What money should I bring to Italy?

The euro is a robust international currency with huge backup, and dollar bills have no advantage over euros in Italy. In fact it's a complete pain for an Italian business to exchange foreign cash, and they will also lose a lot of money on the exchange.



People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The unit of currency in Italy (and the rest of Europe) is the euro and centessimo, similar to the US dollar and cent. The coins are as follows: 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euro. The bills are as follows: 5 euro, 10 euro, 20 euro, 50 euro, 100 euro, 200 euro and 500 euro.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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).

MORE DETAILS

In my opinion 500 euros is sufficient for 10 days and if you feel you need more, just use your debit card to get some more. Carrying lost of cash is never a good idea and especially in Italy and not all hotels have safes. Make sure your PIN for your card has no more then 4 digits.

MORE DETAILS

Tipping in Italy: Restaurants While there are no standard rules like in America, if you've received exceptional service, a 5-10% tip max is appreciated.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS