Taxis and Euros

If you buy Euros before going to Italy, you're going to pay a steep commission. Usually, it's best to get them from the ATM once you get to Italy. Just be aware what your bank or credit union charges for an ATM fee and what their conversation rate is. 1% conversion fee plus a few bucks per ATM use is typical. But some banks and credit unions may offer cheaper ATM options e.g. Charles Schwab offers 0% conversion + no ATM fees and all ATM fees charged by the ATM itself rebated to you. I haven't used an ATM in Italy in a few years - last time there were no fees at bank-owned ATMs in Italy, but in Croatia and Slovenia last fall, ATMs were charging fees (new to me). Just be aware of the fees. If you have a Schwab card, you can use the ATM as often as you like and get a few Euros as needed, since there are no fees to worry about.

I always bring a few hundred USD with me as an emergency - in case my credit or debit cards don't work, I can always trade some USD for Euros for a big commission...but that's never happened. If I pay the big commission up front to get Euros in the US, I'm guaranteed to pay it...and may need to pay it again when I get home if I have a lot of Euros left over...

Oh - and do avoid Euronet ATMs - very expensive and more and more common these days in Europe unfortunately. Look for bank-owned ATMs.

And be sure to withdrawal and and pay for everything in Italy in EUROS and DECLINE anything offered in USD! This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and is a huge rip-off. They will offer you the opportunity to be charged in USD (or CAD if you are Canadian, whatever your home currency is) but this guarantees the worst conversion rate. Just let them charge you or calculate the amount in the local currency, in Euros!! Let your bank do the conversion at the best rate.

" Is 3000 EURO seem fine "
With the wide use of CCs, I would figure 100-200 Euros would be sufficient for 15 days unless you are staying at a hotel that gives you a discount for cash.

Is 3000 EURO seem fine ....

Probably 10 times what you need to bring with you from home.

I like to buy art from the street artists, so a bit more than $300 Euros for two weeks, I would anticipate, if that's your interest. The oil painting in my kitchen was 70 euros, and the smaller one 40 euros. The smaller glass shops in Murano usually want cash, also, ( pre- COVID.)

Train times- who knows in Italy??? Probably the majority are on time, but the ones I plan on taking usually are not. If you demand precision on train schedules, go to Switzerland. 😉

Have a great trip.

Without question the cheapest way to obtain local currency is a debit card at a bank owned ATM. They are everywhere.

Taxis are fine and SHOULD HAVE a functioning cc machine. BUT be sure to ask prior to getting in. Second, you can only get a taxi at a taxi stand. You cannot flag them down on the street -- not New York. If you hotel orders a taxi the fare starts when the taxi gets the call so it will arrive with a couple euro on the meter. C cards can be used most everywhere but you may encounter a max, maybe 10 euro, before accepting a card. Stick to Master and Visa. Anything else can be very limited.

I have stopped carrying US currency as an emergency back up. To much hassle if you have to use dollars. I can an extra debit card and have pin numbers for all c cards so that a c card could do a cash advance at an ATM if necessary. Expensive ?? yes but it is an emergency.

When you are in your local airport, hit the currency exchange desk and get a hundred euros if you want cash in your pocket. You will pay a premium of about 10% but it is only a hundred. I always have a hundred or so from my most recent trip. But since it is you first trip you can find an ATM at the airport on your arrival.

I have found the Italian trains system to be as accurate as any other system. The Swiss are overly quoted for their accuracy. Have seen as many late trains in Switzerland as in Italy. The exception would be the Regionale trains in Italy.

The one things that is very helpful is to learn to go with the local flow. Life is so much easier.

PS -- If you are buying street art from a vendor, you need to have a very good, well trained eye for art. Most of the street stuff is fake and over priced. But have bought some. Great pieces, IMO better than photos, but they will never hang in a museum.

Thanks for all the replies, great info

1. Taxi only. No Uber. However you can summon taxicabs like you do with the Uber app using the itTaxi app (works like Uber). Recently Uber and ItTaxi reached a joint operating agreement whereby you can summon a taxi using your Uber app. Initially it started operating in Rome and Milan only.
2. Taxi drivers prefer cash because they are the biggest tax dodgers, however they are supposed to accept credit cards. Occasionally they might tell you their POS machine is not working to convince you to pay in cash. They are lying but make sure to tell them you don’t have cash before you start the ride and if they tell you their POS machine is not working, walk away. Magically the POS machine will start working again. Have cash for small purchases, like an espresso (€1.10-€1.50), but you won’t need more than €20 per person per day for those small purchases. Everything else can be bought with credit cards.
3. Taxi cabs arrive within 5 minutes in most cases from the time you call. Never had to wait more than 10 min in the worst circumstances. Trains are generally timely or with very little delays since Mussolini, but major delays can happen occasionally. Navigation apps are generally accurate.
4. Do you plan to drive? If you are just walking forget the navigation. Humans walk at an average speed of 4 km/h (if you don’t stop window shopping or for snacks). Just look at the distance and calculate. If it’s 1 km away, you need to walk for about 15 min. There are 1000 meters in one km, in case you are metric system challenged. Any navigation system works. Many Italians, especially taxi drivers, use Waze

hey hey Griffin
get 100 to 200E here in the states before going. it's worth the "few " bucks you pay. i took 200E from wells fargo here, go small bills (5, 10, 20's) learned my lesson real fast, 3 planes landed in rome, all ran to ATM's, one broken and long lines for other. when does it run out of money. borrowed from friend, got to rome and ATM outside of bank, paid her back.
nowdays airports have travelex with high fees. not worth the headaches, paid about 20-30 US dollars to get them. you'll be a happy camper. that 200E lasted me 5 days in venice and paid for meals, boat & gondola, train tickets with my debit card.
3000E is over the moon and back, you do not need that much,
this subject comes up alot with different answers about euros, this is my own opinion and experience. trains were usually on time but every day is different, just go with the flow and be there early, look up at where train is going, make sure it stops at your place, find what tack it's on, validate ticket at box before boarding cuz you don't want the train patrol coming to give you a BIG fine without that validation.
in italy get a taxi at a taxi stand, no flagging them down along streets, another learned lesson. go have fun, enjoy italy, have a glass of wine, people watch and have gelato. listen to roberto about credit cards and driver's POS machine out of service. they either want your money or dodging for taxes. walk/wait for next taxi.
aloha

I answered on your other question in the other person thread

Honestly, in Italy last Fall I used ApplePay almost exclusively. Even for 3€ gelato. I occasionally got a bottle of water so I could get some coins to leave for housekeeping.

On the current trip I’m on, although I’m not in Italy, I used ApplePay in the Amsterdam train station for the .70 Euro cent toilette charge.

Please don’t take 3,000€ in cash.