Practical tips for Italy

Documents and entry

Citizens of the European Union and the Schengen area enter Italy with a valid identity card or passport. Travellers from other countries should check whether they need a visa; visa-exempt visitors, such as citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. At the external Schengen borders the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is in operation, recording the biometric data of non-European travellers instead of stamping passports: the first time it may take a few extra minutes. In future, visa-exempt travellers will also need an online authorisation, ETIAS: check the launch dates on the official European Union website before you travel. Children need their own travel document.

Safety: a calm country, with a few precautions

Italy is a safe country for travellers, but in crowded areas the usual precautions of any major destination apply. Pickpockets operate mainly on metros, tourist buses, at stations and in front of the most famous monuments: keep your wallet and phone in closed pockets, wear your backpack on the front in crowds and do not leave your phone on an outdoor table. Be wary of people who stop you to sign a petition, who tie a bracelet on your wrist or offer a rose and then ask for money, and of fake ticket inspectors. Use only official taxis, which in the big cities are white, with a meter and a licence number on the door. In the car, do not leave luggage in view when you park.

Useful numbers and emergencies

112 is the single European emergency number and works throughout Italy, even from foreign mobiles and without credit: an operator answers and routes the call to the police, carabinieri, fire brigade or ambulance. At sea you can also call the Coast Guard on 1530. If you lose your documents, report it to the police or carabinieri and contact your consulate. Before you leave, note the number for blocking your payment cards.

Health, pharmacies and insurance

Pharmacies are marked by an illuminated green cross; every town always has a duty pharmacy open at night and on public holidays, listed on the doors of the others. Pharmacists give good advice for minor ailments. EU citizens are entitled to necessary care with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); everyone is advised to take out travel insurance covering medical expenses, repatriation and cancellation. Hospital emergency departments (pronto soccorso) are open day and night. Tap water is safe to drink almost everywhere unless otherwise indicated.

In summer, especially in central and southern Italy, heatwaves can be intense: drink often, visit outdoor monuments early in the morning or at sunset, and bring a hat and sunscreen. In the mountains, check the weather, choose trails suited to your experience and do not underestimate storms and sudden temperature changes.

Opening hours: the Italian rhythm

Italian timetables often surprise visitors. Breakfast is quick, at the bar, between 7 and 10. Lunch is usually served between 12.30 and 2.30 pm, dinner from 7.30 to 10 pm, later in the south and in summer. Many shops, especially in small towns and in the south, close for lunch, roughly between 1 and 4 pm, and on Sundays. Churches may close in the middle of the day and during services. Many state museums close on Mondays. In August, around Ferragosto on the 15th, some city businesses close for holidays, while seaside resorts are full.

Payments, plugs and connectivity

Italy uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere and shopkeepers are required to accept electronic payments, but some cash is useful for bars, markets and small purchases. Electrical sockets are type F (Schuko) and type L (Italian three-pin), at 230 volts: visitors from the UK, the US or Australia need an adapter. Wi-fi is common in accommodation and many cafés; with EU roaming, EU citizens use their home data plan at no extra cost, while visitors from outside the EU can buy an Italian SIM card, with ID, or an eSIM before leaving.

Etiquette and good manners

A few habits help you feel at home. In churches, cover shoulders and knees, speak quietly and do not disturb services; some basilicas, such as St Peter's, check clothing at the entrance. Greet shopkeepers with a "buongiorno" or "buonasera" when you walk in. Cappuccino is a breakfast drink, but nobody will be offended if you order one in the afternoon. In bars you often pay first at the till and then drink at the counter with your receipt; table service costs more. In the art cities it is forbidden to sit and eat on the steps of monuments or to bathe in fountains, and in Venice picnics and swimming in the canals are banned: fines are steep. A few words of Italian are always appreciated: you will find a short phrasebook for your trip on our site.

Strikes, holidays and closures

National public holidays are 1 January, 6 January, Easter Sunday and Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 15 August, 1 November, and 8, 25 and 26 December, plus each city's patron saint's day: on these days banks, offices and many shops close and public transport runs a reduced service. Transport strikes are announced in advance: check before an important journey. If your flight is badly delayed or cancelled, check whether you are entitled to compensation.

Before you leave: a handy checklist

• A document valid for the whole trip, plus a digital copy.
• Travel insurance and, for EU citizens, the EHIC card.
• Bookings for high-speed trains and the most popular museums.
• A plug adapter and a power bank.
• Comfortable shoes: historic centres are explored on foot, over cobbles and steps.
• A water bottle to refill at public fountains.
• Clothes suitable for churches and a light scarf.
• Transport apps and offline maps.