US Embassy Issues Travel Alert For Winter Olympics In Italy

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If you're anything like me, you might think the only worry about the 2026 Winter Olympic Games is missing out on the nail-biting thrills of curling, a sport we all know that if I trained hard enough at almost 36 years of age, could definitely make the cut for 2030.

All I can say is you'd better ask for my autograph now while you can get it…

That said, the US Embassy is completely overshadowing my next career move by issuing an important travel alert for those with Milan in their travel plans over the next month or so.

Whether you have tickets to root on your favorite athletes or just so happen to be vacationing in one of Italy's most famed cities (or even nearby Lake Como), the Embassy believes you should know what you're signing up for.

With expected disruptions to normal life given the global magnitude of these events, here is what every traveler should know if visiting Milan between February 6 – March 15, 2026 (for both Olympics and Paralympics).

Olympic Games Will Be Spread Across 8 Northern Italy Cities

If you thought you were clever beating the crowds by finding a hidden gem on the outskirts of Milan, we at Travel Off Path always hate to be the bearer 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 are expecting transit options to be wonky at best. Not that you should ignore whatever time your ticket displays, but you should make some wiggle room in your itinerary, as it's unlikely to go 100% as planned, given the crowds and chaos.

Extra security presence may slow things down, too, with checkpoints and screenings to ensure safety for all.

Limited Consular Services

With the focus tilting toward the Olympics, everyday travelers exploring the gorgeous city of Milan, close-by Lake Como, or any other surrounding village should be extra attentive.

There will be limited consular services for US tourists during this timeframe of the Olympic transformation taking over the region.

The Embassy specifically highlights the following services as not being prioritized on their end, urging Americans to plan ahead by booking these appointments in advance:

• Passport applications (first time and renewals)
• Notarial services
• Consular Reports of Birth Abroad

Additionally, US visa services will be cut down countrywide, with the exception of diplomatic, official, and qualifying urgent travel reasons.

The good news: say you're like me and get your passport pickpocketed like I did in Athens, there will be emergency services available per usual in the following 5 jurisdictions:

• Milan
• Rome
• Florence
• Naples
• Venice

Don't Be Tricked: Florence Might 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, since these events are spread across Northern Italy, Milan may not be the best springboard, depending on which events pique your interest most.

Florence may actually be more convenient if you're opting for a train to the games in lesser-known locales, such as Verona for the closing ceremony.

You can hop aboard a high-speed train from Florence in about 90 minutes and likely avoid Milan's crowds, even though the train there may be faster on any normal day.

The same can be said for:

• Cortina d'Ampezzo
• Predazzo
• Tesero

Travel distances may surprise you as some of these journeys can be hours-long. If you do not have event tickets, it's likely best to avoid the event and switch up your travel plans.

In fact, the 2026 winter games will be the most geographically spread out in history, so all travelers who haven't calculated logistics may want to start doing so as soon as possible to avoid any potential headaches.

Over 2 million spectators are expected to descend on Northern Italy (especially Milan), so all transit tickets, hotel rooms, Airbnb bookings, and attractions should be secured in advance.