Cheap Italy travel tips

Travel through Italy and you'll experience a blend of the modern industrial Italian nation and the cosmopolitan, mediterranean, passionate vibe of a culture steeped in history.

Italy's famous fashion, culture, architecture, style, food and image will envelop you as you holiday and travel through different parts of the country, but elsewhere you can enjoy its traditional rural ambience.

Wherever you travel in Italy, you won't be far from an historic monument dating back to or before the Roman Empire.

(Read more cheap Italy travel tips ... )

Note: the Italian Prime Minister was replaced in November 2011 due to political pressure stemming from Europe's financial crisis and the Italian parliament has passed tough financial austerity measures to tackle the country's debt. Tourists should be aware that the austerity cutbacks are likely to spark intermittent mass protests in the country. Travellers should monitor the media closely to determine whether social unrest will affect their holiday plans and be aware that Italy is politically, economically and socially tense, as is much of Europe, with uncertainty about the stability of the euro.

Travel prices in Italy have increased over recent years.

Italy travel tip ... as a rule of thumb, travel in Italy is cheaper in the south than in the north.

Hotel rooms and other accommodation prices can be astronomical in northern travel hotspots such as Venice, Florence and Milan.

Holiday travel and hotel prices in Sicily are a little cheaper.

In 2011, a cheap meal in an Italian youth hostel would normally set you back about 10 euros. Out on the streets you can find a decent lunch for 10 to 15 euros while a two course meal with dessert and wine will cost at least 20 euros, normally about 40 euros.

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are mostly expensive, although wine is fairly cheap.

Again, prices are generally higher in the northern cities where it can be a bit more difficult for travelers to find a cheap eatery. Generally, eating out is more pricey in Venice and Milan than in Florence or Rome.

Train and bus travel isn't dirt cheap but it's affordable. As an example, a train trip from Venice to Rome in 2011 costs about 11 euros (buy tickets at www.trenitalia.com).

Cheap Italy travel tips

Hotel prices in most of Italy are fairly expensive. The cheapest one star hotel room you can hope to find, probably in the south of Italy, will cost at least 30 euros per night.

Accommodation prices in the north of Italy are usually about 50% higher.

If you travel in central Italy you can survive on as little as 60 euros per day, but it probably won't be comfortable.

Travel tip ... Monastery Stays provides a great way to cut your travel expenses by staying at monasteries and convent guest houses throughout Italy, offering a unique slice of authentic Italian life in idyllic locations across all regions.

Budget at least another 40 euros per day if you want "luxuries" in your holiday travel such as museums and a respectable restaurant meal each day. Be mindful that many restaurants don't open till 7.30pm and, if you go to a cafe, order your coffee "caldo" - otherwise it'll be lukewarm.

Again, prices are a little cheaper in the south of Italy and more expensive in the north.

Italy travel tip ... be mindful that during the peak holiday season of July and August you'll be faced with more expensive hotel tariffs as Italian holiday-makers and international tourists compete for accommodation.

Italy travel tip ... Italy now has a terrorism law requiring that everybody who wants to use public internet facilities (e.g. cafes) must produce their passport for photocopying and agree to have their web movements tracked. In other words, make sure you have your passport with you if you go to an internet cafe. The same terrorism laws apply to the use of other public communication facilities such as telephone and fax.

Italy's currency has been the euro instead of the lire since the beginning of 2002.

Visa, American Express and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere you travel in Italy. Automatic Teller Machines (called bancomats) which accept credit or debit cards are found even in small towns.

Cheap Rome travel tips guide

Italy's capital of Rome (population 2.7 million in 2011) is a feast of historical monuments from the Roman Empire. The Sistine Chapel is a highlight with Michelangelo's Genesis on the barrel-vaulted ceiling and The Last Judgement on the chapel's end wall.

Rome, said by many to be the most beautiful city in the world, has far too many galleries, churches, ruins, castles, tombs, monuments and museums for even a native Roman to absorb in a lifetime, so tourists can only expect to see a fraction of what's on offer during an average holiday. Be aware that Rome suffers a frequent traffic tangle that challenges all but the most foolhardy of tourists driving a rental car. Many Romans use motorino scooters which tourists can conveniently hire (as well as bicycles) from Bici e Baci at 5 via del Viminale near the train station.

The City of Rome has introduced a new Roma Pass which can help tourists navigate the many ancient artefacts, churches and musuems. The pass cost 25 euros in 2011 and includes three days on public transport, limited free entry without queues, a map of Rome, a city guide and a program of tourist services and events. Alternatively, 24 hour passes cost four euros each in 2011, allowing unlimited public transport around the city for a day.

It's essential while in Rome to visit the enormous Vatican but be prepared for crowds, long queues and laborious security checks. The Vatican crowds are much smaller in winter.

Note that there are formalities required when inside the Vatican ... e.g. don't wear a hat, don't use a flash on your camera and try to be quiet. It's worth taking a magnification lens such as opera glasses so you can see the intimate beauty of the many artworks adorning the ceilings of the Vatican. The Vatican Museums open at 10am but queues often start forming at the doors from 8am (museum entrance 15 euros for adults and 8 euros for children in 2011). Set aside a full day to see the museums, the Raphael rooms, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. An audio guide can be purchased from a desk downstairs near the basilica entrance (seven euros in 2011). It's possible to be with the Pope at his free public group audiences every Wednesday at 10.30am, bookings at the Vatican website.

