Italian Electricity & Electrical Outlets

While North America and some other parts of the world use 110V and 60Hz electricity, Italy follows the European standard of 220V to 230V, with a frequency of 50Hz. This means that on top of utilizing different outlets and plugs, some appliances built for the 110V standard might require a converter (converts Voltage and Frequency) instead of a simple adapter (adapts plug to outlet) to work properly.
Some travel appliances, like hairdryers, laptops and cellphone chargers, are already built to handle both 110V and 220V (e.g. Input: 100-240V~ 50.60Hz). However, before plugging anything in, check the instructions or the fine print on your appliance to make sure they can sustain the different voltages.
European Electrical Outlets
European Outlets

Adapters are easy to find at the airport but they will most likely be extremely overpriced, so our suggestion is to buy them beforehand.

Converters are normally more expensive than adaptors because they also convert the voltage from 220V to 110V, however they are worth the investment since they can save that professional curling iron or hairdryer you love to use!

Plugs in Italy

This information is additional in case you are interested in understanding the different types of plugs used in Europe. There are three main types of plugs in Italy: bipolar, tripolar and “Schuko”.

Bipolar Plug
Bipolar Plug
Tripolar Plug
Tripolar Plug
Schuko Plug
"Schuko" Plug

Bipolar plug
Is characterized by two pins: neutral and phase. It is normally used for appliances that have double insulation and therefore do not need the earth pole.

Tripolar plug
Is characterized by three pins: neutral, phase and earth (middle pin). It is the most common and widespread type of plug in Italy.

“Schuko” plug
Also called German, it is available both in the bipolar and tripolar version. The earth pin, if any, is usually replaced by two lateral metal blades. The pins are usually thicker than those in the bipolar or tripolar plugs and might not fit in older outlets, requiring an adaptor themselves. These type of plugs are generally used for demanding appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines or irons.

Need someone to run your ideas by? Have an idea for an itinerary but don’t know how to make it fit together or what the best solution is? Or do you simply want a curated food & wine adventure? Contact Us!