21 weird things Italians do that no one warns you about
Italian culture is unique. Several things might seem strange to you when visiting Italy. Especially for the first time. Here are some tips to help you avoid awkward situations during your trip:
1. Don’t order a cappuccino after midday
Italians usually have a cappuccino for breakfast, not later in the day. If you want coffee after lunch, try ordering an espresso instead.
2. Only drink chamomile tea when you’re sick!
In Italy, people drink chamomile tea only when they are not feeling well. And if you order one, they will ask how you feel. Thus, Chamomile’s for sickness only.
3. Wait two hours after eating to go swimming!
Italians think swimming in a pool or the sea right after eating can cause digestive problems.
4. Don’t eat or drink on the go!
Meals are important in Italy, and people prefer to sit down and take their time eating.
5. Avoid sitting with your back to the door!
Yeah, this one sounds strange! Italians believe a draft can hit your neck or throat and make you sick, so they try to avoid sitting near doors or with their back facing the door.
6. Don’t go outside with wet hair!
Wet hair and the cold air can make you sick, so dry your hair before leaving the house.
7. Don’t break spaghetti before cooking it!
It’s best not to break pasta. It should wrap around your fork. That’s the proper way to eat long pasta.
8. Don’t put ketchup or pineapple on pasta or pizza!
Do you want to avoid people staring at you? No ketchup or pineapple on pasta or pizza.
9. If you want to pay your bill at a restaurant, you have to ask for it!
After you finish your meal, you may be waiting for the bill. But it won’t be brought to you automatically because it’s considered rude. Eating is a core part of Italian culture. People like to savor their meals without interruptions.
10. Most Italian homes have a bidet in the bathroom!
People use it to wash different body parts after using the toilet.
11. Don’t put money directly into someone’s hand when paying or receiving change!
Put the money on a tray near the cash register instead. In Italy, people usually pay with cash, and not everyone expects a tip.
12. Italians like to show affection and closeness through physical contact!
Physical affection (hugging and kissing the cheek) is popular among Italians (even among men).
13. Quick espresso
Italians take their coffee espresso quickly and usually don’t sit down to enjoy it.
14. Some Italians peel the skin off their fruits and vegetables before eating them!
Yeah, I also agree with what you are thinking. Why do that? The skin has most of the nutrients.
15. Phone greetings
In Italy, when you answer the phone, you say “Pronto?” (which means “ready”) to let the person on the other end know you are ready to talk.
16. Manners for entering a room
When you enter someone’s home or a store, you say “Permesso?” (which means “permission”) as a way of asking if you can come in. It’s a way of being polite.
17. Food talk
Food plays a crucial role in Italy. People often talk about their next meal. For example, it’s normal to hear Italians discussing what they’ll have for lunch while eating breakfast.
18. Late supper
Supper in Italy is usually eaten late, around 7:30 PM or 8 PM on weekdays and 8:30 PM on the weekends. In southern Italy, supper can start as late as 9:30 PM or 10 PM during summer. People like to relax before cooking or eating. And it’s too hot to eat outside before sunset.
19. Store hours
In Italy, stores are closed after lunch (12 PM or 1 PM) and reopen after 3 PM or 4 PM. People used to live close to where they worked and could go home for lunch.
20. Dressing up
Italians pay attention to their appearance and dress up when leaving the house. Women and adults pay extra attention to their outfits, while teenagers and young adults might dress more casually. Fashion is a big part of Italian culture.
21. Birthday celebrations
If you’re celebrating your birthday in Italy, your guests will expect you to pay the bill. Huh, it’s sure good to know this one beforehand!
Wrapping Up!
These are just a few fun facts and cultural quirks you’ll experience in Italy. When are you planning to travel? I wish you the very best! Are you also interested in learning a bit of the Italian language so you can chat with locals? Click here to try out a course for free.
What a simple and interesting article to understand Italian Culture for foreigners – traveling to Italy or not.
Not sitting with the back to the door has some fascinating stories behind it. I have heard that from some of my Italian friends. Also, if the visitors are male and female, the male is the one that should take the seat facing the door! I just wanted to add what I have heard about that.
And I had an experience when the Chef was horrified when I put the ketchup on the Pizza while in Italy- he immediately came out to check whether the food was ok!
Thanks for adding and confirming some of these points with your personal experience. It’s great to hear from you!
Every culture has its customs and beliefs. And it’s nice to have a list of the strange things we may find Italians doing even before going to Italy. I was aware of several of them. But I did not know they only drink chamomile tea when they are sick. It’s good to know in advance before my trip!
Happy trip to Italy!
As an Italian-American, I loved this post! I learned so much more about my culture and the unique things that happen in it. I did not know about chamomile tea. Also, I did not know that they wait awhile for swimming (since they believe its not good for digestion). Also, I did not know that you ask to enter a storefront by saying “Permesso?”.
I am glad this post helped you connect with your roots. Here is another post about the history of the Italian language that you may also find interesting.
Hey, I am such a fan of Italy. It’s on my bucket list, and this is perfect for me to know what to do and not do when I go. I love how they say pronto as hello. That would be a cool thing to try out. I also love how they celebrate food. And it makes sense with how delicious their food is.
Yeah, Italian food is top-notch! And I am glad you learned a thing or two about Italian culture.
Thank you for this insightful article.
It’s always a good idea to be well-versed with the culture of a country before you visit, that can save you a lot of trouble and awkward situations.
I’m a big fan of number 9: It doesn’t feel particularly great when a waiter brings me the bill before I ask for it, it seems like the restaurant is asking me to leave. I would much rather have to ask for the bill.
Thank you Yusuf