Cigarette prices in Italy · Where to buy · Smoking bans

Here you can find out where you can buy cigarettes, why you can not buy cigarettes at the cigarette vending machine, how much the cigarettes cost in Italy and where you are allowed to smoke. Price list 20 December 2019

Buy cigarettes in Italy

In Italy, you will not find cigarettes in supermarkets or petrol stations.

The sale of cigarettes is a State monopoly in Italy and is only carried out in shops which have a special license. Cigarettes and tobacco products are therefore only available in shops marked with a “T”. These shops usually also sell lottery tickets and you can pay penalties, taxes and fees.

On the highways you will find cigarettes in the service areas at the rest stop.

Otherwise you will find cigarettes in a few bars, which are also open late at night, or in the tobacconists – Tabaccheria. These shops also sell mostly paper goods and gift items.

In the evening or at night it is usually very difficult to buy cigarettes. You should therefore buy the cigarettes for your needs in time if the opportunity arises.

The sale of cigarettes to minors is prohibited.

Cigarette vending machines in Italy

Cigarette vending machines in Italy have a system of age control. You need an Italian health insurance card – called “tessera sanitaria” – to buy cigarettes at the machine. Without this card, you will not get any cigarettes on these devices. You may be able to ask somebody to buy the cigarettes for you at the vending machine: “Sono turista e non ho la tessera sanitaria, mi può comprare un pacco di …, per favore” – Translated: I am a tourist and have no italian health card, can you buy me a pack of … please.

The Italian health insurance card

The Italian health insurance card – la tessera sanitaria – corresponds to the European model E111. It is a multifunction card, which is given to every person resident in Italy. This card contains the data of the owner as well as his Italian tax number.

Smoking bans in Italy

Smoking is forbidden in Italy generally in the public space. These include bars and restaurants except in special smoking rooms. In bars and restaurants you go outside to smoke. Smoking is also prohibited in offices, airports, railway stations, with the exception of special smoking areas, as well as in the trains. Smoking is allowed outdoors, the throwing away of cigarette butts is prohibited. Some municipalities pronounce special smoking bans in parks and on beaches. Smoking is also prohibited in fire hazard, for example, in the forest, and of course at gas stations.

Smoking in the car is prohibited, if minors or pregnant women are on board.

Cigarette prices

The prices of cigarettes are in the European average and are comparable to the prices in Austria. The prices of most brands and varieties are between 4.50 and 5.70 euros for the 20-pack. A pack of Marlboro Gold with 20 cigarettes costs actually, on November 27, 2019 5.70 euros. In Germany, the package Marlboro costs 7 euros with 22 cigarettes. A Marlboro cigarette in Italy costs around 10% less than in Germany and 18% less than in Switzerland.

In the table below, you will find the cigarette prices of all varieties offered in Italy for the pack of 20 cigarettes. For some varieties, packs of 10 cigarettes are also offered.

If you are traveling in the north-west of Italy, a trip to one of the duty free areas can be worthwhile. In the Italian toll-free area Livigno and in the Swiss Samnaun, all the tobacco and spirits are cheap. Imports of the duty free quantities into the EU are subject to the usual customs rules.

All cigarette prices (as of December 20, 2019)

The following prices apply to the pack with 20 cigarettes: