Italy

Etiquette

• Italians value “bella figura” — dressing and presenting well; smart clothes are noticed, and shoulders and knees must be covered in churches.
• Coffee customs: a cappuccino is a morning drink, not an after-meal one; an espresso standing at the bar costs less than sitting down.
• Meals are unhurried and dinner is late (from about 8 pm). A coperto (cover charge) is normal; tip modestly beyond it by rounding up.
• Greet shopkeepers with “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera.” Do not sit on monument steps in Rome or Venice — it can be fined.

Useful phrases

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