Italian Culture and Etiquette: Traveler Guide

First impression matter

Italy dey reward travelers wey slow down small and pay attention to how society dey run. Good manners (la buona educazione) na serious matter, and small effort go carry you far from Milan to Palermo.

Greetings

Handshake na standard way to greet new person. Among friends and family, expect two light cheek kisses, starting from the left cheek. Use buongiorno (good day) until late afternoon, then buonasera (good evening). Keep the casual ciao for pipo wey you know well; for strangers and elders, use the polite Lei instead of the familiar tu.

Dining customs

Food na sacred thing for dis place, and meals dey follow clear order: antipasto, primo (pasta or risotto), secondo with contorno, then dessert and coffee.

• Order cappuccino only for morning. After meal, Italians dey drink espresso, never milky coffee.
• No ask for parmesan on top seafood pasta, and no request extra cheese unless dem offer am.
• Keep both hands wey you fit see for table, no be for your laps.
• Bread na for the meal, no be starter with olive oil and balsamic (na American style be dat).
• A coperto (cover charge) of 1.50 to 3 euros per person na normal thing, e no be tip.

Tipping norms

Italy no be tipping culture. Service dey generally included, and the coperto don already cover your seat and bread.

• For restaurants, round up or leave few euros for correct service na appreciated but nobody dey expect am.
• For coffee for bar, leave 10 to 20 cents na kind gesture.
• Taxi drivers just dey expect say you round up to nearest euro.

Dress and behavior

Italians value la bella figura, the way to present yourself well.

• Cover your shoulders and knees before you enter church like the Duomo for Florence or St Peter's Basilica.
• Beachwear na for beach only; no waka bare chest for towns.
• Talk moderate volume inside restaurants and for train.

Wetin to do and no do

• Do learn small phrases: grazie, prego, scusi.
• Do validate train ticket for platform machine so you no go get fine.
• Don't rush espresso conversation; lingering na the point.
• Don't order latte thinking say na coffee; for Italian, latte mean milk.
• Don't snap finger to call waiter; polite scusi go work.

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