10 Things Foreigners Find Weird When Visiting Italy

Visiting Italy can bring unfamiliar routines: a different breakfast, a cover charge on a restaurant bill, or a shop that closes for part of the afternoon. Here are ten things visitors may notice, with useful Italian phrases.

Habits vary by region, business and individual. These examples help you navigate particular situations without assuming everybody behaves the same way.

1. Busy streets and unfamiliar driving conditions

Driving in a historic city, a narrow village street or a busy motorway can feel different from driving at home. That does not justify calling Italians Europe’s most reckless drivers or treating traffic violations as a national trait.

Before hiring a car, check local road rules, parking and any ZTL (zona a traffico limitato, a restricted traffic zone). Respect signs and pedestrian crossings. Public transport may be convenient for city visits, while a car can be useful for some rural routes.

Useful phrase: Dove posso parcheggiare? — “Where can I park?”

2. Familiar “Italian” dishes may look different

Italian-American food has its own history. Spaghetti with large meatballs is strongly associated with that tradition, while Italian polpette are often served separately from pasta. However, pasta with small meatballs also exists in Italy, including Abruzzo’s chitarra con pallottine.

Fettuccine Alfredo does have a Roman connection: the original-style preparation uses butter and Parmigiano Reggiano. Creamy versions with chicken or other additions are different adaptations. The Rome tourism office describes this history. A blanket claim that Alfredo or marinara “does not exist” in Italy is incorrect.

Peperoni, with one p after the initial syllable, means peppers. English “pepperoni” generally refers to a spicy sausage. For a familiar spicy-salami pizza, look for pizza alla diavola or ask about salame piccante.

Garlic-rubbed toasted bread is part of Italian food traditions. Bruschetta has a hard /k/ sound in the middle; tomato is one topping, rather than a compulsory ingredient of every bruschetta. Read the menu and order what you would enjoy.

3. The bidet

A bidet is a bathroom fixture used for washing, particularly personal hygiene. It is common in Italian homes and accommodation, although bathrooms vary.

It is separate from the toilet and may have its own taps. If you are unsure about an accommodation’s facilities, ask the host rather than assuming all bathrooms have the same arrangement.

4. Tipping and the restaurant bill

Tipping is generally discretionary in Italy. A US-style percentage is not automatically expected in every restaurant, but that does not mean tips never occur.

Coperto is a cover charge, usually listed per person, rather than simply another word for a service charge or a tip. Servizio is a separate service charge where applied. Check the menu and bill; amounts and practices vary.

Useful phrases: Il conto, per favore — “The bill, please”; I miei complimenti allo chef — “My compliments to the chef”. You can leave a tip if you wish to acknowledge good service.

5. Gestures in conversation

Hand gestures are a noticeable part of some Italian conversations. Their use varies between speakers and situations, and a gesture’s meaning depends on context.

A precise count of “over 200” or a single origin story about communicating across dialects should not be treated as established fact. Watch how people use gestures, and ask about meanings before copying a gesture that may be rude.

Useful phrase: Che cosa significa questo gesto? — “What does this gesture mean?”

6. Breakfast can be small and sweet

Coffee or cappuccino with a pastry, biscuits or bread and jam is a familiar Italian breakfast. At a bar, you might order un cappuccino e un cornetto.

People also eat other breakfasts, and hotels or cafés may offer savoury options. Claims that Italians never eat eggs, cheese or avocado at breakfast are too absolute.

Useful phrase: Avete qualcosa di salato per colazione? — “Do you have something savoury for breakfast?”

7. Queues may use tickets

Some counters, post offices and other services use a numbered-ticket system. Look for a dispenser, take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. Other places use an ordinary line.

If the order is unclear, Chi è l’ultimo? — “Who’s last?” — helps you find your place. Queue-cutting can happen anywhere and is not a trait of southern Italians.

Useful words: la fila (the queue), il numero (the number), il turno (the turn).

8. Opening hours vary

Some smaller shops close for part of the afternoon or on a regular weekly rest day. Supermarkets, tourist businesses and urban shops may keep different hours; Sunday or Monday closure is not universal.

Check the business’s current opening hours, especially on holidays. For a pharmacy, look for information about the local farmacia di turno, the pharmacy on duty.

Useful phrase: A che ora riaprite? — “What time do you reopen?”

9. Dinner may be later than you expect

Dinner can be later than in some countries, with variation by region, season and household. Restaurant kitchens have their own hours, and some close between lunch and dinner.

There is no national rule that eating before 8 p.m. is unacceptable. Check service times and reserve if needed, particularly when you want an early meal.

Useful phrase: A che ora apre la cucina? — “What time does the kitchen open?”

10. Smoking rules and outdoor spaces

You may encounter smoking outdoors or on terraces. Follow the rules of the place you are visiting, and ask for a non-smoking area if you prefer one.

Italy’s protection of non-smokers covers enclosed public and workplace spaces, with limited provisions for designated smoking rooms meeting the rules. The Health Ministry describes the indoor ban introduced in January 2005. Outdoor restrictions can depend on the venue and local rules, so follow displayed signs.

Useful phrase: C’è una zona non fumatori? — “Is there a non-smoking area?”

Which everyday difference have you noticed while visiting Italy? Share the place and situation in the comments; local details are more useful than a national stereotype.