Random, Useful Tips While Traveling In Italy
Tipping isn't required or expected. If servizio (service charge) has been added to your bill, you definitely don't need to leave anything on top. If you feel compelled to tip, a few coins, or rounding up, is sufficient.
Coperto: the amount charged, per person, to essentially sit down at a table. It's a cover charge. It should be listed somewhere on the menu. Copertos are normally higher near tourist attractions. Some restaurants and cafes also have a service charge which should also be listed somewhere on the menu. Check for both before sitting down at a restaurant otherwise your afternoon snack might end up being pricey!
Standing at the bar is cheaper than sitting down - most Italians stand at the bar to drink their coffee because there's one base price for coffee and pastries and another price for table service if you sit down. So order your coffee al banco (at the counter) and enjoy it standing with the rest of the crowd!
You have to pay for water. (You can ask for “acqua dal rubinetto,” tap water, but your glass of tap water will take ages to get refilled by your waiter, if it's refilled at all!).
Don't fall for artificial gelato - check to see if the mint gelato is bright green or if the banana gelato is yellow; if so, it's artificial. If it's the good stuff, mint will be white or pale green and banana will be greyish colored.
Cash is king - you can't pay anything that is less than Euro 10,00 with a credit card; keep various bill amounts with you.
Cover bare shoulders and knees when entering a church.
Don’t touch without permission at the markets, especially produce - use the plastic gloves provided.
Peperoni means peppers - if you want an American pepperoni pizza, order a pizza with salami picanti.
Bread is not served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (unless the restaurant caters to Americans).
Dates are shown as day-month-year, always.
Times are indicated in 24-hr format.
In public restrooms, toilet paper is a rarity. Italian women always keep a travel pack of Kleenex in their purses for this reason.
If you don’t ask for the check, you’re not going to get it. Italians consider a check put on the table before you’re done with your meal, or without you asking, like an invitation to leave. It is considered a no-no in restaurants.
When ordering food at a restaurant, substitutions or changes are usually frowned upon/not accepted.
Alfredo sauce is not Italian. Don’t ask for it!
Frappuccino doesn’t exist, either. All other coffee drinks whose names Starbucks has stolen usually mean something different than what you think you’re ordering.
You don’t flag cabs in Italy - you need to walk to one of the taxi stands where they wait in line.
Italy uses a two-prong electrical outlet (shown below) - a Continental Europe electrical adapter will work. Make sure you have the right voltage otherwise you'll need a voltage converter too. Electricity in Italy comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts (in the US, it comes out at 110 volts) so double check whatever you're plugging in can handle the voltage.