{"id":90078,"date":"2026-02-03T07:53:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=90078"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T09:52:44","slug":"solo-travel-guide-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/solo-travel-guide-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"A solo traveller\u2019s guide to getting the most out of Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With experience of both solo and small-group trips in Italy, Meghan Morrison explains how you can combine the two for the ultimate adventure. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d\u00a0always dreamed of travelling to the Amalfi Coast<\/a> \u2013\u00a0sailing to nearby bays and islands, feasting on plates of bufala\u00a0mozzarella, sipping Aperol spritz at a cliffside restaurant…\u00a0I saw a photo of the stacked terraces\u00a0of the Sorrentine Peninsula\u00a0and imagined myself in it. Beyond that, I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0really know much.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I finally made it to the\u00a0fabled\u00a0coastline on a solo trip to\u00a0Italy<\/a>, the views were everything I’d pictured. But the experience? Not so much.\u00a0I left my passport in my room. And\u00a0accidentally left my laptop under the mattress. Then I missed my ferry to Capri because I had to sprint back (up<\/em>\u00a0400 steps<\/em>) to retrieve said personal items \u2013 and I only discovered that my dream hike (the Path of the Gods) existed after\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0left.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is solo travel in Italy<\/a> doable? Absolutely. Does it get easier once you lean on the locals? No doubt. Are you laughing at me right now? I don\u2019t blame you. But just so you don\u2019t have to make the same mistakes I did, here are the best tips for solo travel to Italy \u2013 no step-sprinting needed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flying solo without fear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s okay to be weary. Not knowing the language, being confused about public transport, not knowing the customs, where to go or when, not knowing if it\u2019s safe, or what to eat \u2013 these are valid concerns. If you have a trip to Italy on your radar and any of these thoughts are racing through your head, you\u2019ve come to the right place.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing anything alone can feel challenging. I have friends who wouldn\u2019t dream of going to the movies solo, let alone a foreign country. But I\u2019ve done it before, I\u2019ll do it again, and I think you should, too.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: 26 totally new Intrepid trips and experiences<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where to go in Italy and when to visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My first trip to Italy was in December. I know, not everyone\u2019s first choice \u2013 but there\u2019s something magical about it. Snow dusts the northern mountains, Christmas markets pop up everywhere, mulled wine flows and the holiday spirit is alive.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to go and when to visit<\/a> really depends on your travel vibe. If you\u2019re craving warm Mediterranean coastlines and days spent in the water, then you should hit spots like Cinque Terre in the Liguria region, Amalfi Coast in Campania or the island of Sicily anytime between May and September. For hiking in the northern Dolomites or wandering central cities\u2019 art-filled streets without the crowds, aim for the shoulder months of March to April or September to October. And if you\u2019re travelling during the busy summer months, teaming up with a locally led small-group trip<\/a> can help you swerve the crowds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably have a checklist of famous spots you want to see. But my favourite moments were in the quiet corners I didn\u2019t even know existed. On my last trip, I travelled with a local leader and small group and found parts of Italy I wouldn’t have discovered on my own \u2013 like the stone city of Matera in the lesser-visited region of Basilicata or the coastal town of Polignano a Mare in Puglia.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On that trip, our leader was from Bari, and experiencing his hometown through his eyes was truly special \u2013 he pointed out his parent\u2019s house from a train, invited us to a private pasta-making class with friends he knew and just generally shared the local culture with contagious joy. Those are the moments you simply can\u2019t get alone.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed, don\u2019t worry \u2013 there’s no wrong way to do Italy. It\u2019s a year-round playground, and with its easy public transport, hopping from one spot to another is a breeze. So, let\u2019s dive into the details.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How keep safe while exploring Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I picked Italy as my first solo adventure for a reason \u2013 it’s generally considered very safe<\/a>, including for solo female travellers like me. Of course, like anywhere, stay aware of your surroundings and watch out for petty crime, but overall, Italy is welcoming and easy to explore.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting around plays a huge part in feeling confident in a new place and luckily Italy\u2019s public transport is good. Coming from the US, travelling somewhere you don\u2019t need a car feels like a superpower. A great way to get ahead is to download the Trenitalia app for up-to-date train info and even buy your tickets directly through it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a young woman, I\u2019m usually cautious about walking around at night \u2013 but in Italy, I never felt unsafe. Italians stay out late, dinner happens between 8 and 10 pm, and there\u2019s almost always someone around, so the streets never feel empty.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, there\u2019s safety in numbers, so if you\u2019re feeling unsure, group trips can help ease those jitters. You can choose when to strike out solo or stick with your new travel friends \u2013 and still enjoy everything Italy has to offer without the stress.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more: 13 new ways to explore Europe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Travelling solo doesn\u2019t have to mean alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just because\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0travelling solo\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0mean you have to be alone. I used to travel strictly solo for the pride of it \u2013 but my first group trip as a solo traveller taught me the magic of sharing experiences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been to Italy both alone and with a group, and my favourite memories are definitely those shared with others. That solo Amalfi trip was memorable… but for all the wrong reasons. Missing the Path of the Gods hike right under my nose broke my heart. However, returning with a small group \u2013 guided by our local leader, Graziano \u2013 made it even more special with the laughs, the shared struggles and celebrating together at the finish line.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group travel lets me unplug. When I travel alone, I\u2019m glued to my phone, navigating, planning, checking maps… But with others, I get to put the phone down and actually soak it all in.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I think back on my solo trips to Italy, what stands out is the pride I felt doing it all on my own. But when I remember travelling with my group of new friends, my cheeks hurt from smiling. Bursting into spontaneous song on the way home from dinner one night (yep, like in a musical), spending the day on a boat off the coast of Capri \u2013 those are the magical moments I never got to experience solo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lean on the locals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I absolutely believe you can figure out the logistics yourself, but why stress when you don\u2019t have to? No one knows the local rhythm like someone who lives there. Having Graziano handle the nitty gritty \u2013 translating, talking to chefs, ordering for the table, steering us away from the crowds \u2013 was a whole lot easier.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were visiting hotspots like Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Rome and Puglia during peak tourist season in June. Yet Graziano somehow navigated us past the crowds \u2013 like the shoulder-to-shoulder human traffic jam in Capri\u2019s main square \u2013 and effortlessly steered us to a quiet picnic spot tucked behind blooming trees so we were completely alone.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we moved from one town to the next, Graziano\u2019s insider knowledge made every stop better with hidden viewpoints and secret corners you\u2019d never find online or in a guidebook. The itinerary wasn\u2019t just a list of sights \u2013 it was a curated adventure shared with strangers that have become lifelong friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Key tips for solo travellers to Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Between my own solo-travel trips and small-group adventures in Italy, I\u2019ve picked up a few tips to help you on your own Italian adventure. Consider this your cheat sheet.  <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n