How many metres above sea level are we?
Metri: MEH-tree. Italy uses metres — never feet. Get comfortable with this unit.
Ask at any summit marker, rifugio, or viewpoint. Many Italian trail signs include the altitude in metres. Also natural when checking GPS or altitude watches.
A quanti metri means 'at how many metres'. Siamo is 'we are' — the question literally asks 'at how many metres are we'. Very natural hiking conversation.
Il rifugio è a duemila e trecento metri.
The hut is at two thousand three hundred metres.
How Italians state altitudes — no abbreviations needed.
Siamo oltre il limite della neve?
Are we above the snowline?
Relevant in late spring or early autumn.
Quanto dobbiamo ancora salire?
How much more do we need to climb?
Asking for remaining elevation gain.
Italian mountain signage typically lists altitude prominently. Summit crosses (croci di vetta) — large metal or wooden crosses placed at Italian mountain peaks — often carry a metal plaque with the altitude and the name of who placed the cross there.