Below are general information to consult before departure to better prepare your trip to Italy.
Every traveler, even minors, must have a personal identity document valid for expatriation (passport or, for EU citizens, an identity card valid for expatriation) and, if applicable, a Visa (https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/). For minors, additional documents may be required, such as an authorization to leave the country.
No specific vaccine is mandatory. It is advisable to be up to date with vaccinations for whooping cough, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, mumps, polio, measles, rubella, tetanus, chickenpox. Remember to bring your health insurance documents.
Pets accompanying travelers must have documentation that varies depending on the country of origin (for example microchip, tattoo, passport, origin certificate, health certificate…). Rabies vaccination is mandatory.
We invite you to verify the formalities to be completed based on your nationality and usual place of residence with your travel agency, your diplomatic representations in Italy, and/or your respective official government information channels.
The official language is Italian.
Two of the Italian regions with special status also have a second official language: the Aosta Valley with French and Trentino-Alto Adige with German (mainly spoken in the province of Bolzano).
Many dialects are still spoken in various regions today.
The official currency is the Euro.
Major credit cards are generally accepted from a minimum purchase amount. However, we advise you to carry cash to pay small amounts and entrance fees at certain sites.
Voltage is 220 V with a frequency of 50 Hz.
It is recommended to bring a travel adapter as Italian electrical outlets may differ from those in your home country.
Italians are almost 80% Catholic and very observant.
When visiting a religious site, you are required to cover your shoulders and legs (no tank tops or shorts).
Italy enjoys a temperate climate, mainly Mediterranean but also mountainous and continental depending on the relief and latitude. There are broadly 6 climatic regions, which however show variations at the local level:
The Alpine region (mountain climate) includes the entire Alpine arc, from Piedmont to Friuli: winters are long, harsh, with heavy snowfall; summers are cool and rainy. Note that the Great Lakes region, particularly Lake Garda, benefits from a microclimate with milder temperatures.
The Po Valley region (continental climate) corresponds to northern Italy, from the foothills of the Alps to Emilia-Romagna: winters are cold and humid with frequent mist and fog; summers are hot and stifling. Rainfall is more frequent in spring and autumn.
The Apennine region (continental climate) stretches along the Apennine mountain range, from northern Liguria to Calabria: generally, winters are cold with frequent snowfall, especially in the higher areas. Temperatures are however less severe than in the Alps because the altitude is lower. Summers are cool with frequent rainfall, especially on the western slope. Temperatures become warmer as you move south.
The Ligurian-Tyrrhenian region (Mediterranean climate) extends to the west of the peninsula, from Liguria to southern Latium between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennine mountains: it benefits from Mediterranean Sea influences and protection from the northern mountains. Generally, winters are mild and rainy, summers are hot and windy.
The Adriatic region (Mediterranean climate) stretches along eastern Italy, from southern Friuli to northern Puglia, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountains: winters are less rainy but colder than in the western part, particularly due to cold winds from the northeast (like the Bora). Summers are hot and windy. Rainfall is more frequent in winter and spring.
The southern and island region (Mediterranean climate) encompasses the regions of Sardinia, Sicily, Campania, Puglia, Calabria and eastern Basilicata: the climate is hot and dry. Winters are short and very mild, and summers are long and hot (even very hot). Rain, mainly present in winter, is rare. Only the hinterland of Calabria, in the Apennines, records lower temperatures and abundant snowfall in winter.
In Italy, public holidays are as follows:
In addition, there is a specific day for each municipality, in honor of the patron saint protecting the city. Most offices and shops are then closed (all day or only half a day) and events are organized (fairs, markets, festivals, processions, fireworks… depending on the municipalities). Here, in chronological order of dates, is the list of main cities:
