italy trip cost estimator

How Much Does a Trip to Italy Cost? 2024 Budget Worksheet

I have traveled to Italy seven times in recent years and I have also planned about two dozen vacations to Italy for other families. Over the course of years, I have developed a really good sense of the prices of hotel rooms, tours, and transportation in Italy. So when someone asks me how much “does a trip to Italy cost”, I can rattle these numbers off pretty quickly.

Since budgeting is such a HUGE part of planning a trip, I thought I would lay it out for you and break down the average Italy trip budget to make it easy for you to plan — I’ve even included a helpful budget worksheet to get you started. Italy is a popular travel destination and while not as cheap as Ireland or Portugal , it isn’t as expensive as London or Paris . (See this post if you need help creating a family travel budget !)

How Much Does a Trip to Italy Cost?

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own.

Before we jump into figuring out how much a trip to Italy costs, let’s first dive into a few budgeting and travel tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Italy:

• Summer is not only the most expensive time to visit, but given recent European heat waves in late June and July, it will be HOT so make sure you are looking at accommodations that offer air conditioning;
• Honeymoon destinations like the Amalfi Coast ( Positano , Capri , Ravello , etc.) or the Cinque Terre are going to be especially busy in the summer and family-friendly accommodations are hard to find;
• If traveling in the high season, plan on booking accommodations at least six months in advance for the best selection;
• Villas/houses in the Tuscan countryside tend to rent for one-week minimum in the summer and rentals go from Saturday to Saturday so you need to plan your itinerary accordingly. You can always stay in hotels or smaller agriturismos that don’t have a minimum night stay requirement, but those will cost a bit more;
• If you want to stay in the Italian countryside on a budget, look for places in Umbria (near smaller cities such as Orvieto or Assisi ), Emilia Romagna (near Bologna , Parma , or Verona ), or Piedmont in the North, instead of Tuscany to get a similar feel at a cheaper price point;
• Main Italian cities like Rome , Florence , Venice , and Milan are more expensive to stay in versus the countryside so consider limiting your time in cities and doing day trips to save money (see my tips for driving in Italy ). Of these, Venice is especially expensive.

Not sure how to plan a trip to Italy? Get a detailed 10-day Italy Itinerary with 40 pages of day-by-day schedules, instructions, and maps.

Italy Budget Assumptions

For this example budget, I have based these expenses on a family of four. This sample family consists of two adults and two children between the ages of 6-11 and lives near a major airport hub in the USA. When planning your own trip budget, make adjustments as needed to suit your specific travel companions and travel style.

I’m going to assume that this family is traveling in the summer months since that is when most families visit Italy. This example family isn’t strictly budget travelers, but they are comfortable with three to four-star accommodations. Of course, traveling in the shoulder season would save money, but most families don’t have the flexibility or the budget for luxury hotels.

I’m also going to base this on a 12-day trip, with four nights in Rome and one week in Tuscany , which is a great first trip to Italy with kids this age. If you plan on visiting Venice, the Amalfi Coast, the Dolomites, Lake Como, or the Cinque Terre, expect to spend even more on accommodations and food.

The budget for a trip to Italy is made up of the following elements:

• Hotel/Accommodations

Transportation

• Souvenirs/Miscellaneous

I’ve seen Italy trip budgets out there that talk about traveling to Italy for $50-75 a day, per person, but I don’t think that is what a typical family vacation is going to look like. For my family, and others that I have worked with, we want our accommodations to be a little bit more comfortable, private, and centrally located. Families don’t always have the option of doing things on a shoestring budget (nor do they want to!).

Plus, the trip is much more enjoyable and memorable if you can splurge on things like a gondola ride or a private, kid-friendly guide that can engage children in sights like the Colosseum or Vatican Museums, vs. just paying for an entrance ticket.

So while this budget may sound a lot higher than others that you will find online, I also think it is much more realistic. Like everything when it comes to family travel, I’ve tried to strike a balance between budget and enjoyment.

Before we get into the details, the bottom line is that a 12 day trip to Italy for a family of four in the summer months will cost about $17,340, or $361 per person, per day.

Airfare to Italy

Airfare in the summer can get pricey with direct flights averaging somewhere around $1700 per person on ITA Airways (the Italian replacement for Alitalia.) If you wait too long to book your airfare, it can easily get up there in price. To find the cheapest airfare, I would recommend purchasing tickets six months before your departure date (Cyber Monday after Thanksgiving is a good time to purchase airfare) and signing up for a service like Going that sends you alerts when destinations you are watching go on sale.

Generally, you will find better deals if you travel in and out to Rome on a round-trip ticket and if you can travel midweek versus the weekend. To save money, consider booking on a budget airline and connecting in Europe as you can usually find those for under $1000.

Of course, what we always try to do is save up our travel points that we earn on our credit card and use those to wipe out the cost of at least one or two of the airfares. If you want to find the best way to accumulate points and miles through credit card spending and sign up bonuses, I’d suggest downloading the  Travel Freely app  to track your credit cards and learn how to earn points.

Total airfare cost: $6,800 ($1700 per person)

Accommodations

Accommodations can be pricey, especially in Rome and other major cities in Italy. Keep in mind that very few hotels can accommodate a family of four in one hotel room. This can often mean you will need two rooms or a pricey suite. I’ve found that it is usually cheaper to get two smaller rooms than to get a large enough suite to accommodate a family.

In Rome, a four-star hotel will run you about $650 per night, per room if you want to stay in the historic city center. If you are traveling in the summer, you will probably also want a Rome hotel with a pool to cool off in the afternoon. Five-star hotels will run over $1500 per night and the super luxe can easily be $2000+ per room.

However, if you want to prioritize budget over luxury, there are economical mid-range hotel options that DON’T require you to stay far from the city center or in a shady part of town. Simple boutique hotels like the family-run Daphne Inn in Rome have a family room that will sleep four for under $400 per night, and it includes breakfast!

Of course, you can also do what we did and go the vrbo apartment rental route. We found a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment with a view of the Colosseum for $150-350 per night.

Find more places to stay in Rome:

Some other hotels that offer a family room or suite at an affordable price include:

• Hotel Albergo del Senato near the Pantheon
• Hotel Santa Maria in charming Trastevere
• Hotel Ponte Sisto in the historic center

Total Rome accommodations: $1,800 ($450 x 4 nights)

The price of accommodations can range wildly in Tuscany too. There are five-star resorts like Belmond’s Castello di Casole where you will spend well over $3000 per night. There are also plenty of budget-oriented, self-catering options like agriturismos or villa rentals .

With an agriturismo, you will have a self-catering apartment on a working farm. Generally, there is a shared pool and they may even offer things like breakfast or an on-site cooking class. Kids usually love this type of accommodation because it is authentic and there is room to play and sometimes farm animals roaming around. Not every property has a pool so if this is important to you, be sure to read the descriptions carefully.

Just keep in mind that agriturismos and many vacation rentals in Tuscany require a seven-night, Saturday-to-Saturday night stay. So if you fly into Italy on a Saturday morning, you would drive right from the airport into Tuscany and then finish your vacation in Rome.

A popular and very conveniently located agriturismo is Al Gelso Bianco . The furnishings are simple but the warm welcome from this family-run farm does everything to make you comfortable. Here an apartment for four can go as low as $1500-3500 for a week in high season.

When selecting an agriturismo, be sure to look into if room air conditioners or fans are available, as those are not typically found in these traditional farmhouses. Also, learn what dining options are available. Does the stay include breakfast or is it entirely self-catered? If there is dinner available, does it need to be organized in advance? This is often the case because the meals are cooked by the owners and ingredients need to be purchased that day. Not many agriturismos offer a full-service restaurant, but some that focus more on the hotel portion of the property may have limited services.

Find places to stay in Tuscany:

Total Tuscany accommodations: $2,500

If you are spending a week in Tuscany, you are going to need a car. I recommend using Auto Europe to find the best rates across vendors. You should also book early as prices fluctuate and will continue to rise the closer you get to departure. Ideally, book by the end of January, especially if you want an automatic as the inventory is quite limited since most Europeans drive a manual transmission.

Just keep in mind that you are going to pay a premium for an automatic transmission and you may want to size up to make sure there is room for your luggage as European cars have small trunks. In my experience, an automatic station wagon that will nicely fit a family of four without being too big to manage the Tuscan hills, will cost about $600-$1500 for a weeklong rental depending on if you drop it off at the same airport or at another one. It may be tempting to rent a van or SUV, but you may regret it later when driving through small Tuscan towns or on narrow roads. Instead, encourage everyone to pack light and bring smaller luggage.

Since you don’t want to drive in Rome, I would recommend arriving on Saturday morning, picking up your rental at the FCO airport, and driving to your accommodations in Tuscany. Then, on the following Saturday, drop your rental back off at the Rome airport and then catch a cab or arrange a car service into the city (I use Welcome Pickups ) and then back out on your departure. A car service to/from the airport will run approximately $65-80 and a cab is closer to $50 but it may be more cramped for your family.

You can also take a train from the airport to the Termini station in Rome, but I wouldn’t really recommend staying in that neighborhood so you will probably need to get a cab from there anyway. You could also take a regional train from Rome to Florence and get a rental car there. Train travel in Italy is pretty easy (just make sure you validate your train ticket before you board!) but when you are staying in the countryside, you are going to need a car.

When pumping gas in Italy, make sure you know if the car is diesel or unleaded. I’ve seen some disasters after people put regular gas into a diesel car! See my other tips for driving in Italy .

Total transportation: $1000

Tours and Activities

If you are traveling with kids, I highly recommend private tours. Whenever you take a group tour, you never know who is going to be part of your group and how that may disrupt your experience. There are so many family-friendly options, including some really fun and unique ways to explore Rome with kids. Private tours will usually run around $450 for a family of four.

If you want to save money, you can book a small group tour. Companies like LivTours offer small groups of no more than six people and Walks of Italy’s small groups are less than 12.

In Rome, I would highly recommend tours for the following attractions:

• An intro to Rome walking tour with gelato
• Colosseum tour for kids
• Vatican Museum / Sistine Chapel or a Vatican private tour for kids

If the budget allows, I would add tours for the following:

• Catacombs and Roman underground
• Food tour with Devour Tours (for older kids/teens)

Luckily, when you are in Tuscany it is easy to spend the week taking day trips to visit towns like Lucca, Pisa, Siena , San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Montalcino , and Pienza . However, you may want to think about a family-friendly wine or food/cheese tour with a company like Tuscan Organic Tours or a bike tour with On the Road in Chianti .

However, at a minimum, you will want to take a day trip into Florence and take a tour of the city highlights or get skip-the-line tickets to the Accademia and/or Uffizi, as well as pre-book timed entry tickets to climb the Duomo .

Total tours: $2,000 (4 x $450 + tickets)

The price of food can vary, but if you stay away from the highly touristic areas (this means walking a block or two away from any main attraction), there are plenty of affordable and delicious options. Keep in mind that a trattoria or an osteria is less formal and less expensive than a ristorante. You can also usually purchase pizza or panini and take them to go for picnics or inexpensive, casual meals.

Also, if you order your coffee and pastry at a bar and eat inside, it will be much cheaper than ordering table service and sitting outside on a piazza. That said, sometimes it is worth the price, especially when eating Tartufo and people-watching in Piazza Navona.

We tend to overspend on food, but that said, I would still plan on budgeting at least $170 for the family a day on food if you are happy with pizza and pasta. Foodies looking for fine dining experiences should budget a bit more. The good news about staying at an agriturismo is that you will likely have access to a kitchen and can prepare some meals at your lodging. This is always a great money saver and allows you to then splurge on those days when you are visiting cities or towns.

Total food: $2040

Souvenirs & Miscellaneous Expenses

While we would rather spend our travel budget on experiences versus things, there are some items that make perfect souvenirs from an Italy trip. These include wooden toys, leather goods, purses/bags, painted ceramics, blown glass, lace and linens, wine, and olive oil.

You will also want to set aside some budget for the little things including tips for your tour guides, parking (remember to bring coins in Tuscany!), gas, and taxis. I generally use a rule of thumb of $50 per day.

Total Miscellaneous: $500

Travel Insurance

I would recommend protecting your trip with travel insurance. Pricing varies depending on your level of coverage, ages, trip costs, and more. However, I would use $600-1,000 as a rough estimate (kids under 17 are usually free.)

If you follow this modest budget, your total trip to Italy cost would come to a grand total of…

Average total Family trip to Italy cost: $17,340

The bottom line is that a 12-day trip to Italy costs about $1,445 per day for a family of four . Keep in mind that there are ways to do this for less including using points for airfare or connecting with a budget airline, staying in vacation rentals, taking small group tours or self-guided exploration, cooking your own meals, and limiting your extra spending.

Of course, if you have champagne tastes, you can easily triple this cost with luxury accommodations, private transportation, and fine dining. We try to land somewhere in the middle between budget and super-luxe and that is what this budget is based on.

Download your Italy Budget Worksheet

Keep track of your expenses as you plan your trip with this downloadable Italy trip planning budget worksheet. Download the PDF worksheet .

VISITING ITALY? YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…

• Get tips for  driving in Italy
• Get itineraries for  Rome ,  Florence ,  Venice ,  Bologna ,  Parma , and  Milan
• See tips and things to do in  Ravello ,  Cinque Terre ,  Siena,   Assisi

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: November 29, 2023

9 thoughts on “How Much Does a Trip to Italy Cost? 2024 Budget Worksheet”

It breaks my heart that some people might see this and decide Italy is too expensive for a family trip, and then go to Disney instead and spend $6000 for a week. Airfare to Europe from the USA has never been cheaper, Airbnb/Homeaway is definitely the way to go with a family (and you can do much better than $250/nt) plus with a kitchen you save on eating out (added bonus is you feel like a local!). Car is unnecessary if you are going to mainly be in cities (and if you want, you can do a daytrip from Florence to Lucca, Pisa, or Siena by train, and get the view without the nausea-inducing twists and turns of the road, or else rent a car in Florence for JUST a day or two). Kids under 18 are free in all state museums in Italy (and often discounts in other places). Yes, it’s worth it in some museums to spring for the reserved tickets so you can skip the line (Uffizi in Florence and Vatican museums), but you do NOT need a tour for each and every place you visit. Get off the beaten path, head south (much cheaper–except for Capri and Positano, the two places Americans flock to!), and get creative. Less is more when it comes to traveling with kids. It can be less stressful, and certainly more economical, to base yourself in one or two places, and not travel around getting a different hotel every night. Finally, don’t try to see everything–you just can’t! But you can always go back! I have traveled to Italy, along with my four kids, several times, and we have never paid nearly as much as the prices quoted in this article. Stick to a few (less touristed) places, do some research beforehand, enlist the kids’ help in planning, be flexible, and you don’t need to spend more than you would on a Disneyworld vacation!

I love this!! Thank you so much 🙂 I am planning a trip for 2023 when I turn 30 and my twin sisters turn 18. I was so overwhelmed thinking of how to financially plan for the trip but this article was PERFECT! I decided to start my savings goals for 10k. I broke it down for 3 years – 365 days/year X 3 years = 1,095 days. Then, 10,000/1,095 = $9.132/day. I rounded it up to $10/day to be safe 🙂 SO SO SO EXCITED to start this savings journey. I used to app Albert (absolutely love this app), to automatically save $70/week for me. Thank you again for the article!!

That’s such a great way to think about it. There are few places in the world I love more than Italy so I’m sure it will be worth it.

So helpful as we plan our family vacation next summer to Tuscany.Even though we had already started the number crunching, the inclusion of your estimates and additional tips are great. Thanks so much !

I’m so glad to hear that it helped!

“Total airfare cost: $4,000 (assuming you use a budget airline)”

You are kidding right? Where you from? I got ticket from sweden to rome with ryanair 190€ there and back for 4 people. And hotels approx 100€/night are expensive. I got ours 50€/night. You got some other italy or what? These prices are insane 😀

Unfortunately $1000 per person from the US to Italy in the summer is pretty standard with a connection, prices are even higher if you fly direct. Off season offers better rates but I envy your options.

Thank you so much for writing this article. I was looking for something to give me guidance as we want to take our family of 4 to Italy for my daughters high school graduation present because she has dreamed of going to Italy since she was 5. This is truly perfect to help me. Thank you

I’m so glad it was helpful to you! Italy is an amazing destination. I’m actually headed back next week. Be sure to check the blog for other articles for tour reviews, restaurant recommendations, itinerary ideas, etc.

Comments are closed.

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Italy: Travel Budget Calculator

Plan your Italian getaway with our Travel Budget Calculator! Find costs for Rome, Tuscany, and more. Ideal for families & solo travelers. Click for details.

How much does it cost to Travel Italy!?

Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world! Passion can be seen from the Avenues to the Automobiles and of course the food!

From the ancient landmarks of Rome to the vineyards in Tuscany, the romance of Florence and beautiful beaches of Sorrento Italy has it all!

Popular Destinations:

Rome is the Cosmopolitan capital of Italy with over 3000 years of  Roman history , from the  Ancient Roman Colosseum  and  Trevi Fountain , to the artistic  Sistine Chapel  in Vatican city. Rome is a historic capital like no other.

Milan  is the northern metropolis of Italy. It is the international capital of  fashion and modern design .

Here you will also find the countries financial hub and national stock exchange. Along with many  high end shop and restaurants

. The  Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral  and the  Santa Maria delle Grazie  convent, house the famous Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “ The Last Supper, ”

milan-Duomo

3. Florence:

Florence is the capital of Italys Tuscany region. Here you will find  masterpieces of Renaissance art and captivating architecture . One of Florences most iconic attractions is the  Duomo , a cathedral with a incredible terracotta-tiled dome.

The  Galleria dell'Accademia  displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture.

While the Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

Naples  is a vibrant city in  Southern Italy . Its a great place to spring board yourself to many iconic landmarks from  Active Volcano Mount Vesuvius  to the  Ancient Roman Town of Pompeii  ("The lost city").  Naples also has centuries of historic art & architecture, from the  Duomo di San Gennaro cathedral  to the luxurious  Royal Palace.

Naples italy

5. Positano(Amalfi Coast):

-  The  Ultimate place for Romance  and coastal beauty. Just a short ride from Naples you will find  Sorrento  and  Positano  a picturesque village nestled deep within the mountains. Many hotels hear offer breathing sea view scenery from the balconies.

During the evening head down to the local restaurants and watch live performances. In the morning, take a day trip to the incredible island of Capri. Be aware though as Positano is so small with such a high demand it can be expensive.

amalfi-coast-positano

6.  Sicily  -

Just of the coast of Italy you will find the paradise of Sicily.

In general Sicily is less expensive than the rest of Italy, for more info see:  Sicily: Travel Budget Calculator-How much does it cost to travel?

sicily-travel budget calculator

Is Italy Expensive?

How much it costs to travel Italy, depends upon your budget but generally in the most tourist areas I found it to be more expensive than  Spain , Prague,  Portugal  Greece and eastern Europe but less expensive than  UK (London),  Scandinavia ,  Switzerland

To help you budget your next adventure to Italy.

Dive into our interactive Travel Budget Calculator below

User Guide:  Simply select your “Travel Style”,  ” Number of Persons” and Number of Days Traveling.

Top Tip:  “Group” travel budget gives the  total budget for 4 people!  To find out how much that is each simply divide by 4.

Family Budgets:

Families would be best using the Group selector, or those with small children should select “Couple” if the children are young enough to share a room.

We have compiled the data in the table above from our vast travel experience & other reliable sources.  source

Be sure to visit the  kid friendly museums of florence  & use these  tips for pompei with kids.

Here you will also find  31 great travel tips for italy   on walk to eat.

What currency is used in Italy?

Italy  uses Euros as its currency.

1 USD = 0.90 Euro

Italy Travel Costs (Budget):

I. budget backpacker travel costs:, ii. mid range travel costs:, iii. luxury vacation travel costs:, where to stay in  rome .

For a complete list of our recommend hotels in Berlin,   follow the link  HERE

colosseum-rome on a budget

Insider Tip:

• Invest in a quality Travel Camera!

Capturing the Memories of your adventure is essential!

You will be able to show your friends, family and even grand kids all the wonderful photos captured.

For more info see, our recommend  Travel Photography Gear

Make sure you are equip with some great Photography Gear!

A high quality Tent & backpack can also be great investments to help you cut costs and have more of an adventure while traveling!

Important! Are you Insured??

Be aware that you will need separate travel insurance if you are traveling to Italy!

If you get ill or have an accident it will be a very costly experience!

All travellers to Italy should have a robust travel insurance to avoid paying out thousands of dollars.

I always recommend  World Nomads , I’ve used these for years,

they are the best and most reliable insurance, they also provides an unlimited medical budget!

Getting hit with a large hospital bill after getting sick or injured, could really add to your worries! Get some Travel Insurance

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE QUOTE FROM WORLD NOMADS

For more info see:  Why you NEED Travel Insurance?

Other  Travel Essentials    (Things You can’t travel without!)

• Recommended  Backpacks
• Recommended  Camping Gear
• Recommended  Hiking Boots.

To learn about our secret Hotel Hacks check out:  How to find the Best Hotel Deals??

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How Much Does A Trip to Italy Cost in 2024: Detailed Budget Breakdown

Written By: ThePlanetD Team

Italy , Travel Planning

Updated On: April 5, 2024

Italy is one of our favorite destinations in Europe. After visiting the country multiple times over the years we always get the same questions – is Italy expensive? How much does the average trip to Italy cost? Italy is a brilliant destination to travel to, whether you are a solo traveler or a family looking for a special holiday. But it is safe to say that the actual costs of visiting Italy vary depending on your travel style.

Table of Contents

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Italy?

In this guide, we’ll break down the average trip to Italy cost and show you how, where possible, you make it more cost-effective.

Italy is often associated with luxury – stunning villas, fine dining, archaeology, and the arts. But that doesn’t mean you can’t tailor your trip to Italy to suit different budgets. Is Italy expensive? After all our trips to the different regions of Italy we are going to fill you in on how much a trip to Italy costs.

When we have visited Italy, we always rent a car. We love having the freedom to go off the beaten path and to stop whenever we like. You can check car rental comparisons here.

Airfare is the first bridge you’ll likely come to when booking a trip to Italy. The good news is that Italy has regular flights to all its major cities, so finding a round-trip ticket is neither problematic nor massively expensive if you visit from a nearby destination. The average budget traveler can find the best deals and cheap flights to Italy. This is simply because flight demand isn’t high – there are so many options when flying to Italy. The country has a staggering 77 airports and hosts dozens of airlines. One thing is for sure: you will always find flights to Italian cities, and the average price is low, so it won’t be one of your main trip costs.

Of course, airfare prices do vary depending on your departure date and destination. As a general rule, flights to Italy from Europe are the cheapest. Flights from the US to Italy are slightly more expensive due to budget-spiking transatlantic crossings and fewer charters. However, that doesn’t mean you are doomed for cheap flights.

The cheapest times of year to fly to Italy are out of season and in shoulder seasons. The shoulder seasons are March to May and September to October. The official ‘off-season’ is over winter, from November to February. You can also save money on flights by booking in advance, using VPNs to adjust your network, and using airline loyalty programs. There’s always a way to maximize budgeting opportunities. Another essential thing to consider for those flying from the US is value for money.

Can you take advantage of cheaper European flights by taking a longer holiday period? This way, you might spend more flying to Italy, but once there, you could add a few extra destinations cheaply. For instance, taking flights for as little as $15 to Germany, Greece, or Turkey.

• Return Flight Cost from Europe: $60 to 200
• Return Flight Cost from US: $400 to 7000

Accommodation in Italy Costs

Your next significant cost after airfare is accommodation. Accommodation is a double-edged sword when calculating your trip to Italy cost. In fact, looking at the price tag of a luxury Italy trip is likely what has got you questioning, ‘Is Italy expensive?’. The reality is that Italy does luxury, and it does it well. Like the south of France, Italy has a reputation for Riviera beauty and luxury hotels that attract A-list celebrities.

