A che ora apre il duty-free?

What time does the duty-free open?

Pronunciation

'Duty-free' is borrowed from English. 'Apre' is A-pre — stress on first syllable.

When to use it

When you arrive early at the airport and want to shop before your flight.

What it means

'A che ora apre' (what time does it open) is the standard Italian question for asking opening times. The opposite is 'a che ora chiude' (what time does it close). 'Duty-free' is used directly in Italian as it is in English.

Variations

Posso comprare profumi al duty-free?

Can I buy perfumes at the duty-free?

Perfumes and cosmetics are the most popular duty-free items

C'è un limite su quante sigarette posso portare?

Is there a limit on how many cigarettes I can bring?

EU limits: 200 cigarettes from non-EU countries

Questo prezzo è già scontato?

Is this price already discounted?

Duty-free prices are not always cheaper than supermarkets

Mini Dialogue

— A che ora apre il duty-free? — Alle cinque di mattina, lo stesso orario dei check-in. — Vendono anche liquori? — Sì, vini, grappe e liquori italiani. C'è una buona selezione.

— What time does the duty-free open? — At five in the morning, the same time as check-in. — Do they also sell spirits? — Yes, Italian wines, grappas and liqueurs. There is a good selection.

Cultural Note

Duty-free shopping in Italian airports is only tax-free for passengers flying to non-EU countries. EU-bound passengers cannot buy duty-free alcohol or tobacco. However, all passengers can buy perfumes and other goods at 'airside' prices which may still be competitive.

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