The record temperatures recorded this year, in addition to endangering the health of citizens and causing severe disruptions to the agricultural sector, have also impacted Italians’ habits regarding summer vacations. The heatwave that gripped the country repeatedly from late May onwards has pushed many compatriots to postpone departures to September to avoid the stifling heat of recent months. According to data collected by the online travel agency eDreams, the most sought-after destinations overlook the Mediterranean. Seven out of ten bookings are for short-haul trips: 23% chose Italian tourist destinations, 20% Spain, and 7% France.
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Vacationing in September
Despite the fifth heatwave of 2026 entering its peak – on Friday, August 28, temperatures will reach peaks above 40 degrees in numerous cities in the Central-Southern part of the peninsula – the summer season is coming to an end, and temperatures, already from the end of the weekend, should drop significantly to give way to cooler and more livable days. Italian cities with a red alert, the highest level of warning, will begin to decrease starting from the weekend: on Saturday, August 29, they will drop from nine to five, all located in the South (Bari, Catania, Messina, Palermo, and Reggio Calabria), which was most affected by the last flare-up of the summer.
Many will therefore take advantage of the easing of the heatwave to enjoy the art cities and Mediterranean beaches. Data collected by eDreams show that, among Italians traveling in September, 28% have scheduled a departure in the week of August 30, 25% in the week of September 6, and 22% in the week of September 13.
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Most of those who decided to go on vacation during this period – less hot but also less crowded – booked two to three months before departure (45%) and 38% even more than three months in advance. Looking at the length of stay, 36% booked short vacations of 3 or 4 days, while 25% will take a break of 7-13 days. Regarding tourists coming from abroad to Italy in the final days of summer, the main countries of origin are Spain (28%), France (25%), and Germany (14%).
The price hike
On the eve of the great counter-exodus that will last until Sunday and will see 25 million vehicles on the move, the first assessments of summer holidays are being made, especially regarding the price hike that has made spending a few days on vacation more expensive. According to a study by the Demoskopika Institute published in preview by Ansa, in July and August 2026, tourist flows in Italy would have generated a total expenditure of 20.4 billion euros. Of these, 541 million would be attributable exclusively to price increases.
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