You can indeed find hotel rooms that cost tens of thousands a night. Of course, the flip side is also true; you can comfortably backpack it in a hostel dormitory for as little as $40 a night. There are a few factors to consider, so let’s take a closer look so you know what sways it so much.

Choosing Accommodation in Italy

The biggest decider in Italian accommodation is whether you want budget, mid-range, or luxury accommodation. With budget accommodation, you can choose dormitory-style accommodation, or B&B-style stays.

Most hotels offer a mid-range experience, with moderate prices and occasional luxuries like swimming pools that can hone your Italy itinerary and experience. Luxury hotels come in two categories: average luxury and celebrity-style luxury. You can pick up five-star hotel stays for €250 per night, but equally, some five-star hotels charge upwards of €1,000 per night – the real decider is location, hotel brand, and your hotel room choice. For the most part, most travelers pick the middle road with mid-range hotels, which average around €100 a night.

What to Consider When Booking a Trip to Italy

When considering what goes into accommodation pricing, consider location and time of year. Summer is the peak season, so you should avoid summer in Italy if you prioritize saving money. If you want a more affordable hotel room, look at shoulder season travel, where you find the same room up to 50% cheaper.

Location also plays a massive role in your trip budget. For instance, an entire apartment in an Italian city center versus a secluded VRBO property or hotel in the Tuscan countryside can vary greatly in price. If you can get out of touristy areas, like Rome city center or Venice, accommodation prices naturally fall.

Vacation rentals are also a great idea to save money, especially if you are flexible on location – rolling hills don’t always come at a sky-high price. If you are willing to stay remotely and in vacation rentals, it can save money on your Italy trip.

• Budget Hotels: $40-80 per night
• Mid-Range Hotels: $100 per night
• Luxury Hotels: $250 per night
• Vacation Rentals: $50 upwards per night

Transportation Cost

Transportation in Italy can be a make or break when calculating an Italy travel budget. The country is brilliantly connected by public transportation, with a train travel trend carried by low ticket prices and high-speed connections. If you want to save money, train travel is the way forward as long as you book in advance.

Booking up to a month in advance can give you access to fantastic train travel deals – great for budget travelers. Just be sure you purchase tickets for train travel, as Italy has notorious laws on fining fare hoppers. Trust us: skipping fares in Italy is not the way to go for budget travel.

Italy also has ferry and bus services, which are used far less frequently than the train travel routes. The ferries are most popular in areas like Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, where many coastal towns are less accessible by road. You can typically book tickets in advance for ferries or take local, smaller shuttle boats on the day. Buses are simply less popular for comfort reasons.

We love renting cars when traveling in Italy. Check car rental prices here. We have found some great deals that work out to be cheaper than train travel if booked at the right time.

While the bus may be the holy grail for the budget traveler in most countries, in Italy, train travel usually rivals bus prices if you book in advance. And for the same cost, it makes sense that you’d want a faster and more comfortable journey. Buses are the budget option for last-minute public transport journeys – usually $2 per ticket for inner-city travel or around $35 for long-distance buses.

Finally, one of the most popular ways to get around Italy is by car rental. Car rentals   can  be really effective. If you are travelling in a group, for instance, as a family or group of friends. This can quickly rack up public transport costs and make spending an upfront fee (usually between $10 and $30 a day) more effective on a car rental plus any additional fuel costs.

If you plan on taking many day trips or staying remotely, a rental car can be a lifesaver. Remember any additional parking costs you might incur at your accommodation, and know that Italy has many toll roads.

If you stay in a city center where you can find most things within walking distance, you won’t need a car rental. You can always book private transfers from the airport if you travel at unsociable hours or head to the metro station or train station for a day trip.

• Transport Budget: $30 per day with a car rental

You can’t visit Italy without a solid food budget, and that’s from no fault of its own. Italy has one of the world’s most famous – and arguably delicious – cuisines. We’ve already got  an entire guide  dedicated to the top dishes you should try when you holiday in Italy. If you are in the stages of forming your Italy itinerary, just know food will undoubtedly make up a significant proportion of it. So, with all that said, what does a trip to Italy cost when discussing a food budget?

The average restaurant meal in a major city center is around $70 per person; this is more like $20-30 per person outside of popular areas. Takeaway dishes cost around $10-15. It is important to remember that the coperto (aka the extra cost for sitting down) is added onto most bills in centrally located restaurants and calculated per person.

It is customary to tip around 10%. However, the Italian tipping culture is much more relaxed than the tipping culture in the US. When questioning ‘Is Italy expensive?’, you need to consider whether, and if so, when and where you will eat out. We’d suggest dining out at least once just for the Italian food experience. However, a compromise for a week in Italy might be two sit-down meals, a food tour, and then takeaway or street food for lunch and cooking other meals at your accommodation.

Food is the number one reason people choose Italy, so try to set aside a generous budget. Think of it as cultural immersion or an investment in activities. Everyone deserves to experience fine dining on the Amalfi Coast with air conditioning and stunning ocean views – just set aside around $100 to comfortably budget. And if you can, find accommodation with kitchen facilities to cook your own meals and save money.

• Food Budget: $20 a day without sit-down restaurants or $100 a day with sit-down restaurants

Tours and Activities

Finally, what about tours and activities? It goes without saying that part of what makes Italy so fabulous is its array of things to do.

There are Roman ruins to tour, sunset cruises, and museum tours – and that’s not to mention the abovementioned food tours. Your trip to Italy cost will be massively dictated by your entertainment choices, but it shouldn’t be any other way. Adding to your Italy trip cost with lifelong memories is worthwhile. Just keep in mind your tour and activity expectations when planning a budget: will you tour the Amalfi Coast on your trip to Italy, or are you backpacking in Rome?

One thing to know about Italy is that it does luxury and ‘exclusive experiences’ really well. You need to evaluate what is on your to-do list. Is a gondola ride in Venice catching your eye, or are you looking at budget day trip destinations and museum entry fees? There’s no denying that a gondola ride is one of the  best things to do in Venice , but if you want to splurge on special experiences, you will have to budget more.

We’d recommend narrowing down your ‘exclusive experiences’ to a select few if you want to keep to a reasonable budget. You can then bulk up your itinerary with low-cost and free tours and activities. For instance, the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, or a boat trip. You can also plan tourist attractions like stopping to see the Trevi Fountain, which costs nothing.

Independent Travel or Group Tour in Italy

When it comes to your itinerary in Italy, you have the option to book guided experiences and the option to travel solo. Traveling solo can cut your upfront costs, while guided experiences provide peace of mind. For instance, a day trip from Milan to Lake Como costs as little as $4 by public transportation ,  yet around $100 for a  guided tour.

You could cut costs by taking the day trip or save stress and time by spending extra money on a guided day trip. As a side note, if you visit attractions rather than destinations, many attractions in Italy have options for self-guided audio tours when you actually enter. We’d recommend downloading audio tours if you are visiting solo as you’ll will gain a much better appreciation of the monuments you are visiting/

When considering guided tours, an important consideration is whether they are private. A group tour versus private tours vary massively in cost. So, if you’d like to save money but still have a guided experience, we’d suggest shopping for group tours. Keep in mind a single supplement for solo traveler visitors, though, which applies for both group and private excursions – frustrating, we know. You should always check specific policies per tour company.

• Tours and Activities Budget: $300 per week

Overall Trip Cost

With all that in mind, what is the total trip to Italy cost? What exactly should you budget? You see tons of average price statistics floating around and various Italy vacation packages, so it is essential to have a concrete number reflecting the ‘real’ cost of a holiday in Italy.

We’ve broken down the ‘big’ Italy budget into all the factors (airfare, food, tours, etc.), so let’s quickly review them before we give you our final figures.

Regarding flights, budget around $1000 return from Europe in shoulder seasons and $1500 from the US. You can find flights priced above and below these rates, but as a general rule, these are the average prices to expect.

Accommodations

Accommodation prices in Italy is pretty simple: the more stars, the more expensive the hotel. And the more central the location, the higher the fees. Budget approximately $60 per night for a central budget hotel, $100 for a mid range, and $250 for a luxury. Vacation rentals are anything upwards of $50 per night.

For the vast majority of people who go for mid-range hotels, $700 – $1000 is a reasonable rate to budget and expect for a week’s accommodation in Italy.

Transportation

Transportation is tough to calculate because it massively depends on where you are staying. If you are staying in the city center, you should budget as little as $40 for a whole week on public transportation. You can walk to all the main tourist attractions, which costs nothing. Even if you go on a day trip or catch a local bus or tram, public transport should cost as little as $2-30. A $40 weekly transportation budget should allow you to take a day trip, use public transport for airport transfers, and get around occasionally by inner-city transport to take a break from walking.

If you hire a car, this price will increase. If you hire a car, budget around $30 daily for rental car fees, petrol, and parking. In a week, this totes up to $210.

For food, it does depend on your travel style. You can easily spend $20 a day on food if you just purchase takeaway or street food style meals for lunch and cook your own meals for breakfast and dinner. Whereas, if you want to eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you should budget $100 daily. To get the best of both worlds, we’d suggest a weekly budget of $300 or $400 if you want to try fancy cocktails and aperitifs. This should allow two days of dining out and five days of cooking meals and getting takeaway lunches.

For tours and activities, you should budget approximately $300 per week. This budget considers one guided tour of up to $100, one luxury experience of around $80, plus up to six standard $20 entry rates for tourist attractions. With $300, it is safe to say that you are comfortably within budget to enjoy a couple of significant bucket list experiences and get an excellent insight into the tourist attraction scene. You’ll be able to have at least two tourist attractions a day.

• Per-Day Budget: $240 if you fly from Europe and rent a car, and $295 if you fly from the US and rent a car
• Total Italy Trip Cost: $1660 if you fly from Europe and rent a car, and $2060 if you fly from the US and rent a car

Money Saving Tips

It is all well and good knowing the average trip to Italy cost. But what about learning how to reduce the average cost of an Italy trip? An average price is just that – an average. That doesn’t mean that you can’t reduce it further and make some serious reductions. Even a tiny compromise, like taking public transport, not private transfers, can significantly reduce the cost of visiting Italy.

This section will reveal the top tips and tricks for lowering Italy’s budget. Here’s how to save money on your trip to Italy.

1. Avoid Sit Down Restaurants or Cook at Home

A huge factor in your trip to Italy cost is sit-down restaurants. This might seem oddly specific, but it is a famously price-boosting thing in Italy. You instantly get charged more when you sit down at a city center restaurant. There’s even a name for this: the coperto. The coperto is a flat rate cover charge that is calculated on a per-person basis. But this is where it gets even more expensive – it is the same whether you order a drink and bread or a four-course meal. This means that if you want to sit down, you’ll have to pay an extra cost, even if you dined on a budget.

Not all restaurants and cafes have a coperto. However, a safe rule of thumb is that if you are in a ‘competitive’ area, like the center of Rome or Venice, you should expect an additional charge for sitting down. The coperto acts as insurance for the restaurant or café business, meaning no matter how much you spend, they will be compensated for not having an empty table for a different guest. It would help if you always aimed to buy takeaway food or street food in these busy areas. Or if you are desperate to dine sitting down, then head out of the city center and into quieter suburbs.

Similarly, you can save money by cooking at your accommodation. Self-catered accommodation with your only kitchen is a real travel hack for cutting costs and avoiding things like the coperto.

2. Travel in Shoulder Seasons

You don’t need us to tell you that traveling at different times of year bags you different prices. The peak season is notoriously bad for budget, no matter where you go. Peak season just means the time when the destination is deemed ‘most impressive’ by mass tourism. This is summer for Italy since it is primarily a beach holiday and al fresco dining destination. June to August is the peak season for Italy, when you will be competing amongst other tourists for everything from tickets to accommodation, and local vendors and business owners hike up the prices to meet the rise in demand.

If you want to play your Italy budgeting tactically, you could book to visit in winter. Contrary to popular belief, the country gets cold, especially in northern Italy. You can expect an average temperature of between – 5 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius, with southern Italy warmer than the north and its mountainous regions. This idea is excellent if you don’t care about beach days and want to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s in Italy. It is also the perfect time to visit museums and galleries, which are much more enjoyable without overheating.

However, you don’t need to go as extreme on budgeting as that if you still want beach days and warm weather of low to mid-twenties. The best way to budget while sticking as close to peak season is with shoulder seasons. March to May and September until October are the optimum seasons to experience Italy well and cheaply. These months have cheaper accommodations and tours, pleasant temperatures, and fewer crowds.

3. Take Local Transportation

Visiting Italy can get expensive if you constantly spend on private transfers and even a car rental- especially concerning petrol, toll roads, and parking fees. One really effective way to save money is with local transportation. Italy has a fabulous train system, with a train station in all major cities and most significant towns. In fact, tickets can be as little as $9 for a regional journey. Booking train tickets in advance can be a brilliant way to take day trips or an alternative to road-tripping or flying between cities.

Italy also has a fantastic ferry system and buses. You will be able to navigate the country by public transport. On the other hand, private transfers and taxis can get expensive. For instance, when booked in advance, a train ticket from Milan to Rome costs as little as $35. Milan to Rome by rental car costs a minimum of $104 for fuel. A private transfer from Milan to Rome costs as much as $190 one way.

Ironically, public transport is also often much quicker. Milan to Rome takes just over 3 hours by train, yet 5.5 hours by car. Snag the better deal and get there faster. Taking local transportation is one of the best ways to cut costs when visiting Italy.

4. Avoid Major Cities and Tourist Hotspots – Off the Beaten Path

This one might sting, but if you  really  want to save money on your Italy trip, avoid major cities and tourist hotspots. These cities and hotspots are like vampires for your Italy budget. Everything from food to accommodation and even water bottles get hiked up in price in these places.

If you aren’t too fussy about where you stay, think outside the box and get creative. Head off the tourist track, and you’ll find much more reasonable rates. And you’ll be pioneering more authentic and sustainable travel – a moral boost and a budgeting tip.

There is a small ‘but’ to this top tip. You can always stay outside of a major city. This way, you can take advantage of local transport and cheap rail prices for day trips into the city. You can benefit from the city’s tourist attractions without spending extra on accommodation and food.

5. Know Your Discounts

Lastly, you should know your discounts when trying to lower your trip to Italy. Simple things like a student ID or pensioner card can prove you are eligible for discounts. You should always carry some form of ID if you qualify for discounts, and similarly, do your research before entering an attraction or venue where you think you could be eligible. You could even learn a basic phrase in Italian that you can use to respectfully enquire about discounts. One example of an attraction you can save on with a student ID is the Vatican museums, which knock off approximately 7 euros ($7.42) if you display a student card. Every little helps, right?

Researching discounts and rates before you go is also a healthy practice when sticking to a budget and a great rule to live by if you are a budget traveler. Many museums have free days or cheaper times, while bars and restaurants might have happy hours. And you can adjust your visit to attractions and venues to get better deals. It is a win-win.

Trip to Italy Cost: FAQs

So, now you have an overview of a general trip to Italy cost, what do you think: is Italy expensive? As you can see, the average cost of a trip to Italy does vary depending on factors like travel style, when you travel, and where you go in Italy. Lots of small choices can massively impact your overall Italy budget.

Are you ready for some FAQs? These answers will give you the snapshot information you need to transform your trip for the better. Consider this section the cherry on top of your Italy budget planning.

How much is a trip to Italy for 7 days?

If you fly from Europe and rent a car, it costs approximately $1660 to travel to Italy for 7 days. If you fly from the US and rent a car, it costs around $2060.

Is Italy very expensive to visit?

Italy can be expensive if you opt for luxury hotels, private tours, fine dining, and popular peak-season areas. This is entirely down to travel style, though, and you can easily do Italy on a budget if you cook your own food, backpack, and take public transport. Small compromises and budgeting decisions go a long way in Italy.

What is the cheapest month to go to Italy?

The cheapest months to visit Italy are over winter, with November as the absolute cheapest. Most people visit Italy in the summer and use March to May and September to October as the slightly more affordable, yet still warm, shoulder season. If you visit between November and February, you can find the absolute cheapest prices to visit Italy.

How much does it cost to go to Italy for a weekend?

Visiting Italy for the weekend costs around $550 if you fly from Europe and $950 from the US. This budget factors in public transport costs, a budget of $100 for tourist attractions, flights, and mid-range accommodation in a city center location.

To Conclude

Now you have as accurate as possible an idea of what your trip to Italy will cost, you can answer the question for yourself: is Italy expensive? You can use some of our top tips to save money when visiting Italy. You don’t have to visit Italy for a luxury trip, although if you do, you will undoubtedly go to the right place. Italy is incredible – no matter your budget. With the right attitude, you can find some fantastic accommodation choices, tours, food, and flight deals. Read next: Is Greece Expensive to Visit

There are so many amazing  things to do  – including sailing on Lake Como, visiting remains of Roman cities and amphitheaters where gladiators fought, and just kicking back with cocktails on stunning beaches that a trip to Italy is a must for any travel lover. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Italy today.

Looking for more inspiration? Just check out these  facts about Italy to make you smile.  Or get some inspiration on  hiking in the beautiful Cinque Terre  region, which should already be on your bucket list.

Plan Your Next Trip To Italy With These Resources

• Best Things to Do in Piedmont, Italy
• 15 Most Beautiful Cities in Italy for Travelers
• 16 Best Things to Do in Lake Como, Italy
• 14 Remarkable Towns in Tuscany, Italy
• 28 Best Things To Do in Milan
• 23 Best Things To Do In Sicily, Italy in 2024
• The Ultimate One Day in Rome Itinerary: How To Maximize Your Visit

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

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1 thought on “How Much Does A Trip to Italy Cost in 2024: Detailed Budget Breakdown”

Thanks guys for sharing this some many useful tips and cost of ITALY also superb attractions, sceneries too guys.

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Italy Trip Costs: Budget Estimates in All Aspects (2024)

The cost of traveling in Italy is relatively affordable compared with many other European destinations.

This article will give you more details on Italy travel costs, covering international airfares, transportation within Italy, meals, hotels, attractions, activities, and more.

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How much is an italy tour.

• Costs for International Flights
• Costs for Accommodation
• Costs for Transportation
• Costs for Meals
• Costs for Attractions
• Most expensive time in Italy: June to August
• Cheapest time in Italy: November to March
• Prices during the off-season are about 30% to 50% lower than in the peak season.

Our cost assumptions are mainly based on a family with one or two children, or a couple wanting comfortable accommodation, unique experiences, and private transfers.

A private tour could be a good choice for balancing your expenses with the quality of the trip. Our professional travel consultant would manage the logistics and travel arrangements to enable you to focus on enjoying the trip itself.

Plus, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you would discover interesting details and anecdotes about the places you explore. In particular, there are many historical buildings and museums in Italy, and with a professional and lively explanation, you would have a deeper understanding of Italian culture and customs.

In general, such a private Italy tour would cost about 400 – 500 USD per day per person. A 1-week Italy tour would cost about 11,000–14,000 USD for a family of four (kids under 10 could travel with a 30–50% discount) or 6,000–7,000 USD for a couple. (This doesn't include the costs of international flights.)

It would include the costs for a private car service, private guide service, train/flight tickets within Italy, 4-star hotels, tickets for attractions, and full-day itineraries.

You can get a price reference on our 7-Day Rome, Florence, and Venice Tour . 

The estimated price we have given is only for reference. If you want a more specific budget, please contact us . Our travel advisor would give you more details based on your itinerary, travel time, and group size.

Costs for International Flights to Italy

If you are flying direct from America to Rome, you may need about 600–700 USD for an economy seat in the off-season. The high season (June to August) would double the costs, costing about 1,200–1,400 USD.

If you choose a connecting flight instead of a direct flight, the price could be cut in half. (Airfare prices vary considerably. The information provided here serves as a reference only. For more accurate cost estimates, we recommend checking the official website of the airline.)

If you are flying from London to Rome, the airfare costs about 40–50 euros. There would be more flight options.

When planning travel during peak seasons, we recommend booking your trip to Italy at least 3 months in advance to secure more flight options and better prices.

Costs for Accommodation in Italy

Generally speaking, a 4-star hotel offers a comfortable accommodation experience with a good location. A fine 4-star hotel may cost about 200 USD per night. Many 5-star hotels start from 400 USD per night. Some luxury hotels could even reach over 1,000 USD per night, with private gardens and unique collections displayed.

For the needs of family accommodation, you could choose to book double rooms with extra beds or to book family rooms. As travel agents, we partner with many hotels to provide competitive pricing. Additionally, we have carefully selected high-quality hotels to suit your requirements, whether you prefer adult-only or family-friendly options.

In Tuscany, the region with Florence as capital, you could experience a manor or castle resort. They are usually in the quiet countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you want a leisurely and peaceful vacation, you could spend a day or two there. They offer many activities to experience rural life in Italy, such as going cycling or truffle picking.

Hotel prices fluctuate with the change in tourism seasons. During the off-peak season, a hotel that costs $200 per night might escalate to $400 per night in the peak season. Booking in advance allows for better prices. It's generally recommended to make reservations 3 months in advance.

Costs for Transportation within Italy

Trains are the main type of transportation connecting major cities. The price of a train ticket for a 1½-hour ride from Rome to Florence is typically between 25 and 70 USD (regular to premium seat price). The prices of train tickets are not fixed. The earlier you book, the better the prices.

For families traveling with ample luggage, opting for a private transfer between cities is advisable. That way, you could alleviate the hassle of managing both your luggage and your children simultaneously.

Sightseeing in most cities is done via walking tours. However, if you plan to visit countryside or seaside towns, you may need to use a car service.

Costs for Meals in Italy

In Italy, a basic meal, such as pizza or pasta, typically ranges from 5 to 15 USD per person. For a finer dinner experience, expect to spend about 30 to 60 USD per person. Restaurants boasting one Michelin star generally fall within the range of 50 to 130 USD per person.

Costs for Attractions and Activities in Italy

Tickets for major attractions and museums in Italy range from 12 to 25 USD. Some experiences, such as cooking classes or food tours, could cost more compared to simply visiting attractions.

The first Sunday of every month offers free entry to museums and archaeological parks in Italy, including famous attractions, such as the Colosseum and Uffizi Gallery. Huge crowds may be expected at these sites on free visiting days.

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🧮 Italy Travel Budget Calculator

Italy travel budget calculator.

This calculator estimates your travel budget based on the number of days you plan to stay, your accommodation and meal preferences, and the number of cities you plan to visit. For accommodation and meals, 'Budget' is estimated at $50 and $20 per day respectively, 'Mid-Range' at $100 and $40, and 'Luxury' at $200 and $80. Inter-city travel is estimated at $100 per city.

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How much does a trip to Italy Cost?

How much money should you budget for your trip to Italy?

• How much does a one-week trip to Italy cost?
• How much does a two-week trip to Italy cost?
• How much does a one-month trip to Italy cost?
• Hostel Prices
• Hotel Prices

The Cost of a Trip to Italy

For a trip to Italy, you should plan for daily costs anywhere between $72 to $457. If there's two of you traveling, your daily expenses could range from $143 to $913. These price ranges are based on the average daily spending of $181 (€167) per person which comes from the travel expenses of other visitors. These costs include food, accommodation, sightseeing activities, and getting around locally. Keep in mind, though, these figures can vary somewhat based on your individual travel style, level of luxury, and chosen activities. Destinations across the country, such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, might might vary somewhat from the overall average price, but they usually stick close to this range. Read on for a breakdown of travel typical expenses as well as a comparison of tour prices versus Independent travel.

If you're planning an Independent trip to Italy, budget travelers should plan to spend around $72 (€66) per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $181 (€167) a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $457 (€419) a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for Italy from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.

How much does a one week trip to Italy cost?

On average, visitors to Italy spend between $502 and $3,196 for their week-long adventure, with the average being $1,269. This covers sightseeing, local transportation, food, and accommodations. With a duration of one week, you'll have the opportunity to explore one, two, or even three locations within Italy, depending on the level of depth you desire for your visit. Some of the most popular places to consider exploring are Rome , Florence , and Venice . It's important to note that these figures are averages and can vary based on personal preferences and choices. Ultimately, the goal is to create a memorable and enjoyable experience tailored to your specific interests.

