Italians on Vacation in August

More than 50% of Italians are on vacation this August according to Telefono Blu. Where do they go? 72% of Italians on vacation are staying in Italy with 75% of those heading to the coast. The other 25% will visit the Lakes, mountains, or Italian tourist cities such as Rome and Venice. Many shops and restaurants are closed for vacation, chiuso per ferie, in Italy's cities but tourist services mostly remain open. In Sicilian cites such as Palermo and Catania, close to 60% of the residents have left the city. In Genoa, Florence, and Naples about 50% have left the city.

Meanwhile about 1.5 million foreigners will travel to Italy on vacation in August. So if you're traveling in Italy in August, you can expect crowds on trains and roads, especially near the coast. If you're traveling by train it's a good idea to make a seat reservation or you may end up standing and if you're planning to travel to the coast, check to see if hotels have available rooms.