🇮🇹 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)
- Li Punti-San Giovanni 10k
- Recco 10k
- Polistena 10k
- Melito di Porto Salvo 10k
- Capodrise 10k
- Albisola Superiore 10k
- Marsciano 10k
- Pero 10k
- Nembro 10k
- Sambuceto 10k
- Terralba 10k
- Aradeo 10k
- Racale 10k
- Ovada 10k
- Pieve di Soligo 10k
- Trescine 10k
- Finale Ligure 9k
- Fiumefreddo Sicilia 9k
- Carmiano 9k
- Castelli Calepio 9k
- San Marzano sul Sarno 9k
- Spilimbergo 9k
- Bagni di Tivoli 9k
- Altopascio 9k
- Paese 9k
- Forlimpopoli 9k
- Alberobello 9k
- Venafro 9k
- Mascali 9k
- Molinella 9k
- Cittanova 9k
- Santa Flavia 9k
- Paceco 9k
- Scalea 9k
- San Zeno-San Giuseppe 9k
- Fiuggi 9k
- Patti 9k
- Martano 9k
- Bedizzole 9k
- Fiume Veneto 9k
- San Valentino Torio 9k
- Cividale del Friuli 9k
- Trabia 9k
- Treviolo 9k
- Marostica 9k
- Sannicandro di Bari 9k
- Massa Lombarda 9k
- Castellarano 9k
- Lana 9k
- Minervino Murge 9k
- Maranello 9k
- Zafferana Etnea 9k
- Castelletto Sopra Ticino 9k
- Gavirate 9k
- Anagni 9k
- Montescaglioso 9k
- Pulsano 9k
- Monteforte Irpino 9k
- San Sebastiano al Vesuvio 9k
- Racconigi 9k