Guidebook Updates for ‘Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports’

• The north terminal of the World Trade Center is now closed to cruise ships, and the south terminal is closing at the end of 2026. Ships will continue to dock at the five berths at Moll Adossat.
• The blue cruise shuttle bus and hop-on, hop-off Bus Turístic red route now stop near the World Trade Center, a 10-minute walk or quick taxi ride from the Columbus Monument at the bottom of the Ramblas.

For books printed before May 2024, the following may also apply:

• All four of Sagrada Família's evangelist towers are now complete. Construction of the final, central tower is expected to wrap up in 2026.
• The bus running between Sagrada Família and the Eixample is #D50 (not #50 or #19).
• Park Güell is now open until 22:00 April–Oct (but last entry in summer is at 19:30; the rest of the year it closes at sunset). The Monumental Zone no longer requires a timed-entry ticket. The Bus Güell shuttle between the Alfons X Metro station and the park's side entrance is no longer running — we recommend taking either a taxi or bus #24 to a stop near the side entrance.
• The Picasso Museum's center ground-floor entry is the only way in to the museum.
• Casa Batlló now offers early entrance daily.
• Juan, the owner of the Bar Pinotxo in La Boqueria market famous for his gregariousness and warm smile (long pictured in our guidebooks), has passed away.
• While renovations to the Camp Nou soccer stadium are underway, an interactive exhibit and the flagship team store remain open at Camp Nou, but the team is playing in the Olympic Stadium on Montjuïc, likely through some point in the 2025–2026 season.
• The Sagalés bus connecting the Costa Brava Airport to Girona (and to Barcelona via train to/from Girona) now runs hourly (not every 10 minutes), but only takes 30 minutes (as opposed to 1.5 hours).

For books printed before October 2022, the following may also apply:

• Tickets are no longer sold on-site at Sagrada Família — all visits now require a pre-booked timed-entry ticket (check the site for new opening hours and ticket options).
• Visitors must now pay to enter Park Güell. The Monumental Zone now includes just the terrace and dragon stairway/fountains. Bus #24 no longer stops at the park's side entrance, and bus route #92 (which had also stopped at Park Guell's side entrance) has been discontinued.
• Reservations are now required for guided tours in English of Casa Museu Amatller and at the Palace of Catalan Music (although both offer audioguides).
• The Barcelona Cathedral has changed the hours it's open for tourist visits. Visitors can no longer use the side door facing Carrer dels Comtes, and cloister doors are reserved for those with reduced mobility.
• The Barri Gòtic street Sant Doménec del Call has been renamed "Carrer de Salomó Ben Adret."
• The tourist information offices on Plaça de Sant Jaume and on Plaça Nova (in the Barri Gòtic, inside the Catalan College of Architects) have closed, but a new office is now open on Pla de la Seu, next to the cathedral.
• The T10 Metro travelcard is no longer available. The new T-casual card covers 10 rides for €11.35, but this card is not sharable; each rider needs their own ticket.
• Barcelona's main airport has been renamed Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport.
• The Gaudí Exhibition Center has closed.
• Casa Lleó Morera is now closed to the public.
• The Barcelona Guide Bureau has closed.
• Several recommended restaurants have closed, including Café de l'Academia and El Senyor Parellada.
• The Kitchen Company shop has closed.
• Hotel Banys Orientals is now Hotel Habana Hoose.

For our Barcelona audio tours, these older updates also apply:

• Sardana performances take place on Sundays in front of the cathedral at 11:15 (not noon, none in August), and some Saturdays at 18:00.
• La Pedrera no longer offers free entry to its atrium.

• Private guide Brigitte Gavila has a new email address: [email protected].

For books printed before April 2024, the following may also apply:

• The Discover Provence tour company is no longer operating.
• Sophie Bergeron at the Travel in Provence tour company has a new email address: [email protected].
• Tastes of Provence no longer offers cooking classes.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• The Cosquer Méditerranée in Marseille's Euromed district has opened, featuring a re-creation of the Grotte Cosquer, an underwater cave with prehistoric paintings that was discovered in 1985 off the coast near Marseille.
• Recommended guide Pascale Benguigui has a new email address: [email protected].
• The Marine Museum has closed.
• Toinou les Fruits de Mer seafood cafeteria in Marseille has closed.
• Chez Gilbert restaurant in Cassis is now closed on Wednesdays.

For books printed before April 2024, the following may apply:

• The Discover Provence tour company is no longer operating.
• Sophie Bergeron at the Travel in Provence tour company has a new email address: [email protected].

For books printed before December 2020, the following may also apply:

• The Brunet Chocolatier mentioned in the "Aix-en-Provence Walk" and noted for its macarons has closed. (A different shop has opened at that location, but it sells very few macarons.)
• A fire destroyed the historic Les Deux Garçons restaurant.

• Le Cantine de Tiflo restaurant in Villefranche-sur-Mer has closed.
• Antibes restaurants Chez Lulu and Le P'tit Cageot have closed.

For books printed before April 2024, the following may also apply:

• The Chagall Museum in Nice often closes at lunchtime (12:00–14:00) and may close at other odd times (check its site for the latest).
• Buses and trams in the Riviera no longer accept tickets per se; now you need to first purchase a €2 travel card (available in digital or physical form) to which you add funds to cover the cost of your ride(s). Travel cards are available via the Lignes d'Azur mobile app, in person from bus drivers, at vending machines at Nice's main train station and at key tram/bus stops (including at the airport), and at Lignes d'Azur offices. Single trips on Nice's city buses cost €1.70 (covers 74 minutes of travel in one direction including transfers); an all-day pass is €7, and a seven-day pass is €20. Round-trip travel by tram between Nice's airport and the city center costs €10.
• Buses in the Riviera are now run by the Zou bus network, and bus numbers have changed (timetables at Rome2Rio are easier to use than those on Zou's own site). Main changes to note:
  • Bus #601 (not #100) connects Nice with Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Monaco.
  • Bus #620 (not #200) connects Nice with Cagnes-sur-Mer and Cannes (4/hour Mon–Sat, 2/hour Sun).
  • Bus #603 (not #116) connects Nice with La Turbie and Monaco along the High Corniche (5/day, leaves from Pont Michel T-1 tram stop in Nice).
  • Bus #650 (not #500) connects Nice and Grasse (2/hour, 1 hour).
  • To connect Nice with St-Paul-de-Vence, take the train between Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer and the frequent bus #655 (not #400, which had run all the way to/from Nice) between Cagnes-sur-Mer and St-Paul-de-Vence (allow about one hour total). Bus #655 also serves Vence.
  • Bus #80 (not #110) connects Nice's airport with Monaco (Place d'Armes stop).
  • Bus #81 (not #210) connects Nice's airport with Cannes' train station.
  • Bus #82 (not #250) connect's Nice's airport with from Antibes.
• The phone number for Nice's tourist information office is now +33 4 92 14 46 14.
• The tourist information office next to Cannes' train station has closed.
• Le Cantine de Tiflo restaurant in Villefranche-sur-Mer has closed.
• La Cabane de l'Ecailler restaurant in in St-Jean has closed.
• Two recommended restaurants in Antibes, Chez Lulu and Le P'tit Cageot, have closed.
• Parking in Eze-le-Village is now easy, thanks to a big new underground parking garage.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• The Nice's combo-ticket, which includes all sights except the Chagall Museum, has been renamed the "All Museums Pass" and is now valid for four days instead of just 24 hours, but costs a bit more (€15).
• The Lignes d'Azur info desk at 17 Rue Thiers in Nice has closed, but Nice's main train station still has a Lignes d'Azur info desk. Office hours are now generally Mon–Fri 7:30–17:30, Saturday until 15:00, and closed Sunday.

• Bus #601 (not #100) runs eastbound from Nice, stopping in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Monaco.
• The Jardin Exotique (formerly the "Jardin Botanique") is now set to remain closed for renovation until late summer 2025 (the nearby Botanical Center remains open).

For books printed before April 2024, the following may also apply:

• Bus #80 (not #110) connects Nice's airport with Monaco (Place d'Armes stop).
• The tourist information office at Monaco's train station has closed.
• Tour Prestige has rebranded as Live Harmony and is now run solely by Cecilia Cotton (+33 625 914 388).
• A combo-ticket covers both the Prince's Palace and the Prince's car collection.
• Casino de Monte Carlo is open 10:00–13:00 for sightseeing with an audioguide, and after 14:00 for gambling.

For books printed before June 2025, the following may apply:

• Car-rental agencies in Italy are now seem to be more frequently requiring renters to show an International Driving Permit. To avoid hassle in Italy, it's best to get one before your trip (see our tips at Rental-Car Red Tape in Europe).
• Overnight Paris–Italy trains (formerly run by Thello) are no longer operating; direct trains between France and Italy are now limited to daytime TGV and Frecciarossa trains on the Paris–Lyon–Turin–Milan route.
• Direct Frecce trains run once or twice a day between Rome's Fiumicino Airport and Venice, Padua, Bologna, Florence, and Naples.
• Some museum websites ending in ".it" only operate when the sight itself is open. From the US, you may have to visit these websites first thing in the morning.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• Museums run by the Italian state are free to enter once or twice a month, usually on a Sunday. Free days are actually bad news — they attract crowds. In peak season, check state museum websites in advance and make a point to avoid their free days.
• Tuscany's regional bus companies have been subsumed by a big company called Autolinee Toscane. Tickets are available through their app, Autolinee Toscane offices, and at machines.

For books printed before October 2025, the following may apply:

• The Uffizi Gallery — where we recommend booking a timed-entry reservation at least a month in advance to have your pick of entry times — has switched to paperless tickets, and no longer offers a pay-by-phone option.
• The Vasari Corridor (between the Pitti Palace and Palazzo Vecchio via the Ponte Vecchio bridge) has reopened to visitors after a years-long restoration. It's accessible from the Uffizi Gallery. Buy a combo-ticket when reserving your Uffizi Gallery ticket.
• Walks Inside Florence has a new lead guide, Chiara Calanca, and a new phone number: +39 346 380 1015 ([email protected]).
• Because of a production error, our recommendation for Hotel la Scaletta did not appear in the first printing of the 28th edition of Rick Steves Italy:
  $$$$ Hotel la Scaletta, in the Oltarano neighborhood of Florence, has 40 pricey, sleek rooms hiding in a convoluted floor plan. Some ground-floor rooms surround a peaceful garden. Their fabulous rooftop terrace bar/restaurant offers 360-degree views and is a nice place for a drink (discount for Rick Steves readers when you pay with cash, family rooms, breakfast extra, Via de' Guicciardini 13, +39 055 283 028, [email protected], Sara).

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also apply:

• It's become critical to book in advance at the Accademia (at least two months in advance), the Uffizi (at least one month in advance), and for climbing the Duomo's dome (one month).
• Each of the three passes for the Duomo Complex includes a timed entry to a different sight: The Ghiberti Pass includes a timed entry to the cathedral, the Giotto Pass includes a timed entry to climb the Campanile, and the Brunelleschi Pass includes a timed entry to climb the Duomo's dome.
• The PassePartout combo-ticket offers admission to the Museum of Precious Stones in addition to the Uffizi, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens.
• A Bargello Museums combo-ticket covers entry to the five sights run by the Bargello: the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele Church, Palazzo Davanzati, Casa Martelli, and the Bargello itself. The €21 pass is valid for 72 hours.
• The Bargello Museum is now closed on Tuesdays and has a new phone number: +39 055 064 9440.
• The Medici Chapels are now open Wed–Mon 8:15–18:50; closed Tuesdays. Last entry is 40 minutes before closing.
• At the Brancacci Chapel, which has reopened following a series of renovations, reservations are required and can be booked a few days to a week in advance. The chapel is now open daily except Tuesdays and has a new information phone number: +39 055 276 8224.
• The Accademia Gallery has a new information phone number: +39 055 098 7100.
• The Pitti Palace has a new information phone number: +39 055 294 883.
• Fra Angelico's predella panels of the Wedding and Funeral of the Virgin has been moved from the Museum of San Marco to the Uffizi to be displayed with the main altarpiece.
• The interior of the Baptistery's dome is under restoration until 2029. You can book a guided tour that takes you up the scaffolding to see the mosaics up close.
• The Bardi Chapel at Santa Croce is closed for restoration until at least 2025; panels show the Giotto frescoes in the meantime.
• At Santa Maria Novella Church, Masaccio's fresco The Trinity (the first painting of modern times to portray three-dimensional space) is undergoing restoration. During this time, visitors can pay €1.50 to enter the restoration are and see the fresco up close.
• The Museo dell'Opera at Santa Croce is closed for renovations.
• Orsanmichele Church is now closed on Tuesdays and no longer has evening concerts.
• At the Palazzo Vecchio, nighttime terrace visits remain closed to the public, though in summer, you may be able to visit the balcony in the evening; ask at the ticket office. Excavations of a 2,000-year-old theater from ancient Florentia are closed to the public indefinitely.
• For buses and trams, the easiest way to pay is by "contactless" ("tap-to-pay") credit card payment when you board. To use paper tickets, buy them at tobacco shops (tabacchi), newsstands, tram stops, and some bus stops (€1.70/90 minutes).
• There are no longer shuttle buses between the Florence airport and local train and bus stations. Transportation to and from the airport is by tram, taxi, or rental car.
• Florence has banned new Airbnbs and other short-term rentals (grandfathered listings still exist as an option; we no longer recommend them).
• Cruise passengers arriving in the Port of Livorno have a new option for getting inland: Shore Experience replaces TuscanyBus.com and offers cheap bus excursions to Pisa and/or Florence, as well as combo-rides that include Lucca. Buses leave from Livorno's Piazza del Municipio (near the port shuttle dropoff point). City Sightseeing Livorno has similar offerings geared to cruisers.
• The Coin department store on Via de' Calzaiuoli has closed, and a new branch has opened at Piazza del Grano 5, near the Uffizi.
• The flea market formerly at Piazza dei Ciompi has moved near Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio.
• There is no longer an antiques market in Fiesole.
• Hotel Morandi Alla Crocetta at Via Laura 52 has reopened as Guest House Morandi, with new owners and a new phone number: +39 055 234 4747.
• In Piazza della Signoria B&B is now called Boutique Hotel in Piazza della Signoria. The new mobile number is +39 333 465 5886.
• On Elba, the local orange shuttle bus service in Portoferraio, which normally operates between the ferry port and the old harbor, may be running inconsistently.
• The Francesco da Firenze shop has closed.
• Pasticceria Robiglio has closed.
• Gosh bar and Mostodolce craft brewery have closed.
• Cross-Pollinate vacation rentals is no longer operating.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• The tourist information office's new website is the best source for the opening hours of many Florence sights, which change on a seemingly constant basis. The office's smaller branch, across from the Duomo and inside the Loggia, has closed.
• The Florentine State Museums' site is the best for booking tickets for the Uffizi, Accademia, and the Uffizi/Pitti Palace/Boboli Gardens combo-ticket.
• Some museums — such as the Accademia, Uffizi, Pitti Palace, and Bargello (but not the Medici Chapels) — are once again offering free admission on the first Sunday of the month. (But since the free admission causes increased crowding at these sights, we recommend avoiding these days.)
• Room numbers have been rearranged on the Uffizi's first and second floors.
• Tthe Museum of San Marco are now closed to visitors on Sundays. The room that was formerly known as "the Hospice" has been renovated and is now labeled as the Beato Angelico room; paintings have been rearranged.
• Ticket options for the Duomo complex sights have changed — see Making Museum Reservations in Florence. The Duomo now closes at 16:30 Mon–Sat year-round (though opening times sometimes change to accommodate to religious functions), and English mass there is now Sunday at 17:00 (the Duomo's interior is closed to visitors on Sundays).
• There's a new contact email for booking Duomo-themed tours: [email protected].
• Florencetown tours have moved to Piazza Mentana.
• Florentia tour company has a new email address: [email protected].
• Recommended guide Karin Kibby's new email address is: [email protected].

