Planning a trip to Italy and want to feel confident speaking with locals? This guide gives you 100+ essential Italian travel phrases, organised into clear tables so you can learn fast, revise easily, and save everything for your trip. You’ll also find:
- A free PDF + pronunciation guide
- Italian cultural tips to help you fit in
- Bonus sections for ordering food, buying train tickets, and handling emergencies
- A personal invitation to keep learning with my Intrepid Italian for Travel course
⭐ Free Italian Phrases for Travel PDF + Pronunciation Guide
Want a printable version of all the phrases below?
How to Use This Italian Phrase Guide
- Start with the Survival Phrases section. These are your must-knows.
- Then move to food, transport, and emergencies – the situations you’ll face the most.
- Use the pronunciation column to practise out loud. Don’t aim for perfection – Italians love the effort.
- Save the PDF (above) to your phone so you can revise on the plane or train.
Quick Italian Pronunciation Cheat Sheet
Italian spelling is very regular. Here’s all you need:
- A = “ah”
- E = “eh”
- I = “ee”
- O = “oh”
- U = “oo”
- C + I/E = “ch” sound – ciao → “chow”
- G + I/E = soft “j” sound – gelato → “jeh-lah-toh”
Use this plus the pronunciation guide in each table and you’re set.
Watch the video and learn these Italian phrases with the locals
1. Survival Italian Phrases
These are the phrases you’ll use constantly – learn these first.
When you arrive in a new country, even simple things like saying “please” and “thank you” can feel stressful. These are the phrases that will get you through your first interactions at the airport, in a taxi, or at your hotel reception.
Focus on these first if you’re short on time. With just a handful of expressions, you can already be polite, ask for help, and explain that you don’t speak Italian very well yet. Italians really appreciate it when visitors know even a few words – it shows respect, and it’s a lovely way to start a conversation on the right foot.
Pronunciation tip: don’t worry about sounding perfect. Aim for clear and confident rather than “native-like”. A friendly smile plus a simple grazie goes a very long way.
Key Survival Phrases
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Ciao | chow |
| Good morning | Buongiorno | bwon-jor-noh |
| Good evening | Buonasera | bwoh-nah-seh-rah |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-veh-der-chee |
| Please | Per favore | pehr fah-voh-reh |
| Thank you | Grazie | grah-tsee-eh |
| You’re welcome | Prego | preh-goh |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Scusa / Mi scusi | skoo-zah / mee skoo-zee |
| Yes | Sì | see |
| No | No | noh |
| I don’t understand | Non capisco | non kah-pees-koh |
| I don’t speak Italian very well | Non parlo molto bene l’italiano | non par-loh mol-to beh-neh lee-tah-lyah-noh |
| Do you speak English? | Parla inglese? | par-lah in-gleh-zeh? |
You’ll use greetings all day in Italy – when you walk into a café, enter a shop, speak to staff at your hotel, or say goodbye at the end of a meal. Learning these is like having a little social superpower.
Many learners lean on ciao for everything, because it’s the most famous Italian word. But in real life, Italians are a bit more careful: ciao is very informal and usually used with friends and family. With people you don’t know well, you’ll sound much more natural if you use buongiorno, buonasera or the very handy salve.
Once you know how to say hello, you can introduce yourself, say where you’re from, and make a warm first impression – all in Italian. Get my full guide to Italian Greetings.
If You Don’t Understand (Communication Phrases)
Even if you’ve learned some Italian, there will be moments when you get stuck – that’s completely normal. The important thing is not to panic or switch straight back to English.
These phrases help you manage the conversation: you can ask someone to repeat, slow down, say a word in another way, or gently ask if they speak English. On the other hand, if you want to practise your Italian, you can say so clearly and most Italians will be delighted to help you.
Learning tip: when you miss a word, try repeating it back with a questioning tone. For example, if you hear biglietto and don’t quite catch it, repeat biglietto? with curiosity. This often prompts the other person to explain or show you what they mean.
🛬 2. Italian Phrases at the Airport & Arrivals
At the Airport
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is baggage claim? | Dov’è il ritiro bagagli? | doh-veh eel ree-tee-roh bah-gahl-yee |
| Where is the exit? | Dov’è l’uscita? | doh-veh loo-shee-tah |
| I’m looking for… | Sto cercando… | stoh cher-kan-doh |
| Taxi stand | Postazione taxi | pos-tah-tsee-oh-neh tahk-see |
| Train station | Stazione | stah-tsee-oh-neh |
| Tourist information | Ufficio turistico | oof-fee-choh too-ree-stee-koh |
| I’m here for holidays | Sono qui in vacanza | soh-noh kwee een vah-kan-tsah |
🍽️ 3. Italian Phrases for Food & Drink (Restaurants & Cafés)
Food is a huge part of Italian culture. These phrases will get you fed and adored.
