Masking and vax proof, Rome 2023 edition

December 15, 2022 1:34 PM

I'm going to be travelling internationally, to Rome, for the first time since the pandemic, right at the New Year. It looks like all testing requirements have been lifted at the border crossings into the EU, and there are no mask requirements for public transit in Rome, but what's the general vibe otherwise?

Two basic questions:

1. Will everyone be wearing masks indoors in Rome despite the lack of a requirement (in which case I would be sure to pack lots of masks so I'm not being impolite).
2. Will vax proof be requested at say, Italian cafes/bars/venues/museums/churches etc.? I have never, not once, had to show my vax card in the states and I think that I lost it (for my fourth shot I forgot to even bring it, and they didn't even ask me if I had it!). It didn't occur to me until this morning that that might be a problem. But also, why would they accept a silly US vax card in Europe?

Basically, when in Rome, how do I do as the Romans when it comes to COVID?

posted by dis_integration to Travel & Transportation around Rome, Italy (2 answers total)

Best answer: 1. No. There's no requirement, and although Italy was one of the worst-hit countries in Europe, you'll only see a few people masked (a few elderly people, and others being especially cautious). Masks on public transport were the last to be required, and that ended in October.
2. Proof of vaccination is now only required when visiting hospitals.
posted by pipeski at 1:40 PM on December 15, 2022

Response by poster: Having now returned from a month in Rome, there is almost 0 masking anywhere, whether in the tourist centers or in everday neighborhoods. Some people wear masks on the bus and metro but even there it's a minority. No vax proof asked for by anyone (I did not visit a hospital). Quite surprising to me on the whole.
posted by dis_integration at 12:33 PM on January 15, 2023