Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
Italy uses the euro (EUR, €), divided into 100 cents. Coins run from 1 cent to €2 and notes from €5 to €200. Card payments are widespread, but carry some cash for small shops, markets and tips.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €)
- Subunit
- 100 cents
- Cash
- Useful for small purchases
- Notes above €50 can be hard to use for small buys
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
If you already hold euros you rarely need to exchange money. Otherwise, use banks or reputable exchange offices and compare rates and fees. Airport and tourist-area exchange desks tend to give poorer rates.
- Best
- Banks / reputable offices
- Avoid
- Airport / tourist desks
- ATMs
- Often better than exchange
- Check the total after fees, not just the headline rate
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, and contactless is standard in cities. Small rural shops, markets and some cafés may prefer cash. American Express is accepted less widely.
- Accepted
- Visa / Mastercard widely
- Contactless
- Standard in cities
- Cash-preferred
- Small/rural venues
- Amex acceptance is narrower than Visa/Mastercard
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs (Bancomat) are common in towns and cities. Prefer machines attached to banks. If offered conversion to your home currency (DCC), decline and choose to be charged in euros for a better rate.
- Name
- Bancomat (ATM)
- Safety
- Prefer bank machines
- DCC
- Choose euros, not home currency
- Check your bank's foreign withdrawal fees
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most card terminals in cities via contactless. Local wallets and QR schemes exist but are not needed by visitors. A contactless card or phone covers almost everything.
- Apple/Google Pay
- Widely usable in cities
- How
- Contactless terminals
- Backup
- Carry a physical card too
- Rural areas may still be cash-first
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping in Italy is modest and optional. Many restaurants add a cover charge (coperto) or service (servizio); if so, extra tipping is not expected. Otherwise, rounding up or a few euros for good service is enough.
- Restaurants
- Coperto/servizio may apply
- Amount
- Round up or a few euros
- Cafés/bars
- Round up small change
- Check the bill for coperto or servizio before tipping
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Prices vary by region and season, with big cities and tourist zones more expensive than smaller towns and the south. An espresso at the bar is cheap; sitting at a table can cost more. These figures are rough guides only.
- Espresso (bar)
- About €1–1.50
- Casual meal
- About €12–25
- Local transit
- About €1.50–2 per ride
- Table service and prime locations add to the price
Non-EU-resident travellers can reclaim VAT on eligible goods taken out of the EU. Italy uses the electronic OTELLO tax-free system: ask for a tax-free invoice, validate it (customs/digital) on departure, then get your refund.
- Who
- Non-EU residents
- System
- Electronic OTELLO
- Steps
- Invoice → validate → refund
- Take unused goods and receipts to customs before leaving