Booking & Arriving
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I have a reservation | Ho una prenotazione | oh oo-nah preh-noh-tah-tsee-oh-neh |
| I booked under the name… | Ho prenotato a nome… | oh preh-noh-tah-toh ah noh-meh… |
| A table for two, please | Un tavolo per due, per favore | oon tah-voh-loh pehr doo-eh |
Ordering
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I would like… | Vorrei… | vor-ray |
| What do you recommend? | Cosa consiglia? | koh-zah kon-see-lyah? |
| The menu, please | Il menù, per favore | eel meh-noo |
| I’m vegetarian | Sono vegetariano/a | soh-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-ah-noh / ah-nah |
| Without meat | Senza carne | sen-zah kar-neh |
| Without cheese | Senza formaggio | sen-zah for-mahj-joh |
| This is delicious! | È buonissimo! | eh bwon-ee-see-moh |
Eating out is one of the best parts of travelling in Italy. A few key phrases will help you book a table, understand what the waiter is asking, and handle the bill smoothly at the end.
You’ll notice that Italians often book in advance, especially at popular places or on weekend evenings. Knowing how to say posso prenotare un tavolo? (“can I book a table?”) and abbiamo prenotato (“we’ve booked”) will instantly make you feel more confident when you walk through the door.
Keep an ear out for mealtimes, too: lunch is usually from around 13:00–14:00, and dinner starts later than in many other countries, often from 20:00 onwards. If you show up very early, the kitchen might not be open yet.
Drinks & Coffee
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A glass of red wine | Un bicchiere di vino rosso | oon bee-kyair-eh dee vee-noh ros-soh |
| A beer | Una birra | oo-nah beer-rah |
| A coffee (espresso) | Un caffè | oon kaf-feh |
| A cappuccino | Un cappuccino | oon kap-poo-chee-noh |
A lot of Italian life happens in il bar – which might surprise you if you’re expecting a “bar” to be mainly about alcohol. In Italy, bar usually means a café where people pop in for espresso, a quick snack or an aperitivo.
With these phrases, you’ll be able to order like a local, understand the difference between un caffè, un americano and un cappuccino, and join in the social life that happens around the counter or on the terrace.
Culture tip: Italians often drink their coffee standing at the bar, especially in the morning. Sitting at a table can sometimes cost a little more – so if the price seems higher than expected, you might be paying the “table service” price.
Get my full guide to ordering food and drink in Italian
Paying
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore | eel kon-toh |
| Can I pay by card? | Posso pagare con la carta? | pos-soh pah-gah-reh kon lah kar-tah |
| Can I pay in cash? | Posso pagare in contanti? | pos-soh pah-gah-reh een kon-tan-tee |
Sooner or later you’ll need to pay for something – a ticket, a meal, a coffee, a gelato (or three!). Knowing how to ask the price and how you want to pay will save you a lot of awkward pointing and mumbling.
In Italy, prices are usually said using euro only, without mentioning cents. For example, €2,50 becomes simply due euro e cinquanta. It sounds long at first, but once you’ve heard it a few times your ear will adjust quickly.
It’s also a good idea to learn how to say whether you’re paying by card or in cash, especially in smaller towns where some places are still contanti-only (cash only).
🧭 4. Italian Phrases for Asking for Directions
Getting Around on Foot
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…? | Dov’è…? | doh-veh…? |
| …the centre? | …il centro? | eel chen-troh? |
| …the station? | …la stazione? | lah stah-tsee-oh-neh? |
| …the museum? | …il museo? | eel moo-zeh-oh? |
| Is it far? | È lontano? | eh lon-tah-noh? |
| Is it near? | È vicino? | eh vee-chee-noh? |
Direction Words
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Sinistra | see-nee-strah |
| Right | Destra | deh-strah |
| Straight ahead | Dritto | dreet-toh |
| Turn left / right | Gira a sinistra / destra | jee-rah ah see-nee-strah / deh-strah |
🚆 5. Italian Phrases for Train Travel
Italian trains are great once you know the basics.
Buying Tickets
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A ticket to Rome, please | Un biglietto per Roma, per favore | oon bee-lyet-toh pehr roh-mah |
| A return ticket | Un biglietto di andata e ritorno | oon bee-lyet-toh dee an-dah-tah eh ree-tor-noh |
| Which platform? | Quale binario? | kwah-leh bee-nah-ryoh? |
| What time does the train leave? | A che ora parte il treno? | ah keh oh-rah par-teh eel treh-noh? |
On the Train
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Is this seat free? | È libero questo posto? | eh lee-beh-roh kweh-stoh pohs-toh? |
| Does this train stop in…? | Questo treno si ferma a…? | kweh-stoh treh-noh see fehr-mah ah…? |
| When do we arrive? | Quando arriviamo? | kwahn-doh ah-ree-vyah-moh? |
Even with Google Maps, there will always be moments when you need to ask a real human for help – especially if your battery is low or the wi-fi disappears at the wrong moment.
