Question 1

How many days do you actually need in Italy?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on where you're going — and that's not a cop-out answer. For the Amalfi Coast alone, you need at least 4–5 days to do it without rushing. Naples needs 2 full days minimum plus extra for day trips. Verona works beautifully as a 2–3 night base for northern Italy. Palermo deserves at least 3 days plus day trips. If you're combining two or three of these, two weeks is the sweet spot. Less than 10 days and you'll spend more time on trains than in places.

Question 2

Is Italy expensive to travel?

Accepted Answer

Less than you'd think — but it depends where and how you travel. Street food in Palermo costs almost nothing. A pizza in Naples is €4–6. The Amalfi Coast, on the other hand, is genuinely pricey — accommodation especially. As a rough guide: budget travellers can do €60–80/day, mid-range is €120–180/day, and the Amalfi Coast in peak season can easily push €250+/day. The south is significantly cheaper than the north.

Question 3

Is the Amalfi Coast actually worth the hype?

Accepted Answer

Yes — but only if you do it right. We drove the coastal road, got genuinely motion sick, and would do it again. The views, the food, the light in late afternoon — it's all real. What isn't worth it: trying to squeeze it into a day trip from Naples in August. Go in May, June or September. Stay at least two nights. The Amalfi Coast after the day-trippers leave is a completely different experience.

Question 4

Is Naples safe for tourists?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and the reputation is wildly overblown. We've been twice and felt completely comfortable both times. The usual rules apply — watch your bag in busy areas, don't flash expensive cameras on mopeds — but Naples is not dangerous. It's loud and chaotic and intense, and some people mistake that energy for threat. Don't. It's one of the most alive cities in Europe and it would be a shame to avoid it because of outdated stereotypes.

Question 5

Do you need cash in Italy?

Accepted Answer

More than in most of Western Europe — yes. Especially in the south. Palermo's street food markets are almost entirely cash. Many smaller trattorias in Naples don't take cards. Always have €40–60 on you. Use a Wise or similar travel card to withdraw at ATMs without fees, and always use bank-affiliated ATMs rather than standalone machines on the street.

Question 6

Do you need to book things in advance in Italy?

Accepted Answer

For spring and summer: absolutely yes, for some things weeks in advance. The Amalfi Coast accommodation books out fast — 3 months ahead in peak season. Ferries between towns fill up. For our destinations specifically: you don't need timed tickets for Palermo's sights, but Verona's Arena and popular Naples restaurants are worth booking ahead. The earlier you sort accommodation on the Amalfi Coast, the better your options.

Question 7

Is Palermo worth visiting or is Sicily overrated?

Accepted Answer

Palermo is genuinely one of our favourite cities in all of Italy — and we don't say that lightly. It's the most culturally layered city on the island, the street food is extraordinary, and it's still undervisited enough that it doesn't feel like a tourist conveyor belt. Sicily as a whole is not overrated at all. It just requires a different pace. Slow down, eat a lot, and don't try to see everything in three days.

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