| Here we have gathered information that we hope you will find useful when you are traveling in Italy.
Money and ATM's
Currency
1 Euro = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of 2 and 1 Euro, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Credit Cards
VISA, Mastercard/Eurocard and Diners' Club are all widely accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travelers Cheques
Accepted widely throughout Italy.
Banking and Business Hours
Banks & Offices: Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday between 8.35am and 1.35pm and again from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. In some of the larger cities, however, they do not close for lunch.
Shops:Opening hours in the country are somewhat erratic but in general shops are open from 9.00am until 1.00pm and again from 4.00pm until 7.30pm. In certain towns, however, many stores take a half day where they do not open after lunch so you do really need to check with the particular area before you go. The larger stores, however, are generally open all day and many also open on Sundays, particularly in tourist areas.
Government Offices are open from 8.30am until 2.00pm but they do open until 5.00pm in the major cities. Museums are open from 9.00am until 7.00pm, some close between 1.00pm and 3.00pm and all are shut on Sunday and Monday.
ATM's
Your existing bank cards are unlikely to work in ATM´s in Italy. However, if you have a MasterCard, Cirrus Card or Visa Card, there are a lot of ATM's in the country where you will be able to withdraw money.
Currency Exchange
Always try to exchange your cash at a bank, because currency exchange offices charge higher rates. The charge will include commission, so check beforehand. There are exchange offices at all major airports and train stations whose opening hours are usually more convenient.
Electricity
Electricity in Italy is 220V, 50 Hz but in some places including Rome, 125V is still used so you should check the particular area before you travel.
To use U.S.-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and adapter. If your appliances are dual-voltage, you'll need only an adapter. Don't use 110-volt outlets marked for shavers only for high-wattage appliances such as blow-dryers. Most laptops operate equally well on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter.
Weather
Italy has a varied climate which falls into three geographical regions. The northern regions have cold Alpine winters and warm wet summers. In the Po Valley, winters are damp and icy while summers can be exceptionally dry. And, the rest of Italy, compliments of a temperate climate, generally has pleasant weather with long, hot summers and mild winters.
Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
January - March 55F to 32F
April - June 79F to 48F
July - September 82F to 61F
October - December 63F to 36F
Phoning Home
Area Codes: The country code for Italy is 39. The first two digits of Italian numbers are a prefix determined by zone.
Calling Italy: When dialing Italy from abroad, do not drop the initial 0 from the area code number. For instance, to call a telephone number in Rome (area code 06) from the United Kingdom, dial 00-33-06 followed by the local number.
Operator Assistance: For general information in English, dial 176. To place calls from one European country to another via operator-assisted service, dial 15. To place intercontinental telephone calls via operator-assisted service (or for intercontinental information), dial 170
Phone Cards and Public Phones: Public telephones are widely available throughout the Italy. A local call from a public telephone requires the use of a token (Gettone) which may be purchased at a newsstand or in any tobacco shop. Most telephones, however, will now only accept phonecards. These cards come in various denominations, and these too can be purchased at newsstands, tobacco shops or from vending machines in Telecom centres.
Driving in Italy
In Italy, drive on the right-hand-side of the road. It is easy to forget this when on a quiet road or pulling out of a car park or petrol station, so take care.
Documents
Ensure that you have your driving documents with you; you may be asked to produce them at any time.
- A valid driving license, national or international if required.
- Your passport
- You visa, if it is required
- Your car hire documentation.
Drinking and Driving
There is only one safe rule – if you drink, don't drive. The maximum allowed level of alcohol in bloodstream is 0.08%. This limit is strictly adhered to and random breath tests are common throughout the country.
Seat belts
It is compulsory for front and rear-seat occupants to wear seat belts.
Lights
The use of full headlights in built-up areas is prohibited; use sidelights or dipped headlights depending on how well lit the roads are.
Speed limits
Speed limits in Italy are measured in Kilometers per hour (kph). The standard legal limits, which may be varied by signs are:
- On Motorway: 130kph/81mph
- In Towns: 50kph/31mph
- On Major roads: 90kph/56mph
- If you are towing a caravan or trailer, you are legally limited to 70 kph (44 mph) outside built-up areas and to 80 kph (50 mph) on expressways.
Emergency phone numbers in Italy
Police tel. 113
Fire, tel. 115
Ambulance, tel. 118.
If you see an accident, or any circumstance in which you think the emergency services should be called, please do so. The emergency services would rather be called 10 times about the same incident than not called at all.
Some Useful Terms
Centro Paese - Town center
Entrata - Entrance
Incrocio - Crossroads
Lavori in corso - Roadworks ahead
Parcheggio - Parking ramp
Passaggio a livello - Train crossing
Rallentare - slow down
Senso unico - one way
Senso Vietato - No entry
Sosta Autorizzata - Parking allowed during times shown
Sosta Vietata - No parking
Stazione Di Polizia - Police station
Strada a doppie corsie - dual carriageway
Strada panoramica - scenic route
Svolta - Bend
Tutte le Direzion - All directions
Uscita - Exit
Vietato Ingresso Veicoli - No entry for vehicles
Vietato Transito Autocarri - Closed to heavy vehicles
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