Italy is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and with good reason. With incredible history, world-famous art and architecture, delicious food and wine, and stunning landscapes, Italy has something to offer every traveler. However, Italy also has a reputation for being an expensive place to visit. While some aspects of travel in Italy can’t be done cheaply, visiting Italy on a budget is very doable with some planning and insider knowledge. In this article we talk about Italy on a Budget In 2024-Affordable Travel Tips for Backpackers.
Getting There
The first big expense for Italy travelers is transportation, especially flights. Luckily, budget airlines have expanded their routes to Italy in recent years, providing cheaper options than major carriers. Airlines like RyanAir, Vueling, EasyJet, and WizzAir offer direct budget flights to major Italian cities from other European hubs. Getting to Italy from North America is more expensive but you can still find cheaper flights, especially in the off-season between October and March. Consider flying into a smaller city like Bologna instead of Rome to save money too.
Once in Europe, trains and buses between countries are very affordable options. Buses tend to be cheaper than trains and companies like FlixBus, Eurolines and Baltour offer direct connections between Italy and cities across Europe. Within Italy, the train system is excellent and inexpensive with most journeys costing under €50 if booked in advance. The Italo train offers cheaper high-speed train tickets too.
Accommodation
One of the easiest ways to save money in Italy is by staying in hostels instead of hotels. Hostel dorm beds can cost as little as €15-20 per night. Private hostel rooms are still much cheaper than hotel rooms at around €50-80 for two people. Hostels also offer free activities like walking tours and pasta nights to meet fellow travelers. Great hostel chains include Ostello Bello, The Beehive, and Plus Hostels, which all have locations in Rome, Florence and other popular cities.
For a more local experience, consider house sitting, homestay networks, apartment rentals or CouchSurfing. Websites like TrustedHousesitters connect travelers with home and pet owners looking for house sitters to watch their property while they’re away. In exchange, the sitter stays for free. Homestay networks like Homestay.com or Airbnb allow you to rent a room in a local family’s home for below hotel prices. Long-term apartment rentals found on sites like Airbnb or VRBO are also good budget lodging options for groups or families, with prices averaging €50-150 per night. CouchSurfing also connects travelers with hosts offering a spare sofa or bed for free.
Eating on a Budget
Italian food is delicious but eating out constantly gets expensive. Luckily, there are ways to enjoy Italian cuisine on the cheap if you know where to look, like pizza al taglio (by the slice) shops, bakeries (panificio), cafés, supermarkets and outdoor markets.
Stop into a pizza al taglio shop for a quick slice of pizza that costs just €1-3. Bakeries offer fresh sandwiches, focaccia and other grab-and-go items for just a few euros. For your morning cappuccino and pastry, check out a local café instead of a tourist-filled restaurant. The price will likely be half as much. Self-catering by shopping at markets and supermarkets like Conad, Coop or Carrefour can seriously cut food costs too. Produce, cheese, bread, meat and other staples are very affordable at alimentari (small neighborhood groceries).
Drinking on a Budget
Italy is world-renowned for its wine and sipping a glass or two at a local enoteca (wine bar) is a quintessential Italian experience. But with glasses of wine costing €5-15 in most tourist areas, wine drinking can quickly drain a budget. Luckily there are ways to enjoy vino without going broke, like hitting up happy hour when drinks are half price, buying a bottle at a grocery store to enjoy as a picnic at a piazza, or looking for wine tastings in rural areas instead of Rome or Florence.
One of the cheapest ways to drink in Italy is by stopping into a café or bar that has happy hour, usually from around 6-8pm. Cocktails and glasses of wine might cost €8-15 regularly but are offered at nearly half price during aperitivo happy hour. Going to a bar with aperitivo spread is an even better option since the drink price includes unlimited access to a buffet of small bites and snacks. So show up hungry to make it a budget dinner!
Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Italy’s iconic cities can get expensive between tickets and tours but there are free and low-cost things to do if you know where to look. Museums and attractions generally have one free admission day per month where entry is waived. For churches and sites like the Roman Forum, entry is free but guided tours are paid. Opt to explore independently instead of a paid tour for these. Public plazas, fountains, churches and historical neighborhoods offer plenty to see in Italy at no cost.
When you do pay for activities and attractions, always check for student, youth or senior discounts. Consider buying city tourist cards like the Rome, Florence, Venice and other city passes which offer free or discounted entry to the top sites, plus free public transportation. Also check sites like Groupon for discounted tickets to museums, galleries, tours and more.
Getting Around
Navigating Italy’s public transportation is essential for saving money as a backpacker. Luckily, regional trains, buses, trams and metro systems in the big cities are excellent and affordable. Purchase passes or book tickets online in advance for the lowest fares. Budget airlines provide cheaper flights between cities and countries if booking far in advance too.
Within smaller towns everything is easily walkable but Italy also has great shared bike systems with the first 30-60 bike rental minutes free. So take advantage to cover more ground while saving your feet. Many hostels also rent bikes for around €10 per day. For longer day trips out of urban areas you can use Italy’s carpool app BlaBlaCar to catch rides with locals for gas share prices.
Stretching your dollar while backpacking through Italy is totally doable by being a savvy traveler – staying in hostels instead of hotels, enjoying picnics and cheap eats from markets instead of restaurant meals, sipping affordable happy hour drinks or supermarket wine instead of paying tourist prices, taking advantage of free attractions and transportation, and more. Using these budget tips as a guide, you can explore bellisima Italia even on a backpacker budget. I hope you find this “Italy on a Budget In 2024-Affordable Travel Tips for Backpackers” article helpful.