Traveling to different countries can be very pricy. You’ve got to worry about flights, lodging, food, and spending money while you’re there. The good news is that while you will still need to budget and plan, there are some great ways to travel on a budget.
Italy is a popular tourist destination and it’s clear to see why. They’ve got amazing food, a lot of rich history, and unique culture. There is so much to see and enjoy. Italy isn’t known for being cheap to visit but if you plan wisely, you can make it work even on a budget.
Check out these tips to help you along the way.
Find Accommodations
You definitely want to make sure you have a place to sleep in Italy. Your accommodations should be somewhere where you can rest and feel safe and secure through the night. Finding accommodations doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you might be able to find a great place for less than $20 USD per night. That’s a major deal!
There are plenty of hotels and resorts in Italy but you might want to check out Airbnb or a similar type of solution to see if you can find better deals. Instead of looking for luxury, look for details like this that can make your stay amazing.
- Safe
- Near prominent cities (a suburb is fine)
- Near transportation, particularly railways
- What’s close by?
- What are the accommodations?
These are just a few details to be mindful of as you choose an accommodation that works for you. Keep in mind that looking in suburbs might be more cost-effective than the big cities. You will be close enough to easily travel into the city as well.
Plan Food Wisely
While restaurants can get pricy, there are some ways to avoid extra costs that add up. The food in Italy is absolutely divine. A little bit will go a long way. What you should know is that many restaurants will charge extra for every little thing. Some of them even charge you to sit in the restaurant.
What you will find is that lunch menus are more affordable. Schedule your day around your lunch and then you can fill in when you are hungry later in the day. This will likely help you save quite a bit of money on your eating or drinking throughout the day.
Of course, adding anything like wine or other drinks to your meal will also add up. Maybe choose one meal to splurge on or just limit your overall orders to save money.
Here are some tips for saving money when it comes to dining.
- Review the menu for seating charges. Order to go to save money if needed.
- Avoid paying for drinks or bread at your meals. You can request tap water, which is usually free.
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime as this is the most affordable time to eat big.
- Find ways to get quick meals. These are usually less expensive. Pizza by the slice is a great option.
- Don’t be afraid to make your own dinner or make friends that will invite you to dinner. Maybe you can find accommodations that serve a meal during the day.
Travel and Transportation
In Italy, you have to find some way to get around. Our guess is that you will fly to Italy initially. Once you get there, you have a lot of options to get around. Even choosing wisely where you fly to will make a difference in your budget.
Italy has one of the largest railway networks in the European region. This makes it very easy to get around and even travel between cities. Get to know the train network before you go and perhaps plan day trips or move from city to city by train. Bus routes could be another inexpensive option for transportation.
There are regular trains as well as high-speed trains. When you are in the city of choice, you can use the bus or the metro to help move you around to various locations and attractions for sightseeing purposes. Many cities also can be great for walking so pack comfortable shoes.
Find Inexpensive Activities
Your travel and accommodations will likely be your largest expenses. While there are activities and excursions that can quickly add up, there are also plenty of things you can enjoy that are cheap or free. Italy has so much history to see. It doesn’t matter what part of Italy you are in, you can find great things to enjoy even on a budget.
Many museums throughout Italy have times or days when admission is free. If you make the effort to visit museums in those time frames, you will likely save quite a bit of money doing so. You can research this before you go to help plan as well.
Of course, you can find walking tours in almost any city in Italy. If you’re going to spend money on a tour, these and bus tours are great. They allow you to see all the most important attractions in that city all at once. You hit the highlights and the tours are not overly expensive. If you stay in a hotel, you might even find that they offer free walking tours you can take advantage of.
Take advantage of hiking and walking. This is a great way to see a lot of scenery. They won’t charge you to walk or hike so it’s definitely a budget-friendly approach. Of course, you can also find places to just sit and relax or even enjoy a picnic lunch.
Finally, take a look at the historical landmarks and cultural places. Churches, basilicas, colosseums, and more will generally let you in for free or inexpensive to enter. It’s a great way to see awesome things and get a taste of the history of the area.
Going to Italy doesn’t have to break the bank. If you plan well, you can save yourself a lot of money and still have a delightfully enjoyable trip in the process.
