Italy
Last checked:
- Capital
- Rome
- Currency
- EUR · Euro
- Languages
- Italian
- Plugs
- Type C, F, L · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Colosseum and Roman Forum · Rome
Ancient Rome's arena and city centre; timed tickets must be booked ahead.
- Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica · Vatican City / Rome
Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's dome; book museum tickets early.
- Uffizi Gallery and Duomo · Florence
Renaissance art and Brunelleschi's dome in a walkable old centre.
- Grand Canal and St Mark's Square · Venice
Car-free canal city; day-trippers pay an access fee on peak days.
- Amalfi Coast and Pompeii · Amalfi / Positano / Pompeii
Cliffside villages plus the preserved Roman city buried by Vesuvius.
Getting around
Taxi
Licensed taxis (itTaxi, appTaxi, FREENOW)
The main door-to-door option. Book through itTaxi or appTaxi (no booking fee) or FREENOW (small fee). Rome and other cities have fixed airport fares; official taxis show a company name and licence number.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Normal UberX does not exist in Italy. Uber offers Uber Black/NCC (expensive) and, in Rome and some cities, books licensed taxis via itTaxi.
Public transport
ATAC Tap&Go (Rome)
Tap a contactless card or phone at metro gates and on many buses; fares are capped daily. Metro lines A, B and C plus buses and trams. Milan (ATM) also accepts contactless.
Trains
Trenitalia / Italo
High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains link Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and Naples. Book ahead for cheaper fares. Regional train paper tickets must be validated before boarding.
E-scooters
Lime / Dott / Bird
Shared e-scooters and e-bikes in Rome, Milan, Turin and other cities (varies by city). Since 2024 scooter riders need a helmet and some cities have tightened rules.
Public transport
Vaporetto (ACTV)
Water buses in Venice; single tickets are expensive, so 1-7 day passes are better value.
Money and cash
Currency: EUR · Euro
Businesses must accept card payments, and contactless is common in cities. Small bars, markets and rural places still prefer cash, so carry some coins and small notes. Use bank ATMs (bancomat) and always choose to pay in EUR.
Tipping
Tipping in Italy is optional. Waiters earn a salary and do not rely on tips. Many restaurants add a 'coperto' (per person cover charge) or sometimes 'servizio'. Locals leave small change or round up; leaving 5-10% for excellent service is generous.
| Restaurants | If coperto or servizio is on the bill, no tip is needed. Otherwise, rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is enough. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Leave small coins at the counter if you like. Note that sitting at a table often costs more than standing at the bar. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Round up to the nearest euro; not expected. |
| Hotels | About 1-2 EUR per bag for porters and a little for housekeeping if you wish. |
| Tours and guides | Tip free walking tour guides; 5-10% for good paid guides is optional. |
| Food delivery | Not expected; a euro or two is a nice extra. |
Service charge: what’s true
Two different charges exist. 'Coperto' is a fixed per-person cover charge (often 1-4 EUR) that goes to the restaurant. 'Servizio' is a percentage service charge (usually 10-15%) seen mainly in tourist areas and big cities. Both must be printed on the menu. Sources differ on whether servizio reaches staff or stays with the restaurant (varies). In Rome and Lazio a regional law bans the coperto, so restaurants there may charge for bread ('pane') instead (enforcement varies).
Pressure tactics to watch for
Some tourist restaurants and card terminals push 'service not included' or suggest a tip percentage even when coperto or servizio is already on the bill. A tip on top is not expected; check the bill and say 'Il servizio è già incluso, grazie.' If a charge was not on the menu, you can ask for it to be removed.
Useful phrases
- Il conto, per favore. The bill, please.
- Il servizio è incluso? Is service included?
- Tenga il resto. Keep the change.
Etiquette
- Greet with 'Buongiorno' or 'Buonasera' when entering shops and restaurants.
- Churches and the Vatican enforce dress codes: cover shoulders and knees or you may be refused entry.
- Do not sit on monuments or the Spanish Steps, eat on church steps, or swim in fountains; Rome, Venice and Florence issue fines.
- Cappuccino is a morning drink; ordering 'un caffè' gets an espresso.
- Validate paper bus and regional train tickets before boarding; inspectors fine on the spot.
- Venice charges an access fee to day visitors on peak dates; book it online.
Scams and how to handle them
Bracelet and rose sellers
Where: Rome (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum), Florence, Milan Duomo
How it works: Men tie a 'free' string bracelet on your wrist or hand you a rose, then demand money.
How to avoid it: Keep your hands back, say 'No, grazie' firmly and walk on.
Fake gladiators and costumed photos
Where: Rome: Colosseum
How it works: Costumed men pose for a photo and then demand 20 EUR or more.
How to avoid it: Agree a price first or skip it.
Unlicensed taxis
Where: Rome Fiumicino and Termini, Naples station, Milan airports
How it works: Drivers approach you inside terminals and charge far above the fixed fares.
How to avoid it: Use only the official taxi rank (white taxis with a roof sign and licence number) or a taxi app.
Restaurant bill padding
Where: Tourist restaurants near major sights
How it works: Menus without prices, fish priced per 100 g, or extra items and service added to the bill.
How to avoid it: Check prices before ordering, ask for the weight and price of fish, and check the bill. Ask for a 'scontrino' (receipt).
Petition clipboards
Where: Rome, Florence, Venice
How it works: People ask for signatures for a fake charity and then demand donations; often a distraction for pickpockets.
How to avoid it: Do not stop or sign.
Ticket machine 'helpers'
Where: Rome Termini, Milan Centrale, Naples
How it works: Someone helps you buy a train ticket then demands a tip or watches your card.
How to avoid it: Use the official app or ticket office; decline help.
Fake designer goods
Where: Streets and beaches nationwide
How it works: Street vendors sell counterfeit bags and sunglasses.
How to avoid it: Do not buy; buyers can be fined by police.
Safety
- Pickpocketing is common in city centres and at major tourist sites, especially Rome's Termini station, metro line A and bus 64, Florence's Santa Maria Novella and Venice's Rialto area.
- Thieves use distraction techniques; keep bags zipped and in front of you on public transport.
- Thefts from parked cars are common; never leave luggage visible, even in the boot.
- Drink spiking has been reported; do not accept drinks from strangers.
- Use only licensed taxis with a roof sign and visible licence number.
- Cars cannot enter ZTL limited traffic zones in historic centres; cameras issue fines to rental cars.
How widely English is spoken
Reasonable in tourist areas of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, and among younger people; limited in the south, rural areas and with older people.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Italy, safety and security
- Explore: What a 'servizio' charge on your bill in Italy means
- Tripadvisor Rome forum: coperto and servizio charges
- ATAC: tap&go
- Roaming Historian: How to get a taxi in Italy
- Rick Steves forum: Taxi app for use in Italy
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.