Driving in Lazio lake district
Planning for a trip to Italy
There are hundreds of road signs blocking your view on Italian roads and—more importantly—telling you how to get where you're going
Italian road rules are similar enough to North American ones that you'll get by fine; here are the important differences
The hotel garage will often be far costlier than a nearby public garage or other parking option
Stay in the slow lane (the rightmost one) on a European highway unless you are actively passing another car
How to get the most out of renting a car in Italy with the lowest cost and least hassle
A good road map of Italy can save you time and help you discover places and things not in your guidebook
Where to park legally in Italy (white stripes: free; blue stripes: paid; yellow stripes: off-limits), how to use a disco orario parking disk, and how to avoid fines and getting towed
Driving links
Rental cars
- Autoeurope.com (consolidator/leases)P
- Rentalcars.com (aggregator)P
- Momondo.com (aggregator)P
- Europebycar.com (rentals/leases)
- Priceline.com (OTA)P
- Carrentals.com (aggregator)P
Driving
- Accessibilitacentristorici.it (limited traffic zones)
- Urbanaccessregulations.eu (limited traffic zones)
- Amazon.com (road maps)P
- Autostrade.it (tolls, traffic)
- Parkopedia.com (live parking maps)
- Parkatmyhouse.com (uber-style parking)
- Urbanaccessregulations.eu (city-by-city restrictions)
- Aci.it (Italian AAA)
- Theaa.com (info)
- Ztl-italia.blogspot.com (limited traffic zones)
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.).
