Italy during holiday week - packed like summer

Posted by dleinweber on 01/01/20 09:48 AM

I’ve been doing a lot of Southern European travel during the off season. Spain, Portugal, Italy. The weather is often mild and at worst, brisk. Good for walking and avoiding crowds.

This trip I learned that major Italian destinations fill up between Xmas and New Year like it was June. I arrived in Florence before Xmas, and it was as expected, but was literally swarmed the day after. I traveled to Naples, 12/27-1/3 and found it was even worse. Public transit was so full that buses would stop and no one could get on. Three hour waits for lunch at many restaurants in the old center. Mobs everywhere.

Posted by Jennifer

Tunbridge Wells

01/01/20 10:14 AM

6113 posts

Any decent places will be busy at this time of year, with people making the most of their 10 days/ 2 weeks off work! Just look at flight prices compared with travelling next week.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

01/01/20 04:22 PM

23653 posts

Why would not expect everything to be very busy in that period? It is the same in the states. Look at Manhattan, the ski areas, the beaches --- all packed the week of Christmas and New Years.

Posted by Suki

01/01/20 04:24 PM

11677 posts

We spent Christmas and New Years in London and Rome. Rome is especially ijam packed at the historic monuments, but mostly with Italians.

Posted by CJean

Ontario, Canada

01/01/20 06:24 PM

5653 posts

Florence and Naples. Both cities. Show me 2 cities in the Western world that aren't crowded and busy during these 2 weeks. Not sure what the OP was expecting, but it helps explain their comments about Naples in the other thread. 🙄

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

01/01/20 06:33 PM

8973 posts

I’m a little surprised at people’s reactions. It is so hard to read tone on emails and forum posts.
I felt like the person posting was making observations and passing them on, Others apparently felt it was criticism and responded what appeared to be a little defensively. However, once agIn tone is hard to read.

We have a “rule” at my workplace that I really appreciate, “Assume good intentions”. I think that this could be a great rule for the forum.

I am glad to know how the Christmas week crowds compare to summer for future reference.

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

01/01/20 07:05 PM

16205 posts

The difference is the people making up the crowds.
Not as many foreigners and visitors from afar during the winter holidays.
Most are local residents hitting the city center for shopping (let’s not forget that the historical center of Florence is also the largest open air shopping mall in the city) and also day trippers from nearby cities and regions which go to Florence (or Naples or Rome...) for a day visit and for shopping.
The proof of that is that hotels have more vacancies during the Christmas holidays than they do in June (I can show you that stats if you want), in spite of the fact that the streets and the buses and the shops and the restaurants are packed with people just as much as in summer or more.

Posted by Joyce

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

01/01/20 07:07 PM

138 posts

I'm glad to get this information, too! My son is getting married next December and his fiance wanted to honeymoon in Italy over Christmas and New Years! Sounds like that might not be the best time! We were in Florence on All Saints' Day in 2018 and Florence was so crowded and the lines so very long and we were told it was an Italian holiday.