Climate
Rome has a Mediterranean climate with cool winters and warm and hot summers. August in Rome is hot with very little in the way of rainfall. The summer experiences average highs of 30 °C and you can expect the weather to stay hot and dry making Rome a very popular summer destination.
The chances of rainfall are low with the average monthly precipitation in the region of 9 - 16 mm. The daily average amount of sunshine is at its peak in the summer and ranges from 9 to 11 hours.
Currency
The currency used in Rome is the Euro. Currency can be exchanged at post offices, banks and exchange offices. The Post Office offers the lowest exchange fees.
Credit cards
Hotels, restaurants, and shops usually accept credit cards in Italy. Outside of most establishments, you will see stickers of the cards they accept. The most widely used cards are Visa and Mastercard. American Express and Discover are less frequently accepted. Many places in Italy now accept contactless payment methods like Apple Pay. Taxis typically require cash payment, unless you are ordering it through a taxi application on your phone.
Banks
Withdrawing money from ATMs in Rome is easy and could be the best way to exchange your money.
In many countries, the use of cash is now obsolete. In Italy, even if the use of credit cards is increasingly widespread, cash payment remains the most widely used payment system.
In Italy, you need cash and the best way to get it is to withdraw money from an ATM.
If you need to pay for a coffee, a slice of pizza, or a small family business such as a Bed and Breakfast, even in a big city, you may be asked to pay cash because not all businesses accept card payments.
Withdrawing money from an ATM could be a valid alternative to the more used credit cards. They often provide the best exchange rate and, as reported below, in some cases without commission fee.
You will find ATMs on every corner, whether in a small town or a big city. Generally located just outside banks, they operate 24/7. If they are inside and you happen to arrive during closing time, swipe your card into the reader normally located near the front door and access the area dedicated to ATMs.
Italian banks do not charge for ATM withdrawals, but your bank might charge a foreign withdrawal fee. It’s best to find out about the withdrawal fees before you leave your own country.
Some banks are part of the Global ATM Alliance. If your bank is part of this, it means that your bank has partner banks or sister banks abroad. These banks have an agreement not to charge International ATM access fees if you use ATM in Rome that is part of the Global ATM Alliance.
Passport and/or visa
A valid Passport is required for entry into Italy. Participants from some countries may require a Visa for entry. Please check with your local Consulate.
Opening hours
Most shops are open Monday through Saturday from approximately 9 am to 1-1.30 pm on weekdays and from 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Shops on the main high streets do not close at lunchtime and usually close a little later. On the main shopping and business streets, clothing stores and department stores open on Sundays.
In August many small shops will close most of the month or at least two weeks.
Supermarkets are generally open from 6 am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and from 1 pm to 6 pm on Sundays.
Time
The Italian time zone is UTC+1 during solar time and UTC+2 during summer time. CET (Central European Time), which also includes Italy, is indicated by the abbreviation UTC+1. Please note! This is only valid in the winter months, during solar time and NOT during daylight saving time. In summer, when we set the clock one hour ahead, we should remember that in Italy, we change from UTC+1 to UTC+2.