• La Bottega del Parco shop (on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), mentioned at the top of the Pisa Walk, has closed.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also apply:

• The LAM Rossa (L/R) bus between Pisa Centrale Station and Piazza Manin (in front of the Field of Miracles) has changed names to #1+. You can pay with a contactless credit card (tickets are still available on the A-T app or machines).
• Cruise passengers arriving in the Port of Livorno have a new option for getting inland: Shore Experience replaces TuscanyBus.com and offers cheap bus excursions to Pisa and/or Florence, as well as combo-rides that include Lucca. Buses leave from Livorno's Piazza del Municipio (near the port shuttle dropoff point). City Sightseeing Livorno has similar offerings geared to cruisers.
• Relais dei Mercanti hotel has a new phone number: +39 324 885 7881.
• Hotel Helvetia has a new phone number: +39 050 622 2706.
• Hotel Royal Victoria has a new email address: [email protected].
• Caffetteria BetsaBea has closed.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• Guide Martina Manfredi has a new email address: [email protected].
• The main tourist information office is now open daily 10:00–18:00 (until 16:00 Nov–Feb).
• You can now visit the Duomo without a reservation voucher, provided you have a ticket for any other single Field of Miracles sight (doesn't have to be a combo-ticket).
• You may no longer be able to purchase bus tickets after boarding the bus; instead, get a ticket at a machine or tobacco shop.
• Il Vegusto has closed.

• Karin Kibby is no longer guiding private tours in Livorno.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also apply:

• Cruise passengers arriving in the Port of Livorno have a new option for getting inland: Shore Experience replaces TuscanyBus.com and offers cheap bus excursions to Pisa and/or Florence, as well as combo-rides that include Lucca. Buses leave from Livorno's Piazza del Municipio (near the port shuttle dropoff point). City Sightseeing Livorno has similar offerings geared to cruisers.
• At San Martino Cathedral, the Volto Santo (a cedarwood effigy of the crucified Christ said to be the oldest wooden sculpture in Europe) is under restoration until at least late 2025. On weekends during the restoration, you may be able to see the Volto Santo through a window into the on-site restoration lab. The annual Volto Santo procession and Mass is still still taking place every September 13 and 14 while the restoration is underway.
• The tourist information office on Piazza Curtatone has closed indefinitely.
• Il Cuore Enogastronomia restaurant/deli has closed.
• There is no longer an arts and crafts market near the cathedral on the last weekend of the month.

• The Auditorium Parco della Musica has a new phone number: +39 06 8024 1281.

For books printed before October 2025, the following may also apply:

• St. Peter's Basilica is now offering a €7 timed-entry ticket that may save time in line (book in advance online; includes audioguide). Free entry is still available, but likely with longer lines to enter.
• The Trevi Fountain now limits the number of visitors, for a less crowded experience. Depending on the time of day and the season, you may wait in line 5–10 minutes or longer. You may stay at the fountain as long as you like. After 9 p.m., access is unrestricted.

For books printed before June 2025, the following may also apply:

• Photo ID is now required to enter the Colosseum as well as the Forum.
• Public transit prices have gone up for 2025: Standard fare is now €2 (valid for 100 minutes), day passes are €9.30–24 (sold in increments of 24, 48, and 72 hours), and week-long passes €32.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also apply:

• 2025 is a Catholic Jubilee year, which is bringing millions of pilgrims to Rome. To help you plan when to visit (or avoid) certain areas, particularly around the Vatican, check the Jubilee 2025 website or visit the Pilgrims Welcome Center in Rome (Via della Conciliazione 7) for events calendars, news, and information.
• We now recommend booking timed-entry tickets for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel as far in advance as possible (€25, including reservation fee). If individual tickets are sold out during the dates of your visit, consider booking a guided tour instead (€40, includes admission). The shop on St. Peter's Square no longer sells same-day tickets to the Vatican Museums.
• The website for purchasing Colosseum and Roman Forum/Palatine Hill/Imperial Forums tickets has changed, and may work only during Colosseum opening hours (and tickets are only available online). Also, the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill/Imperial Forums are now one single-entry sight: If you plan to visit more than one, you'll need to do it in a single visit, using internal connecting routes (no exiting to the street and reentering). The evening sound-and-light shows at the Imperial Forums have been discontinued.
• The Pantheon now charges a €5 entrance ticket, available via the Italian Ministry of Culture's site and in person: at the entrance, choose the shortest line and book at the machine, pay as you enter, or book online while you wait. Entry is free the first Sunday of the month. Be aware that these ticketing details may have changed again by the time you visit.
• To climb the dome at St. Peter's Basilica, the ticket office (with stairway entry) is typically on the south (left) side of the basilica but sometimes moves to the right side, where the elevator entrance is. Those visitors who want to take the elevator will still need to buy tickets at the ticket office on the left side, and walk around to the elevator entrance.
• You can now pay as you enter the Metro, buses, and trams by tapping your contactless credit card.
• The tourist information office at Termini station has closed.
• The website for information about the Borghese Gallery is now galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it.
• The ruins at the Sacred Area of Largo Argentina (Area Sacra di Largo Argentina) are now open to visitors (€5, Tue–Sun 9:30–19:00, shorter hours off-season, closed Mon).
• Visits to the Catacombs of Priscilla are by 45-minute guided tour only.
• The Appia Antica Caffè once again rents bikes — both regular and e-bikes (Via Appia Antica 175, +39 06 8987 9575).
• The Rick Steves discount code for Walks of Italy is now RICKSTEVESROME10. The code grants Rick Steves guidebook readers 10 percent off the company's Rome city tours and day trips, including Colosseum tours, but not including the Vatican museums.
• Can't Be Missed Tours has a new phone number: +39 333 779 1273.
• Fiumicino Airport currently has only two operating terminals (T1 and T3). Terminal T5 is closed for renovation.
• Arch Rome Suites has a new email address: [email protected].
• The Mercato Monti market has closed.
• The Banchievecchi Pellami shop has been renamed "Cuoi e Pelli."
• Fatamorgana no longer has a location on Via Laurina.
• Hotel Portoghesi has closed.
• There is no longer a Vatican Express train or Civitavecchia Express train between Civitavecchia and Rome, but fast Regionale Veloce trains run with few or no intermediate stops to the San Pietro, Ostiense, and Termini stations.
• You can now catch a PortLink shuttle bus from your cruise dock directly to the Civitavecchia train station (€6, buy ticket on board).

For books printed before September 2022, the following may also apply:

• Reservations are currently required for weekend visits to the Pantheon. (No reservations are required or possible on weekdays.)
• The tourist information offices on Via Nazionale (at Palazzo delle Esposizioni) and near Piazza Navona (at Piazza delle Cinque Lune) have closed.
• The shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's is no longer an option for independent travelers. It is strictly for tour groups and the exit is monitored.
• Visiting the Borghese Gallery has become a little easier: Entry is still by mandatory reservation, but appointed times are now offered hourly (rather than every two hours) and you're no longer required to limit your visit to two hours. To help with crowd control, visitors are now routed to different floors upon arrival.
• Sitting on the Spanish Steps is no longer allowed. Violators face a €250 fine. Related "decorum laws" are also now more strictly enforced, including fines. We no longer recommend picnicking anywhere but in parks or other green spaces. Eating discreetly is fine, but not near major sights.
• The Roman Guy tours has a new phone number: US +1 888 290 5595.
• Electric minibuses are back: Elettrico #117 connects San Giovanni in Laterano, Colosseo, Via Cavour, Via Nazionale, and Trevi Fountain. Elettrico #119 connects Piazza Venezia, Via del Corso, Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, and Piazza Augusto Imperatore.
• The Opera da Camera di Roma has moved to Palazzo Albertoni Spinola at Piazza Capizucchi 6 (close to the Jewish quarter).
• Recommended restaurant Il Pentagrappolo has closed.
• Feltrinelli International bookstore has closed.
• The Canadian Embassy in Rome has a new phone number: +39 06 854 441.
• The Vatican post office branch near the columns of St. Peter's Basilica's portico (just before the security checkpoint), is now closed (but you can still get the famous Vatican stamps at the other Vatican post office, next to the Vatican tourist information office).
• There's no more baggage storage at the train station in Civitavecchia, but you can store bags at two places on Via Garibaldi near the Varco Fortezza port entrance: the Semplice café and Seaman Hub.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may apply:

• At Cappella Sansevero, reservations are now mandatory; there are no walk-up tickets available. You can book a timed-entry ticket up to 60 days in advance. Additional tickets may be released starting three days prior to your desired date. Visiting times are Wed–Mon 9:00–19:00.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• Capri Sightseeing now offers shuttle service from Naples' cruise port to Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, and Amalfi.
• Two recommended restaurants near the Archaeological Museum — Rosticerria Angela and La Stanza del Gusto — have both closed.
• To book with Mondo Guide Tours over email, write [email protected] (the [email protected] address is still fine for general inquiries).

• In an effort to preserve the site, the Pompeii archaeological site is capping the number of visitors. In peak season (April–Oct), it's smart to book in advance (€1 surcharge), as tickets are by timed entry and will be limited. Each ticket will have the name of the visitor, and ID may be required.
• At Mount Vesuvius, the Busvia del Vesuvio bus up to the crater rim is no longer running.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also apply:

• The Pompeii archaeological site no longer sells the bracelet allowing re-entry to the site. Each ticket is for a single entry only.
• Capri Sightseeing now offers shuttle service from Naples' cruise port to Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, and Amalfi.