These phrases will help you ask where things are, buy tickets, and explain if you’re lost. You’ll also see the names of common transport words like il treno (train), la metro (subway) and l’autobus everywhere, so it’s worth getting used to how they sound.
Learning tip: if you’re not sure you understood the answer, you can repeat back part of what you heard and point, or ask può ripetere, per favore? (“could you repeat, please?”). Most people will happily slow down or show you on a map.
Get my full guide to how to buy train tickets in Italy
🚌 6. Italian Phrases for Buses, Taxis & Local Transport
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the bus stop? | Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus? | doh-veh lah fehr-mah-tah del ow-too-boos? |
| A ticket, please | Un biglietto, per favore | oon bee-lyet-toh |
| Do you go to…? | Va a…? | vah ah…? |
| Let’s take a taxi | Prendiamo un taxi | pren-dee-ah-moh oon tahk-see |
| Please stop here | Si fermi qui, per favore | see fehr-mee kwee pehr fah-voh-reh |
🏨 7. Italian Phrases for Hotel & Accommodation
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I have a reservation | Ho una prenotazione | oh oo-nah preh-noh-tah-tsee-oh-neh |
| Do you have a room available? | Avete una camera disponibile? | ah-veh-teh oo-nah kah-meh-rah dee-spoh-nee-bee-leh |
| For how many nights? | Per quante notti? | pehr kwahn-teh not-tee? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Dov’è il bagno? | doh-veh eel bahn-yoh |
| Is breakfast included? | La colazione è inclusa? | lah koh-lah-tsee-oh-neh eh een-kloo-zah? |
| Can I have another towel? | Posso avere un altro asciugamano? | pos-soh ah-veh-reh oon al-troh ah-shoo-gah-mah-noh |
Hotel staff in Italy often speak English, especially in bigger cities, but using a few Italian phrases at check-in is a lovely way to start your stay. It also helps in smaller guesthouses or agriturismi where English isn’t always guaranteed.
Here you’ll find helpful phrases for check-in, wi-fi, breakfast times and keys. Notice how benvenuto/benvenuta changes depending on whether you’re speaking to a man or a woman – little details like this make your Italian sound instantly more natural.
🛍️ 8. Italian Phrases for Shopping
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? | kwan-toh koh-stah? |
| I’m just looking | Guardo solo, grazie | gwar-doh soh-loh grah-tsee-eh |
| Do you have this in another size? | Avete questo in un’altra taglia? | ah-veh-teh kweh-stoh een oon-al-trah tal-yah? |
| Do you have this in another colour? | Avete questo in un altro colore? | ah-veh-teh kweh-stoh een oon al-troh koh-loh-reh? |
| I’ll take it | Lo prendo | lo prehn-doh |
Whether you’re browsing leather bags, ceramics, clothes or food, a few shopping phrases will help you ask about prices, sizes and payment, without feeling rushed or embarrassed.
In smaller shops, it’s still quite common for staff to be very hands-on: they might suggest items, give honest opinions, or tell you if something suits you or not. Don’t be surprised if they’re direct – it’s part of the charm!
Remember that in some areas, card payments aren’t always available, especially for small amounts. Keeping a bit of cash (contanti) in your wallet is still a good idea in Italy.
🚑 9. Italian Phrases for Emergencies
At the Pharmacy or Doctor
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I don’t feel well | Non mi sento bene | non mee sen-toh beh-neh |
| I have a headache | Ho mal di testa | oh mahl dee tes-tah |
| I have a stomach ache | Ho mal di stomaco | oh mahl dee stoh-mah-koh |
| I need a doctor | Ho bisogno di un medico | oh bee-zon-yoh dee oon meh-dee-koh |
| Is there a pharmacy nearby? | C’è una farmacia qui vicino? | cheh oo-nah far-mah-chee-ah kwee vee-chee-noh? |
Emergency Cards (Show These If You’re Stressed)
You can put these on a small card in your wallet or phone wallet.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Call an ambulance | Chiami un’ambulanza | kyah-mee oon-ahm-boo-lan-tsah |
| Call the police | Chiami la polizia | kyah-mee lah poh-lee-tzee-ah |
| I have an allergy to… | Sono allergico/a a… | soh-noh ah-ller-jee-koh / kah |
| I need help | Ho bisogno di aiuto | oh bee-zon-yoh dee ah-yoo-toh |
Get my full guide to 15 emergency phrases in Italian every traveller should know
💬 10. Italian Phrases for Everyday Conversation & Small Talk
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Come stai? / Come sta? | koh-meh stai / koh-meh stah |
| Nice to meet you | Piacere | pyah-cheh-reh |
| Where are you from? | Di dove sei? | dee doh-veh say? |
| I’m from Australia / the US / the UK | Sono australiano/a / americano/a / inglese | soh-noh ow-strah-lyah-noh / ah-meh-ree-kah-noh / een-gleh-zeh |
| I love Italy | Amo l’Italia! | ah-moh lee-tah-lee-ah |
| Italy is beautiful | L’Italia è bellissima | lee-tah-lee-ah eh beh-lee-see-mah |
Get my full guide to how to introduce yourself in Italian and make small talk.
