What to Know Before Visiting Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics

The countdown is on for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which are set to kick off in Milan with the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium on Feb. 6 and run until Feb. 22. And though the games are called Milano-Cortina, they will actually take place across a massive swath of Northern Italy, with athletes competing for medals in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, snowboarding, ice hockey, and more.

“The Olympics have always been a time of gathering for people from different cities and cultures under the banner of peaceful competition—and this year, being hosted in my country, Italy, they offer the world a stunning window into one of our most remarkable regions,” says Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure A-List travel advisor and co-founder of Imago Artis Travel. We tapped De Bonis and Zoe Shapiro, another A-List travel advisor, to share their expert travel tips ahead of the games.

Finalize travel arrangements ASAP.

If you’re planning to travel to Italy during the Olympics and have not yet booked accommodations, do so immediately. “Hotels, rentals, and even Airbnbs will be in very high demand, especially in central areas,” De Bonis warns. He suggests looking beyond Milan, adding, “Consider nearby cities like Monza, Bergamo, or Como for more availability and better rates.” 

If you plan to attend any of the games, though, make sure to calculate the distance you’ll have to travel to get from your accommodation to the event. Because of the winding mountain roads, it could take anywhere from two to five hours to travel between the towns hosting the events.

Use public transportation.

De Bonis warns against driving in Milan, where traffic will be heavy, and there are many restricted zones (known as ZTL in Italian). “Milan’s public transport will likely extend hours and frequency, especially near Olympic venues,” he notes. 

He also suggests buying a multi-day transport pass with access to Trenord trains if you’re planning to go to events in nearby cities. During the Olympics, there will be additional connections via Trenord to Livigno and Bormio, where some of the competitions will take place. Italian trains are clean, efficient, affordable, and easy to navigate.

Be ready for increased security.

De Bonis notes that “high-profile events mean increased security screening, especially near Olympic zones and major tourist sites.” Be sure to arrive at events early in order to allow time for security screenings and to find your seats.

Experience different facets of regional culture. 

“Apparently, these are the most geographically expansive Winter Olympics that have ever been held, happening across multiple Italian regions with the opening ceremonies in Milan, the closing in Verona, and events in Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Lombardy. It would be a downright shame to not go out of your way to experience the variety of Italian culture in these different places,” says Shapiro, founder of Stellavision Travel. “Have some after-event cicchetti in  Veneto and be sure to order a risotto in Lombardy. Of course, this applies to much more than food, but Italy’s diversity will be on show—don’t miss it.”

Consider buying a ski pass.

“Act like an Olympian—the downhill events are taking place on one mountain in Cortina, which means the other mountain runs will be open for business as usual. Join Italy’s ski season while the Olympians are doing their thing,” Shapiro says. “When else would you have the opportunity?”

Ski passes are available via Dolomiti Superski, one of the largest ski networks in the world, which covers around 750 miles of ski slopes with 450 lifts across the Dolomites. You can buy passes for the entire network or just specific resorts, like Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Add a stop in Venice for Carnival.

“The Olympics officially conclude on Feb. 22. Venice’s Carnival, one of the biggest celebrations in the country and certainly the region, runs simultaneously, finishing on Feb. 17. Take the opportunity to experience some Italian culture along with your sports!” Shapiro suggests.

Venice is only about 2.5 hours from Milan and about 1.5 hours from Verona, where the closing ceremony will take place. Travelers visiting Italy in February will have the rare opportunity to witness these two major events happening simultaneously.