The "must-see" tourist attractions in Rome are the Colosseum (expect queues as about 20,000 tourists visit each day), the Roman Forum and the Pantheon built more than 1,800 years ago. In 2010, authorities opened up the ancient underground tunnels and cells of the Colosseum (known as the hypogeum and once a stadium for crowds as big as 55,000) which are available for guided tours of up to 25 people at a time.

One of Rome's most popular attractions is the glorious Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762 and located in the heart of Rome's centro storico (historic centre) - although locals have been complaining that the site has become overcrowded and polluted, and the water isn't safe to drink. Legend has it that whoever throws money into the Trevi Fountain will return to Rome and more than 3,000 euro is tossed in every day to be collected and used to subsidise a supermarket for poor people.

Cheap Rome travel guide

Rome is dissected by the algae-ridden Tiber River. In recent years, the city has suffered less smog as tougher emission standards on diesel vehicles have been introduced.

Trastevere was once a working class district but has been transformed to become a vibrant, photogenic neighbourhood of cobbled and winding streets lined with bars, restaurants and cafes. Julius Caesar once owned a villa in Trastevere and it's thought that Cleopatra lived here. Picturesque bridges across the Tiber River link Trastevere to central Rome.

The Campo de' Fiori is an historic piazza square with a landmark statue of astronomer and philosopher Giordano Bruno, who was burnt alive here in 1600 for defying the Catholic Church. The Campo de' Fiori is one of many squares in Rome where people congregate and socialise at night. During the day it becomes a fruit and vegetable market with a delightful range of affordable food for budget travellers and backpackers.

Restaurant and cafe food in Rome's tourist precincts isn't cheap, particularly at the height of the tourist season, but it's still possible to find a filling meal with unlimited bread for less than eight euros in 2011.

If you travel to Rome during summer, you can enjoy the annual festival known as Estate Romana, or Roman Summer, including:

• the Teatro di Marcellow featuring more than 100 concerts
• music and dance events in the grounds of the Villa Doria Pamphili, the Villa Celimontana and the Villa Ada parklands
• the Cosmophonies festival among the ruins of the old Roman port of Ostia Antica
• the International Festival of Latin American Music and Culture at the Ippodrome delle Capannelle on the Via Appia Nouva (a racetrack just to the south of Rome)
• classical music at the Courtyard of Sant'Ivo near Piazza Navona
• the Lungo er Tevere food and music festival on the banks of the Tiber River
• the cinema festival of Isola del Cinema on L'Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island) in the river between Trastevere and the Ghetto
• opera at the Baths of Carcalla
• international stars at the Parco del Musica, or the Auditorium
• theatre and ballet at the Festival Villa Adriano in Tivoli, 30 kilometres from Rome.

Cheap Rome travel tips

Some of the less-known historic ruins in Rome include the Terme di Caracalla, which was once a massive cathedral of bath houses, and the gloomy catacombs beneath Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura. Some of Rome's best classical masterpieces can be found at Palazzo Massimo (1 Largo di Villa Peretti) and a hide-away of the best art galleries can be found in via Margutta.

The frescoed palace of Emperor Augustus on Palatine Hill, one of Rome's famous seven hills, was partially reopened to the public from March 2008. The palace, built in the 1st century BC, has been under restoration since the 1980s. Experts have spent more than 12 million euros restoring the palace's porticoed garden and piecing together frescoes. Groups of up to 10 people are guided through restored areas of the palace.

Legend has it that Rome was founded on April 21, 743BC, by Romulus and Remus - the twin sons of Mars, the god of war. A fun time to travel to the city is during its April birthday, when Romans dress up in ancient clothes and parade the streets. This annual event is known as The Christmas of Rome.

A taxi fare from Rome's Fiumicino Airport into the central city usually costs more than 35 euros and a Leonardo Express train trip (costing about 14 euros in 2011) takes 31 minutes with departures every 30 minutes. Rome's crowded central Termini railway station is within walking distance of much of the city's accommodation and is also a good place to buy affordable fresh meals if you're backpacking on a budget. However, the Termini is noisy, notorious for pickpockets and has some seedy nearby areas.

Dependent upon your home currency, Rome can be fairly inexpensive. For example, in 2011 a coffee with pastry can be bought for 1.5 euros.

Public transport throughout Italy is reliable and reasonably cheap, as are taxis away from tourists areas where hawkers are rife.

Italy travel tip ... just over 30 minutes from Rome is the ancient holiday retreat of Sabina, overlooked by most visitors and tour itineraries but nevertheless one of the most serene, lush and beautiful places in Italy. The district is dotted with vines, olive groves, ruins and medieval towns such as Caperia. Sabina is also ideally located to explore Rome and surrounding regions such as Umbria and Tuscany.

Cheap Italy travel tips

Thousands of years of monumental and architectural history can be seen in different regions throughout Italy.

Tuscany is exceptionally rich and the region boasts a magnificent rolling landscape as well as international culture and art capitals such as Florence.

Tuscany is dotted with luxuriant beech forests, cedars, chestnut groves, vineyards, hot springs, olive groves and villages, some with 3,000 years of architectural and archeological history.

The Tuscan city of Pisa is internationally famous for its leaning tower, which sank into the soft moor ground during its 11th century construction - a fate shared by various other Pisa buildings such as the tower of the San Nicola Church. A major rescue operation has strengthened the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which has been straightened by 36.8 centimetres and is expected to now remain stable for at least the next 300 years. After admiring the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tourists should also visit surrounding buildings such as the Santa Maria Assunta cathedral and the Camposanto, which houses ancient frescoes recovered from bombing during World War II. Holiday-makers in Pisa should also reserve time to visit the Museo delle Opera del Duomo and the Museo delle Sinopie. Of interest, the world's oldest botanic gardens can be admired in the grounds of the city's university.

