Italy's biggest holiday of the year, Ferragosto, celebrated on August 15, kicks off a fortnight-long shutdown as 20 million Italians relocate to the coast or mountains to celebrate summer. Family-run restaurants and local shops are set to close for the best part of two weeks, potentially ruining the authentic Italian experience for Brits hoping for an old-school holiday this month.
What Closes and What Stays Open
While major attractions stay open, traditional family-run restaurants, artisan workshops and local services close for weeks at a time as owners enjoy their own holidays. Travel experts at Welcome Pickups, the global airport transfer service, said holidaymakers who didn't plan ahead risked missing the authentic Italian experience they came for. CEO and co-founder, Alex Trimis, has shared advice on what’s open and what’s closed during the holiday.
Small independent restaurants and family-run trattorias, artisan workshops, tailors, hardware shops, banks and post offices are typically closed. These are the places that tend to close for the surrounding week too, not just August 15. Supermarkets usually stay open on August 15 itself, but on shorter hours - roughly 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm. Public transport runs a reduced holiday "festivo" timetable with fewer services.
Tourist Services and Pharmacies
Tourist-facing restaurants and pizzerias, hotels and major museums and attractions are typically open, though some tourist-area restaurants close just for the midday meal on August 15 itself so staff can join the holiday. Pharmacies are never fully closed, but will run on a rotating on-call system. Look for the "farmacia di turno" sign in the window for the nearest one open that day, useful to know with kids in tow.
Alex said: "Ferragosto catches a lot of visitors out, because it doesn't look like a public holiday from the outside, with hotels and major landmarks usually still open. We know tourists like to support local businesses and want to have an authentic experience whilst they’re in Italy, but it’s worth knowing it’s primarily the smaller and family-run businesses that use the holiday as time to shut up shop and celebrate the summer."
Advice for Travellers Planning a Trip to Italy Around Ferragosto
Alex said to research and book restaurant tables in advance, especially for August 15 itself, rather than relying on finding somewhere open nearby. It’s likely only going to be more 'tourist-facing' restaurants open, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily bad; just do your research beforehand. Stock up on water and snacks, as supermarkets may be closed or running on limited hours. Try to find an open store when you arrive and stock up on as much as possible to prevent you having to spend time finding an open supermarket later in your trip.
Know your nearest rotating pharmacy ("farmacia di turno"), especially if travelling with young children, since regular pharmacies may be closed. Be cautious of the heat; locals travel to the coast and mountains because it’s so warm in the cities, so definitely consider this, dress appropriately, try and do most of your exploring during the cooler parts of the day, and make sure you have water.
Plan your journey in advance, as public transport moves to a reduced holiday timetable, particularly around the 15th. Confirm opening hours for museums and attractions in advance, as some smaller or private sites reduce their hours over the period. Many landmarks may also be quieter and less crowded than usual, which is definitely an advantage.
