Is there Uber in Italy? A Guide to Rideshare Apps in Italy

It can be frustrating traveling abroad and not being able to rely upon rideshare apps you are familiar with. When it comes to Italy, Uber is not completely banned, however it operates with restricted services in most areas, making it not viable as a ride sharing option. Luckily, there are plenty of Uber alternatives in Italy including rideshare apps and transport options. We will go through these alternatives in depth below.

Based on my experience traveling across different cities and regions in Italy, below is a guide to Rideshare Alternatives to Uber in Italy. We will cover –
1) What are the best alternatives to Uber in Italy?
2) Rideshare costs, and
3) Other public transportation alternatives, to help you effectively plan your holiday commute across Italy!

So is there Uber in Italy and does it work?

Yes, there is Uber in Italy, but its availability and the type of services it offers are limited compared to other countries due to local regulations. As such, the Uber app operates with limited service in main cities like Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples.

So what does this mean practically speaking? Uber in Italy only offers Uber Black and Uber Lux, which are the more expensive premium services with professional, licensed drivers and higher-end cars.

The more affordable and commonly used UberX service is generally not available in Italy due to its local regulations.

This can be frustrating when you want to get an Uber in Italy but don’t want to pay premium charges. Luckily, there are plenty of Uber alternatives rideshare apps in Italy, which we will go through below.

Uber Alternatives Rideshare Apps in Italy

There are plentry of alternatives to Uber in Italy, however do not make the assumption that all the rideshare apps available in your home country are necessarily going to operate here. The most popular Uber alternatives / rideshare apps in Italy are Free Now and IT Taxi, followed by AppTaxi and WeTaxi

Free Now App (FreeNow was previously known as MyTaxis)

Free now (formerly MyTaxi) is a ridesharing app widely used across the UK and Europe, including Italy. I have used FreeNow several times in the UK and Europe and found the service to be reasonably good. It is similar to Uber other than the fact that it connects users with licensed taxi drivers rather than private drivers like Uber. The app ensures regulated fares with no surge pricing. Free Now operates in many major Italian cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence, and Naples.

Fast and reliable – Book a taxi in seconds with real-time tracking.
Flexible payment options – Pay via credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even cash.
Ride choices – Select from standard taxis, larger vehicles for groups, or eco-friendly options.

IT Taxi App

IT Taxi short for ‘Italian Taxi’, is a local taxi/ rideshare app in Italy that operates across most larger Italian cities. With 12,000+ licensed taxi drivers across 95 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Venice, it is the official app of the Italian taxi association, and guarantees safe, regulated fares with no hidden charges.

I have often found it recommended by Airbnbs and hotels. It is similar to Uber in that it allows users to book rides with available drivers, specifically licensed taxi drivers. The app is more of a traditional taxi service app, but it does function similarly to Uber in terms of showing on-demand availability.

Pre-booking available – Schedule a ride in advance to avoid last-minute stress.
Multiple payment options – Pay via credit card, PayPal, Satispay, or even cash.
Custom ride options – Request pet-friendly or wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Tourist-friendly – Supports English and multiple other languages.

App Taxi

AppTaxi is a reliable Uber alternative in Italy, available in 50+ cities across Italy including in major hubs like Rome, Milan, and Venice. The app connects travelers with licensed taxis and offers regulated fares with no surge pricing. I didn’t personally use App Taxi in Italy, but the absence of surge pricing is a huge bonus in my opinion.

App allows for real-time tracking, pre-booking, and in-app payments (credit card, PayPal, Satispay).
Accessibility options – Offers pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible rides.
Easy to use – Available on iOS and Android for seamless travel.

WeTaxi

WeTaxi provides transparent pricing and eco-friendly rides in cities like Turin, Milan, Rome, and Naples. It is clear in providing fixed fare estimates upfront, helping you avoid unexpected costs.

Tourist-friendly – The app is available in English, making it easy to navigate
WeShare feature allows for carpooling for shared rides at lower prices.
Sustainable option – Offers a hybrid and electric fleet for an eco-friendly option.
Supports credit card, Google Pay, and Satispay with real-time ride tracking.

Does Italy have Lyft?

No, Lyft does not operate in Italy. Lyft doesn’t actually seem to have much of a significant presence in Europe and the UK, including in Italy.

If you are planning to use Rideshare apps in Italy, I would highly recommend downloading a few of these in advance.

The above list of ridesharing apps is by no means exhaustive. I have found options differ slightly across each city in Italy, along with various public transport options.

When is Uber worth using in Italy?

Despite the restricted service and premium price of Uber in Italy, I would still say its worth using if you don’t mind paying the Uber Black premium price. A lot of people who do use the Uber premium service, highly recoemmend it. Secondly, it can still be worthwhile using Uber if you are specifically looking for a larger van/ vehicle to get a bigger group of people from A to B in Italy. Given Uber’s premium range of cars includes vans and larger vehicles, booking a larger capacity Uber premium vehicle may actually be more cost efficient than hiring two / more separate taxis.