The only real mountain in Tuscany is Monte Amiata, an ancient 1,734 metre volcano surrounded by medieval villages and lush crops of trees, fruit, grapes and olives growing in rich soil heated by the remaining warmth of the volcano. The mountain is covered by one of Europe's largest beech forests.

Because of its popular beauty, the Tuscan region has in some areas been overrun by tourism, with never-ending coach loads of travellers making it difficult to find rural seclusion or a peaceful cafe. The region's quietest area is well south of Florence, about two hours by car from Rome or Florence past Siena, towards the Val d'Orcia. While the Chianti region between the two major cities is known for its rugged woods and vineyards, the Val d'Orcia has undulating hills carpeted with barley and far fewer trees. Most accommodation in the Val d'Orcia district is on working farms or small village apartments, as there are few large hotels. Val d'Orcia was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004 due to its well-preserved Renaissance beauty. A landmark of the district is the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo, a large Romanesque church dating from the 12th century sitting alone amid the hills, chanting monks drawing crowds several times a day.

Travel through this area can be crowded because it's a tourist holiday hotspot in Italy. In 2008, authorities announced that up to 1,000 tourists a year will be allowed to visit the tiny, famous Tuscan island of Montecristo, 64 kilometres off the Italian coast and 35 kilometres south of Elba. Visits are allowed from August 31 to the end of October each year. For almost 40 years, Montecristo has been preserved as an exclusive nature reserve. Would-be visitors must book years in advance and be prepared to attend environmental lectures the day before their visit.

The Appenine Mountains boast spectacular countryside and a popular tourist target is Verona, considered one of Italy's most beautiful cities. Verona has been described as a small version of Rome and has an ancient amphitheatre, fine piazzas and imposing churches, as well as Casa di Giulietta where Juliet is said to have called to Romeo from her balcony.

About half an hour south of Verona by autostrada is the renaissance city of Mantua, one of the many ancient northern Italian communities nestled into the river valleys and rich alluvial farmland of the Veneto, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. Surrounded by three lakes, Mantua boats sentinel towers above medieval palaces and cobbled passageways from one piazza to another. The city was nurtured for centuries by the Gonzaga family and a strong tourist attraction is their magnificent Ducal Palace, once the largest in Europe. On the other side of Mantua is the Palazzo del Te, draped in sumptuous and erotic paintings by the masters and considered one of the most important Renaissance buildings in Italy.

Travel through Italy provides a choice between the cultured north with its high fashion, refined living and high prices, or the more laid-back, rural ambience of the south.

The lower six regions of Italy are officially known as the Mezzogiorno and this region has 14 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Southern Italy is always less crowded than the north but has a reputedly higher crime rate.

The Puglia region has more than 800 kilometres of coast fronting the Adriatic and Ionian seas, including the Natural Maritime Reserve of Torre Guaceto just north of Brindisi. Puglia is renowned for its stunning beaches, deep seas for diving, comparative lack of tourists, friendly locals and unique homes called the trullo - a rural abode that is basically a whitewashed tepee of limestone slabs stacked without mortar and with a cone roof topped by pagan or religious symbols dating back to the Middle Ages.

Tourists should note that bird flu was first detected in the Puglia, Calabria and Sicily regions in February 2006, with no human infections.

Almost everywhere in Italy you'll find a sun-drenched landscape peppered with fields, grape vines, olives and poplar trees, as has been the case for thousands of years.

Cheap Italy travel guide

The cities of Turin and Milan, about 140 kilometres apart in Italy's north-west, are both wealthy and culturally flamboyant.

Milan is home to 1.3 million people and is a hub for commerce and high fashion. Tourists in Milan should visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie where they can view Leonardo da Vinci's awesome 15th century fresco, The Last Supper (tickets eight euros for 20 minutes in 2011 and book in advance). The focal point of Milan is the Duomo, one of Italy's most imposing Gothic cathedrals which began construction in 1386. Milan is home to one of the world's great theatres, La Scala, which demands a high dress standard. Milan's largest airport is Malpensa, located about 40 kilometres northwest of the city's CBD, with the Malpensa Express train departing every half hour for the 40 minute trip to Milan's Cadorna station. The smaller airport of Linate is closer to Milan but has no train connection, instead providing a bus to the city's main rail hub, Milan Centrale. Local Milan custom is for lunches between 12.30pm and 2.30pm and dinners from 8pm to 10.30pm. Most Milan shops are open from 9.30am to 7.30pm with many closing on Sundays and Monday mornings. All the top fashion labels are centred in Milan, including Gucci, Prada, D&G, Bottega Veneta and Armani, and shoppers after stylish clothing should target the city's annual January sales. Milan boasts Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world oldest shopping arcades which was designed in 1861, took 12 years to build and which has recently been renovated. Traditional Milan dishes include minestrone, breaded veal cotoletto, saffron-flavoured risotto and osso buco, with the local espressos famous for their strength. If you want to see a fairly macabre landmark, visit the chapel of San Bernardino alle Ossa where the walls are crafted from human skulls and bones, the overflow from a local cemetery in the 1200s. Graffiti is a blight on the city's otherwise pleasant landscape.

The 2006 Olympic Winter Games were staged in Turin, drawing tens of thousands of tourists to the north-west of Italy with economic spinoffs for the next few years. Turin was for decades a tourism backwater dominated by the Fiat motor company and sprawling, ugly factories. However, this city of 910,000 people (2011) has been reinventing itself with new hotels, infrastructure and exhibition venues, much under the watchful eye of world-renowned architects. Turin has a French flavour and with its 18 million square kilometres of parkland, 300 kilometres of tree-lined streets, four rivers, grand piazzas and elegant shopping arcades, is a city worth travelling by foot. Turin's 2006 Olympic Stadium is nowadays shared by the city's two football teams, Juventus and Torino. In 2008, Turin was named the first world design capital.

