Italy Essentials
The real tools I use when scouting property across Italy
When you start planning a trip to Italy to look at properties, everything feels quite organised at first. Flights booked, towns researched, listings saved...it feels like you're ready.
Then you land.
And you realise pretty quickly that a few small things quietly decide whether the trip feels smooth ... or slightly chaotic.
These are the tools I always end up using when I'm in Italy, scouting properties, trying to find a place to call home.
Italy Begins Here
I usually compare flights before deciding where to begin my trip. Sometimes flying into a different airport makes a big difference. Not just in price, but in how much time you actually get on the ground, especially when I'm heading to places like Puglia.
Flights
Airport transfers
Airport lounges (coming soon)
Airport Transfers
The first moment after landing is usually when things feel a bit chaotic. You’re tired, you’ve got luggage, it may be late at night, and there’s no public transport left while you’re trying to figure out how to get to your base.
I’ve found that sorting an airport transfer in advance gives you peace of mind. It just makes the transition from “arrival” to “actually starting the trip” much smoother, and you don’t spend the next couple of days feeling completely drained from the journey.
Book your airport transfer here → https://tpx.li/UysARt2b
Every trip starts the same way. Finding the right flight, choosing the best airport for the region I'm exploring, and getting from the airport to my accommodation without wasting half a day.
What to think about before flying to Italy
Flight
Where you land in Italy changes the whole rhythm of the trip — sometimes even more than the price of the ticket. If I’m heading to places like Puglia, for example, choosing between Rome, Bari, or Brindisi can completely change how much time I actually spend exploring instead of travelling.
Compare and book your flight here → https://aviasales.tpx.li/riPgOvBX
Staying Connected
eSim (internet)
WhatsApp (communication)
Google Maps
The Quiet Connector: WhatsApp
In Italy, communication rarely lives in emails or formal back-and-forths. It moves through WhatsApp, direct, personal, and immediate.
It’s how I confirm property viewings with agents, coordinate check-in times with hosts, or send a quick note to say I’m running late. Plans shift easily, like a conversation over espresso, and everything stays in motion without friction.
Local Insight: The app runs entirely on data and is completely free to use. Most hosts and local services in Italy rely on it as their main point of contact, so always make sure it’s set up before you land.
Download WhatsApp here → https://www.whatsapp.com/download
The moment the wheels touch the tarmac, the first thing I look for is a signal. Not to scroll or switch off, but to feel grounded again. Maps, messages, directions, the small things that quietly hold the day together while everything around me moves in a beautiful, familiar rush.
The Seamless Welcome: eSim
There is a distinct magic to landing already connected. With a pre-activated eSIM, you step past the airport exit and the world opens up immediately. Maps find your location, messages arrive from home, and directions align seamlessly — no detours to find SIM cards or figure out Wi-Fi.
First thing to set up in Italy
It preserves the peace of your first hour in a new place. Instead of standing in lines to configure your tech, you are already on a train or in a taxi, watching the city rush toward you.
Secure your connection with Airalo here → https://airalo.tpx.li/yhorat9S
The Analog Backup: Offline Maps
There are corners of Italy where the modern world gently fades away. In the deep countryside, down sun-baked limestone alleys, or between rolling hills, cellular signal comes and goes like the coastal breeze.
For these moments, I always download offline maps before leaving. It takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and means the route stays with you even when the network doesn’t.
Tip: Save your destination area on Google Maps before you go: it stays with you all day, signal or no signal.
Download Offline Maps here → https://www.google.com/maps
The Invisible Safety Net
Imagine wandering through Italy, completely immersed in the culture, without a single worry about “what if.” That is the power of a hidden safety net.
I don’t buy travel insurance expecting things to go wrong. I buy it because I value my peace of mind. Travel is unpredictable. Medical emergencies, canceled flights, and lost baggage can happen to anyone, anywhere.
To protect my journey and my wallet, I use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance.
It runs quietly in the background of my life. It gives me the freedom to keep moving forward, knowing that if something goes wrong, it won’t ruin my entire trip. It takes the edge off the unknown, letting the story of my trip unfold just as it should.
Protect your journey here → SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
Getting Around Italy
Once you leave the airport and start moving between towns, Italy changes completely.
Some places are very well connected. Even smaller towns like Monopoli have decent train links, and getting between cities and towns can be surprisingly easy.
But the moment you start looking for the authentic side of Puglia, where country houses are hidden among olive groves and surrounded by nothing but open land, the only thing you really need is a reliable car.
In Italy, this is how I move around
Car rentals
Trains
Renting a car changes the whole experience. You’re not tied to a timetable. You’re moving through the landscape at your own pace. Engine purring, windows down, the smell of the land — and for a moment, even time slows down.
