Dating in Italy.
Aperitivo at seven, a passeggiata after dinner and no rush at all.
In Italy a first date rarely means a formal dinner. It is more often an aperitivo, a spritz with snacks in the early evening, or an evening passeggiata through the old town. Milan has the largest international working crowd, Rome and Florence are full of students and expats, and Bologna and Turin are big university cities. Italian is the language of daily life, but English works in many international circles. Singles in Italy can use Kismat in English: pick an intent first, and people who picked the same come first.
Free sign-up, in about a minute.
Meeting people in Italy
Milan
Italy's business and fashion capital, with the most international jobs and an aperitivo culture along the Navigli canals. Many newcomers look for speed dating events in Milan; an app lets you meet people at your own pace.
Rome
The capital, with a large expat community, international organisations like the FAO and evenings in Trastevere and Monti that run late.
Florence
A compact Renaissance city with thousands of international students on study-abroad programmes and a small, close-knit expat community.
Bologna
Home of Europe's oldest university, red rooftops and kilometres of porticoes, with a young, lively crowd and a food scene to match. Singles in Bologna meet in the osterie around Via del Pratello.
Turin
An elegant city of arcades and historic cafés beneath the Alps, with a large polytechnic university and an automotive and engineering workforce.
Naples
Loud, warm and full of life, with a seafront promenade, the best pizza in the country and Vesuvius across the bay.
First date ideas in Italy
Navigli
Milan
The canal district is Milan's classic aperitivo area: walk along the water, then choose a bar with a terrace for a spritz.
Giardino degli Aranci
Rome
A small orange garden on the Aventine Hill with a view over the domes of Rome, especially beautiful at sunset.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence
A wide terrace across the Arno with a panoramic view of the Duomo and the city, a favourite place to watch the sun go down.
Portico di San Luca
Bologna
The world's longest portico climbs to the San Luca sanctuary, a walk that gives you plenty of time to talk, with a view over the hills at the top.
Parco del Valentino
Turin
A riverside park along the Po with a medieval-style village and a castle, great for a long walk on a first date.
Lungomare Caracciolo
Naples
The traffic-free seafront looking towards Vesuvius and Castel dell'Ovo, a calm walk followed by a gelato.
Local tip: Around Ferragosto on 15 August many Italians leave the cities for the coast, so Milan and Rome go quiet. Late spring and early autumn are the best seasons for outdoor aperitivi and long evening walks.
Regions of Italy
Lombardy
Milan, Bergamo and the lakes, the economic engine of the country, with the most international jobs and weekend trips to Lake Como.
Lazio
Rome and its surroundings, where government, the Vatican, universities and international organisations bring people from all over the world.
Tuscany
Florence, Pisa and Siena, with study-abroad students, art and wine country, and a slower pace in the hill towns.
Emilia-Romagna
Bologna, Modena and Parma, known for food, motor valley engineering and a big student population.
How Kismat works in Italy
You pick what you are looking for, something serious, friendship or casual dating, and Kismat shows you people nearby who picked the same first.You set the distance. Profiles can verify with a live selfie, and Private Mode keeps your photos blurred until you match. Signing up is free. The app is in English and German.
Free sign-up, in about a minute.
Dating in Italy: questions
What is the best dating app in Italy for English speakers?
Most people in Italy use apps in Italian, which can make the start harder for expats and students. Kismat is in English and German: you choose an intent (serious, friendship or casual), people who chose the same come first, and live selfie verification shows that the person is real. Signing up and chatting are free.
Is there speed dating in Milan?
Speed dating and singles evenings are organised in Milan, mostly in Italian and often in bars. If you prefer to meet people in English at your own pace, an app where you set your intent first is a calmer alternative, and an aperitivo on the Navigli is an easy first meeting.
How do expats in Rome make friends and meet people?
Expats in Rome often meet people through language exchanges, international organisations, sports clubs and friends of colleagues. Kismat lets you choose friendship as your intent, so it works for building a social circle as well as for dating.
What are dating customs in Italy?
Aperitivo in the early evening is the classic first date, and dinner usually starts around 8 or 9 pm. People often dress well even for something casual. Who pays varies; offering to split is fine, and many Italians also take turns.
Nearby countries
Meet people in Italy who want the same.
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