Italian Toilets, or Going to the Bathroom in Rome - An American in Rome (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to use a toilet in Rome? ›

There are of course the public toilets Rome has dotted around the city. These cost 1euro to access and are generally open from 10am to 6pm. Better still, if you have the Roma Pass you can access these public restaurants in Rome for free! Here is a list of public toilets in Rome.

If you use a public pay bathroom, you'll pay a small fee (usually €0.50 to €1.00) by inserting Euro coins into a machine or paying an attendant. Occasionally, the bathroom will be 'free,' but you're expected to 'tip' the attendant (€0.50 to €1.00 is fine).

You don't really need to bring this from home, of course — Italy does have toilet paper! — but it's a smart thing for ladies, particularly, to throw in their purses before leaving the hotel in the morning.

Where can I find a public bathroom in Rome? A few train stations have them, usually requiring a €1 coin to enter, but rarely any Metro stations. Some of these are even clean-ish, particularly in Termini. All museums have them (usually well maintained) and there is one particularly spotless example in Villa Torlonia.

Paid public toilets usually require cash: coins for turnstile-operated ones or coins or notes for those with an assistant. I haven't come across toilets accepting cards. The cost of paid toilets in Italy is usually between 50 cents and 1 euro.

In Italy (and Germany too), plan to pay to use the public toilets. 0.50 euros or so seems to be the going rate. Make sure you have coins--I seldom did, so I usually made two trips to the bathroom, one there, finding i needed coins, back to my husband for coins, and then back to the bathroom.

A bidet is a small basin located near the toilet that you use to wash your private parts after using the toilet. So, instead of just wiping with toilet paper, you use soap and water to clean the area.

Many Romans and Rome visitors organize to use a coffee break or a little lunch for a toilet visit. But if you are on sightseeing it is not always possible and because many street food shops do not offer sanitary facilities.

France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.

What is a bidet? A bidet (pronounced “bih-DAY”) is a plumbing fixture designed to clean your rear. It goes to work washing your lower region after you urinate or have a bowel movement, eliminating the need for toilet paper.

Is there tipping in Italy? ›

First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.

Waiting time in front of the Colosseum is quite long, and therefore, the first question many visitors ask themselves when entering the Colosseum is: “But where are the toilets? The toilets are on the ground floor, not far from the entrance and the boxes.

The Colosseum boasted public toilets as well – these consisted of rows of seats with holes in them, with a drain of flowing water beneath carrying everything off into a system of sewers that eventually led to a large drain that circled the Colosseum.

Bidets are found in pretty much every Italian home and hotel but are seen as a little too fancy for public restrooms. (Though even that is not unheard of). They are almost always standalone bidets, which are located next to or close to the toilet.

At restaurants, know what you do and don't have to pay for

Yes, you do have to pay for water. (You can ask for “acqua dal rubinetto,” tap water, but it's often seen as a bit rude. Plus, those glasses of tap water will take ages to get refilled by your waiter, if they're refilled at all!).

Instead of buying bottled mineral water, you can just fill it for free on the street. Interestingly, Italy is full of ancient water fountains. They can be incredibly beautiful, so bring your water bottle and camera! Some public areas have paid refill stations, that serve filtered tap water for 5 to 10 eurocents.

An Italian shower, more commonly known as a roll-in shower, is simply a shower with no curb or step between the shower and the bathroom floor.

The bidet is for washing your nether regions. That means specifically: you can use it to clean your butt, and/or your taint, and/or your genitals.

"Il conto, per favore."—The check, please.

In Italy, you typically have to ask for the check; the waiter does not simply drop off the check in advance, as in most American restaurants. Use the above phrase when you're ready to pay.

What is the Italian slang for toilet? ›

If you spend some time in Italy, you'll come across another slang word for toilet: cesso.

When do you use a bidet? Use a bidet after you poop, but before you wipe. Sure, you can wipe first, but most people who use a bidet find it easier and cleaner to just use the bidet. This is because the water pressure will adequately clean your bottom without the need for toilet paper.

Try flushing the bidet and/or using the spray nozzle to see where the stream of water is coming from so you know where to position yourself. This will also help you gauge the pressure of the water so you're not in for a big surprise. The bidet is used after using the toilet.

You don't need to use soap to use a bidet. Some people do use the bidet like a mini-shower after a bowel movement, sexual intercourse, or for freshening up, but it isn't a requirement. Make sure that any clothing items (like underwear, pants, and tunic-style shirts) are out of the way before turning on the bidet jets.

Roman public latrines looked much like their Greek predecessors: rooms lined with stone or wooden bench seats positioned over a sewer. The toilet holes are round on top of the bench, and a narrower slit extends forward and down over the edge in a keyhole shape.

In contrast to Rome's poor public sanitary facilities, the Vatican has excellent public toilets under the colonnade in St Peter's Square, which even includes showers for the homeless.

Do Italians shower daily? Yes, most Italians do shower daily. In fact, bathing and personal hygiene is generally quite important to Italians. On average, Italians take one shower a day and sometimes supplement this with a bath every week or two.

Pat dry with toilet paper

Since you're already clean from your bidet, you won't need much toilet paper to do so–just enough to remove any excess water. Use a gentle pat-dry motion instead of a wipe to avoid any irritation. That's all there is to it.

