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The official currency of Italy is the euro, even though the country is still somewhat a cash based economy. You won’t be paying cash all of the time, as there are shops and merchants in Italy that are well equipped to accept card payments – Visa and Mastercard are more common than American Express.
Just look for a card that doesn’t charge for international ATM withdrawal, or currency conversion, and you’ll have a vacation without paying all of the extra fees in what is arguably one of the most beautiful countries on Earth.
Our pick for travel credit card
American Express® Gold Card
Our pick for multi-currency debit card
Transferwise Multi-currency
Our pick for 0% transaction fee debit card
SoFi Money
Credit cards and debit cards with travel features are just as suitable to take on a trip to Italy and Europe as a prepaid travel money card. You can use your Visa or Mastercard in Italy without issue, though American Express typically has a higher surcharge and isn’t as commonly accepted. Use your card to pay for train tickets, souvenirs at gift shops, hotels, trattorias (Italian eateries), restaurants and more.
What you’ll need cash for is to pay for street food, taxis, to pay tour guides and for purchases under 10 or 20 euros. When you compare cards, look for a product that lets you forego the foreign ATM transaction fee.
A combination of travel money is the best approach for spending in Italy. Take more than one way to withdraw cash as there have been claims that Italian ATMs can be temperamental with foreign cards. You don’t want to be in a foreign country without access to money if one of your cards is lost or stolen.
Make your vacation memorable for all the right reasons and travel with peace of mind that you’re getting the most from your budget with a travel card, credit card or debit card.
A credit card like the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard will let you make over the counter purchases without paying any foreign transactions fees. Be aware when it comes to cash advances, as interest will apply immediately when you use your card at an ATM – this should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Some travel friendly credit cards also offer perks such as complimentary international travel insurance and purchase protection guarantees.
A travel debit card that waives the fee for currency conversion, or the fee for international ATM withdrawals, with no annual fee is ideal. Research if who you bank with is part of the Global ATM Alliance to find out if you can make cash withdrawals for free. If not, you can access cash in Italy for roughly the same price you would at home.
Preload a travel card with euros and avoid the fees that usually go hand in hand with international purchases. Compare these cards by their ATM fees, initial load and reload fees. Some ATMs in Italy don’t charge an ATM operator fee, by choosing a product which waives the international ATM withdrawal fee, you should have no problem accessing your money at Italian bancomat machines.
Cash is king. Italy is a cash based society compared to other major economies in Europe. You can still use your card in almost as many places as you would in the US and other countries; however, there’s a reluctance among Italians to let go of cash as a method of payment for things like rent, food, clothing and so on.
Traveler’s checks have become a financial product of the past. Many banks in Italy will refuse to cash them, so don’t bother with this travel money product.
Predicting the movements of currency pairs is a difficult task, but you can lock in the exchange rate on a travel card if you believe euros will be more expensive to buy in the future.
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There’s no limit to the amount of foreign currency you can bring into the Italy or the eurozone. However, you’re going to have to declare your cash if you’re planning to enter or leave the country with more than 10,000 euros. You have the following options for purchasing euros in the US.
A quick comparison of bank and non bank providers shows that if you use the foreign cash services of a company like Travelex, you’ll end up with a few extra dollars. Non-bank providers like travelex have locations in major airports where you can collect your euros before you depart the country.
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The best way to get cash in Italy is to make an ATM withdrawal when you arrive. The Visa or Mastercard exchange rate applies and is better than any rate you’re likely to get exchanging currency at an exchange office or a bank.
Italian bank ATMs are called bancomats and some do not charge a local ATM operator fee – avoid using independent ATMs. These third party ATMs charge like a wounded bull, it will be obvious which ATMs are affiliated with a bank and which aren’t.
The summer season premiums (late June, July and August) will add to the cost of an Italian trip – off-season, prices drop dramatically. The cost of vacationing typically depends on where you are in the country. In smaller towns, especially in the South, Italy is surprisingly affordable. In the middle of the country, the north and especially in touristic places like Rome, Venice and Milan, it can be expensive.
Find out some typical vacation prices in Rome.
A quick summary of travel money options in Italy. All prices are in US dollars.
Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
---|---|---|---|
Meals | Trapizzino: $4 Sandwich: $3 – $5 | Dinner for two with wine $70 | 5-star restaurant $100 – $600 |
Activities | Colosseum entry $14 | Rome and Colosseum half day walking tour $60 | Imperial Rome golf cart tour $215 |
Accomodation | Camping in Rome $12 per night | 2-star hotel in Rome $70 – $140 per night | 5-star hotel in Rome $180 – $600 per night |
Prices are for example purposes only.
Do you have any travel money tips for Italy?
It doesn’t matter how cautious you are while traveling, nobody is exempt from the risk of unfortunate losses while traveling. Travel insurance can offer financial protection against such losses as:
Compare travel insurance for your next trip to Italy
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What’s the most inexpensive best coverage?
Hi Albert,
Thanks for reaching out.
Here at finder we are unable to make recommendations, we can offer general advise.
You can use the table above to compare travel insurance quotes from a range of insurers. The table should allow you to compare features between companies. Should you need additional details, you may go ahead and click on more info or go to site.
Cheers,
Joanne