Buongiorno
bwohn-JOR-noh
Good morning, hello
Greeting someone until early afternoon
Travel guide
Learn Italy before you go
Ancient ruins, Renaissance art and some of the world's best-loved food, all in one boot-shaped peninsula.
CapitalRome
CurrencyEuro (€)
Official languageItalian
Drives on theRight
Calling code+39
10 phrases to learn
In Italian. Capital letters show the stressed part. Tap the heart to practise a phrase later.
Buonasera
bwoh-nah-SEH-rah
Good evening
Greeting someone from late afternoon on
Arrivederci
ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee
Goodbye
Leaving a shop or saying goodbye politely
Per favore
pehr fah-VOH-reh
Please
Asking for anything
Mi scusi
mee SKOO-zee
Excuse me
Getting someone's attention politely
Piacere
pee-ah-CHEH-reh
Nice to meet you
Meeting someone for the first time
Come sta?
KOH-meh STAH
How are you? (polite)
Asking a stranger or an older person how they are
Molto bene, grazie
MOHL-toh BEH-neh GRAHT-see-eh
Very well, thank you
Answering 'How are you?'
Parla inglese?
PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh
Do you speak English?
Before asking for help
Non capisco
nohn kah-PEES-koh
I don't understand
When you are lost in the conversation
At the table
- Pasta is usually a first course, not a main dish with meat on the same plate.
- Many Italians think cheese does not belong on seafood pasta.
- Wiping your plate with bread is called 'fare la scarpetta'. It is common at home, less so at formal dinners.
- Cappuccino is mostly a breakfast drink. After a meal, Italians usually order an espresso.
- Many restaurants add a small 'coperto' (cover charge) per person for bread and table service.
Local tips
Validate your train ticket
Paper tickets for regional trains must be validated in a machine at the station before you board, or you can be fined. Digital tickets do not need it.
Dress for churches
Many churches, including St Peter's in the Vatican, ask visitors to cover their shoulders and knees. A light scarf in your bag solves it.
Coffee is cheaper standing
In most cafés, a coffee at the bar costs less than the same coffee served at a table.
Dinner is late
Italians usually have dinner around 8 pm or later. Many restaurants do not open for dinner before 7 pm.
Tipping is small
Tipping is not expected as in some countries. Rounding up or leaving a couple of euros for good service is appreciated.
Shops take a break
In smaller towns, many shops close for a few hours in the early afternoon and open again in the evening.
Greetings with a kiss
Friends and family often greet each other with a light kiss on both cheeks. With strangers, a handshake is normal.
City tourist tax
Many cities add a small tourist tax per night to your hotel bill, often paid on arrival or departure.
Dishes to try
- Pizza margherita: A soft, thin Neapolitan pizza with tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil, baked for about a minute in a very hot wood-fired oven.
- Spaghetti alla carbonara: Spaghetti tossed with crispy guanciale (cured pork cheek), eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese and plenty of black pepper. The creamy sauce comes from the eggs and cheese, not from cream.
- Risotto alla milanese: Creamy rice cooked slowly in broth with butter, onion, Parmigiano and saffron, which gives it a bright golden colour.
- Lasagne alla bolognese: Layers of fresh egg pasta (often green, made with spinach), slow-cooked meat ragù, béchamel sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano, baked until bubbling.
- Trofie al pesto (Trofie al pesto genovese): Short twisted pasta with pesto alla genovese, a raw sauce of basil, pine nuts, garlic, cheese and olive oil, traditionally made in a marble mortar.
- Tiramisù: Ladyfinger biscuits soaked in espresso, layered with a light cream of mascarpone, eggs and sugar, and dusted with cocoa.
- Arancini (Arancini or arancine): Golden fried balls of rice, usually filled with meat ragù and peas or with ham and mozzarella.
- Ossobuco: Cross-cut veal shanks braised slowly with wine and broth, often topped with gremolata (lemon zest, garlic and parsley) and served with risotto alla milanese.
Cities to see
- Rome (capital): The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Trevi Fountain.
- Milan: Milan Cathedral, La Scala, Leonardo's The Last Supper.
- Naples: Pizza, Mount Vesuvius, Day trips to Pompeii.
- Turin: The Egyptian Museum, Fiat, Chocolate and gianduja.
- Florence: The Duomo, The Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David.
- Venice: Gondolas, St Mark's Square, Carnival masks.