Guidebook Updates for ‘Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports’

• On the centenary of Gaudí’s death, Casa Batlló has opened its second floor as a gallery that will host two exhibitions of contemporary art per year. The gallery can be accessed as part of the full Casa Batlló visit, or with a separate ticket (starting at €15).
• The correct email address for the tour company Spanish Wanderlust is [email protected].

For books printed before May 2026, the following may also apply:

• The TMB app, from Barcelona's Metro and bus company, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, provides information on buses and trains but currently does not easily allow ticket purchases by foreign travelers. Fortunately most tickets and day passes are sold at machines at Metro stations and some bus stops, and you can tap-to-pay for buses as you board.
• Designed-for-tourists Hola Barcelona travel cards cover unlimited travel for two or more days on the Metro, bus, or Montjuic funicular, and include Metro service between the city and the airport. These cards are cheaper when purchased on the Hola Barcelona app, but travelers still may need to print the ticket at a machine using the voucher number received when purchased. Single tickets and other multiday tickets (T-Casual, T-Dia, and T-Familiar) are not sold on the Hola Barcelona app.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• 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 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.
• The Barri Gòtic street Sant Doménec del Call (mentioned in directions between stops 17 and 18) has been renamed "Carrer de Salomó Ben Adret."
• The Barcelona City Walk map shows two tourist information offices that have closed (on Plaça de Sant Jaume and on Plaça Nova, inside the Catalan College of Architects). A new office has opened nearby on Pla de la Seu, next to the cathedral.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may apply:

• 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 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].

• L'Ovale restaurant in Nice has closed.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• 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.

• The Jardin Exotique (formerly the "Jardin Botanique") has reopened.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• Bus #601 (not #100) runs eastbound from Nice, stopping in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Monaco.

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.

• The Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens are undergoing a major two-year renovation that may result in temporary closures of some areas or rooms, and relocation of artworks.
• The Bardi Chapel at Santa Croce has reopened.
• At Santa Maria Novella Church, the restoration of Masaccio's Trinity fresco (the first painting of modern times to portray three-dimensional space) is complete.
• The T2 tram now the airport with Piazza San Marco, with intermediate stops that include the Santa Maria Novella train station and Piazza della Libertà.

For books printed before June 2026, the following may also apply:

• Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery are available through the museum's official website. We recommend booking a timed-entry reservation at least a month in advance.
• The correct URL for the website of Exclusive Connection, a service offering specialized tours and museum bookings in Florence and around Italy, is exclusiveconnection.it.
• The Treasury of Grand Dukes at the Pitti Palace is temporarily closed for maintenance work (as of April 2026).

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• The ticket office Opera Your Preview has closed.

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

• 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 Oltrarno 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, valid for 72 hours, covers entry to the five sights run by the Bargello: the Medici Chapels, Orsanmichele Church, Palazzo Davanzati, Casa Martelli, and the Bargello itself.
• 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, and the small Porcelain Museum in the Bardini Gardens, behind the palace, may be closed during your visit.
• 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 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 our Florence audio tours, these older updates also apply:

• A few room numbers have changed on the Uffizi's top floor since our audio tour was last updated: Room A1 is now A5, the Tribune Room is now numbered A16 (not A15), and art from northern Europe is no longer usually displayed in Room 42. (You may encounter further changes during/after the gallery's 2026–2028 renovation project.)

For books printed before January 2026, the following may apply:

• La Bottega del Parco shop (on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), mentioned in our self-guided 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 January 2026, the following may apply:

• 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.
• 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 Trevi Fountain now charges visitors €2 to enter the basin area between 9:00 and 22:00.
• The Vatican Museums hours are now Mon–Sat 8:00–20:00.
• It's no longer necessary to book in advance for the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill; all visitors get in the same line to enter.
• The Borghese Gallery's website is now at galleriaborghese.cultura.gov.it.
• At St. Peter's Basilica, the Swiss guards who hand out free tickets for the papal audience are not immediately to the left of the basilica entrance (those guards are silent). They are farther left, beyond the colonnade (ask at the gift shop).
• The church at St. Peter's Basilica now stays open until 20:00 in high season, and until 19:00 off-season.
• At the Pantheon, it's generally not necessary to book tickets in advance. Of the three lines — cash payments, credit-card payments (machines), and entry for advance-ticket holders — the advance-ticket holder line is usually the longest. Note the ticket desk for cash payments closes one hour before the sight closes.
• For tickets to the Pope's general audience (available a month or two in advance), you can now email a request to [email protected]. Include your requested date, the number of tickets, your name, mailing address, and phone number.
• Public-transit prices did not end up rising for 2026 as much as initially announced. As of September 2026 the standard fare remains at €1.50 (valid for 100 minutes); day passes are €8.50 / €15 / €22 (for 24 / 48 / 72 hours), and week-long passes €29.
• Rome's Metro C Line has been recently extended west past the San Giovanni stop to two new stops: Porta Metronia (just southwest of the San Giovanni in Lateran church) and Colosseo (near the Colosseum). The shiny new Colosseo C Line stop is located across Via dei Fori Imperiali from the Colosseo B Line stop and they connect underground.
• To get from the Bagni di Tivoli train station to Hadrian's Villa, take bus #18, which is blue (no longer bus #4 or #4a). It runs about every 45 minutes from the stop in front of the train station (buy ticket at Il Pozzo dei Deisideri bar behind the stop). This same bus continues from Hadrian's Villa to the town of Tivoli, where you can visit Villa d'Este.
• To reach Tivoli, it's best to take an express train from Tiburtina station, rather than the less frequent trains from Termini (trains run 3/hr from Tiburtina compared to 5/day from Termini).
• The Galleria Doria Pamphilj is now closed on Wednesdays.
• Castel Sant'Angelo is now open the first Monday of each month from 14:00-20:00 with reduced admission.
• The small museum at Ostia Antica is open Tue–Sun 9:30–17:30 during peak season. Check the website for additional hours.
• The Circus and Villa of Maxentius is no longer free (now €7.50). They now offer extended hours on summer weekends. New hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00; June–Sept Sat–Sun until 19:00.
• The Catacombs of San Sebastiano are now closed on Mondays.
• The 15-minute service at the Tomb of St. Ignatius in the Gesù Church only takes place on Sat-Sun.
• Hydromania Water Park tickets must be purchased online.
• Local guide Alessandra Mazzoccoli has a new email address: [email protected].
• Hotel Nazionale now only offers prepaid, nonrefundable reservations.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• You can now enter the Roman Forum from Via Foro Romano, on the Forum's west side, below Capitoline Hill (this side of the area was previously exit-only). This entry tends to be less crowded than others, and you can buy entry tickets here as well.
• 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 21:00, 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.

