Italy Travel Guide

Rome

FCO · Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci). Italy's largest hub. Leonardo Express to Roma Termini: 32 min, €14.

Milan

MXP · Malpensa — main intercontinental hub.
LIN · Linate. European, 7km from city
BGY · Bergamo — budget carriers.

South & Sicily

PMO · Palermo · CTA · Catania (near Etna) · REG · Reggio Calabria · NAP · Naples

Rail & Ferries

Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains. Rome–Naples: 1h10. Rome–Florence: 1h30. Ferries to Sicily from Villa San Giovanni (near Reggio Calabria) run 24 hours a day.

Currency

Euro (EUR €). Cards are widely accepted in cities. Carry cash for markets, smaller trattorias, and towns in the south.

Tipping

Not expected. Rounding up or leaving €1–3 per person at restaurants is appreciated. Leave small coins at bars. Always cash — never by card.

Coperto

Most restaurants add a coperto (cover charge) of €1–3 per person for bread and linen. Legal and completely normal.

Coffee Culture

Espresso at the bar: €1–1.50. Cappuccino is a morning drink only. Ordering one after 11am marks you as a tourist. Sitting costs more than standing.

Time Zone

CET. Central European Time
UTC+1 winter · UTC+2 summer (CEST)

Vs. US Eastern

Rome is 6 hours ahead of New York in winter (5 when clocks change).

Italian Hours

Lunch 12:30–2:30pm. Dinner 7:30–10:30pm only. Afternoon riposo (2–4pm) means many shops close. Sunday closures common outside tourist areas.

Rome

Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–OctHot & Busy: Jul–Aug Hot summers (35°C+), mild winters. Spring and autumn are perfect for sightseeing.

Sicily

Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct Very hot and dry in summer (38°C+). One of the sunniest places in Europe year-round.

Reggio Calabria

Best: May–Oct Mediterranean climate with some of the warmest winters on the Italian mainland.

Language

Italian. Regional dialects vary enormously, but standard Italian is universal. Always greet with Buongiorno or Buonasera.

Key Phrases

Buongiorno/Buonasera: Good morning/evening
Grazie: Thank you
Per favore: Please
Il conto, per favore: The bill
Dov'e il bagno?: Where is the bathroom?

English

Spoken in tourist areas of major cities. Less common in rural areas and rural Sicily. Italians are warm, so try, gesture, and smile.

Schengen Area

USA, Canada, UK, Australia can enter visa-free up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

ETIAS

EU pre-clearance system expected to launch. Check travel.ec.europa.eu for current status.

Dress Code

Churches require covered shoulders and knees, so carry a scarf. Vatican enforces strictly. Swimwear in town centres is illegal in many coastal towns.

Trains

Italy's rail network is excellent. Trenitalia and Italo run frequent high-speed services between major cities — book ahead for the best fares.

City Transport

Rome, Milan, and Naples have metro systems. Validate paper tickets before boarding — inspectors fine heavily for unvalidated tickets.

Driving

Renting a car is worthwhile for Tuscany, Sicily, and rural areas, but avoid driving in city centres — most have restricted ZTL zones with automatic fines.

General

Very Safe Italy is safe for tourists. Petty theft is the main concern, particularly pickpockets at monuments and on public transport.

Emergencies

112. European emergency
113 — Police (Polizia)
118 — Ambulance only

Scams

Tourist menus near major monuments are overpriced. Walk one street away. "Friendship bracelet" strangers. Unofficial taxis at airports.

Italy

Destinations in Italy

Rome

Sicily

Reggio Calabria