Italian Etiquette 101: Do’s and Don’ts Every Travelers Should Know

Every country has its unwritten rules. That one can make local people smile or a shocked raised eyebrow when a tourist gets it wrong. After mistakes, your feeling during the trip can be a mix between shock and shame, that turns days of your vacation into a mortifying experience. 

But don’t worry about italian etiquette: a few simple tips about do’s and don’ts in Italy will help you feel at home from the moment you set foot in the Belpaese (the beautiful country).

Let's be honest, the following Italian travel etiquette is mostly about food and… food. In Italy food is not only a fuel for the body, but it is history and tradition (typical food can be different even from one street to another!). It’s so deeply rooted that a few missteps might even be considered offensive.

If it’s your first time in Italy or you just want to refresh memories or warn your friends, here we go. Take notes, screenshots, save this link, whatever works.  

If you don’t want receive strange faces and avoid raised eyebrows while ordering at a restaurant or in a bar, pay attention to what you are asking and at what time. 

Imagine yourself starting your day in Italy. It’s 8;30 AM. You walk into a bar, sit down and you ask for a croissant and a cappuccino. Perfect, this is your last cappuccino of the day. No other cappuccinos after lunch, dinner or in the afternoon. Because yes, cappuccino is only for morning. 

Now, let’s skip to the lunch. If you want to drink something during your meals you can have wine or beer with pizza, but avoid Aperol Spritz with pizza, please. Spritz is THE drink for the aperitivo to have around 6 PM or even at 8:00 PM in the southern Italy in summer. 

A pro tip to feel italian lifestyle? Have a coffee al bancone (at the counter) of a bar instead of sitting at the table. And it's good at any time of day, like pizza.

Last italian etiquette tip: end your meals with an espresso, not macchiato, per favore. 

If an Italian opens the door of the house, the only thing to do is one: go. And take it easy. 

It's better if you have no other plans all evening, because dinner can start at 8:00 PM or even later in summer. And also because having dinner is not only enjoying food and a glass of wine, but a moment dedicated to conversation and experiences, as a ritual. If you are a storyteller it can be your moment. If not, offer genuine compliments about the food but avoid taboo topics: politics, mafia, religion unless invited. 

Tip: bring a small gift. It could be a bottle of wine or spumante (because champagne is French), a tray of pastries or a box of chocolates. Or a little plant, flowers or a good candle. 

Extra Tip: it can sound strange to you, but it’s polite to arrive almost 15 minutes late! 

Penne al sugo, carbonara, acqua…coperto.
While reading the menu at a restaurant you can see the word “coperto”, but what is coperto in Italy?

It’s not like a tip, but an amount of some euro per person in the bill, that covers the cost of the table setting and often includes bread and breadsticks to eat while you’re waiting for your plates.

So if you are thinking “Should I tip too?” the answer would be “it depends”. A tip in Italy is different from America for example, because tip is not mandatory and it is not rude to not leave one. But if you do, it’s always appreciated as a kind gesture.

If you are eating out and want to be appreciated and act as a local, don't put cheese on seafood or don’t ask for butter with bread while you eat because bread is only to accompany food. Or at most, to do a scarpetta which means mopping up the sauce after eating your pasta dish. But be careful, only in more informal trattorias and restaurants!

Embrace the Italian lifestyle taking time after you finish your lunch or your dinner out. 

Phrase to use if you eat outside: “il conto per favore”, if you want to request the  bill

A tip: don’t stare at restaurant, ask the waiter for a table saying how many people you are if you didn’t book in advance. 

If you don’t want your look screams “tourist”, remind yourself that some places have their rules. If you go to visit the Vatican or churches for example, it’s better to cover your shoulders.

If it is hot and you’re wearing a tank top, bring a scarf or shirt to put on. If you go to Italy in summer, avoid going around in the streets with swimsuits or flip flops: it is not elegant! In seaside towns, always check for divieto (prohibition) signs, or you might even get fined.

Ah, good luck packing your suitcase!

Above all in south Italy or if you are in an informal context such as in family or with friends. Italian greet each other with a cheek-to-check kiss to say ciao when they meet or when they leave a place. To do it, give two and start with your left cheek. 

In other context, you can use a shaking hand while saying:
- buongiorno, good morning
- buonasera is like good evening, but someone use it also in the afternoon around 6 or 7 PM
- arrivederci is goodby, a formal way

If people's voices are a little loud in a bar or on the street, it's completely normal. Conversations are often full of energy and tones that may seem argumentative but are simply signs of enthusiasm. And good humor and passion.

Not to mention the hand gestures that accompany verbal exchanges. Like the pointed hand with closed fingers, also known as the mano a borsa (bag hand), mano a carciofo (artichoke hand), mano a pine cone (pine cone hand), or mano a cuoppo (cup hand).

Even toasts have their own unspoken rule: when toasting, in Italy, eye contact is expected, a small gesture that signals respect and sincerity.

Ultimately, to understand and learn them, you just need to observe.

Yes, have a cappuccino only in the morning. After your meals, order an espresso. 

It depends on the occasion, but in general dress smart-casual, don’t go around in summer with flip flops, swimsuit or sporty outfit at a dinner at restaurant. 

Don’t rush, engage in conversation and chew silently. 

It depends on the season and if you are in southern or in northern Italy. Lunch can stretch from 1 to 3 p.m. Dinner rarely begins before 8 p.m. In larger cities, dining is around 9:30 or even 10 p.m. Restaurants adjust accordingly, with kitchens staying open well into the night.

Looking for what to do during your stay in Italy?