The ancient Roman town of Como, about half an hour's drive north of Milan (50 minutes by train getting off at Como's main station of Como San Giovanni), has long been noted for its warm, comfortable climate. Como is world-renowned for its silk fabrics and has a magnificent cathedral that took 350 years to complete after work began in 1396. Como is a medieval town with a blend of narrow houses, market stalls, bars and trendy boutiques. A drawcard is Como's funicular railway, which rises 700 metres above the city to provide panoramic views of Lake Como and the Italian Alps. The railway is open from 6am to 10pm and a return trip cost 5.10 euros in 2011.

Lake Como, with its backdrop of snow-capped Alpine peaks, is a picturesque body of water with regular public ferries to its numerous shoreside villages. All-day adult ferry tickets cost from 5.50 euros to 22.40 euros in 2011, dependent upon distance travelled. The lakeside town of Bellagio is described in some travel guide books as the prettiest town in Europe. Bellagio has narrow, steep streets, bustling shops and lakeside cafes, and has about 150,000 visitors every year. Other famous lakeside towns include Menaggio, Tremezzo and Cadenabbia. The region enjoys a mild, temperate climate. At 400 metres, the Y-shaped Lake Como is 46 kilometres long and 146 kilometres wide, and is the deepest lake in the region. This glacial lake has long been a magnet for European nobility and global celebrities, and is surrounded by countless spectacular villas, one of the most famous being Villa Balbianello which has featured in various movies including the Star Wars and Bond adventures. Don't expect cheap hotel rates around Lake Como, where George Clooney often holidays at his lakeside villa.

Italy's northern province of Alto Adige borders Austria and has a magnificent landscape and climate. Crumbling castles dot Alto Adige, the farms and villages are picturesque and the locals are more welcoming than elsewhere in Italy. In 2011, some 1.1 million people lived in the province and about 75% speak a German dialect. Apple trees and vineyards carpet the valleys and ridges running up to the snow-capped Dolomite Mountains, and the area attracts few international travellers.

In the north-east corner of Italy is the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, sharing borders and cultures with Austria and Slovenia. This region is where three great European cultures - Latin, Germanic and Slavic - come together, and its history has seen sovereignty among several empires. The Friuli Venezia Giulia is also laced with geological fault lines and a series of earthquakes in 1976 flattened 11 alpine villages with a heavy loss of life. The regional capital is Trieste and picturesque, elevated towns and villages worth visiting include Sauris, Sutrio and Gemona. Many tourists in the region find accommodation within albergo diffuso, scattered apartments and homes that allow an intimate local experience at a reasonable price. The highlands of Friuli Venezia Giulia are cold but ideal for skiing.

The coastal province of Liguria to the south is the so-called Italian Riviera and is overflowing with tourists during summer.

Cheap Naples, Italy travel tips

Naples in the south of Italy is a beautiful city and nearby are ancient sites such as Pompeii. It's worth noting that, in 2004, authorities decided to offer police protection for organised tour parties against teenage gangs in Naples, where juvenile crime rates have been soaring.

Beware of bag snatchers known to cruise the Naples back alleys on Vespa motor scooters. The roads of Naples are a maze and road rules are often treated with disdain.

Naples has slum areas within which there have long been difficulties with garbage disposal. In May 2007, residents started burning their garbage in the streets, fouling the city's air with smoke and the smell of decomposing rubbish.

For the best view of Naples' sprawling metropolis, travel to the hilltop suburb of Vomero - an elite neighbourhood separated from the never-ending hustle and bustle of the city below. Pizzas are an authentic and cheap food source for budget travel in Naples and the cheapest, cleanest and safest holiday travel accommodation can be found in a Christian convent.

While travelling in Naples it's worth visiting the nearby stylish islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida less than 90 minutes away in the Gulf of Naples, particularly if you're fairly wealthy.

Ischia is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples and for more than 2,000 years people have been heading there to take advantage of its therapeutic, mineral-rich volcanic springs. The hot waters contain high levels of mineral salt, sulphur and magnesium, and are said to cure arthritis, asthma, infertility and a host of other ailments. Ischia is a volcanic island dominated by Mt Epomeo and is popular among German tourists in particular. The island is a 45 minute ferry ride from Naples.

The National Archeological Museum in Naples is overflowing with antiquities and is considered one of the best museums in Europe.

Nearby Pompeii (25km to the south-east) allows intimate tourist access to the restored villages and homes buried by the volcano in AD79.

About two hours' drive south of Naples is the Cilento region, one of the most remote parts of Campania and much cheaper than visiting the Amalfi coast. The area is covered by the Cilento National Park, the second largest in Italy, with about 100 kilometres of coastline and a mountainous interior dotted with historic villages and a traditional culture. Towns and villages worth visiting in the Cilento region include Castellabate, Santa Maria di Catellabate, San Marco di Catellabate, Acciaroli, Palinuro and the 13th century settlement of Maratea. Sites worth visiting in the region include ancient Paestum (originally Poseidonia), founded in the 7th century and boasting some of the best preserved Greek temples in Europe, and the sprawling Certosa di San Lorenzo monastery which started construction in the 14th century.

