Daily life in Italy: what matters week by week

Student life gets easier when you manage routine, not emergencies. In Italy, transport choices, food habits, utility control, and laundry discipline directly affect your monthly budget and stress level.

  • Plan by week, not by day: set fixed times for shopping, cooking, laundry, and bill checks.
  • Track recurring costs: transport pass, phone plan, internet, electricity, and shared-house supplies.
  • Use local patterns: each country has different cost rhythms (energy, shop discounts, public transport logic).

Laundry guide: how to use the washing machine correctly

Most machines use programmes such as Cotton, Synthetics, Delicates, and Eco 40–60. In many student flats, drying racks are preferred over tumble dryers to cut electricity costs.

  1. Sort first: separate whites, dark colours, and delicates. Empty pockets and zip up fasteners.
  2. Read labels: follow care symbols. When in doubt, use a lower, safer temperature.
  3. Choose the right programme: cotton for sturdy everyday items, synthetics for blends, delicates for fragile fabrics.
  4. Dose detergent correctly: too much leaves residue and odours; too little cleans poorly.
  5. Set spin speed: high spin for towels/jeans, low spin for delicates.
  6. Unload quickly: remove clothes right after the cycle to avoid bad smells.
  7. Dry properly: use the dryer only for suitable fabrics; otherwise use a rack/line and airflow.
  8. Clean the machine monthly: run an empty hot cycle and clean the filter/drawer to prevent mould.

Italy-specific survival checklist

  • Transport strategy: compare weekly/monthly passes and student discounts before paying single fares.
  • Shopping strategy: combine discount supermarkets with local markets to balance price and quality.
  • Energy control: avoid standby consumption, monitor heating/cooling use, and agree utility rules with flatmates.
  • Phone and data: choose plans based on real usage (not marketing bundles).
  • Cash buffer: keep a small emergency reserve for pharmacy, repairs, or urgent transport.

Driving licence and motorisation

Residents: Italian licence or conversion. EU: recognition / Motorizzazione procedure. Non-EU: conversion only for countries with agreements, otherwise new exam. Patente AM (mopeds) from age 14.

Mobile phones and SIM

Main operators: TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Iliad, ho. mobile, Fastweb Mobile, Very Mobile. Prepaid SIM: ID and Codice Fiscale, mandatory registration. Number portability: free, within a few working days.

Groceries and food

Common chains: Conad, Coop, Esselunga, Lidl, Eurospin, Aldi, Carrefour, etc. Local markets are often good value for fruit and vegetables. Anti-waste apps (e.g. Too Good To Go) for unsold food at reduced price.

Emergency numbers

ServiceNumber
EU single emergency number112
Polizia di Stato113
Fire brigade115
Medical emergency118
Coast guard1530
Gas emergency (national network)800 900 999

Poste and pharmacy

Poste Italiane

Registered mail, tracked parcels, payment slips, money orders, parcel hold; counters for SPID and often residence permits. Track shipments on the website.

Pharmacy

Medicines RR (prescription), SOP, OTC; generic equivalents often cheaper. On-duty pharmacy: check portals or your Comune.

August

Empty cities, small offices — plan ahead.

Quick reference

Intense social life, central food, shop opening hours with lunch break. North-South strong differences in costs and pace.

  • Aperitif and late dinner
  • Many shops closed on Sunday (shopping centers open)
  • Trains: book high-speed trains in advance
  • SPID useful for online services

Transport

Mobility

Trenitalia, Italo, Flixbus. Metro Milan/Rome. Bike sharing. Expensive LTZ car.

  • Trenitalia
  • ATM
  • IT-FR

Climate and what to pack

Cold humid north; Dry hot south. Coat and comfortable shoes for stone in the centers.

  • Hot summers — AC not everywhere

Phone and internet

Telephone

TIM, Vodafone, Iliad, Ho. eSIM available. Good campus WiFi.

  • SPID for digital PA
  • Posted again for permission

Food and groceries

Good for students

Different regions. Local markets. Label: cappuccino only for breakfast for purists.

Habits and settling in

Bureaucracy with counter opening hours. Original documents. Italian helps a lot outside the Erasmus bubble.

  • Tax code on each form
  • Canteen fixed hours
Trusted sources we used for this content

Public guidance from the Bank of Italy, the Italian Revenue Agency, INPS, INAIL, IVASS, AgID, key ministries (Interior, Economy, Labour, Health, University), regional student services, ISTAT, and Eurostat. Figures change—always confirm on the official portal.