🇮🇹 Rome Money Guide

Currency: Euro (€)
Currency Code: EUR
Exchange Rate: 1 EUR ≈ $1.08 USD (April 2026)

Italy uses the Euro as its currency. ATMs (bancomat) are found on nearly every block in central Rome, with banks like Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, and Banca Monte dei Paschi offering the best rates. Avoid standalone ATMs near the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Termini Station that charge €3-5 per transaction and offer poor exchange rates. Currency exchange offices (cambio) near major tourist sites are generally poor value — if you must use one, compare rates at several and check for hidden commissions. Card acceptance in Rome has improved dramatically — most restaurants, shops, and cafes now accept Visa and Mastercard, and contactless payments are increasingly common. However, many small trattorias, gelaterias, and market stalls still prefer cash, especially for purchases under €10. Having €50-100 in cash on you is advisable for small purchases. American Express acceptance is limited mostly to upscale hotels and restaurants. The Dynamic Currency Conversion trap applies here too — always pay in Euros when prompted at ATMs or card terminals, never in your home currency. Some Roman businesses technically must accept card payments by Italian law, but smaller vendors may claim their machine is broken — carrying some cash avoids awkward situations.

Italian restaurants include a "coperto" (cover charge) of €1-3 per person on the bill, which covers bread, table setting, and service. Beyond this, tipping is not obligatory but rounding up or leaving 5-10% for excellent service at sit-down restaurants is appreciated. At pizzerias and casual trattorias, leaving loose change is sufficient. For hotel porters, €1-2 per bag is standard, and €1 per night for housekeeping. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up to the nearest euro is polite — for example, paying €10 on a €9.20 fare. Tour guides, especially for Vatican or Colosseum tours, typically receive €5-10 per person for excellent commentary. At coffee bars (standing at the counter), Italians never tip — you pay the listed price and that is it. If you sit at a table, the coperto applies instead. Gelato shops do not expect tips. The Italian approach to tipping is relaxed — leaving something extra is a compliment to the service, not an obligation.

Rome has a colorful cast of scam artists concentrated around the major tourist sites. The Gladiator Photo Scam at the Colosseum involves men dressed as Roman centurions who pose for photos, then aggressively demand €10-20 or even €50 per photo. If you did not agree to a price beforehand, firmly refuse to pay more than a couple of euros. Near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, unlicensed Rose Sellers approach couples during dinner and hand a rose to the woman — then demand €5-10 from the man. Simply hand it back and say no. Tourist Menu Traps are widespread near the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps — restaurants with large photo menus in multiple languages and staff calling you in from the sidewalk are almost always overpriced and serve mediocre food. Walk two blocks off the tourist path for authentic Roman cuisine at fair prices. Counterfeit Goods Sellers lay blankets of fake designer bags and sunglasses near the Trevi Fountain and on Via del Corso — buying is illegal and you can face fines of €200-1,000. The Fake Charity Petition scam also operates in Rome, particularly at Termini Station and on the Metro. Pickpocketing is common on the crowded 64 bus (Vatican route), Metro Line A, at Termini Station, and in crowded piazzas. The Bracelet Scam sometimes appears near the Spanish Steps, similar to the Paris version. At restaurants, always check your bill carefully — some tourist-area places add unexplained charges for bread you did not request, excessive coperto, or inflated prices versus the menu. If something looks wrong, question it politely but firmly.

Quick Price Reference

Daily Budget Guide

Rome is surprisingly affordable for a major European capital. Budget travelers can get by on €70-110 per day with hostels (€25-45/night), pizza al taglio slices (€2-4), and the Roma 48-hour transit pass (€12.50). A coffee at the bar costs just €1-1.50 — one of the best deals in Europe. A plate of pasta at a local trattoria runs €8-12, and a liter of house wine costs €5-8. Supplì (fried rice balls) and panini from street vendors make great €3-5 lunches. Mid-range travelers spending €140-220 per day can enjoy 3-star hotel rooms (€80-140/night), proper sit-down dinners at trattorias (€20-35), Vatican Museums entry (€17), and Colosseum tickets (€16). Luxury travelers should expect €350+ per day for 5-star hotels near the Spanish Steps (€250+/night), fine dining in Trastevere (€50-100), and private guided tours (€150-400). Money-saving tips: the Roma Pass (€32 for 48 hours) includes free entry to one or two museums plus unlimited public transport. Many churches are free, including Saint Peter's Basilica — one of the greatest free attractions anywhere. Fill water bottles at Rome's 2,500+ nasoni (public drinking fountains) with clean, cold aqueduct water. The Leonardo Express train to Fiumicino Airport (€14) is cheaper and faster than a taxi during rush hour.

Non-EU residents can claim VAT refunds on purchases of €154.95 or more at a single store. Italy's standard VAT rate is 22%, with an effective refund of approximately 13-15%. Request a tax-free form at checkout and present your passport. At Fiumicino Airport (FCO), visit the customs office in the departures area before checking luggage if items need inspection, then claim your refund at the Global Blue or Tax Refund counter after security. Ciampino Airport also has refund facilities. Major luxury shopping streets like Via dei Condotti and Via del Corso have many participating stores. Italian leather goods, designer fashion, and artisan crafts are popular tax-free purchases.