How Much To Vacation In Italy
Vacationing in Italy is a dream for many travelers. After all, Italy is the “land of romance.” Gazing out at the rolling green hills and city vistas while sipping chianti on your terrace could be just what you need to rejuvenate and relax. But you might have some questions before planning your Italian getaway: How much money should I spend in Italy? How should I budget for shopping? Where can I find cheap hotels? Where should I book my flight?
It’s time to create your 2017 holiday bucket list and it’s not as easy as you think. If you’re thinking of exploring new places it can be a great way to discover something new and exciting with close family or friends. If it’s the first time traveling abroad with your significant other then the list is endless and many questions arise…Browse the internet.
Italy is one of the most amazing countries that has so much to offer to you and your family. If we talk about the best place for vacationing in Italy, there can be numerous places in your mind. However, some of the top cities in Italy are Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan and Naples. Planning your dream vacation in Italy? It’s easily one of the most popular European countries to visit due to its breathtaking historical sites, breath-taking architecture, vibrant culture and endless attractions.
How Much To Vacation In Italy
Like most people, I don’t get enough vacation time. The problem with this is when I do plan a vacation, I tend to overthink it.
How Much Does it Cost to go to Italy?
By Hannah Logan | May 17, 2022 | 34
**This post may contain affiliate links. I may be compensated if you use them.
Have you ever wondered how much does it cost to go to Italy? With stunning landscapes, vineyards, historic monuments, picturesque cities, and delicious food; who wouldn’t want to go? However, as much as Italy may be a dream vacation for, well, pretty much everyone, it’s also a destination where your budget tends to get in the way. Italy is popular, very popular, and prices often reflect that. However, with a few tips and tricks, it is possible to explore Italy without breaking the bank.
For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest a ten-day itinerary in Italy to hit the highlights. This includes three days in Rome, four days in Florence (for which I suggest including a day trip to somewhere in Tuscany and a day trip to Cinque Terre), and three days in Venice. I’ve purposely excluded Milan and Sicily since they’re out of the way. The Amalfi Coast is worth it, but if you only have 10 days, it’ll be difficult to include. Please keep in mind that this budget for Italy is designed for one person. If you are travelling as a couple, you will need to double all costs except for hotels.
| Estimated cost | |
|---|---|
| Airfare | $600 |
| Accommodations | $1,200 ($120 per day) |
| Local transportation | $200 |
| Attractions | $150 |
| Food and drink | $350 |
| Random spending | $100 |
| TOTAL | $2,600 USD |
The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.
Also, keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Italy isn’t necessarily a cheap travel destination, however, savvy travellers will be able to reduce their costs by using some of the tips and suggestions shared in this article.
Also, keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Italy isn’t necessarily a cheap travel destination, however, savvy travellers will be able to reduce their costs by using some of the tips and suggestions shared in this article.
As for when to go, March, April, May, and October see fewer crowds so prices are a little lower. June, July, August, and September are the peak months, so you’ll pay more at that time. It is possible to purchase Italy vacation packages through airlines and tour operators, but the savings might be minimal. You’re like better off planning your own adventure. That said, a group tour, including small groups, can be good for those who don’t want to plan.
If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a signup bonus of up to 85,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which have a minimum value of $850 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees and it comes with airport lounge access.
Airfare
Rome is a popular enough hub in Europe that, if you look early enough, you can probably find a decent deal. Your best bet to find airfare deals is to avoid travelling during the high season. Average fares during the shoulder season (April or October) are approximately $600 return.
If you’re flexible with your departure date, you could save a little bit of money. Generally, airfare is cheaper when departing on Tuesday through Thursday.
Insider tip: If you have a couple of extra days to spare, you may also want to consider flying to one of the major international airports in Europe such as Amsterdam, Paris, or London which often offer cheaper deals. From there, you can then catch a smaller flight with Ryanair or Easy Jet. These small flights can usually be purchased for under $100 each way including paying for checked luggage if you book early enough in advance.
Accommodations
Accommodations really range in price in Italy depending on where you are located, type of accommodation, as well as the time of year that you visit. That being said, there are a number of options available for all budgets. For the sake of an estimate for this article, I have chosen mid-range hotel pricing during the shoulder season (approximately $120/night). To be honest, there are cheaper options when it comes to accommodations, but I wanted to give you an average price for budgeting purposes.