Rideshare options by city in Italy

Below is a breakdown of Uber and alternatives rideshare apps by city in Italy –

City	Uber Black	Free Now	AppTaxi	IT Taxi	WeTaxi	Airport & Taxi Services
Rome	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	Fiumicino Airport (FCO): Uber, Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi, WeTaxi
Milan	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	Malpensa Airport (MXP): Uber, Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi, WeTaxi
Venice	❌	❌	✔️	✔️	❌	Marco Polo Airport (VCE): AppTaxi, IT Taxi
Florence	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	Peretola Airport (FLR): AppTaxi, IT Taxi
Naples	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	Capodichino Airport (NAP): Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi, WeTaxi
Turin	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️	Caselle Airport (TRN): Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi, WeTaxi
Bologna	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ): Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi
Genoa	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA): Free Now, AppTaxi, IT Taxi
Verona	❌	❌	✔️	✔️	❌	Villafranca Airport (VRN): AppTaxi, IT Taxi
Palermo	❌	❌	❌	✔️	❌	Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO): IT Taxi

Uber operates in Rome Milan and Florence, however service is limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.

Rideshares in Venice Italy

Due to the unique layout of Venice being a network of canals instead of roads, traditional rideshare services are not as practical here, at least in central Venice. The best way to get around Venice is by boat or walking. Nonetheless, taking a Taxi to and from Venice Airport to Venice central is still a viable option.

Average Cost of Rideshares in Italy

The costs can vary significantly during the peak hours and off peak hours as with all ride sharing apps, however the average cost of a rideshare can be around €20-€30 ($21-$32 USD) in larger cities across Italy.

Rideshare Alternatives in Italy for Intercity Travel

Rideshares can get very expensive for intercity travel or in fact not be available at all. If you don’t want to hire a car for your entire trip, then BlaBlaCar is a great community based carpooling option for intercity travel in Italy. It is often referred to as the AirBnb for carpooling. I have personally not used BlaBla car, but have heard its a viable budget friendly option for intercity travel.

Public Transport Options in Italy

Italy has an extensive and well-connected public transport system. Trains are the fastest way to travel between major cities. High speed trains such as Trenitalia and Italo connect Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, and Naples. There are also regional trains (Regionale and Intercity) which connect smaller towns, these tend to be slower but cheaper.

Transport options within cities include buses, trams, and metros. Rome, Milan, Naples, and Turin have metro systems, while cities like Florence and Venice rely more on buses and trams. In Venice, the vaporetto (water bus) is the main public transport to get around. Tickets for most city transport can be bought at tobacconists, kiosks, or mobile apps like MyCicero or Moovit.

I personally relied on rideshare apps in Italy moreso when traveling to and from airports or for late evenings. Other than this, whenever possible, I was using public transport options like metros and buses.

A typical high-speed train ticket from Rome to Florence might cost between €30-€50 ($33-$55 USD) if booked in advance, but prices can rise closer to the departure date.

Tickets: For Trainitalia trains, tickets can be purchased on Trenitalia or Italo websites online or directly at the Trainitalia ticket machines in train stations, or through mobile apps.

Car Rentals Costs in Italy

If you’re planning to do your own tour of Italy or explore Italy’s more rural areas, like Tuscany, Puglia or the islands like Sicily or Sardinia, then renting a car is a great option.

Having rented a car a few times when traveling in Italy, I have found renting directly at the Airport most convenient. Most airports have the standard options like Hertz, Avis, Europcar, in addition to local Italian options like Noleggiare and DoYouItaly.

Local companies offer rentals across Italy, with prices starting around €30-€50 ($33-$55 USD) per day to hire a small car. The main thing to note is that car hire costs can vary hugely depending on type of car (manual v automatic) and also how early you book.

If you choose to hire a car in Italy, I highly recommend looking up information on the ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) zones in the cities you plan to visit and stay in. These are zones where only authorized vehicles are allowed. Violating these restrictions can result in significant fines. As such, you may not always be able to park at your accommodation, especially if its located in historic old towns.

I recently visited Puglia, and found that the ZTL zone in most towns in Puglia meant we typically had to park a short walk from our accommodation. There are plenty of allocated parking garages on the outskirts of the ZTL zone, but it means having to lug your suitcase a little.

Buses (Long-Distance and Intercity travel)

Long-distance buses are a budget-friendly alternative to trains for intercity travel, particularly on routes where train service is less frequent.

I have found FlixBus to be a popular option in Italy. Flixbus connects across quite a lot of cities across Italy and also to other European countries. Prices are generally lower than train fares, with a trip from Rome to Florence costing somewhere between €10-€20 ($11-$22 USD) depending on how far in advance you book!

The most convenient way to get tickets is through the FlixBus app or website, otherwise directly at bus stations. Long-distance buses are slower than trains and definitely not as comfortable in my opinion, but can be a good option when traveling to regions less served by trains.

Domestic Flights

For travel between distant cities in Italy, flights are sometimes the best option, especially if you want to save on time. Airlines like ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia), Ryanair, and EasyJet are all budget airlines that operate intercity flights within Italy. These flights can be locked in at incredibly cheap prices if booked a few months in advance.

On a recent trip post Covid, I was amazed to find how cheap some of these local flights can be. For example, I paid about USD 25 for a domestic flight from Pisa to Sardinia in late May.

That being said, I personally prefer train travel as the best option if you are traveling to cities within mainland Italy. Train stations are way less hassle than airport queues, plus the scenery you get with train travel is stunning.

Metro trains

Most major cities in Italy like Rome, Milan, and Naples have metro systems. A single metro ticket in Rome or Milan typically costs €1.50 ($1.65 USD) and is valid for 90 minutes across buses, trams, and metro lines.

I found buying multi day/ multi ticket passes much more convenient to purchase as it meant not having to go to the ticket machine each time.

In addition, buses and trams supplement the metro systems, always remember to validate your ticket upon boarding to avoid fines.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it – I hope the above guied has given you some insight into alternative Rideshare apps and transport options to Uber in Italy. Buon viaggio!

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