A long-stay arrival is different from a normal holiday landing — more luggage, an unfamiliar new address, and no hotel concierge to help. Here's how to plan it properly.
Arriving in Italy for a multi-week or multi-month remote-work stay is logistically different from a normal holiday landing. You're usually carrying more (work equipment, an extended wardrobe), heading to an apartment rather than a hotel with a welcoming concierge, and often arriving somewhere you've never physically been before, just researched online.
Planning a long-stay arrival in Italy? Book a private transfer from the airport directly to your new apartment — the single easiest way to remove first-day uncertainty.
Get a Free Quote →Why This Arrival Is Different
A short holiday arrival forgives mistakes — worst case, you overpay for a taxi to a hotel with a 24-hour desk. A long-stay arrival to a private apartment doesn't have that safety net: there's often no reception, the host may not be available to meet you in person, and getting the address wrong with two suitcases and a laptop bag on public transport is a genuinely bad first impression of your new home.
Your Options From the Airport
| Option | Good for long-stay arrivals? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | Best | Door-to-door, fixed price, handles multiple bags, driver can help you find the entry code/host |
| Public transport + walk | Workable if travelling light | Difficult with work equipment and an unfamiliar address |
| Taxi rank | Okay but unpredictable | Fine if you speak enough Italian to direct an unfamiliar address; metered pricing |
| Rideshare apps | Limited | Coverage and reliability vary significantly by Italian city |
What to Prepare Before You Fly
- Save your host's contact number and confirm how you'll actually get into the building (many Italian apartment buildings use intercom/buzzer systems that aren't obvious to first-time visitors).
- Screenshot the exact address in both Latin script and, if relevant, confirm the building entrance isn't on a different street than the listed address (common in old Italian city centres with multiple building entrances).
- Arrange your transfer in advance rather than deciding on arrival — a driver who already has your address means you don't need functioning data or a charged phone the moment you land.
Your First 24 Hours
Once you're in the apartment, prioritise in this order: confirm the WiFi actually works as advertised (see our connectivity guide), locate the nearest supermarket, and get a local SIM or activate your eSIM if you haven't already (see our SIM guide). Bureaucratic tasks — codice fiscale, bank account — can wait a day or two; getting oriented and connected can't.
Book your airport-to-apartment transfer before you fly — one less decision to make on landing day, and one fixed price for the whole journey with your bags.
Get a Free Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to get from an Italian airport to a long-stay apartment?
A pre-booked private transfer is the most reliable option — door-to-door, fixed price, and the driver can help locate the building entrance, which is often less obvious than the listed address suggests.
Should I book my airport transfer in advance for a long-stay arrival?
Yes — booking ahead means you don't need working data or a charged phone the moment you land to arrange transport, which matters more when you're navigating an unfamiliar residential address rather than a well-signposted hotel.
What should I prioritize in my first 24 hours in a new Italian apartment?
Confirm WiFi actually works, locate the nearest supermarket, and activate your SIM or eSIM. Bureaucratic tasks like a codice fiscale or bank account can wait a day or two.
Do Italian apartment buildings have obvious entrances?
Not always — older buildings in historic centres sometimes have entrances on a different street than the listed address, and intercom/buzzer systems aren't always intuitive for first-time visitors.
Is public transport practical for a long-stay arrival with luggage?
It's workable if you're travelling light, but with work equipment and an unfamiliar address, most long-stay arrivals find a direct transfer far less stressful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to get from an Italian airport to a long-stay apartment?+−
Should I book my airport transfer in advance for a long-stay arrival?+−
What should I prioritize in my first 24 hours in a new Italian apartment?+−
Do Italian apartment buildings have obvious entrances?+−
Is public transport practical for a long-stay arrival with luggage?+−
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Written by
Italy Taxi Service Team
Expert travel writers sharing firsthand knowledge about transportation, airport transfers, and city navigation across Italy.