Dealing with Money, How to Pay for Things When Traveling in Italy (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to pay for things in Italy? ›

MasterCard and VISA are the most commonly accepted cards. You will get a better exchange rate by using your credit card, as opposed to exchanging US dollars in Italy. Keep in mind that if you pay cash, you're more likely to get a discount in an independently owned store, if you ask for it.

It is best to exchange your cash at a bank in your home country before arriving to avoid the fees at exchange offices. The fastest and easiest way to exchange your money is to take money directly out of an ATM (Bancomat in Italian).

Cash is no longer king in Italy (even more so after COVID-19,) and almost all establishments accept credit/debit cards. Most international banks and money outlets charge a fee for you to use their ATM machines.

First, understand that Italy is a very cash-oriented society, so make sure you never end up with zero cash in your wallet. To buy small things, like coffee, you'll need cash. You'll also need cash at all outdoor markets, for most taxis, and at many restaurants.

What is this? On average you can expect a trip to Italy to cost €55-130 per person per day (around $60 to $150 USD) for budget to mid-range travellers. These prices will be heavily influenced by how you chose to spend your money across accommodation, transportation, food, activities, and entertainment.

In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.

If you ask locals “do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, a tip (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah)—whether given to restaurant servers or hotel employees—is considered a bonus for exceptional service.

Advantages of an overseas card

The main advantage of using a debit or credit card overseas is that you won't pay foreign transaction fees every time you spend. While many also won't charge fees for cash withdrawals, you will still usually be charged interest from the date of the transaction if you use a credit card.

Free ATMs in Italy

Italian bank branches host ATMs machines. BNL (Banca Nazionale del Lavoro) is the only Italian bank that currently participates in the Global ATM Alliance, which is a global network of banks that waive international ATM access fees.

How many euros should I take to Italy for 2 weeks? ›

200 euro should be fine to start. The only thing I noticed was that far fewer places took credit than in the US, so you might have to get some more out, but just take it out of the ATM. None. It will be cheaper and faster to get your cash from an airport ATM using your debit card.

You don't need to bring too much cash, but it's good to have some Euro (about $100 per person) to bring along if you want to grab a quick bite or a taxi before you have time to hit a cash machine. I think there are some Citibanks and tons of ATMs in general.

Many travelers also recommend bringing a dummy wallet when you travel, which is an old wallet filled with expired or fake credit cards and some small bills. Money belts and neck wallets — those flat, cloth pouches that fit under your clothes — are the traditional ways to carry money safely while you're traveling.

Taxis should technically be required to accept cards, but some will tell you that they can only take cash for short trips. If you want to shop like an Italian at a fresh food market, you should bring cash.

Italians pay with cash much more often than Americans do, so unless you're at a very fancy restaurant where the bill may be quite large, be prepared to pay for your meal in cash.

Asking for for the check

Unless you are eating in a touristic restaurant, the waiter/waitress will not come to you asking if he/she can bring the bill. You will have to speak up and ask directly for it! Indeed, in Italy it is consider rude “rushing” the guests with the payment.

You may need to pay to use a bathroom (but it will be cleaner than a free one!). Always have your own toilet paper for public bathrooms. Don't be surprised if the toilet doesn't have a seat.

Italian banks do not charge for ATM withdrawals, but your bank might charge a foreign withdrawal fee. It's best to find out about the withdrawal fees before you leave your own country. Some banks are part of the Global ATM Alliance.

The word in Italian for ATM or bank machine is “bancomat.” You need to match the symbols on the back of your card with the bancomat – including Visa or MasterCard, but also symbols for things like “Star,” “Cirrus,” or “Plus.” Look for matching symbols, not necessarily words.

What is the tipping protocol in Italy? ›

What is the rule for tipping in Italy? There is no strict rule about tipping in Italy. Leaving a tip is a courteous gesture that shows the person who provided a service to you, that you appreciated their help. As such, leaving a tip is entirely up to you and, in many cases, it will not be expected, albeit appreciated.

While credit cards are easy to carry and more secure than cash, you should always have some local cash on you when traveling. It's just good sense. Besides the fact that some local shops and vendors won't accept credit cards, having some cash provides a safety net in case your bank shuts off your card for any reason.

Nearly all merchants in Italy accept Visa and MasterCard, and the vast majority accept American Express. The Discover card is also widely accepted. As with any trip outside of the United States, you'll want to make sure to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

Almost all phones should work in Italy. Just check to see if your mobile phone supports GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies. If travelling from outside the EU, it is worth making sure you have an international call package with your mobile phone provider before visiting Italy.

“posso avere il conto per favore?”

The short answer is yes. Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.

TIPPING TAXI DRIVERS IN ITALY

Tipping a taxi driver is not expected, but I've found that most people do leave a small amount. The general rule is to round up to leave €1-2. So, if your cab fare is €13.10, leave €15.00. You can also leave an additional tip if they help with luggage (€1 per bag).

Key Takeaways. Currency exchange shops and kiosks in airports are not the best places to exchange money. For the best rates, try a local bank or a bank ATM to make your currency exchanges.

There's no limit to the amount of foreign currency you can bring into the Italy or the eurozone. However, you're going to have to declare your cash if you're planning to enter or leave the country with more than €10,000.

