When going on vacation, it’s important to know the right verbs to describe all the activities you can do.
In this article, we will explore together the most useful Italian verbs to use during a trip, with practical examples inspired by our trip to the beautiful Andalusian city of Malaga.
Talking about Vacations in Italian
VISITARE (TO VISIT)
Visitare la città [Visiting the city] and the most beautiful places is the Italian translation of English “sightseeing”. This verb indicates the action of going to a place to get to know it, explore it, and admire it. In Malaga, you could visit the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba, or the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
ESPLORARE (TO EXPLORE)
Esplorare i mercatini tipici [Exploring typical markets] means venturing to discover lesser-known places, investigating with curiosity and attention. Unlike “visiting,” which can be more structured, exploring implies a freer and more adventurous approach.
AMMIRARE (TO ADMIRE)
Ammirare i monumenti e le bellezze [Admiring monuments and beauties] means observing with wonder and appreciation something beautiful or remarkable. This verb expresses a contemplative action of aesthetic enjoyment.
PASSEGGIARE (TO STROLL)
Passeggiare per le strade della città [Strolling through the city streets] indicates walking at a slow and relaxed pace, generally for pleasure or leisure. It’s a perfect activity to absorb the atmosphere of a place.
GIRARE (TO WANDER)
Girare tra le bancarelle [Wandering among the stalls] means moving freely in a space, often changing direction. It’s a verb that evokes freedom and discovery, perfect for describing the exploration of markets.
FARE ESCURSIONI (TO GO ON EXCURSIONS)
Fare escursioni [Going on excursions] refers to undertaking short trips or outings, often for recreational or educational purposes. It can include outdoor activities such as trekking or guided tours.
FOTOGRAFARE/RIPRENDERE (TO PHOTOGRAPH/FILM)
Fotografare monumenti, bellezze e paesaggi [Photographing monuments, beauties, and landscapes] means capturing images with a camera or smartphone. Synonyms include “taking photos of” or “recording videos of.”
FARSI UN SELFIE (TO TAKE A SELFIE)
Farsi un selfie… o 100 [Taking a selfie… or 100] is the action of photographing yourself, generally with a smartphone, often including other people or places of interest as a background. It has become an essential activity during travels!
METTERSI IN POSA (TO POSE)
Mettersi in posa [Posing] means assuming a particular body position for a photograph. It can be natural or studied, depending on the desired effect.
FARE POSE ASSURDE/TURISTICHE (TO MAKE ABSURD/TOURISTY POSES)
Fare pose assurde o turistiche [Making absurd or touristy poses] indicates assuming fun, exaggerated, or typically “tourist” positions for photographs, such as hugging Picasso’s statue in Plaza de la Merced in Malaga.
FILMARE UN TIKTOK (TO FILM A TIKTOK)
Filmare un TikTok [Filming a TikTok] means recording a short video for the TikTok social platform, often with music, effects, or choreography. It has become a popular way to document travels.
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FARE UNA COLAZIONE ABBONDANTE (TO HAVE A HEARTY BREAKFAST)
Fare una colazione abbondante [Having a hearty breakfast] means consuming a rich and substantial morning meal. On vacation, people often indulge in more elaborate breakfasts than usual.
PROVARE IL CIBO TIPICO (TO TRY TYPICAL FOOD)
Provare il cibo tipico [Trying typical food] means tasting and enjoying the characteristic dishes of the place you’re visiting. It’s a way to get to know the local culture through gastronomy. In Malaga, for example, we recommend trying the espeto de sardinas (grilled sardines cooked on the beach in a traditional way), gazpachuelo (hot soup based on broth, mayonnaise, and potatoes), porra antequerana (thicker variant of gazpacho), and the delicious Moscatel wine, typical of the region.
But don’t forget to try the food from your own country too… What do you do, pass by an Italian pizzeria and don’t go in? And what about gelato? Won’t you try it?
