CURRENCY
Italy was one of the first EU countries to adopt the new European currency: EURO (€).
The EURO € is available in coins with 8 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 e 50 cents, €1 e €2. (Any Euro coin has a common side, and a National side, peculiarity of the issuing country. The eight coins of any country can be used in the whole Euro zone).
The banknotes are available in seven denominations (like in the other European Countries) corresponding to €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Mind: €200 and €500 banknotes are mainly used for high-value transactions and consequently aren’t usually accepted by shops, restaurants and hotels for limited purchases.
If you are without Euros on your arrival in Italy, you can change your currency into Euro at any bank, currency exchange offices in airports, ports and railway stations of the main cities. Also post offices in the main tourist areas have Currency Exchange services. You can also withdraw Euros from the BANCOMAT (ATM) located outside any bank through your enabled credit card.
Travellers Checks can be changed into Euro in most of the hotels, shops and Exchange Offices.
BANCOMAT (ATM) AND CREDIT CARDS
Most of the shops accept the main credit cards (VISA, MASTERCARD, and AMERICAN EXPRESS). To see if shops, restaurants, etcetera accept credit cards check to see if they show your credit card’s brand on the entrance door.
ATMs in Italy are called BANCOMAT and are available everywhere (both in the big cities and in the small centres). BANCOMAT terminals work the same as in other countries. Before inserting your card it is recommended to check if it is compatible with the ones accepted by the terminals (the brand must be both on the card and the terminal). Cirrus, BankMate and Plus are the most common systems in the world.
It is advisable to call your credit card company before departure and let them know you will be traveling in Europe. Check also the daily withdrawal limits (remember to convert into Euro), so that you can accurately calculate your budget.
Usually, it is preferable to use debit card or BANCOMAT cards (ATM cards) for the withdrawals because their charges are lower than the ones for credit cards.
BANKS OPENING HOURS
The banks in Italy are open from Monday to Friday 8:35am-1:35pm and 3-4pm. The banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday and during national holidays.
Italy was one of the first EU countries to adopt the new European currency: EURO (€).
The EURO € is available in coins with 8 denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 e 50 cents, €1 e €2. (Any Euro coin has a common side, and a National side, peculiarity of the issuing country. The eight coins of any country can be used in the whole Euro zone).
The banknotes are available in seven denominations (like in the other European Countries) corresponding to €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. Mind: €200 and €500 banknotes are mainly used for high-value transactions and consequently aren’t usually accepted by shops, restaurants and hotels for limited purchases.
If you are without Euros on your arrival in Italy, you can change your currency into Euro at any bank, currency exchange offices in airports, ports and railway stations of the main cities. Also post offices in the main tourist areas have Currency Exchange services. You can also withdraw Euros from the BANCOMAT (ATM) located outside any bank through your enabled credit card.
Travellers Checks can be changed into Euro in most of the hotels, shops and Exchange Offices.
BANCOMAT (ATM) AND CREDIT CARDS
Most of the shops accept the main credit cards (VISA, MASTERCARD, and AMERICAN EXPRESS). To see if shops, restaurants, etcetera accept credit cards check to see if they show your credit card’s brand on the entrance door.
ATMs in Italy are called BANCOMAT and are available everywhere (both in the big cities and in the small centres). BANCOMAT terminals work the same as in other countries. Before inserting your card it is recommended to check if it is compatible with the ones accepted by the terminals (the brand must be both on the card and the terminal). Cirrus, BankMate and Plus are the most common systems in the world.
It is advisable to call your credit card company before departure and let them know you will be traveling in Europe. Check also the daily withdrawal limits (remember to convert into Euro), so that you can accurately calculate your budget.
Usually, it is preferable to use debit card or BANCOMAT cards (ATM cards) for the withdrawals because their charges are lower than the ones for credit cards.
BANKS OPENING HOURS
The banks in Italy are open from Monday to Friday 8:35am-1:35pm and 3-4pm. The banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday and during national holidays.
VAT (Value Added Tax) REFUNDS
(For purchases made in Italy by EU non-resident travellers)
In Italy the prices shown in the shops already include VAT. In most cases, the VAT on consumption goods is 20%.
In compliance with EU legislation, non-resident travellers can ask for a VAT refund on any product purchased in Italy for personal usage or as a gift. The value of these products have to exceed 154,94 Euro purchased in a single shop and the goods must leave the EU territory within three months after the purchase is made.
