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Italy
Colosseum in Rome in golden light as a background image for postcards from Italy

Sending a Postcard from Italy: Costs, Stamps & Delivery Times

From Tuscany to Sicily – everything you need to know about current prices, finding stamps, and the pitfalls of Italian mailboxes.
Photo by David Köhler on Unsplash

La Dolce Vita! Sipping an espresso on the piazza, enjoying a gelato – and traditionally, sending a postcard to your loved ones at home. However, the analog mail route in Italy has its quirks and can quickly turn into a real scavenger hunt.

How much is the current postage from Italy to the rest of the world? Where do you buy "Francobolli" (stamps) when the post office is closed for siesta? And why should you be wary of private yellow or black mailboxes in tourist areas? In this guide, we clarify the most important questions – and show you how to easily send your greetings directly from your phone today.

Last updated: March 2026

The Journey of a Postcard in Italy

Stamps aren't just available at the post office (Poste Italiane). Knowing a few local details will save you valuable time on your vacation.
Sign of a typical Italian tobacco shop (Sali e Tabacchi)

The Tabaccaio (Tobacco Shop)

The easiest place to buy stamps (Francobolli) is usually the tobacco shop, as post offices often harbor long queues. Keep an eye out for the sign with the white "T" on a dark background. Warning: Many shops have a "Siesta" (lunch break) between 1 and 4 PM!
Red mailbox of Poste Italiane on a house wall
Photo by Samuel Isaacs on Unsplash

The Red Mailbox (Poste Italiane)

The official, state-run mailboxes of "Poste Italiane" are bright red. You can often find them on piazzas, at train stations, or directly at the post office branch. Be sure to drop your card into the right slot labeled "Per l'estero" (For abroad) or "Per tutte le altre destinazioni".
Several private and outdated mailboxes lined up next to each other in Italy
Photo by Michael Kora on Unsplash

Tourist Trap: Private Postal Services

Caution! In many souvenir shops, you will be sold private stamps along with your card (e.g. GPS - Globe Postal Service or FriendPost). You may not drop these into the red mailboxes, but only into special yellow or black boxes provided by the company. Experience shows that shipping here often takes many weeks, or the cards unfortunately never arrive at all.

Language Guide: At the Tabaccaio

With these phrases, you'll buy your stamps like a true local.
Where can I buy stamps?

🇮🇹Dove posso comprare dei francobolli?

🗣️Do-we pos-so kom-pra-re dei franko-bolli?

One stamp for the US / UK / Germany, please.

🇮🇹Un francobollo per gli Stati Uniti / il Regno Unito / la Germania, per favore.

🗣️Un franko-bollo per lyee Stah-tee Oo-nee-tee / eel Ray-nyo Oo-nee-to / la djer-ma-nia, per fa-wo-re.

Where is the nearest mailbox?

🇮🇹Dov'è la buca delle lettere più vicina?

🗣️Dow-eh la buka delle let-te-re pju wi-tschi-na?

Do you also have postcards?

🇮🇹Avete anche delle cartoline?

🗣️A-we-te an-ke del-le kar-to-li-ne?

Thank you very much and have a nice day!

🇮🇹Grazie mille e buona giornata!

🗣️Grat-tsie mil-le e bu-ona dschor-na-ta!

How much does postage from Italy cost?

Current prices for postcards to 'Zona 1' (Europe & UK). (As of: 2026)

Local Facts (Poste Italiane)

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Postcard (Souvenir Shop)approx. 0.80 € - 1.50 €
Stamp (Zona 1: Europe; Zona 2: US/Canada)1.35 € (Europe) / 2.45 € (US/RoW)
Real total cost per cardapprox. 2.15 € - 3.95 €
Effort on vacationFinding a tobacco shop, minding opening hours, finding a mailbox
Delivery duration (empirical value)Often 7 to 21 business days
Is there an easier alternative?

The Smart Alternative: slickpostcard

Send your holiday greetings relaxed directly from your smartphone. Real premium postcards, no stamp hunting required, and very reliable delivery back home.

  • Design a postcard with your own holiday photos directly in your browser
  • Transparent fixed price: €3.49 (incl. premium printing & worldwide postage)
  • No app or account required, just start right away
  • Reliable shipping (approx. 3-6 business days – usually noticeably faster than classic holiday mail)
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Own Photos or Pro Motifs?

Haven't captured the perfect photo of the Leaning Tower or the Colosseum yet? On Unsplash, you can find breathtaking images of Italy that you can use for your card for free. Check out our step-by-step guide for more details!

Directly to Image Search:
ItalyRome & ColosseumAmalfi CoastTuscany LandscapeSicily
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Inspiration: Text ideas for Bella Italia

"Pure Dolce Vita! I just had to put this photo on a card to send you some Italian sunshine. Ciao e a presto!"
"A greeting as fresh as the pistachio gelato in Rome – luckily without the risk of melting in the mail! Warm regards from a dream vacation."
"Pasta, Vino, and the sea! We are really enjoying ourselves here in Italy. Thinking of you and sending lots of holiday love!"

Or effortlessly generate a personal and creative text using AI!

Dein Text mit

Frequently asked questions about postcards from Italy

How much does postage for a postcard from Italy to Germany / UK cost?

For a standard postcard to other European countries (Zona 1), official Poste Italiane currently charges €1.35 (as of 2026). If you include the cost of the card from a souvenir shop, you often end up at €2.50 to €3.00 per holiday greeting.

Where can I buy stamps (Francobolli) in Italy?

The easiest way to buy stamps is at a local tobacco shop (Tabaccaio), as actual post office branches are often very crowded. You can recognize these shops by the prominent sign with a large white "T" on a dark blue or black background.

Which mailbox should I use for my postcard in Italy?

Only use the official, bright red mailboxes of "Poste Italiane" and drop the card into the slot labeled "Per l'estero" (Abroad). Caution: Never drop official stamps into the yellow or black boxes of private providers (like GPS), as they will not be delivered!

How long does mail delivery take from Italy to Germany / UK?

Experience shows that the Italian postal service takes its time. Via the classic route, shipping usually takes between 7 and 21 business days. You are much more reliable with slickpostcard: Here, mail is sent directly from the north, and the card is often with your loved ones after just 2 to 5 days.

Why is my postcard from Italy not arriving?

Often it's due to using private postal services (yellow/black boxes) instead of the state-run Poste Italiane. Also, mail from Southern Europe can be slow (up to 14-21 days). If in doubt, check if you used the official red box of Poste Italiane.

No good photo of the Colosseum? Where can I find free Italy motifs?

Is your photo of the Leaning Tower slightly blurry? Platforms like Unsplash offer millions of professional, royalty-free images. Search terms like "Rome", "Amalfi Coast" or "Tuscany" yield dreamy postcard material. In our guide for free motifs, we show you how to best use them.