As you prepare for your trip to Italy, are you sure you’re not forgetting anything? Have you thought about speaking the language? While packing the right clothes and planning your visits to the Colosseum or Venice’s canals are essential, many travelers overlook one of the most valuable tools for enriching their trip – learning basic phrases in Italian.

Although English is widely spoken in tourist areas, relying solely on it can mean missing out on the authentic experiences and meaningful connections that make travel truly transformative. Taking the time to learn even basic Italian phrases before you travel can enhance your travel experience in unexpected ways.

Learning even basic Italian phrases will enhance your travel experience in many meaningful ways. You will be able to navigate daily interactions with more confidence and independence, whether ordering your morning cappuccino, asking for directions to the Vatican Museums, or negotiating prices at the local markets in Testaccio. This self-sufficiency reduces stress and helps you feel more in control of your experience.

Without underestimating how much you and your Italian counterparts can tell each other by looking in the eyes or gesturing, you may want to argue your own case for the better.

From a safety perspective, knowing Italian will help you understand announcements at train stations, read warning signs, and communicate in emergencies. You can better explain medical needs at a farmacia, understand safety instructions at tourist sites, and ask for help when needed.

Language skills also open doors to authentic cultural experiences. You can follow local news, understand cultural references, and participate more meaningfully in community events such as sagre (food festivals). Instead of staying in tourist areas, you can even venture into local neighborhoods, if you want to, and experience daily life as Italians do.

Language lessons may not be free, but in Italy we have a saying: “Chi più spende, meno spende” – the more you spend, the less you spend – and in fact, there’s a practical economic benefit as well: speaking Italian will help you avoid tourist traps and inflated prices. 

Whether you’re shopping in a local mercato or booking a room in an agriturismo, speaking Italian can lead to better prices and more authentic experiences.

From Home to Rome has worked for years with our trusted partner Alessandro Di Mauro, a professional Italian teacher who offers both distance and face-to-face instruction through his company, Italiano Standard.

There’s a difference between learning Italian with a qualified teacher and with a paid app (we won’t name names! but you know who they are!). The difference is the human touch: Alessandro will tailor his lessons not only to your language level, but also to your interests.

 

As a result, you’ll have truly authentic interactions that can lead to insider recommendations, cultural insights into local traditions, and even friendships that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

An incredibly useful feature of the Italiano Standard format  is that you can listen to Italian-language content designed specifically for those who want to make Italian their second language (Alessandro is also a podcaster!). Italiano Standard is also available as a series on the main podcast platforms, with many full episodes for free, whereas the full archive is open only to subscribers on Spreaker and Substack. By engaging with native content, you’ll develop a natural feel for the rhythm and expressions of the language, while building confidence in your comprehension skills.

As mentioned above, Alessandro can start his Italiano Standard route with you remotely and progress to face-to-face meetings while you’re in Rome. Interested? Visit or

email him

directly (make sure to change the [at] to an “@”!).