🇮🇹 Travel facts Italy
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to Italy — entry, tipping, plug, customs and more. Compact and verified, with sources.
| Capital | Rome |
|---|---|
| Language | Italian |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 1.5–2.5 hours |
| Emergency number | 112 · Police 113 · Emergency 118 |
| Plug | Type C/F/L · 230 V / 50 Hz |
| EU / Schengen | EU · Schengen |
Do I need a visa for Italy?
A national ID card is sufficient — Italy is an EU and Schengen member.
No visa, no stay limit for tourists. Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much should I tip in Italy?
Service is usually included; leave €1–2 on the table or round up, 5–10% for upscale dining — Coperto (€1–3) is customary.
Taxi: Round up.
Which plug adapter do I need in Italy?
No adapter needed — Type C / F / L (230 V / 50 Hz), German plugs fit.
Euro plugs fit everywhere; Schuko (Type F) does not fit older Type L sockets — a small adapter helps.
Can you drink tap water in Italy?
Yes, tap water is drinkable.
Good quality almost everywhere; in Rome, there are over 2,500 public drinking fountains (Nasoni).
What can I bring from Italy to Germany?
EU internal market: no customs borders. For personal use, there are guideline amounts (e.g., 800 cigarettes, 10 l spirits).
Will my mobile phone work in Italy?
EU roaming: The German mobile tariff applies without extra charge (‘Roam like at Home’).
Card or cash — how do you pay in Italy?
Euro; card payments are common, some cash is advisable for cafés and small shops.
What should I know about health in Italy?
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid; supplementary travel health insurance is advisable.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — the binding source is the German Federal Foreign Office (Italy travel information) . Health information does not replace medical travel advice.
