I’ve been working remotely in Italy, for myself, for about two years now, and while it’s been an amazing experience, it’s also come with its fair share of challenges. Italy now offers a digital nomad visa, but this post isn’t about how to get that. This assumes you can live and/or legally work in Italy. If you’re like me and have an Italian passport, then this is a non-issue.
I want to share practical tips that come from my personal journey to help you thrive as a digital nomad in Italy.
1. Public WiFi Isn’t as Common in Italy
One of the first things you’ll notice when trying to be digitally-connected in Italy is that public WiFi isn’t as common as in other countries like the US. Many cafes and coffee shops don’t offer the typical Starbucks-style “sign in with your email” WiFi. When you do find WiFi, you’ll often need to ask the staff for the password, which they may have to hunt down. This can be a bit inconvenient if you’re used to working from cafes or co-working spaces with reliable internet. That said, you can find free WiFi, but you just have to search a little more.
2. Get a Mobile Plan with Hotspot Capabilities
If you’re going to be a digital nomad in Italy, investing in a good mobile plan with hotspot capabilities is essential. Relying on your phone for internet access is often more reliable than counting on free WiFi. Personally, I use Very Mobile, which costs around €8 per month for 150GB of data. Yes, American readers, you read those numbers right. While it’s only 4G, it’s more than adequate for my needs and far cheaper than what I was paying in the U.S. (about $50 per month on a family plan with less than 20GB). Although Very Mobile’s customer service is almost non-existent (which you’ll only need when switching phones), the service itself is reliable.
On a related note, check out my other article Keeping Your US Phone Number While Moving to Italy
For a more user-friendly SIM provider, ideal for shorter term Italy visits (a month or so), consider Airalo. You can get 15% off an eSIM with Airalo here.
One thing to keep in mind is that Italy’s thick, old buildings can block cell reception. So if you’re inside a café without WiFi, those thick walls might leave you completely off the grid. Having a mobile hotspot is a lifesaver, but it’s always good to scope out places with solid coverage when working remotely.
3. Laptop-Friendly Cafes Are Rare Outside Major Cities
If you’re like me and are always making note of “good place to work” cafes in Italy, you’ll find that laptop-friendly cafes are much less common outside major cities, specifically Milan, which is the only city with a notable computer-based remote work culture. In Italy, coffee shops (or “bars”) are social spaces where Italians go for their morning espresso, afternoon aperitivo, or to meet with friends. They don’t generally view these places as workspaces.
While bar owners are unlikely to turn you away (it’s literally never happened to me), you might feel a little out of place as the only person working on a laptop. Most Italians who have a computer-based remote job either live in Milan or outside of Italy. If you’re planning on working from cafes as a digital nomad in Italy, you’ll need to adjust your expectations.
4. The Work Culture in Italy is Different
If you’re working U.S. hours or are self-employed, one important thing to know while working remotely in Italy is that Italian work culture is much more relaxed than what you might be used to. Italy isn’t exactly known for its computer-based remote work culture, and late-night work can sometimes be met with jokes or invitations to “come have a drink with us” from friends or even strangers. While this laid-back attitude is part of the charm of being a digital nomad in Italy, self-discipline is crucial if you want to stay productive.
5. Rise and Grind, or Have Friends—but Not Both
Speaking of the work culture—unless their in-person job or a hungry child demands it, an Italian will not get up before 7 a.m. for pretty much anything. If your routine in your home country was to get up at 5:30 a.m., cold plunge, go for a run, start work at 7, and be in bed by 9:30 p.m.—that’s great for you. But you probably won’t develop much of a social life in Italy.
Social things in Italy typically happen at night. Dinner is around 9 p.m., and if there’s live music, a party, post-dinner drinks, etc., it probably doesn’t start until 10:30 or 11 p.m. This is not only on weekends—it can be any day of the week.
If you are an early-riser digital nomad/computer-based worker and plan to take that to Italy AND have a blossoming social life, you’ll need to pick one. (Also, you won’t have a blossoming social life in Italy unless you learn Italian, but that’s a conversation for another day.)
Balancing Work, Life, and La Dolce Vita
Being a digital nomad in Italy is a rewarding experience, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do so. But it does require some flexibility and adjustment. From unreliable WiFi to a different approach to work-life balance, working remotely in Italy presents its own unique set of challenges. But with the right mindset—and a solid mobile data plan—I hope you’ll be able to enjoy the experience as much as I have.
