Best Tips to Travel Italy on a Budget
Italy’s gorgeous hilltop towns, great wines, and pristine coastlines sound luxurious. It could also seem expensive to enjoy. But that doesn’t need to be the case.
I’m a firm believer that a trip to Italy can happen on any budget! So if you want to plan a budget-friendly Italian vacation, it’s absolutely possible.
From my experience living and traveling in Italy, I’ve learned how to enjoy the sights, food, and culture without breaking the bank.
Here are my 11 best tips for traveling in Italy on a budget.
1. Let your budget dictate where you go
We’re going to start strong with what I think is the best tip: choose destinations that fit your budget. It involves being flexible and open in the planning stage of the trip, but it can really save you money.
It can be easy to fall in love with popular destinations in Italy and start planning a trip around those. You may be drawn to places like Capri, Florence, Lake Como… I’m with you. They’re beautiful and featured endlessly in magazines and on social media.
But those are some of the most expensive places to stay in Italy.
The good news is there are SO MANY destinations in Italy that are less talked about but just as amazing and beautiful as the hot spots.
Consider visiting Umbria instead of Tuscany, the Cilento coast or the Gargano instead of the Amalfi coast, Abruzzo instead of the Alps.
Those places are quieter, less visited, and therefore cheaper than their more popular counterparts.
Aside from your plane tickets to and from Italy (if you’re traveling from abroad), accommodations are your next biggest expense.
Determine how much you are willing to pay per night for accommodations and find destinations/areas/regions that offer plenty of options that fit your budget.
On holiday rental sites like Airbnb and Booking, you can search an entire region, filter the results according to your budget, and see what’s left.
I usually also filter the search results on those sites to only show me accommodations above certain ratings. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to stay in a place with bad reviews! There are plenty of highly rated, affordable places to stay in Italy.
I’m currently planning a trip to Italy and have had to apply my advice. My husband and I have really wanted to visit a certain area of Italy. But when I started researching accommodations, I couldn’t find anything in that area that had great reviews and fit our budget.
So I had to rethink the itinerary and decided to choose another destination, rather than go over budget.
Admittedly, this is an easier decision to make once you’ve lived in or traveled in Italy extensively. That’s when you realize that no matter where you go in the country it will be beautiful and you’ll have a wonderful time.
If you REALLY have your heart set on visiting specific, popular destinations in Italy, there are still opportunities to save money in other ways. Keep reading.
2. Go south
Expanding on the first tip, it’s generally cheaper to travel in southern Italy. And it’s not just accommodations that are more affordable.
Groceries, market produce, and wine can be very inexpensive in the south.
In my experience, activities like visiting wineries also give more bang for your buck. Even if a tasting costs the same as one in central or northern Italy, wineries in the south are often more generous.
Public transportation can also be cheaper. Buses are particularly inexpensive.
What do I mean when I say “southern Italy”? I would say Abruzzo and everything south of it. That includes the regions of Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily.
3. Compare transportation options
The most affordable transportation options can vary depending on where you are going and how many people you’re traveling with.
In Italy, your options for getting around are trains, planes, buses, and car rentals.
Buses are typically the cheapest mode of transportation. They’re particularly practical when traveling between an airport and a major city.
Trains are great if you’re traveling alone or as a couple, but if you’re traveling in a group of four or more, you could probably save money by renting a car.
If you need to travel a far distance within Italy, you might think that taking a flight is the cheapest and best option. But if you have large luggage, that will be an extra cost on a flight. Whereas, luggage is free on a train.
An overnight train can sometimes be the most affordable option for traveling from one end of Italy to the other.
While living in Sicily, my husband and I often needed to get from Catania to Rome and back. Flights between those two cities are cheap, but by the time we would pay for taxis or public transportation to and from the airports, it would cost less to take an overnight train that goes into each city center. And your accommodations for a night are included on an overnight train.
