Facts of Italy

By | October 27, 2021

Below you will find practical information in connection with trips to Italy

  • Language: Italian
  • Capital: Gypsy
  • Population: 62 mill.
  • Religion: Roman Catholicism
  • Currency: Euro
  • Surface: 301 340 km2

Worth knowing

Time difference

There is no time difference between Italy and Sweden.

Transport in Italy

The buses we travel with in Italy are in good condition and all are equipped with air conditioning.

Economy

Prices in Italy are lower than in Sweden. It is possible to get a good meal at a very reasonable price. but of course you will find all price ranges. Half board and other included meals usually do not include drinks.

When you shop in shops, bars, restaurants and the like, you should always ask for a receipt. You can very well be stopped outside the store and asked to present a receipt to ensure that the purchase has been registered at checkout. Therefore, always keep the receipt.

Currency and credit cards

The Italian currency is the euro (EUR). 1 EUR = approximately 9.28 SEK You can exchange money both at home and in Italy.

Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express can be used as debit cards almost anywhere in Italy. In the larger cities you will find ATMs where you can withdraw cash.

Credit cards are not quite as common in Italy as they are in Scandinavia. Even if stores and restaurants advertise that they take credit cards, it is not certain that they will accept it if the purchase price is less than a certain amount. This is because in Italy you pay a high fee to receive foreign credit cards.

Tip

You should tip at restaurants and hotels in Italy. You usually round up. If the service has been satisfactory, you tip about 1-2 euros per person.

For cruises, other rules apply. See the travel program for your trip.

Electricity

In Italy, 220-230 volts apply, just like in Sweden.

Telephone and internet

According to allcitycodes, Italy’s international country code is +39. It can be expensive to call home from Italy, so feel free to inform your operator about call costs to and from Italy.

Most major cities have internet cafes and the larger hotels offer internet connection for a fee. Italian hotels do not always have as well-functioning internet connections as in Scandinavia. In many places you are five years behind in terms of speed and connection. It does not prevent you from writing emails, reading the newspaper and the like, but it can be a little trickier to stream movies, for example.

Tact and tone

When you go to a museum or church, you should have your legs and arms covered to show respect.

Smoking

During air travel and transport, there is an absolute ban on smoking. You may not smoke indoors in public places unless you have set up a special smoking room.

Climate and weather Italy

On this page you can read about the climate and weather in Italy. See, for example, temperatures for the capital Rome, Milan in the north and Palermo in Sicily in the south.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN CHRISTMAS AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Gypsy
Daytime temperature 12 13 15 18 23 27 30 31 27 21 16 13
Night temperature 3 4 5 8 12 15 18 18 15 11 7 4
Precipitation (mm) 67 73 58 81 53 34 19 37 73 113 115 81
Milan
Daytime temperature 6 9 14 17 22 26 29 29 24 18 11 6
Night temperature -1 0 4 7 12 15 18 18 14 9 4 0
Precipitation (mm) 59 49 65 76 96 67 67 89 93 122 77 62
Palermo
Daytime temperature 15 15 16 19 23 27 30 31 28 24 19 16
Night temperature 9 9 10 11 15 19 22 23 20 17 13 10
Precipitation (mm) 98 110 78 65 36 18 7 32 65 106 118 124
Venice
Daytime temperature 7 9 13 16 22 25 28 28 24 18 12 7
Night temperature 0 1 4 8 13 16 18 18 14 10 4 1
Precipitation (mm) 47 48 49 70 66 78 64 65 72 74 66 51

The climate in Italy varies with different regions. In the northern parts of Italy, including the city of Milan, it is temperate with hot summers and cold winters. In the coastal regions and to the south with cities such as Florence and Rome, the Mediterranean climate occurs with mild winters and dry, hot summers. This also applies to Sicily and other islands. The alps in the north have an alpine climate. Due to the different climate areas, the country has a rich wildlife and varied nature.

Facts of Italy