Italyby the numbers
Italy drew 92.2 million foreign travellers and €56.7 billion in visitor spending in 2025, with Canadian arrivals up 9.1% and new transatlantic routes still opening.
The Italy numbers that matter
Arrivals from our five markets
How many travellers from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand visited Italy in the latest published period, and how fast each market is moving.
Foreign travellers (overnight and same-day) by country of residence, rounded to 0.1M. Australia and New Zealand are published only as Oceania: 0.8M in 2025 (+3.4%). By spending, the US ranks 2nd, the UK 3rd and Canada 9th.
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United KingdomYour edition 7.0M +4.2%
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United StatesYour edition 4.1M 0.0%
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CanadaYour edition 1.2M +9.1%
Crowds and climate, month by month
| Month | Visitors | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 | 3.4 | 65.6 | |
| February | 13 | 3.4 | 62.8 | |
| March | 15.8 | 5.9 | 58.6 | |
| April | 18.8 | 8.6 | 68.6 | |
| May | 23.3 | 12.6 | 56.9 | |
| June | 28.1 | 16.7 | 30.1 | |
| July | 31 | 19.3 | 19.8 | |
| August | 31.6 | 19.8 | 30.2 | |
| September | 26.7 | 16 | 64.9 | |
| October | 22.2 | 12.4 | 88.1 | |
| November | 16.9 | 8.5 | 108.2 | |
| December | 12.7 | 4.7 | 98.3 |
The short answer
May and late September to October are the sweet spots: Rome averages highs of 22 to 27°C, and crowds are lighter than in midsummer. July and August are the busiest months for foreign guests and also the hottest, with Rome highs above 31°C. November to February is the quietest period, though November is Rome's wettest month.
Dates that move demand
- Biennale Arte 2026: In Minor Keys2026-05-09 to 2026-11-22 · Venice
- Carnevale di Venezia 20272027-01-23 to 2027-02-09 · Venice
- Vinitaly 20272027-04-11 to 2027-04-14 · Verona
- Salone del Mobile.Milano 2027 (Milan Design Week)2027-04-13 to 2027-04-18 · Milan (Fiera Milano Rho)
- 20th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale2027-05-08 to 2027-11-21 · Venice
Passports, rules and the flight over
Entry rules as checked on 17 Oct 2026. Rules change: always confirm with the official source before travel.
Canadians can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area; passports must be valid at least 3 months beyond departure. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records fingerprints and a facial image at the border, and ETIAS applications are not yet open.
Official sourceUS citizens do not need a visa for stays under 90 days; passports must be valid at least 3 months beyond the planned Schengen departure (6 months recommended) with 2 blank pages. ETIAS has not yet launched.
Official sourceBritish citizens can travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; passports must be under 10 years old on arrival and valid 3 months after leaving the Schengen area. EES registration (fingerprints and photo) is free, and ETIAS has not yet launched.
Official sourceAustralians can stay visa-free for no more than 90 days in every 180 days across the Schengen area. The EES replaced passport stamping, with full implementation from 10 April 2026; ETIAS has not yet launched.
Official sourceNew Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for tourist or business stays in Italy of up to 90 days within the Schengen area; Italy's embassy warns that extra days under the 1961 bilateral agreement may not be recognised at the border. ETIAS has not yet launched.
Official source- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (Central European Time), UTC+2 from late March to late October
- Language
- Italian
- Plugs
- Types C, F and L, 230 V
- Driving
- Drive on the right
- Tipping
- Restaurant bills often include a cover charge (coperto); extra tipping is not expected, though rounding up for good service is common.
Nonstop from our markets
| From | To | Airlines | Time / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto (YYZ) | Rome (FCO) | ITA Airways, Air Transat (seasonal) | about 8h 40m |
| Toronto (YYZ) | Venice (VCE) | Air Transat (seasonal) | |
| Montréal (YUL) | Rome (FCO) | Air Transat (seasonal, April to October) | |
| Montréal (YUL) | Catania (CTA) | Air Canada (seasonal, June to October) | |
| New York (JFK) | Rome (FCO) | ITA Airways, Delta | about 8h 40m |
| New York (JFK) | Milan (MXP) | Delta | |
| New York (JFK) | Venice (VCE) | Delta | |
| New York (JFK) | Naples (NAP) | Delta | |
| New York (JFK) | Catania (CTA) | Delta | |
| New York (JFK) | Olbia (OLB) | Delta (seasonal, from 20 May 2026) | |
| New York (EWR) | Bari (BRI) | United (seasonal, May to September 2026) | |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Rome (FCO) | ITA Airways | about 11h 40m |
| London (LHR) | Rome (FCO) | ITA Airways, British Airways | about 2h 40m |
| London (LCY) | Milan (LIN) | ITA Airways | about 1h 50m |
Selling Italy: the trade file
- Venice charged a day-visitor access fee on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July 2026 (8:30 to 16:00): €5 if paid at least four days ahead, €10 after that. The 2026 trial has ended and 2027 terms are not yet set.
