Italians' summer holidays are getting shorter but more expensive. According to September data from Findomestic's Monthly Observatory, average household spending in the summer of 2026 reached €2,130, an increase of 15% compared to €1,847 spent in 2025 (for families of four, the figure rose to €2,233, an increase of 11%). Although the percentage of Italians who went on holiday rose to 59% (compared to 55% in the previous year), for 62% of these, they were limited to a few weekends or, at most, a single week.
The impact of rising prices on travel budgets was felt by the majority of travelers: 63% of respondents said that holiday costs rose more sharply than general inflation. The expenses that weighed the most on the pocket were fuel (cited by 80%), followed by restaurants and bars (65%) and services related to hotels and beaches (49%). Despite the increase in prices, 68% of tourists managed to keep spending within the planned budget, while 21% exceeded their estimates. "Holidays consumed a larger share of households' financial resources, and it is no coincidence that 34% of respondents expect to have to make cuts in the remaining months of the year. The share of optimists remains stable at 37%, but the proportion of those who consider the economic situation of the family problematic rose from 41% to 45%, while the percentage of those who managed to save money in recent months fell from 61% to 55%," notes Alex Papi, economist at Findomestic.
