Dining tips in General
Dining in General
A sampler platter of the different kinds of restaurants, cafes, trattorie, and other eateries you'll find in [[thisnat]
Menu à prezzo fisso, tourist menu, lunch menu—a fixed-price or set tourist menu may not be the best meal you could have at that restaurant, but it's certainly often the best budget option
Free
Yes, there are a couple of ways to enjoy excellent Italian food absolutely free
Be your own chef and you can save money and add an extra cultural experience to your trip
From tavole calde( mini-cafeterias)_ to pizza rustica (by the slice) to tripe sandwiches, there are many excellent (and inexpensive) Italian versions of fast food to try
Skip the big slab of meat and order two starters instead—more variety, lower cost
Dining in Italy
Culinary specialties of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrentine Peninsula
Planning for a trip to Italy
Everybody's favorite sugary, alcoholic lemonade on the Amalfi Coast
Dining in Italy
Where to grab a quick, cheap meal—Wine bars, street food, and fast food in Florence
★★☆
Dining in Italy
A guide to the best dishes, food specialties, and wines of Italy's Campania region
Topics in Italy
★☆☆
The best pizzerias in Naples, the history of pizza, and more pizza, pizza, pizza
Dining in Italy
★★☆
Bar hopping for free stuzzichini (snacks) and canapés during the aperitivo Happy Hour
Topics in Italy
Dining in Italy
Where to grab a quick, cheap meal—Pizza rustica, street food, and fast food in Sorrento
Dining in Italy
★★★
A cicchetti (or cichetti) crawl though Venice, nibbling on snacks, canapes, & finger foods while enjoying ombra glasses of wine
Where to grab a quick, cheap meal—Pizza rustica, street food, and fast food in Venice
Dining tips links
Useful Italian phrases
Useful Italian for rail travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria [or] la stazione | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah [or] lah stat-zee-YO-nay |
| ticket | un biglietto | oon beel-YET-toh |
| first class | prima classe | PREE-mah CLAH-say |
| second class | seconda classe | say-CONE-dah CLAH-say |
| one way | solo andata | SO-low ahn-DAHT-tah |
| round trip (return) | andata e ritorno | ahn-DAH-tah ay ree-TOUR-noh |
| Just the supplement | Soltanto il supplemento | soul-TAHN-toh eel sou-play-MEN-toh |
| Just a seat reservation | Soltanto una prenotazione | soal-TAHN-toh oo-nah pray-no-tah-tsee-YOH-nay |
| I have a Eurailpass | Ho il Eurailpass | oh eel YOO-rail-pahs |
| sleeping couchette | una cucetta | oo-nah koo-CHET-tah |
| berth in a sleeping car | un posto nel vagone letto | oon POH-sto nell vah-GOAN-nay LET-toh |
| track | binario | been-AR-ree-yoh |
| train | treno | TRE-no |
| car (carriage) | carozza | ka-RO-tza |
| seat | posto | PO-sto |
| departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
| arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
| left luggage | deposito bagagli | day-PO-zee-toh ba-GAHL-yee |
| punch your ticket | timbrare il biglietto | teem-BRA-ray eel beel-YET-toh |
| Is this the right platform for the Rome train? | E questo il binario per il treno à Roma? | ay KWAY-sto eel been-AR-ree-yo pair eel TRE-no ah RO-ma? |
| delayed | in retardo | een ree-TAR-do |
| strike | sciopero | SHO-pair-oh |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| City / Train station names | ||
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Main station |
| Rome | Roma | Termini |
| Florence | Firenze | Santa Maria Novella |
| Venice | Venezia | Santa Lucia |
| Milan | Milano | Centrale |
| Genoa | Genova | Porta Principe |
| Naples | Napoli | Centrale |
| Leghorn | Livorno | Centrale |
| Turin | Torino | Porta Nuova |
Useful Italian for air travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| the airport | l'aeroporto | LAHW-ro-port-oh |
| the airplane | l'aereo | LAIR-reh-oh |
| terminal | terminal | TEAR-me-nahl |
| flight | volo | VOH-lo |
| gate | uscita d'imbarco | oo-SHEE-tah deem-BARK-oh |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
| departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
| arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
| delayed | in ritardo | een ree-TAR-doh |
| on time | in orario | een oh-RAH-ree-yo |
| early | in avanti | een ah-VAHN-tee |
| boarding | imbarco | eem-BARK-o |
| connecting flight | la coincidenza | la ko-een-chee-DEN-za |
| check-in | accettazione | ah-chet-ta-zee-YO-nee |
| immigration | controllo passaporti | cone-TRO-lo pah-sa-POR-tee |
| security check | controllo di sicurezza | kohn-TRO-lo dee see-kur-AY-tzah |
| customs | dogana | do-GA-na |
| shuttle | la navetta | lah na-VET-tah |
| boarding pass | carta d'imbarco | kart-ta deem-BARK-o |
| baggage claim | ritiro bagagli | ree-TEER-oh bah-GA-lyee |
| carry-on luggage | bagaglio à mano | bah-GA-lyo ah MA_no |
| checked luggage | bagalio | bah-GA-lyo |
Useful Italian for car travel
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| car | automobile | ow-toh-MO-bee-lay |
| scooter/motorboke | un motorino | oon mo-tair-EE-no |
| gas station | stazione di servizio | stah-zee-YO-nay dee sair-VEE-tzee-yo |
| gas | benzina | ben-ZEE-nah |
| diesel | gasolio [or] diesel | gah-ZOH-lee-oh [or] DEE-zell |
| Fill it up, please | al pieno, per favore | ahl pee-YAY-noh, pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the highway | l'autostrada | lout-oh-STRA-dah |