Remember to keep a copy of all the receipts issued by the shops at the time of the purchases because both the products and the receipts will be checked by the customs office at the airport from which you leave the EU territory. After that, the receipts and the required stamped forms are sent to the shop, where the VAT refund will be performed either in Euro cash or directly as credit on your credit card. For further information concerning the procedure relative to this refund please visit the Custom’s agency website.
There are companies that specialize in this type of refund. In exchange for a percentage of the refund, they will take care of all the related procedures.
SHOPS BUSINESS HOURS
Usually shops are open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm with variable hours. The opening hours of shops change according to the market sector and from region to region.
Often in the big cities or in the tourist areas the shops are open more hours and may also be open on Sundays. In the most remote areas the shops may close during lunchtime and on a mid-week day.
TIPS
In Italy it is not a ‘duty’ to give tips. Usually customers choose to leave tips as a sign of appreciation for excellent service received.
The restaurants usually include the tip in the bill, under the cost title “servizio”. When the service is not specified, it is included in the price of the dishes. When the food and the service have been perfect and particularly appreciated, Italians leave a tip for
the waiter that served them as a sign of appreciation. The amount is at the discretion of the customer.
In bars and cafes, the same guide lines apply as in the restaurants, even if in some Italian areas (especially in the Southern regions) people leave some coins on the counter as a tip. It is important to note that in the Italian bars the prices increase if you decide to eat or drink sitting down at a table, rather than standing up at the counter.
It is not necessary to tip the taxi driver (the fees are extremely high compared to other countries).
In the hotels it is recommended that you tip the person that carries your baggage to your room. This gratuity is part of your tour price. A group gratuity will be given at each hotel to cover baggage handling and for other hotel staff.
In Italy the prices shown in the shops already include VAT. In most cases, the VAT on consumption goods is 20%.
In compliance with EU legislation, non-resident travellers can ask for a VAT refund on any product purchased in Italy for personal usage or as a gift. The value of these products have to exceed 154,94 Euro purchased in a single shop and the goods must leave the EU territory within three months after the purchase is made.
Remember to keep a copy of all the receipts issued by the shops at the time of the purchases because both the products and the receipts will be checked by the customs office at the airport from which you leave the EU territory. After that, the receipts and the required stamped forms are sent to the shop, where the VAT refund will be performed either in Euro cash or directly as credit on your credit card. For further information concerning the procedure relative to this refund please visit the Custom’s agency website.
There are companies that specialize in this type of refund. In exchange for a percentage of the refund, they will take care of all the related procedures.
SHOPS BUSINESS HOURS
Usually shops are open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm with variable hours. The opening hours of shops change according to the market sector and from region to region.
Often in the big cities or in the tourist areas the shops are open more hours and may also be open on Sundays. In the most remote areas the shops may close during lunchtime and on a mid-week day.
TIPS
In Italy it is not a ‘duty’ to give tips. Usually customers choose to leave tips as a sign of appreciation for excellent service received.
The restaurants usually include the tip in the bill, under the cost title “servizio”. When the service is not specified, it is included in the price of the dishes. When the food and the service have been perfect and particularly appreciated, Italians leave a tip for
the waiter that served them as a sign of appreciation. The amount is at the discretion of the customer.
In bars and cafes, the same guide lines apply as in the restaurants, even if in some Italian areas (especially in the Southern regions) people leave some coins on the counter as a tip. It is important to note that in the Italian bars the prices increase if you decide to eat or drink sitting down at a table, rather than standing up at the counter.
It is not necessary to tip the taxi driver (the fees are extremely high compared to other countries).
In the hotels it is recommended that you tip the person that carries your baggage to your room. This gratuity is part of your tour price. A group gratuity will be given at each hotel to cover baggage handling and for other hotel staff.
TIME ZONE
Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The time difference between Italy and some major cities is as follows:
London: -1 hour
New York: -6 hours
Chicago: -7 hours
Denver: -8 hours
San Francisco: -9 hours
Ottawa: -6 hours
New Delhi: +3.5 hours
Beijing: +6 hours
Canberra: +8 hours
Wellington: +10 hours
Daylight savings time is observed from the end of March to the end of October
SPECIAL THANKS to the staff of EraofPeace.org for providing this information for traveling in Italy.
Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The time difference between Italy and some major cities is as follows:
London: -1 hour
New York: -6 hours
Chicago: -7 hours
Denver: -8 hours
San Francisco: -9 hours
Ottawa: -6 hours
New Delhi: +3.5 hours
Beijing: +6 hours
Canberra: +8 hours
Wellington: +10 hours
Daylight savings time is observed from the end of March to the end of October
SPECIAL THANKS to the staff of EraofPeace.org for providing this information for traveling in Italy.