How Much Cash Should I Bring to Italy Do You Still Need Euro, travel tips, Italy
Europe, Italy, Places to Visit in Italy, Travel Tips

How Much Euro Should I Bring to Italy? Cash Tips for First-Time Visitors

Amy French the Roaming Historian

If you’re planning your first trip to Italy, you’ve probably wondered: “How much euro should I bring?”

The honest answer?

It depends on how you travel.

Some people spend almost everything on a credit card. Others enjoy browsing outdoor markets, grabbing gelato, tipping guides, and stopping for an espresso wherever they happen to be. Your travel style determines how much cash you’ll use.

But, if you want to blend in, spend time off the beaten path, and get deals, you should have cash on you. The good news is that you don’t need to carry hundreds of euros around with you…and you don’t need to bring it from home. (See my article How to Get Euro for Italy Without Getting Ripped Off for more on this.)

Italy Loves Credit Cards…But Cash Still Matters

Italy has become much more card-friendly over the past several years. Hotels, museums, restaurants, trains, and most stores happily accept credit cards and contactless payments. That doesn’t mean you should leave home assuming you’ll never need cash.

I’ve had many businesses offer me a discount if I paid in cash. A lodging place offered 10% off my bill if I paid in euro. That was a huge savings for me and well worth going to the ATM (bancomat). I’ve had discounts offered more frequently than not…taxi rides get knocked down to the nearest round number, restaurants throw in a free digestif or dessert, market vendors round down the price (or throw a little more in extra) and the savings go on and on.

Will vendors accept your credit card? Likely yes. But do you want to always pay by card? Cash still has advantages in Italy. Carrying some euro gives you more flexibility and can sometimes save you money through cash discounts.

I always recommend carrying some euros because they can save you from headaches when:

  • buying gelato or street food
  • shopping at markets
  • paying for public restrooms
  • making small purchases
  • leaving tips
  • buying souvenirs from smaller or street vendors
  • paying where card readers mysteriously become “temporarily broken” (this happens more frequently than you would expect)

I’ve found that having cash makes travel smoother.

So…How Much Cash Should You Carry?

Rather than arriving with a fixed amount, I suggest thinking about your daily spending habits.

Ask yourself:

“If I spent a day sightseeing, buying coffee, snacks, a few souvenirs, and perhaps tipping a guide, how much cash would I normally use?”

For many travelers, €100-€200 is more than enough to have on hand at one time. You don’t need your entire vacation budget in your wallet.

Instead, withdraw additional euros from an ATM whenever you need them. That approach is safer and usually cheaper.

Don’t Order Euros Before Your Trip

One mistake I see travelers make over and over is ordering foreign currency from their bank before leaving home.

I don’t recommend it.

In most cases you’ll pay extra fees and receive a less favorable exchange rate than you would using an ATM after arriving in Europe.

Instead:

  • Use your debit card at a bank ATM in Italy (called bancomat). I like to use bancomat that are attached to a bank, preferably inside. I avoid those that say “ATM” and prefer those that use the Italian word for automated teller machine…bancomat. I use European banks like: Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, BNL, Deutsche Bank, Banco BPM, and Monte dei Paschi, to name a few. Be wary that you’re not using a private machine. Stay away from those that are on their own with no bank name or branch that you recognize. Often, you will see Euronet. I wouldn’t personally use that machine; they generally have higher fees all around.
  • Choose to be charged in euros—not dollars. Do not let the machine do the exchange, called dynamic currency conversion, for you. You will not get the best bang for your buck. Let your bank to the conversion for you—that is where you will get the best deal. The exact wording changes from machine to machine. With conversion or without conversion. Continue in euros or continue in dollars. Accept this rate or decline. The words move around. The choice does not…make sure you are withdrawing in the local currency, in this case, euro.
  • Find a bancomat with a low, or no, service fee. I have to admit that I don’t worry about that though because I use a Charles Schwab debit card. It has no foreign transaction fees and it reimburses me for any an all withdrawal fees that I am charged (internationally or domestically). It’s a great deal to not have to worry if the service fee is hefty knowing that Schwab will refund me at the end of the month.
  • Avoid currency exchange counters. They will charge fees upon fees. If you have euro left at the end of your trip, just spend it. Apply it to your hotel bill. Buy meals with it. Eat a lot of gelato. Take it home to use on your next trip. But don’t exchange it back from euro to dollars. You are throwing away money if you do.

