# What should I know before visiting Italy? > Italy travel tips for 2026: EES border checks, Venice day-tripper fee, city taxes, coperto, validating train tickets, strikes, ZTL fines, dress codes, plugs. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/things-to-know-before-visiting-italy - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-09-06 - Last updated: 2026-10-29 **Italy charges for more small things than first-time visitors expect: a nightly city tax at the hotel, a cover charge at the restaurant, a day-tripper fee in Venice and, since February 2026, €2 to get close to the Trevi Fountain. None is a scam, and knowing them in advance takes the sting out of the bill.** The other traps are practical: unvalidated train tickets, driving into restricted ZTL zones and transport strikes. Our own route covered northern Italy only, with 2 days in Verona, 4 in Bologna and 3 in Venice between 25 July and 3 August 2023. Fees and rules below come from official and current sources. ## Entry and fees to plan for **1. Expect fingerprints at the border, but no ETIAS yet.** Italy is in the Schengen Area: visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180. Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo on first entry and replaces passport stamps. ETIAS, the €20 (≈ $22) online authorisation, is not in operation and has no published start date. See our [ETIAS and EES explainer](https://clevertourists.com/resources/etias-and-ees-explained-europe-entry-2026-2027) and [Italy visa guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-italy). **2. Venice charges day-trippers on set days.** On fee days, visitors entering the historic centre between 8:30 and 16:00 without an overnight stay pay €5 (≈ $5.6) if they book at least 4 days ahead or €10 (≈ $11.1) closer to the date, and carry a QR code. Overnight guests do not pay but need a free exemption code. The 2026 season ran on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July; for 2027 the city council has approved 72 days from Good Friday, 26 March, pending national approval. Details in our [Venice access fee guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/venice-tourist-entry-tax-day-tripper-fee-and-qr-code). **3. Every big city adds a nightly tax.** In 2026 it ranges from €4 to €10 (≈ $4.5–11.1) per person per night in Rome, €3 to €12 (≈ $3.3–13.4) in Milan, €3.50 to €8 (≈ $3.9–8.9) in Florence and €1 to €5 (≈ $1.1–5.6) in Venice, depending on the hotel class. It is charged at the property and often not included in the price you saw online. See [Italy tourist tax by city](https://clevertourists.com/resources/italy-tourist-tax-by-city-2026). **4. The Trevi Fountain now has a fee.** Since 2 February 2026, reaching the basin costs €2 (≈ $2.2), while viewing from the piazza stays free. Our [Trevi Fountain guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/trevi-fountain-fee-2026-tickets-hours) has the hours and rules. ## Money and eating out **5. The coperto is a cover charge, not a tip.** Most sit-down restaurants add €2 to €4 (≈ $2.2–4.5) per person for bread and service, as long as it is printed on the menu. The Lazio region, which includes Rome, bans it. Venice restaurants may add a separate service charge of 10 to 12%. Italians rarely tip on top. Our [coperto guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/coperto-italy-cover-charge-tipping-guide) explains each line on the bill. **6. Businesses must take cards, but carry some cash.** Under Italian law, businesses selling to the public must accept card payments, and since 30 June 2022 refusing one can cost the merchant €30 (≈ $33) plus 4% of the payment. Small bars, markets and some city-tax desks still prefer cash. Choose euros when a card machine offers your home currency. More in [cash or card abroad](https://clevertourists.com/resources/cash-or-card-for-international-travel). **7. Coffee has rules, and standing is cheaper.** A coffee drunk standing at the counter costs less than the same coffee at a table, and in busy bars you often pay at the till first and show the receipt. Cappuccino is a morning drink; ordering one after a meal marks you as a tourist. Our guide to [what is considered rude in Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-is-considered-rude-in-italy) covers the food etiquette. **8. Budget for the north and the famous cities.** Our [daily budget by country](https://clevertourists.com/resources/daily-travel-budget-by-country) puts Italy at about $55 to $80 a day on a budget and $115 to $200 mid-range. Venice rooms are the biggest single cost; Bologna is a cheaper base for the region. Full breakdown in [how much a trip to Italy costs](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-much-does-a-trip-to-italy-cost). ## Trains, strikes and driving **9. Validate paper regional tickets before you board.** Trenitalia says single paper regional tickets must be stamped in the machines at the departure station before the train leaves; an unstamped ticket can be fined. Digital regional tickets are validated automatically at the booked train's departure time, and high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo tickets are for a specific train. Our [Venice, Verona and Bologna itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/italy-itinerary-venice-verona-bologna) and [day trips from Bologna](https://clevertourists.com/resources/day-trips-from-bologna) use the regional network. **10. Check for strikes before travel days.** Transport strikes (scioperi) are common and announced in advance. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport lists planned strikes on its official register at scioperi.mit.gov.it; confirm with the operator, since strikes are sometimes called off. **11. Do not drive into a ZTL.** Most historic centres are limited traffic zones watched by cameras, and fines of about €83 to €332 (≈ $93–370) can reach you months later through the rental company. Park outside and walk in. See [driving in Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/driving-in-italy-ztl-tourist-guide). ## Churches, sights and closures **12. Cover shoulders and knees for churches.** St Peter's in Rome and many other churches turn away visitors in sleeveless tops, short shorts or short skirts. A light scarf in a day bag solves it in summer. See [what to wear in Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-wear-in-italy). **13. Book the big sights ahead.** Timed tickets for places such as the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi and Leonardo's Last Supper in Milan sell out in high season. Buy from the official site of each sight, and be wary of resellers charging several times the price. **14. Plan around holidays and August.** Ferragosto on 15 August is a national holiday, and some family-run restaurants and shops close for part of August. Religious holidays shape travel too: see [Easter in Rome](https://clevertourists.com/resources/easter-2027-rome-vatican-holy-week-tickets) and [Epiphany in Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/epiphany-2027-italy-befana-rome-venice). For weather by month, see [best time to visit Italy](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-italy). We were in the north in late July and early August 2023, which is peak heat and peak crowds. ## Plugs, water, phone and emergencies **15. Plugs are Types C, F and L at 230 V.** Type L is Italy's three-pin plug, found mostly in older buildings; a standard two-pin European (Type C) plug fits most sockets. North American travellers need an adapter. Tap water is safe to drink, and many towns have public drinking fountains; in restaurants, water comes bottled, still (naturale) or sparkling (frizzante). **16. Sort data before you land and save 112.** See [Italy eSIM for tourists](https://clevertourists.com/resources/italy-esim-for-tourists). 112 is the single emergency number for police, ambulance and fire. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need ETIAS for Italy in 2026? No. ETIAS is not in operation and has no published start date. Since 10 April 2026 the EES system registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the Schengen border instead. ### Is the coperto a scam? No. It is a legal per-person cover charge, usually €2 to €4 (≈ $2.2–4.5), as long as it is printed on the menu. It is banned in Lazio, the region that includes Rome, and it is not a tip. ### Do I need to validate my train ticket in Italy? Paper regional tickets, yes: stamp them in the machine at the departure station before boarding. Digital regional tickets validate automatically at the booked departure time, and high-speed tickets are for a specific train. ### When does Venice charge the day-tripper fee? Only on set fee days, between 8:30 and 16:00. The 2026 season ended on 26 July. For 2027 the city council has approved 72 days from 26 March, pending national approval.