If you are looking to travel to Italy, here are just a few things I observed and learned during my stay there.

Different Dialects: In my trip there, I caught a few Italian words and pronunciations, and then was told that people pronounce words differently based on if they are from the North or South. Italians may even be bilingual speaking the standard Italian and regional dialect.

You Sit Down to Eat, You Pay Double, or Triple: The most surprising thing that I learned was that you will get charged more if you sit down to eat. Some cafes or restaurants will have the charge of how much it will be based on if you are sitting or standing in a bar. Thinking back, now it makes sense why Italians just buy their coffee to go instead of sitting down.

…Add in the Water Charge: If paying more just for sitting down is not enough, you are also paying for the water. I’m from the U.S. so we know that water is free wherever you go. I asked my aunt why don’t we just order tap water, I don’t necessarily care about the fancy water if it means saving a bit of money. But I guess that’s not an option, at least from what I was told.

I’m sure there may be more charges involved, but these are the both that stuck out to me the most when dining out.

Pickpockets: There are certain places in Italy where I was told to only use crossbody purses and hold my purse close to me. Just be aware of your items and surroundings wherever you go, especially if going to a beach. Have someone stay watching everything and rotate.

Taxis: If you are looking for a taxi in the city, be aware the fare fluctuates. In the U.S. there are Ubers and Taxis, the cost for both depend on the distance, and that is mainly it, unless you need an UberX (more than 4 people). In Italy it is the same way, but there is also an additional fare for luggage, booking fee, night surcharge, and time of day.

Hailing Taxi Cabs: In Italy it isn’t common to put your hand up and have a taxi stop to pick you up. In fact, you would need to call ahead of time and book a time and destination to have them pick you up. There are usually stands where you can also find taxis available.

Let me know below what you think about the lifestyle in Italy and if there is anything else that I missed! I loved my trip to Italy and if you want to know of places to visit, read my blog: Italy: Things to Do.