Can I use my American Express card in Italy?

While several European establishments do accept American Express cards, they are significantly less common outside of the US and many businesses, especially smaller ones, refuse them. 

Why are American Express cards not accepted?

According to Forbes, it has to do with the fact that American Express is known for charging "higher merchant fees than other credit card networks".

This means that "it’s more cost-efficient for many businesses (especially low-margin ones) to take Visa or Mastercard instead."

According to the latest available data, American Express transactions make up 11.1 percent of global card spending.

Visa and Mastercard transactions are significantly more common, making up 61.1 percent and 25.8 percent of the worldwide market share respectively.

What should I do if I have an AmEx card?

Travel blogs often recommend that AmEx holders bring along a Visa or Mastercard as well, in case they run into issues.

You can also consult American Express's interactive map, which shows the businesses in Italy that accept the card.

That said, the map may not show every business accepting AmEx, so feel free to ask Accettate American Express? ('Do you accept American Express cards?) before sitting down for a meal or making a purchase. 

You can also look to see whether the store displays an AmEx sticker in the window. 

Generally, American Express cards are less likely to be accepted in small businesses - neighbourhood restaurants, cafés or independent shops - due to the reasons outlined above. You have a better chance of your AmEx card being accepted in larger companies and chains.

AmEx is accepted by both Trenitalia and Italo, Italy's two national rail companies, and is also accepted as payment by Rome's public transport operator, Atac, to tap on and off the city's buses, metros and trams.

Any other things to consider?

Contactless payment is becoming much more common in Italy, albeit only for lower-value purchases.

If your AmEx card does not have the chip that allows you to tap and pay, then you may want to take cash out or bring another card along. 

If you still have an old-style card that requires swiping and signing, be aware that most smaller Italian businesses do not have this payment option.

ATMs in Italy should accept your AmEx card, so you shouldn't have any issues taking out cash, though there may be fees involved.

You'll also want to look into the transaction fees associated with your card. Some AmEx cards offer the benefit of no foreign transaction fees, while others still charge them.

Finally, while AmEx no longer requires cardholders to inform them ahead of time if they will be travelling abroad, they still recommend "keeping your contact information updated in case we need to contact you while you're away" and "downloading the Amex mobile app to conveniently manage your account on the go."