EmweGoItaly / Travel answers / Italy
Travel answers · Italy · Money & practical

Money in Italy: cash or card, city tax, coperto and tipping

Cards work almost everywhere — but keep some cash for the city tax, small bars and markets.

PROTOTYPE · SEO/GEO article v1 · facts from the EmweGo guides (checked 2026-09-23) · question source: Traveller-questions research A01–A10 (Reddit, forums), 23 Sep 2026 (A02)
Short answer

Cards are accepted almost everywhere — businesses must take card payments. Keep a little cash for small bars, markets and often the city tax, which is charged per person, per night at the accommodation and set by each town (Rome €4–10). A coperto (cover charge) is legal in most regions if it’s on the menu — but banned in Lazio (Rome). Tipping isn’t expected: round up for good service.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Italy · Money & practical

At a glance
CardsBusinesses must accept card payments (DL 36/2022)
CashSmall amounts for bars, markets, tips and some city-tax payments
City taxPer person, per night, set by each town · Rome €4 (1★) – €10 (5★)
CopertoAllowed if shown on the menu · banned in Lazio (Rome)
TippingNot expected · round up for good service
Tax-freeNon-EU residents: VAT refund on purchases over €70
WaterTap and city fountain water is drinkable

Cards and cash

Good to know

How much cash?

Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
Travellers mostly pay by card and carry a modest reserve in small notes — for a coffee, a market, a tip or a property that wants the city tax in cash.

Reddit · cash for 5 days ↗

Watch out

Pay in euros

If a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose euros — the conversion rate offered is usually worse.

The city tax (imposta di soggiorno)

Good to know

What it is

Partially verified · 2026-09-23
A municipal tax per person, per night, collected by your accommodation — not a hotel fee. Rates, caps and exemptions differ by town and star rating.

MEF · imposta di soggiorno ↗

Good to know

Often paid on arrival — sometimes in cash

Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
Even with a prepaid booking, travellers are often asked to pay the tax at check-in, sometimes in cash. EmweGo shows it in the total price.

Reddit · city tax in cash ↗

At the restaurant and the bar

Good to know

Tipping

Checked 2026-09-23 · with notes
Not expected and not added in the US way. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common.
Good to know

Coffee at the bar costs less

Candidate · not verified · 2026-09-23
A coffee standing at the counter usually costs less than the same coffee at a table — especially on famous squares.

Reddit · coperto ↗

Good to know

Free water

Verified 2026-09-23
Tap water is drinkable in Italian cities; Rome’s ‘nasoni’ fountains carry the same water as household taps.

Acea · Rome drinking fountains ↗

Ticket

Tax-free shopping

Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Non-EU residents can reclaim VAT on purchases over €70 — ask the shop for the tax-free form and validate it when leaving the EU.

ADM · VAT refund ↗

Quick answers

Do I need cash in Italy?

Not much. Cards are accepted almost everywhere; keep a small reserve for bars, markets and sometimes the city tax.

How much is the city tax in Italy?

It depends on the town and the accommodation — for example €4–10 per person per night in Rome and €1.50–5 in Verona.

What is coperto?

A cover charge per person shown on the menu. It’s banned in Lazio, so you shouldn’t see it in Rome.

Do you tip in Italy?

It isn’t expected. Rounding up for good service is common.

Go deeper in our guides

Guide

Italy essentials

Open →Guide

Rome: city tax & areas

Open →Guide

Verona: city tax table

Open →

Related answers

Sources: Gazzetta Ufficiale · DL 36/2022 (card payments) ↗ · MEF · imposta di soggiorno ↗ · Roma Capitale · city tax ↗ · Comune di Verona · 2026 city-tax tariff ↗ · Regione Lazio · LR 22/2019 (no coperto) ↗ · ADM · VAT refund ↗ · Acea · Rome drinking fountains ↗