Postcards from Italy

Travel to Italy Summer 2021: Covid-19 and What to Expect

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic first swept across the globe and finally its grip on the US and Europe seems to be weakening. Most willing adults in the US have been able to access the COVID-19 vaccine and Italy, though trailing behind, has hit its stride in the national vaccine campaign and adults into their 30s have had at least their first shot.

For the first time since February of 2020, Italy is welcoming visitors (with some restrictions, of course). Even more importantly, this move to open borders promises a sense of normality and carefree “la dolce vita” atmosphere that the country hasn’t enjoyed in months. 

If you have had to delay your plans to visit Italy, it is time to dust off your passport. Tourists from the European Union, US, and Israel are able to enter the country if they met certain criteria and we traveled to Italy from the US on July 2nd without a hitch. We are confident that leisure travel between the US and Italy will steadily increase going forward as travelers begin to feel comfortable taking international flights again.

But what should you expect if visiting Italy this summer? We will answer some common questions below, with regular updates to this blog post as the situation on the ground evolves. Planning a fall trip? Take a look at our “Travel to Italy Fall 2021: Covid-19 and What to Expect” update.

Italy’s Current Covid Rules and Restrictions

Last update: August 19th

Italy’s Green Pass

On August 6, Italy activated the Green Pass system, which is a digital or paper Covid-19 certificate that includes a QR code.  

The Italian Green Pass certifies that the holder has received one of the following:

  • at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at least 15 days prior (even for vaccines that require two doses like Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca)
  • a negative Covid-19 test from the previous 48 hours
  • a certification of recovery from COVID-19 in the previous six months

A Green Pass (or equivalent; see below) is required in Italy for anyone aged 12 and up for the following:

  • indoor dining and imbibing in restaurants and bars (no Green Pass needed for outdoor seating or consuming drinks at the bar counter)
  • entrance to museums (including open-air cultural sites like Pompeii)
  • indoor and outdoor concerts, theater performances, and cinemas
  • sports stadiums
  • theme parks
  • swimming pools, gyms, and spas
  • sagre (open-air local fairs)
  • other venues like hospitals
  • large public and private events, including weddings

For visitors traveling from the US, your CDC vaccination certificate (which must be shown alongside a photo ID like your passport) is accepted in lieu of a Green Card. The certificate must refer to one of the four vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): Pfizer-BioNtech’s Comirnaty, Moderna, Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).  

After September 1st, the Green Pass or equivalent will also be mandatory for domestic flights, ferries, and long-distance trains and buses.

Though the CDC vaccination card is recognized as a Green Pass equivalent by law, there can be some hiccups as restaurant owners and other businesses grapple with this new system. Always check with the restaurant or other venue to make sure your Covid-19 document will be accepted before reserving.

Color-Coded Regions

Italy adopted a color-coded regional system to indicate the level of Covid risk and the related restrictions early on, and this system is still active. All the regions of Italy are currently classified as “white” zones, or minimal-risk Covid regions. There are currently no regions classified as “yellow” (low risk), “orange” (medium risk), or “red” (high risk). The colors are assigned based on a variety of parameters, including the number of active Covid-19 cases in the region, death rate, and hospital capacity. 

There is complete freedom of movement within the entire country and no curfew. Tourists who have met the entry criteria can move freely once inside Italy. The mask mandate has been lifted in outdoor settings but is still required in indoor public spaces and public transportation. Social distancing is still required in all regions.

  • There is no curfew.
  • Restaurants and cafés are open for delivery, take-away, or table service outdoors. Indoor service has begun with table occupancy and distance limitations.
  • Cinemas, theaters, stadiums, and concert halls are open with reduced capacity (generally around 50% of total capacity). Advance reservations are required.
  • Outdoor cinemas and performance spaces are open.
  • Outdoor sports are allowed; gyms and fitness areas are open.
  • Outdoor pools and beach clubs are open.
  • Spas, thermal baths, and amusement parks are open.
  • Indoor dance clubs and discos remain closed.

Hotels

Hotels have reopened with extra protocols for safety and hygiene, including the use of masks and hand sanitizer by staff and guests. Hotel restaurants can serve food to hotel guests and the public but the use of fitness areas and spas may be restricted to limited capacity to guests only and/or advance booking only. Many hotels do not currently offer buffet breakfast but have opted for table service as a precaution.

Restaurants and Cafés

Restaurants have reopened for delivery, carry out, or table service outdoors. Indoor service has resumed with table occupancy and distance limitations. Many have opted for a digital or QR code menu to avoid passing printed menus between customers.