How much does a two week trip to Italy cost?

With two weeks, you should budget between $1,004 and $6,393 for your trip to Italy. The average price for a two week trip is $2,538. Two weeks will allow you enough time to visit between three and five places. If you're on a budget, you might want to consider some of the more affordable places such as Palermo, Piazza Armerina, and Caltagirone.

How much does a one month trip to Italy cost?

When embarking on a month-long trip to Italy, expenses can range from $2,152 to $13,699, with an average cost falling around $5,439. For those fortunate enough to have a full month, considering a vacation rental with a kitchen for at least a portion of your stay can help save money with meals. Backpackers often opt for hostels due to their affordability and the added benefit of a social vibe.

Hostel Prices in Italy

With more than 240 hostels in Italy, the average price is $28 per night for a dorm bed. Hostels are a terrific option for younger independent travelers looking to save money while staying social during their trip. With many types of hostels, it can be overwhelming to sort out the best places, though. Our analysis of the hostels in Italy not only found the average price, but also uncovered some surprises about the overall quality, amenities, and atmosphere of hostels in the region. You can see more details from our analysis about typical hostel prices in Italy here .

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Italy.

• $34 for a dorm bed at YellowSquare Rome in Rome more details
• $42 for a dorm bed at Ostello Bello Grande in Milan more details
• $18 for a dorm bed at PLUS Florence in Florence more details

Hotel Prices in Italy

You'll find a wide range of hotel options across Italy. Below are prices for some of the destinations, and for more details see our analysis of hotel costs in Italy .

Maison Tritone

Eco urban b&b.

Should you do an organized tour or travel independently in Italy?

Organized tours and independent travel are essentially the two main ways to plan a trip to Italy. Organized tours offer a convenient and hassle-free experience, with travel experts handling all the logistical details and the added benefit of an expert guide imparting valuable insights. This option is favored by those who appreciate the convenience and ease provided by tours that often include transportation and expert guides.

On the other hand, independent travel provides a different set of advantages, allowing for greater freedom and flexibility in customizing itineraries and exploring at one's own pace. This option appeals to individuals who value spontaneity and control, enabling them to immerse themselves in local culture on a deeper level.

Ultimately, the choice between organized tours and independent travel depends on personal preferences and travel style, considering factors such as convenience, guidance, and flexibility.

Comparing Trip Costs in Italy

When we compare the prices of organized tours to the average costs of independent travelers, we can see that sometimes the prices are fairly even.

Tours vs. independent Travel: Pros & Cons

Organized tours.

• An expert guide familiar with the culture
• Convenient transportation
• Fellow travelers to socialize with
• Well researched activities
• Efficient and thought out itinerary
• The security of have a trip leader if something goes wrong
• Limited options
• Usually not customizable
• The fast pace often means you can’t visit one place in depth
• Usually more expensive than independent travel
• There may be limited time to interact with the local culture and community

Independent Travel

• Completely customizable
• Opportunity to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations
• Can fully immerse yourself in the local culture
• Freedom to move at your own pace
• Flexibility to change your itinerary at any time
• More affordable
• Challenging to plan an efficient itinerary
• Transportation may be challenging or inefficient
• Booking and trip planning can be a hassle
• Popular sights may sell out well in advance
• If something goes wrong, you're on your own

Are organized tours more expensive than independent travel in Italy?

Organized tours typically average around $306 per day and provide the convenience of an all-inclusive package with one comprehensive payment. On the other hand, independent trips usually average around $181 (€167) per day and involve individual payments for accommodations, local transportation, meals, and sightseeing. Both organized tours and independent trips have their own unique challenges and benefits, so it's crucial to thoroughly understand the aspects of each to make a fair comparison. For a detailed analysis of tour prices in Italy, check out our comprehensive guide on tour prices in Italy here .

Here are a few sample tours in Italy:

• Cycling in Sardinia ($1,360) 8 days, 11 destinations more details
• Ultimate Italy (Standard, 22 Days) ($5,936) 22 days, 20 destinations more details
• Country Roads of Italy (Classic, 16 Days) ($5,775) 16 days, 18 destinations more details
• Sicily Grand Tour Walking & Hiking ($6,147) 13 days, 20 destinations more details
• Cinque Terre & Tuscany Walking & Hiking Tour ($4,692) 8 days, 15 destinations more details

More for Italy

If you're planning a trip to Italy, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Is Italy Expensive? An Italy Trip Cost Guide for 2024

Last Updated on December 12, 2023

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Italy is a country that inspires thousands of people across the globe to travel here each year. But is Italy expensive to visit? And how much will an Italy trip cost?

Renowned the world over for its fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, amazing cuisine, and hospitable people, it is also essential to be aware of average prices in Italy before you travel.

You’ll likely find Italy to be less expensive than many other European countries. On average, you can expect a trip to Italy to cost roughly €70-305 per person per day (around $75-328 USD).

However, these prices will be heavily influenced by how you choose to spend your money across accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and entertainment and what region of the country you are visiting.

Table of Contents

Accommodation Prices

The first thing you need to consider in your Italy travel budget is the cost of accommodation as this is likely going be the biggest portion of your overall trip cost.

Because the whole country is so popular amongst travellers, there are several different accommodation options to choose from pretty much anywhere you wish to go. These range from backpacker hostels to rural B&Bs to boutique hotels to large international hotel chains.

The most budget-friendly option for accommodation would be to get a dorm bed at a hostel. There is usually at least one hostel in most major Italian cities, however, the prices actually don’t really differ all that much depending on where you are.

On the whole, you can expect the price of a bed in a hostel to start somewhere around €25-30 for the cheapest option. If you are in Venice or Rome, this might mean a bed in a 15+ person dorm, but in smaller cities, you can expect to pay the same for a dorm with a smaller capacity.

Another fantastic budget option, especially for those travelling as a couple or with a friend, is to opt for a private room on Airbnb.

Along with being a great way to see how locals live in the city you’re visiting, Airbnb tends to be significantly less expensive than a traditional hotel. A private room can also work out to be less expensive per person than a bed in a hostel dorm if you’re not travelling solo.

Though you can generally expect prices to be higher in bigger cities that have a higher cost of living, like Venice , Florence, or Rome, on average a price for a private room on Airbnb costs about €50-60 per night. If you split this between two people, this can be an extremely cost-effective accommodation option in Italy.

If you’re interested in renting an entire, one-bedroom apartment in a major urban area then expect prices to start at around €60-90 per night. Once again, expect to pay more in Rome and keep in mind that prices can be higher in Milan , Florence and Venice.

Seasonality has a lot to do with prices, as well. For instance, the Amalfi Coast is going to have a lot higher accommodation costs in the summer months.

If neither hostels nor Airbnb appeals to you as accommodation options, you can find some decent budget and mid-range hotels that won’t take a huge proportion out of your total Italy trip cost.

A good thing to keep in mind is that it is almost always less expensive to stay in a locally run establishment than a well-known chain. Expect a mid-range hotel room to start at around €70-100 per night.

Keep in mind that this can vary drastically depending on where you are in the country and the season, as well. For instance, if you’re travelling on the Amalfi Coast, you can safely assume that these prices could double.

If you’re looking for a higher-end or luxury stay in Italy, expect, on average, prices to start at around €300-350 and to go up from there. Prices will be more expensive in places like Venice, Lake Como , the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre than they will be in lesser-visited areas.

Overall, if you’re smart about your choices, accommodation in Italy doesn’t have to break the bank.

Transportation Prices

The second biggest thing that needs to be considered in your total trip cost are the transportation prices in Italy.

Unless you’re planning on only visiting one place and walking absolutely everywhere (make sure to pack good shoes if so!) while you’re in Italy, then you’re going to be spending at least some money on both local and intercity transport.

In the big cities like Rome or Naples , there are multiple public transport options — buses, trams, and metro — and you will probably end up taking a few of them, as places and sites are spread out from one another.

If you want to cover a lot of ground while visiting this city and plan on using the public transport network frequently (ie, more than once or twice per day) then it can oftentimes work out to be more cost-effective to buy a daily travel card rather than purchasing individual, single-journey tickets.

In other, smaller cities such as Modena , public transport is often just limited to the bus. If the city is walkable, which is most cities besides the bigger ones, then it is rarely necessary to buy more than one or two bus tickets that will get you to and from the train station. Expect single tickets to be around €2, though it can definitely vary from locality to locality.

The other thing you need to consider when it comes to transport in Italy are longer journeys, ie. intercity trains and buses. These can range in price significantly depending on the distance you plan on travelling and the type of train you are travelling on.

If you know of your general Italy itinerary beforehand, then take the time to research the travel options available to you as there can be many different ways to get from point A to point B.

To give you a general idea, the high-speed intercity trains tend to cost a bit more than the regional, commuter trains.

While taking one of the high-speed options can be great if you’re travelling long distances, it’s not needed if you’re only travelling a short distance in the same or neighbouring region. A high-speed train is about three times the price of a regional train and the journey time will not be much longer.

Depending on how long you’ve planned for your Italy itinerary, it may work out to be a better bet to take the high-speed train and pay a bit more so as to properly maximise your time in your destinations. If you have a number of weeks that you’re planning to spend in Italy, longer train journeys may not matter as much.

Another tip that can help you save a fair amount on your total trip to Italy cost is to book your longer train journeys in advance. It is much less expensive to do this rather than to purchase tickets on the day.

While we’re always advocates of not over-planning and letting the wind take you where it will, it can sometimes save you a good amount of money to have a few things planned ahead of time. We suggest booking on Omio to find deals on train tickets in Italy.

If you’re planning on taking a number of trains during your time in Italy, then a train pass can be good value. If you’re from outside of Europe, you can view Eurail Italy Passes here . Alternatively, if you’re from the EU, you can view Interrail Italy Passes here .

If you want to get a bit off the beaten path in Italy and explore on your own terms, renting a car is an excellent option. Prices for a hire car can vary, but you’re looking at a price starting at about €25-30 per day for a basic car without any additional insurance. Note that prices are often lower for a manual transmission.

If you do rent a car, you need to also factor in the cost of petrol and likely parking into your daily costs. The average fuel price in Italy is about €1.80 per litre in December of 2023. Prices for parking can vary depending on where you are and which kind of place you are parking in. Toll road pricing can also vary and it depends on the road and the distance you’re travelling.

If you want to find great deals for renting a car, we recommend using  Rentalcars.com . This is particularly important if travelling to places with limited public transport options such as Lake Garda or Lake Como or if you’re spending time exploring Sicily the Puglia region.

On average, plan to spend about €10-30 per person per day on transportation taking all of the above-mentioned things into account.

Food Prices

So let’s talk about the cost of one of the main things that attract thousands to visit Italy: food. Food in Italy is delicious, diverse and, surprisingly, doesn’t have to be that expensive. Sure, it is possible to splash out a small fortune on a high-end meal but in my experience, this is more of an exception rather than the rule.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to only eat kebabs or cook your own meals in order to eat on a budget while in Italy. Sure, if you’re really trying to pinch pennies and make your budget stretch as far as possible, then it can be beneficial to cook some of your meals from time to time. However, eating out at a decent restaurant actually isn’t all that expensive.

The biggest tip that I can give when it comes to saving money while dining out in Italy is to always avoid tourist-centric restaurants. This means not eating at places a stone’s throw from big attractions and sites, and avoiding places that have a photo-laden menu published outside with every type of food under the sun.

Learn about the foods that are typical for the region of Italy that you are travelling in and if a restaurant doesn’t have many of them on the menu, it generally means that locals don’t eat there.

If you walk just a few streets over from the main tourist centre, you will probably find about a 10-15% decrease in the prices on menus. This is because these restaurants are meant for locals who don’t typically hang out around the Colosseum every day. Eat in these places — you will not only save money but the food will almost always be better.

Food in Italy can be affordable and you can eat exceptionally well on only a small budget, but like elsewhere, prices can vary by region. For instance, it’s much cheaper to eat out in Sicily than it is dine at an equivalent restaurant in Venice.

Keeping that in mind, plan for a main meal at a restaurant to average around €15. And if you’re eating out with another person, each getting a main dish, sharing an appetiser and splitting a half-litre of house wine, expect this to average about €30-40 for the entire bill, depending on where you are.

All in all, plan to budget around €20-40 per person per day on food. On the low end, this allows one restaurant meal out and on the upper end, a couple of meals out each day at a mid-range establishment.

Activity Prices

Now that we’ve covered the basic costs of the most necessary things on your Italy vacation, let’s talk about how much daily activities are going to set you back. Well, like most anything else, this really depends on what it is you plan to do.

If you’re travelling to Italy in order to take advantage of all of the fantastic history, art and culture there is in this country, then you’re most likely going to be visiting a lot of museums.

Museum entry prices can vary depending on if they are state-run or privately funded. But it’s generally safe to assume that a museum visit will set you back somewhere around €5-15.

When it comes to entry into any museum or historical site, be aware if you qualify for any discounts as well. Almost everywhere in Italy offer significant (up to 50%) discounts if you have a valid student ID and you also won’t have to pay as much if you are under the age of 26 or over the age of 65. Do your research beforehand to see if you qualify for these.

Also, if you plan to visit several historical sites and museums in any given city, it can often work out to be more cost-effective to purchase the city’s tourism card rather than pay the full price of every individual site you want to visit. Take the time to work out the sums before you go to see if it’s worth it for you.

If you’re curious about going on any food tours or wine tastings, it’s normally always cheaper to look for individual places to visit independently rather than paying for an organised tour.

Also, it can be a better bang for your buck to seek out smaller, locally-run businesses rather than bigger corporations. For instance, we went on a balsamic vinegar tour in Modena that was completely free. We just contacted the acetaia  directly.

However, if you’d like to go on something like an organised food tour of Palermo or even a day tour to Capri from Naples, you’re going to have to pay a bit more for this. Expect tours to land around €40-100 per person depending on where it is and what is offered.

If you are on an extreme budget, then you actually don’t need to spend anything on daily activities. Italian cities just beg to be wandered through and explored and this doesn’t cost a dime!

All in all, however, expect to spend an average of about €10-30 per person per day to account for museum entry or the occasional tour.

Entertainment Prices

The last thing you need to consider in your total Italy trip cost is the price of entertainment. How much money you spend on this really depends on your habits.

If you’re looking to grab a coffee at a classic Italian cafe, you’re not going to have to pay a lot for the privilege. On average, something like a macchiato or a cappuccino will be under €2. It’s worth keeping in mind that it’s often cheaper to drink your coffee standing at the bar rather than being served at a table, though this practice does vary by region.

While there are certainly places to party into the wee hours of the night in almost every Italian city, it can be expensive to drink a lot and it also isn’t what Italians typically do every day. If you do, however, enjoy the occasional cocktail or glass of wine in the evening, you are in luck.

Italians have an excellent happy hour culture, called  aperitivo . During the few hours before one would typically go out for dinner, usually between around 6 PM-8 PM, cafes and bars will typically offer discounted wine and cocktails that come with either snacks or access to a buffet of charcuterie, cheese, bread, olives, etc.

You can normally get a drink along with a few snacks (the amount really depends on the establishment) for a good price – usually between €5-12 depending on where you are.

These kinds of things are especially prevalent in cities that have a large student population, like Bologna, but can be found throughout the country and we’ve experienced this culture everywhere from Bergamo to Palermo. This can be a great way to save money while still enjoying the drinking culture of Italy.

All in all, however, you can expect the average cost of a pint of local draft beer in Italy to land somewhere around €4-5 depending on where you are. A glass of wine will start around the same. If you’re after a basic cocktail like an Aperol spritz or a gin and tonic, expect to pay around €5-10 for this. Again, it really depends on the region or city you’re in and who the bar is catering to.

Italy Trip Cost Estimator

With the above aspects taken into consideration, this is the average daily amount you should expect to spend per person on your trip to Italy.

This is assuming that you stay in budget to mid-range accommodation, travel long distances every three or four days, cook some meals or take advantage of included breakfasts, don’t eat at high-end restaurants every night and are splitting costs like accommodation and potential car hire between two people.

Accommodation:  €25-175 / night

Transportation:  €10-40 / day

Food:  €20-40 / day

Activities:  €10-30 / day

Entertainment:  €5-20 / day

All in all, you can expect your average total cost of a trip to Italy to set you back roughly €70-305 per person per day. Obviously, this can also be cut down or increased depending on your travel habits and preferences. It also doesn’t include any pre-trip expenses such as a prepaid SIM for Italy.

Finally, make sure that you factor in the cost of a travel insurance policy. World Nomads   offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

Travelling to Italy doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. While the country does have a reputation for being expensive, if you are smart about where and how you spend, it is completely possible to have a fun and fulfilling trip to Italy while on a budget.

Are you planning a trip to Italy? Have any questions about the prices? Let us know in the comments!

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The Perfect 2 to 3 Days on Capri Itinerary

10 Best Places to Stay in Sicily

One Day in Lucca Itinerary: A Day Trip from Florence

About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Thank you again for your informative information…. My wife & I did travel to Italy this pass May 2023 for 3-wks to Florence, Venice, Bellagio & Milan, loved the different cities & sights & had a wonderful time…We are traveling back to Italy this May for 2-wks…Flying into Naples, having a driver pick us up & drive to Amalfi for 1-wk. & while there explore Positano, Sorrento & Capri, then taking a flight from Naples to Genoa, having a driver pick us up & drive to Portofino for 1-wk. & explore the 5-towns of Cinque Terre as well….Love Italy…Wishing you a happy, healthy & safe traveling 2024…

Thanks for sharing your insights, Elliot! Happy New Year 🙂

My wife and I are beginnig to plan our 50th wedding anniverary in 2025. We plan to travel to Italy for this experience. Paris was our 25th. This was very helpful start for us. Thanks

Happy you found this helpful!

Hi, a girlfriend and I are going to Rome for 2 weeks in April. I have travelled Europe using Airbnb and driving in a very low key but fun way. My husband has had Parkinson for 15 years and can longer do long hall flights and I only have minders for him for 3 weeks. So I chose Rome, have never been there. Booked a room for us on Airbnb and have a map and lots of ideas and good walking shoes. Will report back on our return.

Very helpful! Thanks Maggie. I’m travelling to Italy in late August till the end of October 2023 and was wondering if it’s worthwhile getting the Eurail Pass. I’ll check out the train prices online to see what the best option is. Your articles are very helpfull for a first time, solo traveller to Italy… thank you.

My sister and I and our two adult daughters are planning a trip to Italy in June. This was very helpful information. Thank you!

My son and I are going on a school trip in summer 2024. Basic travel and services are included, minus tips and it includes 2 meals per day. Can you help recommend a budget for us and what the best way to travel with our money might be? Thanks!

very helpful thanks I will be going October 2022 and I had so much questions and you really helped me

Very informative! I will be cruising to the Mediterranean this summer and this is very good information!

Happy this could help! Hope you have a great trip 🙂

Wonderful read. So very helpful thank you.

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How much does a trip to Italy cost?

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Are you dreaming of Italy? The cobbled streets, historic towns and jaw dropping landscapes… One of the questions you likely have is, how much does a trip to Italy cost?

Of course, there are several variables but in this article we’ll take you step by step through the main costs you need to budget for when planning a trip to Italy.

If you’d like a quick way to work this out, we created an Italy trip cost calculator that will give you an estimate based on your travel style and preferences in USD, Euro, GBP and Australian dollars. You can access this calculator for free by signing up to our Italy travel planning updates >> here .

The details in this article are based on independent travel to Italy but it is a useful baseline if you later decide you want to join a group tour or hire a travel agent to assist you. You will have costs to compare any quotes or tour prices you have against.

Article contents

How much is a trip to Italy?

Perhaps a better question is, how much is YOUR trip to Italy going to be? Here at Untold Italy we are all about creating your own ideal trip to Italy that takes into account YOUR travel style, YOUR interests and what you are willing to spend. The good news is that whether you’re a budget traveler or you’re first class all the way, you can find a way to travel bella Italia that suits you.

There are several main components and variables to consider when planning a budget for your Italy trip. It can be overwhelming so let’s take it one step at a time.

Usually the biggest single item of your trip if you are traveling from outside Europe to Italy are your flights.

To get a rough idea of how much your flights will cost use the handy monthly price view and price tracker features provided by Skyscanner and Google flights . You simply put in your place of departure and add Italy in as the destination. You can get up to six months of average prices to destinations throughout Italy at the click of a button.

Even if you’re only at the budgeting stage of planning your trip it’s a good idea to delve a bit deeper into flight costs as you can make considerable savings depending on the class, time of day and week you travel. You’ll also find prices vary depending on your destination in Italy, the departure point from your home country (particularly the USA), airline and how many stops the plane makes on its way.

In general, the shorter and more convenient the flight in terms of departure / arrival time plus airline and class of travel are the key drivers of your flight cost to Italy.

Accommodation

Accommodation is the next major Italy trip cost. Fortunately, you can find excellent lodging across Italy at prices to suit all types of traveler. From grand palazzi with canal views in Venice to charming B&Bs in Rome and farm stays in Tuscany there are many different options to choose from.

Here is a guide to the cost per room per night for each style of travel. Hotel rooms are generally on the small side so families and groups should consider renting apartments on Booking.com , the Plum Guide or Airbnb in the major cities. This style of accommodation is much better value in terms of space than traditional hotels.

Midrange / Boutique : €120-270 per night

Italian properties in this price range offer lots of value. You’ll find rooms at charming small boutique hotels and larger apartments in the central historic districts of the main cities. In the countryside you’ll find historic properties and upscale farm stays in this price range and they are a great way to immerse yourself in Italian culture.

Budget / B&B : €70-130 per night

Typically three star accommodations, hotels and apartments in this price bracket are usually traditionally decorated and may not have modern amenities such as elevators or air conditioning. They may be located a little further away from town centers meaning you can explore outside the main tourist zones. You can also find great value at small bed and breakfasts and classic farm stays or agriturismos with friendly owners happy to chat and offer advice for enjoying their town or city.

Upscale / Luxury : €250+ per night

If you want to stay at the chicest hotels with designer amenities or a converted castle or villa there are many luxury accommodation  options to tempt you in Italy. From the divine Le Sirenuse in Positano to elegant Hassler Roma near the Spanish Steps in Rome, or a luxury villa in Tuscany, the options are only bounded by your imagination.

Ultra budget / Hostel or shared room in AirBnB : €20-45 per night

Backpackers will be glad to know that there are hostel options in central Rome for around €15 per night. Some like Legend R.G. offer a simple breakfast that will help you manage food costs. You will also find shared AirBnB accommodation outside the historic centers.

READ: Our Italy accommodation guide

Transportation

Transportation costs will depend on the number of destinations you visit and how you plan to get around.

Renting a car in Italy is useful if you want to explore the countryside outside of the main tourist zones. Otherwise you are better off taking the fast intercity trains that get you into and out of the heart of the cities in just a few hours.

Intercity trains and buses

Tickets for trains can be bought 60-90 days in advance for significant savings. You can check prices on Omio for the routes you want to travel. A high-speed train ticket from Rome to Florence will cost from €10 if purchased in advance for a set date and time or from €37 if bought on the day of travel.

READ: Our Italy train travel guide

A slower and cheaper method of intercity travel is by Flixbus which costs from €8 in advance or €10 on the day to take you from Rome to Florence.

You can rent a car from as little as € per day but remember to factor the cost of highway tolls, parking, insurance (mandatory in Italy) and gas or petrol into your budget. These costs can quickly add up so it’s usually a much faster, more convenient and cost effective to take the train. Parking costs can be up to €40 per day and bear in mind that driving in the historic zones is strictly regulated.

