💶 All About Money for Your Trip to Italy — Part 1

When planning your dream trip to Italy, questions about money always come up: How much cash should I bring? Where do I get it? And what happens if I run out while I’m there?

Let’s break it down so you can travel with confidence (and without carrying a small fortune in your pocket).

🇮🇹 Italy’s Currency

Italy uses the Euro (€). Simple enough — but knowing how to get and use it wisely can make a big difference in convenience and cost.

💵 How Much Cash Should You Bring?

My answer: very little.

I usually leave the U.S. with whatever euros I still have from my last trip (see photo above). Why? Because I prefer not to travel with large sums of cash — and I know how easy it is to get more once I’m in Italy.

If it’s your first trip and you’d feel better having euros in hand, you can order them from your local bank before departure. Just know that:

• Banks typically charge a shipping fee for foreign currency.

• You’ll also pay a higher conversion rate than the official USD–Euro exchange.

That extra cost might be worth it for the peace of mind of having cash when you land, especially if you’re more comfortable using it.

💳 When You Don’t Need Cash in Italy

You might be surprised by how far you can go without it. I can easily get from the airport to my hotel, check in, and enjoy my first espresso without ever pulling out a euro bill.

Here’s where you can (and should) rely on cards instead:

1. Taxis in Major Cities

Taxi drivers in places like Rome, Florence, and Milan must accept cards — but many will tell you otherwise. You might hear that their card reader isn’t working or that they “only take cash.”

These tactics are often just an attempt to get cash (and sometimes an extra tip). Stay calm, smile, and insist on paying by card. I’ve had drivers offer to take me to an ATM (don’t do it!), claim their card reader won’t work because Wi-Fi is down, or even roll their eyes — but in the end, every legitimate city-regulated taxi has a working card reader.

And to be clear — most taxi drivers are wonderful. Some of my favorite travel memories have come from those quick rides across Italian cities.

One driver proudly told me all about his Harley Davidson motorcycle, sharing photos and talking about how much his wife didn’t like the noise. Another was once a driver for movie stars in Rome — he told me behind-the-scenes stories and even pointed out celebrity homes on Gianicolo Hill.

Many drivers take real pride in their country, pointing out historic buildings, secret viewpoints, and landmarks that I might never have noticed on my own.

And one driver truly went above and beyond — he dropped me off at Rome’s soccer stadium for what I thought was a match, only to realize there were no crowds. After checking his phone, he turned around, came back to find me, and told me the game time had changed. He then insisted on driving me back to the city center — for free.

The take-away here is that paying for taxis with a card and keeping your cash for better uses will make your trip smoother and safer.

2. Most Stores and Restaurants

Credit cards are widely accepted — from high-end boutiques to cozy trattorias. Smaller shops, tobacco stores, or local newsstands might still prefer cash, especially for small purchases like bus tickets or snacks.

A few restaurants (usually family-run or rural ones) are “cash only,” but they’ll usually tell you when you reserve or sit down.

When you’re outside the big cities or visiting small towns, carrying a bit more cash is a smart move.

💰 When You Do Need Cash

1. Public Restrooms – Keep a few 1–2 euro coins handy for restroom fees.

2. City Taxes – Hotels and rentals charge a small per-person, per-night city tax that must be paid in cash.

3. Street Markets – Many vendors prefer cash, especially in smaller towns.

4. Tips – Tipping isn’t a big part of Italian culture (more on that in another post!), but for small gestures — a porter, a driver, or rounding up your restaurant bill — coins are best.

🔜 Coming Up Next…

You’ve run out of euros — now what? In Part 2, I’ll cover how to get cash while in Italy: where to withdraw it, which ATMs to avoid, and how to skip all the extra fees.

Stay tuned!