Should I bring cash to Venice?

By law, every business in Italy must be able to take cards. In practice about 95% of them do. You hardly need any cash at all. You can use your credit or debit card wherever there is a PoS (point of sale) machine.



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Because of these fees, avoid using your credit card for ATM withdrawals or cash advances (use a debit or cash card instead). Venetian merchants prefer MasterCard and Visa, but American Express is usually accepted in popular tourist destinations.

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In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.

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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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A mid-range budget traveler, such as myself, can expect to spend approximately $150 per day or $1,050 for one week of travel in Italy, excluding flights. Two mid-range budget travelers visiting Italy can expect to spend about $270 per day. I break down my Italy travel budget by category below.

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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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Italian translation of 'cash'
  1. ( coins, notes) soldi mpl ? denaro. in cash in contanti. £200 in cash 200 sterline in contanti. ...
  2. ( immediate payment) to pay cash down pagare in contanti. cash with order/on delivery (business) pagamento all'ordinazione/alla consegna.
  3. ( informal) (money) quattrini mpl.


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You can drink the water in Venice and save yourself the expense and waste of bottled water. Venice's tap water is pumped in from the Italian mainland so you don't have to worry about anything questionable in the water that is floating under the city. That lagoon water is not coming out of the tap.

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In addition to cash, you can pay for your purchases using the most popular credit cards. In larger centres, it is also possible to pay using your smartphone via the various dedicated apps. Currently, the main active electronic payment systems are: Visa.

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The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard. American Express and Discover are less frequently accepted. Many places in Italy now accept contactless payment methods like Apple Pay. Taxis typically require cash payment, unless you are ordering it through a taxi application on your phone.

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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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