Air travel

New passport system for non-EU travellers

The EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into force on Sunday, November 10th.

This is essentially a security upgrade, replacing the current system, which relies on border guards and passport stamps, with an electronic swipe in/swipe out system that will register more details such as your immigration status.

READ ALSO: How to prepare for travel under Europe’s new EES and ETIAS rules

When first entering the EU or Schengen zone, non-EU travellers (with the exception of exempt groups) will have to complete a pre-registration form giving their personal details and biometric data (fingerprints and a facial scan). Data will be retained for three years after initial registration.

100ml limit on liquids returns at some airports

Earlier this year, some airports across Europe scrapped limits on liquids carried in hand luggage following the installation of new high-tech EDSCB (Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage) scanners.

However, due to concerns over the scanners’ reliability, the EU Commission announced in late July that the 100ml limit on liquids, aerosols, and gels (also known as LAGs) would be temporarily reintroduced at airports using the new technology from September 1st.

For details on how this is going to affect travellers in Italy, see our article. 

New direct flights to and from Italy

Several airlines have announced new routes in and out of Italy in autumn 2024. 

Italian flag carrier Ita Airways will launch a daily direct flight to and from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from October 27th, and five weekly services to and from Bangkok, Thailand, from November 16th. 

Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air will introduce six new routes linking Milan Malpensa with Valencia and Malaga in Spain, Warsaw, Rzeszów and Gdańsk in Poland, and Larnaca (Cyprus).

British budget airline EasyJet will launch nine new links with Italy by the end of 2024: Milan Malpensa-Oslo, Tromso and Pristina (Kosovo); Naples International Airport-Prague, Alicante, Salzburg, Luxembourg, Strasbourg and Tirana.  

Train travel

Rome-Munich, Rome-Vienna sleeper trains resume 

Two sleeper trains linking Rome with Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, will resume on Wednesday, September 11th, after closing for over three months to allow for construction works on the Bologna-Prato section. 

The NJ294 night train is scheduled to depart from Rome’s Tiburtina station every day at 5.25pm, reaching Munich in just under 16 hours, with stops in Florence, Bologna and Salzburg. 

The NJ40294 train is also set to depart from Rome’s Tiburtina station every day at 5.25pm, calling at Florence, Bologna and Leoben before arriving in Vienna around 9am the following day. 

More details are available on Austrian rail operator OBB’s website. 

New ‘tourist trains’ link Rome with Assisi and Alba

Two new tourist-focused rail routes linking Rome with the mediaeval hill town of Assisi, in the central Umbria region, and Alba, a small town in the northern Piedmont region famous for its white truffles, are set to be launched in early October.

The two upcoming rail links are part of a number of new services known as Treni Turistici Italiani (‘Italian Tourist Trains’) intended by state-owned operator Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) as a way to boost train travel to popular holiday destinations, as well as lesser-known parts of the peninsula.

You can see all the details about the new tourist trains here. 

Road travel

Mont Blanc tunnel to close until mid-December

The Mont Blanc tunnel, a major trans-Alpine route linking France’s Prefect of Haute-Savoie with Italy’s Aosta Valley region, is set to close to traffic from 5pm on Monday, September 2nd, until 5pm on Monday, December 16th, to allow for renovation works on a 600-metre stretch of its vault.

During the works, vehicles travelling from Italy to France and vice versa will be diverted to the Fréjus tunnel, which runs under the Col du Fréjus ridge, linking Modane, France, with Bardonecchia, in Italy’s Piedmont region.

Charges for travelling through the Fréjus tunnel vary depending on the vehicle you’re driving. You can see all the tariffs here.

Local public transport

Rome tram and metro closures

As Rome prepares for an influx of millions of additional tourists during the 2025 Jubilee Year, authorities have been carrying out substantial maintenance and renovation works on the local public transport system over the summer.

Works will continue in the autumn months, with all of the city’s tram lines scheduled to be replaced by buses for seven weeks and the Metro A underground line also set to be subject to closures and limitations.

You can see all the upcoming transport closures in Rome in this separate article. 

All transport sectors

Nationwide staff strikes

Transport strikes are common during Italy’s autumn months, and this year will be no exception as unions representing airport, airline, rail and public transport staff have announced multiple walkouts which may affect the travel plans of both international visitors and locals.

Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on an online calendar (available in Italian).

We rounded up all the major walkouts that you should know about if you’re travelling to, from or across Italy in this article.