The bar is the heart of Italian daily life, fast, friendly, and built on ritual.
In this module you learn to order coffee, pastries, and drinks, pay at the till, and get the small things right that locals notice. No grammar. Just the Italian you’ll use on your first morning in Italy.
You will learn how Italian menus are structured, how to book a table by phone, how to order confidently, how to handle dietary needs, and how to read your bill without surprises. You will also pick up the cultural knowledge that separates a tourist from someone who actually knows how things work — the coperto, the contorno, the vino della casa, the apericena, and why the doggy bag does not exist.
Most travellers today don’t just book hotels. This module covers both: checking in at a hotel and dealing with a host when you’ve rented an apartment. The language overlaps more than you’d think — and the key phrases that get things sorted are the same either way.
You’ll learn how to check in, ask about WiFi and breakfast, report a problem, and leave on time. You’ll also pick up two essential grammar structures: c’è / ci sono for describing what’s there (or isn’t), and the past tense for when something has gone wrong.
Italy has one of the best rail networks in Europe. Trains are fast, frequent, and — once you know the system — surprisingly easy to navigate. Buses and metros vary by city. Taxis are straightforward if you know what to say.
This module gives you the language for all three. You’ll learn how to buy a ticket, ask about platforms and times, get on the right bus, and tell a taxi driver where you’re going. No guesswork, no pointing at screens.
By the end you’ll be able to move around an Italian city — and between cities — without needing anyone to rescue you.
Two words that let you ask about anything in a room, a hotel, or an apartment.
The two forms
c’è
“there is” — one thing
Use for a single item: a shower, a key, a problem.
ci sono
“there are” — more than one
Use for multiple items: towels, bins, keys.
In a hotel room
C’è la doccia.
There is a shower.
one shower — c’è
Ci sono gli asciugamani.
There are towels.
more than one — ci sono
C’è il WiFi?
Is there WiFi?
question — same form, just your voice goes up
Ci sono problemi?
Are there any problems?
Non c’è acqua calda.
There is no hot water.
non + c’è = it’s not there
Non ci sono asciugamani.
There are no towels.
Useful patterns
Making a statement
Just say what’s there. Or what isn’t.
C’è un problema con il riscaldamento.
There is a problem with the heating.
Non ci sono lenzuola pulite.
There are no clean sheets.
Asking a question
Same words, spoken as a question. No need to rearrange anything.
C’è un supermercato vicino?
Is there a supermarket nearby?
Ci sono altri cuscini?
Are there any more pillows?
Practice
C’è or ci sono?
Choose the right form for each sentence.
___ la password del WiFi?
Non ___ asciugamani in bagno.
___ un problema con la chiave.
___ tre bidoni nell’appartamento.
___ la lavatrice in questo appartamento?
Non ___ acqua calda.
C’è un problema and non c’è are two of the most useful phrases in this course. Master these and you can report almost any issue at a hotel or apartment without needing more grammar.