Italy

Timeless art, rolling vineyards, and gourmet flavours.

Hillside village in Italy with colourful buildings overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Travel Destination – Italy

Italy is a mesmerising destination with ancient ruins, Renaissance art, dramatic coastlines, and culinary traditions that have shaped global gastronomy. Visitors can wander the historic streets of Rome, admire masterpieces in Florence, savour fresh pasta in Emilia‑Romagna, or soak up the sun along the Amalfi Coast. Italy offers diverse landscapes from the snow‑capped Alps in the north to the sun‑drenched islands of Sicily and Sardinia. With a well‑developed healthcare system and modern public amenities, Italy attracts millions of travellers each year. Good health preparation and awareness of potential risks will help ensure a smooth and seamless journey

Health Risks

Pre-travel preparation

Before your trip to Italy, scheduling a travel health consultation at least six to eight weeks before departure is strongly recommended. A travel doctor can review your vaccination history, ensure routine immunisations are current, and discuss destination‑specific health advice based on your itinerary. Whether you plan to explore bustling cities, hike in rural hillsides, or ski in the Alps, personalised guidance helps you prepare for common travel health issues and manage long‑haul flight risks. Even close to departure, a last‑minute appointment can still offer useful advice.

Comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment, hospitalisation, and emergency evacuation is essential, as healthcare in Italy can be expensive for visitors without insurance.

Insect avoidance

In some regions of Italy, mosquitoes can transmit diseases and ticks can transmit tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme diseases, particularly in rural, forested, or lakeside regions from spring through autumn. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, while ticks are often found in tall grass and wooded areas. Travellers should apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin, wear long sleeves, trousers, and closed shoes, and consider treating clothing with permethrin. Staying in accommodation with screens or air-conditioning can reduce exposure, and regular tick checks after outdoor activities are recommended to prevent bites.

Food and water hygiene

Italy is renowned for its rich culinary heritage, from fresh pasta and cheeses to seafood and artisanal pastries. While food safety standards are generally high, travellers should still take sensible precautions to avoid gastrointestinal illness. Wash hands thoroughly before eating, and use alcohol-based sanitiser when handwashing facilities are unavailable. Choose foods that are freshly prepared, thoroughly cooked, and served hot. Fruits and vegetables are safest when peeled or washed with safe water. Tap water in most Italian cities is considered safe to drink, though bottled water is often preferred in smaller towns or rural areas. Avoid ice made from untreated water and be cautious with street food or buffet-style dining to reduce the risk of travellers’ diarrhoea.

Rabies prevention

Rabies in Italy is extremely uncommon, with only occasional cases reported in wild animals such as bats. Domestic dogs are almost always vaccinated, and human cases are very rare. For most travellers exploring cities, cultural sites, or rural areas, the risk of exposure is minimal. Avoiding contact with wild or unfamiliar animals remains the best precaution. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is generally only advised for those who may spend extended periods outdoors in remote regions, work with animals, or have limited access to medical care. Any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure from a potentially infected animal requires immediate medical attention.

Our Travel Doctors

Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.

Which shots do I need for Italy?

Measles

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Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that continues to occur in Italy and other parts of the world, with periodic outbreaks reported. The virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets and can linger in the air in enclosed spaces, making crowded environments such as airports, public transport, museums, and major tourist attractions higher risk settings. Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a widespread red rash. Complications can include ear infections, pneumonia, and rarely brain inflammation.

Travellers should ensure they are fully vaccinated before departure. In Australia, anyone born during or after 1966 should have received two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MMR) or have evidence of immunity. Confirm your vaccination status with your travel doctor as vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles while travelling overseas.

Influenza

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Influenza circulates in Italy year‑round, with cases peaking in cooler months of December through March. Influenza is a respiratory virus that spreads through close contact and respiratory droplets, such as in indoor spaces, transport hubs, and busy attractions. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and older, especially older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions, to reduce the risk of illness and complications during travel.

