Field guide

Italy

Europe • Southern EuropeRomeEuro (EUR) · €

IT, Italian Republic, Repubblica italiana

This page stitches together our stored feeds—expect warm, human-readable snippets rather than dry data tables.

Snapshot metadata

Last generated December 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM

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Names & aliases

ItalyItalian RepublicITRepubblica italiana

Quick facts

Need-to-know at a glance

Capital

Rome

Currency

Euro (EUR) · €

Languages

Italian, Catalan

Population

58,927,633

Area

301,336 km²

Calling code

+39

Driving side

Right-hand

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Advisories and border basics from our stored feeds.

Safety outlook

Italy - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism . Advisory summary: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism  to learn more.  Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. Common targets include: Tourist spots  Transportation centers  Shopping malls and markets  Local government buildings  Hotels, clubs and restaurants  Religious sites Parks  Sporting and cultural events Schools  Airports  Public areas  If you decide to travel to Italy:  Stay alert in tourist spots. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy. It makes it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the  Country Security Report  for Italy.  Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel and return to the United States. (Updated May 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM)

Tourist spots
Transportation centers
Shopping malls and markets
Local government buildings
Hotels, clubs and restaurants
Religious sites

Full advisory

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & Docs

Visas, customs & paperwork

Minimum validity of travel documents * EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and some non-EU citizens who are visa-exempt (e.g. New Zealanders and Australians), need only produce a passport which is valid for the entirety of their stay in Italy. Other nationals who are required to have a visa and even some who are not must have a passport which has at least 3 months' validity beyond their period of stay in Italy. For more information, visit [http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/Servizi/Stranieri/IngressoeSoggiornoInItalia.htm this webpage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy]. In addition, citizens of San Marino may enter and reside in Italy indefinitely without a visa. Foreign military entering Italy under a Status of Forces Agreement do not require a passport and need only show their valid military identification card and travel orders. Their dependents, however, are not exempt from visa requirements. All non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizens staying in Italy for 90 days or less have to declare their presence in Italy within 8 days of arrival. If your passport was stamped on arrival in Italy, the stamp counts as such a declaration. Generally, a copy of your hotel registration will suffice if you are staying at a hotel. Otherwise, however, you will have to go to a police office to complete the form (dichiarazione di presenza). Failing to do so may result in expulsion. Travellers staying longer than 90 days do not need to complete this declaration, but must instead have an appropriate visa and must obtain a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

Other nationals who are required to have a visa and even some who are not must have a passport which has at least 3 months' validity beyond their period of stay in Italy.
In addition, citizens of San Marino may enter and reside in Italy indefinitely without a visa.
Foreign military entering Italy under a Status of Forces Agreement do not require a passport and need only show their valid military identification card and travel orders. Their dependents, however, are not exempt from visa requirements.
All non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizens staying in Italy for 90 days or less have to declare their presence in Italy within 8 days of arrival. If your passport was stamped on arrival in Italy, the stamp counts as such a declaration. Generally, a copy of your hotel registration will suffice if you are staying at a hotel. Otherwise, however, you will have to go to a police office to complete the form (dichiarazione di presenza). Failing to do so may result in expulsion. Travellers staying longer than 90 days do not need to complete this declaration, but must instead have an appropriate visa and must obtain a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Practical notes from Wikivoyage sections.

Transport

Getting around

*From Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck and Villach *From France via Nice, Lyon and Paris *From Germany via Munich *From Spain via Barcelona *From Switzerland via Basel, Geneva and Zürich *From Slovenia via Ljubljana to Opicina, a small village above Trieste or via Nova Gorica and a short walk to Gorizia, Italy

From Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck and Villach
From France via Nice, Lyon and Paris
From Germany via Munich
From Spain via Barcelona
From Switzerland via Basel, Geneva and Zürich
From Slovenia via Ljubljana to Opicina, a small village above Trieste or via Nova Gorica and a short walk to Gorizia, Italy

Source: Wikivoyage

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

Not available.

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

Italians, in general, have an intricate relationship with food. While table manners in Italy generally follow standard European norms, there are several rules specific to Italy that you should be mindful of during your stay. Since the country receives so many visitors, cultural blunders are tolerated, but still, you should keep the following in mind if you want to get on locals' good sides and adapt to the Italian way of life. * Most Italians drink cappuccino during breakfast. Ordering cappuccino after breakfast is considered awkward by most Italians and servers. If you want to sip on some coffee, consider ordering a macchiato. * Ne…

Italians, in general, have an intricate relationship with food. While table manners in Italy generally follow standard European norms, there are several rules specific to Italy that you should be mindful of during your stay. Since the country receives so many visitors, cultural blunders are tolerated, but still, you should keep the following in mind if you want to get on locals' good sides and adapt to the Italian way of life.
Most Italians drink cappuccino during breakfast. Ordering cappuccino after breakfast is considered awkward by most Italians and servers. If you want to sip on some coffee, consider ordering a macchiato.
Never criticise someone's food; it is considered extremely rude.
Never criticise the food that is served to you at a restaurant; it is considered extremely rude and staff members won't hesitate to defend the quality of food that is served to you. Also, do not expect waiters and staff members to dance to your tune.
Do not tell someone how to improve their cooking. Italians would be incredibly offended by this.
Don't confuse Italian food with Italian-American food. They are different cuisines and should be treated as such.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

