Key Takeaways
- Uber offers premium services like Uber Black in Italy, primarily in Rome and Milan.
- Italian local governments limit Uber due to competition concerns with traditional taxis.
- Travelers can estimate Uber fares using the app or website before booking.
- While Uber is a convenient option in Rome and Milan, Italy’s extensive public transport and taxis serve well elsewhere.
Is Uber Available in Italy?
Uber is available in Italy, but in a more limited capacity compared to its presence in countries like the U.S. Currently, Uber operates in only two Italian cities: Rome and Milan.
Due to concerns from local governments about potential unfair competition with traditional taxis, Uber operates only its premium services in Italy, such as Uber Black, Uber Lux, and Uber Van. These options offer luxury vehicles but come at higher prices.
Uber also provides airport rides to and from Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) airport, among possibly others, offering specific information about these services on their website.
For those traveling outside these cities, alternatives like trains or taxis are recommended, with a note of caution regarding potential scams with the latter.
Related: Is Uber in Paris?
Do I Need Uber to Get Around Italy?
No, you do not need Uber to get around Italy. It can be a helpful supplement to your other transportation plans if you’re in Milan or Rome, but Italy has excellent public transportation and taxi systems as-is.
If you want to make heavy use of car travel during your stay, renting a car may be easier and more cost-efficient.
To do so as an American, you’ll need to either obtain an International Driving Permit or an Italian translation of your driver’s license.
How Much Does Uber Cost per KM in Italy?
Uber does not publicize how much its services cost per KM in general, let alone in Italy.
This is because they have a complex algorithm for determining prices and cannot effectively establish set prices.
In general, when using Uber, you will deal with six pricing elements, each of which varies depending on the specific city you’re using it in:
- Booking fee: Your booking fee covers administrative costs that Uber needs to pay.
- Base rate: This is the flat fee that Uber charges you for being picked up.
- Distance: This is the charge that you pay per KM.
- Time: Uber charges you per minute and per KM so that drivers don’t earn less money when they spend time in traffic.
- Surge pricing: Often, there are periods of especially high demands. When this takes place, Uber will charge you a much higher price.
- Tip: On top of all this, you are charged optionally depending on how much you tip.
All that said, you don’t need to walk into using Uber without any idea of what you’re going to pay.
It does have a process for you to estimate the cost of your ride, which we’ll discuss further below.
How to Check Uber Prices Before Ordering
Uber has several processes in place so you can double-check your pricing before actually ordering the ride.
This is exceptionally helpful because the prices can vary significantly between individual rides.
Uber has two different processes for finding estimates: one through their website and one through the app.
How to Get an Uber Fare Estimate with Uber Website
Accessible without needing an Uber account, the Price Estimator on Uber’s website allows anyone to get a fare estimate. Simply enter your pickup location and destination to receive a detailed breakdown of the estimated fare, including all the relevant pricing components.
How to Get an Uber Fare Estimate with Uber App
To find an estimate within the Uber app:
- Open the app and tap on “Where to?”
- Enter your destination.
- The app will display a list of available service options along with their estimated fares.
Choose the service that best meets your needs based on price and service level. But remember, the actual fare may vary slightly based on real-time conditions such as traffic and surge pricing.
Suggested: How much does Uber cost?
Is It Better to Use Taxis or Uber in Italy?
That depends on where you are, how streetwise you are, and how comfortable you are in taxis.
If you are outside Rome and Milan, you will be unable to use Uber. If you’re comfortable in taxis and confident you can avoid being scammed, taxis are an excellent option throughout the rest of the country.
Are Taxis Safe in Italy?
Generally, taxis are safe in Italy.
There are some warnings online about being scammed by taxi drivers—specifically, taxis will often have separate fares for rides that take place within the city and rides that leave the city.
Some people have reported online that they were “taken for a ride” with this policy, whether with poor communication or meter manipulation.
If you want the Uber experience outside of Rome or Milan, we recommend looking at itTaxi (a taxi app explicitly designed for the Italian market) or Free Now (a more international taxi app).
Both allow you to request rides as Uber does, but they operate within Italy’s existing taxi service structure.
If you want to learn more about Italian taxi drivers and taking the taxi there, Grand Voyage Italy has compiled an exceptionally useful guide to navigating the process.
Is Uber Safe in Italy?
Because Uber drivers operate within the context of a larger, multinational corporation, many travelers find them to be much more safe and trustworthy than taxi drivers.
This perspective is warranted, to an extent—Uber drivers in Italy are accountable to Uber and its Human Resources team, while taxi drivers are often much less accountable for misdeeds like scamming.
That said, there are safety risks for both avenues, so always keep your guard up.
Another thing to note is that many Italian taxi drivers have been known to claim that Uber is illegal in Italy.
This is likely a strategy to dissuade travelers from using Uber services, but it is entirely untrue.
Uber is not illegal in Italy anywhere; it just isn’t available outside of Rome and Milan.
Keep in mind that there are risks involved with using Uber in any country, not just Italy.
Always keep your guard up when using Uber.
Double-check your driver’s license plate before entering a car, and keep your eye on whether your driver seems to be following the route established on the app.
Whether you’re in New York, San Francisco, or any European country (or country around the world), Uber can be dangerous but has many safety tools in place for you to use.
Read More: Is Uber safe?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Uber drivers in Italy speak English?
As is the case with Uber in Cancun, this answer varies a great deal from driver to driver.
Uber drivers are not required to speak English to drive on the platform, so many drivers likely will not. But that should not matter for most customers since you can do a great deal of communication through the app itself.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Italy?
That depends! Most people do not tip taxi drivers in Italy- it certainly isn’t a cultural norm the way it is in the United States. That said, if a driver goes out of their way to assist you, it is polite to do so.
Can I contact Uber support for problems with Uber in Italy?
You can always contact Uber support if you have a problem with their service, and that goes for their service as it takes place in Italy as well.
Wrapping Up
As we can see, using Uber in Italy isn’t quite the same as using it in countries where it’s widely available, like the US or the UK.
But that’s alright—as long as you’re either in Rome or Milan, Uber is an excellent option for riders of all stripes.
Thank you. This was very helpful. Would love to know the easiest way to see the Amalfi Coast without renting a car, since there are new restrictions and Uber is not available there. Taxi, hire a personal driver… There will be 5 of us. I know about the train from Naples to Sorrento, but I am more interested in Paestrum and Amalfi. Would love if you did an article on the Amalfi Coast.