I've Lived in Italy for 20 Years-These Are the 10 Most Common Mistakes I See Tourists Make

"It's easy to make mistakes as a traveler in Italy, whether it's your first trip or your 15th. Not planning ahead, planning too much, playing it too safe with your dinner order-none of these things will ruin a vacation, but they may leave you missing out on some serendipitous moments or fantastic cuisine. I've lived in Italy for close to 20 years, and I've seen where visitors go astray-and I've made a lot of these mistakes myself, especially early on."

"But venture outside your safety zone, and try foods you've maybe never tried before. In Rome, that might be oxtail or tripe, or something like marinated artichokes. In Tuscany and Umbria, the chicken liver pate on toast ( crostini neri) is a delicious appetizer. Arrosticini (skewered, grilled mutton) are a lip-smacking specialty of Abruzzo. I could go on and on. Bottom line: be an adventurous eater-or at least don't order the same thing every night."

"Especially if you'll be traveling to several different regions of Italy, you could easily encounter wildly varying weather. Summers are blazing hot in most of the peninsula, and there aren't air-conditioned malls you can duck into everywhere. Winter temperatures can reach single digits, and the skies can spit rain for days on end, making outside sightseeing downright miserable. Don't shrug off the weather forecast."

Travelers often miss opportunities by not balancing planning with spontaneity and by repeating safe choices. Embracing regional cuisine broadens the experience; examples include oxtail, tripe, marinated artichokes, crostini neri, and arrosticini. Weather varies dramatically across regions and seasons, so pack layers, prepare for heat or cold, and build schedule flexibility to adapt to rain or temperature swings. Dressing neatly and respectfully improves interactions and fits local etiquette better than gym attire. Small adjustments in eating choices, packing, attire, and itinerary flexibility lead to a richer, smoother, and more enjoyable visit to Italy.

Read at Travel + Leisure