Italy Travel Guide

• Culture vultures will be in holiday heaven as thousands of years of history ooze with Italian charm in this cultural country. 
• Close to home, and with only an hour’s time difference, Italy is a nearby destination that offers the gap year traveller amazing new experiences without the culture shock. 
• It’s easy to travel to - Only a short flight away, and you don’t need to worry about visas, just hop on a plane and get going!
• You can work in Italy without having to jump through too many legal hoops. 
• It’s easy to hop between sensational sights in this picture-postcard-pretty and compact country. 
• With pizza and pasta a-plenty, the food in Italy is mouth-wateringly fresh and delicious. 
• See the seat of one of the world’s most ancient empires and roll through the ravishing countryside and relish the Roman ruins.

Italian cuisine is hailed as one of the finest and most delicious in Europe, and Italian cooking prides itself on its simplicity. Relying on the quality of the produce, Italian cooking uses only a few ingredients to create fresh and sensational meals. Pizzas are thin-based and sparing with the cheese, whereas pasta is served just cooked, or ‘al dente’ and comes in endless shapes, from swirls of fusilli to strings of spaghetti. Potato dumplings known as gnocchi are also popular, as are regional specialities such as the Venetian risotto, a rice-based dish, or the maize meal called polenta. Fresh seafood, tomatoes, meat and onions are common ingredients on any Italian menu, as are cheeses, including parmesan, ricotta and mozzarella. 

Italian suppers start late and are leisurely affairs, with each morsel being savoured at a slow pace. Often consisting of several courses, meals include tasty antipasto starters, pasta or risotto, followed by a meat and a cheese course, topped off with some true Italian coffee and a scoop of delicious gelato (ice cream).  Follow with an Italian liqueur and you’ll be enjoying a gastronomic feast well into the night! 

Italy is a country of climate contrasts, with the image of the Italian Riviera giving the idea that Italy is all about long hot summers. The reality is somewhat different, with winters being long and harsh in some areas, such as around the Alps. Florence is sheltered and swelters in summer, as does Rome, where temperatures skyrocket in the summer months of July and August, which are also the busiest tourist and holiday season. 

Venice can be humid in summer, due to its watery location, and can have bright and biting winter days.  If you head south to areas such as Sardinia or Sicily then winters remain mild and summers are long and leisurely. Italy is a great year-round destination due to the varied climate, and its historic sights and cultural charisma can be enjoyed whatever the weather. 

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in Italy set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Italian Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

Italy follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Lost or stolen passports

If your passport is lost or stolen, you must renew your passport or apply for an emergency travel document. You cannot use a police report to leave Italy.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Italy, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Italy are different. 

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

If you cannot return to the UK before your visa-free limit expires, contact the nearest local immigration office (‘questura’) (in Italian).

If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area. 

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport. 

At Italian border control, you may need to:

• show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for your own property 
• show proof of your travel insurance
• show a return or onward ticket 
• prove that you have enough money for your stay – the amount varies depending on your accommodation

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period 

To stay longer, you must meet the Italian government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You’ll need to apply and then book an appointment.

If you’re in Italy with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Read about entry processes if you live in Italy.

Dual citizenship

The Italian authorities recommend that dual nationals with Italian citizenship enter and leave Italy on an Italian passport.

Italy-Slovenia land border

There are temporary border checks at Italy’s border with Slovenia. Allow extra time for crossing the land border. Be ready to show your passport or residency card if you are asked by the border police.

Registering with the police

Hotels and accommodation providers in Italy have a legal duty to register your passport details with the police. When checking into your accommodation wait until hotel staff have registered your passport details. Do not leave your passport for later collection. If the hotelier takes a photocopy of your passport, ensure it is either returned to you or destroyed.

If you’ve come from another Schengen-area country and you are not staying in a hotel or facility that registers your stay, you must declare your presence (‘dichiarazione di presenza’) to the local immigration authority (‘questura’) within 8 days of arriving. The ‘questura’ will give you a form to complete.

You can get more information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Italian police force.

Travelling with people aged 17 and under

If you’re aged 17 or under, you cannot check into hotels or holiday accommodation without an accompanying adult.

British people aged 17 and under travelling without their parents or guardians do not need any authorisation stamped by the Embassy, even if they are resident in Italy. Only Italian children travelling without parents or guardians need such a document stamped by the local police.

See further advice on travelling abroad with people aged 17 and under, or travelling to the UK with people aged 17 and under.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Italy guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into and out of Italy. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Italy

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special food or pet feed required for medical reasons.

Taking money into Italy 

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 euros or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave.

As a European country, Italy does not differ greatly from the UK in its culture and customs. Italy is a predominantly Catholic country and in religious sites and churches, it is customary to cover your shoulders and not to wear shorts or short skirts.  When you get to know people in Italy, you may be greeted with a kiss on both cheeks and hospitality is also very important, especially around meals and Italian food. 

Life passes on Italian time, which is leisurely and not always punctual, so expect everything to run a little late. The British love of queues is largely ignored in Italy so expect to be elbowed aside on occasion! 

Health

Healthcare is good in Italy, and for British travellers, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card before you travel, which entitles you to emergency medical treatment in Italy. You must also make sure you have appropriate travel and health insurance in place before you go. 

Safety

Italy is generally a very safe location to travel to, but be alert for pickpockets and petty crime, especially in the larger cities such as Rome and Florence, and in tourist areas. Rental cars can be targeted so don’t leave valuables in your car, and public transport is another common target.  Begging can also be a problem in bigger cities. Don’t buy goods from illegal street vendors who are to be found on most city streets. See our general guide to safety when travelling for further advice. 

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.