Your guide to traveling safely in summer 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, the concept of vacationing and traveling for fun was all but out of the question. Now, with rising vaccination rates and more tests available than ever, it’s looking like we might finally be able to think about traveling again soon. The vaccine passport is on the way, but there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered. When can we travel again, and where can we go? We’ve prepared a small overview with possible answers to these questions to help you with your summer plans.

On April 12, the “Reopening Decree” went into effect in Italy, and will remain in place until July 31. It divides the peninsula into risk zones with varying regulations. For instance, the yellow regions may reopen many of their normal activities, and the citizens of red and orange zones are permitted to move around, as long as they have a green certificate. The green certificate is similar to the EU digital green certificate, in that it certifies the following situations:

• recent vaccination (valid up to 6 months)
• recent recovery from coronavirus (valid up to 6 months)
• molecular or a rapid antigen test with a negative test result within the last 48 hours.

In short, from April 26, 2021 until the end of July, it will be possible to move around Italy with the appropriate precautions. You’ll be able to move freely between regions and autonomous provinces in the yellow or white zones, while the green certificate will be mandatory in order to move between red and orange regions.

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If you have a second home, you can go there as long as it's in the white or yellow zones. You may even have relatives or friends join you, up to a maximum of four people total. But if your holiday home is in the orange or red zones, you can only go there with the family you are cohabiting with. Your home also can’t have anyone else living there. 

In addition, you have to be able to prove that you had the right to go to your second home before January 14, 2021 (this isn’t necessary if your house is in the same town where you normally live and is also in the orange zone) or that you are in possession of a green certificate.

The curfew remains in place between 10pm and 5am, but only until the end of May. If the situation improves, it could be extended or removed in early June.

Many activities in the yellow zone reopened on April 26. Specifically:

• Restaurants reopen for lunch and dinner (until the curfew) as long as they have outdoor tables.
• Hotels may once again offer accommodation and catering without time limits for the guests staying there.
• Spas, theme parks and amusement parks reopen on July 1.
• Cinemas, theaters, museums, concert halls and live clubs reopen but with safety distances in place. The limit is no more than 500 spectators indoors and 1,000 outdoors, with a maximum capacity of 50%, but depending on the infection rates these numbers may change.
• Outdoor sports activities reopen, while outdoor swimming pools reopen on May 15. From July 1, indoor gyms will also reopen.
• Exhibitions can take place from June 15, while conferences and congresses can restart from July 1

The Prime Ministerial Decree of March 2, 2021 allows for travel to the following countries, as long as it is in compliance with the laws of the individual regions:

• Member states of the European Union— Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Hungary
• States that are part of the Schengen agreement— Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Switzerland
• Andorra
• Principality of Monaco
• Republic of San Marino
• Vatican City State.

Italy does allow its citizens to go abroad, but some of these places may apply entry restrictions. For more information on EU and non-EU conventions and on the reopening of individual national borders, please consult Viaggiare Sicuri, the portal created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to travel abroad.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new priorities in terms of travel and vacations:

• Safety and relaxation—many travelers will want to avoid crowded places, preferring rural areas and lesser known destinations to more touristy locations, both with the prospect of smart working and the ability to completely disconnect from technology.
• Support for local businesses—after the numerous business closures last year, the tendency to support tourism and local businesses is becoming more and more popular. Added to this are initiatives promoted by the government to help boost tourism in Italy. For example, the 2020 vacation bonus for families with an ISEE up to €40,000. Recently this incentive was extended and can be used until December 31, 2021.
• Technology—the use of technology in tourism will become ever more crucial, both during the booking phase and during the overnight stay. Flexibility will be a fundamental component of travel and will favor apps and websites that offer last-minute and personalized bookings. Furthermore, any self-service devices could allow a contactless service in compliance with health regulations.

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