CategoriesTravel Advice By Ksenia Zaiceva

Vacation in Italy: What to Do in Case of Emergency

A person holding a phone with dialed emergency number

It’s always a shock when an emergency cuts the ground from under one’s feet, but the levels of panic at least double when it happens halfway across the globe. As we all know, forewarned is forearmed (the fact that the expression is overused doesn’t make it any less true), so let’s talk about what to do if something happens during your Italy vacation. 

Emergency Numbers in Italy

There is not much point in talking about the importance of staying calm or any other general advice applicable in any high-stress situation—we’ve all heard it three hundred times already. So let’s focus on specifics, and here is what you need to know. 

  • 112 (general emergencies and urgent police assistance) – hotline number for all emergency services in Europe. An equivalent of 911 in the US. 
  • 118 (ambulance) – medical emergencies. 
  • 113 (police) – non-urgent police assistance. 
  • 115 (fire service) – fire-related emergencies. 
  • 800 584 811 (ESA/Euro Service Assistance) – roadside assistance.
  • 1530 (coast guard) – emergencies at sea. 

And this is it. You are all set to quickly get help if anything happens during your Italy vacation. And, of course, it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of good travel insurance, so make sure to get one before the trip.

by Ksenia Zaiceva