GIUDICARE IL CAFFÈ (TO JUDGE THE COFFEE)
Giudicare il caffè [Judging coffee] from other countries is a typically Italian activity that consists of critically evaluating the quality of coffee served abroad, often comparing it with Italian standards. This is valid only for Italians… sorry but… Italian espresso is unbeatable!
ANDARE IN SPIAGGIA (TO GO TO THE BEACH)
Andare in spiaggia [Going to the beach] means heading to a coastal area to relax, swim, sunbathe, or do other water activities. Malaga offers several urban beaches.
FARE IL PIENO DI SOLE (TO SOAK UP THE SUN)
Fare il pieno di sole [Soaking up the sun] and vitamin D is a figurative expression that indicates prolonged exposure to the sun, generally to benefit from the positive effects of sunlight on health and mood.
AMMIRARE LE VISTE (TO ADMIRE THE VIEWS)
Ammirare le viste e i paesaggi mozzafiato [Admiring breathtaking views and landscapes] means enjoying particularly beautiful or spectacular panoramas. “Breathtaking” indicates something so beautiful it takes your breath away. If you’re in Malaga, you can’t miss the breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding mountains from the Mirador de Gibralfaro.
FERMARSI A GUARDARE (TO STOP TO WATCH)
Fermarsi a guardare gli artisti di strada [Stopping to watch street artists] means interrupting your walk to observe the performances of artists who perform in public places, such as artists improvising flamenco in Plaza de la Merced in Malaga.
OTHER USEFUL EXPRESSIONS ON VACATION
VESTIRSI A CIPOLLA (TO DRESS IN LAYERS)
Vestirsi a cipolla [Dressing in layers] (literally “dressing like an onion” in Italian) means wearing different layers of clothes that can be removed or added depending on the temperature. It’s a very practical expression for dealing with climate changes during a day of travel.
COMPRARE SOUVENIR (TO BUY SOUVENIRS)
Comprare souvenir [Buying souvenirs] means purchasing typical or characteristic objects as a memento of the trip, to take home some keepsakes. They can be craft objects, local products, or simply tourist memorabilia.
Do you buy keepsakes when you go on holiday? If so, tell us what you like to buy!
SALIRE E SCENDERE LE SCALE (TO GO UP AND DOWN STAIRS)
Salire le scale, scendere le scale [Going up the stairs, going down the stairs] refers to the action of moving up and down stairs, an activity that becomes particularly frequent during a trip, especially when visiting hilly cities or historic buildings.
GIUDICARE GLI OUTFIT (TO JUDGE OUTFITS)
Giudicare gli outfit degli altri turisti [Judging other tourists’ outfits] is an activity jokingly attributed to Italians, which consists of observing and commenting on the clothing of other visitors. I’m sorry, but this is part of the Italian DNA!
OTHER USEFUL VERBS FOR HOLIDAYS
During a trip, we use many other important verbs: prendere (un autobus, un treno, un taxi) [to take (a bus, a train, a taxi)], noleggiare o affittare (una macchina, una bicicletta) [to rent or hire (a car, a bicycle)], viaggiare (in treno, in aereo) [to travel (by train, by plane)], attraversare (la città, un ponte) [to cross (the city, a bridge)], raggiungere (una destinazione) [to reach (a destination)]. For food, in addition to “provare” [to try], we can say assaggiare le specialità locali [to taste local specialties], degustare vini e formaggi [to sample wines and cheeses], gustare la cucina del posto [to enjoy the local cuisine], or concedersi un piatto tradizionale [to indulge in a traditional dish].
And for asking directions? Here are some useful phrases:
Mi scusi, come si arriva a…? [Excuse me, how do I get to…?]
Dov’è il/la…? [Where is the…?]
Può indicarmi la strada per…? [Can you show me the way to…?]
È lontano da qui…? [Is it far from here…?]
And you? What else do you do on holiday? Do you have any funny anecdotes to share? Let us know!
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If you’re traveling in Italy and want to win over an Italian man (or woman), read the article dedicated to phrases for seducing any Italian!
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