Italy

Under Italian law, police can stop you at any time to carry out an identity check or your date of entry into the country. Carry photo ID with you at all times. The police will normally ask for your full passport if you are stopped while driving.

Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports.

Airports in Italy have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

If you buy a ticket from a kiosk or machine, you must validate it on public transport before you start your journey. Officials patrol public transport and will issue an on-the-spot fine if you do not have a validated ticket. Some buses and trams accept onboard contactless payment.

Many major cities in Italy impose a small tax on tourists. You must usually pay this tax at your hotel as it is unlikely to be included in your holiday booking. The rate of tax varies from city to city and can depend on the star rating of the hotel. Hotels often ask for payment in cash. Make sure you get a receipt. For more information, check with the local tourist information office.

If you are visiting Venice, you may need to pay an access fee. See when access fees apply, exemptions and how to make a payment.

Some Italian towns and cities have specific laws, and you could be fined for breaking them. For example, there may be laws against:

• dropping litter
• sitting on monument steps
• eating and drinking next to main churches, historic monuments and public buildings
• defacing historic monuments

It’s also an offence to enter or bathe in public fountains in many towns and cities, including Florence and Rome or swim in the canals in Venice. You could face a fine of up to 10,000 euros for urinating in a public place.

On the island of Capri, you must not use or bring on to the island any disposable plastic objects such as bags, cutlery, plates, cups, food packaging, trays and straws. If you do, you could be fined up to 500 euros.

Illegal traders operate on the streets of all major Italian cities. It is illegal to buy items from unlicensed street traders. If you do, you could be stopped by the local police and fined.

It’s illegal to remove sand, shells or pebbles from coastal areas in Italy. You could face a large fine for doing so. It’s also illegal to collect various species of flowers, plants and herbs from mountain and wooded areas. For more information, check with the regional authorities of the area you’re visiting.

Wildfires are a risk during the extended summer months. They are highly dangerous and unpredictable. Check the latest alerts and weather forecast and follow advice of local authorities if you’re considering travelling to affected areas. Take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas and report fires to the emergency services.

For information on what to do in the event of a wildfire, visit the Civil Protection Department.

Heavy rainfall is common throughout Italy in winter, which can cause local flooding. Monitor local media, weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities in affected areas.

High waters are a common occurrence in Venice and can cause flooding in parts of the city.

Many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line, which means that minor tremors and earthquakes happen regularly. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

There are several active volcanoes in southern Italy. National emergency planning is in place for  the Phlegraean fields, an area that remains active experiencing regular tremors.

Airspace can be affected during eruptions. If you are travelling to or from Catania, during a period of heightened activity, check with your travel provider or with Catania airport.

Read what to do in the event of a volcanic eruption and follow the instructions of the local authorities.