Italian Republic
Area: 301,338 sq km
Population: 59,715,627
Population density: 197.6 per sq km
Capital: Rome
Area: 301,338 sq km
Population: 59,715,627
Population density: 197.6 per sq km
Capital: Rome
Italy country information
Passport & visa | Getting there | Cycling & maps | Cost of living | Accommodation | Food | Bike shops | Climate | Distances
Passport & Visa
| Passport Required? | |
|---|---|
| British | Yes |
| Australian | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes |
| USA | Yes |
| Other EU | 1 |
| Visa Required? | |
| British | No |
| Australian | No |
| Canadian | No |
| USA | No |
| Other EU | No |
Passports
Passport valid for at least
three months beyond length of stay required
by all nationals referred to in the chart above
except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
(a) Italy
is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. (b)
The regulations stated also apply to San
Marino and the Vatican City.
Visas
Not required
by all nationals referred to in the chart above
for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.
Getting there
Getting There by Air
The national airline is Alitalia
(AZ) (website:
www.alitalia.com
).
Approximate Flight Times
From London
to Rome is 2 hours 50 minutes, and from New
York is 9 hours 45 minutes.
Main Airports
Rome (FCO)
(Fiumicino) (website:
www.adr.it
) is 32km (20 miles) southwest of the city (journey
time - 30 to 55 minutes). To/from
the airport:
There is a direct rail link to Termini Station
in central Rome and a bus service to the city
centre and to Ciampino airport. Taxis are also
available to the city. Facilities:
Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, ATMs, bank
and bureau de change and bar/restaurants.
Rome (CIA) (Ciampino) (website: www.adr.it ) is 15km (9 miles) from the city (journey time - 30 to 40 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses are available to the underground station Anagnina and to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, duty-free and souvenir shop and cafe.
Pisa (PSA) (Galileo Galilei) (website: www.pisa-airport.com ) is 1.6km (1 mile) north of Pisa (journey time - 10 minutes). To/from the airport: Trains and buses run from Pisa airport to the centre of Florence (journey time - 1 hour). Rail services connect with arrivals and departures of all international flights and major domestic services. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, shops and cafe.
Milan (MXP) (Malpensa) (website: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it ) is 45km (29 miles) northwest of the city (journey time - 30 minutes). To/from the airport: The Malapensa Express train connects terminal one with the centre of Milan (journey time - 40 minutes). A free shuttle bus connects the airport terminals. Taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, business centre, left luggage.
Rome (CIA) (Ciampino) (website: www.adr.it ) is 15km (9 miles) from the city (journey time - 30 to 40 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses are available to the underground station Anagnina and to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, duty-free and souvenir shop and cafe.
Pisa (PSA) (Galileo Galilei) (website: www.pisa-airport.com ) is 1.6km (1 mile) north of Pisa (journey time - 10 minutes). To/from the airport: Trains and buses run from Pisa airport to the centre of Florence (journey time - 1 hour). Rail services connect with arrivals and departures of all international flights and major domestic services. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, shops and cafe.
Milan (MXP) (Malpensa) (website: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it ) is 45km (29 miles) northwest of the city (journey time - 30 minutes). To/from the airport: The Malapensa Express train connects terminal one with the centre of Milan (journey time - 40 minutes). A free shuttle bus connects the airport terminals. Taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, business centre, left luggage.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
Main
ports: Ancona
(website:
www.autoritaportuale.ancona.it
), Brindisi (website:
www.porto.br.it
), Naples (website:
www.porto.napoli.it
) and Venice (website:
www.port.venice.it
).
Main ferry operators: Superfast Ferries (website: www.superfast.com ), SNAV (website: www.snav.it ), Ustica Lines (website: www.usticalines.it ) and Navigazione Libera del Golfo (website: www.navlib.it ). The main international routes are from Greece and Croatia. There are also links from Tunisia to Sicily. Cruise ships call at ports such as Genoa.
Other useful link:
Ferry
crossings to and from Greece
Main ferry operators: Superfast Ferries (website: www.superfast.com ), SNAV (website: www.snav.it ), Ustica Lines (website: www.usticalines.it ) and Navigazione Libera del Golfo (website: www.navlib.it ). The main international routes are from Greece and Croatia. There are also links from Tunisia to Sicily. Cruise ships call at ports such as Genoa.
Other useful link:
Ferry
crossings to and from GreeceGetting There by Rail
Trenitalia
runs regular services covering national and international
routes (tel: 892 020 from local land lines or
(199) 166 177 from mobiles or land lines; website:
www.trenitalia.com
). The Artesia Service is the
fastest railway link between France and Italy.
Rail Passes
InterRail:
offers unlimited first- or second-class travel
in up to 30 European countries for European residents
of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for
a 22 day or one month period, or five days in
10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries.
The One-Country Pass offers
travel for three, four, six or eight days in one
month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina
and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's
country of residence. Travellers under 26 years
receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced
by about 50%. Supplements are required for some
high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes.
Discounts are offered on some ferry routes. Available
from Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail
).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 20 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26. The Eurail One Country Pass allows travel for one month in one of 17 single countries. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows 3 to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of 25 country combinations. Available from The Eurail Group (website: www.euraildirect.com ).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 20 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26. The Eurail One Country Pass allows travel for one month in one of 17 single countries. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows 3 to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of 25 country combinations. Available from The Eurail Group (website: www.euraildirect.com ).
Getting There by Road
Routes to
Italy run through Austria, France, Slovenia and
Switzerland and most routes use the tunnels under
the Alps and Apennines. Trenitalia runs
regular daily services called auto al
seguito (trains carrying cars), especially
during the summer holiday season, covering national
and international routes. These services operate
from special railway stations and are generally
bookable at the departure station. Owners must
travel on the same train.
