Italy By Email And Internet

While Internet is a relatively common amenity throughout Italy, Wi-Fi is not, and as a general rule, the prevalence of both decreases the further you travel from urban areas. In large towns, it may be possible to find Internet but not Wi-Fi. In smaller towns, even a basic Internet connection may be hard to come by. Rates range from €2-6 per hour. While it’s possible in some places to forge a remote link with your home server, in most cases this is a much slower (and more expensive) option than using free web-based email accounts (e.g., www.gmail.com and www.hotmail.com). Internet cafes and the occasional free Internet terminal at a public library or university are listed in the Practical Information sections of major cities. For additional cybercafes in Italy, check out http://cafe.ecs.net.

Wary Wi-Fi. Wireless hot spots make Internet access possible in public and remote places. Unfortunately, they also pose security risks. Hot spots are public, open networks that use unencrypted, unsecured connections. They are susceptible to hacks and “packet sniffing”—ways of stealing passwords and other private information. To prevent problems, disable ad hoc mode, turn off file sharing and network discovery, encrypt your email, turn on your firewall, beware of phony networks, and watch for over-the-shoulder creeps.

More Staying Connected in Italy

By clicking submit you agree to the terms of the Let’s Go Privacy Policy

For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.