Cleaning the anus after defecation using the bidets contributes to hand hygiene and local comfort, and it may be effective against constipation. However, excessive bidet use potentially causes anal pruritus and anal incontinence (AI).

Should you flush the toilet after peeing? ›

There are important reasons you should flush after using the restroom, such as being able to avoid bathroom germs that could make you sick. Although some individuals may flush the toilet out of habit—or at least use one that automatically flushes—not everyone does it.

Once you find a setting that's comfortable for you, let the bidet spray somewhere between 30 seconds and a minute to get the job done. The control panels on an electric bidet might look more robust than your TV remote. Don't be afraid to experiment, but make sure you don't scald your butt with hot water.

Jeans are a good choice or skirts in light fabrics. Match your bottoms with a quality tee or pretty blouse, and don't forget a sweater and light jacket for layering on cold days and evenings. Bring a waterproof outerwear item, such as a light trench coat, for unexpected rainstorms.

You hardly need any cash at all. You can use your credit or debit card wherever there is a PoS (point of sale) machine. Your card needs to be on the Mastercard or VISA international network to function. (Most businesses in Italy refuse Amex and Diners because they charge too much commission.)

With this being said, one of the most important sites in Rome is closed on Sunday due to religious reasons: Vatican City. The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, as well on religious Catholic Holidays.

Squat toilets are common in many Asian countries, including China and India. They are also widespread in Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Iran and Iraq. They can be found in nations like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore.

Large bags such as backpacks and suitcases are strictly prohibited from the Colosseum. Security is taken very seriously, but given the crowds, you wouldn't want to take them in any way. Small items are allowed; however, take note that everything will be submitted to security screening.

So, when you ask the question, “is it worth going inside the Colosseum?” the answer is a plain and simple yes – it is absolutely worth going inside the Colosseum.

As for the best time of day to visit the Colosseum Rome, try to get there for 8:30am when the doors have just opened. At this time, the crowds aren't as large as they are in the late morning hours through to the afternoon. You could also visit 1-2 hours before the Colosseum closes.

What is the Rome restroom app? ›

WC Rome 4+

WC Rome is the App that helps you to find public bathrooms in the city of Rome. With the map you can see easily what are the public toilets near you. For each public bath are indicated days and opening hours and additional information to help you find it.

Can you flush toilet paper in Rome? Yes you can - there are European countries where this is still a no-go, but in Rome you can flush a small amount of toilet paper. Remember - never flush wet wipes!

The Romans cleaned their behinds with sea sponges attached to a stick, and the gutter supplied clean flowing water to dip the sponges in. This soft, gentle tool was called a tersorium, which literally meant “a wiping thing.” The Romans liked to move their bowels in comfort.

When you are traveling in Italy you will see strings hanging down the wall over tubs and shower stalls. This is actually an alarm system required by building code, especially for hotels and other places renting out rooms or apartments to travelers.

At restaurants, know what you do and don't have to pay for

Yes, you do have to pay for water. (You can ask for “acqua dal rubinetto,” tap water, but it's often seen as a bit rude. Plus, those glasses of tap water will take ages to get refilled by your waiter, if they're refilled at all!).

Water. The average Italian household spends around €37 per month on their water bill.

Costs of Using the Toilet

Public restrooms in America don't require a payment for use, but the “customers only” rule may apply. Some public restrooms in Europe actually require a fee to use the toilet. The fee is usually 1.5 Euros to gain access to the restroom.

First off, tipping in Italy is neither mandatory nor expected, but if you do decide to do so, the gesture is a very clear indicator that you appreciated the service provided.

Home » Food and drink » Do I need to tip in Rome? Tips are not expected in restaurants in Italy. Let us repeat that to let it sink in: tips are not expected in restaurants. However, a service charge is sometimes added, in a way that can often cause confusion for visitors.

Almost every store and restaurant in Italy accepts credit or debit cards. Throughout Rome there are internationally connected ATMs on almost every street corner (tip: ATMs are popularly called Bancomat). Use them and you'll enjoy the exchange rate of your own bank, which will work in your favor.

Can you fill up water bottles in Rome? ›

Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.

MINERAL WATER IN ITALY

Italians are used to buy six-packs of 1.5 litre plastic bottles of water from the supermarket. Instead of buying bottled mineral water, you can just fill it for free on the street. Interestingly, Italy is full of ancient water fountains.

The average price of lunch or dinner at a trattoria is €25 per person. Another great budget-friendly option is dining at one of these pizzerias in Rome, where the average cost of pizza is €8 to €13. If instead you want to dine at a fancier restaurant, budget in around 40 to 50 euros per person for a meal in Rome.

If you're averse to the occasional drip-dry, carry pocket-size tissue packs (easy to buy in Europe) for WCs sans TP. Some countries, such as Greece and Turkey, have very frail plumbing. If you see an wastebasket near the toilet with used toilet paper in it, that's a sign that the sewer system isn't up to snuff.

In North America, toilet stalls tend to be divided by thin partial walls and doors that don't reach the floor or ceiling, whereas washrooms with stalls in Europe are more likely to be fully enclosed and private.

In flushing an European toilet, the first push button (or partial push or small button) is to flush down liquid waste while the second push (or big button push) is to flush down solid wastes. American toilets on the other hand feature a single handle for flushing the toilets both solid and liquid waste.