Italy does not require a U.S. citizen to obtain a visa before arriving at its border. U.S. citizens are only required to have a passport and granted a visitor’s visa on arrival that is good for 90 days. If you are going to Italy for longer than 90 days you are required to obtain a visa before you arrive. Hotels or other accommodations register all guests in Italy. If you are staying with friends or family, it is your responsibility to register with the nearest police station.
All luggage goes through customs when entering or leaving Italy. Personal items such as clothing, a computer, camera or anything for personal use are not charged a duty fee. Gifts that are purchased while visiting Italy are duty free with the exception of antiques or artwork which require authorization from the ministry. Buying counterfeit products in Italy is illegal. If you buy any counterfeit products in Italy and get caught, you will pay as much or even more than the authentic item would have cost.
There are many hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast inns and private accommodations in Italy. All are categorized the same as in U.S. with 1-5 star ratings. It's smart to book a hotel reservation before you arrive in Italy.
There are many different modes of travel in Italy. You must have an international driver’s license accompanied by a U.S. driver’s license if you plan to drive. It's best to book your car rental online in advance. The roads in Italy are well maintained. Bus transportation is available in Italy and run inside the city as well as from one city to another. Italy has a rail service that can be used to travel from city to city to other countries in Europe. Tickets can be purchased for daily, monthly or weekly travel.
Italy currency is in EURO. Most all cities in Italy accept travelers checks. Most places for shopping and eating accept major credit cards as well as debit cards. ATMs are usually in large and small cities. They operate the same as in the U.S. Banks are open Monday through Friday with the exception of national holidays.
Italy has various sources of communication. Public phones are all over Italy. You have to purchase a phone card, which can be purchased at newsstands or coffee shops. Internet cafes are popping up all over Italy and are usually located in most tourist towns. If you are receiving mail in Italy it should be addressed to you, in care of your nearest post office. You can retrieve mail by showing your passport. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday and half days on Saturday except for national holidays.
