Visiting Italy in 2026: A Practical Guide
Visiting Italy in 2026? Enjoy our practical guide to changes and updates in travel to help you enjoy your trip to Italy in 2026.
One of our favourite things about looking forward to a new year is planning our trips to Italy! For those of us visiting Italy in 2026 there are lots of new and exciting things to look forward to and a couple of important changes to entry requirements and taxes, which you need to know about before you travel. Hopefully, you will find everything you need in our practical guide to visiting Italy in 2026.
Visiting Italy in 2026: Travel
Flights
Travelling to Italy has never been easier. Despite its relatively small size, Italy has over 100 airports with 15 of these offering long haul flights. While we may already feel somewhat spoiled for choice when searching for flights to Italy, Delta, Alaska and United Airlines have all announced new routes connecting major hubs in the U.S. to some new Italian cities. From May Delta passengers will be able to fly directly from JFK to Olbia in Sardinia. They also plan to increase frequency on their other routes. This means that 2026 will see the airline’s largest ever schedule to Italy.
Not to be outdone, United will launch a new route between Newark and Bari in Puglia, beginning in summer 2026. Meanwhile Alaska launch their first ever transatlantic route from Seattle to Rome .
For the Brits, new routes will also begin to operate from the UK. Easyjet will offer flights from Liverpool to Naples Federico and from Birmingham to Rome. Meanwhile BA Cityflyer plan to launch a new service linking London Stanstead to Olbia, Sardinia. Looking for advice on booking flights to Italy? Read our full guide here.
Trains
We have some very good news for European travellers visiting Italy in 2026. European Sleeper have launched a new and quite affordable route from Amsterdam and Brussels to Milan. Before arriving into Milan, the train will stop in Berne (Switzerland), Stresa on Lake Maggiore. As one of our very favourite location in Italy this is an excellent addition to to the timetable! Trains will depart both Amsterdam and Brussels on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
2026 also sees a super-luxury option added to Italy’s train network. The much anticipated Venice Simplon Orient Express will finally take to the tracks in May. The route will transport passengers from Paris to the Amalfi Coast in ultimate opulence. Life on board really is La Dolce Vita, with live piano performances and signature cocktails to enjoy alongside delicious locally sourced food. Stops will include scenic boat tours, cooking classes and a private guided tour of Pompeii.
Visiting Italy in 2026: The Winter Olympics
2026 is a landmark year for Italy, as the country hosts the Winter Olympics. And with it, bringing a huge wave of international attention, celebration and visitors. Officially known as the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, this global sporting event will take place from 6–22 February 2026 – with competitions spread across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and several Alpine locations in northern Italy.
As a result, fans of winter sports will choose 2026 as the year to visit Italy. And what’s more, it’s the perfect opportunity to combine world-class sport with Italian culture, food and scenery. While Milan will host the opening ceremony and indoor events such as ice hockey and figure skating, Cortina d’Ampezzo and the surrounding Dolomites will be at the heart of the mountain sports. These include alpine skiing, bobsleigh and snowboarding. Expect a lively, celebratory atmosphere throughout the host regions, with fan zones, live screenings, cultural events and entertainment running alongside the sporting programme.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to travel to northern Italy during the Olympic period, making February 2026 an especially busy time in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val di Fiemme, Valtellina and Antholz-Anterselva. Accommodation in and around these areas is already in high demand, and prices are likely to rise significantly as the Games approach. If you plan to attend events or stay anywhere near the Olympic venues, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and transport well in advance.
While northern Italy will be the epicentre of Olympic excitement, many visitors will also take the opportunity to explore other parts of the country either before or after the Games. Regions further south, such as Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio, may offer a welcome contrast. Quieter, slower-paced and ideal for travellers looking to balance sporting spectacle with authentic Italian experiences.
Visiting Italy in 2026: New Entry Requirements
Despite originally being scheduled for 2022, the EU’s new entry/exit system (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) have faced a catalogue of delays. The has been largely due incomplete infrastructure required at EU borders. The current plan is for the EES to be introduced first, which has largely been implemented in Italy’s major airports. ETIAS is expected to be fully functional by the final quarter of 2026.
Even though we’re not sure when these changes will happen, many of Italy’s airports are ‘EES ready’. You will find facial recognition scanners and automatic gates in operation. However you may still need to show your passport to a border guard to enter the country. The new EES will eliminate this stage. Your biometric data will then be saved for three years. But, also be aware that during this transition period you may need to complete the ETIAS process (biometric scanner and fingerprints) and then also queue to have your passport manually stamped. The result is that there are long lines at immigration but our hope is that this will become a more streamlined operation as it becomes more commonplace and many travellers are registered in the system. Its worth noting that this process is only necessary when crossing an EU border – not between mutual EU countries. And, only for travellers without an EU passport.
Very similar to the ESTA system used when entering the U.S.A., ETIAS is essentially a visa waiver to allow those travelling on non EU passports to enter a country within the EU. Eventually, ETIAS will need to be applied for in advance online and will cost around €20. However, it will be free of charge for over 70s and under 18s.
2026 Changes to Tourist Tax and Entry Fees
Tax is always an emotive subject! Those of us who have travelled to Italy since 2011 know that the imposta di soggiorno (Italy’s tourist tax) is nothing new. This tax was introduced on the basis that visitors to the country will be by default also using the municipality’s subsidised services: refuse collection, public transport etc. Currently, the tax only applies in Italy’s cities and popular tourist destinations. However, there is some support for the tax to be rolled out right across the country.
If you’re visiting Italy in 2026, increases are expected in most cities. To coincide with the Winter Olympics, Milan has already announced an increase to €10 per night for guests staying in 4 and 5 star hotels in the city. This will be reduced to €7.40 per night in 3 and 4 star hotels and €5 for 1 and 2 star hotels.
Venice will continue to charge their ‘entry fee’ on peak days of the season. This will remain at €5 but only if booked in advance online. It will increase to €10 if you pay on the day. In Rome, along with the standard tourist tax, visitors to some of the city’s most popular attractions have introduced an entry fee for 2026. If you want to get close tot he Trevi Fountain, then there is now a €2 fee. But, you can still get a good view of the fountain from the upper piazza free of charge. There is no also a fee to visit these previously free attraction in Rome: Villa of Maxentius, Napoleonic Museum, Carlo Baracco Museum, Pilotti Museum, and Pietro Canonica Museum.
Where to Stay in Italy in 2026?
If your primary purpose when visiting Italy in 2026 is the Winter Olympics, then it makes sense to spend at least some of your time in Milan. However, as we have said, it will be busy and therefore prices will be high. Using a comparison site such as Trip.com is a great way to compare prices and different types of accommodation.
If your trip is less sports-centric, then opting for a self-catering villa or apartment in Italy is always a great option. Click here to browse our stunning collection of villas and apartments. Or, contact us at Bookings For You for help to find your perfect place for an Italian escape in 2026.