🇮🇹 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)
- Bobbio 2k
- Oulx 2k
- Giacciano con Baruchella 2k
- Carchitti 2k
- Fabrizia 2k
- Trichiana 2k
- Credaro 2k
- Grumolo delle Abbadesse 2k
- Brugine 2k
- Montelabbate 2k
- Sanza 2k
- Annone di Brianza 2k
- Ormelle 2k
- Zoppola 2k
- Ghiffa 2k
- Rauscedo-Domanins 2k
- Barzago 2k
- Carrara-Pontenuovo 2k
- Area Produttiva 2k
- Lierna 2k
- Contigliano 2k
- Pieve Santo Stefano 2k
- Brembilla 2k
- Frascineto 2k
- Trivignano 2k
- Chignolo Po 2k
- Meduna di Livenza 2k
- Mammola 2k
- Albuzzano 2k
- Pieve Porto Morone 2k
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- Imbersago 2k
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- Gargnano 2k
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