READ: Our Italy car rental guide

Private drivers and transfers

A private driver can be useful in several places in Italy such as the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, and Sicily where getting from place to place is sometimes much quicker and more convenient with a driver. Expect to pay at least €80 per hour for this kind of service. You can check detailed pricing on Suntransfers .  A transfer from Rome’s Fiumicino airport to the city center is around €50. 

If you’re traveling in a larger group you will probably find the transfer is not only convenient but cost-effective too when compared to taxis and public transportation for shorter journeys.

Local transportation and taxis

Getting around the major cities – Rome, Florence, and Venice – is best done on foot. The central districts are all compact and easy to walk around. And unless you’re staying outside the historic zones you will probably only need the odd taxi to get you to and from the airport or across town. If you do need to catch a bus, metro or tram they are reasonably inexpensive at around €1.50 for 100 minutes.

Taxis are relatively cheap and can be a useful mode of transport if you need to get across cities in a hurry. An average Rome taxi ride in the city center costs around €7 to €10. Uber is only available in Rome and Milan but it is not commonly used and is generally more expensive than taxis as is the premium Uber Black service.

READ: Our transport in Italy guide

Food is an important part of any trip budget for Italy. After all, I’m guessing it’s a big part of the reason you’re going to Italy in the first place.  You can eat very well in Italy for very little and there is also the opportunity to splurge on Michelin starred fine dining dinners. Here are some costs per person so you get an idea of what to expect

• your daily gelato – around €2.50 for a small cone
• espresso / capuccino coffee – €1.50
• take out panini sandwich – €5
• pizza restaurant dinner – €15 – €20
• dinner at casual trattoria with wine – €20 – €30
• fancy dinner – €40 – €50

Some ways to maximize your food budget include – making the most of hotel breakfasts, choosing AirBnBs with a kitchen so you can prepare some of your own meals (delicious meats and cheeses plus a bottle of wine for under €10!) and combining your sightseeing activities with eating on a food tour.

Street food is your best friend in Italy when it comes to eating. We had amazing buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes for €3 in Naples recently and the latest stuffed pizza trend – trapizzino (a meal in itself) – costs just €4.

Tickets, Tours and Activities

You’re visiting a country rich in history and blessed with beautiful landscapes. Yes, you can wander the sights and admire them from afar but to get the most out of your trip you’ll want to get up close to some of the most amazing sights in the world. And learn about them from an expert.

Some of the places you will likely want to visit include the Colosseum and Vatican Museums in Rome, the Uffizi and Accademia galleries in Florence, Palazzo Ducale in Venice and the Duomo and Last Supper painting in Milan. Many people also like to include wine tours, cooking classes and boat trips in their itineraries.

Below there is a guide to indicative costs for tickets and tours.

• €15 – €20 per adult for museum and attraction tickets
• €20 per adult for a basic audioguide tour
• €35 – €45 per adult for a large group tour
• €60+ per adult for a small group tour
• €90+ per hour for an experienced private guide

Always factor insurance into your trip budget. Apart from trip cancelations and coverage for theft of items, the main reason to get insurance is to cover medical emergencies. Italy’s healthcare system is excellent but you will not be covered for many medical expenses or if you need to be flown home. These costs can quickly escalate to tens of thousands of dollars which would make for an even more miserable end to your vacation.

Policy costs vary by your country of residence, what is covered, age, existing conditions and the insurer. You can visit Worldnomads for a quick quote. We use this company for our family travels and find the cost, coverage and claims process to be good to excellent. Another option if you are in the United States is Safety Wing’s Nomad Insurance . Unfortunately neither option provides policies for those aged over 69. In this case you can try Travel Insurance Master – a service that allows you to compare quotes and insurance policies.

READ: Our full insurance guide

Incidentals

Sometimes it is the little things that add up. We factor in around €10 a day for those small items that you may not have thought of. We’ve included the following items in this category:

• Wifi and internet costs – from €5 per day depending on the option you choose >> more info on internet access in Italy 
• Tipping large amounts is not required or expected in Italy. Generally, people round up the check or bill or leave a few Euros
• If you want to use public restrooms at train stations you need to pay 50c to €1
• Luggage storage will cost around €5 per piece

Shopping and souvenirs

If you are tempted by well made artisan quality leather goods, custom perfumes, ceramics and unique jewelry then you should probably factor this into your budget. You’ll find gorgeous hand made goods everywhere you go in Italy and you’ll likely want to bring some home with you.

Expect to pay upwards of €200 for a quality leather jacket in Florence and around €35 for an off-the-shelf perfume or over €100 for something more bespoke. Food, especially chocolate, makes a less expensive gift and you can find very good quality for around €5 a box.

Other variables in the cost to go to Italy

Everyone is different and has different expectations and interpretations of the words “luxury” and “budget”. We’ve given you indicative costs so you know what to expect when you get to Italy. If you have luxury tastes with a smaller budget then here are some quick ways to reign in the cost of your trip.

Seasonality

Generally speaking, peak season runs from May to September so expect prices to be higher for flights and accommodation during these months. Travel during winter and you’ll find better value on these critical components of your trip. Accommodation and tour prices drop by 20-30% at this time. Yes, the weather may be a bit chillier but you’ll also have fewer crowds to contend with.

Keep an eye out for free museum days where you can enter major attractions such as the Colosseum and Uffizi Gallery for free. These are usually held on the 1st Sunday of each month except in summer and other random days throughout the year.

Go to lesser-known towns and regions – prices are much higher for everything in the bigger cities compared to regional areas. We ate like kings and queens in Sicily for a pittance and fondly remember a €10 seafood platter that fed our family of four.

In the big tourist areas, stay one district out of the city centers for better value accommodation eg Testaccio or Monti in Rome. Just make sure you are close to a bus or tram stop as you don’t want to offset your accommodation savings with transport costs.

A great way to save money is to pool your resources and share the cost of transportation and tours. In Venice, the cost of a gondola ride is €80 for up to 6 people. So find a gondola stop and make some friends who can split the cost with you and the experience immediately becomes much more accessible.

You can apply this principle to renting a charter boat in Capri or along the Amalfi Coast or these fantastic private tours by Withlocals .

Travel deals and discounts

If you’re looking to save money on tours and attractions, the Black Friday sales usually offer some excellent deals. Our subscribers also have access to exclusive deals and discounts throughout the year offered by our partners such as Liv Tours and Take Walks – you can join us by clicking here .

Final thoughts

As we’ve shown, the average cost of a trip to Italy really depends on your preferences and choices. You should now have a good idea of what a trip to Bella Italia costs for your travel style. If you’re wondering if your manual calculations add up, why not check them against our cost calculator for Italy? You’ll know in seconds what your final budget for Italy should be.

Italy is a country waiting to be explored by you. Are you ready to take the next steps and book your flights?

Planning a trip to Italy?

We love travel in Italy and sharing our knowledge. Read our Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy travel planning community . Our 115,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do.

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Destinations // Travel Finances

2 weeks in italy travel cost – our budget breakdown.

This post may contain affiliate links. We receive a commission on purchases made through links on this page. This is at no additional cost to you & helps support our travels. Read more in our Disclaimer . Thank you!

Discover our detailed budget breakdown to know what the Italy travel cost is, including travel costs, accommodations, food, and more!

Italy is likely on your bucket list if you haven’t already been. It’s history goes back centuries and you can walk where the ancient Romans walked. It’s gorgeous, the food, the weather, the language… it’s all rather lovely. 

We have visited Italy a handful of times now, and don’t worry, we aren’t done yet. This post covers our first two-week trip to Italy and all our expenses. 

We’ll cover our Italy travel cost, how much to budget for Italy, how much a trip to Italy will cost, and more!

As a quick note, we are not backpackers; we rarely stay in hostels and are very cautious with street food. We like to save money where possible, but we certainly spend it on what is important to us.

This is not representative of what you will spend in Italy, even for the same period of time or season. This is merely an overview of what we spent and some of our tips and reasons for the amounts. Please use it as a guide to your future trip to Italy!

This post is all about what our 2 weeks in Italy travel cost us for two people.

2 week italy itinerary:.

Italy is one of those places you’ll instantly go to and fall in love with. You wish you had more time to explore every little town you went through. We personally took a road trip from Rome to Milan over the course of two weeks. This allowed us to hit a few smaller towns like Anguillara and a small farmhouse in Tuscany. You can just as easily travel through Italy via public transportation as they have a great train system!

14 nights, 15 days

• Rome – 4 nights
• Anguillara – 2 nights
• Tuscany – 2 nights
• Florence – 3 nights
• Cinque Terra – 2 nights
• Milan – 2 nights

Best Time to Visit Italy

The best time to visit Italy is during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). The weather is mild and pleasant during these times, making it ideal for exploring the cities and countryside. Additionally, the cost of accommodation and flights tends to be significantly lower compared to the peak summer season, with fewer crowds, allowing for a more enjoyable experience.

check out all our

Top travel recommendations, italy travel cost.

We flew from the EU, so it was an easy little hopper flight for us. However, your prices can vary greatly if you are from the US. We personally use FareDrop to find all our roundtrip flights from the US at a big discount. The best airports to fly into from internationally are Rome, Naples, or Milan.

• Get an unbelievable flight deal to Italy with FareDrop.com (up to 80% off)!

Fortunately, we didn’t have to incur any entry fees for our trip to Italy. As US citizens, we were able to take advantage of the Schengen Area policy, which allows for visa-free travel for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It’s important to note that entry requirements can change, so be sure to do thorough research before your trip. We typically search for “entry requirements Italy” to find the most accurate information on government websites.

• Check the current entry requirements to Italy for your citizenship!

Accommodations

Total: $910

Average: $65 per night

Since we traveled during the off-season, we found great deals on hotels and rentals. Since we had a car, we could stay a bit further away from things for a lower rate and just drive to our specific destinations or take public transportation. You’ll find a range of accommodations depending on your budget and the amenities you want. Remember, seasonality is huge in Italy (and most of western Europe), so your time of year will really make a big difference in your rates.

🛌 Our favorite accommodations in Italy

c-hotels Club House Roma - Rome

Agri Resort & SPA Le Colline del Paradiso - Tuscany

Nelli Rooms Via Veneto - Cinque Terra

• FIND YOUR ITALY HOTEL

Food & Drink

Total: $1,100

Average: $75 per day

Average: $38 per person per day

We ate out practically every single day. Our breakfasts were light (meat and cheese or pastries with espresso) and very inexpensive. We usually had a bigger meal for lunch so we could sit outside at the warmest part of the day in autumn. For dinners, we sometimes ate on the go with driving, or we’d grab stuff at the grocery store to make sandwiches or salads. We did go out a few nights as well.

A few things to note about dining out in Italy. You dine out forever at dinner time. Seriously, they have 4 or 5 courses over 3+ hours. It’s an event and soooo much (delicious) food. That’s why lunch was a bit more appealing for us because you can get just one course without being looked at funny. This will help you save money too so you don’t get roped into buying the four or five courses, because it is fun.

Also, alcohol is very cheap. A local beer or glass of wine will cost you €3-5. A bottle of house wine (or even a liter) may only be €8-12. Water is always a bottle of water unless you specifically ask for tap water (which is perfectly safe to drink) and usually costs as much as a beer.

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Travel Insurance

Don’t forget to get your travel insurance for your trip. This will cover you if you happened to get injured while traveling through Italy or even if you flight gets canceled and you need to stay an extra day in Milan (secretly a dream of mine).

SafetyWing is a great option to get full coverage (including a range of “extreme” sports) at a really affordable price. They have great customer service and can answer any questions you may have!

Better safe than sorry...

Are you covered for your next trip? Whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or a long-term adventure,  SafetyWing  has you covered. From medical emergencies to lost luggage, they’ll take care of it all. Plus, they even offer emergency response and natural disaster coverage – pretty cool, huh? 

Transportation

Total: $550

Average: $35 per day

We rented a car for the majority of our two weeks in Italy. We first visited Rome for 4 nights and then picked up the car at the airport. We always book our rental cars in Europe through DiscoverCars and got a great deal for this trip. We paid around $30 daily for the car (including DiscoverCar’s optional insurance – highly recommend). Gas (aka petrol) is more expensive than in the US, which was fairly surprising. We paid over $6 per gallon (converted Euros and Liters) plus tolls and parking fees. All of these are hard to avoid with a car, which is why public transportation is such a popular and efficient option.

Getting from the Rome Airport (FCO) is super straightforward with their train system. It cost us $15 per person per way, so not super cheap, but it was a super convenient option. Once in town (like Rome, Florence, etc.), you can easily use a contactless card for all trains, buses, and trollies. They are affordable and run often, making it easy to get around.

• Find the best deals on your car rental!

Total: $150

We visited some of the most iconic cities in the world on this trip and had to decide what excursions would be worth it for us. There are a million and one things to do in Italy. We chose a few things that were important to us. Here are the breakdowns of the major items.

• Vatican City: $45
• Colosseum & Roman Forum: $45
• Museum (Statue of David): $40
• Cinque Terra Hiking Pass: $20

Top Activities in Italy

Total: $180

For a two-week trip through one of the best countries in the world (for shopping), I was surprised I could keep this so low. We had to purchase a few cold-weather items (jackets and scarves) because November was colder than expected. We also travel pretty light with our carry-ons. That means we can only bring small liquid containers, so we had to restock some personal care items. We, of course, also purchased a few souvenirs and gifts for friends and family.

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Purchase and download your e-sim before you even step foot in the country. Airalo allows you to have data when you land! 

Total Italy Travel Cost

Total: $2,900

Average: $210 per day

Average: $105 per person per day

Total with Flights:

Over a magical two weeks in Italy, we spent nearly $3,000. Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, we are super happy with how we did. In the future, I would travel via train between big cities and only rent a car if I know I am traveling more off the beaten path. Other than that, we enjoyed ourselves to the fullest and didn’t feel like we missed out on anything because of the budget.

This post was all about what our 2-week trip in Italy travel cost us for two people.

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Cost of a Trip to Italy & the Cheapest Time to Visit Italy

The average price of a 7-day trip to Italy is $1,170 for a solo traveler, $1,859 for a couple, and $2,034 for a family of 4 . Italy hotels range from $50 to $232 per night with an average of $80, while most vacation rentals will cost $150 to $420 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Italy (from all airports) are between $673 and $1,036 per person for economy flights and $2,113 to $3,253 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $37 to $76 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Italy

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to Italy and stay in a Italy hotel:

• January 1st to April 1st
• September 10th to December 16th

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Italy is usually late January and early February .

Average Italy Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Italy for a week is $1,011-$2,061 ($144-$294 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $37 to $76 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $374 to $971 for economy

Lodging : $63 to $80 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $76 to $93 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Italy for a week is $1,644-$3,570 ($235-$510 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $74 to $153 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $748 to $1,941 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Italy for a week is $3,229-$6,977 ($461-$997 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $149 to $305 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,496 to $3,882 for economy

Lodging : $126 to $160 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $115 to $140 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Italy

How cheap can you make a vacation to Italy? The cheapest trip to Italy is about $109 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $16 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $43.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Italy for a week is $765-$1,734 ($109-$248 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $19 to $37 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $43 to $50 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $54 to $84 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Italy for a week is $1,265-$2,963 ($181-$423 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $37 to $74 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Italy for a week is $2,494-$5,675 ($356-$811 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $74 to $149 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $86 to $100 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $80 to $125 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very possible to travel to Italy cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Italy Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Italy.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Italy for a week is $2,107-$8,540 ($301-$1,220 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $75 to $153 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $934 to $2,417 for first class

Lodging : $108 to $232 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $421 to $842 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Italy for a week is $3,560-$12,021 ($509-$1,717 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $149 to $305 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,869 to $4,834 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Italy for a week is $7,126-$21,517 ($1,018-$3,074 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $299 to $611 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $3,737 to $9,668 for first class

Lodging : $216 to $464 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $632 to $1,262 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Italy Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Italy is slightly lower than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Italy due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Italy Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Italy hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Italy.

Flight Costs to Italy

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,036 average in mid December to a low of $673 in late January and early February. Median flight price is $688. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Italy our data includes thousands of originating airports, and hundreds of airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Italy, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $363, so you can easily save about 54% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Italy can easily cost $279 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $19 per person. Private tours can cost $558 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Italy Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Pienza, Italy
• Montepulciano, Italy
• Chianciano Terme, Italy
• Torrita di Siena, Italy
• Sarteano, Italy
• Castiglione d’Orcia, Italy
• Castiglione dOrcia, Italy
• Radicofani, Italy
• Trequanda, Italy
• San Quirico d’Orcia, Italy

Travel Costs in Popular Places

• San Diego, CA, US
• Byron Bay, NW, AU
• Sandton, South Africa

Lists by Lukiih 🍀

Practical travel guides with less fluff

• 💰 My 2024 Italy Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown

Italy, a country famous for Renaissance masterpieces and gelato, can be visited with a  budget of $75 to $150 a day.

My trip to Italy cost a total of $2,651 . In this post, I share:

• 💰 Expected travel costs
• 💡 Budgeting tips
• 💵 How much cash to bring
• ✈️ My trip’s costs by category
• 📍 My trip’s costs by destination
• ✌️ A trip to Italy cost for two people

Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Italy .

• Is Italy Expensive?
• How Much Is a Trip?
• About My Trip
• Cost Breakdown
• Daily Budget: $131
• Flight: $564
• Accommodation: $868
• Transportation: $265
• Entertainment: $392
• Florence: $608
• Venice: $255
• Cinque Terre: $420
• Milan: $285
• Lake Como: $62
• Modena & Parma: $209
• Withdrawing Cash
• How Much Cash To Bring
• Cash-Only Places
• Tipping Etiquette

Italy Trip Planner

Lists By Lukiih is readers-supported. When you buy with my affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. Thanks!

Is Italy Expensive To Travel To?

Italy is a semi-affordable destination to visit in Europe. Travel costs, such as housing, food, and attractions, vary significantly between regions. While major cities can be pricey, Italy also offers fresh food for cheap, reasonable train ticket prices, and a wide range of accommodations for different budgets.

Compared to other popular European destinations, Italy is less budget-friendly than Portugal, Germany, and Spain, but it’s generally more affordable than the UK, Iceland, and Switzerland.

💰 Trip Daily Budget for Countries in Europe

For comparison, I visited these countries in Europe within a year of visiting Italy, and here’s how much I spent per day at each one:

See all my daily budget for each destination I’ve visited .

How Much Is a Trip to Italy?

This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.

🎒 Budget Traveler – Italy Trip Cost

A budget traveler can expect to spend approximately $75 per day or $525 for one week of travel in Italy, excluding flights. Two budget travelers visiting Italy can expect to spend about $120 daily.

Here’s what a budget traveler’s cost breakdown can look like:

Traveling Italy on a Budget

To travel to Italy on a budget, here are some things you’ll need to do:

• 🏠 Accommodation – Forgo staying in a private room and instead stay at dorm-style hostels for about $35 per night in cities like Rome and Florence . Aim to find housing in less central areas.
• 🚆 Transportation – Take the budget bus, FlixBus, which can be $10 to $15 cheaper than public transportation. However, the bus takes much longer and is more inconvenient than Italy’s trains.
• 🍝 Food – Buy food at a grocery store and eat simple meals (like pizza), which will save you more than $100 a week compared to dining out for every meal in Italy.
• Buy the most basic ticket at attractions and be prepared to wait in long lines. For example, the Colosseum’s basic ticket requires waiting in the security line and doesn’t allow access to all parts of the amphitheater.
• Skip expensive attractions like riding a gondola in Venice (which starts at $87 for a 30-minute ride if you don’t split it with anyone else) or taking an all-day wine tour (which usually starts at $40 for a half-day tour).
• Take advantage of free walking tours in major cities to see top attractions from the outside.
• ☀️ Travel Season  – Travel to Italy during the low season, which coincides with the winter months (November to February). There will be fewer tourists, and accommodation prices can drop by more than 25% during this time, so you’ll get the best deals then.

💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Italy Trip Cost

A mid-range budget traveler like myself can expect to spend approximately $150 per day or $1,050 for one week of travel in Italy, excluding flights. Two mid-range budget travelers visiting Italy can expect to spend about $270 per day.

I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.

About My Italy Trip

To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:

• Rome + Vatican City : 2 days
• Milan : 2 day
• Florence : 5 days
• Venice : 2 days
• Cinque Terre : 2 days
• Lake Como : 1 day
• Modena : 1 day
• Parma : 1 day
• ☀️ High season – I went to Italy in May, which is considered the start of the high season.

Italy’s peak season runs from May to September when the weather is pleasant.

• ✌️  Group travel – I traveled with one to two other friends at all times, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing. My travel reflects what a trip to Italy would look like for two people.
• 💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
• 🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.
• 💵 US dollars – All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars, converted from Italy’s local currency, the euro.

The exchange rate was $1 USD = €0.92 at the time of writing.

Total Cost for an Italy Trip: $2,651

My two-week trip to Italy cost a total of $2,651, including flights. I traveled with at least one other person at all times, so my budget was slightly lower than if I had traveled solo.

See the highlights of my trip in this  Italy itinerary .

💰 Cost Breakdown for Italy

Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:

🗓️ Daily Budget in Italy: $131

My Italy trip cost $131 per day , excluding my round-trip flights from and to the United States.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend $150 per day in Italy. This generally means staying at mid-range hotels for about $90 a night, eating at primarily $ to $$ restaurants, taking Italy’s convenient trains, and booking group tours for some of the top attractions.

✈️ Flight Cost to Italy: $564

My round-trip flight from the East Coast of the United States to Milan Malpensa Airport was $564 .

A direct, round-trip flight between the US and Italy that costs under $400 is considered cheap; international flights typically cost over $500.

🏠 Accommodation Costs in Italy: $868

My average cost of accommodation in Italy was $54 per day . I was able to split accommodations with one to two other people at all times.

Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:

Budgeting Tips for Accommodations in Italy

Here are my budgeting tips and things to note regarding accommodations in Italy:

• Try to split accommodations with someone – Italy has expensive accommodations. Housing is where I saved the most by always traveling with another person.
• Low and high seasons have nontrivial price differences – A mid-range hotel room in tourist areas in Italy starts at around $70 per night, and you’ll likely have to pay closer to $100 per night during the high season.
• Stay in non-central areas – For cheaper accommodations in popular cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence, you’ll need to stay farther away from the city center. For example, staying in Venice’s less popular Cannaregio district will be significantly cheaper than staying in the San Polo or San Marco districts.
• Italy has no shortage of luxury hotels – Italy offers many high-end hotels with stunning views over the ocean, lake, or canal. Expect to pay more than $2,000 for a night at one of these luxury hotels.

🍝 Food Cost in Italy: $556

My average cost of food in Italy was $35 per day.

Food costs in Italy vary widely; you can eat on a budget or extravagantly. A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about  $40 per day  on food in Italy. This includes getting coffee, eating a snack, and eating at $ to $$ restaurants.

Cheapest Meals in Italy

Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:

Most Expensive Meals in Italy

Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:

Be warned that you can end up with expensive, mediocre pasta in tourist restaurants if you don’t do a bit of restaurant research and make reservations. A way to enjoy quality food in Italy is to go on highly-rated food tours , especially in big, overwhelming cities like Rome.

🚆 Transportation Cost in Italy: $265

My average cost of transportation in Italy was $17 per day. I averaged $19 per train ride while traveling between cities.

Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:

Budgeting Tips for Trains in Italy

Here are my budgeting tips and things to note regarding trains in Italy:

• The best way to get around Italy is by train travel – Italy has a well-maintained train system primarily operated by Trenitalia that will conveniently get you to many places around the country.
• Train tickets are reasonably priced – An average ticket will cost between $10 and $40, depending on the distance traveled and whether you’re taking a high-speed train.
• High-speed trains serve major cities throughout Italy and run on their own train tracks. I took several of these trains and typically paid between $30 and $50.
• Regional trains are much slower but can reach almost any part of the country. A ticket on a regional train starts at $10.

🍷 Entertainment Cost in Italy: $392

My average cost for entertainment in Italy was $25 per day. This total includes a 5% to 10% tip at certain places.

