Good to know about Italy
Etiquette in Italy
Italians are gregarious and likely to strike up conversations with strangers, so feel free to as people for help and advice!
Learn the basic polite words in Italian, and this will be appreciated:
- buongiorno (good morning)
- buonasera (good afternoon/evening)
- grazie (thank you)
- ciao (goodbye)
When entering shops, be aware that it is not common in Italy to browse the inventory. Shopkeepers are getting used to it, so you will at tiems see signs that say 'ingresso libero,' which indicates browsing is ok.
Please be aware that some churches will ask women to wear scarves over bare shoulders to enter, so please back and bring one with you.
Dining etiquette
- Don't roll pasta on your spoon – do it on the sides of your plate
- Burping is considered extremely vulgar
- Keep both hands above the table while you're eating, but keep the elbows off
General etiquette
- Italians are chic. Dress elegantly but conservatively
- Try not to yawn or remove your shoes in public
- Italians are generous; they'll forgive most faux pas except arrogance and rudeness
- Tipping is very rare outside of tourist areas heavily frequented by Americans, however, great service is to be rewarded with a few coins
Visas
Passports are required when entering or leaving the European Union. Visas are not required for US citizens for visits of less than 90 days. For longer visits, contact the nearest Italian embassy.
Visa information
Embassy of Italy
For local consulates, look under Consulate Network on the Website.
American Offices
Provides consular assistance to U.S. citizens
United States Embassy
via Vittorio Veneto, 119/A
00187 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 (0)6 4674 1
Money and costs
Italy uses the Euro, along with the rest of the core countries of the European Union. The main benefit as a visitor is that you won't have to change currencies more than once, even if you're to visit several European countries, France, Spain, and Germany among them.
Health and safety
Italy is generally quite safe to visit and violent crime is very rare. Major cities do have a problem with pickpockets though, especially near tourist attractions and transport hubs.
Bring your common sense and avoid being alone in dark areas, wear any small bags in front of your body if you can, and if something feels dodgy, get yourself somewhere safe.
Emergency phone numbers
- 12 - Telephone Directory Assistance Number
- 112 - Carabinieri
- 113 - Emergency Police Help Number (also ambulance and fire)
- 115 - Fire Department
- 116 - A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club) road assistance.
- 118 - Medical Emergencies
