How to Travel to Italy in March

March is a good month to travel to Italy because of lower prices and smaller crowds.

Italy is a popular travel destination any time of year. However, March is a good time to travel to Italy, as it it is before the official tourism season (late April through September), so prices will be lower than summer and popular attractions will be less crowded. The weather is a little less pleasant than in summer, but it certainly is tolerable. Expect a bit of rain and cooler temperatures; prepare to wear scarves or light jackets, long sleeve shirts and pants. But, many of Italy's attractions are indoors, so weather does not have to affect your sightseeing too much.

Things You'll Need

• Credit card
• Passport

Instructions

1. Obtain a passport. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid. If it expires in March or April, consider getting a renewed passport before you travel. Apply in early January at the latest to make sure you get your passport by April. Or, you can apply later and pay the additional fee to expedite the passport.

2. Make a list of all the cities and attractions you plan to see. Ask friends or family who have been to Italy what they recommend seeing. Read up about various cities and regions in Italy on websites such as halldis.com or planetware.com. Estimate how long you want to stay in each city.

   Check out local events, such as festivals, occurring in March. For example, every March, Italy has Open Monuments Weekend, when many monuments and museums - several of which are normally closed to the public - open their doors to visitors for free. Dates vary, check Italylogue.com for more details.

3. Book your hotel, hostel or other accommodations such as a vacation rental or house swap. Generally, hotels are less expensive during the week than on weekends, so consider booking the majority of your stay on weeknights. Hostels are generally cheaper than hotels but do not provide the service and privacy you expect from a hotel. You can also book vacation homes or swap houses with private owners through websites such as vrbo.com or homeexchange.com.

4. Book your flight to Italy. Use websites like orbitz.com, cheaptickets.com or the specific airline websites to find the best rate on flights. It is generally cheaper to fly in and out of the same city, so you may need to travel to your arrival city on the last day of your trip to catch your flight home.

5. Book travel between cities. Trains are a popular way to travel from city to city in Italy. If you are visiting several cities, consider purchasing an unlimited train pass for your stay. That way, you can hop on any train at anytime for one price. Purchase the train pass or make train reservations at eurail.com or raileurope.com.

6. Pack for your trip. Be sure to pack clothing for cooler temperatures and comfortable shoes for walking around Italy. Purchase a travel belt or safety pouch for important items such as your wallet and passport to avoid theft while you are abroad. Do not forget your camera, spending money, Italy maps or brochures and all of your travel confirmation numbers and information.

Tips & Warnings

• Start and end your trip in larger cities with international airports, such as Rome or Venice. Cities with international airports have more flight options for you to fly in and out of Italy.

• Travel safely. Be aware of your surroundings, and do not stay out late alone.

References

• Italy Logue: Italy in March
• Italy Logue: Italian Festivals in March