Survive Italy Like A Local,
8 Tricks For A Better Trip
1. Choose the right time to have your meals
Unless you’re hanging around a highly touristic zona, you should be aware that in Italy, restaurants are either full to the brim or completely empty. You see, Italians are very particular about their eating schedule and follow it religiously. That’s why if you’d like to have a genuine Italian lunch, visit your ristorante or trattoria around noon – that’s the best time to snatch free seats. The same goes for dinner – don’t expect restaurants to be open before seven or seven-thirty.
2. Be aware of the Italian schedule
The knowledge of the Italian schedule is crucial not only when it comes to grabbing a bite at a local trattoria, but for every other thing you might want to do and won’t be able to because everyone, and I mean everyone, will be out having their lunch. Whether it’s a bank, an office or a service point located outside of touristic districts, you will find yourself in a ghost city – all shops closed and not too many cars on the otherwise busy streets. If everyone is munching on their pranzo, why shouldn’t you?
3. Never, ever order a cappuccino after lunch or dinner
This is the single most common mistake that takes a tourist straight from being just another customer to the unwelcome land of the typical tourists, who think they can just stride in, have their meal and then transgress a rule that was in power ever since the first coffee beans arrived at the Venetian harbor. Be respectful of this long-standing tradition and just order an espresso or, if milk is absolutely indispensable, a short macchiato.
4. If you can’t speak Italian, at least learn the gestures
Let’s set one thing straight – most Italians you’ll meet will be happy to help you (unless you’re in Florence, that is), but don’t expect them to speak English. Instead of trying to master Italian – and believe me, it’s way more difficult than Spanish – try to master the Italian gestures and just go with the flow. Italians are excellent communicators and if you read (and mimic) their body language, you might even have a decent conversation. Just don’t ruin it by mentioning Berlusconi!