All this to say, it’s smart to research each transportation option when planning your trip. You might catch a great sale on any of the options.
“I filter the search results on holiday rental sites to only show me accommodations above certain ratings. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to stay in a place with bad reviews! There are plenty of highly rated, affordable places to stay in Italy. ”
4. Pack light
Packing light for Italy is always a good idea. The streets can be hard on rolling luggage and nobody wants to drag heavy bags up and down the many stairs often found in charming Italian towns.
But packing light can also save you money.
Flying internationally isn’t cheap. And the more luggage you bring, the more expensive it is. If you plan to pack light and only bring a backpack or carry-on bag, you’ll save yourself some money.
Packing light is also economical if you’re planning on taking flights within Italy.
Flying within Italy can be really inexpensive. Budget airlines in Europe offer fantastic deals, if you don’t have much luggage.
The price of a domestic flight in Italy can double if you need to bring a carry-on bag. If you have large luggage, the price can triple.
For example, I did a quick search for flights from Sardinia to Sicily and found one with Ryanair for €17. If you want to add a carry-on bag and a check-in bag, the price goes up to €60 for the same flight.
Admittedly, that’s still a great price for a flight! But if you’re on a budget, there are some savings to be had by packing light.
5. Book with free cancellation
Booking anything with free cancellation is obviously smart. Things happen and plans change. If you suddenly need to cancel your travel plans, you won’t lose money.
Booking car rentals and accommodations with free cancellation can also be handy throughout the trip-planning process.
I like to book these things well in advance. As soon as I decide on my travel dates, I start searching for and booking places to stay and car rentals, if needed.
The benefit of booking your car rental with free cancellation is that if you keep checking the prices in the months leading up to your trip, you can cancel and rebook if the price drops.
I particularly love using Stress Free Car Rental to book my car rentals. They usually have the best prices for rentals in Italy, it’s easy to cancel, and they offer great insurance protection.
When it comes to accommodations, if something strange comes up with a rental after you book it, it’s comforting to know that you can cancel.
I recently booked an apartment rental for my upcoming trip to Italy through one of the big booking sites. Soon after, I received a strange message from the host asking me to send money directly to their bank account.
Because I wasn’t comfortable with that unusual request, I decided to cancel the booking, thanks to the free cancellation.
It really comes in handy.
6. Travel in the off/shoulder seasons
Without a doubt, you will save money if you avoid traveling to Italy in its high season, which is summer.
The cost of flights and car rentals is higher for bookings from June to September. Accommodation costs can also be higher in the summer.
May and October are so beautiful in Italy that I’m never tempted to travel there in the summer months. It’s cooler, less crowded, and cheaper.
But speaking of cooler, less crowded, and cheap… bigger savings come if you’re willing to travel to Italy in the winter months.
Flights, accommodations, train travel, and car rentals will all be cheaper in November, January, February, and March.
And honestly, traveling in Italy at that time of year can be wonderful. My husband and I spent a week in Rome in February, and it was so lovely. Temperatures were great for walking and those high season crowds were nowhere to be found.
We’ve also spent a lot of time in Sicily during the winter months, and I can confirm that travel prices drop at that time of year.
During a 10-day November/December road trip around Sicily, the rental car and vacation homes we booked cost €188/person, when divided four ways.
While we did come across a bit of rain on that trip, flowers were in bloom and we had every destination to ourselves. I would do a winter trip to Sicily again in a heartbeat!
Sicily in December
7. Rent a basic car
If you plan to rent a car in Italy, another way to save some money is to book a small, basic car.
It could be tempting to rent a large, comfortable SUV or a fancy convertible, but those will cost you more to rent and fuel up. Petrol prices in Italy are high, so a small, fuel-efficient car is ideal if you’re on a budget.
In addition to the lower cost, renting a basic car can also spare you headaches. Some vehicles scream “tourist”, like big, luxury vehicles. Unfortunately, they are targets for theft and break-ins.
