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This very simple task in America is quite the feat in Italy. Let me help you save time and embarrassment when using the bathrooms in Italy.
Why write an article on bathrooms in Italy?
First of all, it’s not like I wanted to write about such an ugly topic, but my concern for my fellow Americans and travelers from all around the world when it comes to the prestigious act of taking a pee is high.
With the bathrooms in Italy, you never know what you’re going to find behind that revolting door. Each occasion is an unpleasant surprise. 98% of the time there’s not even a toilet seat, in comparison, 95% of bathroom transactions have no paper towels and/or toilet paper, add in the fact that 86% of the time, you won’t know what the heck you’re doing!
It is with this purpose in mind, you should keep on reading so you won’t get caught in a sticky situation in the bathrooms in Italy.
How to ask for a bathroom in Italy
Let’s face it, about 72% of Americans have GI problems so it’s pretty probable you will need to know how to find a bathroom in Italy and quickly when you are on vacation.
The most proper phrase you should absolutely memorize before traveling to Italy is “Mi scusi, dové il bagno, per favore?” It translates to- Excuse me, where is the bathroom, please?
If you really can’t remember the phrase and are in a pinch…A painful face with the urge to go and “Bagno, per favore!!!” will do! Heck, even just “Bagno!!!”
The pronunciation is Bon-yo. Got it? Good! I wouldn’t want you to miss out on the #1 thing you wanted to do in Italy because you had to go #2 and didn’t make it in time. HAHAHA, if only you could see me cracking up as I’m typing this!
Public Restrooms
Never pay for a public restroom. They are usually disgusting and will give you something bad to say about this beautiful country. Seriously, don’t do it!
It is about the same amount of money to run into a bar or café and buy a sweet treat or a coffee and use their restroom. It is worth every cent!!
Also, just because you go into a café, doesn’t mean it’s going to be a super nice restroom.
It is crazy to me that in such a glorious city, in a nice and well-maintained café, you open the door to such a crappy, (pun intended) dirty, restroom.
Still, it will be much better than the public restrooms, just don’t expect anything grand.
Honestly, these are the kinds of bathrooms that you would have to be driving on a road trip in the middle of nowhere in America and pull over at a honkey tonk gas station, which you would only do if you were desperate and there were no other options.
I’m sure you’ve all experienced that a time or two in your lives. With the bathrooms in Italy, this happens every day. Every. Day. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Thinking about it, the best thing you can do is rent an Airbnb in the heart of the city. Marco and I did this in Florence and I can’t tell you how many times during our exploring we walked back to the house so I could use the nice restroom!
I’m sure he thinks I’m so spoiled!! If you have a public restroom phobia like me, then you don’t care what anyone thinks! Book your stay near all the sights and fun!
Pro Tips:
Carry a small roll of toilet paper in your bag.
Often times I go into a restroom and there is no toilet paper. You don’t want to be caught with your pants down and no tissue to wipe! HA! This is the most fun I’ve ever had writing an article. 🙂
Also, go to the bathroom in pairs.
Similarly, I can’t tell you how many times I get to the restroom only to find out that the lock doesn’t work. It’s not like you can just hold the stall door while you go about your business.
Most of the bathrooms in Italy are one-seaters. If there is no lock, people will walk right in on you doing your dirty work, and I’ve noticed no one ever knocks, they just pull on the handle and scare the crap out of me (again, pun intended!)
The toilet with no seat
One major thing I kept stumbling upon in Italy is that tons of toilets don’t actually have a toilet seat. You know…the lid that lifts up?! Since I was so curious as to why I googled “why aren’t there any toilet seats in Italy?”
Basically, I found this article that explained everything. When people went to use the bathrooms in Italy, they were too dirty to sit on, so they would stand on them to pee.
Often, they would break, and the owners would replace them IF they could find the correct size lid for the toilet.
There are tons of different shapes and sizes of toilets here and it’s not just as straightforward as running down to the Home Depot or Lowe’s and getting a standard size lid.
The owners either gave up looking for the correct replacement size or they would get a new toilet seat only to have another customer come in, stand on the toilet to pee, and break it again.
After the cycle continued to repeat itself, the owners decided it wasn’t worth it to keep replacing them. That’s why 98% of the bathrooms in Italy don’t have toilet seat lids. Crazy, right?! PS- I made up the statistics myself…I think they’re pretty accurate! 🙂
Toilet? Hole? Toilet Hole?
