(Last updated: 27 Apr 2011)

Climate

Italy’s climate varies from temperate in the north to semitropical in the south.

Summer (June-August) is hot in the south (including Sicily and Sardinia) and may be warm muggy in the north, while winter (December-March) is generally cold, with occasional snow and fog in the north. Winter in the south is generally milder. Visitors should bring warm woollens and overcoats in winter and lightweight cotton and linen clothing in summer. Italians generally dress quite formally for business meetings.

For weather details in Italy, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Airports

All major Italian cities have airports offering frequent connections to Rome, Milan and other European cities. Linate Airport is just 15–20 minutes by car from the centre of Milan while Malpensa Airport is about one hour away. Fiumicino Airport is about one hour by car from the centre of Rome. Make sure taxis have the emblem of the local council on their side door, otherwise they may not be authorised. Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory. Approximate one-way fares are as follows:

• taxi from Milan to Linate – A$25
• taxi from Milan to Malpensa - A$150
• taxi from Rome to Fiumicino – A$60
• bus from Malpensa to Milan Central Station – A$13
• train from Malpensa to Cadorna Northern Railway Station (Malpensa Express) – A$18
• train from Rome to Fiumicino – A$10

Ground transport

Trains are the cheapest way to travel around Italy. There are excellent high-speed connections between the major cities on Eurostar, InterCity and EuroCity, which are generally punctual. Local commuter trains may be less punctual. Before you get on a train you must stamp your ticket on a dedicated yellow machine to validate it. The machines are normally located throughout the railway station and some are also situated along the platforms. If you don’t validate your ticket you will be liable for a small fine.

In most large cities public transport is convenient and rapid. Bus, tram and subway tickets are on sale at newspaper stands or stations. Train tickets are sold at railway stations or travel agencies. For longer north-south distances, there are several excellent domestic airlines offering reasonable fares. Taxis (often white, and bearing the emblem of the local town council on the side) are relatively expensive and charge extra at night and when travelling outside city limits. Car rentals are quite expensive (starting at A$80 per day), and credit cards are required.

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Italy. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Crime is not usually a problem for travellers in Italy, but car thefts and bag snatching may occur especially in larger cities. Awareness of the risk is generally all that is needed to ward off such events. Organised crime exists in Italy, particularly in some southern regions, though effective measures are being taken to curb it. Law and order are maintained by:

• ‘Arma dei Carabinieri’ (operated by the Ministry of Defence)
• ‘Polizia di Stato’ (police, operated by the Ministry of the Interior)
• ‘Guardia di Finanza’ (police, specialised in financial crime, controlled by the Ministry of Finance)
• ‘Polizia Municipale (Vigili)’ (local police force, operated by town councils)

Health

Australian citizens have access to full free public health care including emergency medical care and hospitalisation, through ‘Aziende Sanitarie Locali’ – local health units. There are no costs and insurance is not required.

For emergencies dial 118 from any public phone (no charge). Coverage is provided only for a maxium of six months from the date of last arrival in Italy. Public health standards may vary from city to city. The private health care system is excellent and offers high quality service, but costs are high and insurance coverage is required.

It is not difficult to find English speaking doctors and no vaccinations are required to travel in Italy. You can also safely drink tap water throughout Italy, but in larger cities (eg. Milan) most people drink bottled water.

Time zones and time differences

Italy is eight or 10 hours (depending on the season) behind Australian Eastern Standard Time - Daylight saving starts at the end of March and ends at the end of October (as in the rest of Europe).

To find out the current time in Rome, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Italy's country code is 39.

For calls to Italy from Australia dial: 0011 + 39 + area code + telephone number.

For calls from Italy to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Business hours

The opening hours for banks, shops and services vary from region to region.

In general, the hours are open between 9.00am–7.30pm, closing for lunch from 1.00pm- 3.30pm, Monday to Saturday.

Some large supermarkets and shopping centres are open also on Sunday mornings.

Banks are generally open between 8.30am–1.30pm and from 3.30pm–4.30pm.

Post offices and public offices are usually open between 8.00am–12.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Some post offices are also open in the afternoon.

Public holidays

January 1 - New Year’s Day
January 6 - Epiphany
April 25 - Liberation Day
May 1 - Labour Day
August 15 - Assumption
November 1 - All Saints Day
December 8 - Immaculate Conception
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Boxing Day

Currency

Oanda currency converter

Italy is part of the common European currency, and in January 2002 converted to the Euro (€). The Euro is now the official currency for all transactions. One Euro is made up of 100 cents. Euro notes are common to all Euro zone countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain), while the coins are customised with the national symbol. Both Euro notes and coins can be spent in any Euro zone country.

Electricity and water

Italy’s power supply is 220 volts. The round two-pin plugs are the most common.

Dining

The most popular cultural and artistic cities in Italy are Rome, Florence and Venice. Italy offers an abundance of options for eating out, everything from fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, Spizzico, and Autogrill to international restaurants and smaller, often family-operated trattorias. Prices do not include service. There is usually a cover charge, and since restaurants are virtually always licensed, there is no BYO. Menus are always displayed outside, so check prices. Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory.