What is the best time to visit Italy?

The best time to visit Italy depends on your priorities. Many travellers visit year-round, though spring and autumn typically offer pleasant weather and smaller crowds at popular attractions like Colosseum. Check weather patterns for Europe before booking.

What currency does Italy use?

Italy uses the euro (€). Exchange at banks or airports, and withdraw from ATMs with your debit card. Credit cards are accepted in most tourist areas.

What food should I try in Italy?

Neapolitan Pizza Margherita is one of Italy's most iconic dishes. Other must-try foods include Pasta Carbonara and Risotto alla Milanese. Eat where locals eat for the best experience.

How many countries can visit Italy visa-free?

93 countries can enter Italy without a visa, typically for up to 90 days. Check the full list and your specific requirements above.

Is Italy safe for tourists?

Italy is generally safe for tourists with normal precautions. As in any country, stay aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying expensive items, and use registered transport. Check current government travel advisories before your trip.

Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern and Western Europe.

Capital

Rome

Language

Italian, Catalan

Currency

euro (€)

Population

58.9M

Timezone

UTC+01:00

Visa-free access

93 countries

Travelling to Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern and Western Europe. It consists of a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with.

Italy is located in Southern Europe, Europe. The capital is Rome, and the official languages are Italian and Catalan. The local currency is the euro (€). With a population of 58.9M, Italy is one of the larger country in Europe.

Italy offers visa-free entry to 93 countries, with most stays allowed for up to 90 days. The remaining 105 passport holders need to apply at an embassy.

Top places to visit in Italy

Colosseum

The 80 AD Flavian Amphitheatre remains the definitive feat of Roman engineering with its complex system of 80 arched entrances and subterranean hypogeum; the travertine and tuff skeleton once held 50,000 spectators for ritualised combat; stand in the upper tier at dawn when the sun catches the skeletal northern wall; the morning air is silent except for the fluttering of swifts nesting in the limestone cracks.

Galleria degli Uffizi

The 16th-century administrative palace designed by Vasari houses the world’s premier collection of Italian Renaissance art; Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Da Vinci’s Annunciation are staged within vaulted corridors overlooking the Arno; arrive at 8:15 am to walk the eastern corridor when the light reflects off the river; the scent of floor wax and the weight of three centuries of Medici patronage define the air.

Basilica di San Marco

An 11th-century Italo-Byzantine masterpiece encrusted with over 8,000 square metres of luminous gold mosaics and plundered eastern marble; the five distinct domes dominate the Venetian skyline; enter during the late afternoon when the interior turns amber as the western sun strikes the tesserae; the air is thick with the smell of incense and the low hum of the tides pressing against the piazza.

Archaeological Park of Pompeii

A Roman city frozen in 79 AD by the pyroclastic surge of Mount Vesuvius; the site preserves the raw texture of daily life through volcanic-ash-cast figures and sun-bleached frescos; walk the basalt-paved Via dell'Abbondanza at noon to see the deep chariot ruts worn into the stone; the silence of the forum is punctuated only by the distant; rhythmic chirping of cicadas from the surrounding olive groves.

St. Peter's Basilica

The 16th-century epicentre of Christendom features Michelangelo’s 136-metre-high dome and Bernini’s bronze baldacchino; the nave is long enough to swallow a fleet of smaller cathedrals; climb the narrow spiral stairs to the lantern at sunrise for a 360-degree view of the Roman grid; the sound of the square’s fountains is a distant whisper; eclipsed by the thunderous morning bells.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Three distinctive battlement-like peaks of Dolomitic limestone rising to 2,999 metres in the Sexten Dolomites; the vertical north faces were first summited in 1869; hike the loop trail at 6 am before the cloud inversion lifts; the rock turns from cold grey to a searing; fiery pink as the first light strikes the carbonate minerals; the air is sharp and carries the scent of frozen scree.

See all 20 places in Italy →

What to eat in Italy

Neapolitan Pizza Margherita

traditional

Pasta Carbonara

traditional

Risotto alla Milanese

traditional

Arancini

traditional

Explore all Italy dishes →

Italy visa requirements

Visa-free

105

Visa required

Countries that can visit Italy visa-free

93 countries can enter without a visa, usually for up to 90 days.

Europe

Asia

United Arab Emirates90d

Americas

Oceania

Before you go to Italy

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Passport validity

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Italy immigration may refuse entry otherwise.

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Proof of onward travel

Carry a return or onward flight ticket. Airlines and border officers may ask to see it before allowing you to board or enter.

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Currency: euro

The local currency is €. Exchange major currencies at the airport or city banks. ATMs are widely available in urban areas.

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Language: Italian

Italian is the primary language. English is spoken in tourist areas and major cities.

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Power & connectivity

Check Italy's plug type and voltage before packing. Buy a local SIM card at the airport for affordable data.

Power plug guide →SIM card guide →

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Check your visa for Italy

Select your passport for an instant result.

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Italy 7-day itinerary

AI-generated day-by-day travel plan.

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Explore Italy

20 places, 7 dishes, and more.

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FAQ · Italy

Italy — your questions

It depends on your passport. 93 countries can enter Italy visa-free. Everyone else needs an embassy visa. Use the WorldCurio visa checker for your specific passport.