🇮🇹 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)
- Pesaro 77k
- Pisa 77k
- Varese 77k
- Sesto San Giovanni 77k
- Arezzo 76k
- Latina 76k
- Gela 74k
- Pistoia 74k
- Caserta 73k
- Fuorigrotta 72k
- Cinisello Balsamo 71k
- Lamezia Terme 71k
- Altamura 68k
- Guidonia Montecelio 68k
- Quartu Sant'Elena 67k
- Pavia 66k
- Castellammare di Stabia 66k
- Massa 65k
- Alessandria 64k
- Cosenza 64k
- Afragola 63k
- Ragusa 61k
- Asti 61k
- Grosseto 61k
- Cremona 60k
- Molfetta 60k
- Trapani 59k
- Carrara 59k
- Casoria 58k
- Savona 58k
- Vigevano 58k
- Pianura 58k
- Legnano 58k
- Caltanissetta 57k
- Potenza 56k
- Portici 56k
- Matera 55k
- San Severo 55k
- Cerignola 54k
- Trani 54k
- Bisceglie 54k
- Acerra 54k
- Ercolano 54k
- Carpi Centro 53k
- Imola 53k
- Bagheria 53k
- Manfredonia 53k
- Aversa 53k
- Ponticelli 52k
- Bitonto 52k
- Venice 51k
- Vittoria 51k
- Gallarate 50k
- Marano di Napoli 50k
- Pordenone 50k
- Acireale 49k
- Scafati 49k
- Moncalieri 49k
- Viareggio 49k
- Benevento 49k