Field guide
Italy
IT, Italian Republic, Repubblica italiana
Updated December 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM · Sources
Names & aliases
Pre-trip intel
Safety & entry
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 terrorismto 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 theSmart 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 theCountry Security Reportfor Italy. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review theTraveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latestTravel Health Informationrelated to your travel and return to the United States.
Full advisory →Safety highlights
Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism. Advisory summary: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.
Safety highlights
Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism. Advisory summary: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.
- Exercise increased caution in Italy due to terrorism.
- Terrorists may attack with little or no warning.
- Advisory summary: There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.
- Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Entry & docs
Minimum validity of travel documents * EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and some non-EU citizens who are visa-exempt (e.g.
Entry & docs
Minimum validity of travel documents * EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, and some non-EU citizens who are visa-exempt (e.g.
- 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).
On the ground
Getting around & connectivity
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…
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…
- 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
Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online
No summary available.
Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online
No summary available.
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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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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).
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).
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
Practicalities
Money & essentials
Highlights
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Top cities (4)
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Reference
Country reference data
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Identifiers
Borders
Demonyms
Italian / Italian; Italien / Italienne
Translations (26)
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REST Countries
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REST Countries
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Visit sourceU.S. Department of State
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U.S. Department of State
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Source ID: stateDeptAdvisory
Visit sourceOpen-Meteo Climate
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Open-Meteo Climate
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Visit sourceWikivoyage
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Wikivoyage
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Visit sourceWorld Bank GDP per capita
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World Bank GDP per capita
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Visit sourceWorld Bank GDP PPP per capita
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World Bank GDP PPP per capita
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Visit sourceWorld Bank Inflation (CPI)
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World Bank Inflation (CPI)
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WorldStandards (plugs)
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Webcam DB aggregates
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Webcam DB aggregates
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Affiliate hub config
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Visit sourceContains information from Wikivoyage, available under CC BY-SA 3.0.