Italy vacation (and South Tyrol Vacation): incidence, entry and corona rules

Italy is one of the favorite destinations for Germans. Holidaymakers should observe these corona rules on their outward and return journeys as well as on site.

• 3G rule on trains, ferries, domestic flights and winter sports
• Entry with test, vaccination or recovery certificate
• 7-day incidence: 77.4 infected per 100,000 population

Italy Vacation: The current corona situation

▶ In Italy, the number of infected people has stabilized at a moderate level in the past few weeks: the nationwide  7-day incidence is  77.4  (as of November 12, source: Johns Hopkins University), lower than currently in Germany.

▶ South Tyrol (Autonomous Province of Bolzano), which is very popular with autumn vacationers, currently has significantly higher values: The 7-day incidence there is 316.3  (as of November 11, source: Johns Hopkins University).

Important for entering Italy

▶ No travel warning

There is currently no travel warning issued by the Federal Foreign Office for this country. An entry form is also required.

Other special features

Traveling through Italy with your own vehicle is permitted from the EU or Schengen countries for a maximum of 36 hours without restrictions.

Anyone wishing to enter Italy from Germany or another EU or Schengen country must present one of the following documents:

• Negative antigen or PCR test not older than 48 hours; Children under the age of 6 do not need a test
• Vaccination certificate : This counts from the 15th day after the completed vaccination cycle
• Proof of recovery : Confirmation that you have recovered from a Covid 19 infection in the last six months
• The above evidence or tests must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish
• Alternatively , the EU’s digital Covid certificate (in the smartphone app or in paper form) is recognized, which shows whether you have recovered, vaccinated or tested

Return from Italy to Germany

• Obligation to report before return: NO
• Test obligation to return: YES (for exceptions see below)

Important for transit through Austria and Switzerland

If you travel from Germany to Italy by  car , you drive through Austria or Switzerland. Transit through Austria and Switzerland is generally permitted.

It is possible to travel through Italy by car from the EU / Schengen countries for up to 36 hours without any restrictions. 

These rules apply to motorists in Italy

If all occupants of a car  come from the same household or are closely related to each other (the Italian authorities do not give a more precise definition), there are no restrictions – neither mask requirements nor distance rules have to be observed in this case.

However, mouth and nose protection is mandatory if people from other households are traveling together. The generally applicable spacing rules must be observed here. That is why the number of passengers in a vehicle is limited: According to the Italian Foreign Ministry, a maximum of two people can be transported per row of seats – and only on the seats on the sides. The passenger seat must remain free.

For example, in a five-seater car, in addition to the driver, only two other people are allowed to sit in the vehicle. If there are more rows of seats, for example in a minibus, two more people can be taken along in each row of seats in the outside seats.

In  South Tyrol and Veneto, however , the number of passengers is not limited according to the South Tyrolean civil protection. However, if they come from different households, they must wear mouth and nose protection.

It cannot be ruled out that  different regulations will be issued in  other regions of Italy or even within the regions in individual provinces. In the event of violations, a heavy fine of between 400 and 3000 euros must be expected. Continuing the journey can also be prohibited.

There are no exceptions in this context for those who have recovered, vaccinated or tested.

Travel by bus, train, plane or ferry

Before the planned departure, travelers should find out whether their train connection is being served. If you travel to Italy by train via Switzerland , you may need to travel longer. Due to increased controls of rail travelers at the border, trains heading south are delayed between 30 and 45 minutes. A mask is required during the entire train journey .

Anyone who travels by domestic flight, long-haul buses or by rail with express trains needs proof that they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 , tested negative or have recovered . According to reports from ADAC members, a corresponding entry in the yellow vaccination card of the WHO is not always accepted, which is why it is advisable to have a digital COVID certificate from the EU with you.

The 3G rule applies to international ferry connections : Only people who have their vaccination, recovery or testing in the form of the digital Covid certificate of the EU * with QR code (in Italian: “Certificazione verde Covid-19 “= Green Passport”.

No proof is required for local public transport, children under 12 are also excluded.

All travelers must  also be able to present an entry declaration (pdf) when boarding public transport (plane, bus, train or ferry).

The most important corona rules in Italy

If you want to eat inside a restaurant or go to a museum or swimming pool , you have to present proof of vaccination or recovery, or a negative corona test that is no more than 48 hours old. The regulation applies to everyone aged 12 and over. No proof is required for hotels .

▶ Holidaymakers who have been vaccinated in Germany receive a digital EU vaccination certificate from doctors, pharmacies or vaccination centers, among others. You can then load this onto your smartphone in the CoVPass app, for example. This is equivalent to the Green Passport valid in Italy.

If you do not have a digital EU vaccination certificate, you can alternatively submit the evidence (vaccinated, recovered, tested) in paper form in Italian, French, English or Spanish.

The following corona rules also apply:

• A  distance  of one to two meters is mandatory
• The general obligation to wear a mask outdoors was lifted (exception: Sicily). Mouth and nose protection must be worn in closed rooms, on public transport and in public places where no minimum distance is possible. It is also possible to use everyday masks that you have made yourself, which consist of multiple layers of material

Risk zones: That means “red”, “orange”, “yellow”, “white”

The Italian regions are divided into four risk zones, depending on the infection rate, in which additional  graduated measures  apply. Travel within Italy to other regions can be restricted as a white, yellow, red or orange zone depending on the classification of the region.

All regions of Italy are currently ” white” risk zones : cinemas, theaters, concert halls and other entertainment venues can be used to full capacity again. Most recently, museums had already reopened without capacity restrictions – the distance rule of one meter will also no longer apply there in the future. 

Discotheques are allowed to allow 50 percent of the possible visitors inside and 75 percent outside.