Most of Italy’s major attractions charge a basic entrance fee of $20 to $30 . This cost significantly increases once you pay for a tour guide or skip-the-line tickets.

Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:

One of the highlights of my trip was hiking around the stunning Cinque Terre .

Cost Breakdown by Destination in Italy

Below are my trip expense breakdowns for Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, Milan, Lake Como, Modena, and Parma . Many of these major locations are often featured in first-timers’ travel itineraries.

🎨 Rome Trip’s Total Cost: $428

During my two-day trip to Rome, averaged  $214 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at a mid-range budget hotel and split it with a friend. I also paid for a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City and the Colosseum , which significantly increased my appreciation for both.

Rome is the most visited city in Italy. It’s home to some of the country’s most famous attractions, like the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, and Vatican Museums, so expect to spend over $20 on entrance fees here. Other top attractions, like Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, are free.

🍦 Florence Trip’s Total Cost: $608

During my five-day trip to Florence, averaged  $122 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at an Airbnb and a mid-range budget hotel in the center of Florence and split the cost with another person. I also booked a Tuscany wine-tasting tour , a small-group pasta-making class , and basic entrance tickets to the Uffizi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens.

Check out great things to do in Florence .

Florence is a very walkable city, so you likely won’t spend much on transportation. It’s known for day tours and trips outside the city, so you might spend a lot on entertainment when visiting.

🛶 Venice Trip’s Total Cost: $255

During my two-day trip to Venice, I averaged  $127 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at an Airbnb where I shared the living space with the host and paid for a gondola ride. Venice is one of the most touristy places you’ll visit in Italy, so expect costs to be high.

See how to spend a day in Venice .

Venice’s iconic gondola rides start at €90 (roughly $98) for a 30-minute ride if you’re not splitting with others (the government regulates the price, so you won’t be able to negotiate). You need to pay in cash, so bring some euros with you.

⛰️ Cinque Terre Trip’s Total Cost: $420

During my two-day trip to Cinque Terre, I averaged $120 in daily travel expenses.

I visited Cinque Terre mainly to hike through the stunning villages , which doesn’t cost much. Having traveled to several tourist cities in Italy, I found the food to be the most expensive in Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is a budget-friendly version of Amalfi Coast in southern Italy. The average price of accommodation, restaurants, and attractions is slightly lower in Cinque Terre as Amalfi Coast is considered a luxury destination.

👗 Milan Trip’s Total Cost: $285

During my two-day trip to Milan, I averaged  $143 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at a hostel-style Airbnb, paid to enter Milan’s Duomo, and did a few free activities, such as exploring the Navigli district.

In Milan, expect to spend a lot on accommodation and shopping if you’re interested in buying clothes from the world’s fashion capital.

🌷 Lake Como Trip’s Total Cost: $62

I did a day trip to Lake Como from Milan. Despite the rainy weather, it was a beautiful day trip easily accessible via Italy’s trains.

Read more on how to do a day trip to Lake Como .

When traveling to Lake Como, you’ll need to account for the roughly $5 one-way ferry rides between each town and the $14 round-trip train tickets to and from Milan.

🍝 Modena & Parma Trip’s Total Cost: $209

During my two-day trip to Modena and Parma, averaged  $105 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed in Modena and did a day trip to Parma. Parma is a small town known as the origin site for Parmigiano Reggiano, the upgraded and regulation version of Parmesan, and Prosciutto di Parma.

Modena and Parma are known to have some of the best restaurants in the world , so I traveled there primarily for the food and to experience a slightly less tourist area of Italy. This Parma travel guide compares Bologna, Modena, and Parma.

Do You Need Cash in Italy?

Like many European countries, Italy has a good credit card infrastructure. However, many places still rely on cash transactions, so make sure to  bring some cash.

Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Italy.

💶 1. Withdraw cash in euros.

Italy’s local currency is the euro (€), and the  US dollar is not widely accepted.

Avoid Euronet ATMs when withdrawing cash in Italy. Throughout Europe, Euronet ATMs consistently have high fees and use terrible exchange rates, so unless you’re in desperate need of cash, I would avoid them.

🏧 2. Carry about $15 to $20 worth of cash per day to Italy.

On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Italy will need  at least $15 in cash  to cover food, transportation, and attractions. A daily cash expense breakdown can look like this:

• $5 at cafes
• $5 for tipping and small entrance fees
• $5 for miscellaneous spending

On my Italy trip, I spent a total of $118 (about $7 per day) in cash . Here’s a breakdown of how I used my cash:

*Some accommodations in certain cities, like Cinque Terre, have city tax fees that must be paid in cash.

I keep my cash in my crossbody bag , but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing , carry it in a hidden money belt instead.

💵 3. Certain places in Italy are cash-only.

While credit cards are commonly used in Italy, I still had to use cash several times   during my two-week trip. Here are some of the places that were cash-only in Italy:

• Cafes – Small cafes that mainly serve coffee and pastries are sometimes cash-only.
• Small attractions – Several of Italy’s small attractions with entrance fees that are less than $5 will typically only take cash.
• Gondola rides – You typically hand cash to gondoliers after going on a ride.
• Tours – Tipping is not mandatory, but it’s optional.
• Accommodation city taxes – Some Airbnbs in certain cities, like Cinque Terre, have city tax fees that must be paid in cash.

💰 4. Tipping is not expected in Italy.

Tipping is  often appreciated  in Italy, but it’s optional. Tips are generally only done for exceptional service.

• Bars and cafes – Many locals round up their total cost at bars and cafes, and that will suffice as a tip. Otherwise, tipping is not expected.
• Restaurants – Some people tip a small amount to cover the bread and oil, which are usually served as appetizers at restaurants. Still, a tip is generally not expected if a cover charge is already added to the bill.
• Tours – Tipping tour guides are more common in Italy, and a 5% to 10% tip is standard.

See other essential travel tips for Italy before visiting.

To make your travel planning easier , download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.

The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free .

Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below .

Italy Travel Guides

• 🇮🇹 Planning A Trip to Italy: 11 Practical Things To Know
• 🍝 7-10 Days in Northern Italy: 2 Efficient Itineraries
• 🎭 Venice Day Trip: 8 Great Things To Do + 1-Day Itinerary
• 👨‍🎨 3 Amazing Days in Florence: Itinerary With Hidden Gems
• 🧀 Parma, Italy Day Trip: 13 Great Things To Do + Itinerary
• 🌷 Lake Como Day Trip: Itinerary & Firsthand Tips
• 🛶 Best Gondola Rides in Venice: Tips & What To Know
• ⛰️ Hiking Cinque Terre Practical Guide & Firsthand Tips

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How Much is a Trip to Italy? A 2024 Italy Travel Budget Breakdown

Posted on Last updated: January 13, 2024

Wondering how much does a trip to Italy cost? You’ve come to the right place!

If you’ve only just started planning your Italy trip, you’re probably wondering how much you should budget for it. In this article I have outlined everything you need to take into account, including average prices.

I’ll tell you straight away, there is no fixed price that you can expect to spend for a trip to Italy. 

It can vary massively depending on where you’re travelling from, where in Italy you want to go, for how long, what activities you want to do, and many other factors.

Instead of giving you a set Italy trip cost, in this article I help you understand what all these factors at play are, how they will affect your Italy travel budget, and an average price range you can expect.

So what are you waiting for, let’s dive in and discover exactly how much a trip to Italy costs!

• 1 Italy trip costs overview 
• 2 Average trip to Italy cost 
• 3.1 Cost of flights to Italy
• 3.2 The cost of accommodation in Italy
• 3.3 Price for tours & activities in Italy
• 3.4 Cost of transport within Italy
• 3.5 Cost of eating in Italy
• 4.1 Duration of trip
• 4.2 Group size
• 4.3 Peak season vs off season
• 4.4 Where in Italy you’re going

The picturesque streets and views of Bellagio in Lake Como, Italy

Italy trip costs overview  

How much does it cost to go to Italy is a great question!

For starters, there are a few things to factor into your Italy trip budget. Depending on where you’re travelling from, the cost of flights will probably be the biggest expense, followed by the price of the accommodation.  

On top of that, you’ll need to budget for any meals you eat out at local restaurants, any transport you take when in Italy and money you spend on things like tours and entertainment.  

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of other add-ons like Italy travel insurance , and a little added extra for unforeseen costs – plus souvenirs and snacks, obviously!  

Besides what you’ll actually be spending money on, you also need to factor things that can affect these prices, like the time of year you travel, your group size and trip length.

In this article we break down each of these elements, so as to help you tick off your Italy bucket list , without breaking the bank!

The beautiful Trevi fountain in Rome

Average trip to Italy cost  

So just how much does a trip to Italy cost? The answer varies depending on a lot of factors.

The cost of flights is down to where in the world you’re flying from. On average, you can expect to pay around €100 for a return flight to Italy from within Europe.

This can go up to around €1,000, or more, for travellers coming from the US or Australia.

Accommodation can cost anywhere between €50 and €150 per night, depending on the time of year and type of place you’re booking.

Food will cost you between €25-80 a day. For travel on the ground, you should budget between €10-50 per day depending on how many excursions and trips you’re going to do.  

Exploring the rooftop of the Duomo cathedral in Milan, Italy

So a sample 2 weeks in Italy budget, coming from somewhere in Europe, could look something like this:

Flights: €100

Accommodation: €100 per night, so €1,400 for two weeks

Food: Average of €50 per day, so €700 for two weeks

Activities: €500 (assuming a variety of activities and guided tours throughout the two weeks)

Transport: €500 (mixture of trains, car rentals and taxis throughout Italy)

Total:  Around €3,200

This can obviously vary massively depending on lots of different factors. We’ll now dive into the detailed breakdown of this Italy trip cost estimate, and the variables that can affect it.

Sunset over the perched colourful houses of Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy

Italy trip cost: Detailed breakdown

Cost of flights to italy.

It’s hard for me to say exactly how much you might end up spending on flights, as it massively varies depending on where you come from.

Airfare doesn’t always have to be a big chunk of the vacation to Italy cost you end up spending.

European short-haul flights to Italy can be booked for less than €100. A return ticket from London to Rome for example, costs on average around €119 (for some great deals look for last minute flights).

But you don’t necessarily have to fly. Travellers visiting Italy from within Europe also have the choice of taking the train (one of my favourite ways to travel within Europe ).

The harbour and colourful houses of Porto Venere

Booked in advance, the train from Paris to Rome can cost as little as €60.  

Travellers flying from the USA will probably have to budget more than €500 for their trip. The average cost of a return flight from New York to Rome is $729 (€694).

Those flying from countries like Australia and New Zealand will have to pay over €1,000. The average return flight from Sydney to Rome is $2,430 AUD (€1,560).  

Basically flights could be the biggest expense in your Italy trip budget, but they could also be cheap, depending on where you’re flying from.

Chilling by the Colosseum in Rome

The cost of accommodation in Italy

The amount you should budget for accommodation in Italy massively depends on where in the country you’re travelling to.

The price of accommodation in Venice  or Milan during the peak travel season will cost a lot more than a hotel in Bologna or Trentino , for example.

The more touristy and famous a place is, the more expensive it tends to be. For example, if you’re planning an Amalfi Coast itinerary and want to stay in Positano or Capri , get ready for it to be expensive.

Not only that, but the time of year, and even the day of the week, will really impact the price for a night in a hotel. 

Hostels in popular tourist destinations are one of the most budget friendly accommodation options (even Rome  and Sardinia have them!).

You can get a bed for the night for around €20 at a hostel, but these can go higher than €50 during high season. For mid-range or budget hotels in Italy, the price for a night ranges from around €80-170.

Admiring the colourful houses of Vernazza, one of the five towns along the Sentiero Azzurro in Cinque Terre, Italy

The beautiful alpine lake of Carezza, in Italy, at sunset

The amount you pay will change depending on the location of the hotel (i.e. the better the location, the more you pay), plus the region or city that it’s in.  

The price for luxury hotels in Italy can be super expensive; with prices ranging upwards of €500. But, for this you will be staying in some fabulous historic properties with high-end service.

Need help choosing where to stay in Italy? Check out my guides below!

Where to Stay in Milan: Tips from a Local!

Best Towns to Stay in Cinque Terre for Every Traveller!

Where to Stay in Venice: Best Areas for Every Budget!

Where to stay in Amalfi Coast: Best Towns for Every Budget!

7 Best Areas to Stay in Rome! Or check out my guides on the best Rome Airbnbs , hotels near the Pantheon or hotels near the Colosseum !

Best Towns & Areas to Stay in Lake Como!

Where to Stay in Florence!

Our gondola ride took us close to Rialto Bridge

Sunset over Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Price for tours & activities in Italy

Don’t overlook the cost of tours and activities when figuring out just how much a trip to Italy costs. You might want to spend your time simply relaxing at your accommodation, or sunning yourself at the beach .  

If that’s the case, then the price of activities is going to be minimal.

But if you’re the kind of traveller that likes to get out and explore a destination, then you will have to factor in the cost of things like the entrance to museums and walking tours.  

The price of activities in Italy doesn’t have to break the bank. A lot of Italian cities have free walking tours, churches usually don’t charge for entrance and museums usually have a low price tag.

If you’re into hiking, this is usually free unless you join a guided tour. For example hiking the Path of the Gods in Amalfi Coast is free!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Some low price tag activities fun Rome by night tours , which range €50-100, or seeing Da Vinci’s Last Supper, a must-see on any Milan itinerary , for around €40.

But there will be some activities that you may want to splurge on.

I’m talking about doing a private gondola tour in Venice , which can cost around €100, or embarking on a catamaran tour in Sardinia  or boat tour in Positano , which costs around €150-200, or spending the day on a private boat tour at Lake Como , which can cost upwards of €250.

Basically the price for your Italy tours will vary depending on where in Italy you’re going, what activities there are to do there, whether you join a group tour or want to do private tours, and how much you want to spend.

You could spend anywhere from zero to hundreds of euros.

View over the Roman Forum and the Colosseum from the Campidoglio

Admiring the colourful houses of Manarola, one of the five towns along the Sentiero Azzurro in Cinque Terre, Italy

Cost of transport within Italy

Travellers who want to go on a proper Italy road trip will need to consider the price of transport when working out the total cost of a trip to Italy.

For example, the price of renting a car in Italy for 2 weeks will depend on the time of year you’re travelling.

Car rental costs will be higher during peak season. Just to give you an idea of the prices, on average it costs €36 ($38) per day for car hire in Italy. That means you should budget at least €500 for 2 weeks’ car rental in Italy.  

Train fares can be way more affordable and are also a very fast way to travel around Italy.

A one-way ticket from Rome to Florence can be as low as €7.90 one-way – if booked in advance. Trains from Pisa to Milan can go as low as €12.90 for tickets (again, booked well in advance).

The price of trains can creep up however if you book nearer the date of travel, making some journeys cost around €50.

Sunset in Venice, Italy, a popular Mediterranean cruise destination

The view over the Sassi of Matera from Belvedere Luigi Gurrigghio

Overall, trains might not necessarily be cheaper, but you should also factor in whether you really need a car for your Italy itinerary.

If you’re only visiting the major cities, like Rome , Matera or Florence, you won’t want a car in the city centre.

It will just be more of a problem than an asset, due to things like tolls, fuel, traffic, and nightmare parking. So you’re better spending a bit more on train tickets, and then not having to worry about handling your car.

All the largest cities in Italy have pretty good public transportation that you can rely on without spending too much money. Local transportation is an easy way to get around any city, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

If you’re short on time and want to see a lot of places, you could opt to take flights within Italy.

The price of flying from one city to another can be surprisingly low, with cheap flights generally costing between €30-100 one-way.

Cala Corsara on the island of Spargi in Sardinia in August (a bit too many boats!)

Cost of eating in Italy

One more thing not to overlook in your 2 weeks in Italy budget is the amount you’ll spend on food. This will massively depend on where in Italy you are travelling to, and the type of places you are eating at.

The good news is the food in Italy is as good as its reputation, and you can get some amazingly delicious meals at down-to-earth, budget-friendly restaurants.

And for those who want to splash the cash, you can also enjoy fine-dining experiences that offer good value for money!

I would say on average to budget between €5-20 for breakfast, €15-30 for lunch, €30-90 for dinner, and around €15 for aperitivo.

Obviously, you can make things much cheaper by buying breakfast from bakeries, having pizza on the go or street food for lunch or cooking for yourself at Airbnbs, or even getting accommodation with breakfast included in the price.

Eating spaghetti carbonara in Rome

The awesome pizza of Spontini

Cost to travel to Italy: Things to consider 

Duration of trip.

Answering the question of just how much does it costs to travel to Italy will depend on how long you intend to stay in the country. The longer the trip, the more money you’re going to spend.

If you just want a quick Italian get-away, perhaps you fancy a long weekend in Rome , then you’ll only have to pay for around three nights of accommodation, meals for three or four days, and entertainment for that time.

A longer vacation of a week or two will cost more than double than a short trip; although, in the long run, you’ll get more value for money from the price you spent on the flight to Italy in the first place.  

Enjoying the view over Ragusa in Sicily

Another consideration that will impact your Italy trip budget is the size of the group you’re travelling with.

Solo travellers will often end up paying more money, as you won’t have anyone to split the cost of things like hotel rooms, meals, taxis and car rentals.

That being said, you could find a great deal on a hostel or Airbnb, and still have a super budget solo trip. Hostels often have an itinerary of free events like walking tours to join in with, too.

Couples and groups of friends have the benefit of being able to split the big expenses like accommodation costs or car rentals.

Working out just how much is a trip to Italy for 2 will vary mostly based on the location, but it will usually work out cheaper than travelling solo.  

Exploring the side streets, canals and bridges of Venice, Italy

Peak season vs off season

The time of year you travel will really impact how much your trip to Italy costs. There’s a huge difference in prices between Italy in summer and the low winter season.  

In August everything triples in price, since it’s a holiday period also for Italians, and the rest of Europe are also on holiday during the summer months.

Accommodation books up and beaches and big-name tourist attractions are full of people. If you can travel during the off season (there are lots of great places to visit in winter in Italy , too) you can save quite a lot!

If you visit Italy at Christmas time , you could be charmed by Christmas in Milan , or the snowy peaks of the Alps of some of Italy’s best ski resorts , or maybe even head to southern Italy for some winter sun!

Exploring the Golfo di Orosei and Cala Luna by kayak in Sardinia, Italy

Where in Italy you’re going

Italy is a big country and not all cities and vacation spots are the same. Your Italy trip cost will vary greatly based solely on the location in the country you’re travelling to.

Some destinations can be a whole lot more expensive than others. A week in Sardinia will be a lot more expensive than a week in Sicily , for example, and famous spots like Cinque Terre are also notoriously expensive.

For travellers on a budget who just want to get a taste of what Italy has to offer, it’s a good idea to be flexible with where in the country you’re travelling to – and the time of year you’re taking your trip.

If you have your heart set on a specific itinerary, then there’s not too much you can do (unless you can move your trip to low season), but just take it into account, and maybe factor in day trips instead of spending the night in expensive destinations.

For example, instead of spending three days in Lake Como (another notoriously expensive spot) you could opt for a Lake Como day trip from Milan instead.

Similarly to doing a day trip to Cinque Terre instead of sleeping there. That way you still see the famous sight you set out to see, but without breaking the bank or extending your trip too much.

Exploring the Pantheon in Rome

Final thoughts on how much does it cost to go to Italy

There you have it! The most complete answer to the question; “how much is a trip to Italy?” 

As you can see, there isn’t a simple answer or a single figure. How much you spend for a trip to Italy will be affected by so many different factors, I can’t give you a number to plan for.

What I can give you, is this detailed breakdown of all the expected costs and variables that will affect them, so that you can work out your own Italy trip budget, based on your itinerary and travel style.

Ultimately, as one of my favourite Italy travel quotes says, money spent on travel is never wasted.

A trip to Italy might be pricey, but the experiences you’ll live; seeing the view over the rooftops of Rome , the perfect reflection at Lago di Carezza , the beautiful Tuscan countryside, or the Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail , are experiences you’ll carry with you forever.

One thing that is good in terms of trip budget, is that you don’t need to add any specific gear to your Italy packing list , as you can do so with everyday clothes that you use also at home.

I hope you found this article useful in planning your Italy trip cost! If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

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What Does a Trip to Italy Cost (On Any Budget)?

Italy is one of our favorite countries to travel in and write about, and one of the most common questions we get about it is also one of the hardest to answer: how much does a trip to Italy cost?

The short answer is anywhere from basically nothing to the GDP of a small country… but that doesn’t provide a lot of useful context, right?

The estimates we’ve put together here stem from nearly a cumulative year spent traveling in Italy over the last several years.

We usually travel as a couple but have also visited the country on multi-generational family trips and with friends.

We’ve traveled to 11 of Italy’s 20 regions, spent a month each “living” in 3 cities (Florence, Bologna, Rome), and don’t expect our travels there to slow down anytime soon.

We’ve traveled at most price points in the country, and while each trip is unique, we think this guide will give you a solid basis of how much a trip to Italy will cost for you.

Table of Contents

How We Structured These Italy Budget Tips

Budget trip to italy cost: $50-70/day, mid-range trip to italy cost: $70-100/day, luxury trip to italy cost: the limit does not exist., getting to italy on a budget, how to save money on your trip to italy.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

All of these estimates for the cost of a trip to Italy are given in USD, assume that you are traveling for 3 weeks or less, and assume that you are spending at least half your time in tourist hotspots like Rome and Venice .

They are also an estimate for one person.

If you’re traveling with other people and are able to split the costs of things like accommodations, you will likely be able to lower these numbers further.

A budget trip to Italy does require some sacrifices on comfort, but not as many as you might think: Italy can be surprisingly affordable.

This is a rough sketch of what a budget trip to Italy will cost and feel like.

Keep in mind that this is a budget trip in the sense of a traveler who is visiting Italy as a standalone destination or as part of a defined trip.

Shoestring backpackers who would like to cut costs by camping, hitchhiking, avoiding all paid attractions, etc, will, of course, be able to get by on less, but that is not how we would recommend seeing Italy!

Accommodation

At this budget, you’ll likely stay in hostel dorms or private rooms on Airbnb (as opposed to renting a whole apartment).

You’ll be able to stay in well-reviewed properties but may have to sacrifice a bit on location and stay further from the center of cities.

Transportation

Bus companies like Flixbus and perhaps the occasional budget airline flight will be your most common methods of transportation between destinations.

Regional train tickets may fit into your budget occasionally, but you’ll typically need to avoid the expensive high-speed rail lines and therefore it will take longer to reach each destination.

If you’re traveling to Italy on a budget, you’ll want to shop for your own groceries at least half the time.

Luckily, this isn’t a chore in Italy: freshly made pasta, bread, pesto, and more are all reasonably affordable.

Local bottles of wine in grocery stores start around 4-6 Euros each.

You can supplement your food with affordable options like takeaway pasta, pizza, and sandwiches, and splurge on the occasional lunch special to enjoy restaurant meals in Italy.

Tours & Attractions

A budget traveler in Italy will likely need to skip some pricey tourist attractions (and either resign themselves to waking up early to avoid long lines or simply wait in them–guided tours that allow you to skip lines will likely be over budget).

However, you can work some attractions into your budget.

Notable highlights that you may want to see like the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Statue of David, Uffizi Gallery, Pompeii, etc, tend to cost between 10-20 Euros for a basic ticket, but that will include significant time sacrifices by waiting in sometimes multi-hour lines.

Climbing towers for various viewpoints usually cost less than 10 Euros in Italy.

Some luxuries, like riding in a gondola in Venice (around 80 Euros/gondola), will likely need to be skipped.

We generally consider the bulk of our travels in Italy to be mid-range.

At this price point, you’ll be able to visit most attractions you would like to see, splurge on a guided visit or two (perhaps in the Vatican Museums), add a food tour or cooking class, and eat more restaurant meals.

However, you’ll still need to keep an eye on your Italy budget daily to avoid accidentally overspending.

