Do most places in Italy take credit cards?

You can use credit cards at most establishments in Italy. Hotels, restaurants, and shops usually accept credit cards in Italy. Outside of most establishments, you will see stickers of the cards they accept. The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard.



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Definitely use credit cards as much as possible. You don't need to bring any cash. You might want to get 100 Euro from an ATM at the airport when you arrive in Italy and hit ATMs as needed throughout you trip. Consider getting larger sums to avoid the (roughly) $2 ATM fee everytime you use an ATM.

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It's always wise to carry a small amount of cash for smaller cafes and restaurants, some public transport options, and taxis who may not accept credit card payments. We once visited the same restaurant 5 years in a row, only to discover each time that their card machine was out of order!

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If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.

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Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip. Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.

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Most US-issued credit cards work in Italy. It's best to use cards issued by Visa or Mastercard, rather than American Express or Discover. The latter two are not as widely accepted, except in major cities and tourist hotspots. And it never hurts to have a little cash in euros in your wallet either, just in case.

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Don't bring any more cash with you than you'd normally carry with you in your own country on a daily basis. Bear in mind the increased pickpocketing risk for a tourist in Rome. When you get to the airport, get one or two hundred euros out of one of the ATMs in the baggage hall just in case (they don't charge fees).

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Bring $100-200 USD cash, but keep it stashed away and don't change into Euro. It's only to be used as a fallback if every ATM in the country is out of order at the same time. Use ATMs to withdraw Euro from cash machine in the airport upon arrival, and replenish your Euro supply at an ATM when you run low.

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The short answer is yes. Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.

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For the majority of places, such as museums, beaches, and stores, there are no restrictions on what you can wear. Many tourists and locals will wear shorts to these places when the weather is hot. At churches and the Vatican, you can only enter if your knees and shoulders are covered and you aren't wearing a hat.

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Compared to many other countries in Europe and around the world, Italy remains a predominantly cash-driven society.

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Since every region of Italy accepts the euro (including the Vatican City and the Republic of San Marino), you shouldn't have too much trouble managing your money.

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