- Many Italian cities levy a per-person, per-night tourist tax that is paid directly to the hotel or host, often in cash; flag it in quotes.
- Demand is still rising in 2026: foreign spending was up 5.4% in Q1 (helped by the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics) and non-resident nights up 4.6% in Q2.
- July and August are the peak months for foreign guests, so book summer space early, especially in Rome, Venice and Florence, where foreigners account for over three-quarters of nights.
- Serandipians Sardinia (Essence)Typically early October
Opening in Italy
More figures we've reported
Days Venice charges its day-visitor access fee in 2027
Up from 60 in 2026. Good Friday (26 March) to 15 August, 08:30 to 16:30, with the fee capped at €10.
Victoria's run as world's best small city (CNT RCA)
Victoria topped the under-350,000-population category for a fourth straight year, ahead of Puerto Vallarta, Venice and Florence.
How often Cheval Blanc opens a new hotel
Cheval Blanc Pitrizza in Sardinia opens in May 2027 with 65 rooms and suites, including 16 villas with pools.
Rome's five-star hotel tax, per person per night
It applies for up to 10 consecutive nights, so a couple on an eight-night stay pays €160.
Entry to the Trevi Fountain basin since 2 February
The piazza above stays free, as does access after 10 p.m. Rome residents and children under five do not pay.
Paid day visitors per day in Venice in 2026
Down from about 16,700 in 2024. The city has commissioned research into whether its access fee caused the drop.
What changes next
ETIAS, the EU's pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is still not open for applications, and no start date has been published.
Government of Canada, travel.gc.caThe EU Entry/Exit System has been fully live since 10 April 2026, replacing passport stamps with fingerprint and facial-image registration on first entry, so allow extra time at the border.
Smartraveller (Australian Government)Venice is considering running its access fee for more of the year in 2027 and raising it to as much as €30 a day; the 2026 trial sold just under 680,000 tickets and raised over €5.2M.
CP24 / Associated PressRome Fiumicino connected a record 22 North American airports directly in summer 2026, including new ITA Airways service to Houston and Alaska Airlines service to Seattle.
Aeroporti di Roma via RoutesonlineDelta adds Boston–Venice from 8 May 2027 (four weekly) and takes Boston–Milan daily, planning up to 17 daily US–Italy flights in summer 2027.
The Flight Club
Latest on Italy
Quick answers on Italy
Do Canadians need a visa for Italy?
No. Canadians can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, with a passport valid at least 3 months beyond departure. ETIAS applications are not yet open.
Is Italy safe to visit?
Canada advises a high degree of caution in Italy, and the US rates it Level 2 (exercise increased caution), both because of the threat of terrorism. Australia's Smartraveller advises normal safety precautions.
How many tourists visit Italy?
Italy recorded 92.2 million foreign travellers in 2025, up 4.1%, including 61.4 million who stayed overnight. They spent €56.7 billion, according to the Banca d'Italia.
Do you have to pay to enter Venice?
In 2026, day visitors paid €5 to €10 on 60 set days between 3 April and 26 July. That trial has ended, and the fee and calendar for 2027 have not yet been decided.
What currency does Italy use?
Italy uses the euro (EUR).
When is the best time to visit Italy?
May, late September and October offer warm weather without the July and August peak, when Rome's average highs top 31°C.
Every figure on this page comes from the organisation that publishes it, linked where it appears and listed here. We checked them on 17 October 2026 and update the file when new figures come out. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
- Banca d'Italia, Indagine sul turismo internazionale
- Banca d'Italia
- Banca d'Italia, monthly update
- ISTAT, Flussi turistici II trimestre 2026
- Aeroporti di Roma via Routesonline
- WMO 1991–2020 climate normals, Roma Ciampino (WMO 16239), NOAA NCEI archive
- Government of Canada, travel.gc.ca
- Smartraveller (Australian Government)
- CP24 / Associated Press
- The Flight Club
- travel.state.gov
- www.gov.uk
- ambwellington.esteri.it
- www.qualitytravel.it
- cda.veneziaunica.it
- www.istat.it