Why is there a taxi strike in Italy?

Unionized taxi drivers plan to hold a nationwide strike Oct. 10 against new legislation, which they claim may result in unfair competition and impact drivers' livelihoods. The USB-TAXI, ORSA-TAXI, and FAST-TAXI-CONFSAL unions will lead the work stoppage.



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While Italy is a very safe country, there are pickpockets frequently on public transportation. You should always keep a close eye on your bag when you are taking public transportation. Taxi drivers are usually a good option - make sure to only take an official taxi (they are marked as official taxis).

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Good To Know: You may have heard about the conflict between Italian taxis drivers and UBER. Italian taxi drivers don't want UBER in Italy because getting and having an Italian taxi license is complicated and expensive.

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Cab drivers in Italy never expect a tip, so if you give one to them, they may be surprised. If you're using a car service like Uber or Free Now (formerly myTaxi), tipping is also not required. But if any driver goes out of his or her way to assist you, it's OK to give a small tip.

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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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Hack is short for hackney (from the Middle English hakeney), which at one time described a horse of average size, used for regular riding—as distinct from stronger horses used for hauling or in war. Such horses were often let out for hire to pull a coach or cab.

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Taxi drivers in Italy are not supposed to pick you up if you flag them down. Keep in mind, there are starting rates that differ in every city depending on the time of day. There are also fixed prices from some airports, train stations and ports.

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Most taxi drivers will speak enough English to get by, but if you want to brush up on your Italian, here are a few useful phrases: Devo andare all'aeroporto di Fiumicino: I have to go to Fiumicino Airport. Swap out the last bit according to your destination; e.g. devo andare alla stazione centrale.

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What is the rule for tipping in Italy? There is no strict rule about tipping in Italy. Leaving a tip is a courteous gesture that shows the person who provided a service to you, that you appreciated their help. As such, leaving a tip is entirely up to you and, in many cases, it will not be expected, albeit appreciated.

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There is no strict rule about tipping in Italy. Leaving a tip is a courteous gesture that shows the person who provided a service to you, that you appreciated their help. As such, leaving a tip is entirely up to you and, in many cases, it will not be expected, albeit appreciated.

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Fake taxis They're unlicensed taxis that are eager to offer you a ride to wherever you want to go. They'll charge you whatever they feel like and can take you on whatever route you like. You're not usually in any physical danger with these taxi scams; they just want your money.

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