2026 ITALY Holidays

Tipping in Italy: Similar to some of its neighbours, tipping in Italy is not expected as service workers receive a living wage. Instead, it is viewed as an optional, small gesture to show appreciation for truly good or exceptional service. The culture is shifting somewhat in major tourist areas(like Rome, Venice, and Florence), where small tips are becoming more common due to the influx of international visitors.

For all services, it is highly recommended to tip in cash. In restaurants, before tipping, check your bill for a service charge, which can be 10-15% and means no further tip is necessary. Also, lookout for the coperto (cover charge), a small per-person fee, which is not a tip. If no service charge is included, a small tip is still appreciated for good service. For casual restaurants, rounding the bill up to the nearest 5 Euros or leaving €1-€2 per person is sufficient. For fine dining or exceptional service, a small tip of 5-10% is more common.

Tipping in cafes is generally not expected if you stand at the counter (al banco). If you receive table service, leaving a few coins—typically a Euro or simply rounding up the bill, is considered polite. Leaving small change for a quick coffee at the bar is also a kind gesture. Tipping at hotels is appreciated but optional. You may consider leaving 1-2 Euros for housekeeping and the same per bag for a porter. 5-10 Euros for a concierge who provides special, extensive assistance (like securing difficult reservations).

Weather in Italy: Italy's long, peninsular shape and mountainous geography create distinct regional weather patterns, making the temperature highly variable from north to south. Northern Italy, which includes cities like Milan and Venice and is bordered by the Alps, experiences a more continental or humid subtropical climate. Summers are warm to hot, with average highs in July and August reaching 30C, often accompanied by an occasional thunderstorms.

By contrast, central Italy, home to Rome and Florence, enjoys a milder, more temperate climate. Summer highs are generally hotter and drier than the north, while winters are mild, with Rome's average day time highs in January at around 11C. The warmest weather is consistently found in Southern Italy and the Islands (like Sicily and Sardinia), which are dominated by a classic Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer daytime highs often exceed 30C.

The shoulder months of April, May, September and October offer pleasant weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities. For example Rome’s day time highs range around the 20-25C mark.

Money in Italy: As Italy uses the Euro, it is easy to access the currency prior to your trip at foreign exchange stores and online. Alternatively, you may take your credit card with you and get Euros in Italy. ATMs are readily available in all resorts, towns and cities in Italy as well as in banks, supermarkets, airports and elsewhere. This really is one of the easiest ways of obtaining money in Italy.

By law, most businesses must accept card payments, a blend of cash and cards is the smartest approach for tourists. Large hotels, major restaurants, shops and attractions readily accept credit and debit cards. It’s wise to carry about 50-100 Euros in small denominations for instances where only cash is possible, such as for public toilets, market stalls, food vendors, some local buses and small tips (tipping is not mandatory but appreciated for good service).

City Tax:
Tourists are charged a fee per night, by each municipality (Comune) and goes towards city maintenance, tourism services, and infrastructure collected by your accommodation. Click here for up-to-date fees for each location.

Tap Water in Italy: The good news for travellers in Italy is that tap water is overwhelmingly safe and of excellent quality throughout the country. It is strictly regulated and consistently monitored according to rigorous national and European Union standards. Even though bottled water is extremely popular among Italians, often more due to cultural tradition or a preference for the taste of certain mineral waters than any safety concern.

Beyond the tap, make sure to take advantage of Italy's public drinking fountains, a fantastic and free resource. In Rome, you'll find thousands of small, historic cast-iron fountains known as "nasoni"(meaning "big noses") which dispense continuous, fresh drinking water. Cities like Venice and Florence also have numerous public drinking points. Look for the small, functional fountains (fontanelle) rather than the large, decorative ones like the Trevi Fountain. A critical sign to watch out for is "Acqua Non Potabile," which means "non-drinkable water"—but you'll rarely see this sign in urban areas. Using these public sources with a reusable bottle is a great way to stay hydrated, save money, and reduce plastic waste as you explore.