Save money when searching for routes in Italy
The best way to see all the transportation available to get from one city to another is to use this route finder. It’s an excellent website that searches for all the options by plane, train and bus. Moreover, it only shows companies that are reliable and well-established in Europe. This way, you can choose the cheapest transportation and save money.
8. Save money on ferry trips in Italy
Ferry prices tend to vary greatly depending on the route, the date and the companies you choose. To save money on your ferry trip, we recommend booking your tickets online in advance. That way, you’ll also avoid the queues.
Another very important tip is to use this ferry price comparison tool. We always use it and get much cheaper prices on our trips. It checks the dates, times and prices available from all the reliable and safe ferry companies. You’re guaranteed to find the best price and make your ferry trips with confidence and savings.
9. Save money with a SIM card to use your cell phone in Italy
Being able to use your cell phone in Italy, all Europe and anywhere else in the world is great because it comes in very handy. You can use the apps for tourist attractions, parks and museums, which are great, as well as discount coupon apps. Plus, if you’re renting a car, you’ll save a few euros by not needing to rent a GPS, as you can use the one on your cell phone.
But using your international roaming abroad is usually the worst option and ends up being much more expensive. And sometimes, in order to use the Wi-Fi, most hotels charge a very expensive daily fee and you can only use your cell phone inside the hotel.
So, for us, after all these years of testing different SIM cards and traveling all over the world, the one we like best and recommend to our readers is this one. It has a good price, compared to the others, and the main difference for us was the coverage: our cell phone’s Internet worked with great speed in all the cities we visited, even the most distant and smallest ones.
10. Save on tickets for tours and attractions in Italy
Italy is a country full of interesting cities and unmissable sights that are in great demand. Therefore, when planning your trip there, it’s important to plan well and buy your tickets in advance, at the lowest price and without queuing.
We recommend this Italian Ticket Site, which is one of the largest in the world. It sells tours and tickets for all the attractions in Italy’s cities, with full descriptions and many facilities. With it, convenience and security are guaranteed.
When you buy your tickets, they arrive in your e-mail. Nowadays, this is a great advantage and practicality. You can then print them out and show them on your cell phone at the entrance to the attraction. Another advantage is that you don’t have to put each person’s name on the ticket if you buy more than one. This is because they come in the name of the cardholder and are valid.
Main tickets sold for Italy:
- Tour of the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill in Rome
- Ticket for the guided tour of the Vatican
- Gondola ride through the canals of Venice and the Bridge of Sighs
- Guided tour of Milan The Last Supper
- Excursion to Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena
- Tour of Naples Pompeii
11. Save money with free tours in Italy
Italian cities also offer a number of very interesting free tours. They’re great for traveling cheaply to Italy and still having a great time there. In Rome, for example, you can visit the Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese and the various squares in the city, such as Piazza Navona.
In Florence, there’s the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Piazza dela Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, with a beautiful view of the River Arno. And in Milan, visit the charming Piazza del Duomo, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, Sforzesco Castle and Sempione Park.
In Venice, visit the famous Piazza San Marco, home to the basilica of the same name, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and cross the Ponte di Rialto.
Famous free tours of Italian cities:
Another really cool tour option are the so-called Free Tours. Some companies offer these tours in various Italian cities completely free of charge. A guide takes you on a tour of the city, explaining all the details of its sights.
And although it’s not obligatory, it’s quite common for visitors to tip the guide at the end of the tour. The amount is up to each individual.
To take these tours, just go to this website, which is the same one that sells paid tickets. Once you’ve chosen the city of your choice, just sort the tours by “Price (cheapest first)”. That’s it. All the Free Tours in that region will appear. Below are some of the most famous:
12. Save on shopping in Italy
To save money on your shopping, one tip is to prioritize the outlets in cities like Milan. Another good option is to avoid the tourist areas of Italian cities. Instead, do your shopping, especially for souvenirs, in the stores and markets on the outskirts.
They usually offer the same variety of items, but at much better prices. You can still find good deals there.
13. Save money on food in Italy
Italian cuisine is very famous all over the world, so take the opportunity to try it during your trip. Throughout the country, there are plenty of restaurants with good food and affordable prices. And a good tip for saving money is to go to the establishments furthest away from the tourist center.
Moreover, many restaurants usually leave the menu open right at the entrance. So take the opportunity to check out the options and prices before you go in, to avoid any surprises. Pizzas are usually the cheapest dishes.
Wine is also a very cheap drink in Italy, often even more than juice or soft drinks. And you can order the house wine, which is usually even cheaper. Another option is to ask for free water in restaurants.
Throughout Europe, it’s common for people to ask for tap water in restaurants, as it’s treated and fine for drinking. If you only ask for “water”, they will bring you a glass bottle of natural water, which is a bit expensive. So ask for tap water. It’s quite normal there.
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