Greetings The standard form of greeting is a handshake. If you know someone well, air-kissing on both cheeks (starting on the left) is the norm.
Be polite Say mi scusi to attract attention or say 'I'm sorry'; grazie (mille) to say 'thank you (very much)'; prego to say 'you're welcome' or 'please, after you' and permesso if you need to get past someone in a crowd.
Cafe culture Don’t linger at an espresso bar; drink your coffee and go. It’s called espresso for a reason.
Paying the bill Whoever invites usually pays. Splitting the bill between friends is common enough, but itemising it is molto vulgare (very vulgar).
Boating Always allow passengers to disembark first before boarding boats. For those in need of assistance, the crew are happy to lend a hand.