Black girl in Europe: 13 tips for Solo Female Travel in Italy

I have been to several of the major Italian cities and I cant wait to share all the things that I have learned. The following are my tips and tricks for a Black Girl in Europe. Specifically here are 13 different tips for some solo female travel in Italy.

A Protective Style is Your Best Bet

I’m not saying that you won’t be able to find products for your hair but if you are trying to save space and don’t want to drag a bunch of products around, then I would put in a protective style before you leave. Now, there are certain areas of Italy that have a large African population. Many of them have come from the Northern part of Africa. I found this to be the case in Naples specifically and Southern Italy.

With that being said, if you are finding that you need some products for your hair then I would research where there is a large African population. I was wondering around Greece and stumbled upon an African braiding salon that also had a wall of products that were conducive to African American hair. You can also look into making your own products with Avocado and different oils which are readily available.

Wear Closed Toed Shoes

I get that some people will be going when it is warm. Perhaps closed toed shoes doesn’t go with your outfit. What also won’t go with your outfit is foot infections, broken glass, and dog poop.

I am not going to sugar coat this. When I went to Italy in January, I witnessed several things on the ground that made me glad that I was wearing closed toed shoes. This was especially the case in Naples.

There were several instances where I was finding trash and dog poop all over the place. It is important to take care of your feet. I would have been really concerned if I had of stepped on some glass or got a cut on my foot and had to buy or go without the proper footwear. Just take my advice and walk around in closed toed shoes or be super careful.

Always Stop for Dessert

Dessert is everywhere and you should for sure stop in as many of these places as possible. Now, the desserts are not always the cheapest. I was paying 3-4 Euros for cannolis but it is so worth it.

Every dessert that I had was freshly made. It was so fresh that there were times that I would ask for a nut free cannoli and they would literally just go back and pipe a new one for me. They had chocolate dipped cannolis and everything. Literally, my expectations of cannolis is now very high and I haven’t found a place in America that could live up to the hype.

Also, the gelato is to die for. If eating the gelato would lead to death, it would in all ways be worth it. I spent most of my time walking and really didn’t use public transportation so I felt that every gelato cup was earned. Also, they don’t skimp. They would give you a big ole piles of gelato. It would drip over the sides. Completely drool worthy.

That Extra 10 Euros for the Elevator; Worth it

There are several different tourist sites that require lots of walking and hundreds of stairs. There are several duomos that have hundreds of steps, stone steps, and if you want to see the famous painted ceilings then you are going to have to take the hike.

However, if there is an option to take an elevator then I would take that option if you have health issues or don’t think that you can handle 300-500 straight stairs.

Also, you have to take the stairs down in most cases. The same stairs that take you up, are the same stairs that will take you back down. This means that you will be in close quarters with dozens of people who are also trekking up and down the stairs. This is not the thing for claustrophobic people or anyone who doesn’t want to be a team player.

Racism Can Happen

I would be lying to you if I didn’t tell all of my followers that racism does happen in Europe. It happened to me. Even with that being said, I really don’t think it is something that should be in the fore front of your mind. To me, racism is not the most severe safety issue that you have to worry about.

I only had one instance of racism. A woman tried to refuse to sell me a cannoli. If it wasn’t for another employee coming over and stating that I wasn’t stealing the cannoli, and that it had in fact been given to me, I probably would have just missed out on a dessert.

Racism in Italy isn’t a giant, flag waving, occurrence. It is more subtle than that. It is people not wanting to give you directions. There might be a delay in restaurant service unless you bring it to someone’s attention. It is rude and unacceptable but there are so many kind and wonderful people that I wouldn’t focus on those that are complete crap.

Lines are Long, Get Your Tickets in Advance

This is pretty straight forward. If you can get your tickets to the tourist sites in advance then you can save yourself a lot of trouble. The lines were long and even in the winter it started to get toasty having to wait in the sun.

Try to Go in the Off Season

Going in the off season can save you money. Traveling during the off season or the low season can also save you from a lot of the crowds. This way you will be able to enjoy the tourist sites without having to deal with the masses of people.

Major Cities are Walkable

If you are physically able to walk then I would skip the public transportation and I would instead hit the streets and walk. Not only will you be able to find cool places to eat but I think that you will get a better overall sense of the city.

You Might Have to Pay to Use the Toilet

Jesus, I learned this the hard way. I was waiting for my train and I had been drinking water all day. I went to find the bathroom and found out that I had to pay to go into the bathroom. There is a guard outside and these turn styles that you have to pay before you go in.

You need to have change to be able to use these. If you are a person that has to go to the bathroom a lot then you should make sure that you are prepared. I didn’t have any change and had to wait until I got onto my train to use the bathroom. By the time I got on that train, I legit thought that I was going to die.

Your Train is on Time

I can not stress this enough; be on time for your train. Not just on time, be early for your train. I would be at least 15 minutes early to every train to that you have to take. You can set your watch to the Italian train schedule. It is going to be your most convenient and straightforward way to travel between cities.

I am asking for you to learn from my mistake. I ended up walking through the streets of Florence at about 5 am, with all of my luggage, because I didn’t book a taxi and thought that I would just be able to catch an uber like I did in Rome. Uber is not in Florence. Lets just say I arrived 2 minutes before my train was supposed to leave to find that it had just left the station. Don’t be me.

American Conveniences Will Cost You

You will be able to find a good portion of American conveniences but they come with an additional price. If you really want some sort of special item then you should prepare to pay for it. I will say however that you really should just enjoy Italian items and save your money. If you go to Italy and aren’t impressed with the food and instead find yourself at the grocery store in the American section of the Isle, be ashamed.

The Water is Drinkable

This is an important note because getting a bottled water isn’t always the cheapest. I always had my reusable bottle with me. You can find public fountains in practically all parts of the major cities and the water is drinkable. I am a water snob and I found the water fountains to be clean, well maintained, and the water didn’t taste weird. A great way to save some money.

Public Transportation is Pretty Easy

While I did spend most of my time walking around the city, I took a couple of buses around Rome and several trains to the different major cities. The bus tickets are fairly cheap and it is easy to catch a bus. In addition to that, there are plenty of people who are willing to help you. I also used the underground train in Naples (basically the subway) and it was pretty cheap in regards to money, on time, and fast.

There you have it. My tips and tricks for solo female travel in Italy. I would love to here from a fellow black girl in Europe. Drop a line below.