At a mid-range price point, budget hotels near the center of cities or slightly more upscale hotels outside the center of cities are options.

You can also opt to rent an entire apartment on Airbnb in most destinations.

If you’d like, you can mostly avoid bus travel in Italy on a midrange budget, though high-speed rail travel will likely still be out of the question unless you book far in advance.

Regional trains and budget air travel will be your best bet for getting around Italy, and public transportation will still be optimal in cities.

If you’d like to visit part of Italy via road trip, a midrange budget will allow you to rent a car for a small part of your trip, though you may need to cut a different tour or experience elsewhere.

However, we recommend avoiding renting a car while in a city (nothing ruins an Italian travel budget quite like receiving a ticket in the mail months after returning home) and limiting the time you have it to the bare minimum.

Remember that if you rent a car in Italy, you’ll need to have an International Driving Permit to do so!

Midrange travelers can eat out more than budget travelers in Italy, but it will still be best to cook some meals if possible (perhaps 30%), and to eat the biggest meal of the day at lunch when many restaurants offer daily lunch specials.

If you’re a foodie, this budget may also allow room for a food tour or cooking class while in Italy.

Prioritization is the name of the game when it comes to balancing the cost of traveling in Italy with a midrange budget.

You’ll be able to add some guided tours to your explorations, and will be able to visit just about any attraction that you want (but perhaps not all of them).

If you have your heart set on a particular luxury experience–say, a gondola ride in Venice or a day spent sailing around Capri –you’ll likely need to cut expenses elsewhere to make it work on this budget.

Luxury accommodation in Italy can be truly magnificent.

Think upscale hotels (sometimes housed in historic palaces!) located right on the Arno River in Florence, overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome, and along the Grand Canal in Venice.

At this price point, you can also consider renting out country villas in places like Tuscany, though bear in mind that many properties have a minimum rental period of one week.

Without budget restrictions, high-speed train travel will likely be the preferred method of traveling around the country: it’s very efficient, very fast, and much less cumbersome than dealing with flying.

You’ll also have the freedom to rent a car as often as you like, however, we still recommend only renting one for the time spent outside cities.

Dealing with limited parking, many restricted driving areas, and hefty ticket prices (that you often won’t receive or know about until weeks after the fact) makes renting a car while staying in Italian cities more trouble than it’s worth.

Private transfers are generally unnecessary in Italy, however, if it fits into what you want your luxury trip to Italy to cost, they can be considered at this price point.

Italy is dotted with Michelin Star restaurants and luxury dining experiences, and a luxury budget will allow for these meals at least some nights.

If upscale dining is important to you, bear in mind that you’ll want to make reservations as far in advance as possible at the most popular spots.

Taking a trip to Italy without concerns about cost allows for some truly epic experiences.

Think about early-morning tours of the Vatican Museums before it opens for the day, visiting various monuments after-hours, taking a private gondola ride in Venice, setting off on private wine tours through Tuscany with your own driver, and chartering private boats along the coast!

How much a trip to Italy costs before arriving on the ground varies dramatically depending on where you are coming from, of course–but where you arrive can significantly change how much your trip to Italy costs.

If you’re coming from Europe, be sure to check budget airline flights to and from Rome, Pisa, Bologna, Milan, and Venice in the north/central regions, and Bari and Palermo in the south–these destinations tend to have quite a few low-cost flights available.

Regardless of where you are coming from, be sure to compare the cost (including the cost of on-the-ground travel and time consumed by logistics during your trip to Italy) of a roundtrip ticket as opposed to two one-way tickets that will allow you to avoid backtracking–say, flying into Rome and out of Venice.

Consider sticking to a smaller geographic region.

Most first-time visitors to Italy will want to visit Rome, Florence, Venice, and a piece of the coast if they have time–and there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a fabulous itinerary that we recommend ourselves.

However, if you are concerned about the cost of a trip to Italy, consider sticking to a smaller region.

Rome, Naples /Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast require very little in-country travel and make for a stunning trip.

A Tuscany-focused trip , perhaps with a side trip to Cinque Terre in Liguria, offers a unique option as well. If your heart is set on Venice, perhaps head to Verona or Milan after that, instead of further south.

Plan your route in advance.

As tempting as it is to let spontaneity guide you from city to city, if you want to keep the cost of a trip to Italy down, planning ahead is definitely the way to go.

Plane tickets and high-speed rail tickets can rise in price as the departure date gets closer, and booking lodging ahead of time will often allow you to find competitive deals in better locations than a last-minute booking.

The exception to booking lodging in advance, though, is if you’re traveling in the offseason.

If you’re visiting at a point that you’re reasonably confident most hotels won’t be sold out (but also won’t be closed–I wouldn’t try this in Riomaggiore in February), you can sometimes get fabulous last minute deals on hotels by booking 2-3 days in advance.

That is a gamble, however–the safest bet is to plan ahead, especially if you’re traveling Italy on a budget.

Don’t forget about buses and planes.

Both Flixbus and Ryanair have a solid presence in Italy and are great alternate transportation options to consider when train travel looks too expensive.

The further south you go, the cheaper Italy is.

Bottom line: your cash will stretch much further in Puglia, Sicily , or Campania than in Lombardy, Veneto, or Trento-Alto Adige.

If you want to plan a low-cost trip to Italy and don’t mind missing the most famous sights in favor of lesser-known but still incredible ones, consider sticking to the lower half of the boot–the further south the better.

Decide which tourist attractions are unmissable ahead of time, and budget for those.

If you book a trip to Italy knowing that your visit will feel incomplete without, say, a chance to see the Sistine Chapel or a cooking class in Tuscany, go ahead and add that to your budget in advance.

That way, you will visit knowing exactly how much that experience will cost during your trip to Italy, and exactly how much scrimping you’ll need to do in other areas to make it happen.

Wake up early.

Italy’s most popular sights and attractions can have prohibitively long lines that will make all but the most patient humans go screaming for the skip-the-line scalpers (even knowing that the people selling guided visits and immediate access in-person charge far more than online deals you can purchase in advance).

If you want to avoid either giving in to the temptation of spending extra or simply wasting hours of your trip to Italy waiting in line, there’s a simple workaround: wake up early, and be in line before the attractions even open.

Budget carefully for food.

Food is such a big part of the experience of a trip to Italy, cost of your trip aside.

Whether you’re traveling on the tightest budget or the most luxurious one, experiencing Italian cuisine is likely high on your list of priorities.

We recommend tracking your daily spending carefully on food–individual purchases, say for a scoop of gelato or an espresso at the bar, can feel quite small but add up fast, particularly if your spending is limited.

If you have access to a kitchen, absolutely take advantage of it.

Heading to a market and purchasing fresh pasta, pesto, cheese, bread, and wine and then cooking at home will cost a fraction of what the same meal would in a restaurant, and is a fabulous experience to have regardless of your Italy budget.

Research restaurants in advance.

When you do eat in restaurants, do so carefully.

You may think that every restaurant in Italy would be fabulous, but that is definitely not the case. 

There are a lot of duds out there, especially near tourist attractions (shocker).

Dining out in Italy can be enormously improved by simply doing some basic restaurant research ahead of time–this can be as easy as typing “good Italian restaurants near me” into Google and seeing what comes up that is well-reviewed and within your price range.

It’s not full-proof, sure, but it raises your odds considerably from simply picking somewhere you happen to walk by.

Go somewhere you’ve never heard of.

Italy is absolutely chock full of insanely beautiful places that offer gorgeous architecture, delicious food, compelling history, and stunning nature… and yet, most of them don’t get seen, because we all have a tendency to visit the same places over and over again.

Sure, some of that is inevitable–there’s only one Rome, there’s only one Venice–but while Capri is gorgeous, very few non-Italian tourists make it out to Sardinia. While Lake Como is magnificent, Italy is full of beautiful lakes .

If you’d like to cut down your trip to Italy cost, consider taking off to a point on the map that makes geographic sense with your itinerary, but you’re not already familiar with.

You might be surprised at what you find (and how few other visitors that you have to share the view with).

Make lunch your big meal of the day, and beware of bread.

Many Italian restaurants run specials at lunch, offering a 2-3 course meal, often with wine, for a set price.

If you want to regularly eat out in Italy, this is the way to do it!

The same restaurants charge much more for dinner portions, but we’ve never been anything but stuffed after lunch in Italy.

Also: beware of the bread placed on your table.

In some parts of Italy (we’ve heard it’s most popular in Lazio, but we’ve run into this in Tuscany too), the bread placed on the table is not included, and if you eat it, you will be charged (usually a Euro or two per person).

This absolutely isn’t the case in all restaurants, though, so be sure to clarify before digging in!

Consider traveling in the offseason.

Particularly if you’re wanting to visit cities in Italy on a budget, Italy makes a great offseason destination.

Winter is mild in much of the country, and the Colosseum looks about the same regardless of whether or not you’re bundled up in a coat to see it.

Fall is our personal favorite time to visit Italy, and we think late October is the perfect sweet spot for avoiding the worst of the crowds and hopefully still having some beautiful weather to enjoy for most days of your trip.

Your trip to Italy cost will definitely be highest during the summer months, especially if you hope to visit the coasts and/or the most popular spots!

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

16 thoughts on “What Does a Trip to Italy Cost (On Any Budget)?”

Hi kate and husband. Will be in Rome March 10-13 Florence 13-16 Venice 16-18 Paris 7-9 Long awaited trip with friend who cared for dying mother! Now is our time. My 3rd to Paris and first to Italy. So excited and thankful for stumbling on your post. Thank you both for all your dedication and time in sharing your love of country. I am 62 and from Wisconsin Mona; 67 and same; currently residing in Mississippi Be well, Maureen

Thank you so much, Maureen! So glad you found our site helpful. Hope that you guys have an amazing trip to Italy and Paris!

Great info here. We are planning a September 2021 trip to Rome Florence Cinque Terra and then Venice in 14 days. Have I set it up wrong given you say getting to CT from Florence is arduously long by train. Then back via train over to Venice. Should I rework the itinerary, the fly in/out of the country is Rome so that is our first stop, 3 days then last night out by airport(traveling from Venice) may fly down from there. Sorry it’s long winded.

It’s arduously long for a day trip, but if you’re spending a night or two, it’s not a big deal to get to Florence to Cinque Terre by train. We have more details on what to expect traveling between the two here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/florence-to-cinque-terre/

Cinque Terre to Venice by train is a long day but it’s doable, we’ve done it before ourselves.

Hope that helps!

Buonasera Kate,

I’d like to know your feeling if the following Freecerosa route would blow a hole into a $133/day over 3 weeks. I’m shooting for mid range. Fly into Milan/Como 2-3 days Florence 4 days Rome 3 days Amalfi 2 days Palermo/Cefalu 3 days Naples 1 day Rome 4 days Basically I tracing college wandering. I’m B-2 so I can negotiate things

Hi Bryce! It’s hard to tell specifically (especially this year, since everything is so up in the air), but I’d say your route is going to be pretty tough on that budget, especially aiming for mid-range travel.

The daily costs in each place (place to stay, food, attractions) will be fine, especially if you’re willing to skip a couple of expensive things, but the train/bus/plane costs of getting from destination to destination will really eat into your budget.

I’d recommend cutting a few stops, including saving Sicily for another trip for logistical reasons.

Additionally, a few of your stops–Como and Amalfi in particular–are pretty pricey. I’d consider how badly you want to see them vs spending more time in other spots.

My partner and I are wanting to plan a trip to Italy next year. It will be our first time there and would love to go around our birthdays in may but latest August. Sicily is definitely a option and add two or three more places to visit. Any advice for planning would be great. Looking for 2-3 week stay

Hi Merilena! Sounds like a fantastic trip.

We have several posts that might help you plan. I recommend taking a look at our Sicily itinerary: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/10-day-sicily-road-trip-itinerary/

If you want to combine Sicily with a few other places, this post has some ideas: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/7-days-in-italy-in-a-week/

If you’re flying from place to place, a classic spot like Rome, Florence, or Venice could be a fun trip when combined with Sicily.

what company will you recommend for transfers from airport to hotel or hotel to train stations?

There are different companies all over Italy, so it depends. For airport transfers, I’d recommend booking through Get Your Guide, they have several options.

For moving from your hotel to the train station, I’d recommend asking your hotel to call a taxi for you, and confirm the price with them. 🙂

Hi Kate, Jeremy

My partner and I will be going to Italy this month for my birthday and will be arriving in Venice. It’s a 6 day trip and would like advice on how and where to start. My key places are : Rome Possible Florence Milan Amalfi coast for my birthday. Some tours to include more destinations and activities

Please advise some possible great 6-day itineraries that could work and also if renting a car would be best for some destinations.

Thank you, Olivia

I’m not a travel agent, so don’t provide individual itineraries, but I’m always happy to point people in the right direction. 🙂

With only 6 days, I’d recommend cutting down your itinerary to Rome and the Amalfi Coast, with a possible day trip to Florence from Rome if you want to squeeze it in.

If you’re a confident driver, having a car on the Amalfi Coast can help, as there’s no train service there and the buses can be crowded. Alternatively, you could hire a taxi or driver. The driving on the Amalfi Coast is not for the faint of heart!

You won’t need a car in Rome or Florence.

Hope that helps, and Happy Birthday!

Love this post so much! For the luxury Italy trip, what could be an example of how much to expect to spend say for 2 people for a couple weeks or so? I know you said it’s endless but just curious!

That depends a lot on what luxury means to you–it can vary so wildly from person to person. You can stay in a 5-star hotel in Rome for 300 a night during the slow season… or you can rent a penthouse suite in the height of summer or head to an island and rent out a whole palazzo for thousands.

Your biggest expenses (excluding flights) will likely be your hotels, followed by activities (which again–do you define luxury as a private wine-tasting tour for the day or a private boat ride around Capri followed by a night in a palazzo?) and transportation (1st class trains can be defined as a luxury, so can private flights).

If you work out what you expect to spend in those categories, you’ll have a better idea of how to craft your specific budget.

Hi Kate, Using much of your expertise for our upcoming trip to Rome and Florence (7 days in each). Planning on a taxi from airport to hotel. Is this a good idea? I read where you recommended a transfer through GetYourGuide (I think). Traveling April 11-25. Thank you for all of your great information!

Hi Catherine,

It’s definitely not a bad idea! Transfers from the airports to city centers in Italy are one of those things where there’s really no right or wrong answer, just the one that best fits your budget and preference for convenience.

In order of convenience (especially for a first trip to Italy), a private transfer will generally be simplest, followed by a (less expensive) group transfer in something like a van, followed by public transportation. Of course, that order tends to go from most expensive to least expensive too!

The biggest benefit of a taxi or private transfer is that they can generally get you closer to your hotel in one fell swoop than taking the train will.

Keep in mind that Florence’s city center is pretty devoid of cars–if you’re hoping to limit your walking and aren’t sure which is fastest, you might see if your particular hotel has any specific arrival recommendations. Florence is also a small city, though, so you’re more likely to be staying within a reasonable walk of the train station there than in Rome!

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Trip to Italy Cost: How to see Italy on a Practical Budget

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy or book through one of these links, I may earn a small commission .

Come stai? Hopefully bene , as I presume you are in the midst of planning the most epic trip to Italy. But perhaps you’re afraid of making your trip a little too epic, and may even be worried about going broke or coming home with a bunch of credit card debt. Fret not, though, because you’re in the right place, as today we are taking a deep dive into what the cost of a trip to Italy really is.

I really nerd out when it comes to breaking down the cost of travel. This is because for too long I thought it would be completely unattainable for myself. However, my thoughts were completely baseless, and once I actually did the research, I realized just how wrong I was. Knowing what I know now, I want to disclose to future travelers what it takes to afford the cost of a dream trip, like Italy.

I’ll say bluntly, it is certainly possible to overspend when traveling to Italy – we certainly had our moments. However, if you plan ahead and craft the ideal itinerary for your unique circumstances, you can easily avoid this.

By the end of this article you will have a pretty good idea of what just about everything will cost – even the most minute details of what you’ll likely spend in Italy. I’m laying it all out here!

This post was originally published in October 2020. It has been updated with inflation-adjusted numbers as of January 2024.

Here is an example of a moderate trip to Italy cost for two people (in USD):

This is what I would consider to be a moderate budget for two people taking a ten day trip to Italy . This budget is certainly not on a shoestring, but it also isn’t luxurious. Obviously, if you spend less than ten days in Italy, or split costs with another group, many areas of this budget will decrease. It also pays to mention that this trip involves multiple cities, which tends to drive up costs.

Below, I am discussing each category in detail, including where you can cut costs and what are worthwhile splurges. After all, if you’ve travelled all the way to Italy from afar, you should be allowed to treat yo’self a little.

Travel Savvy Tip

Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and think you could never afford it. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll buy your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.

Once it gets closer to your trip, you’ll start looking at tours you may want to do, as well as make restaurant reservations. When you get back home from your trip, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.

Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to afford the cost of a trip to Italy!

Trip to Italy Cost Breakdown:

Transportation.

Trains $250, Bus $10, Uber $25

In most cases, the best way to get around Italy is via public transportation. This is especially true in city centers, like Rome and Florence , where traffic is crazy and there are hoards of pedestrians. The good news is that Italy is very well connected by train, and tickets are largely inexpensive.

Almost all train rides can be booked on the Trenitalia website in advance. I recommend taking advantage of this so you don’t spend valuable sightseeing time waiting in line to purchase tickets.

For full disclosure, here is what we actually spent on train tickets during a recent trip to Italy:

As you can see, we hardly needed public transportation in Rome and Florence, and spent the most navigating between the Cinque Terre villages. The other two expenses shown, $10 for the bus and $25 for an Uber, will vary based on your own movements.

We spent $5 each to catch a shuttle bus in Cinque Terre up to Corniglia, since we didn’t want to climb upwards of 300 steps with all our luggage. Finally, we spent about $25 to Uber between our house and the airport in Cleveland, Ohio .

Typical flights to Italy run anywhere from $700 to $1,500+ a person, depending on many different factors. For example, from where I live near Cleveland, Ohio, we have no direct flights to Europe. Therefore, we always need to connect through another city, which drives up the price.

I will admit, we overpaid for our Italy flights at $1,400 a person. This is because we were traveling for a summer wedding, and I needed to return from our trip in time for my busiest season at work. Therefore, we were unable to be flexible with our dates or travel days.

No worries, though – if you’re savvy enough, you can actually get your flights for cheaper, or even free using credit card points! This is something we’ve certainly taken advantage of over the years. In fact, we bought an entire $700 flight to Ireland with points from our Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Here’s a summary of my tried and true tips to avoid overpaying for flights:

• Be flexible with your travel days. As mentioned above, weekend flights can be crazy expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be amazed what a difference that can make.
• Travel during the low season (November through February), when there is an overall drop in prices.
• Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most:  Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. We’ve gotten countless free flights thanks to our cards, simply due to points earned on every day purchases. We’ve had great experiences using both the  Capital One Venture  and the  Chase Sapphire Reserve .

For longer stays in Italy, such as this ten day trip, you should try to eat in at your hotel or Airbnb sometimes. Not only will this save you money, but it’ll likely end up being a healthier choice. Over longer trips, it’s good to have a little balance so you’re not feeling completely bloated for most of it. Believe me – I wouldn’t be saying it if I hadn’t done it before!

While we didn’t eat in for every single meal, we did buy a few simple groceries for our Airbnb’s, such as eggs, peaches, cheese, prosciutto, wine, etc. We aimed to eat some of our breakfasts and lunches at our place, while still fitting in plenty of stops at cafes and gelaterias.

Try to book an Airbnb with a Nespresso Machine. Three places we stayed had one, and they actually make high quality coffee. We often took advantage of using the Nespresso instead of ordering out and enjoyed sipping it on our terrace.

Food & Drink

With Italy being known for delicious homemade pasta, fresh seafood, decadent gelato, and other such tasty treats, it would be wrong NOT to dine out in Italy. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure you budget a realistic amount of money for this.

Thankfully, eating out in Italy can be pretty affordable, especially if you stick to pasta and house wine. This is honestly a pretty easy choice to make, since both items are such high quality even at low prices. Aaron and I tended to split a caraffa of house wine, which typically ranged from 8 to 10 euros for a half liter.

My budget of $900 is more or less the average total of what we spent, with some lower days and some spurge days.

I’ll confess, we paid a bit more for our Airbnb’s than this budget, as we were originally traveling with my in-laws. Their budget was considerably higher than ours, so we paid a bit more for certain luxuries, like scenic terraces, than we normally would. Plus, Aaron and I were months away from celebrating our five year wedding anniversary and didn’t mind the occasional splurge.

However, you can definitely find very affordable lodging in Italy, especially if you take advantage of cheap flats on Airbnb . Generally, the closer you stay to main tourist areas, the more expensive prices will be. Therefore, your money will go further if you embrace “living like a local” and get a little further from the beaten path. Just be sure to thoroughly read reviews about the area before you book.

To keep your lodging prices in Italy as low as possible, be sure to start booking as early as you can. Italy is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, so the best places will get snatched up quickly.

These trendy Airbnb’s that will keep you within the $1,800 budget set above:

• Rome: This apartment is walkable to most major sights in Rome.
• Cinque Terre: This charming apartment in my personal favorite village, Corniglia, offers dreamy views over the village and Ligurian Sea.
• Florence: This chic apartment features romantic views over the terracotta rooftops of Florence.

Activities in Italy will make up another nice chunk of your budget. After all, seeing bucket list places, like the Colosseum and Vatican, is probably one of the biggest reasons you’re visiting Italy.

To stay within your budget, it’s best to offset pricier sights with some free things to do in Italy (listed below). Prioritize paid activities based on what’s most important to you and what time will realistically allow.

Another thing to consider is whether a sight-seeing pass for a particular city would be a good idea for you. Passes, such as the Roma Pass , will offer discounts on public transportation and a couple sights. I will say – the passes seem to be most useful if you plan to use public transportation A LOT. We used a pass in Rome, but didn’t find it as useful in Florence where we spent less time and mostly walked.

Below is an inflation-adjusted estimate of what we actually spent on activities during our Italy trip:

• Vatican Tour: $207.17 ($103 per person guided tour that let us see the magnificent Sistine Chapel before the crowds)
• Borghese Gallery : $48.16 (€15 entrance fee + €2 reservation fee per person. Could potentially be covered by Roma Pass, less the €2 fee. We only opted for the 48-hour pass, so this day wasn’t covered.)
• Colosseum Online Reservation Fee: $4.51 (entry fee covered by Roma Pass, but the €2 per person online reservation fee is still required).
• Roma Pass: $70.06 (€32 per person for the 48-hour pass.)
• Pantheon: $10.95 (€5 entrance fee per person)
• Beach Chairs at Monterosso al Mare: $41.60 (€38 for two chairs and an umbrella at Bagno Eden).
• Cinque Terre Hiking Passes: $32.84 (€7.50 per person for a 1-day card. We bought it two days in a row).
• Florence Food Tour: $230 ($115 per person to taste eight foods and four wines during an evening exploring Florence)
• Accademia Gallery : $43.78 (€20 per person entrance fee)

Book Your Italy Walking Tour Here

13 Free Things to do in Italy

Keep your Italy trip cost down by finding free things to do. Some of Italy’s best sights have no cost, so add as many of these into your itinerary as possible:

• Trevi Fountain in Rome (not including coin toss)
• Pantheon in Rome – Unfortunately, beginning in July 2023 the Pantheon now charges a €5 entrance fee per person.
• Spanish Steps in Rome
• Viewing Rome’s Colosseum from the outside
• Taking a scenic walk through town
• Various squares (ie. Piazza Navona in Rome or Piazza della Signoria in Florence)
• Most hikes in Cinque Terre
• The breathtaking views in Cinque Terre
• Swimming at certain beaches in Cinque Terre
• Viewing the Duomo from outside in Florence
• Strolling over Ponte Vecchio in Florence
• Watching the sunrise or sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence
• Taking a Rick Steves recorded walking tour on his Audio Europe app .

