We've compiled some interesting (and hopefully useful) information about Italy here, covering practices, driving habits, local temperament, specialties, and more.
Who knows, you might learn something new!
If you prefer, you can find this article in video format here:
Unlike in France, where the cover charge is included, in Italy, this is rarely the case. If you eat at a restaurant (regardless of the type or quality), you’ll often see a "pane e coperto" fee on the menu and bill. This charge can range from €0.50 to €4 depending on the restaurant and is entirely legal.
Fun fact: This tradition goes back to the days of traditional osterias, where locals would bring their own tablecloths, bread, and utensils to dine as if at home. Those who didn’t bring their "pane e coperto" would be charged by the establishment, a custom that has persisted over time.
So, keep this in mind when choosing a restaurant, as this fee, charged per person, adds to the final bill. Even if prices seem low, it’s a good idea to check the "pane e coperto" rate on the menu.
Also, tap water is generally not served (even though it's potable); you’ll need to order bottled water (either mineral or sparkling), typically for around €1.50 for a large bottle.
In Italy, meals are no joke. A traditional complete meal includes one or more antipasti (appetizers), a primo (first course), a secondo (second course), formaggi (cheese), and dolci (dessert).
Yes, it’s a lot! But it means you get to sample a variety of specialties.
However, you’re not obliged to order every course. Most restaurants list "primo piato" and "secondo piato" on their menus, but you can choose just a "secondo" if that’s all you want.
Generally, "primo piato" dishes are pasta, risotto, or gnocchi-based, while "secondo piato" dishes feature meat or fish with a side.
Portions are generous—trust us, we thought smaller portions might be served because there were multiple courses, but no! Italians are generous with their servings, and if you order two courses, expect two full plates. It’s wise to be aware and have a good appetite or consider sharing (which we did often!).
Italy’s cuisine is as renowned as its historic cities and beautiful landscapes.
Pizza, pasta, lasagna, mozzarella, burrata, granita, focaccia, and more. Then there’s pesto, parmigiano, balsamic vinegar, tiramisu, lemon, limoncello, olive oil, and so on.
Everyone knows that you eat well in Italy!
Each region has its specialties. To get the best of Italy, try the local dishes in the region you're visiting—your experience will be that much richer!
A little preview of what awaits you below:
Italians tend to speak very little in terms of foreign languages. If you don’t speak Italian, conversations might be tricky, especially when interacting with people who make little effort to understand you.
While you’ll find English speakers in more touristy areas, gestures and Google Translate may become your best friends.
In a different register, everyone knows that Italians are crazy drivers. Even if you don’t come or rent a vehicle to visit Italy, you will inevitably encounter Italian driving (as a pedestrian, cyclist, taxi passenger, or bus rider).
So be aware that Italians do not respect the Highway Code at all: they often exceed speed limits, overtake at dangerous moments (right before a turn with no visibility, for example), park anywhere, run red lights, etc.
It can be a bit frightening and you have to get used to it, especially if you’re driving, but if you stay cautious, there’s no reason for things to go wrong!
Ah et si, il Oh, and it’s important to note that the color code for road signs on national roads and highways is reversed compared to France. In Italy, green signs indicate highways, while blue signs indicate national roads.
Now that you’ve been warned, if you want to rent a vehicle on-site, we recommend going through DiscoverCars. This platform compares hundreds of companies to offer you the best rental prices and conditions, including: unlimited mileage, partial coverage, and theft protection included in the reservation, with no extra fees.
If you’re planning to drive in Italy outside of highways and national roads (mostly in cities, on the sides, or in the mountains), be prepared to find yourself in some pretty narrow streets.
In a car, it’s manageable, but in a van or motorhome, you’ll need a strong heart, be comfortable behind the wheel, and have good vehicle control! When we say this, we’re particularly thinking of the Dolomites, the Cinque Terre, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and all the city centers where cars are often poorly parked, requiring you to zigzag as best as you can to keep moving forward.
Speaking of city centers, that makes for a perfect transition. In Italy, city centers with historical areas have what are called ZTLs. What are those? ZTLs, or Limited Traffic Zones.
So if you’re visiting Italy by vehicle (whether it’s your own or a rental), don’t take this lightly!
These ZTLs, recognizable by a round white sign with a red border, are exclusively reserved for residents and vehicles previously registered with the authorities. If you venture into one (even accidentally, and even for a few seconds), expect to receive a little fine in the months following, ranging from €100 to €200. Yes, that makes for an expensive visit…
These zones are monitored by video surveillance 24/7, but they are only active (and thus prohibited) at certain times (which you can usually find on the sign).
A little tip: if you’ve booked a hotel or accommodation within a ZTL and you’re driving, you have two options:
Yes, it may seem silly, but these islands, Sardinia and Sicily, are Italian regions and not separate countries. Thus, while Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia and Palermo is the capital of Sicily, their capital remains Rome.
