US Embassy issues travel warning for the Winter Olympics in Italy

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If you’re like me, you might be thinking that the only concern about the 2026 Winter Olympics is missing the nerve-wracking thrills of curling, a sport where we all know that if I trained hard enough at almost 36 years old, I could definitely make the 2030 cut.

All I can say is that you better ask for my autograph now, while you can still get it…

That being said, the US Embassy is completely overshadowing my next career move by issuing a major decision travel warning for those with Milan in their travel plans for the next month or so.

Whether you have tickets for your favorite athletes or are simply on holiday in one of Italy’s most famous cities (or even near Lake Como), the embassy believes you should know what you are signing up for.

Given the expected disruptions to normal life, given the global scale of these events, here’s what every traveler needs to know when visiting Milan in between February 6 – March 15, 2026 (for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games).

The Olympic Games are spread across eight northern Italian cities

If you thought you were smart enough to beat the crowds by finding a hidden gem on the outskirts of Milan, we at Travel Off Path always hate to be the bearers of bad news, but chances are there will be crowds there too.

The games will be held in the following cities: (in alphabetical order)

• Anterselva/Antholz
• Bormio
• Cortina D’Ampezzo
• Livigno
• Milan (duh!)
• Predazzo
• Tesero
• Verona (closing ceremony only)

As such, authorities expect transit options to be shaky at best. Not that you should ignore the time shown on your ticket, but you should leave some wiggle room in your itinerary as it’s unlikely to go 100% as planned given the crowds and chaos.

Additional security presence can also slow things down, with checkpoints and screenings to ensure safety for everyone.

Limited consular services

With the focus shifting to the Olympic Games, everyday travelers exploring the beautiful city of Milan, nearby Lake Como or any other surrounding village should take extra care.

That will be so limited consular services for American tourists during this time frame of the Olympic transformation taking over the region.

The embassy specifically points out the following services: not are being prioritized on their end, with Americans urged to plan ahead by booking these appointments in advance:

• Passport applications (first time and renewals)
• Notarial services
• Consular birth reports abroad

In addition, U.S. visa services will be cut nationwide, with the exception of diplomatic, official and qualifying emergency travel reasons.

The good news: say you’re like me and get your passport pickpocketed like I did in Athens shall Emergency services are available as usual in the following 5 jurisdictions:

• Milan
• Rome
• Florence
• Naples
• Venice

Don’t be fooled: Florence may be closer than Milan

Look, we’re all guilty of making half-you-know-what plans. Milan has largely been publicized as the base for this year’s Olympics, as it should be.

However, as these events are spread across Northern Italy, Milan may not be the best springboard depending on which events pique your interest most.

Florence can be even more convenient if you opt for a train to the games in lesser-known locations, such as Verona for the closing ceremony.

You can board a high-speed train from Florence in about 90 minutes and probably avoid the crowds of Milan, even though the train is faster there at any time. normal day.

The same can be said for:

• Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Predazzo
• Tesero

The travel distances may surprise you as some of these journeys can take hours. If you don’t have tickets for the event, it’s probably best to avoid the event and change your travel plans.

In fact, the 2026 Winter Games will be the most important most geographically widespread in historyso any travelers who haven’t figured out the logistics yet may want to start doing so as soon as possible to avoid potential headaches.

More than 2 million spectators Are is expected to descend to Northern Italy (especially Milan), so all transit tickets, hotel roomsAirbnb bookings and attractions must be booked in advance.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.