Pet Boarding

Do you have a fur baby like us? If so, then you probably know all too well about the cost of pet boarding, unless you’re lucky enough to have a pet that travels well. Even better if you know someone who can watch Scruffy while you’re gone.

Unfortunately, neither of those things apply to us, so we have to board our puppy. Prices for this where I live in Northeast Ohio tend to run about $40 a night, but vary wildly in quality and services included.

We choose to drive our puppy about 45 minutes away from our house to a rural vet center with boarding because our doggy likes it there. He gets his own little “suite” with an outdoor space he can run around in! It is such a hassle to drive that far, but totally worth it to have peace of mind while we’re traveling.

Other Misc Expenses

• Airport Expenses: Includes any snacks, magazines, etc. you may purchase while waiting around the airport. It’s usually cheaper to bring your own granola bars, etc.
• Shopping: There is plenty of good shopping to do all over Italy. Just don’t go too crazy here if you are trying to stay on a budget.
• Tourist Tax: Depending on the city, there is a nightly tourist tax for hotels and vacation rentals in Italy. Here is Airbnb’s summary of the various rates.

No matter how you slice it (be it pizza, prosciutto, whatever), a trip to Italy is always worth it, be it luxurious or budget. However, once thing’s for sure – you certainly don’t need to overspend in the least in order to have a spectacular Italian getaway.

Related Posts

Love this post! I can’t believe i found you then realized half way through we are in the same state / area! 😉 can you post the links to me regarding your Airbnb suggestions? It won’t show me the direct ones you suggest when i click over. Thanks in advance and i love your page!! Keep doing it, it inspires me!

Thanks so much Jenny! Really appreciate you saying that. FYI – I updated all the Airbnb links 🙂

Hi, I’m planning a long trip by myself to Italy for my 60th birthday. No guides, just my own itinerary with air bob’s. Having been there yourself, do you think I’ll be safe over there walking alone & staying in places alone? I’m super excited, but everyone thinks I’m crazy wanting to do this alone. Your opinion and any tips you have will be greatly appreciated. Sandy

Hi Sandy! As someone who is currently traveling alone in the Netherlands, I think it’s awesome that you are treating yourself to an Italy trip for your 60th! I’m not sure where all you plan to go in Italy, but in my travels that I mentioned above and also during a recent trip to Puglia, there were never any moments where I felt unsafe. Just take any normal precautions that you would normally take when going out alone at home. Also, when booking Airbnb’s, read the reviews closely as they can sometimes be a little off the beaten path. I like to find reviews where people verified the area was walkable to sights and public transportation. Hope that helps!

Just found your post on Pinterest and while reading I was very excited that you listed your airbnbs because we are planning a trip and March going to cinque Terre and Florence as well. Well turns out I just booked the same airbnb in Florence today! What are the chances. It just validated that it was the right choice!

Awesome! You have good taste 😉

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• Travel Essentials & Accessories

How Much Does It Cost To Travel To Italy

Published: October 17, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Aridatha Siegel

• Budget Travel
• Travel Destinations

Introduction

Planning a trip to Italy? Whether you are dreaming of the romantic canals of Venice, the ancient ruins of Rome, or the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany, it’s essential to estimate the cost of your travel expenses. Understanding the costs associated with transportation, accommodation, food, activities, shopping, and other miscellaneous expenses will help you budget effectively and ensure a memorable and worry-free trip.

Italy offers a plethora of attractions and experiences, from historical landmarks to artistic masterpieces, making it a popular destination for travelers from around the world. However, it’s important to note that the cost of traveling to Italy can vary depending on factors such as the duration of your stay, the cities you plan to visit, your preferred level of comfort, and your personal preferences for dining and activities.

In this article, we will break down the different expenses you can expect on your trip to Italy, giving you a comprehensive overview of the financial aspects to consider when planning your adventure. By understanding the various costs beforehand, you can create a realistic budget and make informed decisions that will help you maximize your experience while staying within your means.

So, let’s dive into the different categories of expenses and explore the estimated costs associated with each, allowing you to make better financial preparations for your Italian journey.

Transportation Costs

When it comes to transportation in Italy, you have several options to consider. The most common ways to get around the country include flying, taking trains, using buses, or renting a car. Each mode of transportation has its advantages and cost considerations.

If you are traveling from another country, the cost of your flight to Italy will be a significant portion of your transportation expenses. Prices for flights can vary depending on the time of year, the distance traveled, and the airline you choose. It’s advisable to book your flight well in advance to secure the best deals and be flexible with your travel dates to take advantage of any discounted fares.

Once in Italy, the train system is an efficient and popular mode of transportation for both long-distance and regional travel. Italy’s national railway network, Trenitalia, offers an extensive rail network, connecting major cities and picturesque towns throughout the country. The cost of train tickets will depend on the distance traveled, the class of service, and whether you opt for high-speed trains or regional trains.

Buses are another affordable option for traveling within Italy, especially for shorter distances or to reach destinations not easily accessible by train. Companies like FlixBus and Marino operate bus routes across the country, providing a cost-effective alternative to trains. Bus fares are generally lower than train tickets, but travel times may be longer.

If you prefer more flexibility and independence, renting a car can be a convenient option, especially if you plan to explore rural areas or venture off the beaten path. Car rental prices will vary depending on the rental agency, the type of vehicle, and the duration of your rental. Keep in mind that additional costs, such as fuel and tolls, should be factored into your budget when renting a car.

To save on transportation costs, consider purchasing a transportation pass or card, such as the Italy Rail Pass or the Roma Pass (for Rome), which provide discounted or unlimited travel on trains, buses, and metro systems within specific regions or cities. These passes can be cost-effective, especially if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and utilize public transportation frequently.

Overall, transportation costs in Italy can range from affordable to moderate, depending on your preferences and travel plans. It’s recommended to research and compare prices for flights, trains, buses, and car rentals ahead of time, taking into account the distance between destinations, the duration of your stay, and any discounts or passes that can help you save money on transportation expenses.

Accommodation Expenses

When it comes to finding accommodation in Italy, there are numerous options to suit every budget and travel style. The cost of accommodation will vary depending on the city, location, type of accommodation, and the time of year you plan to visit.

In major cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, you can find a range of accommodation options, including luxury hotels, boutique hotels, budget hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals. Luxury hotels offer top-notch amenities and services but come with a higher price tag. On the other hand, budget hotels and hostels provide more affordable options for travelers on a tight budget.

If you’re looking for a more unique and immersive experience, consider staying in a vacation rental, such as an apartment, villa, or a room in a local’s home. Vacation rentals often offer more space and amenities compared to traditional hotels and allow you to experience the local culture firsthand. Websites like Airbnb and HomeAway provide a wide range of vacation rental options across Italy.

The cost of accommodation also varies depending on the location within the city. Central areas and tourist hotspots tend to have higher prices compared to neighborhoods further away from the main attractions. Keep in mind that staying just outside the city center can be a more affordable option while still providing convenient access to public transportation.

Additionally, the time of year you visit Italy can significantly impact accommodation prices. Peak tourist seasons, such as the summer months and major holidays, tend to have higher rates. If you have flexibility in your travel dates, consider visiting during shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) when the weather is still pleasant, and the prices are more budget-friendly.

To find the best deals on accommodation, it’s advisable to book in advance and compare prices across different platforms. Online booking websites like Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com offer competitive rates and often provide customer reviews and ratings to help you make an informed choice.

Remember to factor in any additional fees or taxes that may be charged by the accommodation provider, such as city taxes or resort fees. These charges are typically payable upon check-in and can add to your overall accommodation expenses.

Overall, accommodation expenses in Italy can range from affordable to luxurious, depending on your preferences and budget. With proper research and planning, you can find comfortable and reasonably priced accommodation that fits your needs and makes your stay in Italy enjoyable.

Food and Dining Costs

Food is a fundamental part of the Italian culture, and experiencing the delicious cuisine is a highlight of any trip to Italy. When it comes to dining, you have a wide range of options from street food vendors to high-end restaurants, each offering a unique gastronomic experience.

The cost of food in Italy can vary depending on where and what you choose to eat. In general, dining at local trattorias, cafes, and pizzerias tends to be more affordable compared to fine dining establishments. These establishments offer traditional Italian dishes, such as pasta, pizza, risotto, and various regional specialties, at reasonable prices.

If you’re looking to save on food costs, consider indulging in the local street food. Italy is famous for its street delicacies like panini, arancini, gelato, and freshly baked pastries. You can find these culinary delights in local markets, food stands, and bakeries, providing a budget-friendly way to experience the authentic flavors of Italy.

For those who prefer to cook their meals or have dietary restrictions, Italy has an abundance of grocery stores and supermarkets where you can purchase fresh produce, cured meats, cheeses, and other ingredients to prepare your own meals. Not only can this be a cost-effective option, but it also allows you to immerse yourself in the local food culture.

When it comes to beverages, Italian coffee is a must-try. Whether you prefer an espresso shot or a frothy cappuccino, stopping by a local café to savor the rich flavors is a part of the Italian experience. The cost of coffee at a café is usually affordable, especially if you stand at the counter instead of sitting down.

Another factor to consider when budgeting for food and dining in Italy is tipping. Unlike some other countries, tipping is not mandatory in Italy. However, it is customary to leave a small tip if you are satisfied with the service. Many Italians round up the bill or leave a few euros as a gesture of appreciation.

It’s important to note that dining at restaurants in touristy areas or popular landmarks can be more expensive compared to local establishments. To save money, consider exploring neighborhoods that are further away from heavily tourist-populated areas, as these often have more affordable dining options that showcase the local culinary traditions.

Overall, the cost of food and dining in Italy can vary depending on your choices and preferences. By seeking out local eateries, enjoying street food, and occasionally cooking your meals, you can have an authentic and delicious culinary experience while staying within your budget.

Sightseeing and Activities Expenses

Italy is a treasure trove of historical sites, architectural marvels, and cultural attractions, offering countless opportunities for sightseeing and activities. From visiting iconic landmarks to exploring art galleries and museums, there are plenty of experiences to suit every taste and budget.

One of the most significant expenses when it comes to sightseeing in Italy is entrance fees to popular attractions. Major landmarks like the Colosseum in Rome, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, and the Vatican Museums in Vatican City often have admission fees. It’s important to research the costs and consider purchasing tickets in advance to avoid long queues and ensure availability.

When planning your itinerary, consider the number of attractions you want to visit. Some cities offer sightseeing passes, such as the Roma Pass or the Firenze Card, which provide discounted or free entry to multiple attractions along with additional benefits like skip-the-line access. These passes can be a cost-effective option if you plan to visit several sites in a short period.

In addition to famous landmarks, Italy offers a plethora of free or low-cost activities. Exploring vibrant local markets, wandering through charming neighborhoods, and enjoying street performances are just a few ways to immerse yourself in the Italian culture without breaking the bank.

Outdoor activities also abound in Italy, offering opportunities for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. From hiking in the Cinque Terre to cycling through the Tuscan countryside, outdoor activities provide a chance to experience Italy’s stunning landscapes at a relatively low cost. You can rent bicycles or join guided tours to make the most of your outdoor adventures.

Another major expense to consider is guided tours or cultural experiences. While these add-ons can provide in-depth knowledge and unique perspectives, they often come at an additional cost. It’s worth researching and comparing prices to find reputable tour operators or local guides who offer informative and engaging experiences that align with your interests.

Lastly, transportation costs for getting to and from various attractions should be factored into your budget. Public transportation, such as buses or metro systems, is usually the most affordable option. However, if you’re planning to visit attractions outside of major cities or in more remote areas, you may need to arrange for private transportation or join organized day trips, which can be more expensive.

By planning ahead, researching ticket prices, exploring free activities, and considering sightseeing passes, you can make the most of your budget while enjoying the incredible sights and activities that Italy has to offer.

Shopping Expenses

Italy is renowned for its fashion, craftsmanship, and local products, making it a shopping paradise. From designer boutiques and luxury brands to artisanal goods and local souvenirs, there are plenty of shopping opportunities to suit all budgets and tastes.

If you’re a fashion enthusiast, the cities of Milan and Florence are known for their high-end fashion scenes. Here, you can find luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Versace, as well as designer outlets where you can snag discounted items. Keep in mind that luxury fashion comes with a hefty price tag, so it’s important to set a budget and prioritize your shopping items.

For those seeking unique and handcrafted goods, Italy is famous for its craftsmanship in various areas. Regions like Tuscany (particularly Florence), the Amalfi Coast, and the island of Murano are known for producing exceptional leather goods, ceramics, glassware, and jewelry. Visiting local artisan shops and markets not only allows you to support small businesses but also gives you the opportunity to bring home one-of-a-kind pieces.

When it comes to food shopping, Italy offers a wide range of culinary delights. From flavorful olive oils and balsamic vinegar to regional wines and specialty cheeses, you can embark on a gastronomic adventure by exploring local food markets and gourmet shops. These items make great souvenirs or gifts for loved ones back home.

If you’re looking to save money on shopping, consider shopping during the country’s annual sales periods, which typically take place in January and July. During these times, many stores offer significant discounts on clothing, accessories, and household items. Outlets and discounted shopping centers are also worth exploring, as they offer brand-name products at lower prices.

When shopping in Italy, keep in mind any customs regulations and limitations on items you can bring back to your home country. Certain products, such as food, alcohol, and luxury goods, may have restrictions or require additional taxes or declarations.

Lastly, it’s important to stick to your budget and avoid impulse purchases. Before your trip, determine how much you’re comfortable spending on shopping and prioritize the items you truly want or need. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the array of options, so having a plan will help you make informed choices and ensure you don’t overspend.

Shopping in Italy can be a delightful experience, whether you’re looking for high-end fashion, local craftsmanship, or gourmet treats. With a bit of research, self-control, and a budget in mind, you can find unique and memorable items to take home while staying within your shopping budget.

Miscellaneous Costs

When planning your trip to Italy, it’s essential to factor in miscellaneous costs that may arise during your journey. These expenses may vary depending on your personal preferences, travel style, and any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during your trip.

One of the significant miscellaneous expenses to consider is travel insurance. While it may seem like an additional cost, having travel insurance provides you with peace of mind in case of any unforeseen events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. Research and compare different insurance providers to ensure you choose a policy that suits your needs and budget.

Another potential miscellaneous expense is the cost of communication. If you plan to use your mobile phone and data while in Italy, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan to avoid exorbitant charges. Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafes, and public areas, so taking advantage of free Wi-Fi can help reduce communication costs.

Transportation within cities can also add to your miscellaneous expenses. While walking is a great way to explore many Italian cities, you may also need to use public transportation, such as buses, trams, or the metro, to reach specific sites or travel longer distances. Be sure to account for these costs when planning your daily activities.

If you plan to use credit or debit cards for purchases or withdrawals, it’s important to check with your bank about any international fees or conversion charges. Some banks offer travel-friendly options that minimize these fees, so it’s worth exploring these options to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Additionally, tipping for exceptional service, although not mandatory in Italy, is appreciated. It’s customary to leave a small tip at restaurants, cafes, and for tour guides or drivers if you are satisfied with the service provided. Tipping around 10% of the total bill is a general guideline, but you can adjust the amount accordingly based on the level of service received.

Lastly, souvenir shopping and any personal expenses, such as spa treatments, entertainment, or additional activities not already accounted for in your budget, should also be considered as miscellaneous costs. Setting aside a designated amount for discretionary spending will allow you to indulge in these extras without overspending.

By considering these miscellaneous costs and planning accordingly, you can ensure that you have a realistic estimate of your overall expenses and avoid any financial surprises during your trip to Italy.

Total Estimated Cost

Estimating the total cost of your trip to Italy involves considering all the expenses we have discussed so far: transportation, accommodation, food and dining, sightseeing and activities, shopping, and miscellaneous costs. The total amount will vary depending on your travel style, preferences, and the duration of your stay.

Transportation costs in Italy can range from affordable to moderate, depending on the mode of transport you choose, such as flights, trains, buses, or car rentals. Flights to Italy from your home country, particularly during peak seasons, can be a significant portion of your budget. Additionally, getting around within Italy using trains, buses, or private transportation will contribute to your overall transportation expenses.

Accommodation expenses in Italy vary based on the type of accommodation you choose, the location, and the time of year. Luxury hotels in major cities will be the most expensive, while budget hotels, hostels, and vacation rentals offer more affordable options. Research and compare prices to find the best deal that suits your needs and budget.

Food and dining costs depend on your preferences and where you choose to eat. Dining at local eateries, street food vendors, or cooking your meals can be cost-effective options. However, if you opt for fine dining experiences or frequent touristy restaurants, the costs will be higher. Consider a mix of local dining and self-catering to strike a balance between enjoying the local cuisine and saving money.

Sightseeing and activity expenses will vary depending on the number of attractions you plan to visit, the cost of entrance fees, and any additional guided tours or cultural experiences you choose to indulge in. Research the prices of major attractions, consider sightseeing passes, and explore free or low-cost activities to help manage your sightseeing budget.

Shopping expenses can be flexible, depending on your personal interests and budget. High-end fashion, local craftsmanship, and gourmet treats all contribute to the overall shopping costs. Consider setting a budget for shopping, exploring discounted outlets or markets, and prioritizing items that truly interest you.

Miscellaneous costs can include travel insurance, communication expenses, transportation within cities, tipping, and any additional personal expenses or discretionary spending. These costs may vary depending on your individual needs and preferences but should be taken into account to ensure an accurate estimation.

It is challenging to provide an exact total estimated cost for every traveler, as it depends on various factors and personal choices. However, for a moderate level of travel comfort, a rough estimate for a week-long trip to Italy could range from $1500 to $3000 per person. This estimate includes flights, accommodation, meals, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and miscellaneous expenses. Adjustments can be made based on your travel preferences, desired level of comfort, and the duration of your visit.

Remember that these figures are just estimates, and it’s essential to conduct thorough research, compare prices, and create a detailed budget that aligns with your specific travel plans and financial capabilities. By being mindful of your expenses and making informed choices, you can enjoy a memorable and affordable trip to Italy.

Planning a trip to Italy involves considering various expenses, from transportation and accommodation to food, sightseeing, shopping, and miscellaneous costs. By understanding and estimating these expenses, you can create a realistic budget and ensure a worry-free and enjoyable journey.

Transportation costs will depend on the mode of transport you choose, such as flights, trains, buses, or car rentals. Researching and comparing prices ahead of time can help you find the most cost-effective options.

Accommodation expenses range from luxury hotels to budget options like hostels and vacation rentals. Consider the location, type of accommodation, and the time of year to find affordable yet comfortable options.

Food and dining costs can vary depending on where and what you choose to eat. Sampling street food, trying local eateries, and occasionally cooking your meals can help manage your budget while still enjoying the delicious Italian cuisine.

Sightseeing and activity expenses include entrance fees, guided tours, and additional experiences. Planning your itinerary and researching ticket prices, as well as considering sightseeing passes, can help you make the most of your budget without missing out on must-see attractions.

Shopping in Italy offers a wide range of options, from high-end fashion to local craftsmanship and gourmet treats. Setting a budget, exploring discounts, and prioritizing items that truly interest you will help you control your shopping expenses.

Lastly, miscellaneous costs such as travel insurance, communication expenses, transportation within cities, tipping, and personal expenses should be accounted for to avoid any surprises. Setting aside a designated amount for discretionary spending ensures you can indulge in extras without overspending.

Remember, the total estimated cost will vary based on your preferences, travel style, and the duration of your stay. Conduct thorough research, compare prices, and create a detailed budget tailored to your specific needs.

With careful planning and budgeting, you can have a remarkable and memorable trip to Italy, experiencing its rich culture, history, delicious cuisine, and stunning landscapes while staying within your means. Enjoy your Italian adventure and create memories that will last a lifetime!

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Cost of Vacation in Italy: Budgeting for Your Dream Trip

Key Takeaways

• The overall cost of vacation in Italy is influenced by accommodation, transportation, and dining choices.
• Planning a budget should include considerations for sightseeing and incidental expenses .
• Italy offers a range of options to suit various budgets , from economical to luxury travel experiences .

A vacation in Italy offers travelers a chance to explore a country with a rich history, iconic art, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.

The cost of a trip to Italy can vary significantly based on several factors including the type of accommodation chosen, the mode of transport used for getting around, the dining experiences desired, and the range of sights and activities on the itinerary.

Whether it's savoring a meal in a traditional trattoria, admiring ancient ruins, or enjoying the country's natural landscapes, each choice directly impacts the overall budget.

Evaluating the daily budget is essential when planning a trip to Italy . Costs can range from affordable to luxurious, with options to fit the financial considerations of a variety of travelers.

Accommodations range from budget-friendly hostels to luxury hotels , while transportation choices include economical public transit or a more expensive rental car.

Expenses for your own meals can also vary greatly, from grabbing a quick pizza to dining at upscale restaurants.

Visitors should also factor in entrance fees for attractions, which can add up, especially for those keen on visiting multiple landmarks and museums.

Accommodation Costs in Italy

The variety of accommodation options in Italy caters to a broad spectrum of travelers, from those on a shoestring budget to those seeking the ultimate in luxury.

Prices fluctuate considerably depending on the location, season, and the level of comfort desired.

Budget Accommodations: Hostels and Budget Hotels

For budget-conscious travelers, hostels and budget hotels offer the most economical lodging options.

Prices for a hostel bed can range from as low as €20 to €50 per night , depending on the city and time of year.

Budget hotels tend to cost slightly more, with average daily costs for a budget hotel room around €50 to €100 .

Mid-range Accommodations: Hotels and B&Bs

Mid-range travelers can find comfortable accommodations in hotels or bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) with prices typically between €100 to €200 per night for a double-occupancy room.

These establishments often provide a more personalized experience and may include amenities such as free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

Luxury Accommodations: 5-star Hotels and Resorts

For a taste of luxury, 5-star hotels and upscale resorts in premiere locations like Rome, Venice, Milan, the Amalfi Coast , and Cinque Terre provide lavish amenities with prices starting from €300 and can soar well above €1000 per night.

These opulent accommodations often boast prime locations, exquisite dining options, and exceptional service.

Seasonal Price Variations

Accommodation prices in Italy can vary greatly with the season.

The high season, generally from June to August , sees the highest prices, especially in tourist hotspots like Florence and near major attractions like the Colosseum.

During the low season, generally, from November to March, travelers can often find lower prices and deals except in December during holiday festivities.

Visiting in the shoulder seasons, such as October , can result in a good balance of lower costs and pleasant weather, making it a good time to book hotels and enjoy the country's offerings.

Tips for Finding the Best Accommodation Deals

To secure the best rates, book in advance, especially if traveling during peak season. For last-minute travel, hotel booking websites often offer discounts on unsold rooms.

Staying slightly outside the main tourist areas can also reduce costs significantly; for example, rather than staying in central Venice , consider nearby locations such as Mestre or even Padua for better deals.

Utilize customer reviews on platforms like Booking to gauge the quality and value of accommodations.

Consider alternative accommodations like Airbnb for a local and potentially more affordable experience.

Using these guidelines, travelers can effectively plan their accommodation budget for a trip to Italy that aligns with their financial parameters and travel style.

Transportation Costs Within Italy

When budgeting for a trip to Italy, a significant portion of the budget will go towards transportation within the country.

Transportation options vary greatly and include public transportation, car rentals, domestic flights, and taxis or rideshare services. Making informed choices can help manage these expenses effectively.

Public Transportation: Buses and Trains

Public transport is widely available across Italy with trains and buses being practical options for getting around.

Major Italian cities like Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan have extensive networks. On average, a round-trip ticket for regional trains may range from €4 to €25, depending on the distance and train type.

The high-speed trains, such as the Frecciarossa, offer faster travel at a higher cost.

For budget travelers, services like Trenitalia and Italo can be economical, especially when booked in advance.

The cost for buses, like those operated by Flixbus or local services, tends to be lower, offering an affordable alternative for sightseeing and for city center transfers.