• Visits to the Blue Grotto now take upwards of two hours.

For books printed before June 2025, the following may also apply:

• Local EAV buses to Via Capo now leave from the main road behind the train station: Exit the station and head left toward the back until you see the little staircase on the right, then turn right on the main road and follow the bus signs (€1.50, 3/hour, look for Massa Lubrense on bus display).
• CitySightseeing's bright red hop-on, hop-off buses aren't currently running between Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi, though you could call to confirm in case service has resumed in time for your visit (+39 081 1825 7088). Service to Ravello is almost certain not to resume.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• Three of Sorrento's tourist information offices have closed: near Piazza Tasso at the corner of Via Correale, at Marina Piccola, and at the Achille Lauro parking garage. Fortunately, they've opened a new office at Piazza Tasso 25 (and the regional information office at Via Luigi de Maio 35 now also serves as the main branch of the Sorrento-specific information office).
• Sorrento's bus system has undergone major changes: All buses now stop or originate at the train station. Also, most buses no longer display route letters but instead show destinations on the front display. Stops are now marked more clearly. Buses to Marina Grande and Marina Piccola still stop at Piazza Tasso or Piazza Sant'Antonino, but other buses do not. Buses from the port to Piazza Tasso are now EAV minibuses. And the SITA Sud pass does not cover Sorrento city buses (only SITA buses, which do pass through city limits).
• Giovanni Visetti is no longer guiding tours.
• The Monetti taxi service's site has a new URL: www.monettitaxi17.com (not .it).
• Autoservizi De Martino has moved to a more distant location and may not be reachable by phone. For another scooter-rental option in Sorrento try Penisola Rent (Piazza Lauro 44, +39 081 362 2189).
• Futuro Mare snorkel and dive center has closed.
• Anacapri's tourist information office has moved to Piazza Vittoria 5.
• Capri Sightseeing now offers a five-stop shuttle service on the island, as well as tours.
• The Caremar ferry has a new phone number: +39 081 1896 6690.
• Capri's Blue Grotto is no longer visitable in winter.

For books printed before June 2025, the following may apply:

• Mondo Guide has updated their prices and information — see their site for the latest.
• Capri Sightseeing now offers shuttle service from Naples' cruise port to Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, and Amalfi.
• CitySightseeing's bright red hop-on, hop-off buses aren't currently running between Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi, though you could call to confirm that service hasn't resumed since we posted this (+39 081 1825 7088). Service to Ravello is almost certain not to resume.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• Positano's main beach, Spiaggia Grande, is now almost completely private; entry costs range roughly between €20 and €100.
• Giovanni Visetti is no longer guiding tours.
• Brikette Hostel in Positano no longer offers day privileges (luggage storage, Wi-Fi, or showers) for nonguests.
• The Monetti taxi service's site has a new URL: www.monettitaxi17.com (not .it).

For books printed before October 2025, the following may apply:

• The city's "access fee" is being reinstated for 54 days in 2025, starting April 18. As in 2024 (see below), day-trippers must pay to enter the historical center: €5/person per day if you register more than four days ahead of you visit; after that the cost goes up to €10. Details are well explained by the tourism office's FAQ.
• Large cruise ships no longer dock at Venice's Stazione Marittima. Instead, they use the Marghera port on the mainland, or they dock farther away at Ravenna or Trieste (2–3 hours from Venice by car or train). The old Stazione Marittima port is still used for embarkation/debarkation processes for passengers starting or ending their cruise in Venice.
• The Alilaguna express boat blue line (linea blu) from the Marittima port to St. Mark's Square no longer leaves from in front of terminal building #103; instead, cruisers can get on at the Tronchetta (car park) or Ferrovia (Santa Lucia train station) stop.

For books printed before March 2025, the following may also apply:

• The dome of La Salute Church is now open to visitors (€8, Wed–Sun 10:00–17:00), making for another breathtaking Grand Canal viewpoint. Its sacristy (now €6) is now closed all day Mondays, and on Tuesday mornings.
• Venice is now charging day-trippers €5 on certain dates; at those times every visitor to the old city should be prepared to show a QR code as proof that they've paid the fee. The city also charges a tourist tax for overnight visitors (€1–5/person per night, depending on time of year and accommodation class); your hotel will provide you with the QR-code proof of your overnight stay.
• For a peak-season visit to St. Mark's Basilica, we now recommend making reservations at least a month in advance.
• The Treasury at St. Mark's Basilica is closed indefinitely.
• The tourist information office once located inside the train station has moved to the edge of the canal nearby, to the left of the Church of Santa Maria of Nazareth (between the Ferrovia vaporetto dock C/D and the train station).
• Vaporetto line #3, which runs from Venice's train and bus stations to Murano-Colonna, is suspended while construction work is underway on the Cannaregio canal, which could last into 2026.
• The Alilaguna aiport boat's red line (linea rossa), which connects Marco Polo Airport with Venice city center and other nearby stops, runs only from mid-April through October.
• At San Giorgio Maggiore, there is a mandatory €8 "donation" to climb the bell tower, which must be paid in cash. (And the island does not have ATMs.)
• At Scuola San Rocco, Tintoretto's Crucifixion is under restoration until at least 2025, so some paintings in the Sala dell'Albergo may be covered up.
• In the Cannaregio district, near the Arsenale gate, the Ships Pavilion (with 19th-century boats) may be closed for renovation.
• The Jewish Museum has reopened following its renovation.
• La Fenice opera house has a new box office phone number: +39 041 272 2699.
• Trattoria da Bepi has changed its name to Bepi Antico 54.
• Osteria al Ponte Storto has changed its name to Ai 4 Feri Storti.
• Guide Sara from Walks Inside Venice has passed away. (Roberta is still guiding.)
• Cross-Pollinate vacation rentals is no longer operating.
• Il Merletto lace shop on Burano has closed.
• La Murrina shop on Murano has closed.
• Inishark Pub has closed.

