🇮🇹 Italy
Schengen visa-free — with EES biometrics now in force and ETIAS coming.
Italy is Australia's favourite European destination and still visa-free for 90 days in any 180. Two things are changing: the EU's Entry/Exit System now takes your biometrics at the border, and ETIAS — a paid travel authorisation — is expected to follow. Italy is also one of the few European countries that genuinely enforces the International Driving Permit rule.
Your Italy trip setup
22 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
Visa-free (Schengen Area)Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area View detailsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $7.50 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
Compare 5 policysFrom $18.10 Compare insuranceMoney & payments
Compare 5 cards0.43% – 0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
FCO → RomeFrom $14 Compare optionsDriving
IDP requiredDrives on the right Compare car hireTravel essentials
Adapter type C/F/LTap water: safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 5 experiencesFrom $45 Explore activitiesItaly at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
April – June and September – October
August is hot and much of Italy shuts down for Ferragosto. July and August are peak in every sense.
23h+ with one stop from Sydney
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise normal safety precautions
Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Italy covering medically necessary public treatment for up to six months. Show your Australian passport and Medicare card. It doesn't cover ambulance costs in all regions, repatriation, or private hospitals — travel insurance is still needed.
Emergency: 112
Money
Widely accepted and legally required to be offered by all businesses. Some small trattorias and markets still prefer cash.
Everywhere. Use bank-branded ATMs (Intesa, UniCredit) — the standalone Euronet ATMs charge high fees and push bad exchange rates.
Tipping: Not expected the way it is in the US. Restaurants charge a coperto (cover charge) of €1 – €3 per person instead. Rounding up is plenty.
Language & culture
Italian
English: Good in tourism and cities, limited in small towns and the south
Capital: Rome
Australian dollar to Euro
€0.61 EUR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates — the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
Where Australians go in Italy
Rome
Florence
Venice
Milan
Naples
Italy FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for Italy?
No. Australians can visit Italy and the rest of the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once ETIAS launches — expected in late 2026 — you'll need a €20 online authorisation as well.
How does the Schengen 90/180 rule work?
You can spend 90 days total in the entire Schengen Area within any rolling 180-day window. Days in France, Spain, Germany and 25 other countries all count towards the same 90, not separately per country.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Italy?
Yes. Italy legally requires foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their home licence, and hire companies increasingly enforce it. Get the 1949 Geneva Convention permit from your state motoring club in Australia before you leave.
Does Medicare cover me in Italy?
Partly. Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Italy covers medically necessary treatment in the public system for up to six months. Bring your Medicare card and passport. It won't cover private hospitals, repatriation or all ambulance costs, so insurance is still worth holding.
What plug adapter do I need for Italy?
One that covers Type C, F and — importantly — Type L, Italy's three-pin plug. Many generic 'Europe' adapters skip Type L, which is still common in older buildings.
What is a ZTL and why does it matter?
A ZTL is a limited traffic zone in a historic city centre, monitored by cameras. Driving into one without a permit triggers an automatic fine that reaches you months later through your hire car company, plus an admin fee. Park outside the zone and walk in.
Watching Italy?
We'll email you if the visa, arrival card or entry fee rules change for Australian passport holders travelling to Italy.