Do’s and Don’ts When Visiting

Italy A quick guide on how to blend in with the locals

DO try to speak the language.

Italians appreciate the effort, but may respond in English as they love to practice what they’ve

learned.

DO expect to walk a lot.

Wear comfortable shoes – sneakers, sandals, flats, loafers etc. as long as your feet are

comfortable.

DO wear stylish clothing.

Italians take pride in their appearance. You can dress to impress if you want to fit in. But don’t

overdo it.

DO make restaurant reservations.

If you know there’s a restaurant you want to eat at, call ahead and reserve.

Reservations are common at most nice restaurants, especially for dinner.

DON’T be surprised to find businesses and shows closed for an hour or two

between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Most Italians take a two-hour break to return home for lunch. Take this time to enjoy a leisurely lunch

of your own.

DO dress appropriately when visiting churches.

When entering any church in Italy, be sure that your shoulders, knees and midriff are covered.

When entering St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, numerous inspectors will give you the once over,

so don’t even try to get in wearing shorts or a tank top.

DON’T eat inside museums and churches.

Vatican Museums hallway

DO turn off cell phones and DO keep your voice

down when visiting museums and churches.

Basilica San Giovanni Laterano in Rome

DON’T rent a car with manual transmission (the most common) if you are not comfortable with it.

Pay the extra amount for an automatic.

DO ask about a VAT (value-added tax) refund when you purchase more

than €155 of goods in one store.

If the store participates in the “Tax Free for Tourists,” you can get this 19% tax, called the

Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto or IVA, refunded at the airport on your way home.

DO keep track of your purchases as U.S. Customs

will ask you about them when you return to the

country.

You can bring up to $800 worth of goods back to the U.S. without paying duty. If you bring back

more, DON’T even try to lie. The penalties are stiff.

DO expect a 10% -15% service charge to be added

to your restaurant bill.

Enjoying dinner with friends in Rome!

DO leave a small tip on top of that if the service was

good (don’t leave the American 15% however.)

Waiter at a restaurant in Tuscany!

DO tip taxi drivers about one euro, more if it was a

longer trip.

Now that you know the “do’s and don’ts” choose from one of our escorted tours of Italy!

For more information about travel to Italy,

visit our website www.touritalynow.com or call our travel experts

at 800.955.4418.