Europe

Money, cards and tipping in Italy

Capital: RomeItalian, German, French, CatalanUpdated October 2026

EUREuro

Money in Italy

Cards almost everywhere Businesses must accept cards by law and contactless is normal. Keep some cash for small bars, markets, rural trattorie and tourist taxes. US$1 ≈ €0.89 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Not expected. Bills often include coperto (€1–4 per person) or a service charge; round up or leave a few euros for great service.
ATMs: Use bank ATMs (Bancomat), not Euronet machines; always decline the ATM's currency conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay widely accepted; tap a bank card at metro gates in Rome and Milan.
Price level: about 69% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Rome	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a few euros for small bars, markets and some trattorie.
Venice	Cards almost everywhere	Cards are accepted in most places. Some small bars, bacari and market stalls prefer cash.
Florence	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work nearly everywhere. Carry small cash for markets, small bars and some trattorie.
Milan	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Carry a few euros for small bars and markets.
Amalfi Coast	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; carry cash for buses, small shops, beach clubs and some trattorie.
Naples	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels and many restaurants; cash for pizza by the slice, bars, markets and small shops.
Lake Como	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in hotels, restaurants and ferries; carry some cash for small cafés, markets and buses.
Cinque Terre	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and many restaurants; carry cash for small cafés, trail snacks and some shops.
Sicily	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in hotels and most restaurants; cash for markets, street food, small bars and rural trattorie.
Tuscany	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are normal in towns. Keep cash for markets, small bars, rural trattorie and parking machines.
Positano	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work at hotels and most restaurants; carry cash for buses, small shops and some beach clubs.
Sardinia	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; carry cash for small beach bars, markets and rural agriturismi.
Bologna	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for market stalls, some osterie and cheap bars.
Verona	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a few euros for markets and small bars.
Pisa	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a few euros for markets and small bars.
Capri	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; carry cash for buses, boats, small shops and the Blue Grotto boat.
Sorrento	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; cash for buses, small shops and some trattorie.
Lake Garda	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in restaurants, hotels and ferries. Keep a little cash for small bars, parking meters and market stalls.
Turin	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Keep small cash for older cafés, markets and some small shops.
Siena	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a little cash for small cafés, markets and some small shops.
Puglia	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards are widely accepted; cash is still handy for small bars, beach kiosks, markets and rural trattorie.
Dolomites	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in hotels, shops and lifts. Carry cash for some rifugi, which may not take cards.
Taormina	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in hotels, restaurants and shops. Carry a little cash for the cable car, small bars and beach kiosks.
Palermo	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, shops and many restaurants; cash for markets, street food, small bars and some taxis.
Catania	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, shops and many restaurants; cash for the fish market, street food and small bars.
Bari	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, shops and most restaurants; cash for focaccia bakeries, street food and small bars.
Matera	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and many restaurants; cash for small bars, bakeries, parking and some taxis.
Lecce	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels, shops and most restaurants; cash for bakeries, street snacks, small bars and some beach kiosks.
Genoa	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep some cash for focaccia bakeries, markets and small bars.
Lucca	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in hotels, shops and most restaurants. Keep a little cash for small cafés, markets and bike rentals.
Bergamo	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a little cash for small bars, market stalls and some bakeries.
Syracuse	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and most restaurants; cash for the Ortigia market, small bars and beach kiosks.
Cagliari	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a little cash for small bars, market stalls and some beach kiosks.
Umbria	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are normal in towns. Keep cash for markets, small bars, rural trattorie and festival stalls.
Lake Maggiore	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are normal in towns and hotels. Keep cash for small cafés, market stalls and parking machines.
Rimini	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in most places. Keep cash for kiosks, beach-bar tabs, some trattorie and parking machines.
Calabria	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants. Many beach bars, small shops, markets and parking attendants prefer cash.
Abruzzo	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards are accepted in towns and hotels. Village bars, markets, rural trattorie and some agriturismi prefer cash.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Italy?

Not expected. Bills often include coperto (€1–4 per person) or a service charge; round up or leave a few euros for great service.

Is Italy cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Businesses must accept cards by law and contactless is normal. Keep some cash for small bars, markets, rural trattorie and tourist taxes.

What currency does Italy use?

The Euro (EUR). US$1 ≈ €0.89 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.