Money and shopping in General
Currency conversions, credit cards, ATMs, VAT tax refunds, bargaining, and everything else to do with spending money
Planning a trip to General
Taxes in Italy and how you may be able to get some of that 22% IVA (VAT) refunded is you spend more than €155 in a single store
How to exchange your dollars for euros at the best rates (and lowest fees) possible in Italy
Top shopping tips for a trip to Italy to help you bring home the best gifts and souvenirs from your Italian travels at the best price
Use a credit union, online bank, local bank, or no-fee/low-fee credit card to keep foreign transaction fees (and all other bank fees) to a minimum
I'm a size what? European clothing sizes measures and shoe sizes and how to convert American clothes sizes to European (and British) ones
I'm a size what? European clothing sizes measures and shoe sizes and how to convert American clothes sizes to European (and British) ones
A guide to Italian retail therapy: shopping, VAT, haggling, customs, and souvenir-buying in Italy
Why traveler's cheques can sometimes still matter (as a way to carry emergency backup cash) in the age of ATMs and computerized banking
From credit cards, cash, and ATMS to VAT refunds, travelers checks, and customs limits in Italy
Topics in General
Pounds and kilos, grams and ounces, stone and tons (and tons, and tonnes)—Deciphering weights in Italy
Planning for a trip to Italy
Typical prices and costs in Rome faced by visitors and tourists
Experiences in Italy
★★★
Planning for a trip to Italy
Typical prices and costs in Venice faced by visitors and tourists
Useful links
- italia.it (official Italy site)
- Beniculturali.it (official site for major sights across Italy)
- Culturaitalia.it (Italy cultural patrimony)
- Coopculture.it (major sights/ruins across Italy)
- Vivaticket.it (tickets to about 75 sights across Italy)
Useful Italian phrases
Useful Italian for rail travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria [or] la stazione | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah [or] lah stat-zee-YO-nay |
| ticket | un biglietto | oon beel-YET-toh |
| first class | prima classe | PREE-mah CLAH-say |
| second class | seconda classe | say-CONE-dah CLAH-say |
| one way | solo andata | SO-low ahn-DAHT-tah |
| round trip (return) | andata e ritorno | ahn-DAH-tah ay ree-TOUR-noh |
| Just the supplement | Soltanto il supplemento | soul-TAHN-toh eel sou-play-MEN-toh |
| Just a seat reservation | Soltanto una prenotazione | soal-TAHN-toh oo-nah pray-no-tah-tsee-YOH-nay |
| I have a Eurailpass | Ho il Eurailpass | oh eel YOO-rail-pahs |
| sleeping couchette | una cucetta | oo-nah koo-CHET-tah |
| berth in a sleeping car | un posto nel vagone letto | oon POH-sto nell vah-GOAN-nay LET-toh |
| track | binario | been-AR-ree-yoh |
| train | treno | TRE-no |
| car (carriage) | carozza | ka-RO-tza |
| seat | posto | PO-sto |
| departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
| arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
| left luggage | deposito bagagli | day-PO-zee-toh ba-GAHL-yee |
| punch your ticket | timbrare il biglietto | teem-BRA-ray eel beel-YET-toh |
| Is this the right platform for the Rome train? | E questo il binario per il treno à Roma? | ay KWAY-sto eel been-AR-ree-yo pair eel TRE-no ah RO-ma? |
| delayed | in retardo | een ree-TAR-do |
| strike | sciopero | SHO-pair-oh |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| City / Train station names | ||
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Main station |
| Rome | Roma | Termini |
| Florence | Firenze | Santa Maria Novella |
| Venice | Venezia | Santa Lucia |
| Milan | Milano | Centrale |
| Genoa | Genova | Porta Principe |
| Naples | Napoli | Centrale |
| Leghorn | Livorno | Centrale |
| Turin | Torino | Porta Nuova |
Useful Italian for air travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| the airport | l'aeroporto | LAHW-ro-port-oh |
| the airplane | l'aereo | LAIR-reh-oh |
| terminal | terminal | TEAR-me-nahl |
| flight | volo | VOH-lo |
| gate | uscita d'imbarco | oo-SHEE-tah deem-BARK-oh |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
| departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
| arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
| delayed | in ritardo | een ree-TAR-doh |
| on time | in orario | een oh-RAH-ree-yo |
| early | in avanti | een ah-VAHN-tee |
| boarding | imbarco | eem-BARK-o |
| connecting flight | la coincidenza | la ko-een-chee-DEN-za |
| check-in | accettazione | ah-chet-ta-zee-YO-nee |
| immigration | controllo passaporti | cone-TRO-lo pah-sa-POR-tee |
| security check | controllo di sicurezza | kohn-TRO-lo dee see-kur-AY-tzah |
| customs | dogana | do-GA-na |
| shuttle | la navetta | lah na-VET-tah |
| boarding pass | carta d'imbarco | kart-ta deem-BARK-o |
| baggage claim | ritiro bagagli | ree-TEER-oh bah-GA-lyee |
| carry-on luggage | bagaglio à mano | bah-GA-lyo ah MA_no |
| checked luggage | bagalio | bah-GA-lyo |
Useful Italian for car travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| car | automobile | ow-toh-MO-bee-lay |
| scooter/motorboke | un motorino | oon mo-tair-EE-no |
| gas station | stazione di servizio | stah-zee-YO-nay dee sair-VEE-tzee-yo |
| gas | benzina | ben-ZEE-nah |
| diesel | gasolio [or] diesel | gah-ZOH-lee-oh [or] DEE-zell |
| Fill it up, please | al pieno, per favore | ahl pee-YAY-noh, pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the highway | l'autostrada | lout-oh-STRA-dah |
| ...the state highway | la statale [written "SS"] | lah sta-TAHL-eh |
| ...the road for Rome | la strada per Roma | lah STRA-dah pair RO-mah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
| to cross | attraversare | ah-tra-vair-SAR-ay |
| toll | pedaggio | peh-DA-jo |
| parking | parcheggio | par-KEH-jo |
| road map | carta stradale | kar-ta stra-DA-lay |
| where can I pay the fine? | dove posso pagare la multa | DOH-veh Po-so pag-GAR-ray la MOOL-tah |
Typical road signs / terms » more
| English (anglais) | French (français) |
| Stop | Stop |
| Exit | Uscita |
| Staffic light | Semaforo |
| One-way | Senso unico |
| Dead-end | Strada senza uscita |
| Parking prohibited | No parcheggio or parcheggio proibito |
| Pedestrian zone | Area pedonale |
| Limited Traffic Zone (you pay to drive in) | ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato |
Basic phrases in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
| thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
| please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| yes | si | see |
| no | no | no |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
| I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
| That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
| Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
| Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
| Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
| When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
| At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
| Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
| Today | oggi | OH-jee |
| Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
| Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
| a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
| Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
| Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
| Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
| Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
| Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
| Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
| Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
| January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
| February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
| March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
| April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
| May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
| June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
| July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
| August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
| September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
| October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
| November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
| December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| 1 | uno | OO-no |
| 2 | due | DOO-way |
| 3 | tre | tray |
| 4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
| 5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
| 6 | sei | say |
| 7 | sette | SET-tay |
| 8 | otto | OH-toh |
| 9 | nove | NO-vay |
| 10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
| 11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
| 12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
| 13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
| 14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
| 15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
| 16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
| 17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
| 18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
| 19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
| 20 | venti | VENT-tee |
| 21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
| 22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
| 23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
| 30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
| 40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
| 50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
| 60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
| 70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
| 80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
| 90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
| 100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
| 1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
| 5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
| 10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).
