5 Surprisingly Real Things About Italy Travel Guides Won’t Tell You
What living in Italy really feels like—beyond the postcards. Travel guides will show you the Colosseum, recommend the best gelato in Florence, and help you order a spritz in Venice. But they often skip over the little things—the charming, confusing, and very real experiences that make living in Italy unforgettable. If you're dreaming of making Italy your home, here are five things you’ll want to know.
1. Life is sweet and it moves at its own pace in Italy!
In Italy, life unfolds slowly and the country has a relaxed atmosphere. Lunch breaks are long, banks and post offices open late in the morning but close early in the afternoon. In Italy everything develops at its own pace and there is space for everyone. And this is what we call "La Dolce Vita" (the sweet life) and this is what we love about Italy.
2. Cash is King in Italy
Even though in the majority of places, including restaurants, bars and shops, you can pay by credit card, cash still prevails, especially in the South of Italy. For this reason we always recommend bringing euros with you, especially when you are going to pay for your morning coffee or a taxi ride.
3. Coffee in Italy: do you know the rules?
In Italy coffee is considered a fundamental part of the culture and there are many rules to follow when you order it in a bar. Above all: never order cappuccino after 11 am, because cappuccino is a breakfast coffee. If you ask for a "latte" in a bar, they will bring you a glass of milk, because "latte" means milk in Italian. To order a coffee with milk, you need to ask for "caffè latte" - and so on for all the other types of coffee.
4. Italian food will ruin you for life… in the best way possible!
Italian cuisine is so diverse and rich that it's impossible to generalize when it comes to the many different types of dishes you can find throughout the regions. Each region has its own specialties, and even within the same region, different towns can have their own version of the same dish. In Italy you can find handmade pasta, fresh seafood, local cheeses and much more that will give you the opportunity to taste the real Italy.
5. In Italy we prefer to move around with scooters rather than cars
In Italy there is a well-organized public transport system in the main cities, but when it comes to smaller towns and rural areas, the best way to get around is on foot. When you need to travel longer distances, there is nothing better than a scooter to drive through the narrow streets of Italy. And if you have a car, you can always park it in the outskirts of town and then continue on foot to explore the historic center. And this is how we Italians like to do things.
Contact Move To Dolce Vita to start planning your real Italian journey.