Mt Vesuvius is an active, menacing volcano that last erupted in 1944 and it's well worth walking the crater rim to admire the slumbering, steaming lava pit below. Pompeii usually attracts large crowds of tourists. More than 45 hectares of the city have been excavated and in some spots fully restored. The Pompeii complex opens at 8.30am and closes an hour before sunset with trains from Rome, Naples and Sorrento depositing travellers at the Villa dei Misteri station within 100 metres of the city gates. Trains to Pompeii run direct from the Circumvesuviana railway station beside the central station in Naples. Adult entry to Pompeii in 20 11 was 11 euros. UNESCO figures show the Pompeii ruins are visited by more than 2.6 million tourists every year, although crowd numbers dropped in 2008 partly because of the garbage collection and crime problems that have deterred many visitors from nearby Naples.

Another highly recommended district for travellers is Valnerina, a 70km stretch of valleys forged by the River Nera in the district of Umbria, where hikers on mountainous paths can soak up magnificent views, huge waterfalls, limestone gorges, wildflowers and medieval hilltop fortresses.

Also within the Umbria district is the town of Assisi, famous as the birthplace of St Francis. Assisi is 424 metres above sea level, about 75 kilometres north of Rome and has a population around 6,000. The town, which is spotlessly clean and without graffiti, is pedestrian-friendly and boasts a myriad churches, gift shops, restaurants, bars, art galleries and antique dealers. You'll find plenty of shops specialising in gourmet food, wine, chocolate or olive oil. The town's main square is Piazza del Comune and landmarks include the Basilica of St Francis, which holds his remains. Assisi has many lanes in which to get lost and it's well worth seeing the 15th century colonnade of Piazzale Inferiore di San Franceso. Assisi locals are mostly friendly towards tourists.

Cheap Italy travel tips and tour guide

Italy has five national parks with abundant wildlife and a common Italian preoccupation is skiing or a similar winter sport.

The south, or boot, of Italy is the most sparse and flat but its remote beaches are sandy and pleasant. The Aspromonte National Park in the province of Reggio Calabria on the tip of the southern toe of Italy has few travellers and no hotels.

This southern territory is wild and largely inaccessible but has numerous tourist attractions such as Norman castle ruins, waterfalls and tiny mountain villages forgotten by time. Holiday travel accommodation can be found in private homes. The southern Calabria region is hot and arid yet spectacular and is a neglected tourist area in which you can enjoy a remote Italian adventure where few other tourists have been.

The southern island of Sicily off the toe of Italy also has excellent beaches and glorious scenery, more than 80% of the landscape being mountainous, as well as a unique culture with African undertones. Be aware that the narrow alleyways of Sicily demand a small car and the locals are fairly contemptuous of road rules. A popular Sicilian resort is the coastal town of Taormina, just south of the Straits of Messina with a backdrop of mountains and the smoking volcano Mt Etna perched on the horizon. Mt Etna, which is Europe's tallest volcano at 3,295 metres, rumbled back into life in May 2008 with some minor eruptions hurling ash into the air. There have been spectacular eruptions since 2008 but the region remains safe. Etna covers a huge area and although the volcanic debris resembles an ugly moonscape, it's well worth visiting. You're likely to see huge numbers of ladybirds, which are believed to breed in the lava. Snow often settles on the volcano during winter in sufficient quantity and quality for skiing. A cableway carries tourists some of the way up Mt Etna, which is much easier than trying to walk up the solidified lava. The origins of the nearby town Taormina date back to 400BC and its rulers have been Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards. The town's beaches on the Ionian Sea are spectacular. The town caters for both rich tourists and poor backpackers, offering affordable or luxuriant accommodation for both, and provides a well-located base from which to explore the rest of the 25,460 square kilometre island of Sicily. Taormina can be accessed via highways (autostradas) from Messina to the north and Catania to the south.

The west coast of Sicily has an Arabic culture and is nowhere near as popular for holiday travel as the east coast, which was colonised by the Greeks. Palermo, a former capital of the Normans who invaded Sicily in 1071, is considered the most attractive city in western Sicily with its staple of ornately decorated 18th century houses, palaces and churches - many in decay.

Italy's climate is tailor-made for holiday travel with summer months mostly warm to dry and winters mild.

There are strong regional and latitude differences with the mountainous areas and the north of Italy usually cooler than in the south.

Summers can be hot and dry in southern coastal areas. In Rome, the average January temperature is 7.4C and the average in July is 25.7C.

Tourists cram into most popular holiday spots in July and August.

Italy travel tip ... to avoid the crowds and the hot weather, a more comfortable time to travel is from April to mid-June or in September and October.

Most beaches are pleasant to swim from May to September but just as many are covered with pebbles as sand.

Cheap southern Italy travel tips

Italy's southern landscape is not as picturesque as in the north but boasts unspoiled coastlines and some great beaches.

The stunning Divina Costiera (Divine Coast) harbours ancient and charming fishing towns such as Sorrento, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi. The region's white cliffs and azure waters make this one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations.

The lemon-scented south-east Amalfi coast is one of the world's most dramatic and beautiful. Towns such as Positano and Amalfi are romantic snapshots from centuries past, their steep landscapes making it difficult to build. Positano, with a population of less than 4,000, is a vertical rather than horizontal town and has a charming facade of ice-cream coloured houses. The best time to visit is spring and autumn. Summer dusk lasts till almost 9pm.

The serene, traffic-free town of Ravello has charmed numerous writers, musicians, actors and painters over the years, including Arturo Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence and Greta Garbo.

Italy travel tip ... Probably the cheapest, most secluded and unpretentious town along the Amalfi Coast is Praiano, which has few upmarket hotels and a plethora of cafes and restaurants operated by local families.

