Italy uses the Euro (€)6. This guide helps you understand how to use money in Italy. You will learn about cash, cards, and how to get local money. It also covers ATM fees and tax-free shopping.
Updated 2026-10-30. Numbers carry a small link to their source. Fees and rules change, check the screen or the form before you pay.
Download on theApp StoreComing soonFree. No ads. Ever.Mid-market rate, refreshed in your browser. The booth and the ATM will give you less than this: the difference is their fee.
Updated 2026-10-30
Daily reference rates of the European Central Bank, Frankfurter.
Download on theApp StoreComing soonThe currency used in Italy is the Euro (€)6. Euro coins come in 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euro denominations7.
Euro banknotes are available in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, and €2008. The €500 note was part of the first series but is no longer issued8. Each banknote shows a European architectural style, like classical or Gothic9. You can check if a banknote is real by touching, looking, and tilting it10.
You can pay with both cash and cards in Italy11. Major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted11. Smartphone payment apps also work in bigger cities11.
It is good to carry some cash for small purchases or places that might not take cards. This can happen in smaller shops or rural areas.
No, US dollars or other foreign currencies are not usually accepted for payments in Italy. You need to use Euros for all transactions. Exchange your money to Euros before or upon arrival.
Download on theApp StoreComing soonYou can get cash from banks and exchange offices at airports and large train stations12. Banks with 24-hour ATMs are found across the country12.
Italian ATMs do not charge usage fees19. However, your home bank might charge a foreign transaction fee of 1% to 3%19. Most Italian ATMs have a daily withdrawal limit of about €25019.
If you are a permanent resident of a non-EU country, you can get a VAT refund13. The minimum purchase for a VAT refund is EUR 70.0114. This amount changed from EUR 154.94 as of February 1, 202414.
The standard VAT rate is 22%15. You must validate your tax-free forms at Customs before leaving the EU17. You have 5 months plus the issuing month to get your Customs stamp for forms issued in 202616. This period was 3 months for forms issued before 202616. You can get a cash refund up to EUR 1000 per tourist18.
The currency in Italy is the Euro (€)6. It is the official currency for all transactions.
No, you cannot use US dollars in Italy. You must use Euros for all payments.
Exchy helps you convert currencies and check ATM fees in Italy on your phone. Get Exchy on Google Play.
ATM fees for the country you land in, a booth check and a converter with no ads. Ever.
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