Marco and I were out with some friends and like always, I had to use the bathroom.
I grabbed my purse with toilet paper and walked into the restroom.
There were a few stalls. I opened the stall door and there it was. Undeniably, it was the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in a bathroom in Italy, or anywhere for that matter…. A simple hole. A hole in the ground.
What is this? I thought. What am I supposed to do here? Am I supposed to pee in this hole like a bear, or whatever animal pees in a hole? How do I pee here without getting urine all over my pants?
I don’t even see a place to flush. Is this a grosser type of port-o-potty? I didn’t think they could get any worse! Yuck.
Basically, yes, you pull your pants down, straddle the hole, and squat like you would over a toilet you don’t want to sit on.
Supposedly, you don’t pee on your pants that way. I wouldn’t know because I refused to go there.
Again, Marco probably thought I was being such a spoiled American, but a woman has to draw the line somewhere!
PS- this was actually in a café, so don’t think you have to go camping to find these kinds of horror stories!
Additionally, Marco claims these are the cleanest, most sanitary, types of toilets because you don’t touch anything since you don’t sit on a toilet. No germs for you!
Furthermore, for the clean-up, you throw bleach down on the floor and hose it all down the drain. There’s not a bunch of nooks and crannies that germs can get stuck in. Blah! Disgusting! It’s gonna be a no for me!!
Toilette alla turca
This is the actual name of the toilet hole. This toilet was invented in the early 1800s (it’s why you don’t see them in America.)
Everyone used this type of toilet before the more modern versions that you know of now, were created. Believe it or not, it has tons of health benefits.
Never the less, studies show that this squat position (that you must use for this toilet) is the natural position to go #1 & #2!!
That position actually helps the muscles in the pelvic area. It reduces the probability of incontinence for women and makes the hips stronger. Furthermore, this allows you to have better respiration and focus while doing the dirty deed.
I should also mention, using this stance lowers the risk to get colon cancer. When you use this position to potty habitually, it maintains the flexibility of the knee joints. Some studies also show that this position is less invasive for hemorrhoid sufferers.
While all of these health benefits may be true, how can you reap the benefits without having to use a nasty toilet hole? Let me introduce to you, the squatty potty.
The squatty potty is using the science that was actually created long ago!
If you are a part of the 72% of Americans that suffer from GI issues, go ahead and buy yourself some relief and get your upgraded version of the toilette alla turca at home!
The toilet with a chain
Ok, you have entered the restroom, you have your toilet paper, your friend or spouse is guarding the door, you hold your breath and squat over the despicable dirty toilet seat. Mission accomplished!
Except for one thing, you can’t find out how to flush the darn thing. Yep, it’s happened. I’m speaking from experience.
I’m pushing the button that looks like the flusher. It’s not. I see a few more buttons on the side of the wall. Nope, they didn’t work.
I’m stumped. Embarrassed, I peek my head out of the little crack of the door I opened.
“Marco…. I don’t know how to flush the toilet.” Seriously, it’s easy to feel like a 3-year-old living in Italy sometimes. C’mon… being able to flush the toilet should be a simple task!
Beware of little chains that hang from the walls or ceilings. Sometimes, they flush the toilets. Grrrr!
A toilet with a weird sink
After all you have learned about the bathrooms in Italy, you didn’t think you would have to worry about the sinks too huh?!
I finally started getting the hang of the commodes in Italy and then while in a pizzeria, another interesting story came about.
I came out of the restroom stall. Lathered up my hands with soap, and could not find a sink handle to turn on the water.
Naturally, I thought it was an automatic sink and kept waving my hands under the spout. I did this for several minutes and tried each spot available.
Without a doubt, I looked like a caveman (or woman) tapping where I thought would make the water should emerge. Nothing worked.
I was on my way into the restaurant to again call Marco over “Psssss…. babe…. I can’t figure out how to wash my hands” when I glanced back one more time at the sink.
Meanwhile, I had walked several steps away, and I got a clear view.
There was a pedal under the sink. I’ve never seen one of these in my life! I ran back over to the sink to save myself the embarrassment and I gave the pedal a try.
Sure enough, I pumped the pedal with my foot, and out came the water! Hooray!
To sum it up, I hope my crazy experiences help you to save time and humiliation when you’re using the bathrooms in Italy!
XOXOXO
