LISTED: The big changes for travel in Italy this summer
New direct flights
Several international airlines have launched new direct flights to Italy in recent weeks in response to growing demand for non-stop travel options.
Italian private airline Neos became the first-ever carrier to offer a non-stop connection between the US and Puglia on June 3rd, while American Airlines launched daily direct flights linking Miami to Rome Fiumicino and Dallas-Fort Worth to Venice Marco Polo on June 5th.
British budget airline EasyJet is also set to strengthen its presence in Italy this summer by operating twice-weekly flights between Bristol and Palermo, Sicily, starting on June 26th.
You can find a comprehensive list of all new flight routes to and from Italy this summer in this article.
Jubilee celebrations in Rome
Large tourist crowds are far from a rare sight in Rome over the summer months, as the Eternal City is the most visited Italian city, with over 30 million visitors a year on average.
But the number of people travelling to the Italian capital is expected to increase sharply this summer due to special events related to the Vatican's Jubilee Year – a special Holy Year for the Catholic Church which focuses on forgiveness and the remission of sins.
Though there are no up-to-date estimates of how many people will visit Rome this summer, planned Jubilee events are expected to draw millions of faithful to the city in the coming months.
According to a recent estimate from Italian research centre Certa, around one million pilgrims will travel to the Eternal City in late July to attend the Youth Jubilee (July 28th-August 3rd).
Besides an additional influx of tourists, the Jubilee is also expected to result in price hikes in a number of areas – from the hospitality industry (especially short-term holiday lets and hotel stays) to transport services and cultural sites.
Higher US alert level for travel in Italy
The US State Department raised its travel advisory warning level for Italy from one to two in late May, urging American citizens to "exercise increased caution' on upcoming trips.
US authorities said the update was related to the 'risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy' without providing further details about specific terror threats.
Though there have been no recent terrorism-related incidents in Italy, the State Department advised American visitors to 'stay alert', 'check local media for breaking news" and 'prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations'.
New Marseille-Rome night train
After a popular train line linking Paris with the Italian cities of Turin and Milan reopened in early April following a 19-month closure, train travel between Italy and France is set to expand further this summer with the launch of a new overnight train linking Marseille to Rome.
Operated by Italy's Trenitalia, the Espresso Riviera service will run every weekend from July 4th to August 30th, with a travel time of just over 15 hours.
Besides the new Marseille-Rome link, Trenitalia also plans to resume a popular night train service connecting Rome to Munich, Germany, on July 15th.
American transport giant Uber is set to launch new helicopter services on Italy's famous Amalfi Coast this summer, providing well-heeled visitors with speedy connections between the seaside town of Sorrento and the island of Capri.
Uber Copter will operate every weekend from July 26th to August 23rd, with round trips coming at €250 per passenger, the transport company said.
Besides new helicopter rides, Uber will also offer free boat services between July 26th and August 24th, taking passengers from Sorrento's port to the picturesque cliffside town of Positano aboard stylish Gozzo 35 motorboats.
here.
Venice entry fee
A contested ticketing system requiring day-trippers to pay an entry fee to access Venice's city centre was reintroduced on April 18th after undergoing a 29-day trial last year.
The entry charge, which is part of wider plans to regulate tourist crowds and reduce the impact of mass tourism on Venice's infrastructure and artistic heritage, will be in place on a total of 54 dates this year.
For a full list of dates and details on how the system works, see our guide.
No 'key box ban' for holiday rentals (with some exceptions)
People planning to stay in an Italian holiday rental property this summer will be able to check into their accommodation remotely - though there are some exceptions.
A contested nationwide ban on remote check-ins was overturned by Lazio's Regional Administrative Court (TAR) in late May, with the court citing the lack of sufficient legal grounds and disproportionate burdens on property owners as the main reasons behind its ruling.
The ban had been introduced by Italy's interior ministry in November, ending popular remote check-in practices for guests and leading to a spate of police operations aimed at removing key boxes (lock boxes containing the keys to a property) in cities around the country.
Though the court's ruling overturned the national ban, local ordinances outlawing the use of key boxes by holiday rental owners were not affected by the decision. This means that cities that enforce key box bans under municipal laws (for instance, Florence) will continue to do so this summer.
Transport strikes
Transport strikes are frequent in Italy and this summer will be no exception as Italian trade unions have already announced multiple walkouts affecting air, rail and local public transport services.
Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on an online calendar (in Italian).
This usually gives travellers some time to arrange alternative means of transportation or, when possible, reschedule their journeys.
If you're planning to travel to, from or across Italy this June, you'll find a list of the major planned walkouts in this article.
What doesn't change this summer?
New EU visa and passport systems
Originally scheduled to come into force in 2022, the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) have been repeatedly delayed due to incomplete border infrastructure.
