Home to world famous sites such as the Colosseum and Venice’s canals, along with the most UNESCO world heritage sites in the world, Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world. With over 4,700 miles of coastline, Italy is also known for some great coastal regions, such as Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. Read below to learn more about the country.

The Basics:

• Languages: Italian is the official language. Additionally, many Italians also speak a local dialect. English is spoken by about 35% of the population as well

• Currency: Euro, Click here to see the current exchange rate

• Timezone: Central European Summer Time (summer months, UTC+2), Central European Time (winter months, UTC+1)

• Visas: Italy is a part of the Schengen Area. Tourists from other Schengen Area countries, along with many North American, South American, and Eastern Asian countries can also visit Italy visa free for up to 90 days. Starting in 2022, tourists outside of the Schengen Area will need to obtain an ETIAS waiver to enter the Schengen Area for up to 90 days

• Driving side: Right

• Tipping: Not expected

Places to Visit and Things to Do:

• Rome: The capital of Italy, Rome is home to plenty of world-famous sites, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Villa Borghese. Inside of Rome is the small country of Vatican City, which is home to the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, and a collection of Vatican museums

• Venice: Comprised of about 120 islands and 170 canals, Venice is known for using gondolas and water taxis as their main modes of transportation. Venice is home to St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge

• Florence: Home to Gallerie Degli Uffizi and and Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence has works of art from artists such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, and more. Being located in central Italy, Florence makes for a great base to take day trips to places such as Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano

• Campania Region: This region is home to recognizable sites such as Mt Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, the city of Naples, and the roman ruins of Pompeii. Only an hour train ride from Rome, this is an area that makes an great addition to a trip to Italy

• The Dolomites: Located in northern Italy, the Dolomites is a large mountain range great for outdoor sports. Skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, cycling, and paragliding are all activities here

Travel Tips:

• Large cities such as Rome, Venice, and Florence have safe, ice-cold drinking fountains spread throughout the cities. Using these are a great way to stay hydrated and save some money

• If you have time, branch out from the classic R0me-Florence-Venice itinerary. Italy has many other great destinations to visit, such as Cinque Terre, Milan, Naples, the microstate of San Marino, and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia

• Italy has a great high speed rail network, and is a great way to travel to most cities and destinations