Capital: Rome
Language: Italian
Time Zone: EST plus 6 hours
Currency: Euro (€ or EUR)
Visas and Passports:
Visas to Italy are not required for U.S. citizens as it is a party to the Schengen Agreement. If you hold a passport from another country, you will need to check with your local consulate. European law requires you to carry your passport with you at all times. Passports should have at least 6 months of validity before your departure, and United States citizens are allowed to visit Italy for up to 90 days without a visa. The following websites are very helpful for questions related to visas and passports:
- The U.S Department of State is a wonderful resource for finding international travel information on safety and applying for a passport. Click here for country safety information and embassies. Click here for passport forms. With help choosing which form you need, click here for the Passport Wizard.
- If you need your passport quickly, please see the conditions, fees, and services here for expedited service.
- USEmbassy.gov provides a list of embassies and consulates in every country around the world.
If you are new to traveling internationally, or travel frequently, the U.S. Department of State offers a program called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free program that allows U.S. citizens and nationals to register their trip at the local consulate or embassy. Benefits of this program include receiving updates on safety conditions in the destination country as well as helping family and friends contact you in the case of an emergency.
Sherpa is your guide to providing travel identification requirements and the most up to date travel restrictions so you can move freely, wherever you decide to go. In today’s travel climate, travelers encounter ever-changing identification requirements, different guidelines for every country, complex rules and regulations—it’s a lot to navigate. Sherpa creates ease by allowing you to plan your trip around changes announced by governments.
Calling Home and Abroad:
The country code for Italy is 39, and when dialing Italy from the United States you must also use the international calling code 011 from the United States and Canada. For example, if you would like to call someone in Italy, dial 011 39 and then the phone number provided.
The country code for the United States is 001. When dialing a United States number from Italy, dial 011 then the area code and phone number.
Calling cards are quite cheap and can be bought in tobacco shops (tabacchi). Oftentimes, depending on the card you buy, 5 euros will get you a few hundred minutes of calling home to a landline phone. However, with internet in most hotels these days, Facetime (Facebook). Skype, and WhatsApp are excellent websites/ apps to video or audio chat with friends and family free of charge.
Many hotels in major cities provide a cell phone with basic calling and internet services for clients to use locally while visiting. Before leaving, ask your hotel if this service is provided.
Certain cell phones in the United States use SIM cards that may be removed and replaced with an Italian SIM card during your stay. This is a great option for lengthy travel and to avoid high roaming costs and fees with your local US carrier. Italian cell phone companies that we love to use are TIM and Vodaphone. If you plan on buying an Italian SIM card, make sure to check with your mobile company regarding your type of mobile phone and the frequency that it supports. This is important to ensure compatibility with your Italian SIM card.
Weather and Packing:
In Italy, temperatures vary widely from the north to the south.
In northern Italy summers are hot and humid while winters can be very cold. When packing, we recommend bringing a heavy coat in the winter but light clothing in the summer with a jacket or sweater for cool evenings.
In central Italy the climate is milder, with the difference in temperature being smaller between summer and winter. We suggest packing a medium-warmth coat for winter temperatures with clothing that is possible to layer (i.e. sweaters, shirts). For summer travel, we recommend packing light clothing and bringing a jacket or sweater as cool evenings are possible.
In southern Italy winter can be rainy with mild temperatures. For this reason, we suggest packing light jackets and bringing clothing that is possible to layer. Summer temperatures are very hot and humid so we recommend packing light clothing along with a jacket or sweater for cool evenings.
Vatican Dress Code
When visiting the Vatican and certain other churches in Italy, prepare to dress conservatively. The following dress is prohibited at the Vatican (including the Sistine Chapel), St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens:
- Sleeveless tops
- Hats (note: women are not required to cover their hair/head)
- Shorts, dresses, and skirts above the knee
- Low-cut tops
- Shoes that do not cover the feet (note: sandals are okay, but no flip-flops)
Tipping:
Many times service charges are already included in restaurant bills in Italy, however many people still tip if service is worthy. Follow these guidelines if you choose to tip:
- Taxi drivers – 1-2 euros
- Private Transfers:
- Short Transfers: 2-3 euros
- Long Transfers / Full Day Services: 10-15 euros
- Restaurants – 1-2 euros (more if the service is excellent)
- Room service (or other special hotel service): 1-2 euros
- Guides:
- Small Group: 1-2 euros per person
- Private Half Day: 3-4 euros per person
- Private Full Day: 5-8 euros per person
- You may need to pay up to 1 euro to use certain public toilets which pays the attendant to keep the restroom clean.
Electricity:
The electrical voltage in Italy is 220V, so it is necessary to bring an electrical adapter/ converter. Be advised that adapters are different from converters, that some travel converters will adapt the plug, but not convert the voltage. We do not recommend bringing a hair dryer unless it is designed for travel to Europe. Note: most 4- and 5-star hotels provide hair dryers for clients.