Tips (la mancia) are not customary in Italy but are offered when a special service is given or to recognise high quality service. Most restaurants, except those in Rome, have a price for the service coperto and waiters do not expect a tip; however, they will not refuse one. In cafés, bars, and pubs it's not uncommon to leave the change, saying to the waiter or to the cashier tenga il resto - "keep the change". Tip jars near the cash register are becoming widespread, but in public toilets, they are often forbidden. Leaving the change is also quite common with taxi drivers, and hotel porters may expect a little something. It is not possible to add tips manually to a credit card bill, so you'll need cash.

Tips (la mancia) are not customary in Italy but are offered when a special service is given or to recognise high quality service. Most restaurants, except those in Rome, have a price for the service coperto and waiters do not expect a tip; however, they will not refuse one. In cafés, bars, and pubs it's not uncommon to leave the change, saying to the waiter or to the cashier tenga il resto - "keep the change". Tip jars near the cash register are becoming widespread, but in public toilets, they are often forbidden. Leaving the change is also quite common with taxi drivers, and hotel porters may expect a little something. It is not possible to add tips manually to a credit card bill, so you'll need cash.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

Italian hospitals are public and offer completely free high-standard treatment for travellers in possession of an EHIC (EU/EEA citizens) or GHIC (UK citizens). As in other countries with universal healthcare, you may have to wait some hours to be treated unless you're in a serious condition. Emergency rooms are called "Pronto Soccorso". Emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travellers. For non-emergency assistance, non-EHIC/GHIC-holders are required to pay out-of-pocket, there is no convention with US health insurances (although some insurance companies might later reimburse these expenses). Italy has a four-colour code of urgency, red being the most immediate (assistance is given without any delay) and white being the lowest (anyone with a red, yellow and green code will pass before you). With a white code, meaning the treatment is not urgent and does not necessitate emergency personnel, you are also required to pay for the full consultation, so do not go to the Pronto Soccorso just to check your knee after last year's fall.

Italian hospitals are public and offer completely free high-standard treatment for travellers in possession of an EHIC (EU/EEA citizens) or GHIC (UK citizens). As in other countries with universal healthcare, you may have to wait some hours to be treated unless you're in a serious condition. Emergency rooms are called "Pronto Soccorso". Emergency assistance is granted even to non-EU travellers. For non-emergency assistance, non-EHIC/GHIC-holders are required to pay out-of-pocket, there is no convention with US health insurances (although some insurance companies might later reimburse these expenses).
Italy has a four-colour code of urgency, red being the most immediate (assistance is given without any delay) and white being the lowest (anyone with a red, yellow and green code will pass before you). With a white code, meaning the treatment is not urgent and does not necessitate emergency personnel, you are also required to pay for the full consultation, so do not go to the Pronto Soccorso just to check your knee after last year's fall.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

Read up on the legends concerning tourist scams. Most of them occur regularly in bigger cities such as Rome, Milan, or Naples. Around popular tourist sites, there are people trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their 'gift' they demand money. They are very insistent, pleading and pesty and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their "gifts" as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying "no" or "vai via" ("go away") will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you. Another typical encounter throughout tourist spots is the fake 'deaf and dumbs' who enter restaurants or bars, leaving small objects (lighters, keychains, or small toys) on tables with a note asking for financial help. Do not examine their wares; leave them down and they will come back and collect it then leave. A particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for "drug money" or to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work. Another scam involves men approaching you, asking where you are from, and beginning to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that €1 or €2 is all you have. Yet another scam involves being approached by a man, asking you to help break a large bill - usually €20 or €50. Do not give him your money. The bill he is giving you is fake, but at first glance it might seem real. The best advice to avoid scams is to get away from anyone you have never seen before who starts talking to you. When taking a taxi, be sure to remember the license number written on the car door. In seconds, people have had a taxi bill increased by €10 or even more.

Read up on the legends concerning tourist scams. Most of them occur regularly in bigger cities such as Rome, Milan, or Naples.
Around popular tourist sites, there are people trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their 'gift' they demand money. They are very insistent, pleading and pesty and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their "gifts" as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying "no" or "vai via" ("go away") will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you.
Another typical encounter throughout tourist spots is the fake 'deaf and dumbs' who enter restaurants or bars, leaving small objects (lighters, keychains, or small toys) on tables with a note asking for financial help. Do not examine their wares; leave them down and they will come back and collect it then leave.
A particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for "drug money" or to see your passport. This is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID. Guardia di Finanza (the grey uniformed ones) do customs work.
Another scam involves men approaching you, asking where you are from, and beginning to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that €1 or €2 is all you have.
Yet another scam involves being approached by a man, asking you to help break a large bill - usually €20 or €50. Do not give him your money. The bill he is giving you is fake, but at first glance it might seem real.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tempo & rhythm