Personally, I recommend not getting too caught up on location in Rome, as long as you are near a metro station or bus stop, you will easily be able to get around. Versus in Venice, it is absolutely worth paying a bit more to stay in Venice proper rather than on the outskirts.
Looking for recommendations? I suggest the following:
Hostels
- Rome: Generator Rome or The Yellow
- Florence: Plus Florence or Hostel Archi Rossi
- Venice: The Academy or Silk Road
Mid-range hotels
- Rome: Hotel Serena or Hotel Paulo II
- Florence: Hotel Balcony or Hotel Delle Nazioni
- Venice: Hotel Gorizia a La Valigia or Hotel Al Vagon
Luxury Hotels
- Rome: Rome Luxus Hotel or Harry’s Bar Trevi Hotel and Restaurant
- Florence: Hotel Lungarno or Hotel Bernini Palace
- Venice: Hotel Londra Palace or Hotel Danieli
If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $200 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.
Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express which gives you up to 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels which could easily have a value of over $500.
Local transportation
Getting around Italy is very easy thanks to the train system and public transit in the major cities. Since this itinerary is for the main highlights, I recommend using the train service rather than renting a car. Driving in Italy’s tiny streets can be pretty daunting.
For trains between cities, the easiest and often cheapest is to purchase your ticket the day of or even the day before. Don’t bother with a rail pass of some sort, it’s a waste of money. Italy has two types of trains: the fast trains which are more expensive, or the slower local trains which are a fraction of the price and actually quite scenic since they stop in the smaller towns. Since you don’t have any huge legs on this journey, I would suggest the slow train if you enjoy train travel. Save money and get an enjoyable, more local journey. Tickets for the slower trains depend on the tip, but you can average about $20 per ticket. If you want the fast trains, expect to pay up to $50.
In terms of getting around cities, walking is by far the best way to explore Italy. However, while Florence is pretty easy to do by foot, Rome is quite a large city and you will absolutely need to use public transit if you’re not staying in Ancient Rome. Using the subway and buses is an easy way to get around Rome and tickets are quite affordable. You can get a 3-day pass for under 20 euros (about 22 USD). In Venice, there are no cars only the Vaporetto which is a public boat that goes along the canals. It is quite expensive with a 2-day card costing about $35 USD. You can walk from one end of Venice to the other in about 20 minutes so don’t bother with the Vaporetto unless you’re going to one of the surrounding islands.
Since you are likely flying in and out of Rome, you will also need to get back to Rome the night before you leave. In this case, I would take the fast train which will cost more but it is the longest journey and you don’t want to spend your final day on a train. The fast train is about 3.5 hours and tickets can be purchased for about $80.
Attractions in Italy are one of those areas where it’s really easy to go over budget depending on what you are looking for. If you are a big museum and art enthusiast, then you will want to make sure you allocate extra for this part of your budget. Italy has plenty of museums and galleries that can keep you busy for days if you like.
I think that most of Italy’s charm lies in exploring the cities on foot and seeing the architecture and the landscapes. In the Italian cities, there are many free things to see such as ancient ruins, the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain, and churches. If this is more of your type of travel, then you can count on having a smaller budget.
That being said, there are a few ‘musts’ including visiting Vatican City with a tour of the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and Michelangelo’s David.
You definitely want to buy your tickets in advance so you can skip the line whenever you can as the lineups for the attractions can be quite long even during the low season. Here are some of the tickets you’ll want to pick up before you depart.
- Pompeii day trip from Rome
- Uffizi Gallery
- Academia Gallery
- Best of Cinque Terre
- Venice gondola ride
- Guided Murano, Burano, and Torcello day trip
- Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica guided tour
For the basic attractions, I’d say allocate $150. If you are keen on museums and renaissance art, you will probably want to double that.
Keep in mind: I’ve also included two-day trips on this itinerary. Both Cinque Terre and Tuscany (Pisa, Siena, etc.) can be visited as a day trip on your own using the trains from Florence. However, if you would rather do a guided tour then you need to allocate extra in your budget for that as well.
