Italy, a country synonymous with art, history, and cuisine, offers a journey through time from the ancient ruins of Rome to the Renaissance masterpieces of Florence, and from the romantic canals of Venice to the picturesque Amalfi Coast. Italy’s rich cultural tapestry, vibrant cities, and stunning landscapes make it a must-visit destination. Understanding the local currency and cash, cash and ATMs in Italy and payment options is essential for a seamless experience. This guide will provide you with the financial insights needed to explore Italy’s wealth of attractions with ease and confidence, allowing you to savor the beauty and flavors of this enchanting country.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to travel on a budget in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Italy?
Italy boasts a robust ATM network with over 47,000 machines across the country, available in both cities and small towns. In remote areas, however, ATMs will be harder to find. They are commonly found at major airports, markets, tourist streets, malls, and banks.
You can find ATMs at:
- Major transport hubs, central markets, busy tourist streets, malls, and near banks.,
- Central Markets,
- Busy tourist streets,
- Malls,
- Near Banks.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Small airports on islands,
- Bus stops in the area,
- The villages’ interiors,
- Hidden away in small towns, away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets,
- Remote resorts and retreats.
Best ATMs to use in Italy for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Italy are those owned by popular banks such as:
BCC Roma,
BNL,
Banco BPM,
BPER Banca,
Intesa Sanpaolo,
Unicredit,
Credit Agricole,
Popolare di Bari, and
La Poste.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. BNL in Italy part of this group.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Italy, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in EUR).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Italy, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in EUR’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Italy?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in Italy.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Italy.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs generally remain open around the clock, every day. While you can approach standalone ATMs at any time, those inside banks typically operate from 9 am to 3 pm.
What do they call ATMs in Italy?
Words ATM or Bancomat are widely used
PIN type
ATMs in Italy primarily accept 4-digit PINs. Longer PINs are generally not accepted.
Also, many merchants used old machines which require a magnetic stripe on the card and not just a chip-and-pin card.
Languages at ATMs in Italy
Italian ATMs provide Italian and English, with French, German, and Spanish sometimes available. If you need translation assistance, remember that Google Translate can help live, though it’s best to proceed with caution.
If you cannot understand these languages, it’s fine. Use the camera feature of Google Translate to translate the selections on your phone in real time! Note: Because these translations are not always accurate, please take your time and finish the transaction without haste.
Do ATMs in Italy work similarly as other countries?
Italy offers modern ATMs that you’d expect to see in the US or Europe, with a similar operation. Be aware that some may keep your card during the transaction, so don’t forget to take it with you.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in Europe.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Italy?
ATMs in Italy dispense only the official currency Euro (EUR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Italy?
ATMs in Italy have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of € 250 to € 1,000. Couple of ATMs allow to withdraw up to € 2,000 per transaction and one bank ATM allows to withdraw as much as the card’s limit allows.
ATM Fees in Italy?
There are many fee-free ATMs in Italy. Many of the Bank ATMs in Italy do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. There are some banks that charge € 6 per transaction. Apart from that, there are two banks that charge fees specifically for UK cardholders – either € 1.5 or € 6 per transaction. So, there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Italy as a foreign cardholder!
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Italy – something every traveller handling cash in Italy should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Italy?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Italy?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Italy. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 100 + countries including Italy.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use Italy ATMs?
ATMs in Italy generally have security measures like cameras and guards, and ATM-related crime rates are low, though pickpocketing is more common.
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Italy takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are many fee-free ATMs in Italy. Many of the Bank ATMs in Italy do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. There are some banks that charge € 6 per transaction. Apart from that, there are two banks that charge fees specifically for UK cardholders – either € 1.5 or € 6 per transaction. So, there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Italy as a foreign cardholder!
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Italy?
Yes. You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Italy
Bitcoin ATMs?
Yes, there are about 20 Bitcoin ATMs in Italy.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Italy
Bank of America: None.
Citbank: None at all.
Barclays: Not present.
HSBC: None.
Standard Chartered: None.
