Tips for your holiday in Italy
Tips and general information about holidays in Italy
During the many years we have provided holiday homes we have been in contact with many different people, found ourselves in strange situations, given advice on almost everything and have thus become aware of the fact that something which is obviousness for some may be totaly unknown for others.
If you read the following list of tips and general information, you will be better prepared for your stay in one of Danitalias holiday homes. More specific information will be sent before your arrival to the area.
Shopping in Italy
Most of the shops are open from 9.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. and from 04.00 – 08.00 p.m. (normally they are closed Monday morning and Sunday).
The supermarkets are open non-stop but normally they are closed on Sundays.
We recommend you to buy food on Saturdays because groceries are closed on Sunday or bring something with you if you arrive late.
Restaurants in Italy
The opening hours of the shops are normally:
Lunch 12.00 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dinner 7.30 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
(Try to avoid restaurants with “Tourist menus” – they often makes you disappointed!)
It is not necessary with tips in Italy but of course always appreciated. Most of the shops and restaurants accept credit cards, smaller food shops, bars etc. might not.
Post offices in Italy
The General Post Offices are normally open from 8.30 a.m. till 4.00 p.m.
Stamps are generally sold in the so called TABACCHERIA stores that you easily may recognize because of the special sign of a large blue T.
Banks in Italy
In every villages or cities you go, you will find banks with a cash point dispenser which accepts international credit cards.
Banks are usually opened from 8.20 a.m. till 1.20 p.m. and from 2.30 till 3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Currencies and travellers cheques may be changed at banks and exchange offices. Banks charge a transaction fee for exchanging traveller’s cheques and cash and the amount varies from bank to bank. Passports are required for the identification.
Doctors in Italy
In case of emergency, please dial 118 for the ambulance.
Pharmacies in Italy
Pharmacies are opened from 9.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. 4.00-8.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Saturdays it is opened from 9.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m. Displayed outside all pharmacy the address of the nearest chemist on late evening and week end duty.
Trains in Italy
There are several kinds of trains – check before you buy your ticket, in some cases it might be convenient to wait for the next one:
LOCALE – very slow.
DIRETTO – not as direct as it sounds, quite slow!
ESPRESSO – stops at all bigger stations.
RAPIDO – stops only at some of the bigger cities.
SUPER RAPIDO – very fast, connects bigger cities and stops just a few times
When you check the timetable please note that “Feriale” means weekdays and “Festivi” means Sundays and public holidays.
You can use www.trenitalia.it to check the timetable for the whole country on-line. In several languages.
Contact us for advice regarding holidays in Italy. We are a Danish company with offices in Aarhus, Denmark and in Lucca, Tuscany.
“Our mission is to give our customers an authentic experience of the Italian culture and heritage.”
