Your insider community for Italy travel planning

Plan your best trip to Italy ever!

Sign up now for free to ask your question: just click the "sign up" button above

We arrive at FCO at 10 am and have an ItaliaRail tickets for 4 pm. Is there a comfortable place to wait at the airport?
FCO is consistently rated among the top European airports and has an extensive shopping and dining area. There are also various areas for charging devices and working. If you are heading to Rome and your train is out of Rome Termini, consider becoming an ItaliaPass member so you can relax in the members-only lounge at the station.

How much do you tip for a private transfer from the airport?
If you book with ItaliaTours, no tip is needed. Book here for our airport shuttle.

What if you have young children without cards?
Children under age 10 ride public transport for free. If your children are 10 or older, you'd need to use a different payment method for each. If you don't have enough cards to tap for each rider, you can purchase paper tickets or use an app such as MooneyGo.

Can you talk a bit about coffee? I usually enjoy iced coffee, is that possible to order?
You can enjoy an iced coffee in Italy. Try ordering caffè freddo (an iced espresso with sugar already added) or a caffè shakerato (a coffee drink with espresso shaken in a cocktail shaker and also pre-sweetened).

My son has Celiac's disease. do you have any restaurant recs for gluten free dining?
Here are several restaurants in Rome that have been certified by AIC, the Italian Celiac Association, which means they offer gluten-free dishes prepared properly to avoid contamination with any other gluten-containing products in the restaurant.

  • Pantha Rei: via della Minerva 18/19 (Pantheon)

  • Mama Eat: via di San Cosimato, 7/9 (Trastevere) | Viale di Tor di Quinto, 21 (Ponte Milvio) | Borgo Pio, 28 (Vatican)

  • Pizza in Trevi: via di San Vincenzo 30-30/A (Trevi)

  • Il Secchio e l'Olivaro: Via delle Sette Chiese 188 (Garbatella), Via del Porto Fluviale 3 (Ostiense)

  • Écru: Via Acciaioli, 13 (Piazza Navona)

  • La Soffitta Renovatio: Piazza Risorgimento, 46/a (Vaticano)

Any tips for battling the Roman Heat during this time of year? (I came in a bit late so sorry if you already covered this)
It's best to avoid walking or generally being out and about during the hottest hours of the day from about 10 am to 2 pm. Make sure you wear sunscreen, a hat, and keep hydrated. Many locals use handheld fans or handheld cooling devices.

What about men - do they need long pants?
For entering St. Peter's Basilica men are required to wear pants that cover their knees. This is also a good rule of thumb for the other major basilicas, however may not be as strictly enforced. It's also generally considered respectful in all churches even though it won't be "policed" as much as at St. Peter's.

I don't drink coffee--can I get tea in Italy?
Yes, you can order hot tea (tè caldo) or iced tea (tè freddo) at the bar. If you order bottled tea, such as Estatè, it will already have sweetener, but if you order iced tea made by the bar, it will most likely be unsweetened.

Do we need to carry our passports for tours?
Yes, you should keep your original passport on you for tours and entry to venues such as the Colosseum. Italian law mandates that non-EU tourists keep their original passport on them at all times in case the authorities ask to see identification.

Where should we store our luggage before our hotel is available?
A great place to store luggage before your hotel is available is at our ItaliaPass Lounge in Rome's Termini station. The lounge is available to ItaliaPass members at no extra charge, all you have to do is book in advance using the link you will receive when you purchase your ItaliaPass membership.

How do you get a taxi from Romi Termini to your hotel? Is there at stand or should we use Uber?
There's a taxi stand in front of the station on the Piazza dei Cinquecento side.

Each passenger needed their own card / ticket for the buses. What about minor children and infants? They certainly don't have their own payment cards.
Children under 10 ride free. Children ages 10 and up require a ticket. It doesn't have to be a contactless payment. You can purchase paper tickets for €1.50 at tobacconists or newsstands or the automatic machines in the subway stations. If you have additional cards that are contactless, you can use them for the children.

We are using Rome Transfer Agency for airport transfer, is that your transfer company?
No, our company is ItaliaTours and this is our Rome airport transfer page.

Can you bring water bottles into the Colesseum, the Vatican, etc?
Yes.

I bought an additional ticket for the tour guide at the Colosseum. Will they provide the guide person?
Without knowing a bit more about what you booked, it's difficult to understand this question. However if you booked a guided tour, the tour guide's ticket is included in the price.

Can we use a copy of our passport?
No, you need to use your original passport.

G
Shelley Ruelle

Hi Marilyn, I'll have one of our traveler experience specialists get in touch with you via email right away, or you can reach out directly to them at [email protected].

G

Hi

Four of us are travelling from Rome to Ostuni on the 3rd of July (the direct one that leaves about 8AM). We are in 2nd class. Each of us will have an airline size-approved carry on as well as a couple larger bags (1 bag per couple)that were checked on the plane. Where do we store this baggage?

Thank you

Shelley Ruelle

Hello and welcome to the ItaliaPass community! For transporting luggage on the train, there are usually racks at the ends of each car where you can store large luggage. For smaller bags there is an open rack over the seats; these often also accommodate small carry-on suitcases. There aren't any particular limits for luggage and it doesn't get checked in or handled by train personnel, you manage your bags yourself.

Have a wonderful trip! Buon viaggio 🇮🇹

G

Hello!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy (our first time) at the end of October and beginning of November. We will be traveling from Basel, Switzerland to Centraldo, spending 4 days in Tuscany, then heading to Rome for another 4 days. During that time, we will be using the train system with excursions to Florence and a tour of Tuscany. Do you recommend purchasing a rail pass or individual tickets ? Is it necessary to purchase additional tickets if purchasing a rail pass?

Thank you very much!

Shelley Ruelle

Hi Julie and welcome to the ItaliaPass community! Individual tickets will work best for your journeys. You can search schedules and pricing at ItaliaRail.com. We look forward to helping you have an amazing trip to Italy. Feel free to drop in here anytime with questions about Italy travel planning. Buon viaggio!

G

We bought train tickets form Naples to Rome and out travel has moved up. We need to change train times. How do I do this?

Shelley Ruelle

Hi Marci and welcome to the ItaliaPass community! An ItaliaRail traveler experience agent can help you make this change. I'll have someone get in touch with you right away via email. You can also contact an agent directly by email at [email protected] or toll-free by phone at (833) 482-5421.

G
🇮🇹
Hit the ground running!

"Ready for Rome" orientation

Join our ItaliaPass community manager and ItaliaPass Primo travel experience specialist for lots of helpful information for visiting the Eternal City. The next webinar is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2025.

ItaliaPass membership is here!

Italy is better with an ItaliaPass membership

Membership is packed with perks: get benefits worth at least $500 and exclusive members-only experiences.