Public Bathrooms

This is a good question because restrooms are not as available as in the States. We would find a McDonald's, Burger King, etc. I can't remember bathrooms being in markets or department stores. Also, you can't walk into a restaurant just to use their facilities. Of course, the train stations have restrooms, however, I find the fast food restaurant's facilities are cleaner. For me, if I see one available, I use it because you never know where the next one will be. By the way, some restrooms ask that you leave small change as a tip to the cleaning person. Have fun making memories on your trip.

We were in department stores in Madrid,Paris,Berlin,Lisbon and London and in other large stores elsewhere. Bathrooms were to be found in all. While it is true that free facilities are not easily found, there are more such places than we have found to be the case in US (just not free).
Hotels will often allow use of their rooms and many public bldgs have them

I agree- fast food restaurants, museums, etc. You may want to bring some toilet paper with you (Charmin makes a travel sized roll in a tidy plastic container for about a dollar). I found out the hard way.

Well, Hubby has it easier anyway! Starbucks is generous about their facilities. I have found the public bathrooms with an attendant to be way cleaner than the fast-food places over here. My best tip is that if it isn't hot outside, try not to drink so much water during the day. I traveled with a group of 4 women that were constantly drinking water all day and then continuously searching for bathrooms. What a bummer! I make up for it in the evening if I feel I haven't consumed enough during the day, but usually just have a drink with my meals and at most, consume one small bottle all day long.

We just got back from 7 weeks in Europe and in addition to the places already suggested we would look for cafe type places that have outdoor seating, where there is a fair amount of people sitting outside so that you aren't noticeable...either of us (not together) would walk in quickly with the attitude that we would have if we were eating there and make a bee line to the bathroom before any one could stop and say anything to us. If either of us were desperate and we couldn't find a cafe that had a lot of people, we would sit down at an outside table and while one of us waited for a waitperson the other would use the bathroom. On one trip, years ago in Rouen, I was so desperate my husband stopped the car outside a cafe and I went in, the place was deserted except for the staff and they wanted to know what I wanted, I handed them a franc (this was before Euro's) and just asked if I could use their bathroom. They were very nice and said yes. Sometimes it's easy to find a place and sometimes it's difficult, there aren't always fast food places where you are, so if all else fails, offer money :)

Years and years ago, someone told me here in Israel (where public bathrooms are rare and restaurants not too happy to let non-customers use the facilities) that your best option ANYWHERE is the best hotel you can find. It's usually very obvious where the bathrooms are, and they will always be nice to you because [1] they don't know for sure if you are staying there and [2] even if you aren't, you might next time. This has ALWAYS worked for me everywhere I've travelled.

Since you posted this in the Italy forum, I assume you're traveling in Italy? If so, make sure you keep a supply of small coins for the bathroom attendants. Even if you find a decent facility in a restaurant, hotel, or otherwise, if it is "staffed" there is an expectation that you tip the attendant. This is also true at the Autogrille rest areas on the autostrade. In one public restroom in San Gimignano, the attendant wouldn't give you toilet paper until you paid him at least 50 cents. And even then, he sized you up to see how much he thought you needed. So I second the suggstion to bring a back up (Kleenex in travel packs work fine). Also, practice the mantra of "Go when you can, not when you have to".

I agree--fast food places offer easy access to toilets. In Rome McDonald's is a place to look for and also Coin dept stores. There are good facilities at the Vatican and hotels as others have mentioned. The train station facilities really vary--hole in the floor, lack of tp, etc. Travel prepared!

In addition to possibly tipping the attendants, public restrooms can charge "admission". There was no attendant at the restrooms at the train stations of Termini (Rome) or S.M. Novella (Florence), but you had to insert I think 50 cents to get into the bathroom. I never used them so can't remark on cleanliness.

I mostly used museums (Vatican and Uffizi were clean--Colosseum was not) and made sure to go before leaving the hotel.

My wife and I just returned from Itlay (visited Milan, Como, Padova, Venice, Florence and several samller towns). When I couldn't find a convenient toilet - almost always referred to as WC (for water closet)- I could go into any ristorante or pizzeria and ask for the "toilette". I probabaly did this 6 to 8 times in various towns.I was never refused! Tell your husband not to worry!