Best time to visit Italy

Italy is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November). During these seasons, the scenery is beautiful, the temperatures are pleasant and there are relatively few crowds. Try to avoid August, as this is the time that most Italians take their vacations, and many shops and businesses are closed as a result.

What to Pack

Although not necessary at all tourist locations, special dress is required at some venues. Some churches and religious sites will not let you enter if your bare back, chest, shoulders and sometimes knees are in view. Other attractions, like museums, also enforce dress codes. Some venues may not admit you if you're dressed-in whole or part-in your bathing suit. It's a good idea for women to bring along a large scarf for these situations if they plan on wearing revealing clothing.

• In general, you'll find days warm and nights cool when you travel Italy, so dress coolly for the daytime and take along a light jacket for evenings. You'll also want to carry an umbrella to shade you from the sun or protect you from rain.

• Walking Shoes (The Italy's centuries-old cobblestone streets were not designed to be gentle to the human tender feet.)

• Sunscreen with high SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

• Sunglasses

• Deodorant is not common in Italy and is very difficult to find, so pack your own ahead of time.

• Anti-mosquito cream / spray.

• Some anti-diarhoea pills too, you will never know how your stomach reacts on olive oil the Italians use at every meal.

• Credit Card (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club, and Eurocard are accepted)

Health Care / Security / Insurance

No vaccinations are required to enter Italy.

Tap water is drinkable in Italy. Water from drinking fountains is safe unless there is a sign "Acqua non potabile". You might see this sign inside trains, camping sites, etc.

Private hospitals and clinics in Italy are very good, but are expensive if you do not have medical insurance.

Shopping in Italy

Whether you are searching for fashion, jewelry, furniture, glass or leather, no expense account is safe when shopping in Italy. The main cities for shopping are the main ones on any travel itinerary: Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence all offer the most prestigious designers and manufacturers in the world.

Milan is without doubt one of the main centers for shopping in Italy and the numerous districts in the city provide nearly every consumer good you could imagine for sale - whether you are looking for high fashion, antiques, furniture or home accessories, shopping in Milan will provide it for you at any price.

The next stop on any Italy shopping tour is Florence. Florence resembles Milan, shopping-wise, as it offers high fashion boutiques and numerous leather shops. Where Florence makes a name for itself, however, is the wide variety of top jewelry, gold and silver goods that defy imagination and budgetary constraints.

Like the city, shopping in Rome is varied. For the most part though, Rome's shops seem to cater to a more egalitarian crowd than the other major cities. The city’s most exclusive and high-end boutiques reside within a stone's throw of the famous Spanish Steps. These shops, like the high percentage of those found in the famous shopping districts of Italy, are designed for the obscenely wealthy. Rome is full of remnants of the past - from the ruins to the art to the ancient cathedrals and town squares – and the shopping is no different, with a vast accumulation of antiques awaiting your perusal. The interminable street of Via del Corso is a focal point of any Italy shopping tour, and contains a number of chic boutiques (and plenty of less-chic ones for the budget conscious) that cater mostly to the vibrant Roman youth. Rome also has the widest selection of neighborhood markets, where you can casually peruse everything from fresh fruit to hand-crafted goods.

Entry Formalities and Italy Visa:

The Schengen visa is issued to Foreign Nationals to travel to the Countries of the European Union that have signed the Schengen Agreement, namely: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).

Visa fees: The Tourist Visa fee is INR3,960.00 which is subject to revise.

"Note: The Embassy of Italy / Consulate Generals of Italy are not under any legal obligation to disclose the reasons for refusal of tourist and business visa applications."

Required Documents for a Italy Tourist Visa on a Package Tour

• Application form fully completed and signed by applicant.

• One recent passport-size photograph (white background)

• Passport having validity of 90 days from date of expiry of visa with 1 blank page, issued within the jurisdiction of the Embassy/Consulate *

• Covering letter from applicant detailing purpose of trip, duration of stay and outlining the travel itinerary as well as the name of the tour operator organizing the trip.

• Tour operator’s letter listing all the visa applicants in the family and their passport number, with detailed itinerary & receipt of services paid and assuring the return of all passengers.

• Overseas medical insurance with minimum coverage of Euro 30,000- with the inclusion of a repatriation flight if required.

• Endorsement of spouse name on passports of husband & wife

• Marriage Certificate or Affidavit stating the civil condition at present

• Foreign exchange endorsement on the passport and receipt or b. Credit card copy along with statement of credit limit.

• Proof of financial position:

  • Letter from employer granting leave

  • Salary slips

  • Income Tax Challans

  • Personal bank statement

• If sponsored by Company then letter from employer confirming:

  • The applicant’s position □ b. Date of employment

  • Sanction of leave

• For minor children (application to be signed by both parents) an approved Leave Application from school is to be submitted.

• In case a minor is traveling unaccompanied or with any one of the parents an “Affidavit” attested by the relevant Home Department (as per their place of Residence) needs to be submitted.

Important:

• If any change has occurred in this regard an adequate proof of residence needs to be submitted (bank account, telephone/electricity bill etc.)

PLEASE NOTE: In case the above documents are found insufficient, the Embassy/Consulate reserves the right to request any other proof of the applicants’ financial status/sources of revenue (properties/investments etc.).

Further more applicants could be requested to appear for interview: At the time of submission, photocopies of all documents to be returned need to be produced. The originals of the documents produced may be requested for totally at the Embassy’s /Consulate’s discretion.

Time required to issue Italy Visa: From 2 working days to 2 weeks. It is advisable to allow plenty of time.