Italy travel essentials

Dining in Italy

Eat according to the region

Italian cooking is still strongly regional. Try spaghetti alla carbonara with guanciale, or cured pork jowl, and egg yolk in Rome, pizza in Naples, cinghiale, or wild boar, in Tuscany, and tartufi, or truffles, in Piedmont. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are now widely available, but if you have a dietary restriction, ask about the ingredients because menu descriptions do not always list everything.

Understand the meal structure

Ristoranti are generally more formal and expensive than trattorias or osterie, which usually serve traditional home-style food. A full meal can move from antipasto, or starter, to primo, or first course, then secondo, or main course, with a contorno, or vegetable side dish, and dolce, or dessert. You do not need to order every course: a primo or secondo with a dolce is perfectly workable. Enoteche and pizzerias often focus on single dishes, while bars, cafes and pizza al taglio shops are good places for inexpensive snacks.

Explore wine, beer and aperitivi

Grapes have been cultivated in Italy since the time of the Etruscans. Tuscany, Piedmont, the Veneto, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily, Le Marche and Umbria are among the country's renowned wine areas, and every region has its own specialties. Beer is readily available, and Italy has excellent microbreweries, so ask about local brews. Italians are also inventive with cocktails, so consider ordering the aperitivo della casa, or house aperitif. The minimum drinking age is 16.

Cover charges, hours and prices

Many restaurants serve both lunch and dinner and close one or two days each week. Most restaurants also add a per-person pane e coperto, or bread and cover charge. A tip is still appreciated, and around 10% is standard in the south. When comparing a restaurant price, treat it as the average cost of one main course at dinner, or at lunch when dinner is not served.

Health and safety

Know the emergency numbers

Dial 112 for any emergency in Italy. The word aiuto means help and is pronounced roughly aye-you-toh. For a health emergency, go straight to the Pronto Soccorso department of the nearest hospital or dial 118. A Red Cross ambulanza, or ambulance, can be reached at 800/065510.If you only need a doctor, ask for un medico. Ask the physician for una fattura, or invoice, to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

• ✦aiuto - help, pronounced roughly aye-you-toh
• ✦pronto soccorso - first aid; the emergency department is called Pronto Soccorso
• ✦un medico - a doctor
• ✦una fattura - an invoice
• ✦ambulanza - ambulance

Bring trusted medication

Smoking is banned inside all public places. If smoke from outdoor seating bothers you, an indoor table is often the better choice and may also have air-conditioning. Travel with your own trusted medication whenever possible. If you need a prescription medicine in Italy, speak with a physician to make sure you receive the proper type. Pharmacies sell aspirin, or l'aspirina, as well as over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Lodging

Choose atmosphere as well as comfort

Italian accommodation can occupy restored palazzi, villas, monasteries and smaller historic buildings, with modern comforts blended into the original character. A vacation rental is another option, but look beyond the nightly budget. Check street noise and neighborhood atmosphere in towns and cities, the degree of isolation in the countryside, whether there is an elevator or how many stairs you will climb, how utilities are charged and what is supplied, including pots, linens and basics such as dish detergent.

Consider an agriturismo

For a stay connected to local farming, ask a tourism office about agriturismo accommodation. Rural farm stays range from luxury villas to farmhouses with basic facilities.

How lodging prices are classified

A lodging price category is based on the high-season rate for two people sharing a standard double room, including tax and service. Hotel prices refer to that same standard double room in high season.

Money and regional costs

Know where prices rise

Prices are higher in Italy's major cities than in the countryside, and Milan is by far the most expensive of the major cities. Resort destinations such as Capri, Portofino and Cortina d'Ampezzo cater to wealthy visitors and also charge top prices. Better value can be found in the scenic Trentino - Alto Adige area of the Dolomites, as well as in Umbria and Le Marche. With some exceptions, southern Italy and Sicily can offer bargains if you do your research before leaving home.

Tipping

Restaurants, bars and taxis

A restaurant bill may include a 10%-15% service charge, but that does not guarantee that your server receives it. For good service, consider leaving 5%-10% in cash. At a hotel bar, leave €1 or more for a round or two of drinks. Taxi drivers appreciate a euro or two, especially when they help with luggage.

Hotels and sightseeing guides

Give a portiere, or concierge, about 10% of the bill for a service, or €3-€5 for help arranging dinner reservations and similar requests. In a moderately priced hotel, leave chambermaids about €1 per day and at least €1 for valet or room service. In an expensive hotel, double those amounts. A sightseeing guide should receive at least €1.50 per person for a half-day group tour, with more for a longer tour or especially knowledgeable guiding.

Passports, consulates and visas

Passport requirements for U.S. travelers

A valid U.S. passport is required for travel to Italy, and it must remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned date of return. From 2026, U.S. citizens also need to apply for ETIAS in advance of a visit when the authorization is required.

U.S. Embassy and consulates

The United States has an embassy in Rome and consulates general in Florence, Milan and Naples. The U.S. Department of State is considering closing several smaller consulates in Europe, including the one in Florence, so check current information before relying on a particular office. If you are arrested or detained, ask Italian officials to notify the embassy or the nearest consulate immediately. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, can send alerts and make it easier to locate you during an emergency.

ETIAS and visa-free stays

From 2026, visa-exempt nationals from 60 countries, including the United States and Canada, require travel authorization through ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System. The authorization is linked to the current passport and is valid for 3 years, allowing stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Most applications should be approved within a few minutes through the ETIAS website and cost €7. Applications are free for people under 18 and over 70. Allow at least 30 days if further evidence or an interview is requested. Implementation has been delayed several times, so confirm before the trip whether ETIAS registration is required for your dates.

When to go

High season: June through September

June through September is busy and expensive. In August, most Italians take their own summer holidays, so cities can be less crowded, but many shops and restaurants close. July and August can be uncomfortably hot.

Low season: winter

Unless you are skiing, winter generally brings the least appealing weather. It is also the best period for airfare and hotel deals and for escaping the crowds. Temperatures in the south can be mild.

Value season: late September through early May

By late September, temperate weather and more reasonable airfares can make for a particularly pleasant trip. October is also a good month, while November is often rainy. March and early April weather is changeable. From late April to early May, the largest crowds have not yet arrived.

Helpful Italian phrases

Most Italians have some command of English, but it is not a fail-safe rule, particularly in the south. Gestures and pointing can get you through many situations, while a grazie or buongiorno here and there shows goodwill. These words from everyday travel are useful to recognize and use.

• ✦grazie and buongiorno - simple words that show goodwill
• ✦acqua del rubinetto - tap water
• ✦la colazione, il pranzo and la cena - breakfast, lunch and dinner
• ✦aperitivo - a drink and the snacks or buffet served with it; stuzzichini - bite-size snacks
• ✦alimentari - a local food and general store; supermercato - a supermarket
• ✦panificio or fornaio - a bakery; pane - bread; panini - rolls or sandwiches