Anyone traveling to Italy by car around Christmas this year should expect significant traffic disruptions. Starting Saturday, December 20, 2025, one of the year's most congested travel periods gets underway. Delays are anticipated especially on the classic north-south routes through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as within Italy itself.
The heaviest traffic is historically expected on the weekend before Christmas. Many vacationers set out at the same time, joined by weekend commuters and seasonal day-trip traffic. Saturday, December 20, in particular, is considered a critical travel day with a very high risk of gridlock. Sunday and the final weekdays before Christmas Eve will also see heavy traffic, especially during the morning and afternoon hours. Those on the road during these days are advised to depart as early in the morning or as late in the evening as possible, avoiding the high-traffic window between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Alpine Crossings as Key Bottlenecks
As every year, the Alpine passes are at the center of traffic forecasts. The Brenner Autobahn is one of the most heavily used routes heading into Italy. Even minor accidents, construction zones , or wintry road conditions can trigger backups stretching for miles. The situation on the Gotthard route in Switzerland is similarly strained, with longer wait times expected particularly on weekends before Christmas. Alternative routes such as the San Bernardino Tunnel can provide some relief at times, but are also vulnerable when traffic volumes are high.
Adding to the congestion in Tyrol are the well-known weekend and public holiday driving bans on bypass routes. These measures are intended to reduce traffic through local villages, but result in an even greater concentration of vehicles on the main arteries.
Northern Italy: Heavy Load on Industrial and Transit Corridors
After crossing the Alps, dense traffic often continues without a break. In northern Italy, several highways rank among the most congestion-prone stretches. The A4 between Turin, Milan, Venice, and Trieste is one of the country's busiest traffic corridors . In the lead-up to Christmas, stop-and-go conditions occur regularly around Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Verona, and the greater Venice area.
The A22 from the Brenner to Modena also remains heavily loaded, as transit traffic, vacation travel, and regional traffic all converge here. Delays are especially common south of Bolzano, around Trento, and in the Verona area. The A1 between Milan, Bologna, Florence, and Rome is Italy's most important north-south corridor . Particularly around Bologna, where it meets the A14, and along the Apennine section between Bologna and Florence , heavy traffic combined with wintry conditions can lead to extended backups.
Central Italy: Urban Congestion and Domestic Travel
In central Italy, traffic problems shift more toward domestic travel. Many Italians use the holidays for family visits, placing the greatest strain on metropolitan areas. The A1 around Rome sees consistently heavy use during the holiday period, particularly on feeder roads leading to Rome's ring highway. The A24 and A25 toward Abruzzo also see increased traffic volumes during this time, especially just before and after the holidays.
Southern Italy: Less Traffic, but Localized Bottlenecks
Around Christmas, delays are also expected in southern Italy, though they tend to be more localized. The A2, also known as the Autostrada del Mediterraneo, is the main north-south artery in the south. Backups here are less the result of traffic volume and more the result of construction zones, narrow alignments , and accidents. In the Naples area, stop-and-go conditions occur regularly on the A1, the A3 toward Salerno, and on urban feeder roads, especially in the days just before Christmas and around the New Year.
A Lull During the Holidays, New Peaks Afterward
A noticeable easing of traffic is traditionally expected on Christmas Eve and on December 25 and 26. By these dates, most travelers have already reached their destinations and long-distance traffic drops off considerably. After the holidays , however, traffic volumes rise again. Between December 27 and 30, short breaks, winter sports trips, and family visits generate new peaks. Around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day the situation usually calms briefly, before return traffic picks up significantly from January 2 onward.
