After committing myself to getting a social life, I took the ultimate challenge: travelling alone in Italy (I use the term “travel” very loosely; actually I’m visiting three places, I have a suitcase and I’m staying at fancy hotels).
You get to a certain age when you and your friends have children and real careers, not the casual type where you can party till 7am and be in work by 7.30am, and it becomes impossible to plan a night out, or day out for that matter. So I realised, if I wanted to visit Italy I was going to have to do it solo! I left my baby behind (cue: massive parental guilt) and decided to fly to Italy; starting out in Milan, traveling down to Florence and then on to Bologna (all on public transport, which is crazy as I don’t usually even use taxi’s at home for fear of being abducted by the driver).
So, if you’re thinking of travlling solo in Italy too; here are a few things you need to know…
Safety first
As you may have already gathered; I am very wary of being abducted by strange men – so travelling alone was well out of my comfort zone. Bu I soon realised that apps are the way forward:
I downloaded an app called Whistle which is basically an attack alarm conveniently hidden within your phone, that you just keep open and shake if you feel in any way threatened. The mum in me, (and a healthy dose of curiosity) decided to give it a go in Milan to see if it worked; I shook the phone and it began to whistle SO loudly that the whole street was staring… but, of course, I hadn’t bothered checking how to turn it off. In a panic, I clicked out of the app…only for it to carry on. So, I double clicked on the home button and closed the app down… nope, didn’t work, it’s still going! By this point I’ve worked myself up into a huge panic trying to play it cool in front of the Italians who are clearly finding my behaviour alarming (pun intended) – so let me lay it down for you right now, you just have to clickt he giant whistle and it stops.
As well as my safety app, I ensured my ‘find a friend’ app was up and running so my nominated friend knew where I was at all times, (tbh this became a little embarrassing because 99% of my time was spent either in church or somewhere eating; making me seem like a food obsessed, religious nut.)
I always carried a battery pack to make sure my phone was charged, not only for safety but Google maps is a lifesaver and means that you will avoid taking a taxi three minutes up the road because you don’t know where you are.
Remember which side of the road the traffic is on
I had picked the perfect outfit, (complete with hat and the most gorgeous espadrilles from Soludos) to wear to arrive at Milan station and I was feeling gorgeous… for all of three seconds. I literally, (and I mean literally) took two small steps outside the station, looked the wrong way for traffic, and stepped out into the path of an oncoming car, who had to slam on the breaks swerve around and me causing two other cars to pull to an emergency stop. It was chaos; you could smell the rubber in the air, and my apologetic looks to not only the driver but the very startled Italian pedestrians totally killed my cool, Queen Bey vibes. So, d as I say and not as I do by making sure you know which way you’re looking. I think it may be from the left. O is itr the right? Christ, I still can’t remember.
While we’re on the subject; make sure you’re also careful in the piazza’s as they’re usually visted by horses and carts. At one point, while trying out an arty-esque 360 video of the square ,a horse actually nearly ran me over – like, it’s head was on my shoulder.
OK, now we’ve got the safety out of the way… let’s get to the good stuff:
Where to travel solo in Italy
Italy is one of the most beautiful, laid back places you can visit solo; but I chose to focus on three major cities:
Travelling Solo to Milan
With Milan being relatively small and compact, everything is super easy to find. Of an evening, the Duomo is utterly amazing – and I recommend enjoying some gelato on the steps while taking in the beautiful views. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is also completely breath-taking, and the perfect place to drink coffee and people-watch.
Travelling Solo to Florence
In florence, I stayed at the most amazing place right in the centre called Porcellino Gallery. I can’t rave about this place enough; with it’s wooden window screens and the most beautiful decor, you could open your window wide up onto an Italian street and just enjoy listening to the world go by. With so many amazing things to see, every time I decided to go somewhere in Florence I would be distracted at least 20 times by hidden streets, quaint shops and gorgeous cafes. My advice? Don’t plan your days too struictly, and instead just let yourself wander. I promise you will find some of the most beautiful sights.
Ponte Vechhio is another must-see for anyone travelling solo in Florence, it’s difficult to explain but if you go you will understand how special it is. Prior to visiting, I’d spent so much time gazing at Instagram pictures of it, that being there nearly made me my heart explode. But do remember; if you want to go inside the huge Duomo Florence, or any of the top museums, you will need to be up early as the queues can take hours. However, if you’re not an early bird and hate waiting, there are still plenty of places to see. Head to the outside gallery at Piazza Della Signoria, or find the little church San Michele which not only has some beautiful views from the top floor, but it’s also completely free with no queues.
I’m not going to lie, but I felt quite smug as I settled for a coffee, (yes another one, honestly I have no clue how the Italian’s ever sleep when the coffee is so good) whilst I watched everyone queuing to go up the Giottos’s Tower.
Last but not least, if you love shopping Florence is the perfect place for travelling alone in Italy. I got some gorgeous handmade, leather bags for just 25 euros each, and have even pre-ordered some more for when my mum visits Florence later this year.
Travelling alone to Bologna Italy
Whilst Milan and Florence are bustling cities, the pace in Bologna is much slower and perfect for solo travellers looking to relax and take int he culture at their own pace. The San Lorenz Express Train is just 10 euros, and takes you right around all the amazing places in Bologna – and you can get off and on to make sure you’re exploring everything the city has to offer in yoru own time.
I would highly recommmend visiting the Sanctuary of Madonna; the views are unreal as it overlooks the whole of Bologna, then enjoying a glass of wine in the Piazza Maggoria (no horses to be seen here, so all safe). Not only is much less busy than the Piazzas in Florence and Milan, but you will find that you can lose hours simply listening to the street musicians and eating good food whilst the world goes by.
And finally… my number one ‘mum’ tip for travelling alone in Italy:
As a mum, solo travel around Italy was tough in places. Me and my boy had never been apart for this long, so both ‘mum guilt’ and anxiety was rife. I was tempted to book him a flight, but past trips to Disneyland put me off. Ultimately, if my little one can be bored and exhausted in the ‘happiest place on earth’, Italy is unlikely to be his favourite place to go. I soon realised that taking him with me would be selfish – after, all, sometimes doing things for ourselves, without out little bundles of joy is ok, for both us and them!!
All in all, there are few things the Italian’s don’t do well. From food to Italian architecture, culture to wine; Italians do it all to the highest standard – and I’ve never said “WOW” so many times in one trip, and for this reason I absolutely love travelling alone in Italy.
