Quick Answer
The honest Italian verdict first
Most comparisons of Italian Amex cards repeat two mistakes: they say the Carta Blu is free and still earns Membership Rewards (it doesn’t; it costs €35/year from year two and pays cashback), and they give the Carta Platino a Hilton/Marriott hotel status it doesn’t have in Italy. Here’s the corrected lineup, verified against americanexpress.com/it on 18 August 2026.
The Italian Amex lineup compared
| Card | Annual fee (IT) | Rewards | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carta Platino | €840 (€70/mo), €780 pre-2025 | 1 point/€ | Frequent flyers who’ll use Priority Pass Prestige |
| Carta di Credito Oro | €240 (1st yr free) | 1 point/€ | Everyday spend with some lounge access |
| Explora | €36 (1st yr free) | 1 point/€, 3x on 5 merchants | Amazon/Deliveroo/Netflix/Ticketone/Trenitalia spenders |
| Carta di Credito Verde | €84 (1st yr free) | 1 point/€ | A lighter Membership Rewards entry |
| Carta di Credito PAYBACK | €0 forever | 1 PAYBACK pt/€2 | Zero fee, existing PAYBACK shoppers |
| Carta Blu | €35 from year 2 | 1% cashback | Simple cashback, not Membership Rewards |
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5% on every card, higher than Germany’s 2%. ATM withdrawals: 3.9% (min €1.25 charge / €2.60 revolving). Fees change, so confirm current terms on the application page.
Carta Platino: for frequent flyers, no hotel status
Priority Pass Prestige: unlimited access to 1,200+ lounges in 300+ airports, with one free guest per visit (Amex values this at €459 per person plus €300 for the guest). Over €4,500 in declared annual credits, including a €1,230-valued Global Travel Insurance package and Fine Hotels + Resorts. What it does not include: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold, or Centurion Lounge access, all of which belong to other Amex markets, not Italy. At €840/year it only pays if you’ll actually use Priority Pass Prestige. See the Amex Platino review.
Carta di Credito Oro: value pick, and it does have lounge access
€240/year, free the first year. Contrary to what many comparisons still claim, it includes Priority Pass standard membership plus two free lounge visits a year (Amex values this at €153). It earns a flat 1 Membership Rewards point per euro, not a dining multiplier, plus roughly €150 in declared credits (Voucher Viaggi, Vivaticket, insurance credit). See the Amex Oro review.
Explora: the only Italian Amex with a real multiplier
€36/year, free the first year. Earns 3 Membership Rewards points per euro on Amazon, Deliveroo, Netflix, Ticketone and Trenitalia, 1 point/€ on everything else. No lounge access, no travel credits. If your recurring spend sits on those five merchants, it out-earns Verde and Oro for a fraction of the fee.
Carta di Credito PAYBACK: the actual free card
€0 annual fee, forever, not just year one. Earns 1 PAYBACK point per €2 spent (double at PAYBACK partner stores), not Membership Rewards. This, not the Carta Blu, is Italy’s genuine no-fee Amex.
The one-question test
Count last year’s airport visits. Double digits → Platino, and you’ll actually use Priority Pass Prestige. A handful, plus recurring spend on Amazon/Deliveroo/Netflix/Ticketone/Trenitalia → Explora. A handful of everyday spend, no strong preference → Oro (free first year, still gets you two lounge visits). You want zero fee, forever → Carta di Credito PAYBACK. Torn between the top two? Amex Platino vs Oro.
Don’t forget the acceptance gap and the foreign fees
Amex acceptance in Italy trails Visa/Mastercard, especially at small bars, trattorias and shops. Every Italian Amex also charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee (higher than Germany’s 2%) and 3.9% on ATM withdrawals. Pair any Amex with a free Revolut card for fee-free spending outside the eurozone. For the full lineup across every market, browse our credit cards guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Amex card is best in Italy?
The Carta Platino (€840/year, €780/year for cards issued before 15 May 2025) for frequent flyers who’ll use its unlimited Priority Pass Prestige lounge access, the Carta di Credito Oro (€240/year, free year one) for everyday Membership Rewards with Priority Pass standard included, the Explora (€36/year) if your spending concentrates on Amazon, Deliveroo, Netflix, Ticketone or Trenitalia, and the Carta di Credito PAYBACK if you want zero fee, forever.
Is there a free American Express card in Italy?
Yes, but it is not the Carta Blu, which costs €35/year from the second year and pays 1% cashback rather than Membership Rewards. The genuinely fee-free card is the Carta di Credito PAYBACK: free forever, earning 1 PAYBACK point per €2 spent (not Membership Rewards).
How much does the Carta Platino cost in Italy?
€840 a year (€70/month) for cards issued from 15 May 2025 onward; cards issued before that date remain at €780/year. There is no first-year waiver. The Carta di Credito Oro is €240/year (free year one), the Carta di Credito Verde is €84/year (free year one), and the Explora is €36/year (free year one).
Does the Carta Platino include Hilton or Marriott hotel status in Italy?
No. The Italian Carta Platino carries no Hilton Honors Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, and no Centurion Lounge access. Its lounge benefit is Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited, 1,200+ lounges in 300+ airports, one free guest per visit), and its hotel perks are Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection credits, not a chain status.
Verdict
In Italy: frequent flyer who’ll use Priority Pass Prestige → Platino; everyday spender who still wants some lounge access → Oro; Amazon/Deliveroo/Netflix/Ticketone/Trenitalia shopper → Explora; want zero fee, forever → Carta di Credito PAYBACK, not Carta Blu. Compare the current offers below.