The town of Amalfi was once a great naval power but was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1343, and boasts arguably the most beautiful cathedral in southern Italy. Hotel rates in the district are very expensive and the cheapest alternative is a room in a private home for as little as 20 euros per night.

Prices throughout the Amalfi Coast are exorbitant and its best to use buses as the cheapest way to travel the coastal road. The towns of Positano and Ravello are particularly expensive and gauche. A much cheaper alternative destination is the small nearby coastal town of Atrani, home to less than a thousand people but much more authentic than Amalfi.

A popular journey for visitors to the Amalfi Coast is the Grotta dello Smeraldo, a spectacular sea cave to the west of Cape Conca Bay and about five kilometres from the town of Amalfi. The Grotta dello Smeraldo, accessible via a lift down a cliff face, is an immense cavern with cool temperatures, a green subterranean light and stalactites piercing down from the domed roof of the cave - which is 24 metres high, 30 metres wide and 60 metres long. Entry to the cave in 2011 was six euros and a return boat ride to the cave from Amalfi was 14 euros.

In Italy's north-west La Spezia province about 500 kilometres from Rome is the Ligurian coast and its famous Cinque Terre walk between the five villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The Sentiero Azzurro walk along clifftop stone paths provides an intimate look at this magnificent stretch of coastline. The walk will take a full day unless you are very fit and is most enjoyable in autumn or spring. Each of the five picturesque villages has its own character and the Cinque Terre has unique cuisine and wines. The villages can be reached by car or ferry but the cheapest and most convenient way to travel to the coast is via train from Santa Margherita, which takes less than an hour. Various Cinque Terre (meaning Five Lands) cards can be purchased for benefits including the use of shuttle buses, museum entrance and discounts on items in National Park shops. This coastal strip is within Cinque Terre National Park and the entry fee in 2011 was between six and 12 euros per day, dependent upon frequency, weekday or weekend access. You can drive to the Cinque Terre but only Riomaggiore and Monterosso have daily parking available. The villages themselves are all joined by rail with regular hourly trains and a coastal ferry service also calls at each village. There is plenty of accommodation, mostly rental apartments, although there are hostels in Manarola and Riomaggiore and hotels in Monterosso. Many travellers enjoy walking the average 15 kilometres between villages over a week, meandering through stone-walled vineyards and olive groves and stopping in each to relax during the latter part of each day - experienced walkers recommend starting at Riomaggiore and walking north. Manarola, the oldest of the five villages, is set around an ancient gothic church, boasts a clutter of apricot and sun-yellow apartments, and has a quieter ambience than the other villages. Corniglia is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and has a great selection of tiny bars and restaurants. Vernazza boasts a castle perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Monterosso has a slightly more modern character, is dominated by a long coastal boardwalk plus an extensive sand beach, and has more tourists than the other villages. Flat shoes and water are essential for the Sentiero Azzurro walk, which is through fairly harsh terrain. The most difficult section is around Monterosso and Vernazza, where the paths and stairs are narrower and steeper. Plenty of hikers from around the world can be met while walking or resting in the villages, creating a cosmopolitan social vibe. Most of the cafes and restaurants along the Cinque Terre serve delicious local foods. More adventurous hikers can enjoy a 40 kilometre continuation of the Sentiero Azzurro as it winds inland and higher through forest, boasting spectacular views.

Cheap Italy travel guide

The Italian Riviera is a narrow coastal strip running from the French border at Ventmiglia south to La Spezia on the Ligurian-Tuscan frontier. The Riviera is famous for its mild climate, idyllic fishing ports and superb landscape. The major port of the Riviera is Genoa but the most alluring is Portofino, a tiny fishing village with about 700 residents on a rocky promontory carpeted with cypress, pines and palms. More than 2,000 years ago, Portofino was a garrison town for the Byzantine fleet of the Roman Empire, and other rulers have included the Benedictines and the City of Genoa. Portofino has been a recluse for the rich and famous for decades, many at the Hotel Splendido, and the village is expensive.

Nestled on the Ligurian coast is Genoa (spelt Genova in Italy), the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Genoa was the 2004 European Capital of Culture and its historic harbour is still enjoying the infrastructure improvements developed because of that year - including a stylish aquarium said to be the second biggest in Europe. The city's historic La Lanterna lighthouse has foundations dating to 1128 and its existing 77 metre brick tower was built in 1543 at the height of Genoa's maritime history when this republic was a centre of trading, maritime navigation, immigration and merchant banking. Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 and the tiny house where he grew up is now a small museum dedicated to his lifelong adventures near the twin-turreted medieval gate of Porta Soprana. The old portion of Genoa is known as Centro Storico and is a maze of alleyways between tall, historic buildings, many of which are showing their age. The Centro Storico has some seedy areas but in others boasts stunning views and its landmarks include San Lorenzo cathedral and the Church of San Pietro. The old area has an endless assortment of delightful cafes, bakeries, delis, pizzerias, gelaterias and trattorias. The new section of Genoa is called Strada Nouva and a drawcard of this area is Via Garibaldi, lined by magnificent Renaissance palaces such as the Palazzo Tursi, Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco - all three being heritage sites listed by UNESCO which have been converted into museums and art galleries. Also worth visting during your holiday travel in Genoa is Via Balbi, which is home to the city's university and boasts the pink Palazzo Reale palace that is now an art gallery. Other Genoa landmarks include Palazzo Ducale on Piazza de Ferrari and the opera house of Teatro Carlo Felice. If you're into designer shops, elegant boutiques and department stores, your travel destinations in Genoa should include Via Roma and Via XX Settembre. Better known markets around Genoa include Piazza Terralba, Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Palermo.