For books printed before November 2022, the following may also apply:

• St. Mark's Basilica now charges admission (€3, or €6 for timed-entry advance ticket).
• From late May to mid-September, vaporetto line #2, which typically runs between Piazzale Roma (bus station) and San Marco/San Zaccaria via Giudecca, converts to an express boat that runs all the way down the Grand Canal to/from San Marco.
• The Correr Museum/Doge Palace's combo ticket is now €25.

For books printed before September 2025, the following may apply:

• Statehood Day, a public holiday across Croatia, is celebrated annually on May 30 (not June 25). June 25 is now Croatia's Independence Day (not October 8), but is no longer a public holiday, so travelers can expect businesses and sights to remain open as usual.
• Shops across Croatia are now closed on most Sundays throughout the year.

For books printed before August 2023, the following may also apply:

• As of January 2023, Croatia uses the euro and belongs to the Schengen open-borders zone.

For books printed before September 2025, the following may apply:

• In an effort to ease street congestion, Dubrovnik has enacted strict traffic regulations for the roads near the Old Town. This designated zone is accessible only to locals and to visitors who have pre-reserved parking (with a so-called "yellow pass"). Otherwise, you'll need to be careful to avoid this zone; if you enter it, even accidentally, you could be fined €260. If arriving by car, first check with your accommodations to see what they suggest; some may have a line on authorized parking nearby. If you're on your own, the easiest, most affordable choice is simply to park at Port Gruž, then ride a bus or taxi into town.
• A new public boat makes a single run from Dubrovnik's Port Gruž to Trsteno, then to Lokrum, and then back to Port Gruž four times a week in summer — handy if you want to visit both places in one day.
• Advance tickets are recommended for the boat to Lokrum to avoid long ticket-buying lines.
• The Red History Museum has changed its off-season closed day from Tuesday to Sunday.

For books printed before August 2023, the following may also apply:

• Dubrovnik's city walls now cost €40 to enter. While it's now possible to make reservations, you'll still have to contend with crowds and heat on top of the wall, so visiting early or late remains the best plan.
• The Pelješac Bridge has finally opened, making it possible to avoid the little stretch of Bosnian coastline when driving between Dubrovnik and Split.
• The interior of the Dominican monastery church may still be closed for renovation during your visit.
• The shuttle bus from the airport no longer stops at the Pile Gate in the Old Town. If you're staying near the gate, ride the airport shuttle to the bus station, then take a public bus (or taxi) to Pile Gate.

For books printed before September 2025, the following may apply:

• Entry to the town walls is now €15 (free Dec–Feb). The walls are open daily May–Sept 7:00–20:00, with shorter hours Oct–April. From December through February, the walls are open 24 hours daily, no ticket required.

• Tickets for state-run archaeological sites and museums are best bought on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, which saves time over buying them in-person, and money over buying them from third-party vendors. Each time slot lasts an hour, and you must enter during that window (with a 15-minute grace period on both ends), but once inside you can stay as long as you like. Off-season (Nov–March), these state-run sights are free on the first and third Sunday of the month.
• The phone number for the US embassy in Athens is now +30 21072 12951.
• The Canadian government's website for travel and tourism in Greece (including embassy information) is now at www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/greece-grece.

• Tickets for state-run sights, including the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Forum, Library of Hadrian, National Archaeological Museum, and the Temple of Zeus (Olympieion), are best bought on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, which saves time over buying them in-person, and money over buying them from third-party vendors. Each time slot lasts an hour, and you must enter during that window (with a 15-minute grace period on both ends), but once inside you can stay as long as you like. Off-season (Nov–March), these state-run sights are free on the first and third Sunday of the month.
• The Acropolis is now open 8:00–20:00 in summer, Sept until 19:00, Oct until 18:00, Nov–March until 17:00. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your reserved time. There is no longer a combo-ticket for the Acropolis.
• To see the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building (Sundays at 11:00), it's smart to arrive 30 minutes early.
• The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is closed for renovations through summer 2025.
• The tourist police have a line in English and other languages, 1571, for emergencies and help with other issues, such directions and disputes with locals (answered 7:00–22:00, sometimes 24 hours). For emergencies you can also call 122 (24 hours, typically English-speaking operators). There's a tourist police visitor-help office east of the Central Market in Psyrri (7:30–22:00, Dragatsaniou 4, +30 210 322 2230).
• The Museum of Modern Greek Culture is now closed on Tuesdays.
• The Athens & Epidavros Festival has a new phone number for info — +30 21092 82900 — along with an additional phone number for tickets: +30 21180 08181.
• The AthensTourTaxi has two new phone numbers: +30 211 214 0683 and mobile +30 693 229 5395.
• Cine Paris has a new phone number: +30 21180 52996.
• The Zillers hotel has a new phone number: +30 21032 22277.
• Athens 4 hotel has a new phone number: +30 21032 24524.
• Aneton restaurant has a new phone number: +30 21080 66700.
• Taverna Thanasis has a new phone number: +30 21032 44705.
• Blend hotel has closed.
• The Sgourda dishware company in the Central Market has closed.
• The Ancient Greek Sandals shop (at Kolokotroni 1) has closed.
• Oineas restaurant has closed.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may also apply:

• Metro line 3/blue (running from the airport through central Athens to the cruise port of Piraeus and beyond) has been completed.
• The National Archaeological Museum now opens a half-hour later on Tuesdays, and opens/closes a half-hour earlier on most days in the winter (Wed–Mon 8:00–20:00, Nov–March 8:30–15:30; Tue 13:00–20:00 year-round)
• The National Gallery has reopened after a major renovation.
• The Museum of Greek Popular Instruments has been renamed the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• A second entrance — on the south side of the Acropolis — is now open across the street from the Acropolis Museum. It is often less crowded than the west entrance.
• The two "back-door" exits from the Agora, at the South Gate and to the Apostolou Pavlou pedestrian street, are closed. Visitors to the Agora can only enter and exit at the main entrance on Adrianou street.
• The Theater of Dionysus can only be visited from within the Acropolis site; admission is included with Acropolis ticket.
• The Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture is no longer open until 24:00 on Saturdays (it's still open Thursdays until 24:00).
• The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments (formerly the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments), previously free, is now €3. It also has new opening hours: Wed–Mon 8:30–16:00, closed Tuesdays.
• A few other Athens museums are now closed Tuesdays instead of Mondays: the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture, and the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments.
• The Library of Hadrian is now open daily 8:00–20:00 (shorter hours off-season).
• The Roman Forum is now open daily 8:00–20:00.
• Uber operates as UberTaxi in Athens. You'll still book your ride through the app, but a taxi will pick you up. Rates to and from the airport are fixed, so Uber won't save you money on this route (but may still be useful for the convenience and familiarity).
• George's Taxi has a new email address: [email protected].
• Olympic Traveller taxis is now Tune in Tours and has new contact info: +30 210 653 7209, mobile +30 697 320 1213, [email protected]. Tune in Tours have also taken over the tour company Greek Travelling.
• The Sunshine Express tourist train is now only for private tours.
• The main tourist information office near the Acropolis now stays open later all week (Mon–Fri 8:00–21:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00). Their new email address is [email protected].
• All Metro lines except Line 1 start running at 5:30 (Line 1 starts at 5:00).
• When using the Metro, it's now required that riders scan their ticket at the turnstile each time they start and end a journey. For buses, scan your ticket as you board.
• Athens' transit system is gradually transitioning from single-use paper tickets to multiride "passes" and a smart card system that's reusable and rechargeable. The multiride passes are available as paper tickets with 2, 5, or 11 rides (appears as "10+1" on ticket machines). They offer a slight per-ride discount and do not expire, but cannot be shared between people.
• Melissinos Art sandal shop has moved to Tzireon 16, two blocks down Athanasiou Diakou from the Akropoli metro station in Makrigianni.
• Gazi College Eatery has closed.
• Tylixto Greek Wrap restaurant is now Ermina's Grill House.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Delos Archaeological Museum is under renovation and may be closed during your visit.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Local guide Antonis Pothitos's new email is [email protected].
• The Mykonos Folklore Museum is now closed Sunday year-round.
• The Mykonos Archaeological Museum has new hours: daily 9:00–18:00, Thu–Sat until 21:00, closed Tue, shorter hours Nov–March.
• Restaurant Madoupas has closed.
• Hellenic Seaways no longer runs ferries between Mykonos and Santorini. SeaJets still runs.

• In Fira, the White Door Theater is now known as the Greek Wedding Show.
• Hotel Aethrio is now called Aethrio Sunset Village.
• Kamares Apartments has a new phone number: +30 22860 28110.
• Pelican Travel agency is no longer in operation.
• Along the Fira Walk, Diporto (selling local products and wine) has closed.
• Palia Kameni Cocktail Bar is now PK Cocktail Bar.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may also apply:

• The Folklore Museum has closed indefinitely.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Lolita's Gelato is now closed Sunday.
• Akrotiri is now closed Monday off-season. Its new hours are April–Oct daily 8:00–20:00, Nov–March Tue–Sun 8:00–15:00.
• The Museum of Prehistoric Thira has new hours: daily 8:30–16:00, Nov–March until 15:00.
• Ancient Thira has new hours: Wed–Mon 8:00–16:00, closed Tuesday, shorter hours off-season.

• The Achilleion Palace is closed for renovation; the gardens remain open for visitors.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Museum of the History of Excavations at the Sanctuary of Olympia has closed.