COVID-19

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COVID-19 remains present worldwide, including in Italy, with transmission occurring most readily in enclosed and crowded indoor environments. Vaccination significantly lowers the risk of severe disease, hospitalisation, and complications, so travellers should ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are current before departure. Adults aged 75 years and older are advised to receive booster doses every six months, while those aged 65–74 years are recommended to receive a booster annually. Individuals with underlying medical conditions may require additional doses depending on their health status and previous vaccination history. Consult your travel doctor to determine whether a COVID-19 booster is advised.

Routine vaccinations

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Routine immunisations protect against infections such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and measles‑mumps‑rubella. These diseases are less common in Australia due to widespread immunisation, but continue to circulate globally. Boosters may be recommended based on your age and vaccination history. In addition, vaccines like hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox (varicella) or shingles, may be considered in a travel consultation for those with specific age or exposure risks. A travel doctor can tailor recommendations to your health profile and itinerary.

Italy

Other health risks in Italy

Gastroenteritis

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From handmade pasta and fresh seafood to regional cheeses and pastries, Italy’s cuisine is a highlight of any visit. Although food safety standards are generally high, travellers can still develop gastroenteritis, most often from contaminated food or improper food handling. Symptoms typically begin within 24 to 72 hours of exposure and may include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever.

The most important aspect of management is maintaining hydration, ideally with oral rehydration solutions to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Small, frequent sips of fluid are recommended, particularly if vomiting is present. Most cases improve within a few days without specific treatment. Medical assessment is advised if symptoms are severe, persistent beyond several days, or atypical. Careful hand hygiene and selecting freshly prepared, thoroughly cooked food help reduce risk.

Lyme disease

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Lyme disease is present in parts of Italy, particularly in northern and some central regions where ticks inhabit wooded, grassy, and rural environments. Infection occurs through the bite of a tick infected with the bacteria, most commonly during spring and summer when ticks are more active. Early symptoms may develop several days to weeks after a bite and can include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches, and an expanding red skin rash at the site of the bite, sometimes described as a “bull’s-eye” pattern. The rash is common but not always present.

If untreated, Lyme disease can lead to more serious complications affecting the joints, nervous system, or heart. Preventing tick bites is key, so use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, wear long sleeves and trousers when hiking, stay on cleared paths, and perform thorough tick checks after outdoor activities. Prompt removal of ticks and early medical treatment significantly reduce the risk of complications.

Non-infectious conditions

Crime and unrest

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Italy is generally a popular and safe travel destination, but petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and theft can occur, especially in crowded tourist hubs, train stations, and public transport. Avoid protests and large gatherings, keep valuables secure, and stay alert in busy urban areas.

Refer to The Australian government's Smartraveller website before and during travel for up to date advice.

Altitude sickness

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Travellers visiting high elevations in the Italian Alps or Dolomites may develop altitude sickness, particularly when ascending rapidly above 2,400 metres. Mild acute mountain sickness (AMS) commonly begins 6 to 24 hours after arrival at altitude and may cause headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, poor sleep, and reduced appetite. Symptoms often improve within 24 to 48 hours if further ascent is paused and time is allowed for acclimatisation.

In rare cases, altitude illness can progress to more serious forms, particularly at higher elevations over 2500 metres. High-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) is a severe swelling of the brain that may occur within 24 to 72 hours of continued ascent, and can cause confusion, poor coordination, difficulty walking, altered behaviour, and drowsiness. High-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) involves fluid accumulation in the lungs and typically develops within 2 to 5 days of arrival at high altitude. Early symptoms include reduced exercise tolerance and breathlessness on exertion, progressing to breathlessness at rest, persistent cough, and chest tightness.

Both HACE and HAPE are medical emergencies requiring immediate descent and urgent medical care, as they can be life-threatening if untreated. Travellers planning trekking, mountaineering, or skiing in high Alpine regions should ascend gradually, avoid rapid elevation gains, and be alert to early warning signs.

Deep vein thrombosis

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Long flights to Italy and extended periods of immobility, such as long train or car journeys, can slow blood flow in the legs, which can raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a condition whereby blood clots form in deep veins, commonly the legs. Travellers can minimise risk by moving regularly, stretching legs during long trips, and staying hydrated. Those with additional risk factors should seek personalised advice from their travel doctor.

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