The glamour island of Capri off Italy's west coast in the Tyrrrhenian Sea is accessed from the mainland town of Sorrento. Budget travellers should make the crossing on the slower but cheaper and more scenic ferry instead of the Capri hydrofoil. The island is just six kilometres long, its eastern half dominated by Capri Town and often swamped by tourists. Anacapri, or upper Capri, is the elevated western half of the island. Capri has a rugged topography of cliffs and chasms, often treacherous, and about three quarters of the island is virtual wilderness. Cars are not allowed with the only transport being porter buggies, taxis and buses. Capri's most colourful square is Piazza Umberto, which is a great place to watch the many rich, famous and "beautiful" people who holiday on the island. A highlight of Capri is the famous Blue Grotto where boats take tourists on 10 minute journeys through translucent caves. The island is very picturesque and dotted with ancient ruins. However, Capri is also a playground for the rich and famous with prices to match.

The central Abruzzo region about 250 kilometres east of Rome extends from the Adriatic, encompassing the rugged Apennine Mountains, and is never inundated with tourists. Abruzzo has vast tracts of untouched national parkland still populated by a small number of brown bears and wolves. Regional towns are often medieval settlements on rocky outcrops and the area is devoid of roadside signs and supermarkets. The mountain slopes are carpeted with olive groves and vineyards, and flocks of sheep fill the paddocks. Majella National Park in Abruzzo (741 square kilometres and 22% wilderness) has 500 kilometres of marked hiking trails covering all levels of difficulty and in winter they can be walked with snow shoes.

Note: An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale devastated the Abruzzo region on April 6, 2009, killing almost 300 people and leaving about 100,000 homeless. The medieval city of L'Aquila was rocked, as were outlying villages such as Onna and Castelnuovo, and about 15,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged. The quake zone was declared a disaster area and tourists in Italy should be aware the region will probably be affected for several years.

If your holiday travel takes you to the east coast of Italy, a treasure trove of sights can be found in the town of Ancona, south of Venice. Without the major tourist crowds and queues of other major Italian cities, you can admire the 12th century Cathedral of San Ciriaco or explore a Roman amphitheatre, a superb archaeological museum and Ancona churches which boast artwork by greats such as Titan.

Italy is at its cosmopolitan best in the north, particularly in the rich regions of Piemonte and Lombardy where the skyline is dominated by mountains, the landscape is picturesque and popular activities are skiing and hiking. The slopes of Monte Rosa, Western Europe's second-highest mountain at 4,634 metres, offer some of Italy's best off-piste skiing. Towns worth visiting in this district include Varallo, Belmonte, Crea, Domodossola, Ghiffa, Oropa and Orta.

In the central north of Italy is the picturesque town of Parma, dating back to 1500BC and now home to about 180,000 people. Worth seeing in Parma is the Piazza della Pilotta which encompasses a concert hall, archeological museum, art school and library.

Cheap Italian travel tips

There are no holiday visa or travel time restrictions on EU, British and Irish citizens entering Italy as long as a valid passport is available. Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders can only travel up to three months in Italy without appropriate paperwork for an extended stay.

Different visas requirements apply to other nationalities.

Italy has reciprocal health services with all other EU countries and with Australia. Vaccinations aren't required but it's worth taking some insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, particularly during summer.

Italy has a socialised medical system which allows almost anyone to walk into a public hospital and be treated or issued a prescription without charge and without the need for travel insurance.

If an injury or illness should disrupt your holiday travel in Italy, the country has well-qualified staff at numerous pharmacies (farmacia) and every town or village has a doctor (medico).

If you're an EU citizen, make sure you have a form E111 so you can get free treatment and cheap medicines while you travel in Italy.

The telephone number for emergency medical assistance is 113.

A 2004 survey by Reader's Digest of 19 European nations found the favourite was Italy, with a majority of Europeans saying it has the best food, the sexiest people and is the country where they would most like to live. Rome and London shared the second highest vote as Europe's favourite city.

As is the want of Mediterranean people, Italians uniformly enjoy a midday siesta ... if you travel through Italy, keep that in mind when you plan your daily timetable.

You might also notice that many people still enjoy an en masse evening stroll.

Cheap Italian travel guide

Catholic family values are the social concrete of Italy and religion remains dominant. Italy has had one of the lowest birthrates in the world since the mid 1990s, many women having one baby at most.

Festivals, traditions and rituals are everywhere, every day, and provide an ongoing choice of destinations and events for tourists to enjoy in cities and towns across the country.

Regional cultures and loyalties remain strong in Italy and there are different income levels, cuisines and dialects in different areas.

The landscape is similarly diverse, most northern regions dominated by the Italian Alps or the Dolomites and the middle spine of Italy comprising the Apennines. The Dolomite mountain range has been dubbed the most beautiful in the world. About 1,300 kilometres of trails through the Dolomites make up what is the largest ski area in the world. A single microchip pass gives access to 450 lifts and 1,200 kilometers of slopes in and around 45 villages. The town of Cortina d'Ampezzo is reputed to be the most beautiful ski centre in Europe (five ski areas with more than 140 kilometres of slopes, almost 50% of which are beginner runs).

Take note that a dialect of German is the language spoken in various villages and towns in the far north of Italy.

To exchange money during your holiday in Italy, the best rate is usually found at banks.

You can also exchange money at hotels or at train station bureaux, but the rate is poor compared to banks.

Most but not all Italian banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 1pm and for an hour in the mid-afternoon.