| ...the state highway | la statale [written "SS"] | lah sta-TAHL-eh |
| ...the road for Rome | la strada per Roma | lah STRA-dah pair RO-mah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
| to cross | attraversare | ah-tra-vair-SAR-ay |
| toll | pedaggio | peh-DA-jo |
| parking | parcheggio | par-KEH-jo |
| road map | carta stradale | kar-ta stra-DA-lay |
| where can I pay the fine? | dove posso pagare la multa | DOH-veh Po-so pag-GAR-ray la MOOL-tah |
Typical road signs / terms » more
| English (anglais) | French (français) |
| Stop | Stop |
| Exit | Uscita |
| Staffic light | Semaforo |
| One-way | Senso unico |
| Dead-end | Strada senza uscita |
| Parking prohibited | No parcheggio or parcheggio proibito |
| Pedestrian zone | Area pedonale |
| Limited Traffic Zone (you pay to drive in) | ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato |
Basic phrases in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
| thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
| please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
| yes | si | see |
| no | no | no |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
| I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
| That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
| Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
| Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
| Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
| Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
| ...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
| ...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
| to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
| to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
| straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
| information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
| When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
| At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
| Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
| Today | oggi | OH-jee |
| Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
| Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
| a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
| Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
| Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
| Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
| Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
| Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
| Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
| Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
| Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
| Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
| Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
| a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
| January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
| February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
| March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
| April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
| May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
| June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
| July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
| August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
| September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
| October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
| November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
| December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
| English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
| 1 | uno | OO-no |
| 2 | due | DOO-way |
| 3 | tre | tray |
| 4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
| 5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
| 6 | sei | say |
| 7 | sette | SET-tay |
| 8 | otto | OH-toh |
| 9 | nove | NO-vay |
| 10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
| 11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
| 12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
| 13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
| 14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
| 15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
| 16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
| 17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
| 18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
| 19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
| 20 | venti | VENT-tee |
| 21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
| 22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
| 23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
| 30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
| 40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
| 50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
| 60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
| 70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
| 80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
| 90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
| 100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
| 1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
| 5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
| 10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).
