Traveling as a woman of color in Italy
Last updated on December 17th, 2025.
There's a popular question I get asked as a traveler — and someone living — in Italy.
What is it like being a woman of color in Italy? It’s a topic I want to discuss having spent over 8 years traveling —and living here.
Disclaimer: The following experiences are my own and I ask you take this into consideration while reading.
An incredible country to visit
In the world of travel, Italy consistently ranks high on many travelers’ bucket lists. And quite rightly too. The landscapes are exactly how the guidebooks, travel guides and documentaries show them to be.
In short, Italy is beautiful.
However, every country has its downsides and so too does Italy (see 10 things I don't like about living in Italy). In recent years, it's gained a name for not being the most welcoming of nations to foreigners.
But, there are some reasons behind this, some of which I'll outline in this post.
Things to know about traveling as a woman of color in Italy
1. italian People are curious
Whether you want to call it glancing or staring, it’s something that happens a lot to a woman of color in Italy.
And, speaking from my personal experience, there are several reasons behind this.
- Admiring beauty. It’s widely known that Italians — especially the men — like beautiful things, which also extends to women. The more unique, or exotic looking (I’ll come to that later) you are, the more likely you’ll turn some heads.
- Some locals aren't well traveled. Depending on where you're traveling in Italy, those stares can stem from curiosity. It’s something that as a frequent traveler, I don’t immediately think about and take for granted.
Storytime — woman of color in Italy
I remember the first time I visited Vicenza, a small city in the region of Veneto. Visitors stand out more here given that it’s not a larger city like Venice or Verona.
One day, when my husband and I were walking through the city center, I noticed some women staring at me.
At first I ignored it but soon I noticed other women beginning to stare. It began to grate on me, but I said nothing. On a side note, I’ve never liked anyone staring at me.
Eventually, we stopped at a bar for a coffee and the staring stopped. However, it didn’t last long.
After a waitress took our order, I saw that the lady serving behind the bar began staring at me too. Feeling agitated once again, I decided to take a bathroom break.
Not what it seems
Upon returning to our table, I confided my feelings to my husband who explained, ‘they’re probably just curious’.
He then added that in a city like Vicenza, many people had probably not traveled much or had ever left. Saying that, a new face is more likely to draw attention, more so if it's a person of color.
My husband also told me that while I was in the bathroom, he spoke with the lady behind the bar. In an unexpected turn of events, she told him that I was 'wonderful'.
I didn't know what for, but I instantly felt my cheeks turning a deep rosy shade of red. I smiled sheepishly feeling slightly embarrassed by my earlier presumption.
As we left, she gave us both the biggest and most sincere smile. It turned out, that this particular incident was nothing like I’d imagined.
This isn't to say that all the stares I've received since stem purely from curiosity. However, this day changed my perspective, and now, I don't even notice it.
2. you may be seen as 'exotic'
Despite the fact that I’ve long brown hair and brown eyes like many Italian women, I’m not one of them.
Instead, some Italians consider me ‘exotic’. As a woman of color traveling in Italy, it’s something many women will, or have, probably experience/d.
While no-one wants to be labelled, being seen as exotic isn’t the worst thing for me. It's something I've dealt with since I was 15/16 years old no matter where I've been in the world.
3. Very few people look like you
When I traveled to Mérida in Mexico I felt immediately at home.
As well as recognizing similar cultural traditions I was surrounded by other morenos that looked like me.
Ironically, during this same trip, I was asked by airport security whether I was Italian. In Italy, I'm definitely the minority and naturally stand out. I'm less bothered by it now especially after having lived here for a few years.
Traveling to different regions in Italy
There have been times where I’ve felt more conscious when visiting other parts of the country. I stood out like an exotic thumb on my first trip to the Dolomites.
However, the only one who was aware of this was me. Nobody treated me any differently from the group I was traveling with.
It was yet another reminder that overthinking can sometimes create something that wasn't there to begin with.
Map of Italy
4. The migrant crisis exacerbated things
The European migrant crisis is one that left a lasting effect not only in Italy but also on the continent.
Italy was one of the main countries that received the majority of immigrants arriving from Libya by boat. The growing number of immigrants added more pressure on public services in Italy fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.
Add to this the country's existing socio-economic problems, which left many Italians feeling frustrated and fed up.
The crisis led to some hostility being shown towards migrants. Stories about African migrants experiencing racism in Italy or being exploited by employers for cheap labor were commonplace.
What this mean for travelers of color
I can't, and won't, speak for all people of color because everyone's experience will be different.