According to the latest available information, the EES passport check system could begin in October, with the ETIAS visa waiver scheme expected to be rolled out six months later.
There is, however, no guarantee that the two planned changes won't be delayed again.
For a full explanation of the EES and ETIAS schemes and what they mean for non-EU citizens travelling in and out of the EU, see our guide.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Italy
2 days ago
- Local Italy
How hard is it to move to Italy from the US in 2025?
A growing number of US citizens have relocated to Italy in recent years. In 2024, 2,000 more people made the move compared to 2022, as Italy gained 16,534 new American residents. The trend has so far looked set to continue, with a rising number of queries from Americans reported by everyone from relocation consultants and immigration lawyers to members of The Local's Living in Italy Facebook group. But, while interest in moving to Italy may be on the rise, has the country made the process of becoming a resident harder? Some recent news reports from Italy might suggest so. But whether or not anything has changed for your relocation plans will depend on the route you were planning to take to obtaining Italian residency. Citizenship via ancestry There were sudden changes to the rules on claiming citizenship via ancestry in March, imposing a two-generational limit for eligibility, which left many would-be applicants dismayed. Having Italian citizenship, or citizenship of any EU member state, would make a move to Italy considerably easier as it removes the requirement for a visa. But experts stress that this doesn't necessarily mean people will be unable to move to Italy in future. In fact, "despite these changes, residency in Italy remains very accessible," says relocation consultant Federica Grazi, Founder and Managing Director of Mitos Relocation Solutions. Visa options Italy offers several different visas for new residents, depending on their personal circumstances. 'The most straightforward options are for those with income sourced outside of Italy,' Grazi advises. 'In 2024, Italy introduced a Digital Nomad Visa for qualified remote employees and independent professionals. "There's also the well-established Elective Residency Visa (ERV), ideal for retirees and individuals with passive income.' described it as a challenge, though it's obviously possible for many people to succeed. We have some detailed advice on completing the process here. Citizenship via residency Also in the news in early June was a vote on a proposed amendment to the law on gaining citizenship via residency, which would have made the process quicker - though, ultimately, nothing has changed there. Many existing residents had hoped that they might be able to apply for citizenship sooner if the law was changed. However, this issue seems unlikely to affect the existing plans of anyone hoping to move to Italy in future. Some of those who are no longer eligible to apply for citizenship via ancestry following the law change have told The Local that they are now exploring the residency route instead. Other requirements While adding a visa requirement makes things more complicated, readers often tell us that the process of moving to Italy from the US was always far from straightforward. In fact, there are several important things to consider beyond the applications for a visa and residency permit. New residents have long needed to navigate healthcare requirements and tax rules, as well as meet a requirement to re-sit their driving test - in Italian. 'Many Americans already call Italy home — and despite the recent tightening of citizenship laws, that trend is very likely to grow,' says Grazi.
Local Italy
2 days ago
- Local Italy
LISTED: The big changes for travel in Italy this summer
New direct flights Several international airlines have launched new direct flights to Italy in recent weeks in response to growing demand for non-stop travel options. Italian private airline Neos became the first-ever carrier to offer a non-stop connection between the US and Puglia on June 3rd, while American Airlines launched daily direct flights linking Miami to Rome Fiumicino and Dallas-Fort Worth to Venice Marco Polo on June 5th. British budget airline EasyJet is also set to strengthen its presence in Italy this summer by operating twice-weekly flights between Bristol and Palermo, Sicily, starting on June 26th. You can find a comprehensive list of all new flight routes to and from Italy this summer in this article. Jubilee celebrations in Rome Large tourist crowds are far from a rare sight in Rome over the summer months, as the Eternal City is the most visited Italian city, with over 30 million visitors a year on average. But the number of people travelling to the Italian capital is expected to increase sharply this summer due to special events related to the Vatican's Jubilee Year – a special Holy Year for the Catholic Church which focuses on forgiveness and the remission of sins. Though there are no up-to-date estimates of how many people will visit Rome this summer, planned Jubilee events are expected to draw millions of faithful to the city in the coming months. According to a recent estimate from Italian research centre Certa, around one million pilgrims will travel to the Eternal City in late July to attend the Youth Jubilee (July 28th-August 3rd). Besides an additional influx of tourists, the Jubilee is also expected to result in price hikes in a number of areas – from the hospitality industry (especially short-term holiday lets and hotel stays) to transport services and cultural sites. Higher US alert level for travel in Italy The US State Department raised its travel advisory warning level for Italy from one to two in late May, urging American citizens to "exercise increased caution' on upcoming trips. US authorities said the update was related to the 'risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy' without providing further details about specific terror threats. Though there have been no recent terrorism-related incidents in Italy, the State Department advised American visitors