Italians Share 15 Tourist Etiquette Rules, From No Tap Water to 8 p.m. Dinners
Updated
Updated · BuzzFeed · Jul 11
Italians Share 15 Tourist Etiquette Rules, From No Tap Water to 8 p.m. Dinners
3 articles · Updated · BuzzFeed · Jul 11
Summary
15 etiquette tips from Italians urge tourists to avoid common missteps, including asking for tap water in restaurants and licking espresso or cappuccino spoons.
Coffee rules dominate the list: cappuccinos are treated as a breakfast drink and usually frowned on after about 11 a.m., while espresso is the expected order later in the day.
6-8 p.m. aperitivo reflects a broader dining rhythm in which drinks are typically paired with snacks or food rather than served alone.
7 p.m. kitchen openings and 8 p.m. dinners underscore the cultural gap for North American visitors expecting earlier meals and more casual service norms.