From my own observations, I've seen many Italians treat visitors (of color) better than migrants especially when they realize that they're tourists.
This isn't to say that you won't come across any hostile locals. But, from my own experience I've never seen any foreign visitors being badly treated.
5. so did The political situation
Without boring you about Italian politics, let’s just say that the current* government isn’t exactly foreigner friendly.
And by foreigner, this can also include those from other European countries and not just migrants. The rhetoric of the coalition party has added fuel to the fire about attitudes towards migrants.
6. Not speaking Italian
When I first traveled to Sicily I was completely blindsided by the language barrier. Back then, I only had Spanish as a Latin language and was assured I’d be fine speaking this with the locals. I was wrong.
I struggled with just about everything and felt frustrated, despondent and altogether useless. As soon as I arrived back home I made it my mission to learn Italian.
Though Sicily has its own dialect, I started learning Italian to not just communicate there but also in the north. And within 3 months, I was able to learn the basics and have a decent conversation.
Opening doors
As cliched as it sounds, language really does open doors. I’ve seen people’s expressions change from emotionless to smiles in seconds, upon realizing I can converse in their language.
More importantly, as a woman of color, I feel proud to see that change in people. But you don't have to learn Italian if you’re a woman/person of color.
What I’m saying is that having basic knowledge of Italian can play a role as to how some people treat you.
Is Italy racist?
Speaking from personal experience, I wouldn't say that Italy is racist. This isn't to say that it doesn't exist or that other people of color traveling, or living here, haven't had negative experiences.
The story I shared at the start of this post revolved around people's curiosity towards me. Could some of the looks have been racist in nature? Sure. But without knowing, or speaking with these people, it's something that I'll never know for certain.
On the contrary, I’ve fallen in love with the country, made a new family here and have made plenty of Italian friends.
Visit Italy for yourself
I can’t personally guarantee that your experience, if traveling as a woman of color in Italy, will be a positive one.
But I’d encourage you to visit and come to your own conclusions based on your lived experience. Because that's what travel is. It's about opening our eyes to the good and the not so good of any given destination.
Are you ready to visit Italy? My local's guide to planning a trip to Italy will help get the ball rolling.
Have you traveled to Italy as a woman of color? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below. Please keep comments civil.
*Information correct at the time of publishing.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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One more seal of approval on Italy for me. I love the country and have nearly always found the country welcoming. I certainly wouldn’t see them as being racist. And I’m relieved that that’s how you’ve always found them.
I've been very lucky and have also learned a lot about how perceptions are not what they seem 🙂
Such a lovely evening read! I’ve been to Italy few years ago and it’s indeed a beautiful country to explore either alone or with family.
It is, and I'm glad you had a good time there too 🙂
Interesting post. Italy is such a beautiful country.
Thank you, yes it is!
Just do your thing, be safe and alert. Be aware of your surroundings and Italian men are known for cat-calling.
Thanks Suzanne. So far I've been good, and no catcalling either 🙂
Italy is such a beautiful country. love the perspective of going as a poc, something I cant not experience
Thanks Jasmine, I appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙂
Italy is such a beautiful country isn't it. I am glad that you found the country welcoming and friendly. I always find it helps to speak the language
Thanks Kara, I do! Sure, there are times when the language gets tricky but I always overcome it 🙂
Thank you for your comment, though you missed the point of the piece: I always have a positive time in Italy!
I haven’t been to Italy, but as a brown girl with a white husband I got lots of staring, even back in my own country. My take is, most people never leave their own country and don’t bother to learn about other people that are different from themselves. That’s why they staring at the first place. But, I don’t like addressing as exotic. There’s another connotation in this term, at least in my country.
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I completely agree that many people have probably never left their own countries, hence the curiosity.
Traveling abroad to any new culture can be an interesting, exciting, slightly scary experience. I agree with you though, we must not let that stop us. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thanks Catherine, I appreciate your feedback
I love to go to Italy. It has more cities on my bucket list than any other place.
Hope you go one day!
Well, I've never been in your shoes, but from personal experience I know Italians are interested by most women. Though never crossing any boundaries, I remember all the looks I got from grown men when I wasn't even 18 during my first visit to Rome...
Lol yes, it happens a lot in Italy. Luckily, I've never experienced any crude behavior but you just never know! Thanks so much for your comments.
This is interesting to read a perspective about traveling to Italy or any place. I always like to know the facts based on personal experiences about a particular place. You did a great job in defining yours.
Thank you so much. It's really a country I love, and want other woc to know my experience.