Cheap Italy transport and travel tips

All tourists have their own preferences but the most convenient way to travel around Italy is by train.

Italian trains are among the cheapest in Europe and are usually efficient, at least in the north of Italy. Make sure you validate your ticket on the platform because ticket collectors often target tourists for fines.

Italy travel tip ... Italy's train service can be a little confusing if you arrive at a station without first reading information about the eight different train services operated by Italian State Railways.

On-the-spot fines are issued if you fail to stamp your ticket at one of the yellow validating machines found on station platforms.

Rail passes such as Eurail might be useful for travel in Italy if you plan lengthy journeys but many tourists report that it is cheaper to buy tickets at the station for occasional trips. The Italian rail system can at times be frustrating for foreigners. For example, advanced bookings are necessary for most major routes but in 2010 there are still difficulties purchasing tickets with many American credit cards and there can be slow queues at railway stations.

A 50% ticket discount applies for children up to 12 and train travel in Italy is free for children under 4.

Several private rail services also operate in Italy using different stations.

Reservations are required or recommended on some of the faster long distance trains, particularly during summer.

Buses, on the other hand, are often slow and unreliable over long distances and in out-of-the-way places where you'd like to travel in Italy.

If you choose to hire a car and travel the countryside on an autostrada, just remember that the one thing demanded by all other surrounding drivers is that you put your foot down and go fast.

The A1 from Rome through Tuscany is regarded by many to be the most picturesque motorway in the world.

It's worth noting that trucks are not allowed on Italy's motorways on Sundays unless carrying perishables, so the traffic flows a little smoother.

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Cheap Italy transport and travel tips

Ferry services are available for all the Italian islands and surrounding countries. Brindisi is a major ferry port in the south of Italy.

Beware that travel services in Italy are often reduced or eliminated on Sundays.

Driving a rental car for your holiday travel in Italy can be enjoyable in regional areas, although most motorways are toll-roads, rental cars and fuel are expensive, and the challenges of driving and parking in major Italian cities can be daunting for inexperienced tourists.

Italians drive on the right and mostly give way to the right.

Keep a close eye on your possessions if you travel through poor areas of Italy as theft can be rampant. If you travel through Italy it will soon become clear that although the people are fastidious about their personal appearance, their environment is often carpeted with litter and graffiti - particularly south of Rome.

Italians have a tendency to speak their minds and make their feelings clear, so be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.

Italy travel tip ... if you're a woman seeking a romantic rendezvous in Italy, it might be worth noting a 2005 survey that found 80% of Italian men aged between 18 and 30 still live with their parents.

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Cheap Italy accommodation and travel tips

Be aware that Italy is a very popular holiday destination for international tourists from around the world so it's advisable to book your hotel room ahead of time, particularly if you plan to travel in Italy during the summer months. In 2011, the Italian Government introduced a tourist tax on hotel stays that adds between two and three euros per night to the bill. Be aware that irons and ironing boards are not provided in Italian hotels so it's worthwhile bringing a travel iron to avoid expensive hotel laundry bills.

Youth hostels are a cost-effective and pleasant way for single travellers to holiday in Italy with cheap accommodation. Keep an eye out for what are known as "agriturismo apartments" as these are much cheaper than hotels and have cooking facilities.

Wherever you travel in Italy, also keep an eye out for cheap rooms in religious convents. For example, normal hotel rooms can cost hundreds of dollars per night in central Rome. But various convents in ideal tourist locations have simple but comfortable rooms at a third the price, although they also have strict curfews varying from 10pm to midnight.

Couples might find double room hotel rates are a better deal and can often save on transport costs because of the more convenient location of hotels.

Most public telephones in Italy have clear written English instructions. It's advisable to buy a telephone card if you intend making a lot of calls during your holiday travel in Italy as coin-operated machines are becoming scarce.

Italian phone tariffs are expensive. Dial 170 if you need an English-speaking operator or 176 for international directories.

Keep your valuables locked away when you travel, wear a money purse, don't wear or display ostentatious wealth, and keep an eye on things like cameras every minute of your holiday travel in Italy.

Italians are reasonably sober drinkers and, as a result, women can travel alone fairly safely in Italy without taking any more precautions than in countries such as America, Britain or Australia.

If you're fit and want a cheap budget holiday in Italy, consider the pilgrim's road to Rome, or Via Francigena, which for centuries has been the route taken by pilgrims across Europe seeking spiritual redemption at the church of St Peter in Rome. The Via Francigena covers about 950 kilometres starting from Bourg St Pierre near Monginevro in the Swiss Alps and on to Rome through historic northern towns such as Ivrea, Pavia, Fidenza, Aulla, San Miniato, San Quirico d'Orcia and Montefiascone. The route takes in dramatic and ever-changing landscapes of alpine meadows, Tuscan vineyards, ancient towns, ruins and tombs. It's best to pre-book accommodation along the route, although many travellers prefer to book on the way so they can linger for as long as they want at different locations to soak up the history or enjoy some rest from the long walk. Christian faith is the motivation for many who walk the Via Francigena but it's a great way to soak up the "real" Italy for anybody with a good pair of boots.

If you wish to walk through Italy's fertile countryside, it's worth noting that it's legal to be on private farmland without asking permission but it's a crime to take anything from the fields such as a grape or a fig.

Italy has an above average risk of terrorist attacks in big cities and tourist areas, although security has tightened markedly since the Madrid train bombings in March 2004.

Industrial action is common in Italy and can disrupt the travel plans of tourists. For advice on planned strike action in Italy, see Summer in Italy.

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