Car Rentals and Fuel Costs

Renting a car provides flexibility, especially for exploring rural areas or the Amalfi Coast.

Average rental prices can start from €30 to €50 per day, excluding fuel costs.

Fuel prices fluctuate but hover around €1.5 to €1.7 per liter. Remember to factor in parking expenses, which can vary widely by city; for instance, marked roads with a white line usually denote free parking zones.

Domestic Flights

For longer distances, such as traveling from Rome to Sicily , domestic flights can save time.

However, flights can be pricier, with costs depending on the season, booking time, and carrier. It is not uncommon for flight prices to range from €50 to €200.

Low-cost carriers may offer competitive rates, particularly for those who book well in advance.

Taxis and Rideshare Services

Taxis are a convenient option, especially when public transport is not available or when carrying heavy luggage.

Taxi fares start with a base rate of about €3-€5 and increase by distance.

Rideshare applications, such as Uber, are available in major cities and may offer slightly lower fares compared to traditional taxis.

Cost-saving Tips for Transportation

• Book in Advance: Train and flight tickets are often cheaper when purchased ahead of time.
• Use Regional Trains: Opt for slower regional trains for significantly lower fares compared to high-speed services.
• Consider Transportation Passes: City or regional transportation passes can offer unlimited travel within a certain period, leading to savings.
• Shared Transportation: Sharing rides or rental costs with fellow travelers can reduce expenses significantly.

For more tips on how to plan your trip to Italy, including budgeting for transportation, you can visit this guide to arranging your dream vacation: How to Plan a Trip to Italy | Guide to Your Dream Vacation .

Food and Dining Expenses

Italy offers a diverse culinary journey, from budget-friendly options to luxurious dining experiences, all showcasing the rich regional flavors of the country.

Average Cost of Meals: Budget vs. Upscale Dining

Budget travelers in Italy can typically expect to spend around €10 for a simple yet delicious meal, such as pizza or pasta dishes, in casual eateries or from street vendors.

Upscale dining in cities like Rome, Florence, and Milan will see an average price of around €50 per person, where diners can indulge in a three-course meal often accompanied by regional wine.

Cost of Groceries for Self-catering

For those who want to save money and are opting to self-cater via an Airbnb or similar accommodation, basic grocery costs for a day's meals could range from €15 to €20.

This assumes the purchase of ingredients for classic Italian fare such as pasta, fresh vegetables, locally-produced cheeses, and a bottle of wine .

Regional Price Differences

Dining expenses vary by region, with major tourist cities like Venice and Milan typically seeing higher prices.

Bologna and the rolling hills of Tuscany, famed for their culinary contributions, offer mid-range dining options, while Naples , the birthplace of the iconic pizza Margherita , boasts more affordable prices for authentic Italian cuisine .

Tips to Eat Well on a Budget

• Consider the 'pranzo fisso' or fixed-price lunch menus for good value.
• Purchase fresh produce from local markets and prepare meals at your accommodation.
• Avoid tourist traps; seek out where locals eat, often just a few streets away from main attractions.
• Gelato and espresso are affordable treats, allowing travelers to enjoy Italy’s famous desserts and coffee culture without overspending.

In Italy, food is much more than sustenance—it is a window into the culture and a reflection of regional traditions, from the pasta dishes of Rome to the succulent seafood of coastal towns.

Sightseeing and Attractions

When traveling to Italy, exploring the rich tapestry of sightseeing options is essential to experience the culture and history.

From iconic ancient ruins in Rome to the picturesque canals of Venice and the art heritage of Florence, visitors should budget for various attraction costs, including entry fees, guided tours, and city passes .

Entry Fees for Major Tourist Attractions

• Colosseum : Expect to pay around €16 for a standard ticket.
• Vatican Museums : Admission is approximately €17.
• Uffizi Gallery , Florence: Tickets are around €20.

Museum and Gallery Costs

• General Admission : Typically ranges from €5 to €25.
• Special Exhibits : Additional fees may apply for temporary exhibitions.

Guided Tours and Excursion Rates

• Group Tours : Around €25 to €100 depending on the duration and exclusivity.
• Private Tours : Can exceed €150 for a personalized experience.

City Pass Options to Save on Attractions

• Rome Pass : Starts from €32 for 48 hours, includes free entry to two attractions, and discounts thereafter.
• Venice Card : Various options that can include transport and entry to museums and churches.

Free Activities and Sights

• Pantheon , Rome: No entry fee.
• St. Mark's Square , Venice: Free to visit, though basilica entry has a fee.
• Walking Tours : Many cities offer 'free' walking tours ( tipping in Italy  is not mandatory but expected).

Each of these attractions and activities adds unique insight and value to the Italy trip cost, complementing the overall sightseeing experience.

Daily Budget Estimates

When planning a vacation to Italy, it's essential to establish a daily budget that aligns with your travel style, from budget-friendly to luxurious.

Understanding the range of expenses you’re likely to encounter can help you plan a trip that's both enjoyable and financially feasible.

Budget Travel Daily Cost Estimates

For those looking to explore Italy on a shoestring, budget travel costs on average about $70 per day.

This accounts for frugal meal options, such as local eateries or self-catering, which typically cost around €10 .

Additional daily expenses include modest accommodations, public transportation, and free to low-cost activities.

For instance, a visit to how many days you need in Italy can provide insights into planning a cost-effective itinerary that maximizes the travel experience within a limited budget.

Mid-Range Travel Daily Cost Estimates

Travelers seeking a mid-range experience can expect to spend approximately $150 to $240 per day.

This caters to staying in mid-tier hotels or B&Bs, dining at casual restaurants, and occasionally splurging on a nicer meal, with daily meals averaging $49 (€45) .

Using Italy’s convenient train system that boasts a train station in the country's key points of interest, and partaking in group tours for sights like the Colosseum maximizes a mid-range budget.

Shared expenses with travel companions and wisely chosen local experiences, like those outlined in travel resources, can improve the cost-efficiency of your trip.

Luxury Travel Daily Cost Estimates

For luxury travelers , a day in Italy might cost upwards of $300 . This includes opulent accommodations, fine dining, private tours, and exclusive experiences.

High-end hotels average $272 (€250) per night, though luxury alternatives can be significantly more.

Transportation is likely to be private or premium rentals, and the budget must account for top-tier tourist attraction fees.

Additional Expenses

When planning a trip to Italy, travelers should account for additional expenses outside of the typical categories of flights, accommodations, and food.

These can include shopping, entertainment, and unexpected costs, which can vary greatly depending on personal preferences and travel style.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Italy offers a range of shopping experiences from luxury brands to local markets.

Travelers should budget for souvenirs and gifts, with expenses ranging from a few euros for small trinkets to several hundred for high-quality leather goods or designer fashion.

• Postcards, magnets: €1 - €5
• Leather goods (wallets, belts): €30 - €150
• Designer clothes, luxury items: €200+

Entertainment and Nightlife

The entertainment and nightlife in Italy cost will largely depend on a traveler's preferences. A ticket to the opera or a high-end club can cost significantly more than a casual evening at a local bar.

• Opera or theater ticket: €30 - €150
• Club entry fee: €10 - €30
• Cocktail at a bar: €5 - €15

Travel Insurance

Purchasing travel insurance is advisable as it can cover unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.

Costs can vary widely, but basic plans can start from around €25 and go up with comprehensive coverage and higher limits.

• Basic coverage: from €25
• Comprehensive coverage: €100+

Unexpected Costs

Travelers should always prepare for unexpected costs , such as emergency purchases, additional transport fares, or tips for services.

It's beneficial to have a contingency budget that is around 10% to 15% of the total trip cost to cover any unforeseen expenses.

• Extra travel fares: €10 - €50
• Emergency purchases (e.g., medication, clothing): €5 - €100
• Tips for services (optional in Italy, appreciated for exceptional service): €1 - €5 per instance

Sample Budgets for Italy Vacations

When planning a trip to Italy, understanding the actual costs of potential expenses can help you allocate your budget effectively. Here you'll find sample budgets tailored for different types of travelers to Italy.

Example Budget for a Solo Traveler

Accommodation : Budget options such as hostels start at approximately $50 per night.

Food : Budgeting around $30 a day for simple meals and groceries.

Activities : Setting aside $20 per day to cover entrance fees for attractions.

Transportation : Using a mix of public transport, estimate around $25 per day.

Total Estimated Daily Budget : $125

Example Budget for a Couple

Accommodation : Double-occupancy hotel rooms average about $270 per night.

Food : Dining out for two may cost about $80 per day.

Activities : Approximately $40 daily for tickets and tours for both.

Transport : Couples can budget $50 daily for car rentals or train passes.

Total Estimated Daily Budget : $320

Example Budget for a Family

Considering a family of four and including child-friendly activities, the cost dynamics change.

Information from the guide to family travel in Italy suggests accounting for family accommodations, group transport, and activities that everyone can enjoy.

Accommodation : Family-oriented stays such as vacation rentals may average $270 per night.

Food : An estimated $120 a day to feed a family, with occasional treats like gelato.

Activities : $80 a day for family tickets to attractions and experiences.

Transportation : Rental vehicles or family train tickets could total around $70 per day.

Total Estimated Daily Budget : $470

How to Adjust the Budget for Different Trip Durations

For shorter trips, prioritize the experiences you most desire; transportation and activities can consume a larger portion of your budget.

For extended stays, consider longer-term rentals or rail passes for savings, and capitalize on free attractions to stretch your budget.

• Short Trip (3-7 days) : Aim to spend more on experiences since time is limited.
• Extended Trip (Over 7 days) : Look for cost-saving opportunities and the possibility of cooking meals at accommodations.

Final Thoughts

The cost of a vacation in Italy can vary significantly based on several factors including transportation, accommodation, dining, sightseeing, and shopping preferences.

On average, a mid-range budget traveler spending about $150 per day can enjoy comfortable accommodations when they visit Italy, savor local cuisine, and experience Italy's rich culture and attractions .

For those considering accommodation and dining options, prices will fluctuate based on location and type.

Staying in mid-range hotels or Airbnb and dining at moderately priced restaurants typically keep daily costs within a reasonable range.

Transportation, often by Italy's convenient trains, is a cost-effective and efficient way to explore the country. Group tours can provide affordable opportunities for experiencing top attractions.

An Italy travel budget requires a balance between one's expectations and financial limits , allowing travelers to tailor their experiences to both personal interests and trip budget constraints on their trip to Italy.

Here is a summary of an estimated trip to Italy cost:

• Per-day cost for a mid-range traveler : $150
• Accommodation : Mid-range hotels or Airbnb
• Dining : $$ restaurants
• Transportation : Public trains, rental cars
• Sightseeing : Group tours, ticketed attractions

For travelers flying from Europe and renting a car, daily expenses can be around $240.

Those coming from the US may see this figure rise to $295. It's important to account for these variables when planning an Italian vacation.

Of course, for a more in-depth look at what your trip to Italy can look like, you can take a peek at our Italy vacation packages. lake

You can also contact our team of experts so they can design a bespoke Italy itinerary that accommodates your desires and budget!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should i budget for a one-week trip to italy.

If you're contemplating how much a trip to Italy costs for one week, travelers should anticipate spending on average between $3,229 and $6,977, which allows for a range of accommodations, dining experiences, and sightseeing activities.

What is the estimated cost for a couple traveling to Italy for a vacation?

Couples should budget for approximately $1,225 per person per day, which includes flights, accommodations, food, transport, and entertainment, though expenses may vary based on choices and lifestyle.

Can you break down the expenses for a family of four visiting Italy?

A family of four can expect to spend about $3,229 to $6,977 for a 1-week vacation, which encompasses food, travel, attractions, lodging, and airfare.

What are the typical costs associated with a 10-day Italian itinerary?

For a 10-day venture, travelers should budget for daily expenses of roughly $240 to $295 per person, with the higher end accounting for intercontinental flights and car rentals.

What are the average daily expenses one should expect when traveling in Italy?

Typical daily expenses can amount to around $1,225 per person, which includes a stay at a mid-range hotel, meals, local transportation, and visiting points of interest.

For a month-long stay, what is the overall financial outlay required for a visit to Italy?

Travelers planning a month-long stay can expect considerable variation in expenses, with daily costs averaging $1,225 per person, which would result in a total upwards of $36,750, factoring in all aspects of the trip.

Musings of a Rover

How Much Does A 10 Day Trip To Italy Cost?

Our trip to Italy definitely wasn’t a cheap one. But we were able to save some money.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

So you want to go to Italy but need the answer to this question first: How much does a trip to Italy cost?  I get it. I was there. I know how expensive parts of Europe can be. And though my budget may have adjusted as I’ve gotten older, I’m still very conscientious about my money. And in case you have a similar feeling, I want to help you out.

This article shows every expense for our  10 day trip to Italy.

The expenses broken down below include everything from the moment we got on the plane to the moment we got off it. I’m not including our travel expenses to the airport. But please factor that into your budget.

(Think gas, food, airport food, and airport parking.)

Also note that I converted all Euros to US dollars. But we did luck out and go when the exchange rate was pretty reasonable.

So here it is, the cost for a 10 day trip to Italy for two people: $3,653.82

So read on for the full breakdown to see exactly where all that money went.

Table of Contents

Transportation, accommodation, entrance fees, what was my cost per day in italy, how much should you budget for a trip to italy, how to save money in italy, read next: 10 day itinerary for italy.

How Much Does A Trip To Italy Cost?

• Flights: $1,102.52
• Train Tickets: $559
• Vaporetto Tickets: $39
• Milan Subway Tickets: $7
• Left Luggage: $7

We got fairly cheap flights to Milan (only about $550 per person). But we did spend a lot of time on trains. That price includes tickets for 3 big journeys (Milan->Venice, Venice->Florence, & Florence->Milan). Each of these routes was about $50/person.

Want to know how I score cheap flights? I use Scott’s Cheap Flights ! It alerts you to deals for airports near you. If I’m not using my miles, I’m using Scott’s Cheap Flights.

We also took a day trip to Pisa (~$10 per person per way). And there was the train from Milan Airport to the main train station (~$16 per person per way).

Total Cost for Transportation (for 2 people): $1,714.52

Read Next: Just Two Days: 7 Spectacular Things To Do In Venice

• Venice for 2 Nights: $239.27
• Florence for 5 Nights: $525.94
• Milan for 1 Night: $92.51

We didn’t stay in any hostels this time around. But we roughly tried to stick to a budget of $100/night. As you can see we ended up going over that a little bit. But I ended up really liking all of the places we stayed at.

Our Venice room was incredible and we found a perfect central location.

And our Florence room was so close to the duomo. Less than a 5 minute walk.

Total for Accommodation: $857.72

• Venice: $13 (breakfast and lunch)
• Venice: $134 (dinners)
• Florence: $224 (dinners)
• Florence: $91 (breakfast, lunch, & gelato)
• Pisa: $29 (lunch and snacks)
• Milan: $56.50 (dinner)

Ryan and I love food. But we also know this can be a major expense. So we tried to eat sort of cheaply for a few nights. Both nights in Venice we ate big since we basically skipped lunches. And for two nights in Florence we got pizza or sandwiches.

But what about the nights we ate out in restaurants in Florence? Our average bill was ~$65. This was kept low-ish by the fact that we drank the house wine, ordered antipasti & first courses, and tried to go to places outside of the main tourist zone.

Total for Food (for 2 people): $547.50

• Venice: $41
• Florence: $177

We love to go out for drinks. A glass of wine, a cocktail, a beer. And we went out for something mosts of the nights we were there.

Now we usually only got 1 or 2 drinks, so this is not a budget for a heavy drinker. But this does accommodate a couple of drinks per night.

Total for Drinks (for 2 people): $244

• Venice Campanile: $20
• Venice Doge Palace: $48
• Florence Galleria dell’Accademia (David): $20
• Florence Museo Del Duomo: $36
• Florence Museo Galileo: $22
• Pisa Leaning Tower: $43

Note that all of these prices have been converted to dollars and are for two people. Our two big costs here were the Doge Palace and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The best bang for our buck? The Museo Del Duomo. With this single ticket you get access to 5 attractions – including climbing to the top of the dome.

Total for Entrance Fees (for 2 people): $189

Read Next: My Quest To Find The Best Views In Florence

• More Pasta: $14.50
• Earrings + Magnet: $18
• Limoncello + Spreads: $21.50
• Florence Magnet + Ornament: $14.50
• Pisa Magnet: $2.50
• Tobacco: $6
• ATM Fees: $12.08 (wasn’t sure where to put this, so tacking it on here)

I tried to go easy on the souvenirs this trip and not just buy everything. We got some pasta to bring back home. And I always try to get a magnet or an ornament from the places we go to. But jeez, those pesky ATM fees. See my tips below for ways to combat this expense.

Total for Souvenirs: $101.08

So for one person, my cost was $1,826.91. But if I cut out flights, so that you can see what my cost per day in Italy was while I was actually there.

Total Cost Per Day in Italy (per person): ~$128

And by category. (Though it’s important to realize that these costs per day above are for me alone.)

• Transportation: $30.50 per day (again no flights here)
• Accommodation: $43 per day
• Food: $27.50 per day
• Drinks: $12
• Entrance Fees: $9.50
• Souvenirs: $5

My answer to that question, how much does a 10 day trip to Italy cost? If my descriptions above sound similar to how you like to travel, then I would budget around ~$1,300 + flights.

Or you can think of it as $128 per day + flights if you have a shorter or longer trip.

With flights you can see my total was higher (around $1,800), but costs of flight will vary a lot based on where you are from, that is why I calculated it out separately.

And if you are traveling with another person (as I was), then this is doubled. If you are traveling solo, your cost will be higher as you won’t be able to split accommodation (or food) as much. But for two people, the budget above should give you a good idea of what each person’s expenses could be.

Traveling with another person (if you can) is one of my biggest money saving tips for Italy . The next section below talks about this even more if you’re interested!

Read Next: 10 Day Itinerary for Your Trip to Italy !

1. Eat outside of the tourist zones. It can be hard to find “local” places in Venice or Florence. But there is a big tourist zone in each of these cities. And so we usually went outside of it. That can definitely help if you want to lower some of your food costs.

2. Grab a small breakfast and lunch. This is a big thing we tried to do. We ate very light for breakfast and lunch. A cappuccino or espresso and a pastry. Then we were out and about. For lunch we sometimes just grabbed some cheap pasta or a sandwich to hold us over.

3. Stick to the first courses. These will be cheaper than the second courses. We liked to share an antipasti and then each get our own first course. Plus some house wine.

4. Don’t go out drinking every night. I think this should be fairly obvious. Alcohol is expensive. If you drink a lot, then you should put this in your budget.

5. Bring a reusable water bottle. Especially one that fits in your purse. Buying a plastic water bottle here or there will definitely start to eat into your expenses. Plus it’s better for the environment.

6. Buy your train tickets ahead of time. We did not do this. Since we were traveling in the winter we could just go to the station and get on a train within the hour. But doing this meant that we were definitely paying a bit more for tickets. Buy them ahead of time.

7. Travel with someone. Traveling with someone is huge. You can split accommodation costs. And sometimes meals as well. For most of our dinners, Ryan and I shared an antipasti and then each got our own pasta. Definitely the way to go.

8. Use a bank that will reimburse you for your ATM fees. I have Charles Scwabb and they reimburse me for all ATM fees. Yes all. Even the ones the machine charges. And they don’t charge one of those pesky % fees most banks do if you go to an ATM overseas.

Planning your trip to Italy?

• Here’s  my 10 day itinerary  through Venice, Florence, Milan, and Pisa.
• 7 beautiful things to do in Venice
• Where to find the best views in Florence
• 5 tips for your trip to Pisa

That’s it! Hopefully my expenses above and tips will help you plan your own budget for your trip to Italy!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy something through these thinks, I may earn a commission from the sale (at no extra cost to you!). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for reading along!

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23 thoughts on “ how much does a 10 day trip to italy cost ”.

This article sums it up very nicely. Me & my wife are traveling over to Italy this April and were looking to see how much it would cost. Thank you.

Great! I’m glad you found it helpful! I hope you have a great trip.

My husband and I are looking into going to Italy but we are averaging 100 a person a night for hotel! help!

I think it’s definitely doable. We tried to stick to a $100/night budget. In Venice it was tough, but in Florence we did about $105/night. Depending on the time of year, this budget could be even harder. We went in November so things were cheaper do to the low season.

I would start looking sooner rather than later and be prepared to lower your standards a little or stay a little bit further out from the center.

Thank you for sharing. I’ve been wanting to travel to Italy. I think your information will help me greatly. I do was wondering about all the costs a trip like this would be and every single breakdown of it. ?

Information is very well explained. We both are planning to visit Rome this September. And we will be following your hotels. Regards

Thank you! I hope you have a great trip!

Just starting the planning on our trip. Probably going in about 2 yrs. This makes me hopeful it won’t cost as much as I was told. Do you mind telling me when this trip was? Thanks so much for writing this!

I hope you have an amazing trip! We went the week over Thanksgiving in 2017. Hopefully that helps you!

What’s the weather like in November?

The weather is iffy in November. It can be a very rainy and cloudy month. We lucked out and had beautiful sunny weather for 75% of our trip. November is definitely low season for a reason. We decided to go regardless and take advantage of the lower prices. And if we had rain, we had rain.

If you’re thinking of November, know that there could be rain.

Temperature wise, it was cool fall temperatures. I wore a medium jacket during the day and a heavier one at night. I also live in the south back home, so my idea of cold is not the same as everyone else’s. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold temperatures.

When I went to Italy, we weren’t on a budget at all (perhaps we spent way to much) but it is way easier to spend then to save in Italy. I recommend using a phone app or an online calendar to write down places to go and pricing; Plan it all in advance, and have backup plans in case the weather goes bad or something else happens (museum closure, etc.). Also the shops that look less for tourists are usually cheaper, as the tourist shops raise prices on things. Check out local markets for good deals on souvenirs.

Thanks for the great tips about shops! Definitely agree with you!

Curious – where did you get your flights through? Did you fly out of a major city?

We flew out of Miami (I don’t live in South Florida but we were down there). But I’ve seen some deals through other major cities near me like Atlanta. I use flight sales to plan my trips (and sometimes determine where exactly I go). I signed up for Scott’s Cheap Flights. They have free and paid notifications. Since I fly several times a year, saving sometimes hundreds of dollars on a flight is worth it to me to sign up for the paid notifications. Some cities don’t ever show up (like my Greenville), but I’ve seen ones near me for Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, Charleston (SC), and Atlanta. If you’re interested, I’d sign up for the free Scott’s Cheap Flights and see if your city (or nearby city) ever pops up and then decide if the paid notifications are for you! It’s a great way to find cheap flights!

When was this article written? Very helpful! Thank you

I’m glad you found this helpful! We traveled to Italy over Thanksgiving in 2017.

This was very helpful. Thank you!

What if I add Sorrento and Capri to that list? How many total days would I need? Also is it possible to see most of Florence in 3 days instead of 4?

I think you could definitely do Florence in 3 days. I tend to spend a bit longer in each place than most people. If you want to head to Southern Italy, I’d budget at least a day worth of travel to head to the south (maybe half a day if you’re lucky) and then at least 1-2 full days in each place.

Thanks Laura! I appreciate all the info! planning a trip next year!

Thank you for this post. It was very informative and well written out. Even if I may not follow your exact itinerary (I want to cut Florence and go to Rome), the breakdown helped immensely. I am planning to travel with my husband in October this year and this is going to be very helpful. I have an idea on what to add and what to remove from my budget. Its a marvel you didn’t spend more on souvenirs; I am afraid I may spend more on that. Thanks again for a very clear and concise post.

Couple questions, October would be off-season as well, right? What type of accommodations were you in?

I think October may be considered more fall than winter. So you may have more crowds than we did. But it’s still not the high season (summer).

For accommodations, we stayed in small hotels/guesthouses. So each establishment had less than 10 or so rooms. The rooms themselves were similar to a hotel. For Milan on our last night, we stayed in an Airbnb.

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