😃 11. Italian Phrases to Make Italians Smile
This group of expressions is all about connection. These are the phrases you can use to compliment someone’s cooking, react to good news, or show enthusiasm when you really like something.
Words like buonissimo! and che bello! are extremely common in everyday Italian — you’ll hear them at the dinner table, in shops, and even when people are talking about the weather. Using them shows that you’re not just “getting by”, but genuinely enjoying the language and culture.
Keep one or two of these up your sleeve during your trip. They always get a smile!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Delicious! | Buonissimo! | bwon-EE-see-moh |
| How beautiful! / Wonderful! | Che bello! | keh BEL-loh |
| What luck! | Che fortuna! | keh for-TOO-nah |
| Thank you very much | Grazie mille | GRAHT-see-eh MEEL-leh |
| I like it a lot | Mi piace molto | mee PYA-cheh MOL-toh |
| The same (I’ll have what they’re having) | Lo stesso | loh STEH-soh |
| Right! / Exactly! | Giusto! | JOO-stoh |
✅ 12. Little Italian Helper Words
These tiny words may not look very important, but they’re everywhere in Italian. They help you sound more natural, soften what you say, and join ideas together.
Words like allora (“so, then”), ecco (“here is/are”), anche (“also/too”) and senza (“without”) will pop up in almost every conversation. Once you start noticing them, you’ll hear them constantly in cafés, shops and on the street.
Try adding just one or two of these into phrases you already know – it’s a simple way to make your Italian sound less “textbook” and more like real life.
🧡 Italy Cultural Tips So You Sound More Local
- Say buongiorno when you enter shops in the morning and buonasera later in the day.
- A simple grazie and prego go a very long way.
- In small towns, carry cash (contanti) – some places still don’t take cards.
- Don’t worry about making mistakes: Italians usually respond with warmth when you try.
- Don’t miss my guide to Italian customs where I share 48 things you should never do in Italy
🎯 Keep Going: Learn the Essential 20% of Italian for Travel
Ben fatto – well done! You’ve just worked through a big collection of Italian travel phrases. Don’t feel you have to remember everything today. Save this page, revisit it before you fly, and keep it handy on your phone while you travel.
If you’d like to go beyond memorising phrases and actually feel confident speaking Italian on your trip, my course Intrepid Italian for Travel teaches you:
- The essential phrases travellers really use
- Clear pronunciation support
- Real-life dialogues and cultural tips
- A step-by-step 2-week plan
- Lifetime access so you can revisit before every trip
👉 Join Intrepid Italian for Travel
If you’d like to go beyond “holiday phrases” and actually feel confident speaking Italian in different situations, my Intrepid Italian A1-B2 courses walk you step-by-step through the grammar, pronunciation and real-life expressions you’ll hear in Italy – with plenty of practice along the way.
For now, choose just a few phrases from each section, say them out loud, and imagine where you might use them on your next trip. Little by little, your Italian will stop feeling like a list of words and start feeling like a language you can really use.
❓ 13. FAQ: Italian Phrases for Travel
Do I need to speak Italian to travel in Italy?
No, you can get by with English in many tourist areas, but knowing a few key Italian phrases makes everything smoother and Italians will treat you more warmly.
Which Italian phrases should I learn first?
Start with greetings, please, thank you, excuse me, yes/no, and “I don’t understand”. Then add food, transport, and emergency phrases.
Are these phrases enough for a short trip?
Yes. These 100+ phrases cover most situations: restaurants, hotels, trains, shops, and emergencies. If you want deeper confidence, add a short travel course.
How should I practise these phrases?
Read them out loud using the pronunciation guide, then test yourself with the PDF. Practise little and often – 10–15 minutes a day is enough.
What’s the fastest way to feel confident speaking?
Focus on the 80/20: learn the small set of phrases you’ll use constantly (like the ones in this guide) and repeat them in realistic situations – ordering, asking, greeting, thanking.
Like it? Pin it for later!
125 Most Common Italian Phrases for Travellers [Printable PDF Guide]
Over to you!
Which of these Italian phrases do you find most useful? What other phrases or expressions would you like to know for your trip to Italy? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
