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Traveling to Italy in an Electric Car: Top Tips for a Sustainable Road Trip
Traveling to Italy in an electric car isn’t just good for the environment—it’s also surprisingly easy and comfortable. Whether you’re planning a culinary tour through Tuscany, heading to the Dolomites, or driving to the beaches of Sicily: with a little smart planning, you can enjoy a relaxing drive to la bella Italy. In this article, I’ll share my best tips, handy apps, and up-to-date information about charging stations in Italy and along the way.
Why drive an electric car to Italy?
I’ve now traveled to Italy several times in my electric car, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. You have the freedom of your own transportation, can stop at the most beautiful spots, and it feels good to engage in sustainable travel. Especially in rural areas—where public transportation isn’t as well-developed—having your own electric car is a godsend.
What’s more, charging on the go is getting easier and easier, and with the right preparation, you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Charging Station Network on Its Way to Italy
Germany: Fast Charging Along the Autobahn
Germany is a great country to travel through in an EV. Southern Germany, in particular, has plenty of fast chargers, such as those from Ionity, EnBW, or Shell Recharge. Use apps like:
Chargemap
Plugsurfing
Shell Recharge
TIPS for driving an electric car to Italy:
Check in advance to see if your charging card works abroad. For example, you can get a card from the ANWB that is accepted almost everywhere in Europe.
Search for “laadpalen” or “charging stations” on Google Maps, filter by fast chargers, and select your plug type.
The hilly terrain in southern Italy can affect your driving range. Use eco-driving mode if your battery is draining quickly.
A small effort, a big difference: by driving an electric vehicle, you can reduce your CO₂ emissions by about 50–70% compared to a gasoline-powered car.
Austria and Switzerland: Charging in the Alps
Charging stations are also easy to find in Austria and Switzerland, particularly along highways and at tourist hubs. Tesla Superchargers here are often open to other brands as well. Please note that:
Charging in Switzerland is often more expensive than in Germany or Italy.
Not all stations support contactless payment: sometimes you’ll need a card or an app.
Charging Stations in Italy: Here’s How It Works
Northern Italy: Most Charging Stations
In Italy, the charging network is concentrated in the north. Regions such as Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscany are well-served. Here you’ll find:
Public charging stations in cities and towns
Fast chargers along the highways (6.8 charging points per 100 km)
Charging stations at many hotels and agritourism properties
Use apps like Next Charge, BeCharge, Tesla, or Google Maps to find nearby charging stations.
Charging an Electric Car in Italy
These days, you can find charging stations for electric cars just about everywhere in Italy. That is to say, mainly in the north. Northern Italy is home to more than 50% of the country’s charging stations. There are many charging stations in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Lazio; in central Italy, about 21%; and in the south—including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia—23%. In principle, you can find a charging station within a 20-km radius throughout Italy. In urban areas, the network of charging stations has been significantly expanded. On highways, there are an average of 6.8 charging points per 100 km, and the number of charging stations continues to grow. The Campania region, in particular, is currently undergoing significant expansion. A large part of Sicily remains uncovered, and there are limited facilities in Sardinia and Calabria.
With Next Charge, Chargemap, or Shell Recharge, you can easily find all the charging stations in Italy. These providers have public fast-charging stations in Italy:
Traveling to Southern Italy and Sicily in an electric car
Southern Italy isn’t quite as well-served, but it’s definitely doable with a little planning:
Campania (Naples, Amalfi) is rapidly expanding its network.
In Calabria, Basilicata, and Molise, charging stations are still few and far between—be sure to plan your route carefully.
In Sicily and Sardinia, charging options are limited, but sufficient if you plan your overnight stays at accommodations with charging stations.
Traveling by Electric Car to Regions in Southern Italy
Campania is currently the region where the most charging stations are being added. Calabria accounts for only 1.6% of all charging stations in Italy, and Sardinia for 3.2%. But Molise, Basilicata, and Abruzzo are also still underserved. Still, with a little preparation, it’s entirely possible to drive your electric car in these regions as well. The Tesla Supercharger often comes in handy in these situations.
Cost of Charging an Electric Car in Italy
The cost of electric vehicle charging in Italy is usually slightly higher than in the Netherlands or Belgium. Fast charging is more expensive than regular charging, and prices vary by provider:
Standard charging: an average of €0.40–€0.60 per kWh
Fast charging: on average €0.60–€0.85 per kWh
Overnight stay on the way to Italy
If you’re heading to central or southern Italy, South Tyrol is a great place to stop for a few days. Our recommendations for places to stay:
Staying Overnight in Italy with a Charging Station
A sustainable road trip starts with where you stay. More and more accommodations—from agriturismos to eco-lodges—are offering charging stations for their guests. With apps and maps, you can easily calculate the distance from your accommodation to the nearest charging station. Of course, you can also choose a sustainable accommodation with an on-site charging station. Click here to see the sustainable accommodations in Italy with charging stations that we’ve selected.
Apps and tools for driving an electric car to Italy
These apps are a must-have on your phone:
Chargemap: Route Planner and Charging Station Finder
Next Charge: Current Charging Network in Italy
ABRP (A Better Routeplanner): Smart Route Planning Based on Range
Plugsurfing / Shell Recharge: charging card management and charging locations
Google Maps: Getting Better and Better at Showing EV Charging Stations
Electric car charging stations in Italy on Google Maps
You can also find all EV chargers on Google Maps, along with their power output in kW. You can filter by fast chargers and car type. In Google Maps, type “charging stations” or “laadpalen” into the search bar. Next, you can choose your charging option. If you want to filter by charging power, click on “fast charging.” This is also handy when you’re on the road to Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to drive an electric car in Italy?
Yes, absolutely. The charging network is reliable and growing. Be sure to plan ahead, and it’s better to charge a little too early than too late.
Do I need more than one charging card?
One European card is often enough (such as ANWB, Shell, or Plugsurfing), but it doesn’t hurt to have an extra card as a backup.
Can I drive my EV into the mountains?
Yes, but keep in mind the effect on your range. Regenerative braking on downhill sections helps recover energy.
Can you drive your electric car to Italy?
With a little preparation, traveling to Italy in an electric car is a fantastic experience. You’ll travel comfortably, flexibly, and sustainably—and Europe’s charging infrastructure is fully equipped to handle it. Choose accommodations with charging stations, use the right apps, and enjoy your road trip through Italy’s natural beauty and culture. And if you’re traveling during peak season, you might need a little patience because you won’t be the only one there—yet another advantage of traveling outside of peak season.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
Bear Watching in Slovenia: An Evening in the Observation Hut Near Postojna Bear watching in Slovenia might be closer than you think: in the forests near Postojna, just over an hour from Ljubljana. Nathalie joined us in the observation hut one evening. Slovenia is...
Hiking across smoking volcanoes: an organized hiking tour of the Aeolian Islands On Vulcano, you know you’ve arrived before you even set foot on shore. The sulfur already hangs over the harbor. A smell that hovers somewhere between a match and a boiled egg—and one you...
Lübeck & Travemünde: a green city break along the Baltic Sea Sleeping in an old Kellogg’s grain silo, having breakfast without cornflakes the next morning, and a day later searching for kingfishers on a river that once ran right through the Iron Curtain. Our short...
Peloponnese Hiking Tour
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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Get inspired
Are you looking for the most beautiful hiking and biking routes? Or do you want information about traveling by train or advice for the most beautiful road trips through nature. Get inspired for your next trip in green; ideas for planning your own trip or opting for an organized trip.
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