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

• 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.
• At St. Peter's Basilica, the ticket office for the dome climb (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 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 our Rome audio tours, these older updates also apply:

• The Feltrinelli bookstore within Galleria Alberto Sordi has closed (mentioned in our Heart of Rome audio tour).
• The shortcut exit from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's Basilica, shown on the St. Peter's Basilica Audio Tour map, is no longer an option for independent travelers (it's strictly for tour groups and the exit is monitored).
• The Vatican post office branch shown on the right side of the St. Peter's Basilica Audio Tour map 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).

• In the sixth edition of Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports, the map that accompanies the self-guided Naples Walk (pages 500–501) is missing some key elements; here's a PDF of the corrected version.
• A multi-year renovation at the Archaeological Museum in Naples has closed some rooms and may affect our guidebooks' self-guided tour. While the museum's Farnese sculpture collection is closed to the public, visitors are still guaranteed access to the Farnese gems.

For books printed before April 2025, the following may also 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.

• Tickets for the Pompeii archaeological site are now available online only through Vivaticket.it (account registration required for ticket purchase).

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• 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.

• Capri's circle-the-island boat tours no longer stop at the Blue Grotto, but you can opt for a circle-the-island ticket that includes a direct, round-trip transfer to another boat that will take you to the Blue Grotto. More information is available at the boat companies' websites: motoscafisticapri.com or lasercapri.com.
• While the stairs between Sorrento's port and Piazza Tasso are under construction, you can reach the waterfront via the elevator at Villa Comunale park, or from the stairs behind the recommend Ristorante il Buco.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• 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 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 April 2027, the following may apply:

• Vaporetti are transitioning to tap-to-pay for all fares; paper passes will likely be discontinued by 2027.
• The Fondaco dei Tedeschi and its top-floor view terrace have closed.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• St. Mark's Basilica now requires visitors to book timed-entry tickets online to visit the interior. Tickets are available 45 days in advance for time slots at 30-minute intervals. The ticketing change comes with hefty price increases: It now costs €10 to visit just the basilica; €20 to also see the Golden Altarpiece; and €30 for the basilica, altarpiece, and San Marco Museum.

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

• For details on the city's "access fee," see 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 the 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.
• San Giorgio Maggiore charges a mandatory €8 "donation" to climb the bell tower, which must be paid in cash. (Plan ahead, as the island has no ATMs.)
• 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 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.

• The restaurant Nishta has closed.

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.

• Sights run by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (that is, most major ancient sites) are now online at hh.gr.

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

• 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 the Acropolis Museum are sold on the museum's own website.
• The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is closed for renovations that are expected to be underway until late 2029, though some of its collection may go on display well before the project is completed.

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

• 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 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 November 2025, the following may apply:

• The White Door Theater in Fira 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.
• Diporto (selling local products and wine, mentioned in the book's Fira Walk) has closed.
• Palia Kameni Cocktail Bar is now PK Cocktail Bar.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may apply:

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

For books printed before April 2027, the following may apply:

• The Istanbul MuseumPass is now easily available online as a QR code to show at any museum covered by the pass. Beware scam sites and unauthorized resellers fraudulently selling the pass — buy only via the official Muze.gov.tr site. Also beware scammers selling fake individual tickets to Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace (unlike the pass, individual tickets are available only in person).
• At Topkapı Palace, there is no Harem-only ticket. The $50 combo-ticket (currently the only available option) includes the palace, Harem, and nearby Hagia Irene.
• Pre-paid tickets to the Basilica Cistern (a.k.a. the Underground Cistern) are now available online.
• The Chora Church has reopened as both a mosque and museum following a years-long restoration effort. The central nave is now part of the functioning mosque, so it is only open to men (but visitors can view its attractions from the doorway). Admission is about $21 (audioguide available for $6). Hours: Sat–Thu 9:00–11:00, Fridays open only for Muslim worship. A strict dress code is being enforced for the entire church, including the museum. Women need to have heads fully covered and men must have shoulders and knees fully covered. Headscarves ($2) and body covers ($4) can be purchased on site. Visitors must now enter the mosque grounds on the north side, from Kariye Türbesi Sokak, and walk around to the mosque-museum's entrance on the south side of the building, passing through security on the way.

For books printed before January 2026, the following may also apply:

• Tap-to-pay is now accepted on all public transit in Istanbul. The price of each individual ride is higher than when using the İstanbulKart, but only slightly. The İstanbulKart now costs about $4. All rides still cost about $1, except for the Marmaray train to Asia (each ride now about $2).