18 Things You Have To Know Before Studying Abroad In Florence Italy

Getting prepared to go off to Florence for a study abroad trip can be overwhelming and stressful. I get it! I'm a Type A college student who was looking for allll of these answers when preparing to go off to study abroad in Florence.

So keep reading if you are looking to know more about how to prepare for a study abroad trip in college for tips on adjusting to the city, what to wear, what to do if you get sick, and everything in between!

Hey, y'all! My name is Isabella, and I’m a college student learning how to navigate adulthood right alongside you! Today, I will give you a full, comprehensive list of 18 Things You Have To Know Before Studying Abroad In Florence Italy!

1. Bring comfort items

Consider bringing a pillow, blanket, and or melatonin. Home sickness is so real!

I've never had much of a problem with being homesick when traveling or away at camp. Still, this time it was different because I knew that going home was neither a convenient option nor realistic, given that I had already paid for the trip.

Some girls traveled with their pillows or blankets. I honestly recommend this, although you will have to weigh the option of it taking up extra space. Since you are studying abroad, the chances are that you are probably staying in a hostel, which is neither very luxurious nor comfortable. This definitely added to my homesickness.

Consider whether this might be something that could help you.

2. Make copies of your passport & student visa & travel insurance

Make both physical copies & electronic copies of your passport and student visa.

Keep a set of physical copies either on your person or in your room. This is a precautionary measure in case your physical documents are lost or damaged.

Additionally, keep a scanned copy of these documents on your phone in a folder, so in case you need them to get student discounts, show authorities, show the border portal, and just in a pinch, they are great to have.

3. Add Italian emergency numbers to your contacts

112 is the Italian equivalent to our 911.

113 is the state police.

115 is for the fire department.

118 is for an ambulance.

4. Be intentional with your purse choices

When preparing for and packing your upcoming trip, be intentional about the purse you choose to bring. Ensure that your purse meets these requirements, as well as any other factors you may need.

The chain is comfortable & will not cause pain when worn for long hours.
It comfortably accommodates your essentials (sunglasses, passport, wallet, medicine, portable charger, etc.).
It is preferably cross-body to prevent the chance of pickpocketing.

My purse, which I had chosen for fashion over function, only fit my wallet and a few small essentials. It would not fit my phone, camera, portable charger, and so on. Day trips to different cities can be long and may require you to carry lots of items with you. So please learn from my mistake and make sure a good, spacious purse is not something you skimp on!

5. Bring your student ID for any STUDENT DISCOUNTS

Some museums or restaurants will offer student discounts. When in doubt about whether they offer them or not, just ask!

6. Be aware of the “coperto charge”

The "coperto charge" is a common charge at upscale restaurants in Italy. The cost can range from € 2 to € 10 per person.

This is a charge that is per person for the service and amenities provided. It includes items such as a covered patio, linens, table settings, bread, cutlery, etc. It is a set fee and it is different than a set tip.

7. Consider a PHONE strap/Lanyard

If you aren’t planning on keeping your phone in your bag at any point when you aren't using it, then I recommend getting a phone strap or lanyard of some kind.

One way that people may pickpocket you is to simply walk up and snatch your phone right out of your hand and run away. It truly happens. In my opinion, the best way to deter this is to have a strap either around your wrist or around your body.

Some are truly fashion forward now, and you will definitely not be the only one wearing one. I thought about buying one that allows you to wear your phone cross-body, but I chickened out because I thought I would look weird. However, I truly wish I had gotten one!

8. Bring Benadryl or melatonin (even if you don’t think you'll need it)

I made the mistake of not bringing anything to help me sleep on the plane or to aid in adjusting to the jet lag. I never have to use melatonin at home, so I decided not to bring it, thinking it was something I wouldn't need.

I definitely wish I had had some for the plane and my first few nights in Florence. I was genuinely unable to sleep for the first 2-3 nights due to homesickness and jet lag. So, learn from my mistake and pack some justtt in case you need it!

9. Consider using Apple Cash

Using Apple Cash is a completely underrated travel hack that I only found out about on this trip!

This allows you to deposit a set amount of money into your temporary Apple card, and then it resets and generates a new card number every day. This prevents people from stealing your credit card information and, in addition, prevents you from having to take your wallet out every time you want to make a purchase, which could make you a target.

10. Register for Step

STEP is the "Smart Traveler Enrollment Program". This registration informs the government of your planned international travel, regardless of its duration.

This is a precautionary measure so that in the event of an emergency, the Department of State can contact or locate you if you need help from the US Government. Additionally, you can opt in to receive emergency messages for your area and the surrounding areas. For example, train strikes, potential terrorist attacks, and more.

11. Understand how to tell if the leather is real or not

Florence is known for its plentiful leather markets. When you spend your hard-earned money on what you think is genuine leather, you want to make sure it's real!

Before visiting the leather markets, take a moment to understand and research how to determine if leather is genuine by its smell, texture, and quality.

TIP: If they hold the lighter up to a leather good to show you that it is genuine leather, make sure they aren't just quickly passing over the leather and/or barely holding the flame on the leather. This is a trick some of them use to pass off fake leather as real.

12. Bring pill-sized zip locks

These disposable pill pouches are amazing! They save a lot of room in your bag and provide a very convenient solution for traveling with medication.

I tried using the small plastic travel medicine container, but I found it took up too much room in my small cross-body purse when traveling. This is a perfect solution!

Shop these disposable pill pouches here for $5!

13. Don't compromise comfortable socks or shoes for fashion

Okay, girls, listen to me on this one: I love all things fashion, especially having a fantastic outfit for each day of your trip. Trust me, I get it. But if there is one thing I have learned from all of the places I have traveled, it is not to sacrifice the comfort of your feet for fashion.

The perfect solution is to find shoes that are both comfortable AND cute! I highly recommend the Dolce Vita brand of shoes for this purpose.

14. Include local transportation in your budget

Train tickets for day trips outside the city will add up, so be sure to allocate some spending money in your budget for this.

For example, a one-way train ticket from Florence to Rome was $60. And that's just one way!

15. dress appropriately when going in religious buildings

More often than not, religious buildings will require you to have your shoulders covered and knees covered for entry.

Plan your outfits ahead of time for the days you will be attending religious institutions.

16. Get some snacks at the Local grocery store for "La Pausa"

What is "La Pausa" you ask? La Pause is a time of rest that is part of Italian culture, when people rest and take time off from work before reopening their stores, typically around or after dinner time.

It typically begins around 2:00 PM and lasts until 4:00 or 5:00 PM. However, it differs for each business according to personal preference. During this pause period, many authentic Italian businesses will close, so I recommend visiting your local Italian grocery store to stock up on snacks to keep on hand.

17. pay attention to who is eating in the restaurants

This is one of the best and most immediate ways to tell if a restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine or not. If it is mainly Americans eating in the restaurant, then you may be at a tourist trap.

But on the other hand, if it is mostly Italians in a restaurant, then that is going. To be one of the best meals on your trip!

It'll be pretty easy to tell because you'll walk in and they'll all be speaking fluent Italian, and probably not speak English very well!

18. Wait to exchange cash until you are in Europe

The exchange rate will be more favorable for USD to EUR once you are in Europe. I recommend waiting until you get there to do this. There are many places where you can do this, such as banks or independent currency exchange centers.

I recommend always keeping some Euros on you. Although you can pay with a card most everywhere, even at the leather markets, some places may give you a kind of sketchy vibe (as if they might try to steal your card information), so I highly recommend using Euros at those kinds of places.