VISIT ITALY

Visiting world-famous monuments, hiking impressive mountains or tasting amazing gastronomy are only a few examples of how to appreciate Italian’s dolce vita.

Currency

€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)

POPULATION

59 millions

MAIN LANGUAGE

Italian

AREA

301,230 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

FLAG

🇮🇹

Italy, a Mediterranean-coastal nation in Europe, has had a significant influence on Western culture and gastronomy. The Vatican city-state, as well as famous artwork and historic ruins such as the Colosseum - one of the New 7 Wonders of the World - may be found in the country's capital, Rome. Other significant Italian cities include Venice, the city of canals, Milan, Italy's fashion hub, and Florence, which is home to Renaissance treasures including Michelangelo's "David" and Brunelleschi's Duomo.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Italy:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Italy.

Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas ('Strada Urbana'), 90 kph / 55 mph to 110 kph / 68 mph on highways ('Strada Extraurbana'), 130 kph / 80 mph on toll motorways ('Autostrada'). During adverse weather conditions (rain, fog, etc.), the speed limits are lowered on highways and motorways. Note that all motorways ('Autostrada') in Italy are toll roads. Car headlights must be on while driving outside of urban areas.

Plugs: Three plug types are used in Italy: C, F and L. Types C and F both have two grounding holes. Type L has 3 aligned grounding holes. Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory nor expected in restaurants and cafés in Italy.

Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Italy, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases (coffee, public transportation, street food, etc.).

Basic language: Ciao = Hello; Buongiorno = Good morning; Arrivederci = Goodbye; Sì = Yes; No = No; Grazie = Thank you; Grazie mille = Thank you very much; Per favore = Please; Prego = You're welcome; Scusa= Sorry; Giorno = Day; Notte = Night; Buonasera = Good evening; Buonanotte = Goodnight; Signore = Mister; Signora = Ma'am; Strada = Street, Road

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for some stores. There are 11 official public holidays in Italy: New Year's Day (January 01), Epiphany (January 06), Easter Monday, Liberation Day (April 25), Labour Day (May 01), Republic Day (June 02), Assumption Day (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 01), Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day (December 25), St. Stephen's Day (December 26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Italy, or if you are planning to come to Italy for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Italian government website: https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/

No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days for a period of 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican; Venezuela

Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Winter in Italy is milder compared to many other European countries. If visitors are prepared to withstand the chilly conditions, they will be rewarded with quieter sights and significantly fewer tourists than usual. The main exception to this is the Venice carnival, which occurs in February. This world-famous event is a two-week display of masks, fancy dress, and wild parties that fills the renowned St. Mark's Square with crowds of costumed individuals. During winter, the temperatures in Rome usually range from 3°C (38F) to 13°C (55F); the temperatures in the North of the country, for example in Milan, are usually a few degrees lower.

🌱 March – May: Italy is beautiful in the springtime. Spring first appears in the country of la dolce vita in March and blooms fully from April through May. The colours of spring enhance the splendour of the Italian streets as the last traces of winter fade away. Depending on when Easter occurs, Easter week in Rome is commemorated by a variety of festivities led by the Pope. These events include a Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square and the Settimana Santa procession of the stations of the cross at the Colosseum, both of which draw sizable crowds.
Most other towns and cities also celebrate Holy Week with a variety of processions and services.

☀️ June – August: Italy is full of life throughout the summer, whether it is with visitors or locals. July and August, which are school holiday months, experience higher temperatures and crowds of visitors. Italy offers a wide range of experiences to choose from, from lounging on pristine beaches of Sardinia or the Amalfi coast to wandering cobblestone alleys in Rome or the Cinque Terre villages or even trekking in the Dolomites for example. Whatever you choose, your trip should be planned in advance to book the best accommodation possible. During summer, the temperatures in Rome usually range from 17°C (62F) to 31°C (88F).

🍂 September – November: While the temperatures remain warm in September during the day, the evenings are usually cooler and cosier. Now that Italians are back at work or in school, the beaches are more comfortably vacant. Harvest festival season, which begins in September, features celebrations in rural areas honouring local specialities like truffles, grapes and olives to name a few.

Prepare your trip

Pick an (Italian) destination

Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Italy.

ITALY HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS

EXPLORE ROME

Rome has countless sights to see, the usual suspects being the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Trevi Fountain.

VISIT THE CINQUE TERRE

A collection of five historic fishing towns - Monterosso, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Riomaggiore - situated high on the Italian Riviera.

RIDE A BOAT IN VENICE

The city's picturesque canals and iconic sights - Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and Rialto Bridge to name a few - live up to all expectations.

WINDOW SHOP IN MILAN

The fashion capital of Italy is the birthplace of some famous luxury brands like Prada, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

HIKE IN THE DOLOMITES

Providing some of Europe's most breathtaking mountain scenery, this area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN ITALY

MEET THE APENNINE WOLVES IN ABRUZZO

The Abruzzo National Park's region is home to a population of around 8 packs of wolves. There, you can visit the Wolf Center which operates as a temporary recovery facility for injured animals and an educational place.

Did you know?

Italy’s national emblematic animal is the Grey wolf.

ALL ITALY BLOG ARTICLES

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VISIT ITALY

ROME

VENICE

MILAN

CINQUE TERRE

DOLOMITES