🇮🇹 Italy
Layers of history in every piazza, Renaissance masterpieces, coastlines and hill towns, and a regional food culture worth travelling for.
🌍 View on the globe- Continent
- Europe
- Capital
- Rome
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Italian
Quick guide: Italy essentials
🛂 Visa & entry
Part of the Schengen Area. Many passport holders (including Canada, the US, the UK and Australia) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. The EU Entry/Exit System (biometric registration at the border) is rolling out, and the ETIAS online travel authorisation is due to become mandatory; check whether it applies before you book.
💉 Vaccines & health risks
Routine vaccines. Hepatitis A and B may be considered for some travellers.
🚗 Driving
Drive on the right. Non-EU licence holders need an International Driving Permit with their licence. Historic centres have ZTL limited-traffic zones enforced by camera; driving in without a permit brings fines by mail. Blood alcohol limit 0.05% (zero for drivers licensed under 3 years).
🏥 Healthcare & emergencies
Good public healthcare; EU visitors can use their EHIC, everyone else needs travel insurance. Emergencies: 112.
⚖️ Drug laws
Possessing small amounts for personal use is an administrative offence (fines, licence or passport suspension) rather than a crime; selling is a crime. Sales of low-THC 'cannabis light' flowers were restricted in 2025.
🎉 Nightlife & party scene
Evenings start with aperitivo (around 6 to 9 pm) and dinner runs late; clubs fill after midnight. Milan has the biggest club scene; Rome's Trastevere and Pigneto, Florence's Santo Spirito and the summer beach clubs of Rimini and Sardinia are popular. Drinking age 18.
Last reviewed 2026-10-17. Entry, health and legal rules change and can depend on your passport; always confirm with official sources before you travel.
City guides
All cities in Italy (9,904)
- Caronno Pertusella 16k
- Ghedi 16k
- Belpasso 16k
- Fiorano 16k
- Minturno 16k
- Palagonia 16k
- Cattolica 16k
- Vimodrone 16k
- Ginosa 16k
- Scicli 16k
- Valenzano 16k
- Sezze 16k
- Castel Maggiore 16k
- San Giovanni Valdarno 16k
- Forio 16k
- Zola Predosa 16k
- Cordenons 16k
- Sava 16k
- Villafranca di Verona 16k
- Cerveteri 16k
- Bressanone 16k
- Sannicandro Garganico 16k
- Sinnai 16k
- San Giovanni in Persiceto 16k
- Oderzo 16k
- Salsomaggiore Terme 16k
- Lido 16k
- Galliate 16k
- Siderno 16k
- Correggio 16k
- Porto San Giorgio 16k
- Chiari 16k
- Frattaminore 15k
- Malnate 15k
- Capua 15k
- Carate Brianza 15k
- Palagiano 15k
- Noci 15k
- Lancenigo-Villorba 15k
- Brusciano 15k
- Bussolengo 15k
- Mirano 15k
- Corigliano Scalo 15k
- Villanova 15k
- Rocca di Papa 15k
- Montichiari 15k
- Settimo Milanese 15k
- Darfo Boario Terme 15k
- Palestrina 15k
- Concorezzo 15k
- Carlentini 15k
- Castelfidardo 15k
- Omegna 15k
- Somma Lombardo 15k
- Cirò Marina 15k
- Ceccano 15k
- Breo 15k
- Riva del Garda 15k
- Sorrento 15k
- Savignano sul Rubicone 15k