Traveling to Italy, one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit, doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. There are fantastic public transport links, plenty of free tourist attractions, and no shortage of affordable hostels and Airbnb apartments for you to stay in.
You can comfortably travel around Europe for less than $100 per day, and even that’s assuming you’re going out and spending money on a few attractions and gifts. So if you’ve been thinking about paying a visit to Italy but you’ve been holding back because you’re worried about budget, you’ve come to the right place. Here are just a few of the best options when it comes to budget-friendly travel to Italy.
Budget-Friendly Travel to Italy
1. Go camping
Camping is a fantastic choice when you’re trying to keep costs down because most campsites contain all of the facilities you need at an easily affordable price. If you travel with your own backpacking tents and shelters, you can even combine camping with backpacking to travel cheaply around the country and explore its natural beauty, such as with Mount Etna excursions. All you need is to take a camping tent with you.
2. Pick up some part-time work
If you’re thinking about traveling in Italy as part of a gap year, you can prolong your stay by picking up a little bit of part-time work. There are thriving economies in the majority of the tourist towns, and if you can pick up some work online then that’s going to help, too.
3. Go on a cruise
People tend to think that going on a cruise is more expensive than it is. Even budget travelers can afford to get into the action and to see the country by taking an Italian cruise, and the further ahead you book it, the more money you can save.
4. Take in the culture
One of the best things about visiting Italy is the huge amount of culture and history that’s on offer for visitors to take in. Many of the museums and galleries are either free or work based on optional donations. Even the paid attractions are good value for money considering what they have on offer, like the unforgettable Vatican Museum in Rome or the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. There can also be perfectly affordable ways to explore local food and drink and how they may differ from Italian cuisine back home, such as Italian coffee, which you can learn more about in this documentary on coffee from the region.
5. Take walking tours
Taking a walking tour allows you to see the highlights of any given city for a relatively cheap price, and you’ll also get the benefits of the local knowledge that your guide has to share. If you’re looking to save money, your guide will be able to tell you where to go for a cheap day out, and ultimately, they can pay for themselves if you take a tour on your first day in every city you visit. You’ll walk away with dozens of ideas on where to visit, eat, and drink after a tour.
Conclusion
Now that you know your options for affordable travel in and around Italy, it’s over to you to put what you’ve learned into action. If you haven’t already, take some time to figure out what’s affordable within your budget and don’t be afraid to shop around to make sure you get the best possible deals. Remember to always practice safe travel, even when budget traveling to Italy!
