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PhrasesAt the Post OfficeQuali sono gli orari dell'ufficio postale?
A2

Quali sono gli orari dell'ufficio postale?

What are the post office opening hours?

Pronunciation

o-RA-ri — three syllables; stress on the second. 'Orari' is the plural of 'orario' (schedule/timetable).

When to use it

Use this when you approach a post office and are unsure about its hours, or when you need to plan a future visit. Opening hours vary significantly by location and are often reduced on Saturdays.

What it means

'Quali sono' (what are) + 'gli orari' (the hours) + 'dell'ufficio postale' (of the post office). In Italy, post offices typically open Monday–Friday 8:20 a.m.–7:05 p.m. and Saturday 8:20 a.m.–12:35 p.m. Smaller offices may have much shorter hours. Bank holiday closures are strict.

Variations

È aperto il sabato mattina?

Is it open Saturday morning?

Most Italian post offices open Saturday morning, closed Saturday afternoon

Chiude a pranzo?

Does it close for lunch?

Some smaller post offices still observe the pausa pranzo

È aperto nei giorni festivi?

Is it open on public holidays?

Post offices are generally closed on all national public holidays

Mini Dialogue

— Quali sono gli orari dell'ufficio postale? — Dal lunedì al venerdì, dalle otto e venti alle sette e cinque. Il sabato fino alle dodici e trentacinque. — La domenica? — Chiuso. — E domani è un giorno festivo... — Allora è chiuso anche domani, mi dispiace.

— What are the post office opening hours? — Monday to Friday, from eight twenty to seven five. Saturday until twelve thirty-five. — Sunday? — Closed. — And tomorrow is a public holiday... — Then it's closed tomorrow too, I'm sorry.

Cultural Note

Italian post office hours can be confusing for foreigners. The unusual closing times (7:05 p.m., 12:35 p.m.) reflect Italy's tradition of staggered shifts rather than neat round numbers. The Saturday afternoon closure is rigorously observed across the country. Hours are posted outside and on the Poste Italiane website.