| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | 11 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 20 | 17 | 13 |
| London | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 8 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/) before your departure.
In Southern Europe, on the Apennine Peninsula; neighbouring countries: France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino, Vatican City.
The capital city of Italy is Rome, with around 2.9 million inhabitants.
Republic, parliamentary democracy with bicameral system. The Head of State is President Sergio Mattarella since February 2015. The Head of Government is Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since October 2022.
Primarily Roman Catholic, plus approx. 1.3 million Muslims, around 550,000 Protestants, 230,000 Jehovah Witnesses, 200,000 Buddhists, 110,000 Hindus and 40,000 Jews.
The national language is Italian. Officially recognised minority languages also include Friulian, Ladin, German, Slovenian, Occitan, French, Franco-Provençal, Albanian, Greek, Sardinian, Catalan and Croatian.
In Italy, the climate varies greatly from north to south. In the north, the climate is severe with very cold winters and very warm summers with high humidity. In the centre, the climate is moderate, while in the south and on the islands, the winter is always mild and the summer is very warm and humid.
All of Italy falls under the Central European Time zone. The time difference to England is +1 hour.
The electric current in Italy is supplied at a voltage of 230 V and in the form of alternating current at a frequency of 50 Hertz. The sockets comply with European directives. An adapter is necessary.
The dialling code for long-distance calls from UK to Italy is 0039. For calls to UK, you dial 0049 first. The 0 before the area code is always omitted.
If you are planning to travel to an EU country you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements:
– less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
– valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Italy as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you are complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Italian Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them. In 2025, the new EU Entry / Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area. The Schengen area is made up of 29 European countries, 25 of which are EU Member States. The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports. You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering the Schengen area. (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en). Next to this the EU will implement a new visa waiver system in 2025, called ETIAS, which will be valid for three years. It is due to start six months after EES. British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS, via an online system (https://etias.com/). Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied.
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Italy has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras. We recommend booking the following packages:
Gourmet package: The package includes 7× tasty evening meals in buffet or menu form: only £179* per person.
Explorer package: The package includes the 2 excursions ‘Ancient Rome’ (World Heritage) and ‘The Vatican (World Heritage), St. Peter‘s Basilica, St. Peter‘s Square and Castle of the Holy Angel’: only £179* per person.
* Package prices may vary when booking on site.
Italy is a member of the European Monetary Union; therefore the currency is the Euro. Exchange rate (December 2024): 1 EUR = 0,83 GBP; 1 GBP = 1,21 EUR.
Since 2001, the Euro has been the official currency in Italy. Purchases can be made both in cash and with the most common credit cards. This payment system is typical in Italian shops, usually, the symbols of the accepted credit cards are displayed at the entrance of the shop. When paying with a credit card, the presentation of an ID card is required. In banks, traveller‘s cheques (in dollars or euros) are also exchanged. Cash withdrawals at ATMs are also possible with an EC / Maestro card. However, high fees from the respective bank may apply under certain circumstances. The upper limit for cash payments in Italy is 3,000 Euros.
On site, an additional governmental Citytax of £7.50 in Rome and £4.00 in Naples p.p. per night is required (Citytax status: December 2024).
When entering and leaving Italy, any cash amount exceeding 10,000 EUR must be declared. Private individuals can purchase and carry goods without quantity restrictions when travelling within the EU, provided they are for personal use and not for resale. Further customs information regarding the import of goods can be obtained from the embassy of your destination country. Only there can you be given legally binding advice. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-intouk-personal-use/arrivingin-Great-Britain.
Crime: Especially in tourist centres, caution is advised against pickpocketing and petty crime. In particular, cases of fraud should be mentioned, in which tourists are distracted (e.g.) and then robbed by accomplices. Therefore, as with any holiday trip: carry only the bare essentials with you when going for a walk. Large amounts of cash and original identification documents should be left in the hotel safe from the start. If at all, carry secure (PIN protected) credit cards. Take photocopies of your documents with you on your trip. Alternatively, the files can be saved on your private email account and can thus be accessed worldwide. Do not carry bags or cameras on the street side during walks to make theft from motorcycles more difficult. In Naples, particular caution is advised when dealing with valuable watches and jewellery, which are preferred targets for theft.
Assisting in illegal entry is punishable by imprisonment and fines in Italy. Therefore, caution is advised when picking up hitchhikers. In Rome, the city administration imposes, in some cases, draconian penalties to protect the monuments, which, for example, can be issued for dipping a hand into the water of the Trevi Fountain or for having a picnic on the Spanish Steps.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the Travel HealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Prior to travelling, seek personal advice from travel health advisory centres, tropical or travel medicine specialists, and adjust your vaccination protection accordingly.
The quality of medical care is generally satisfactory. In Italy, anyone with state insurance in the UK is entitled to medical treatment – where urgently necessary – by doctors, dentists, hospitals etc. registered with the foreign statutory health insurance association. You are urgently recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your holiday which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations. Please note that the excursions are accessible by foot only and that the buses used for the roundtrip are not customised to transport wheelchairs or similar devices.
Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.
All information is subject to change/Last updated: december 2024
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