Quite simply, you can save a lot of money with a travel credit card. If it's your main card on holiday, then you can potentially save a fortune in fees. Specialist travel cards do not charge fees for foreign spending, unlike most everyday credit cards.

Is it cheaper to use ATM or currency exchange? ›

Throughout Europe, ATMs are the easiest and smartest way for travelers to get cash. You'll usually pay withdrawal fees, but you'll still get a better rate than you would exchanging dollars for local cash at a currency exchange booth.

Paying with your debit card is almost always cheaper than withdrawing money from it. Within the euro countries, paying with a debit card or credit card is free.

We recommend withdrawing cash from ATMs as the cheapest way to get cash abroad if you're using a debit or credit card that's specifically geared toward international use or a travel card.

You can use credit cards at most establishments in Italy. Hotels, restaurants, and shops usually accept credit cards in Italy. Outside of most establishments, you will see stickers of the cards they accept. The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard.

Virtually impossible to predict, we'd advise a figure roughly around €100 a day for spending money in Western Europe and about €40–60 a day for Eastern Europe. Budget Your Trip has thankfully provided a Travel Cost Index that maps out the average daily travel price of real travellers, per person per day.

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

Italian ATMs don't charge usage fees. The conversion to Euros is also worked out using the mid-market rate, so you'll get the fairest exchange rate possible. However, you'll still need to look out for other fees and charges, such as international conversion costs.

If your money isn't in cash, there's no limit to how much you can travel with. If it is in cash, however, you'll have to declare it if it's over 10,000 euros (or the equivalent in your local currency) when entering or exiting an EU member state from outside of the EU.

No, you can bring any amount of money to the airport. It is not illegal to fly with a large amount of cash on a flight. However, if you are traveling on an international flight and have more than $10,000 in your possession, then you must disclose the amount of U.S. Currency in your possession on a FinCEN 105 form.

A good X-ray scanner will always detect money. Airport scanners can detect even the smallest amount of metal and can detect paper. The scanners will always look after things that look different to the norm. In this case, if the currency is arranged in bundles, it will be more easily detected.

How much cash do I need for a week in Italy? ›

How much money will you need for your trip to Italy? You should plan to spend around €132 ($138) per day on your vacation in Italy, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €36 ($37) on meals for one day and €21 ($22) on local transportation.

Uber Black vehicles are better than regular taxis and are well-maintained, but the rates are higher than the regular taxi rate. In Rome, Uber is readily available, but you don't get the regular Uber taxi. The app works, but the vehicles you find here are Uber Van, Uber Lux, and Uber Black.

USE YOUR CREDIT CARD

Also, stores are more willing to give you a small discount on price if you pay cash! MasterCard and VISA are the most commonly accepted cards. You will get a better exchange rate by using your credit card, as opposed to exchanging US dollars in Italy.

First, understand that Italy is a very cash-oriented society, so make sure you never end up with zero cash in your wallet. To buy small things, like coffee, you'll need cash. You'll also need cash at all outdoor markets, for most taxis, and at many restaurants.

“Il conto per favore.” That's how you ask for the bill in Italian. And now that you know, you might as well forget it. It's not worth your brain space. You can ask for the bill in restaurants in Italy, but most likely, no one will bring it to you.

In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.

Money Tip 5: Using debit cards in Italy — the next best thing. You won't be able to use your credit card everywhere in Italy — most restaurants and larger hotels accept them now, but not all room rentals do, and smaller shops may not either.

As a rule, debit cards are more widespread and commonly accepted in Italy so if you pay with Visa and MasterCard you'll have no particular difficulties. The only problem with a debit card is that a withdrawal from an ATM can cost you 5$ on average.

Paying with your debit card is almost always cheaper than withdrawing money from it. Within the euro countries, paying with a debit card or credit card is free. Withdrawing money with your debit card in another European Union country does not cost more than it does in your home country.

Is it worth getting a prepaid travel card? ›

Prepaid travel cards are a good way of keeping track of your holiday spending as you can only spend what is loaded on the card. When you reach the limit, you can add more money onto it. They also provide a cost-effective and relatively safe way to take money abroad as the card can be blocked if lost or stolen.

200 euro should be fine to start. The only thing I noticed was that far fewer places took credit than in the US, so you might have to get some more out, but just take it out of the ATM. None. It will be cheaper and faster to get your cash from an airport ATM using your debit card.

Use your credit or debit card when possible

Fees aside, using your credit or debit card is probably your safest bet for getting an exchange rate that's closest to the market rate. But be aware that while your card's issuer bases its exchange rate on market conditions, it does set its own exchange rate for transactions.

That being said, it's better to withdraw a large amount of cash at once to avoid multiple fees. The percentage charged by your bank on international withdrawals is most likely fixed, so by making larger withdrawals, you're actually getting more bang for your buck where ATM fees are concerned.

Typically you are better off opting to pay in the local currency, rather than converting to Sterling as you make the purchase. If you pay using the local currency, the transaction will then be converted into Sterling at the Mastercard, Visa or Amex own rate.

If your ATM card is on the Mastercard/Cirrus or Visa/Plus networks (look for the name and symbol on the back of the card) then you will be able to get cash out of Italian ATM machines.

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.

Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

The euro is a robust international currency, and dollar bills have no advantage over euros in Italy. In fact it's a complete pain for an Italian business to exchange foreign cash, and they will also lose a lot of money on the exchange.