Italy is a developed country with a modern and sophisticated international banking system. By law, every business in Italy must be able to take cards. In practice about 95% of them do. You hardly need any cash at all.
Many restaurants and hotels operate on a cash-only basis, so make sure you always have a few euro bills in your wallet. In small, family-run trattorie, check what types of payments are accepted before sitting down.
In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.
Debit cards are more popular than credit cards, which make up only 20% of the nation's card transactions. Common cards used in Italy include Bancomat, Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. However, American Express is also gaining some traction, particularly in tourist-heavy areas.
Use your card to pay for train tickets, souvenirs at gift shops, hotels, trattorias (Italian eateries) and more. You'll need cash for street food, taxis, tour guides and purchases under 10 or 20 euros. When you compare cards, look for a product that lets you forego the foreign ATM transaction fee.
Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.
Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.
I did business in Italy (primarily Milan but travelled all over) for years and have done many vacations there. I used cash for small lunches but used my credit card for almost everything. In my opinion 500 euros is sufficient for 10 days and if you feel you need more, just use your debit card to get some more.
My contactless credit card worked very well in Florence last week on the tram/bus. Thanks So just like Rome, you just use it to tap in and that's the payment?
In my experience the taxi drivers in Florence prefer cash. Some don't appear to take credit cards at all. Have some cash on hand just to be safe. In my experience, all of the tacis we have used in the past several years have been delighted to be paid by credit cards.
In restaurants, tipping is not required or expected. However, it can be nice to leave a couple coins (5-10% tip) if you had top-notch service or are with a bigger group that ordered a lot of food. However, be sure to check your bill to see if service was already included.
It's generally a good idea to have a mix of cash and other payment methods like credit/debit cards. For a rough estimate, considering expenses like accommodation, meals, transportation, sightseeing, and shopping, you might budget around 50 to 100 euros per day on average.
Even with the fees, you generally do best getting Euros via ATM withdrawals. Definitely use credit cards as much as possible. You don't need to bring any cash. You might want to get 100 Euro from an ATM at the airport when you arrive in Italy and hit ATMs as needed throughout you trip.
If you are the kind of person who gets uncomfortable about not having some local currency in your wallet before you arrive, then order around €100-200 (in tens and twenties) from your home bank or exchange bureau in your home country and bring it with you so you can use it to pay for a cab or accommodation in an ...
Potable water means water intended for human consumption that may be drunk by everyone at all times without health risks of any kind. The tap water in Florence is perfectly safe to drink. Quality controls are mandated by legislative decree n.
It's no secret that Florence can be a very expensive place to live in or to visit. With soaring accommodation prices, tourist traps around every corner, and many costs reflecting the high demand, money can disappear very quickly.
How much money do you need for 3 days in Florence?
For budget-minded travelers, it costs around €55-€90/day to visit Florence. These prices are based on what you'll need to visit the city comfortably as a budget traveler. If you want to upgrade your accommodations, add another €70-€110/night depending on your stay.
You can use credit cards at most establishments in Italy. Hotels, restaurants, and shops usually accept credit cards in Italy. Outside of most establishments, you will see stickers of the cards they accept. The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard.
Taxi transfer from Florence airport: You can also take a taxi, which has a flat rate for transport to a hotel in the center. A taxi ride costs between 22 € (day) and 25 € (evening) and € 1 extra for each piece of luggage.
Once you've got a taxi, you'll have to pay a flat rate for transfers between the airport and downtown. The standard flat rate is €22 euros. The fixed rate is higher during public holidays, when you'll have to pay €24 euros, and at night from 10pm to 6am, when the price is €25.30.
The tram or tramvia is a great way to get from the periphery of Florence, including the airport, to the city center. To get a ticket, it is very simple. You can walk up to the physical machines in front of the tram stops and purchase a ticket for 1,50 euro. You can use cash or credit cards at the machine.
Yes, Visa and Mastercard debit cards are widely accepted in Italy, especially in the big cities and tourist areas. You can also use them at Italian ATMs. In some smaller or more rural areas, though, it could be a good idea to have some euros on you - just in case.
Which cards can you use? "Contactless Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, and VPAY cards." "Get on an ATAF bus, tap your payment card on the green ticket validation machine, and wait for your purchase confirmation for a €1.50 ATAF&Li-nea ticket valid for 90 minutes."
The cost of a trip to Italy for a week will vary depending on your travel style and preferences. A budget traveler can expect to spend around 800-1000 euros, while a mid-range traveler can expect to spend around 1500-2000 euros. Luxury travelers can expect to spend upwards of 3000 euros.
You can certainly do Italy on about 90 euro a day, just for food and transportation and entertainment, if you're not extravagant. You can have breakfast for a couple euros, a decent lunch for 10–20, and a nice dinner for 30–50. Or you can save on even that and buy stuff at the grocery. Most museums are not expensive.
Is tipping expected in Italy? First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.
