Living in Italy is probably the dream of many Italian learners.
So, in this post, we’re going to talk about whether you need to speak Italian to visit Italy or if you can move to Italy without speaking Italian.
Let’s find out!
Do I need to speak Italian to visit Italy?
The short answer to this is no, you do not need to speak Italian to visit Italy.
You will probably find plenty of people there who speak English, especially the younger generations, and knowing Italian is definitely not a requirement for entering the country!
However, knowing some Italian words and sentences will definitely show people you are making an effort.
Even if you only learn how to say “thank you” and “you’re welcome”, how to greet people and say goodbye, and some other simple words, your Italian adventure will already feel like a different experience.

And if you speak Italian, you might be able to get better prices at markets, for example, and ask locals for directions and recommendations, which will save you from getting lost in the wrong neighborhood or eating dinner in a tourist trap.
So, if you just want to visit Italy, we recommend learning the basics. But if you want to live in Italy, ideally, you should definitely try to learn some Italian.
Find out more about whether you need to speak Italian to visit Italy.
Can I move to Italy without speaking Italian?
f you’re asking yourself if you can move to Italy without speaking Italian, well, the answer is yes, of course, you can.
No one will stop you from doing so if that’s what you want or need to do.
However, you need to know it won’t be as easy as if you already spoke some Italian. And you’ll definitely need to learn Italian at some point.
Learning Italian in Italy is the best way to learn the language. This is called total immersion.
Also, learning the Italian language isn’t the most complicated thing you’ll ever do, especially if you already speak a Romance language like French or Spanish.
Moving to Italy without speaking Italian is possible, especially in the era of the Internet, Google Translate, online dictionaries, online accommodation platforms, etc.
In any case, we still recommend learning some basic Italian before moving to Italy.
Read more about whether you can move to Italy without speaking Italian.
Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!