Is Italy expensive to visit?
Italy is known as both a well-liked and moderately priced destination. It falls roughly in the middle range for overall travel costs. When compared to the rest of Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced country. It places in the top 50% of countries in Europe for its travel costs. This puts it on par with destinations such as Andorra and the United Kingdom.
As this is a very popular country for tourists, you'll find a number of great places in Italy to visit, all at a variety of price ranges. Some of the most expensive places to visit are Positano, Venice, and Portofino. If you're looking for lower cost destinations, you can visit places like Palermo, Piazza Armerina, and Caltagirone.
Average daily price of selected cities in Italy, by affordability
| City | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Portofino | $479 |
| Venice | $322 |
| Positano | $303 |
| Como | $300 |
| Bellagio | $300 |
| Amalfi | $289 |
| Pisa | $278 |
| Rome | $243 |
| Lucca | $159 |
| Imperia | $155 |
| Volterra | $149 |
| Trieste | $145 |
| Caltagirone | $137 |
| Piazza Armerina | $136 |
| Palermo | $132 |
Positano
How expensive is Italy?
The average daily spending amount for tourists in Italy tends to be around $235 (U.S. Dollars). Keep in mind that your travel style, spending habits, and trip length will influence these costs. However, you can keep fairly close to this budget if you opt for moderately priced hotels, dine at economical restaurants, and make use of public transportation when available. See more travel costs for Italy here.
How expensive is a one week trip to Italy?
A one week trip to Italy costs about $1,642 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $3,284.
How expensive is a two week trip to Italy?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a two week trip to Italy costs around $3,284 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a two week trip costs $6,569.
How expensive is a month long trip to Italy?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one month trip to Italy will cost around $7,038 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one month trip would cost $14,076.
Milan, Italy
Is it expensive to backpack in Italy?
Italy is a very popular destination for backpackers, offering an extensive network of over 290 hostels across the country. The average cost for a dorm room in these hostels is approximately $31 per night. (See detailed information on hostel prices in Italy here.) Notably, backpackers often flock to the popular hostels in Rome, Milan, and Florence. If you're looking for budget-friendly options, Milan, Catania, and Pisa has some of the most affordable hostels, averaging $28, $25, and $23 per night. Conversely, you'll find the most expensive hostels on average in Venice, Bologna, and Rome with an average cost of $38, $37, and $35 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Italy.
- $28 for a dorm bed at YellowSquare Rome in Rome
- $41 for a dorm bed at Ostello Bello Milano Centrale in Milan
- $17 for a dorm bed at PLUS Florence in Florence
Where to find affordable hostels in Italy
| City | Number of Hostels | Average Price for a Dorm |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | 52 | $35 |
| Milan | 35 | $28 |
| Florence | 22 | $28 |
| Naples | 20 | $29 |
| Palermo | 11 | $29 |
| Venice | 11 | $38 |
| Bologna | 10 | $37 |
| Catania | 7 | $25 |
| Genoa | 6 | $30 |
| Cinque Terre | 6 | $32 |
| Bari | 5 | $32 |
| Pisa | 5 | $23 |
Are hotels expensive in Italy?
Hotel prices in Italy are moderately priced and fairly even compared to other countries around the world. You can expect to spend about $108 a night for a room on average. Some cities in Italy are more expensive than others, like Portofino, where hotel prices average $576 a night. There are also even more affordable destinations such as Catania, averaging $63 per night for a hotel room.
Where to find affordable hotels in Italy
| City | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|
| Portofino | $576 |
| Positano | $355 |
| Varenna | $280 |
| Bellagio | $212 |
| Amalfi | $183 |
| Rome | $99 |
| Brescia | $71 |
| Pompeii | $71 |
| Piazza Armerina | $70 |
| Caltagirone | $64 |
| Catania | $63 |
Naples, Italy
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Italy?
In Italy, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the country. On average, previous travelers have spent around $31 per day on sightseeing and entertainment.
- Private Tour explore Vulcano Island by Kayak & Coasteering: $176
- Photoshoot Experience in Palermo: $95
- Ghisallo Pilgrimage - Road and E-bike Tour: $200
- Private Tour - City Center: $136
- Farm To table Experience on an organic hilltop estate in Tuscany: $189
- Boat Tour of the Polignano a Mare Coast with Aperitif: $41
- Full-day catamaran tour in Palermo: boat experience with lunch: $201
- Private Walking Tour of the Squares and Fountains in Rome: $225
Is food expensive in Italy?
In Italy, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $89 per day on food, per person.
- Cooking Class in an Italian Family Home : Pasta & Wine near Lecce: $105
- Cooking class in a villa with Palermo view: $136
- Pizza and Gelato Making Experience with Fine Italian Wine in Rome: $117
- Ravioli & Tagliatelle Cooking Class at a Local's Home in Positano: $176
- Milan: Pasta Tiramisu Cooking Class in a Chef’s Home(Small Group): $69
- Make pasta, drink wine. Cooking class with transported included!: $117
Old Town Volterra
Is transportation expensive in Italy?
Local transportation in Italy can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $32 on local transportation per person per day. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
Expenses for intercity transportation within Italy can vary based on the type of transportation used and the distance traveled. On average, previous travelers have spent $70 per person per day for intercity transit. To save money, it's advisable to choose long-distance buses or trains over air travel. This is generally a more cost-effective choice despite the potential increase in travel time.
More for Italy
If you're planning a trip to Italy, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.