Traveling to Italy during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
If you’re planning to travel to Italy, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The basics
On April 1, Italy emerged from its two-year state of emergency — which it had been in since January 31, 2020.
And on June 1, it dropped all Covid-19 entry regulations. This means that you no longer have to show proof of vaccination for entry. This also quashes the previous quarantine requirement for non-vaccinated arrivals.
However, don’t expect a free ride. This is still one of the most cautious countries in Europe, with restrictions still on the ground including a mask mandate on public transport until at least June 15.
What’s on offer in Italy
This is one of Europe’s big travel hitters, known for its historic cities of art such as Florence, one-off wonders such as Venice and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church at Vatican City, situation inside Italy’s capital of Rome.
Incredible food, fantastic wine, unspoiled countryside and a string of beach resorts mean it’s always in demand.
Who can go
From June 1, everyone can enter Italy. Arrivals no longer have to show vaccination status, meaning that the quarantine requirement for the unvaccinated no longer exists.
What are the restrictions?
Anyone flying to or from Italy must wear an FFP2 mask — for more information, see below.
The requirement to show proof of vaccination or recovery was dropped June 1.
Arrivals no longer have to fill out a passenger locator form, either.
What’s the Covid-19 situation?
As the first hit European country, Italy has been through a lot. Restrictions have consistently brought things under control, with Italy holding out longer than European neighbors in each subsequent wave. However, the winter waves of 2020-21 and 2021-22 have taken huge tolls.
Italy holds Europe’s second highest death toll (after the United Kingdom), passing the milestone of 100,000 deaths on March 8, 2021. Nearly 17.6 million people have been infected to date, with the death toll at 167,253 as of June 10, 2022.
With the arrival of the Omicron variant, case numbers soared. Cases reached a record high the week of January 10, with 1,269,976 cases recorded. Before Omicron, the record infection rate for the pandemic was 248,000 infections in a week, registered in November 2020.
Numbers are now yo-yoing. Having dived in February and early March — under 280,000 were recorded in the week leading up to March 9 — they rose to 507,000 cases registered in the last week of March, and just under 300,000 in the week leading up to May 11. By May 25 they were down to under 200,000 in a week, and by June 10, they had dropped further to 131,645 new infections.
Around 90% of the adult population has now been fully vaccinated.
App Immuni uses Bluetooth to track contact with potential infection.
What can visitors expect
The color-coded traffic light restrictions by region (from white to red zones) were abolished April 1. The rules are now the same countrywide.
The nationwide outdoor mask mandate ended on February 11, and the widespread indoor mask mandate on May 1. However, masks must still be worn in some indoor areas: on public transport, in cinema, theaters, concert halls and indoor sports arenas, as well as in hospitals. This will be until at least June 15. Your mask must be a high-grade FFP2 for all those places except hospitals.
While it is no longer mandatory, the government recommends still wearing masks indoors, and many — if not most — Italians continue to wear them. Additionally, individual venues, including galleries and museums, may impose their own mask mandates. If caught not wearing a mask where it is mandated, you can be fined up to $450.
Social distancing restrictions remain in place, including on public transport — except for high-speed trains, which can run at capacity. Authorities will be given the authority to halt any train on which a passenger is showing any symptoms of Covid-19.
Only two people may sit in the back of a taxi, if they are part of the same family.
Green passes and super green passes:
On May 1, the government dropped the requirement to show a green pass everywhere a tourist would want to go. That means you no longer need to show proof of vaccination to eat out, visit galleries or take public transport.
However, if you end up visiting a hospital or care home you will need a “super green pass” or “certificazione verde rafforzata,” showing that you have been vaccinated (including a booster) or have recovered from the virus within the past six months. A regular pass can also be obtained by a negative test within 48 hours.
Those vaccinated in other countries are not eligible for the Italian pass, but EU vaccination passes are recognized and scanned as domestic ones are. Those holding a certificate with a QR code — including UK NHS certificates — can normally have their passes read as an Italian one. Check whether yours is valid by downloading the VerificaC19 app.
If your QR code is not recognized by the app, or you don’t have one, you must show a paper copy of your certificate from your home country.
Foreign vaccine certificates are not subject to the same time limits as Italian green passes. For now, a full cycle including booster is valid indefinitely. A full initial cycle with no booster is valid six months.
Useful links
Countries currently allowed in
Our latest coverage
Can’t get to Italy right now? You can always buy a house for 1 euro — the price of a cup of coffee.
A new website has just launched offering visit-free sales around the country. If you’re not looking to buy, the country’s alberghi diffusi, or scattered hotels, are the perfect travel solution in the time of Covid-19.
Or check out our list of small towns perfect for social distancing.
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