Pompeii tours & holidays

Generally, you will not need a visa to travel to Italy for a period of up to 90 days. Some citizens of a select few nationalities may need to obtain a Schengen visa before travelling to Italy. For more information, please visit the government of Italy’s website or the Essential Trip Information.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it is important that you check for the latest information. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government’s foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

Tipping isn’t customary in Italy, but it is appreciated. Feel free to leave a small amount if the service has been particularly good. Some restaurants will add a cover charge or ‘servizio’ to your bill.

A coperto is a small per head cover charge (around AUD 1.50–5) that is included in some restaurants for servings of bread, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper at the beginning of the meal. If this charge isn’t mentioned and you still are served bread, expect to see an item for ‘pane’ (Italian for bread) on your bill.

Drinking water from taps in Italy is generally considered safe. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead.

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Italy. Your best (and often cheapest) option is to purchase a local SIM card when arriving in Italy if your phone is compatible and unlocked.

There is also the option to activate global roaming with your service provider before leaving home. Check the roaming charges before you leave home, as this option can often be highly expensive.

Most service providers have good 4G coverage in the main cities as well as the countryside, however coverage in the Alps to the north, rural areas to the south and some parts of Sicily may be patchy at times.

Italy is largely accepting of LGBTQIA+ people. While LGBTQIA+ travellers can generally enjoy a hassle-free holiday in touristy areas and major cities, smaller towns and villages may be more conservative, so it's helpful to be aware of local attitudes to avoid unwanted attention.

Rome, Milan and Bologna have the largest gay scenes, and Florence and Naples also have a handful of LGBTQIA+-friendly venues.

We recommend visiting Equaldex before you travel for more detailed and up-to-date advice.