Shopping in Italy

Italy is, without exaggeration, a true shopping kingdom and the undisputed fashion mecca of Europe. Shopping in even the most expensive boutiques won’t break the bank: prices here, without considering discounts, are about 20-25% lower than in most European countries. Additionally, Italy is home to numerous outlets offering further discounts, and during sales seasons, you can save up to 80% off the original price. Despite the markdowns, the selection of models and sizes remains quite abundant.

Store Hours

Typically, all Italian stores open at 8:00-9:00 AM and operate until 7:00-7:30 PM, with a siesta break from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Some shopping centers and large supermarkets may stay open later until 8:00-9:00 PM, but this is usually found only in large cities. On Sundays, most stores are closed. Large shopping complexes sometimes make exceptions before holidays (like the last Sunday before Christmas), while smaller stores may close early on Saturday afternoon.

In the last two weeks of August, virtually no one works in Italy. This «dead season,» called Ferragosto, sees everyone heading to the sea for vacation. During this time, the entire shopping life in the country comes to a halt, so planning your shopping for these dates is futile—you might even struggle to find an open café for a coffee.

Sales Seasons

Sales—known in Italy as sconti or saldi—follow the standard European schedule: summer sales run from early July to mid-August, and winter sales from early January to the end of February. The timing may vary slightly across regions, but the differences are generally minor. Initially, stores reduce prices by 15-20%, and by the end, discounts can reach 70-80%, although this usually applies only to mass-market items. High-end boutiques rarely offer discounts over 20%, and sometimes don’t participate in public sales at all. Instead, they hold private sales for regular customers, with unsold collections typically sent straight to outlets.

Haggling in Italy is only acceptable in small private shops. In shopping centers, you might only get an additional discount if you find a defect in an item, like a small lipstick stain on a sweater.

Navigating Sales in Italy

Sales in Italy are immensely popular, attracting fashion enthusiasts from all over Europe and beyond to major cities. Be prepared for long queues, crowds at fitting rooms, and in some cases, armed guards at the entrances.