The documents required are the log-book, valid driving licence with Italian translation, passport, Green Card insurance and national identity plate fixed to the rear of the vehicle. For more information on routes, contact the Italian State Tourist Board.
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219 or 0871 781 881, in the UK; website: www.eurolines.com ) runs regular coach services from the UK to Italy. Passes: Travellers can book a 15- or 30-day pass. Available from Eurolines (website: www.eurolines-pass.com ).
The documents required are the log-book, valid driving licence with Italian translation, passport, Green Card insurance and national identity plate fixed to the rear of the vehicle. For more information on routes, contact the Italian State Tourist Board.
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219 or 0871 781 881, in the UK; website: www.eurolines.com ) runs regular coach services from the UK to Italy. Passes: Travellers can book a 15- or 30-day pass. Available from Eurolines (website: www.eurolines-pass.com ).
Cycling & Maps
  |
We actually bought the France, Spain/Portugal and Italy Michelin maps before we left and put them all together in one book. Knowing which route we were going to take, we didn't need all the pages and/or the search section. We made one decent size book out of it! Spiral books are very handy for cyclists. Why? You can tear out the pages you need without ruining the rest of the book and put them in your map holder one at a time. Done with a page? Throw it out and loose weight/space while you go. |
 |
 Sardinian Cycle Maps (PDF)Great little guide with detailed routes across the island. Including elevation charts and route descriptions. Also available at most (official) tourist offics on the island. |
Cost of living
Italy: all prices in European
Euros (EUR)
A couple of extra tips:
| drinks and snacks | food: local markets; restaurants; and stores |
||||
water |
500ml 1.5 litre 1.5 litre 200ml x 3 1 litre 330ml 500ml 1 litre |
0.20 0.40+ 0.70+ 1.10 0.80 0.55 0.65 0.60 - 1.60 |
bread loaf-white |
600g 750g kg 250g kg kg |
2.00 3.50 3.30 0.80 2.90 3.50 |
| panini turrone (nougat) vegetarian buffet soup and pasta restaurant dinner pizza-takeaway |
one serving 100g all you can eat set menu one serve med |
3.50+ 2.00+ tba 7-12.00 10.00+ 5.00 |
|||
beer - local can |
330ml 660ml 750ml 1 litre |
0.80+ 1.00 - 1.50 2.50+ 1.00 |
|||
| tea coffee (cafe / bar) cappucino Nescafe instant coffee-ground |
25 bags per shot each 50g 250g |
1.10 1.10 1.60 1.95 2.00+ |
rice (white) pasta pasta (fresh) eggs tomato extract (paste) tinned tomatoes |
kg |
1.30 0.50+ 4.00-7.00 1.00 0.80 0.40 |
| milk yoghurt / curd soja cream- cooking olives cheese -grana padano cheese -mozarella Magnum icecream |
1 litre 125g 200ml 150g kg 100g each |
0.70 |
potatoes onions tomatoes green beans zucchini (courgette) eggplant (aubergine) capsicum - red |
kg kg kg kg kg kg kg |
1.20 1.60 2.00 2.50 1.95 1.95 2.20 |
| chips salted peanuts pistachio nuts dried apricots |
200g pack 500g 250g 250g |
0.90 1.90 2.80 1.85 |
apples oranges bananas grapes |
kg kg kg kg |
1.70 1.50 1.70 2.00 |
| cornflakes chocolate museli bars swiss roll biscuits-plain biscuits-chocolate |
375g pack 100g block 6x25g 250g 250g pack 200g pack |
2.95 1.00 1.50 0.60 0.90 1.50 |
pineapple (can) oil (olive) |
567g can 1 litre |
0.95 3.00+ |
| peanut paste jam nutella honey - organic |
375g 360g 400g 500g |
3.75 1.70 2.40 3.25 |
|||
| * Prices obtained from budget supermarket chains like LD market | |||||
| accommodation | personal | ||||
| budget city hostel budget city hotel |
15.00-20.00 per dorm bed 60.00+ double with ensuite |
deodorant - roll-on |
40ml 150g bar 200ml each 75ml 2 pack 4xrolls |
1.90 0.65 2.40 1.50+ 0.75 1.40 2.00 |
|
| camping eurocamping 1 star |
between 8.00 and 10.00 per person
in off peak season |
||||
| internet | 3.50-7.00 per hour daily deals: 3.00 per day |
||||
*
tba = price to be announced * October 2010: at time of writing 1.00 USD = 0.79 EUR all prices have been taken from internet resources such as wikitravel, hostel world, leading supermarket chains, travel blogs, forums and of course our own travel experiences and purchases of everyday products in food markets, bazaars and local shopping facilities. They are only an indication and designed to give you a general impression of the cost of living in Italy. Items are geared towards the budget conscious traveller with an occasional craving for a bit of luxury. |
Source:www.exchange-rates.org |
A couple of extra tips:
| * | Italian
shops and supermarkets have fixed prices. However,
when purchasing in bulk or spending a considerable
amount on money in one particular store, it
never hurts to ask for a discount. |
| * | In
italy, la mancia [a tip] is quite customary,
but not at all mandatory since most restaurants
incorporate an automatic service and /or cover
charge in the bill. Therefore, it is entirely
up to you if you want to leave something extra
behind for the waiting staff. |
* |
Taxis
fares are fixed by metred rates and drivers do
not expect a tip, though it is not uncommon to
round the fare up to the nearest euro. |
Bike shops
| Terracina | Cicli Tornesi ***
Via Badino 28 04019 Terracina (LT) Italy Tel./Fax 0773 722091 E-mail: ciclitornesi@libero.it |
| Our experience: little store in Terracina, but full of useful goodies! |
