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🇮🇹 Italy

Italy is no. 5 in our list of the 50 most visited destinations, with 57.7 million international arrivals in 2024. Below: visa rules for every passport, cash limits at customs and the tourist traps official travel advice warns about.

Rank 5 of 50 by international arrivals (57.7 million, 2024) · Source: UN Tourism

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Explore Italy: things to do, shopping, food and getting around

Rome first, plus Naples and getting around Italy. Every item links to the page it was taken from; official tourism-board and transport pages first.

Things to do

  • Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain

    Rome

    Tradition says a coin thrown into the fountain means you will return to Rome; expect queues for the photo.

    Source: Italia.it – Trevi Fountain

  • Aperitivo with a view

    Rome

    Roof terraces and historic hotel bars near the Pincian Hill and Trinità dei Monti are classic places for an evening aperitivo.

    Source: Italia.it – Aperitivo in Rome's most evocative locations

  • Get a Roma Pass for museums and transport

    Rome

    The official tourist card (48 hours €38, 72 hours €62.90) gives access to more than 100 museums, monuments and sites, often at reduced prices, and includes public transport. Buy it in the app, at the airports or at visitor centres.

    Source: Turismo Roma – Roma Pass

  • Eat pizza where it was born

    Naples

    Pizza as known today – water, flour, yeast and salt topped with tomato, mozzarella and basil – comes from Naples.

    Source: Italia.it – Naples, world capital of pizza

Places to visit

  • Colosseum

    Rome

    The largest amphitheatre in the world and Rome's best-known icon; it also hosts exhibitions.

    Source: Italia.it – Colosseum

  • Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

    Vatican City / Rome

    Around 20,000 works on display, from Egyptian and Etruscan art to the Renaissance, ending at the Sistine Chapel.

    Source: Italia.it – Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

  • Pantheon

    Rome

    One of the best-preserved Roman monuments; its 43.44 m dome is still the widest unreinforced concrete dome ever built.

    Source: Italia.it – Pantheon

  • Trastevere

    Rome

    Cobbled lanes, churches and squares from Piazza Trilussa – and one of Rome's nightlife districts.

    Source: Italia.it – Trastevere

Shopping

  • Porta Portese flea marketBudget

    Rome

    Rome's largest and most famous market, a Sunday ritual in Trastevere since about 1945.

    Source: Turismo Roma – Porta Portese market

  • Neighbourhood markets: Campo de' Fiori and TestaccioBudget

    Rome

    Campo de' Fiori sells fresh produce, cheese and cured meats; Testaccio market mixes food stalls, street food and household goods.

    Source: Turismo Roma – Mercati rionali (Italian)

  • Via del Corso for high-street chainsBudget

    Rome

    Italia.it calls Via del Corso the 'trendy on a budget' option, with chains and the Galleria Alberto Sordi.

    Source: Italia.it – Shopping in Rome: the streets to know

  • The 'Trident': Via dei Condotti and the Spanish StepsUpmarket

    Rome

    Via dei Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina by the Spanish Steps are Rome's high-end shopping streets, with Italian and international flagships and jewellers.

    Source: Italia.it – Shopping in Rome: the streets to know

  • Don't haggle in shops – but you can at marketsBudget

    Displayed prices are fixed in shops; negotiating is possible at fairs and markets. Sales run in early July and after Christmas. Avoid unlicensed street sellers – buying from them breaks Italian law.

    Source: Italia.it – Money, payments and tipping

Cheap ways to get around

  • Rome BIT ticket: €1.50 for 100 minutes

    Rome

    Valid on buses and trams for 100 minutes and one metro ride. You can also just tap a contactless card; after five taps in 24 hours ATAC caps you at the €8.50 24-hour fare.

    Source: ATAC Roma – BIT · atac.roma.it

  • 24/48/72-hour Rome tickets

    Rome

    ROMA 24H €8.50, 48H €15 and 72H €22, unlimited travel within Rome from first validation. Children up to 10 travel free with a paying adult.

    Source: ATAC Roma – BIT

  • Regional trains and coaches between towns

    High-speed trains link Milan and Rome in just over three hours; regional and intercity trains and scheduled coaches reach smaller towns more cheaply. Check whether your train ticket must be validated before boarding.

    Source: Italia.it – How to travel around Italy

Nightlife

  • Rome's late nights

    Rome

    Romans start late: aperitivo, dinner, a walk through the piazzas, then clubs, live-music bars or cocktail bars; busiest at weekends.

    Source: Turismo Roma – Nightlife

  • Opera, concerts and theatre

    Rome

    Concert halls, opera and ballet, historic theatres, cabaret and musicals.

    Source: Turismo Roma – Nightlife

  • Trastevere after dark

    Rome

    Italia.it lists nightlife among Trastevere's draws.

    Source: Italia.it – Trastevere

Food

General tips

  • Tipping is optional

    Not compulsory; around 10% is customary if you were happy with the service.