As a major center of Catholicism with the Vatican City in Rome, Italy is one of the European countries where the population practices Christianity the most. There are many churches and places of worship across the territory, making it difficult to visit Italy without stopping by its churches and cathedrals. Some of the most famous include: the Duomo of Milan, the Duomo of Florence, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, among others.
This clear religious heritage gives rise to religious holidays celebrated en masse, in the streets and with family. These are important moments of reunion and sharing for Italians, particularly Easter.
Visiting Italy during a religious holiday like Easter promises a lot of people (a lot of people), some commotion, but also beautiful moments of sharing and discovering local customs (parades in the streets, speeches and Mass from the Pope, culinary specialties for the occasion, etc.).
During our road trip, we happened to be in Rome and Naples during Easter. It was both a good and bad idea since we hadn’t booked any tours, and everything was sold out (Colosseum, Vatican Museum, …), but it was a real immersion into Italian culture. It’s a wonderful way to travel, to discover a country and its people.
In Italy, you won’t have any trouble plugging in your French chargers, as the country uses European plugs. However, if you’re observant, you’ll quickly notice that the plugs are not the same as in France. And that’s normal since they combine European and Italian plugs. Thus, you can easily plug in your French chargers without using an adapter, but be careful: if you buy a charger, extension cord, or power strip in the country, make sure to choose the European version; otherwise, it will be useless when you return to France (without an adapter)...
So yes, this information may seem trivial and far-fetched, but it can be useful if you’re traveling in a van, motorhome, or as a digital nomad and want to buy equipment on-site!
Let’s add a little bonus to our list: did you know that the city of Rome is twinned with the city of Paris?
“Only Paris is worthy of Rome, only Rome is worthy of Paris.” This is not something we say, but the motto of the “unique and exclusive” twinning between the City of Light and the Eternal City, which took place in 1956.
Beyond a symbolic twinning, this partnership aims to promote cultural exchanges between these two cities.
Thus, as a Parisian visiting Rome, you have free access to many museums managed by the City and their temporary exhibitions: Musei Capitolini, Galleria d’arte moderna, Museo civico di Zoologia, Museo di Roma, and many others.
To benefit from this privilege, you just need to present an official document proving that you reside in Paris. Of course, the same goes for Romans visiting Paris.
Crazy, right?! We learned this during our trip; we had never heard of it before…
So there you have it, we’ve shared 10 (well, actually 11) key pieces of information about this beautiful country called Italy. We hope it will be useful for your stay and that you’ve learned something 😊.
If the article has inspired you to fly to Italy, you can book your tickets here:
Don’t hesitate to share your experiences and advice for other travelers in the comments.
1. If you don’t want to get the death stare and be judged by Italians at the restaurant, never put cheese (parmesan or otherwise) on pasta dishes with fish or seafood! I tried it and was immediately turned away 😂.
2. If you drive in Italy, prefer Google Maps to Waze (especially if you’re in a van or motorhome), as the latter will have you take “shortcuts” that are less than desirable… And given the Italian roads, we strongly advise against that.
3. For this last tip, we’ll stay in the transport and vehicles category. In the big cities, be careful where you park (especially if you’re in a van or motorhome), as break-ins and theft are common. Fortunately, nothing happened to us on that front, even after more than a month in Italy, but we owe it mostly to the Park4Night app*. Each time we needed to park, we checked on the app which parking lots were recommended and which were advised against by users to avoid high-risk areas (and to favor monitored parking lots when necessary). We recommend downloading the app and looking at the comments to find the best parking at the best price!
Merci pour toutes ces infos même si j’ai regardé votre site à la fin de notre road trip 😂 cela nous aurait été utile de comprendre les ZTL afin d’éviter de se retrouver seuls en voiture sur la Piazza Maggiore à Bologne 😅 en espérant ne pas recevoir de PV dans les prochains jours.
Ah zut... Oui ces ZTL c'est vraiment sournois si tu n'en as jamais entendu parler 🫠
On croise les doigts pour que vous ne receviez rien alors ! 🤞🏼
Bonjour je vais à Milan en août et je sais pas si il y’a des choses à éviter ou l’inverse des choses à absolument voir ! Peut-être à tu des recommendations ?
Bonjour Simon,
Si tu vas à Milan en véhicule, on te conseille de choisir un parking surveillé car il y a pas mal de casse et de vol. C'est ce qu'on avait fait en allant au parking de la Porta Genova. Payant mais beaucoup plus sécuritaire.
Ensuite à voir dans la ville, on conseille fortement le Duomo (évidemment), en prenant un billet pour monter sur le toit, la Galleria Vittorio Emanuele IIl (juste à côte), le cimetière Monumental (il est vraiment grandiose et surprenant) ainsi que le quartier Naviglio Grande le long du canal (le soir, il y a plein de bars et restaurants et l'ambiance est très sympa).
Bon séjour milanais 😊
How about we chat?