to 'stay alert', 'check local media for breaking news" and 'prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations'. New Marseille-Rome night train After a popular train line linking Paris with the Italian cities of Turin and Milan reopened in early April following a 19-month closure, train travel between Italy and France is set to expand further this summer with the launch of a new overnight train linking Marseille to Rome. Operated by Italy's Trenitalia, the Espresso Riviera service will run every weekend from July 4th to August 30th, with a travel time of just over 15 hours. Besides the new Marseille-Rome link, Trenitalia also plans to resume a popular night train service connecting Rome to Munich, Germany, on July 15th. American transport giant Uber is set to launch new helicopter services on Italy's famous Amalfi Coast this summer, providing well-heeled visitors with speedy connections between the seaside town of Sorrento and the island of Capri. Uber Copter will operate every weekend from July 26th to August 23rd, with round trips coming at €250 per passenger, the transport company said. Besides new helicopter rides, Uber will also offer free boat services between July 26th and August 24th, taking passengers from Sorrento's port to the picturesque cliffside town of Positano aboard stylish Gozzo 35 motorboats. here. Venice entry fee A contested ticketing system requiring day-trippers to pay an entry fee to access Venice's city centre was reintroduced on April 18th after undergoing a 29-day trial last year. The entry charge, which is part of wider plans to regulate tourist crowds and reduce the impact of mass tourism on Venice's infrastructure and artistic heritage, will be in place on a total of 54 dates this year. For a full list of dates and details on how the system works, see our guide. No 'key box ban' for holiday rentals (with some exceptions) People planning to stay in an Italian holiday rental property this summer will be able to check into their accommodation remotely - though there are some exceptions. A contested nationwide ban on remote check-ins was overturned by Lazio's Regional Administrative Court (TAR) in late May, with the court citing the lack of sufficient legal grounds and disproportionate burdens on property owners as the main reasons behind its ruling. The ban had been introduced by Italy's interior ministry in November, ending popular remote check-in practices for guests and leading to a spate of police operations aimed at removing key boxes (lock boxes containing the keys to a property) in cities around the country. Though the court's ruling overturned the national ban, local ordinances outlawing the use of key boxes by holiday rental owners were not affected by the decision. This means that cities that enforce key box bans under municipal laws (for instance, Florence) will continue to do so this summer. Transport strikes Transport strikes are frequent in Italy and this summer will be no exception as Italian trade unions have already announced multiple walkouts affecting air, rail and local public transport services. Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on an online calendar (in Italian). This usually gives travellers some time to arrange alternative means of transportation or, when possible, reschedule their journeys. If you're planning to travel to, from or across Italy this June, you'll find a list of the major planned walkouts in this article. What doesn't change this summer? New EU visa and passport systems Originally scheduled to come into force in 2022, the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) have been repeatedly delayed due to incomplete border infrastructure. According to the latest available information, the EES passport check system could begin in October, with the ETIAS visa waiver scheme expected to be rolled out six months later. There is, however, no guarantee that the two planned changes won't be delayed again. For a full explanation of the EES and ETIAS schemes and what they mean for non-EU citizens travelling in and out of the EU, see our guide.
Local Italy
6 days ago
- Local Italy
La Bella Vita: Signs summer has arrived in Italy and a guide to Italian bars and cafes
La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to newsletter preferences in 'My Account' or following the instructions in the newsletter box below. After weeks of changeable weather, showers, and unusually cool temperatures, especially in northern regions, sunny and hot conditions are expected across much of Italy this weekend. But as parts of the country prepare for highs of 37-38C over this fine settimana, beach weather isn't the only thing you can look forward to. At the start of summer, as the mercury soars, Italy suddenly starts to look and feel different in many different ways. From loud music at bars and beach clubs everywhere to the return of summer footwear like sandali and infradito and supermarket shelves bursting with seasonal fruit, we listed just some of the signs that summer has well and truly arrived in Italy. Whether you live in Italy or plan to visit this summer, you can expect to be spending plenty of time in Italian bars and cafes - either to cool down in the hottest part of the day or to bask in the late-afternoon sun while sipping on a refreshing tipple. You may already know the difference between a caffè macchiato and a marocchino and the acceptable time of day to order a cappuccino, but there's more to Italian caffe-bar culture than knowing the correct names of the most popular beverages. Here's a handy guide to the unspoken rules around visiting an Italian bar or cafe. Italy is known for being a particularly religious country and for having a generous number of public holidays. So you may find it strange that Pentecost Monday, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus's disciples, isn't a national holiday, especially because it does grant residents a day off in several European countries, including Austria, Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland. But why isn't Lunedì di Pentecoste a national holiday? We looked into the reasons for it in the article below.
