Italy

Located in Southern Europe (UTC+1), mainland Italy is famous for its boot-shaped peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea and is bordered by 6 other countries: France to the northwest, Switzerland and Austria to the north, Slovenia to the northeast, as well as the two enclaves of San Marino and the Vatican City, which are surrounded by Italian territory. With an area of 301,340 km², its territory includes two large Mediterranean islands, Sicily and Sardinia, as well as many other smaller islands across the Mediterranean basin.

With a population of about 59 million (2025 estimate), the country is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic (though church attendance is decreasing), with most of the remaining population consisting of other Christian denominations (around 3% to 5%), Muslims (around 3% to 4%), and those of no religion. The official language is Italian.

Italian people are often viewed as intense, passionate, warm, and highly expressive, using hand gestures as a vital part of their communication. They are deeply committed to their family life and social circles, with manners and respect for elders being extremely important. Italians are also known for valuing the concept of La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), prioritizing good food, beautiful aesthetics, and enjoying life’s simple pleasures, while maintaining a strong bond with their rich local history and regional identity, especially when it comes to their regional cuisine and football.

The majority of the country has a Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters), with significant climate variations across different regions: from temperate continental in the northern plains and mountainous Alps, to humid subtropical in the south.

The landscape of Italy is overwhelmingly mountainous and hilly, defined by the Alps in the north and the Apennine Mountains running down the entire peninsula. Low-lying plains, such as the Po Valley in the north, make up a smaller percentage of the land.

The currency used in Italy is Euro (€ – EUR).

The capital of Italy, Rome, is a major European centre and a worldwide known city, popular for its iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and its many spectacular fountains and piazzas like the Trevi Fountain. It is also a global center for art, architecture, and religious history, featuring famous sites such as the Vatican City and the Borghese Gallery. Nearby, you can find the ruins of the ancient Roman port of Ostia Antica, which offers a glimpse into daily Roman life.

Despite being known as the romantic “Eternal City” with breathtaking history, Rome is also quite busy, highly touristy, pricey, known for heavy traffic and frequent challenges posed by aggressive street vendors and unauthorized guides.

Despite being a considerably safe country, petty crimes are extremely common in Italy, especially in major tourist cities and on crowded public transport. There are often organised groups that target tourists, scamming them, using distractions to commit pickpocketing and snatching bags, phones, and wallets (often using mopeds or scooters to do so). It is essential to be highly vigilant in busy spots like train stations and popular attractions.

Although unlikely, it is also important to consider the possibility of terrorist attacks, particularly in highly visible and populated areas like Rome and Milan. As in any major European capital, maintaining general situational awareness in crowded public spaces is always advisable.

Driving in Italy is manageable, but it comes with a few challenges, particularly in major cities – from restricted traffic zones (ZTLs – Zona a Traffico Limitato) in historic centers to tight streets, confusing signage, heavy traffic, lots of scooters and motorbikes, parking and speed restrictions strictly enforced by cameras, aggressive and unpredictable drivers, as well as a serious lack of parking.

Navigating between towns and cities, however, becomes much easier, thanks to well-maintained main motorways (Autostrade) that connect them. That being said, roads in the south, secondary roads, and rural areas can be poorly maintained and often winding.

Italy is definitely a great country for a scenic road trip, but it is not for the faint of heart!

In summary, driving in cities can be very stressful and expensive, so you should opt for public transportation when commuting in major centres, and only drive between locations, bearing in mind that rural, off the beaten locations, like in many other countries, will have their own challenges.