Italy

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General Information

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General Information- Italy

Currency
Euro

Exchange Rate

International Dialing Code
+39

Plugs/Voltage
220V 50Hz

Language
Italian.
Visa information

Embassies

Italian Time

Getting Around

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Getting Around- Italy
To and From Airport
A train runs from Rome-Fiumicino Airport to Termini (Rome's train station) every half an hour. It costs 11 euro and tickets are first-class only, so unless you have a first-class rail pass you have to buy the ticket. As of August 2008, the trains run at 6:22, 6:52, 7:22, 7:52, etc. etc. and leave from Track 1 at both Termini and Fiumicino station.

Around Italy
Train system is very nice, but expensive. If using a rail pass, the "Eurostar" lines will almost always have supplements that you need to pay. (15 euros from Venice to Rome for example) These are not included in the Eurail pass. I don't think they're included in the Interrail pass either but I'm not sure on that point.
TO AVOID SUPPLEMENTS take the "Intercity" or "IC" trains. In my experience they were just as fast and comfortable as Eurostar, but there are less times to choose from. There is a train from Venice to Rome almost every hour of the day; however, the only one that is an IC train was at 1:30pm. Just ask train information which train to take.

To and From Other Countries
Italy is part of the EU, passport checks minimal unless you enter from Croatia or Slovenia since they are both relatively new to the EU. Tons of trains leaving from Milan or Venice for the rest of Europe and if you pass through Switzerland or the Austrian Alps, try to be awake for the beautiful scenery. Also several ferries departing from the Adriatic coast for Croatia and Greece and also ferries to Barcelona (although it's a LONG ferry).

Things to do

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Things to do Italy
Italy has everything you could ever want in life. Unless you crave desert, then you're kinda out of luck. (note: that's the sandy one, not the sweet stuff)
A quick list:
Brush up on your Roman history and architecture, then see everything you just read about and impress your friends with your knowledge of Emperor Claudius.
Spend several days living on nothing but pizza and gelato. Or even just gelato.
Climbing and hiking abound in the Italian Alps.
Spend at least one night on the Spanish Steps drinking and people watching, preferably a night when there's a concert. Bonus: bring a guitar and make your own concert.

Places to go

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Places to go Italy

Following are almost empty (Please help add information)

Piedmonte

Asti

Turin

Liguria

Cinque Terre

Genoa

Lombardy

Lake Como

Milan

Tuscany

Florence

Pisa

Siena

Umbria

Rome

Orvieto

Sicily

Sardinia

Venice

Pompeii

Events

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Events Italy

General Advice/Warnings

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General Advice/Warnings
Oftentimes in Italy, particularly Rome, there are different prices for eating outside, inside, or getting food to go. An outdoor cappuccino is 3 euro, an indoor one is 2 euro, and a to-go cappuccino is 1 euro. Beware when you sit down, you could end up spending way more money than you intended. Also, like lots of places in Europe and probably elsewhere, places with cheap entrees oftentimes have very expensive drinks or sides to compensate.

Make sure to stamp your ticket before boarding trains. There will be a little box near the beginning of the train platform…I found they were usually yellow.