How To Travel in Italy on a Budget

Boats in canals in Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy. Photo by Dan Novac on Unsplash

Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations as it offers some stunning landscapes, incredible cuisine, and lots of culture and history. This draws in millions of visitors each year, and cities such as Venice, Rome, and Florence are some of the most visited. It is still possible however to travel in Italy on a budget. Here are three ways to do this.

Travel Off-Peak

If you can book your travelling arrangements well in advance this will save you money. You can also look into getting an interrail pass if you are able to plan out your trip or purchase a coach card to save money when traveling between cities in Italy. Overall, planning your trip during the off-season (any time but June, July, and August) will definitely save you money.

Budget-Friendly Accommodation

Accommodation can quickly mount up as a cost when traveling around Italy. Hostels are a great option if you don’t mind sharing with other people, and if not you can choose to book an Air BnB in advance to save money. Hotels are generally quite expensive, but you can find a bargain through online hotel comparison websites such as Booking.com and Hostelworld.

Eat Like a Local

If you’re on a budget, make sure to try and avoid tourist traps when going out for food! These are restaurants often in desirable locations such as squares or by rivers that charge a premium for their location. If this is what you are looking for, then it may be worth it. However, if you’re after cheap prices, great atmosphere, and delicious food, you’ll often be better off going to a ‘trattoria’ that might look a bit underwhelming but packs a punch.