I loved reading your post, Lisa because I can relate to a lot of things you've mentioned here. Although when I travelled to Italy, I don't remember having a similar experience, however, I've faced this in many other places around the world, and one particular place that I remember was Mostar in Bosnia. I felt so uncomfortable being stared at but I realised that a lot of that staring was mostly because of curiosity and I cannot really classify that as racism because they were not hostile, only really curious! Some people even stopped me on the road to ask me where I was because my 'facial features looked very different from anyone they had ever seen' 😀 Over the years, I've learned to be a little more carefree, as long as this staring doesn't turn into a hostile act!
Thanks for sharing your story Medha. Yes, sometimes we're too quick to judge and mistake it for simple curiosity. It's easy to forget that when you're a frequent traveler too 🙂
Can totally relate. I can get away with traveling in some places without people's attention but in some more rural areas of countries where they aren't used to foreigners I totally get most of these!
Sometimes it's quite amusing! But mostly, it's just curiosity 🙂
This is quite an interesting read. As I never thought of it while traveling. Though it is obvious to get a few stares and glances when I step out of my home country as the look of mine is very distinct and can be identified the country i belong to. I haven't been to Italy till now and I would like to experience it if it ever happens with me.
It's good that you don't pay attention to it. As I learned, it's not necessarily what you think!
It was interesting to read your perspective on this subject. I'm glad your experiences to have been positive.
They have been, and I'm happy to promote Italy as a destination 🙂
I found this to be a very enlightening post. I’m not a woman of color, nor do I travel a lot, so I really didn't know if there were issues outside the U.S. I wish I knew how to fix the problems that people of color face 🙁
Aw thanks Romy for commenting, I do appreciate it. My experience has been positive, but for other woc they may experience something less sadly
This is very interesting. I'm an Asian living in Barcelona and have to admit that as a woman of colour, it hasn't been all smooth-sailing nor has it been difficult. I'm treated a little bit differently of course, but nothing that I can complain about!
That's positive to read! I think we can all experience some 'teething' issues at the beginning but begin to better understand our surroundings as we assimilate x
I haven't been in Italy, but this is such a great read. Have a nice vacation to those who are planning to visit sooner.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your travel experience. I would agree that this happens in many countries, sometimes because of curiosity and many times for other reasons. I am glad you had a positive experience while tripping through Italy.
I always do, I love coming back 🙂
This is so interesting and not something I would normally consider. Thanks for bringing this to light!
You're welcome, thank you for reading
That's a perceptive and interesting read, especially in the light of the context you give of Italy's political climate and its geographical place on key migrant routes. I'm glad that your personal experiences have been positive. It really made me think about the way in which others perceive us when we travel.
Thanks Bernie, that's exactly what I was trying to communicate in the post. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment
A really interesting read. It must feel good to be called exotic and wonderful. There is a string undercurrent of foreigner phobia across the world it seems, at least from the political news. But ppl in general are good to each other.
Thank you! And I agree that there are still kinder people, than not, in the world
Lot of women of color traveling ti Italy will find this post useful. Nice reading your experience and tips.
Thank you for commenting
I must say I love Italy and have visited it a few times and must say never had any issues good or bad owing to the colour . I'm born Indian but not a lady so maybe different. As you say you need to experience it yourself and I have had only the best things to say when it comes to Italy and its welcoming people. Thanks for sharing a very interesting and different post.
That's good to hear Amar, I'm glad you also love Italy as much as I do!
It's so interesting to hear your perspective and great to hear it's only been positive. I also love Italy, it's such a beautiful country isn't it? I haven't been to Vicenza but would love to visit.
Yes, I'm, and have been lucky, that Italy's been good to me! If you come to Vicenza, let me know; I may be there at the same time 😀
I truly love reading your experience as a woman of color traveling in Italy, especially in the bar moment where someone stare at you, and you seemed like not comfortable at all. I guess that this is because they admire you because of your beauty and skin, and you seemed look new to them, especially for the locals.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I really wanted to share, that sometimes, it can just be a misunderstanding, and we should think twice before jumping to any conclusion 🙂
I hate that there is so much racism and hostility in the world today. I’m sure it can make traveling more difficult. I’m glad that you had a positive experience in Italy – I would love to travel there one day.
Thanks Kristy, I really do. I love visiting and also wanted to debunk a few myths for other woc thinking of visiting x
A very different kind of read for me today. I have never thought of this aspect how it would be to travel as a woman of color. I am glad to know Italy is not racist and I am very new to these experiences I read here. I am just brown, I am not sure if that would make any difference while I travel in Italy.