Museums and Cultural Sites

Museums and archaeological sites have reopened with reduced capacity. Tickets must be booked online at least one day in advance for weekend or holiday visits. You are required to wear a mask inside and have your temperature taken at the entrance.

Shopping

All shops are open for business, though smaller stores may limit the number of customers admitted inside to comply with social distancing protocols. You must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer when shopping indoors.

Car Services

Only four passengers are allowed per vehicle if they are not members of the same family; there is no limit for family members. Passengers are not allowed to sit in the front passenger seat next to the driver and must wear masks while inside the vehicle. Car services sanitize their vehicles inside and out between clients and provide fresh masks and hand sanitizer.

Guided Tours

Private outdoor walking tours, hikes, and boat tours can resume with the proper social distancing and safety protocols. Shared group tours can resume with a limited number of participants.

Covid-19 and Italy Travel: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to wear a mask in Italy?

Yes, absolutely! Masks are still mandatory in public indoor spaces (museums, shops, restaurants, public transportation like trains and buses, etc.). Masks are currently required outdoors only in crowded situations when social distancing is not possible. Mask compliance is very high in Italy and you will be fined if you are caught without one.

What are the Covid and hospital occupancy rates in Italy? 

All of Italy is now classified as a “white” zone, where active Covid-19 cases and hospital occupancy rates are quite low. To see updated stats, you can check the WHO website.

How is the vaccine campaign proceeding in Italy?

After a slow start, Italy’s vaccine campaign is hitting its stride and currently an estimated half of the country is fully vaccinated; most health and safety, transportation, and hospitality workers are fully vaccinated. Certain areas of the country that depend almost exclusively on tourism for their local economy have reached full vaccination, including the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida, as well as Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

What could change soon?

There were a number of changes regarding Covid-19 restrictions throughout June, as Italy’s rate of active infection fell and hospital capacity rose. Today, the country is keeping a close eye on the rise of the Delta variant in a handful of regions and some tightening of restrictions may be necessary. These could include, the following (but keep in mind that this is only conjecture and no official announcements have been made):

  • A limited number of regions turning “yellow”, with a return to curfew and limited indoor dining.
  • A return to outdoor mask requirements.

What are the rules for traveling to Italy?

US citizens can visit Italy for tourism without having to quarantine. To enter, visitors ages 6 and up (children under six can enter without vaccination or testing) must meet one of the following conditions:

  • Certificate of vaccination (CDC-issued vaccination card or EU Green Certificate). To be considered “fully vaccinated”, you must have had your second vaccine dose of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca or one dose of J&J at least 14 days before departure.
  • A negative Antigen, PCR, or Molecular COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 48 hours of arrival in Italy.
  • Certificate of Recovery from COVID dated no more than 6 months before arrival to Italy.

Before departure to Italy, passengers must fill out a Digital Passenger Locator Form but are no longer required to take a rapid test at the airport.

For updated information regarding travel between Italy and the US, see the official Italian government site here.

Is a pre-flight test required?

Preflight tests are required only for those passengers who cannot present a certificate of vaccination (CDC-issued vaccination card or EU Green Certificate) or certificate of recovery.

What are the rules for returning to the USA?

At present, all travelers returning from Italy to the US must have a negative PCR or antigen Covid test taken within three days of travel, though this testing requirement is expected to be eliminated for vaccinated travelers (see above). Quarantine requirements vary from state to state. Many hotels offer an in-house testing service for departing guests and there are public clinics that can perform PCR or antigen Covid tests with 24-hour results. U.S. State Department COVID-19 Traveler Information

Does the State Department Level 3 Travel Advisory (Reconsider Travel to Italy) prohibit me from visiting Italy?

No. US citizens can visit Italy for tourism without having to quarantine (see above). State Department Advisories are just that: advice. The State Department/CDC Advisory was downgraded from Level 4 (Do not Travel) to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) on June 9. The CDC encourages Americans to be fully vaccinated before traveling to Italy.

What if I get sick in Italy?

Italy has a national health care system and medical care is guaranteed to anyone who is ill or injured, regardless of their residency or insurance situation. If you suspect you may have Covid, you must call the Coronavirus hotline at 1500. Do not go to the emergency room, as you may spread the virus to others.

Further information:

Covid-19 Information for Travelers

Covid-19 Situation in Italy

Travel Specialists

Maria Landers

Brian Dore