Italian summer travel surge sees 26 million trips as diesel prices jump 26 %
During the first weekend of August 2026, Italy experienced a massive summer exodus with an estimated 26 million vehicle trips, according to ANAS. To ease traffic, the agency suspended or closed 83 % of its construction sites (1 175 of 1 414). Major routes such as the Pontina, Appia, A2, E45, Aurelia, Adriatica and key tourist corridors saw heavy congestion.
Fuel costs rose sharply: diesel prices are on average 26 % higher than a year earlier, adding about €0,43 per litre, while gasoline increased 16.5 %. Compared with summer 2025, diesel costs are €81 higher on the Turin‑Palermo leg, nearly €70 more from Milan to Catania, and over €50 more on several other long‑distance routes. The travel surge is expected to bring roughly 17.4 million tourists to Italy in August—8.4 million domestic and 9 million foreign—generating more than €9 billion in direct tourism spending and about 4.5 nights per visitor on average.
Entities: Amalfi · Amalfi – Summer Fest Concert al Tramonto 2026 · Anagni · Anagni (Lazio) · Anas · Bologna · Bolzano · Bolzano – European Union Youth Orchestra 2026 · CNA Turismo e Commercio · Carri Allegorici · Castelsardo · Castelvenere (Campania)