What Tourists Should Do If They Can't Avoid The Transportation Strikes In Italy

You're finally about to embark on a vacation that you've been excited about for months. You've booked your flights, hotels, and transportation. However, even if you've followed the best tips for planning your next trip, things like transit strikes can throw a wrench into your plans faster than a high-speed rail train. While it's important to always have a Plan B in place, strikes that may affect your plans abroad are hard to predict. In September of 2025, tourists in Italy were victims of transportation strikes (with more to come) that could not be avoided.

Imagine spending weeks planning out the perfect European itinerary for your next trip only to have it derailed by transportation strikes. The amount of stress and confusion this can cause can certainly be daunting, especially in a country where you don't necessarily know what's going on and with a language you don't fully understand. I personally have had the unlucky privilege of experiencing a transit strike debacle while traveling in Europe once before. But with some extra planning, research, and a backup plan, I was able to get to my destination without issues.

Italians may be accustomed to the frequent strikes that happen in their country; after all, Italy is among the top countries with the most strikes and lockouts in the world. Tourists, on the other hand, may be in for a not-so pleasant surprise upon arriving at the train station, only to see the departures boards listing "CANCELLATO" beside their train. So, what is the best course of action when that happens?

One of the biggest mistakes any traveler can make when traveling by train is not having a backup plan. As a frequent traveler who has dealt with transit strikes, I now regularly check local news, visit the transit's official website, and look up alternative routes before traveling. Typically, strikes are always mentioned in advance to give travelers a heads up about upcoming routes, delays, or cancellations, so as not to leave people stranded or surprised. 

On September 4 and September 5, 2025, Trenitalia, Italo, and Trenord rail companies went on a nationwide strike for 21 hours, which disrupted regional, as well as long-distance rail routes. On September 4, 2025, a local public transit strike occurred during rush hour in the city of Rome, affecting buses, subways, and trams. September 6, 2025, saw a four-hour strike by nationwide airport staff. On September 14, 2025, airline staff at Milan Linate and Malpensa airports are planning a 24-hour strike. Lastly, on September 26, 2025, a nationwide airport strike is scheduled to last 24 hours, coinciding with a 24-hour strike by Volotea Airlines.

While travelers can't avoid delays and cancellations caused by striking transport workers, being prepared is the ultimate way to prevent stress. The Summer In Italy website does a great job at keeping travelers up to date with detailed strike updates. You can also go to the Commissione di Garanzia Sciopero website, or check the official sites of the rail and airline carriers to make sure you are ready to deal with any surprise itinerary changes.

With all the strikes happening in Italy, it appears that tourists may need to brush up on some Italian words beyond "grazie" and "buongiorno." If you happen to see the word "sciopero" (meaning strike), be ready to adjust your travel plans. There are many things travelers should do before the actual strike date, as well as during the strike dates. Italian trains have what they call "guaranteed trains," meaning that these trains will still run during a strike; however, they tend only to be high-speed, long-distance routes.

From my experience dealing with transportation strikes, I was fortunate to have been aware of the dates before my travels. Staying informed by reading local news, checking rail and airline websites, as well as being flexible in case the strike dates were changed, was a lifesaver, since I knew what to expect. During the strike dates, checking for updates while on the road and downloading the train carrier's official app is a great way to receive live updates to your phone and email.

If your travel date was affected and you had already pre-booked your train ticket, arrive at the station earlier than your scheduled departure time and request a change or a full refund. Alternatively, have a backup transportation method, such as Uber, FlixBus, or a taxi. If you're already en route and a strike happens, the train will continue to its destination, so long as it is within one hour of the start of the strike. It's important to stay calm and patient when dealing with strikes. Yes, they are inconvenient, but with some extra planning and flexibility, you'll reach your destination in due time.