From flu vaccination to food safety: health tips to have a safe stay in Italy during the Olympic Games
The Winter Olympics 2026 kicked off in Milan and Cortina. From 6 to 22 February, thousands of visitors from around the world will travel to Italy to cheer on their teams.
As crowds gather, experts remind travellers to take a few health precautions to enjoy a safe trip.
Protect yourself from winter bugs
Respiratory viruses such as influenza and COVID-19 remain active across Europe this winter.
Vaccination is recommended, particularly for high-risk people, such as the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and people with chronic diseases, as these conditions can be severe.
Key measures include good hand hygiene, using soap or alcohol-based products, and avoiding contact with sick people.
For those who may get sick while in Italy, recommendations include wearing a mask covering your nose and mouth, staying in, and avoiding crowds if possible.
Keep up to date with vaccinations
Before travelling, check your vaccination status. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) urges that routine immunisations, many require a booster as an adult.
Priority vaccines include measles, as transmission and outbreaks have recently increased globally, including in some parts of Europe.
For unvaccinated people, the ECDC recommends getting vaccinated at least two weeks before travelling.
It also advised to plan on bringing medication and treatments.
Eat and drink safely
Food is a key aspect of any Italian trip – but keep safety in mind.
The most common illnesses among travellers are caused by eating spoiled food or drinking contaminated beverages.
Make sure the food you eat is thoroughly cooked, wash any fruit or vegetables, and avoid consuming cooked or perishable food that has been kept at room temperature for more than two hours.
Tap water is generally safe to drink in Milan and Cortina and poses no risks for visitors.
Sexually transmitted infections
Large gatherings increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Common STIs in Europe include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Other infections, such as HIV, viral hepatitis, and mpox, can also be transmitted during sex.
Before travelling, discuss recommended measures with a healthcare provider based on personalised sexual risk assessments; these may include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and mpox.
Get tested for STIs if you have had unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners, even if you do not have symptoms.
