Essential Italian Travel Phrases When Travelling to Italy

Planning a trip to Italy? Whether you're sipping espresso in Rome, wandering the canals of Venice, or exploring the rolling hills of Tuscany, knowing some essential Italian phrases can take your experience from good to unforgettable. While many Italians in popular tourist spots speak English, venturing off the beaten path will be much easier with a few key phrases in your vocabulary. Plus, Italians appreciate the effort, even if your pronunciation isn't perfect!

In this guide, I'll cover must-know Italian phrases for different travel situations. You'll feel more confident ordering food, asking for directions, or striking up conversations with friendly locals. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

Learn the top 100 Italian sentences/phrases here

1. Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases

First things first — greetings! Italians are known for their warmth, so starting your interactions with a friendly "Ciao!" will go a long way.

• Ciao! – Hello! / Bye! (informal)
• Salve! – Hello! (formal)
• Buongiorno! – Good morning! / Good day!
• Buonasera! – Good evening!
• Arrivederci! – Goodbye! (formal)
• Per favore! – Please!
• Grazie! – Thank you!
• Grazie mille! – Thanks a lot!
• Prego! – You're welcome / Please (when inviting someone to do something)
• Mi scusi! – Excuse me! (formal)
• Scusa! – Excuse me! (informal)
• Mi dispiace. – I'm sorry.

If you’d like to practice pronunciation, visit our flashcards section here!

2. Essential Travel and Transportation Phrases

Getting around in Italy is an adventure, but knowing how to ask for directions or transportation details can be a lifesaver.

• Dove si trova la stazione? – Where is the station?
• Quanto costa un biglietto per…? – How much is a ticket to…?
• A che ora parte il prossimo treno per…? – What time does the next train to… leave?
• Questo autobus ferma qui? – Does this bus stop here?
• Posso avere una mappa, per favore? – Can I have a map, please?
• Mi sono perso/a. – I'm lost. ("perso" for males; "persa" for females)
• Può aiutarmi, per favore? – Can you help me, please?

For more helpful travel phrases, check out our transportation flashcards!

3. Ordering Food and Drinks

Italy’s world-famous cuisine is a huge part of the travel experience, and these phrases will help you order with confidence.

• Un tavolo per due, per favore. – A table for two, please.
• Il menù, per favore. – The menu, please.
• Che cosa consiglia? – What do you recommend?
• Io sono vegetariano/a. – I’m vegetarian. ("vegetariano" for males; "vegetariana" for females)
• C'è qualcosa di senza glutine? – Is there something gluten-free?
• Vorrei un bicchiere di vino rosso. – I’d like a glass of red wine.
• Il conto, per favore. – The bill, please.
• Posso pagare con la carta di credito? – Can I pay with a credit card?

For detailed pronunciation tips, visit our food and drink flashcards!

4. Shopping and Money Phrases

Whether you're shopping for Italian leather in Florence or browsing market stalls in Sicily, these phrases will come in handy.

• Quanto costa questo? – How much does this cost?
• Posso provare questo/questa? – Can I try this on? ("questo" for masculine items; "questa" for feminine items)
• Ha una taglia più grande/più piccola? – Do you have a larger/smaller size?
• Accettate carte di credito? – Do you accept credit cards?
• Solo guardo, grazie. – I'm just looking, thanks.
• Mi fa uno sconto? – Can you give me a discount?

For more shopping phrases, visit our shopping guide!

5. Emergency Phrases

No one wants to experience an emergency on vacation, but these phrases can be crucial if you find yourself in a tough situation.

• Aiuto! – Help!
• Chiami un'ambulanza! – Call an ambulance!
• Dov'è l'ospedale più vicino? – Where is the nearest hospital?
• Ho perso il mio passaporto. – I lost my passport.
• Mi hanno rubato la borsa. – My bag was stolen.
• Può chiamare la polizia, per favore? – Can you call the police, please?

For more safety tips, visit our emergency phrase section!

6. Accommodation and Hotel Phrases

Whether you’re staying at a luxury hotel or a cozy bed and breakfast, these phrases will make check-in and requests easier.

• Ho una prenotazione. – I have a reservation.
• Ha una stanza disponibile? – Do you have a room available?
• Quanto costa per notte? – How much is it per night?
• Vorrei una stanza con vista. – I'd like a room with a view.
• C'è il Wi-Fi in camera? – Is there Wi-Fi in the room?
• Può chiamarmi un taxi, per favore? – Could you call me a taxi, please?

For more hotel-related phrases, check out our accommodation flashcards!

7. Making Small Talk and Socializing

Connecting with locals can turn a great trip into an unforgettable one. These phrases will help you start conversations and make friends.

• Come stai? – How are you? (informal)
• Come sta? – How are you? (formal)
• Mi chiamo… – My name is…
• Da dove vieni? – Where are you from?
• Vengo dagli Stati Uniti. – I'm from the United States.
• Piacere di conoscerti! – Nice to meet you!

Want to build your conversation skills? Check out our social phrases guide!

Quick Reference Table: Essential Italian Phrases

For more practice, head to our interactive flashcards and master these phrases before your trip!

Final Thoughts

Learning a few Italian phrases can completely transform your experience in Italy. From dining to sightseeing to making new friends, these simple phrases will help you navigate your adventure with ease. Don't worry about making mistakes — Italians will appreciate your effort and likely smile at your attempts.

Ready to practice? Check out our flashcards and get ready to charm Italy with your newfound language skills. Buon viaggio! (Have a great trip!)

Learn the top 100 Italian sentences/phrases here