There is no hard-and-fast rule, except that stores will not make change unless you buy something, anything. You can go to a newsstand and buy a paper or a few postcards. But be prepared for some grumbling - or sometimes even a downright refusal - if you make a 1-Euro purchase with a 50-Euro note.

You can also go to a cafe or bar and have a coffee.

I've never even tried it, but by all reports the last place to go for change in Italy is a bank.

I wonder if my Rome Cabs driver would make change? Haha. Or my hotel? Not that it is too difficult to make a purchase somewhere and get change that way, I'm just wondering...

Rome Cabs drivers deal mostly in multiples of 5 Euros. Hotels don't deal much in coins at all.

Buy a coffee.

Ok, thanks for your help, both of you.

By the way Zerlina, going back to a former thread... If you HAD to pick between Vecchia Roma and La Taverna dei Fori Imperiale, regardless of price and the fact that they are quite different, which would it be?

I haven't eaten at either. Taverna is not in an area that I frequent much, and I've personally never seen the point of paying Vecchia Roma's elevated prices.

You'll see that you will find coins in your pocket after just few hours in Italy, you buy water with 10 euros and there you go.

If you really think you want more, go into a bank and change your money, on a general line they like to get rid of coins, they give it rolled in paper, usually in cilinders made of 25 coins: 25X50 cent pieces 25X1 euros coins, or 25X2euros coins ( which makes 50 if my math still works..)

You'll have enough to light up many many churches!