    Source: Italia.it – Money, payments and tipping

  • Always take your receipt

    Shops must issue a receipt and you should keep it – it shows you bought the goods legally.

    Source: Italia.it – Money, payments and tipping

  • Validate tickets or risk a fine

    Rome

    Validate your ATAC ticket at the start of each journey and when you enter the metro; travelling without a valid ticket costs €100–500 (€50 if paid within five days).

    Source: ATAC – Multi-BIT (Italian)

  • Non-EU drivers need an International Driving Permit

    European licences are recognised; drivers from outside the EU need an IDP. Motorways charge tolls (cash or card).

    Source: Italia.it – How to travel around Italy

Summarised in our own words from the linked pages, official tourism boards and transport authorities first; items marked "Not official" come from other guides. Prices and opening times change, so check the source before you go. Last checked 23 Oct 2026.

Common tourist traps and how to avoid them

Scams and risky spots named in official travel advice for Italy, plus a few reported in public visitor reviews (labelled), in our own words.

  1. Distraction pickpocketing

    How it works: Thieves use distraction to take bags and wallets in city centres and at major sights.

    How to avoid it: Keep sight of your things and do not carry all valuables together; leave spares in the hotel safe.

  2. Fake car trouble

    How it works: Someone asks for help or directions or points out a "fault" with your car to get you to stop, then steals from it; parked cars are broken into everywhere.

    How to avoid it: Do not leave luggage in the car, even in the boot, and be wary of people trying to stop you.

  3. Drink spiking

    How it works: Drinks are spiked and victims robbed or assaulted; Italian measures are also stronger.

    How to avoid it: Do not take drinks from strangers or leave yours alone.

  4. Unlicensed taxis

    How it works: Unofficial cars pose as taxis.

    How to avoid it: Use official taxis with a roof sign and company name/number, from a rank, by phone or app.

  5. City tourist tax in cash

    How it works: Many cities charge a tourist tax at the hotel, often in cash and not included in your booking.

    How to avoid it: Budget for it and always ask for a receipt.

  6. 'Gladiator' photos outside the Colosseum

    How it works: Men dressed as gladiators or centurions offer a photo, then demand cash – visitors report €10–50, and Rome police arrested three men in 2022 after tourists were made to pay up to €500 under threats.

    How to avoid it: Don't pose with costumed people who approach you, don't let them put a helmet on you, and walk away. If threatened, call 112.

    From visitor reviews, not official Colosseum, Rome. Sources: reddit.com · reddit.com · questure.poliziadistato.it. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Official advice: FCDO: no areas advised against.

Emergency numbers in Italy

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: FCDO travel advice – Safety and security · FCDO travel advice – Warnings and insurance · FCDO travel advice – Getting help (emergency numbers) · FCDO page updated 2 Oct 2026 · Last checked 4 Oct 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Customs rules for banknotes and other cash when you enter or leave Italy.

EU external border (Reg. 2018/1672)

Bringing cash in
Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) when arriving from outside the EU.
Taking cash out
Declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or equivalent) when leaving to a country outside the EU.
Local currency (EUR) in
No limit (declaration only).
Local currency (EUR) out
No limit (declaration only).
Foreign currency
No limit (declaration only).
  • EU rule (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672): anyone entering or leaving the EU with EUR 10,000 or more in cash (banknotes, coins, bearer-negotiable instruments such as traveller's cheques, and gold coins/bullion of high purity) must declare it to customs at the point of entry/exit, using the EU cash declaration form. The threshold is per person, also for families/groups.
  • Customs can act on lower amounts if there are signs of criminal activity; undeclared cash can be detained and fined.

Official source: taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu · eur-lex.europa.eu · europa.eu · adm.gov.it · Last checked 4 Oct 2026

Italy visa rules by passport

The general rule for each passport, from official sources. Open a passport to see conditions and options that depend on where you live.

Free movement (EU/EEA/Swiss)30 passports
Visa-free63 passports
Embassy visa105 passports

Verified rules for Italy: 197 of 198 passports; awaiting verification: 1; not yet covered: 0. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet.

⚠ Unofficial sources: 1 rule for Italy is not from an official Italy government source (based on other governments' travel advice or secondary research). They are labelled on each page, are not counted as verified above, and should be confirmed with the embassy before travel.

Requirements for all visitors to Italy

These apply on top of the visa rules above, whatever your passport, unless an item says otherwise.

  • Proof of fundsProof of means of subsistence: Table A (tourism), one traveller / each of 2+: 1–5 days EUR 269.60 / 212.81 in total; 6–10 days EUR 44.93 / 26.33 per day; 11–20 days EUR 51.64 / 25.82 + EUR 36.67 / 22.21 per day; over 20 days EUR 206.58 / 118.79 + EUR 27.89 / 17.04 per day; plus repatriation funds or return ticket

    Applies to: non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors at the external Schengen border, on request.

    Official source: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · Last checked 2 Nov 2026

Nearby destinations

Official travel advice

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Plan your trip to Italy

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 23 Oct 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.