You’ll almost always come out ahead if you just get euro from a bancomat as needed, preferably with a card that refunds you for withdrawal fees.

(Want the full explanation? Read my guide on How to Get Euro for Italy Without Getting Ripped Off, where I explain exactly how to avoid unnecessary exchange fees.) https://roaminghistorian.com/2026/02/24/how-to-get-euro-for-italy-europe-without-getting-ripped-off/

My Rule of Thumb

I never worry about having a huge amount of cash (unless I need it to pay a large bill and get a discount). Instead, I make sure I have:

  • one debit card
  • one credit card
  • a small amount of euro

When I start getting low, I simply stop at another ATM. It’s easier, safer, and keeps me from carrying around more money than I actually need.

Where Should I Buy Tickets or Tours in Italy?

If you want to pay in your home currency instead of euro, you might want to consider buying tickets and tours through one of my preferred vendors. All four offer options in multiple currencies, which can be very handy if your credit card has foreign transaction fees. Explore LivTours (save 10% off 2+ tours with code AMYRH10), The Tour Guy, Viator, and GetYourGuide for many experiences, tickets, and tours.

Final Thoughts

You probably won’t spend your entire vacation using cash. But you also don’t want to rely entirely on credit cards. Having some euros gives you flexibility and helps you avoid awkward situations when cash is the easiest—or only—payment option. Carry a little. Withdraw more if you need it. And spend your money enjoying Italy instead of paying unnecessary exchange fees or missing out on opportunities because all you had on you was a credit card.

And what should you do if you end up with cash at the end? Spend it. I hear stories of people changing euro back to their home currency (horrible move financially) or not using cash because they’re worried of having left over. Just apply what you have left to your hotel bill, use it for a taxi ride to the airport, buy a meal with it. There are likely loads of opportunities to use it in place of a credit card on the last day or so.

Happy travels! Amy

FAQ

Do I still need cash in Italy?

Yes. While most hotels, restaurants, museums, and stores accept credit cards, cash is still useful for markets, small purchases, public restrooms, and some independent vendors.

How much cash should I bring to Italy?

There isn’t one right amount because everyone spends differently. Many travelers find that withdrawing €100–€200 at a time is enough, then getting more from an ATM as needed. When you’re not using cash, make sure you have a “no foreign exchange fee” credit card. If you want to pay in your home currency instead of euro, you might want to consider buying tickets and tours through one of my preferred vendors. All four offer options in multiple currencies. Explore LivTours (save 10% off 2+ tours with code AMYRH10), The Tour Guy, Viator, and GetYourGuide for many experiences, tickets, and tours.

Should I exchange money before leaving for Italy?

Generally, no. Using a debit card at a bank ATM after you arrive usually provides a better exchange rate than ordering euros from home or using currency exchange counters.

Should I pay in euros or U.S. dollars?

Always choose euros (the local currency) when paying by card or withdrawing cash. Choosing U.S. dollars usually results in a poorer exchange rate because of dynamic currency conversion.

Is Italy a cashless country?

No. Italy is much more credit-card friendly than it was a decade ago, but cash is still widely used for small purchases, outdoor markets, public restrooms, tips, and some independent businesses. Carrying a small amount of euro gives you flexibility and can even help you take advantage of cash discounts.

Amy French, Ph.D., is the voice behind Roaming Historian. A professional historian and seasoned traveler, she shares stories that blend history and travel to give readers a deeper understanding of the places they explore.

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Do I Need Travel Insurance in Italy?

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The Tour Guy

The Tour Guy has been offering amazing small group tours in Italy and the rest of Europe for quite some time; in fact, we’ve been taking their tours for so long that they were just The Roman Guy when we started with them. They find the best local experiences and offer them in private or small groups (about 15 people or fewer). They are known for providing unique, behind-the-scenes access to major landmarks like the Vatican and Louvre, often including all entry fees, taxes, and expert guides, making them a reliable choice for curated, stress-free sightseeing.

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