Book the hard things first: hotels and timed sights such as the Colosseum, Vatican, Last Supper and Uffizi. Plan fewer cities than you think. Non-EU visitors are now registered in the EU Entry/Exit System at their first Schengen border (ETIAS is not running yet). Cards work almost everywhere; keep a little cash. Expect a city tax at your hotel. Validate paper regional train tickets, cover shoulders and knees for churches and the Vatican, watch for pickpockets in crowds, and call 112 in an emergency.
Checked 2026-09-24 · Italy · Money & practical
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Book first | Hotels · Colosseum · Vatican · Last Supper · Uffizi/Accademia |
| Entry (non-EU) | EES registration at first Schengen entry · ETIAS not yet live |
| Money | Cards accepted · small cash reserve · city tax at the hotel |
| Trains | Validate paper regional tickets |
| Churches & Vatican | Shoulders and knees covered |
| Emergency | 112 — free from any phone |
Before you book
1 · Fewer cities
2 · Book the timed sights
3 · New border checks
European Commission · EES ↗ · European Commission · EES vs ETIAS ↗
4 · When to go
On the ground
5 · Money
6 · Trains
7 · Dress code
8 · Pickpockets
9 · Meals
10 · Emergencies
Quick answers
What should I know before going to Italy for the first time?
Book hotels and timed sights early, plan fewer cities, carry a card plus a little cash, validate paper regional train tickets and dress modestly for churches.
Do I need ETIAS for Italy?
Not yet — it’s scheduled for late 2026. Non-EU visitors are already registered in the EES at their first Schengen entry.
What is the emergency number in Italy?
112, free from any phone.
Go deeper in our guides
Related answers
Sources: European Commission · EES ↗ · European Commission · EES vs ETIAS ↗ · Ministry of the Interior · 112 ↗ · Gazzetta Ufficiale · DL 36/2022 (card payments) ↗ · Trenitalia · regional trains ↗ · Vatican Museums · useful tips ↗