Money and payments
Cards and cash
ATMs are commonplace, at least in cities.
Tipping
Restaurants often charge a cover fee called Coperto (usually €1–3 per person), which is separate from tipping.
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Europe · Southern EuropeOutline guideCountry in Southern and Western Europe
Photo: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Italy (Italian: Italia) was once the core of the mighty Roman Empire, and the cradle of the Renaissance. Along with Greece, it is regarded as the "birthplace" of Western culture, and it is also home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, including high art and monuments.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Italy.
Cards and cash
ATMs are commonplace, at least in cities.
Tipping
Restaurants often charge a cover fee called Coperto (usually €1–3 per person), which is separate from tipping.
Italian
Italian (italiano) is the language spoken natively by most Italians. Standard Italian is largely based on the dialect of Tuscan spoken in Florence.
While safe to drink, the tap water (acqua del rubinetto) in some peninsular parts of Italy can be cloudy with a slight off taste.
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).
Covered in the guide
Italy has a reputation for being a welcoming country and Italians are friendly and courteous, as well as very used to small talk and interacting with foreigners.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
The Eternal City has shrugged off sacks and fascists, urban planning disasters and traffic snarls and is as impressive to the visitor now as two thousand years ago
one of the world's great university cities that is filled with history, culture, technology and food
the Renaissance city known for its architecture and art that had a major impact throughout the world
an important medieval maritime republic; it's a port city with art and architecture
one of the main fashion cities of the world, but also Italy's most important centre of trade and business, sits in the middle of Italy's largest metropolitan area
one of the oldest cities of the Western world, the birthplace of pizza, with a historic city centre that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
one of the medieval maritime republics, it is home to the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa
a well-known industrial city, home of FIAT, other automobiles and the aerospace industry. Le Corbusier defined Turin as "the city with the most beautiful natural location in the world"
stunningly beautiful rocky coastline, so popular that private cars are banned in the summer months
the famed island in the Bay of Naples, which was a favored resort of the Roman emperors
five tiny, scenic, towns strung along the steep vineyard-laced coast of Liguria
some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, including Mont Blanc and Mount Rosa
its atmosphere has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness since Roman times
a beautiful lake in Northern Italy surrounded by many small villages
two suburbs of Naples covered by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, now excavated to reveal life as it was in Roman times
a charming hillside town on the east coast of Sicily
Places in Italy on the World Heritage List.
Amalfi Coast
Listed 1997
Castel del Monte
Listed 1996
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
Santa Maria delle Grazie
Listed 1980
prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
Listed 2011
Hadrian's Villa
Listed 1999
Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
Listed 1987
Ponte Vecchio
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Home of the Italian Riviera, including Portofino and the Cinque Terre. The Alps and world-class cities like the industrial capital of Italy (Turin), its largest port (Genoa) and the main business hub of the country (Milan) are near beautiful landscapes like the Lake Como and Lake Maggiore area and lesser-known Renaissance treasures like Mantua and Bergamo.
From the canals of Venice to the gastronomic capital Bologna, from impressive mountains such as the Dolomites and first-class ski resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo to the delightful roofscapes of Parma and Verona, these regions offer much to see and do. German-speaking South Tyrol and the cosmopolitan city of Trieste offer a uniquely Central European flair.
Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto
This region breathes history and art. Rome boasts many of the remaining wonders of the Roman Empire and some of the world's best-known landmarks, combined with a vibrant, big-city feel. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is Tuscany's top attraction, and the magnificent countryside and nearby cities like Siena, Pisa and Lucca also offer a rich history and heritage. Abruzzo is dotted with picturesque cities such as L'Aquila, Chieti and Vasto, as well as Perugia, Gubbio and Assisi in Umbria.
Bustling Naples, the dramatic ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the romantic Amalfi Coast and Capri, laidback Apulia, the stunning beaches of Calabria, and up-and-coming agritourism make the region a great place to explore. A significant portion of people of Italian descent in various parts of the world (the United States in particular) have ancestors from Southern Italy.
A beautiful island famous for archaeology, seascape and some of Italy's finest cuisine.
Large, gorgeous island some 250 km west of the Italian coastline offers mountains, beaches and the sea with some of the oldest historical structures dating back to the Nuragic Age.
Public transport and paid services in Italy.
By bus
Buy town bus tickets from corner shops, bus-company offices or automated machines before boarding (on some systems, tickets might be bought on-board from an automated machine).
By boat
Approaching Italy by sea can be a great experience and is a good alternative to traditional onshore “tours”. A yacht charter to Italy is a fulfilling way to experience the country.
By plane
The advent of low-cost carriers made domestic air travel cheaper. When booked in advance, plane tickets for long trips are often cheaper than train fares.
By car
Italy has a well-developed system of motorways (autostrade) in the North, while in the South it's a bit worse for quality and extent. Most motorways are toll roads.
By e-hailing
Most commonly used are Uber, AppTaxi and FreeNow followed by InTaxi, ItTaxi and DigiTaxi
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Italy.
Finding apps for Italy…
Other ways to travel:By thumbBy bike
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rome · International · FCO
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Rome
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 11° | 12° | 15° | 19° | 23° | 28° | 32° | 32° | 27° | 22° | 16° | 12° |
| Avg. low | 3° | 3° | 6° | 9° | 13° | 17° | 20° | 20° | 16° | 12° | 9° | 4° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 73 | 77 | 69 | 56 | 57 | 34 | 26 | 26 | 70 | 82 | 114 | 91 |
| Humidity | 81% | 79% | 76% | 72% | 68% | 62% | 55% | 55% | 64% | 73% | 80% | 81% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$75
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$200
Per person, per day
Luxury
$505
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $35 | $110 | $295 |
| Food and drink | $20 | $45 | $100 |
| Local transport | $10 | $20 | $45 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $65 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 2 of 4Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased cautionin Italy due to terrorism. 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. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations and on public transportation, including trains. Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching, pickpocketing, and car break-ins.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
This travel advice also covers Vatican City. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about the risks of travel, to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
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