In my experience, it's not, and I always enjoy being there. The only way is to go and see for yourself 🙂
I admire how you managed to talk about my country out of the usual stereotypes and shared its authentic spirit!
Grazie Cristina, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thank you for commenting too x
I love your message Lisa; visit, and figure out how your experience goes. Such is the benefit of travel. We have different experiences, or at best similar. No 2 humans have the same experience. Ever.
Thanks so much Ryan. I really wanted to highlight the misunderstandings we can sometimes face when traveling; and they're not always what they seem.
This is an interesting read. Well im glad you loved Italy. Keep enjoying your travels
Thank you, and yes, I do!
This is quite eye opening to hear of your experience whilst travelling.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
This is an interesting post to read.Though I never visited Italy but I know Italy is beautiful and hope you enjoyed your trip too. Good luck for coming trips.
Thank you, I love Italy, it's my second home
I’ve been to Italy twice now and had the same experience as you! I’ve also heard some horror stories from friends, but I’m sure that can be said for any country. Great to read your perspective!
Thank you! I'm glad you had a positive time too in Italy 🙂
I have been to Italy many times and was completely unaware of its reputation. However, your story in Vicenza was extremely reassuring that people's stares can also simply be curiosity as they may not have ventured outside their own city's walls. I've been learning Italian also and completely agree that it opens doors and tears down barriers between different cultures.
That's why I wanted to share that story. It made me not jump immediately to something negative, but instead question why. Thank you so much for commenting.
Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. By spreading these kind of stories, you help spread understanding into the world. Us human beings need to know how it feels to be the other person ... the way you presented this in a positive and straight-forward way was excellent. Thank you.
Thank you Karletta. I wanted to share my experiences as a woc, but understand that others may have a different experience x
This post is a new perspective and one which I had never thought or considered before. I personally didn't know much about the Political climate of Italy, but I can see how being a WOC and the Migration crisis could make locals feel more aware of those traveling in Italy. Fantastic well written post. x
Thanks so much Olivia! I tried to write a balanced piece 🙂
It's very interesting to read about this, and I never thought about people being curious if they've not travelled much. But it makes complete sense x
Thank you Rhian, it makes you think more when you travel 🙂
I have spent a lot of time in Italy and it is one of my favorite countries in Europe. Though I am not a woman of color, I do see how Italian men are more forward and not afraid to stare! Your experience was a bit different than mine but I am glad you love Italy just as much as me!
I do! It's become my second (part-time) home and my experience is always good
I know all too well about some of the experiences you have mentioned. Thankfully most of the experiences have been positive otherwise I wouldnt return as much as I do.
That's great to read, and it's nice to know you enjoy Italy as much as I do 🙂
This post was really eye-opening! I have to admit, it's not something I've given much thought to before (I haven't even had the chance to visit Italy yet!) but kudos for posting about this subject x
Thanks Louise, I appreciate you commenting even though you can't relate. Visit Italy, it's really wonderful x
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Posts like this are really important to other WOC who are traveling to Italy so they know what to expect and that their feelings aren't isolated. It was so well written as you balanced your own emotional experience and broke apart the political climate in Italy, the migration crisis, the culture in Italy. It must be so frustrating to never know why people are staring at you. I am glad overall, you didn't have any direct hostility against you in Italy.
Thanks so much for your input. I agree it's an important discussion, especially as I've seen more women travelers asking these questions in many travel forums and groups I belong to. I'm also glad that you enjoyed reading the context of the political and cultural influences here; I didn't want to veer too off topic! x
I found this a very thought-provoking article. I'm not a woman of colour but as a woman traveller I know we've probably all encountered the starting at some point and it is very uncomfortable. I don't think there is any real solution apart from building our own self-confidence to be able to ignore it. It must be worse if you feel there's a racial aspect to it. I'm also learning Italian. I think it makes a big difference when travelling to be able to speak the language although I'll never be able to learn all the languages I'd like to.
Thank you so much Angela for your input. It's something I get asked about a lot, so I wanted to share my, positive, experience with others. I too, hope things will change there. And great to read you're learning Italian too, baci x
Thank you for sharing your perspective on a very much needed talked about topic <3
You're welcome, I think it's good to give 2 sides of the subject 🙂
It's interesting to read this perspective because while I'm mixed race I pass for white and I hardly ever get a second glance but I travel with "darker" friends who deal with stares and heads turning but unfortunately their experience isn't as positive as yours appears to have been
That's really sad for me to read. I've had nothing but positive experiences (touch wood) so far in Italy. Thank you for sharing your feedback x