Compare and book your car rental here → https://www.discovercars.com/?a_aid=ExpatTheExplorer
Trains in Italy
Trains in Italy are simple if you plan them right. Cities slide past the window, one into the next. Milan, Rome, Bari, sometimes even small towns in between. You just sit, and the country moves with you.
There’s time to watch it all unfold, without needing to rush it.
And somewhere between stations, the journey becomes part of the experience.
Plan your train journey here → https://omio.sjv.io/rER52R
Car Rental
Most of the places I end up visiting aren’t along train lines. They’re out in the countryside, down small roads, surrounded by trees, nature, and quiet. Nothing here runs on a schedule.
Money Matters
That’s why I use Wise. It simplifies international money management by letting you send, receive, and spend in euros, while holding and managing different currencies — all from a single app.
Instead of relying solely on traditional banks and dealing with high fees or less competitive exchange rates, Wise gives you a straightforward way to manage your money across borders.
The Wise Way to move your Money
If you’re planning to buy property in Italy, Wise can be particularly useful for moving larger amounts of money internationally, helping you avoid unnecessary costs when transferring your funds.
A simple, convenient way to manage your money wherever life takes you.
Comming Soon...
Whether you’re paying for a vacation rental, enjoying dinner at a local trattoria, or sending money back home, managing multiple currencies quickly becomes part of everyday life in Italy.
Where I Stay
For me, the ideal base has easy parking, good road access, and makes it simple to explore the surrounding area. Because driving around Italy can be an adventure in itself — unexpected one-way streets, narrow lanes, confusing signs, and the occasional road that seems to lead absolutely nowhere!
After a long day of driving around in the Mediterranean heat, I also want the basics to work: good air conditioning, reliable Wi-Fi, and somewhere quiet to sleep. These might seem like small details, but after a busy day, they make a huge difference.
And if you’re staying for several nights, don’t just choose the cheapest option. Paying a little more for the right location can save you hours of driving and give you much more time to actually enjoy the place you came to see.
Sometimes, the best place to stay isn’t the one with the lowest price, it’s the one that gives you the freedom to explore.
Wandering through Italy has taught me that where you stay is never just about having a room for the night, it can shape the whole experience of your trip.
When I’m exploring Puglia, looking at different towns or searching for properties, I pay just as much attention to where the accommodation is located as to the accommodation itself.
Speaking Italian
And once you get outside the big tourist destinations, English isn’t always guaranteed. When you’re dealing with estate agents, tradespeople, landlords, shop owners, or even just ordering something in a small local café, being able to communicate in Italian can make a real difference.
I’m still learning myself, but one thing I’ve realised is that even knowing a few more words and phrases makes a difference. It gives you a little more confidence in everyday situations and helps you connect with people beyond the usual tourist experience.
You don’t need to speak perfect Italian. Even making the effort can change the way people respond to you.You just need enough to start the conversation.
One of the most beautiful gifts you can give yourself before spending time in Italy is learning even a little of the language.
You don’t need to become fluent, but knowing a few basic phrases can completely change the way you experience the country. Even a simple “Buongiorno,” “Grazie,” or “Parla inglese?” can make everyday interactions feel much easier.
I’ve also found that people often respond differently when you make the effort to speak their language. It opens the door to more natural conversations and helps you feel less like a visitor and more connected to the place.
Experience Italy
There’s a big difference between visiting Italy and actually experiencing it.
If you’re coming here to explore a region, don’t spend your whole trip rushing from one famous attraction to the next. Give yourself time to wander through smaller towns, stop at a local market, sit down for a coffee, and have a meal somewhere away from the tourist crowds.
Some of my favourite moments in Italy haven’t been the big sights at all. They’ve been the unexpected ones — discovering a little café, watching a town come to life in the morning, getting lost down a quiet street, or simply sitting in a piazza and taking it all in.
But if you’re craving a little more adventure, there are plenty of ways to experience Italy beyond simply sightseeing, from wine tastings and cooking classes to boat trips, guided tours, and outdoor adventures.
Sometimes, the best way to discover a place is to actually get involved in it. Sometimes, the best way to discover a place is to actually get involved in it.
Because before you choose a home in Italy, you need to experience the life around it.
And if you’re considering moving to Italy or buying a property here, I think this is even more important. Don’t just look at houses. Experience the place you might actually call home. Visit at different times of day, explore the local markets, try the restaurants, and imagine what an ordinary Tuesday here would feel like.
When a Holiday Starts Feeling Like Home
A week becomes a month. A favourite café becomes your café. Somewhere along the way, the holiday begins to feel like something more.
Thinking about staying a little longer?
→ Explore my Relocating to Italy Hub
Finding the right place takes time
Not everything is clear at the beginning, and that's the part of it.
Some things only make sense as you go.
→ You can always come back to the places and see what feels different.