June 2025
This new survey follows on from previous studies conducted by Discurv for Xlovecam on sexuality in Italy, as well as on the sexiest celebrities in Italy and across Europe.
Having sex in an exotic location is the number one fantasy among Italians: 2 in 3 say it is something they fantasise about, well ahead of being surprised while asleep or dominating their partner. Sleeping with a celebrity is a significant fantasy for 1 in 4 Italians.
On average, Italians report nearly 8 fantasies among those proposed.
Non-consensual acts are the least frequently cited fantasy, along with bondage, although 1 in 5 Italians selected this option.
Deserted beaches and cars are the top two locations that feature in Italians’ fantasies, followed by the kitchen, which completes the top three. On average, Italians have already fantasised about 8 of these locations.
By contrast, only 1 in 5 Italians has ever imagined having sex in a place of worship or religious setting. It is by far the least frequently mentioned location.
Fantasies involving specific people or professions are less polarising than other themes.
Flight attendants and nurses remain the two leading fantasy figures, with more than half of Italians having fantasised about these profiles — and 1 in 3 doing so regularly.
Parents-in-law are a fantasy for fewer than 1 in 6 Italians, while brothers- and sisters-in-law appeal to 1 in 4.
On average, Italians have fantasised about around 7 of these figures.
Overall, 1 in 3 Italians feels at least somewhat ashamed of their fantasies. They think about them at different times of the day, not necessarily in connection with sexual activity: 1 in 3 say they think about them at random moments during the day. However, 40% say they think about them while masturbating.
When it comes to their relationship with their partner, 1 in 3 Italians would feel very or extremely comfortable discussing their fantasies with them. It is also worth noting that 2 in 3 Italians have thought about someone else while having sex with their partner.
Italians appear to be particularly imaginative when it comes to sexual fantasies, reporting an average of nearly 8 different scenarios. Having sex in an exotic location is by far the most common desire, cited by two-thirds of respondents.
More transgressive fantasies, such as bondage or non-consensual acts, remain less common, although 1 in 5 Italians still identify with them. The locations featured in their fantasies confirm this attraction to escapism and the forbidden: deserted beaches, cars and kitchens make up the top three most stimulating settings. On average, Italians report fantasising about 8.3 different locations. Places of worship, by contrast, remain much less common, although 1 in 5 have imagined them.
When it comes to people, flight attendants and nurses clearly dominate the collective imagination, followed by waiters and waitresses. Family-related figures, such as parents-in-law, remain uncommon (fewer than 1 in 6 Italians), unlike brothers- and sisters-in-law, who feature in the fantasies of 1 in 4 Italians.
From an emotional perspective, fantasies are a significant part of intimate life: 1 in 3 Italians feels somewhat ashamed of their desires. 64% admit to having thought about someone else during sex, and 36% say they would feel very comfortable discussing their fantasies with their partner.
Fantasies occur both during and outside sexual situations, particularly during masturbation (40%) or at random moments during the day (38%).
Men vs. women: enduring stereotypes
Italian men report a wider range of fantasies, with an average of 9.4 locations and 9.5 people or character types fantasised about, compared with 7.2 and 5.7 respectively among women. They are also more attracted to practices such as group sex (43%), filming themselves (41%) and tantric sex. However, women are not more attracted than average to other types of fantasies. The nurse fantasy remains strong among men, as does the flight attendant fantasy. Women, meanwhile, continue to show a strong attraction to military figures, who feature in the fantasies of more than half of them.
Younger people are more imaginative
People under 50 show a more active imagination, reporting an average of 8.6 fantasies (compared with 6.9), and are more likely to fantasise about domination (55%), sex in public (51%) or role-playing (38%). Their range of fantasies is also more varied in terms of locations (9.5 vs. 7) and people (8.3 vs. 6.6). Those aged 50 and over, who tend to have more traditional fantasies, continue to fantasise about celebrities, strangers or being surprised while asleep, but say they feel slightly less comfortable discussing them.
Active vs. inactive
Sexually active people appear more imaginative (an average of 8.3 fantasies) and are more interested in practices such as role-playing (52%), sex in public (49%) and tantric sex (32%). Their fantasies involve a wide variety of locations, with cars, hot tubs, kitchens and beaches featuring prominently. Sexually inactive respondents report fewer fantasies (6.7 on average), although many still imagine exotic locations or being surprised while asleep.
Single vs. in a relationship
Finally, single people and those in relationships show broadly similar results. However, single respondents are more attracted to scenarios involving celebrities, strangers or group sex.
Study conducted by:
Audrey Mandefield, Senior Account Executive
Pauline Poché, Insight Team Lead
TO CITE THIS STUDY, PLEASE USE AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING WORDING:
“Discurv study for XloveCam conducted in June 2025 via a self-administered online questionnaire among a representative sample of 1,000 Austrian residents aged 18 and over.”