90% of Italy travel problems are preventable. The passport that expires in 3 months (Italy requires 6). The credit card that gets blocked for "suspicious foreign activity." The museum that's sold out because you didn't book 2 weeks ahead. The phone with no data because you forgot the eSIM. This checklist — done in 2 hours the week before departure — eliminates every predictable problem. Print it. Screenshot it. Share it with your travel partner. Then go to Italy and worry about nothing except which gelato flavor to choose.
Plan my Italy →☐ Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date. Some airlines enforce this even though Italy technically requires only 3 months. Renew NOW if it expires within 6 months. ☐ Passport COPY — photo on your phone + printed copy in luggage (separate from passport). ☐ Travel insurance purchased. SafetyWing from $45/month. Covers medical, evacuation, theft. Non-negotiable. Why you need it → ☐ EU citizens: EHIC/GHIC card in wallet. ☐ Visa check — US/UK/AU/CA: no visa for stays under 90 days. Other nationalities: check Italian consulate requirements.
☐ Notify your bank/credit card company of Italy travel dates. Otherwise: first transaction = blocked card = ATM refusal at midnight in Trastevere. ☐ Check foreign transaction fees. Many cards charge 2-3% per transaction abroad. Travel-specific cards (Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab) charge 0%. ☐ Get €100-200 cash before departure (airport exchange or bank). Small shops, trattorias, and markets sometimes prefer cash. ☐ PIN for your credit card. Italian card machines sometimes request PIN instead of signature. Know your 4-digit PIN.
☐ eSIM purchased and installed (Airalo/Holafly — install at home on WiFi, activate on landing). ☐ Google Maps: download Italy offline maps (Maps → Profile → Offline maps → select Italy regions). Works without data. ☐ Download apps: FreeNow (taxi), Trainline (trains), Google Translate (offline Italian pack), Moovit (public transport), your airline app (mobile boarding pass). ☐ Portable charger (fully charged). 20,000mAh = 4-5 full phone charges.
☐ Colosseum tickets booked (coopculture.it, 8:30am slot). ☐ Vatican Museums booked (8am entry). ☐ Uffizi/David booked (if visiting Florence). ☐ Borghese Gallery booked (mandatory reservation, 2h timed entry). ☐ First-night restaurant booked (don't arrive hungry at 9pm with no plan). ☐ Airport transfer planned (Leonardo Express €14 or taxi €50 FCO).
☐ Church scarf for shoulders/knees (mandatory at Vatican, every major church). ☐ Comfortable walking shoes (broken in — NOT new). Cobblestones destroy new shoes and ankles. ☐ Refillable water bottle (Rome has 2,500 free fountains). ☐ Universal power adapter (Italy uses Type C/F plugs — the 2-round-pin European standard). ☐ Rain jacket (compact, packable — Italian weather changes fast). ☐ Crossbody bag (anti-pickpocket). ☐ Sunscreen (expensive in Italy — bring from home).
☐ 10 Italian phrases memorized (buongiorno, grazie, scusi, il conto, un caffè). ☐ Cultural differences read (cappuccino morning only, dinner at 9pm, tipping not expected). ☐ Scam guide read (5 minutes that save €100+). ☐ Taxi fixed rates memorized (€50 FCO, €31 CIA).