To avoid those issues, rent a car commonly found in Italy. And if it’s not brand new, that’s even better.
A friend of mine in Italy has had her car stolen several times. She has a cute, red, new car in a city full of old, dented vehicles. It stands out.
If you can, rent a car that doesn’t stand out.
8. Stay and eat away from the sea
So far, the budget tips I’ve shared can all be applied to the trip planning and booking stages, before you even arrive in Italy. Now let’s start getting into some tips to put into practice once you’ve arrived in Italy.
Of course, spending time by the sea is a delight. And Italy is full of incredible coastlines and charming seaside towns.
But in Italy, there’s no denying that most things by the sea cost more than they do inland. Accommodations and eating out will most likely be more expensive by the sea than in the countryside.
Vacation rentals with a sea view are in high demand. And seaside restaurants mainly serve seafood.
If you’re on a budget and want to spend time on the coast, my suggestion is to book accommodations and eat at restaurants that are away from the sea.
You could check out beaches and explore coastal towns by day, and head slightly inland to eat dinner and sleep at night.
To be honest, the best food can be found inland. Seaside restaurants often attract tourists looking for a view to enjoy while eating. They charge more and the food isn’t always amazing.
But I completely understand if you want to enjoy some seafood! To save money, look for seafood options that are more “fast food.” Coastal towns and cities often have a few casual eateries that make fried fish and calamari, or sandwiches and pasta full of seafood.
“If you’re going to eat out in Italy, I don’t think there’s anything more affordable and more filling than pizza. If you’re on a budget, pizza is your best friend in Italy. ”
9. Cook some meals
If you’ve got some cooking skills, why not put them to good use while in Italy? Cooking some of your own meals is a great way to save money.
Groceries in Italy are quite affordable. Just be sure to stick to recipes that are Italian or Italian-ish. Otherwise, you’ll have trouble finding the ingredients you need or it will be more expensive.
Start saving some videos or articles that feature Italian recipes, and refer to them for ideas when you’re in Italy. I have a list of recipes saved on my phone that I plan to put to good use the next time I’m in Italy.
10. Eat pizza
If you’re going to eat out in Italy, I don’t think there’s anything more affordable and more filling than pizza. If you’re on a budget, pizza is your best friend in Italy.
I understand that it’s not always feasible to make your own meals while traveling. And often, you WANT to eat out while on vacation.
Throughout Italy, a classic margherita pizza is often only €5. Even the most expensive pizzas on a menu might be under €13. And that’s your dinner!
And just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing quality. Eating pizza can be a real gourmet experience in Italy. To ensure that’s the case for you, ask a local where they eat pizza or search online for a highly-rated pizzeria near you.
There’s always at least one amazing pizzeria in every Italian town. In a city, you’ll have your choice of plenty.
11. Drink wisely
My last Italy budget tip has to do with alcohol. It can be very inexpensive to drink in Italy, but that depends on WHERE you drink.
To save money, avoid drinking at bars and restaurants with amazing views or in the main piazze (town squares). Drinks in those locations will be overpriced.
For cocktails, try to find a place with an affordable aperitivo (happy hour) in the early evening hours. The cocktails may be cheaper than usual or come with snacks.
When it comes to drinking wine, you can’t go wrong with getting a quarter, half, or full liter of vino della casa (house wine). It’s good and it’s usually quite cheap.
For beer drinkers, stick to Italian beer in bottles. Draft and foreign beers will be more expensive.
And if you REALLY want to save money on alcohol, don’t drink at bars and restaurants. Buy wine and beer at grocery stores. That’s where they’re cheapest. You could bring it back to your lodging, or enjoy it in a park or by the beach.
I hope you enjoyed these budget tips! Remember, you can make a trip to Italy happen without breaking the bank. Set your budget and stick to it.
Have you found effective ways to save some money while traveling in Italy? Share them in the comments below!