Whether it’s your first trip to Italy or you’re a seasoned traveler already, there’s always one thing that is consistently going to come your way when you land (and no, we’re not necessarily thinking of great food!): strikes. More specifically, public transport strikes are likely to happen during your stay. Yes, they’re that frequent!

Be it protests against the current government’s latest piece of legislation or a not-so-subtle reminder that a contract for a specific category of workers has long expired, strikes are a fact of life in Italy, and locals are generally unfazed by them.

Rome is somewhat of an exception — as the capital and seat of government, strikes have a greater impact on the city. They are usually accompanied by protests, which plunge the city into chaos — albeit temporary.

That’s right: Italian strikes only last for a few hours, after which everything goes back to normal. Unfortunately though, those “few hours” may be the exact time when your plane lands or your train is due to depart. What should you do then? In this blog post, we’ll teach you the basics of strikes in Rome and Italy.

As mentioned, strikes can be called for a number of reasons, which is why they are frequent. They always take place for a set number of hours, for example, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the local media will notify you in advance about an upcoming strike. If you can’t access the local news or an English-language media outlet reporting on Italy, there is a . A web-based translation will be necessary.

Note that the website only covers a few months at a time because strikes are tied to government decisions and are not announced a year ahead of time. On this note…

Beyond the official government website we have listed above, tourists should monitor:

You should know that even during strikes, essential services are guaranteed. For example, with transport strikes, some buses or trains will still operate during peak commuting hours, although with reduced frequency.

While other types of strikes are always possible (think hospital strikes), transport strikes are more likely to impact tourists. These can affect different modes of transportation independently or simultaneously:

If you find out that a strike is going to occur while you are visiting Italy, we recommend the following:

Certain times of the year see more frequent strikes:

If your flight or high-speed train is affected by a strike, don’t panic! Airlines and train companies (Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord…) are required to post a list of guaranteed services online for each strike, so you can always check in advance to see if you’re impacted.

A train-related example: your train will have a code number (e.g., “FR 9642”), which you would look for on the page about guaranteed services. If the number doesn’t show up on there, your train is affected by the strike. If your train’s number isn’t listed, then your train is affected by the strike. While this can always change—for example, a train conductor may decide not to participate in that particular strike—it is safe to assume that your train won’t depart at all.

At this point, you have options. Again, this is a train-specific example, but expect plane travel during a strike to go roughly the same way.

Let’s get this out of the way: a refund for a public transportation ticket for local transport, such as a bus or subway ticket in Rome, is not possible.

Conversely, with city-to-city high-speed (or other types) trains and planes, a refund is very possible, but depends on a number of factors such as ticket type, advance notice of the strike, and availability of alternative services.

Your best bet is to contact customer service directly – whether it’s an airline like ITA, or a train company like Trenitalia or Italo – as soon as you learn about a potential strike. They can explain your specific options and help you navigate their policies.

In very general terms, you can be refunded from the moment the strike is announced until the day of the strike. Once the strike begins, you can no longer request a refund, and you’ll only receive one automatically in case of cancellation. Note that some companies may offer you a voucher valid only for purchasing another one of their tickets instead of refunding your money.

When strikes hit unexpectedly in a city like Rome:

The key to surviving Italian strikes as a tourist is preparation and flexibility. Check for strike announcements, always have a plan B for important journeys, and remember that this too shall pass – usually within a few hours!