Planning My First Long Stay in Italy – Looking for Advice

Hey 😊

I’d say it really depends on your budget and what kind of life you’re looking for.

Making friends and integrating? Not really easy. Italians are friendly, but social circles can be quite closed. Knowing Italian can help.

What I like most is the sense of freedom in daily life… less pressure, less “performative” rules about how things should be, more space to just live.

And for preparation—just be ready for surprises 😄 Things don’t always run on strict schedules. Also keep an eye on scioperi (strikes), especially on Fridays and Mondays—they can really disrupt travel plans.

For a truly immersive, authentic Italian life, Bologna or Turin are highly recommended first residences. They offer robust local culture, deep history, world-renowned food scenes, and excellent amenities, yet remain significantly less tourist-heavy and more affordable than major hubs like Rome or Milan.

While younger generations often speak English, basic Italian is essential to truly connect with neighbors, shopkeepers, and understand daily nuances, so start learning Italian before you arrive. You don't need to be fluent, but conversational basics go a long way in showing respect.

My first suggestion is avoid living by a lake as the mosquitoes  and midges can be a big problem. Many comunes spray but there has been incidences of dengue fever and Zika which are not worth the risk in my opinion.

Mountains are cooler in the summer but are in earthquake zones, although infrequent something to bear in mind. Anywhere by the sea will be expensive and long term renting property is difficult to find as more is made from holiday lettings, so moving around may be your best option for accommodation and to explore this wonderful country.

Join in local festivals and food events to meet people as you'll often be sharing a table with locals who will delight in suggesting local foods and wines to try, they're lots of fun and the smaller the town/village the more friendly we've discovered. Most towns have museums as artifacts are often turned up by farmers, lots of towns, Perugia, Orvieto, Chiusi have underground tours of Etruscan and Roman cisterns, rooms and wells A tour under Montipulciano where they now store massive wine barrels is an experience too.

Things like, paracetamol, antihistamines and creams can be expensive as they can only be bought through a chemist, supermarkets do not sell them so pack some. Antibiotics can only be bought with a prescription so get some before you visit if you think you'll need them. If you take medication ensure you bring a Dr's prescription with you for customs and to renew here.

Where ever you travel, stay and explore you will find lots to enthuse and enjoy, you won't be bored for certain.

For a first long stay, I’d start in a city that gives you options before choosing a “forever” place. Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples all work differently, but the first few weeks are easier if you have strong rail links, walkable daily services, and more than one way home at night.

A practical preparation list: book the first 7–14 nights somewhere simple and well-reviewed rather than committing to housing unseen; arrive in daylight if possible; save offline maps for your neighbourhood, station, pharmacy and nearest police/carabinieri office; carry one card and limited cash in your day wallet, with backup cards/documents separate; and avoid handling bags, phone and wallet all at once at stations or crowded bus/tram stops.

For integration, pick a base where you can repeat normal routines: same bar, same market, same language class, same gym/walking route. Familiarity reduces both stress and petty-theft exposure.

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@mlutsdblursyo I’d definitely consider Como, especially if you’re looking for something a little more relaxed than Milan.

It’s obviously smaller and quieter, but that’s actually part of its charm. You have the lake, beautiful scenery, good food and a much slower pace of life... more of that "dolce vita" feeling 😊

At the same time, you’re not isolated at all. Como is really well connected by train, so Milan is easy to reach, and it’s also a great base for exploring other cities in Northern Italy (and even Switzerland) on weekends. And you also have 3 airports nearbz (Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo)

I think this combination is what makes Como particularly interesting for a long-term stay: you can enjoy a peaceful, beautiful everyday life while still having easy access to bigger cities when you want more culture, events, shopping or nightlife. it could be a nice balance if you want to avoid constant rush and stress of a big city like Milan.

As for making friends, I’d say learning some Italian and getting involved in local activities, sports, events or language exchanges definitely helps. Como in mz experience has an active expats base.

@mlutsdblursyo

Hi,

Hope my experience helps.

I only really considered the Liguria area because I don’t like hot weather. In a lot of ways, the coast and climate remind me of California...until summer arrives. Then it starts to feel a little more like Florida, hot and humid. That said, Liguria is probably one of the least humid areas of Italy. I’ve heard that the inland hills of Tuscany and around Florence are drier, but also extremely hot in the summer. I don’t have firsthand experience with that, though.

I recently moved to Savona, and I will say that finding housing here can be very difficult. I stayed for a month in March and April while I was looking. I had a hard time even getting responses from real estate agents. I went from town to town, knocking on the doors of real estate offices, and very few seemed to have anything available for long-term rental. So I genuinely wish you the best with that part of the journey!

As for the people, that has been a very positive experience. I go out every day and try to talk to people, even though sadly I don’t speak Italian yet. The people in Savona make a real effort to communicate with me in English. Some have even apologized to me because they felt their English wasn’t good enough, which completely blew my hair back. Most of the people I’ve met have been incredibly nice, helpful, and very patient.