- Data from Kiwi.com, the world’s leading online travel agency, points to a sharp increase in bookings* for travel from Spain to northern Italy coinciding with the Winter Olympics, which will take place from 6 to 22 February.
- According to the company, the number of passengers has increased by 180% and bookings have almost tripled (+193%) for travel to Milan and other nearby cities during the first three weeks of February, compared to the same period in 2025.
Although Rome remains the main attraction for Spanish travellers, Kiwi.com confirms the boom in bookings to destinations such as Milan — which is by far the largest and most accessible airport for attending the event — Venice and Bologna. Specifically, bookings to the capital of fashion and design have more than doubled (+172%), while Bologna and Venice are following the same trend, recording increases of 164% and 280%, respectively. Venice airport is strategically located closer to the ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where alpine skiing, curling and bobsleigh competitions will be held. It is also worth noting that the interest in Venice coincides with its iconic Carnival, which transforms the city into a fantasy setting until 17 February.
Other cities in northern Italy, such as Turin, Verona and Trieste, are also seeing increased demand, with increases of 180% in the case of the first two, and 40% in the case of the city known as ‘the least Italian city in Italy’. The most popular routes in the region are Madrid-Milan, Seville-Milan and Madrid-Venice.
“For three weeks, the eyes of the whole world will be fixed on the snowy slopes and icy surfaces of northern Italy. This contact perfectly illustrates the impact that major sporting events can have on travel demand. Our data reflects a clear interest on the part of Spanish travellers to enjoy the Olympic atmosphere live, even if only for a few days,” said Daniela Chovancová, PR Manager at Kiwi.com.
Seventy-three per cent of bookings are for stays of up to three days. There is a longer booking window this February, averaging 51 days, compared to 48 days in 2025. The average ticket price remains stable in both years, not exceeding £90. Solo bookings predominate (41%), up 8% from February 2025, closely followed by couple bookings (40%). The most popular days to travel are, in order, 13, 6 and 20 February.
Forza Italia!
The Winter Olympics not only attract Spaniards, but also generate great interest around the world. Overall, international bookings to travel to Italy are set to nearly double (+80%) in 2026 compared to 2025, with an average spend on flights of €95 in 2026. The upward trend also applies to northern Italy, which has already seen an 85% increase. Given their proximity and cultural affinity, Spanish travellers are the main nationality visiting northern Italy, along with Romanians, Poles and British. However, the emerging source markets in 2026 are Finland, Latvia and Slovenia.
The average stay remains at four days this year, with an average booking window of 51 days. Rome, Milan, Venice, Catania and Naples top the list of favourite destinations among international travellers. Milan, Venice and Bologna are also emerging as booming destinations this year, with increases of more than 70% in bookings compared to last year.
Data analysed: trips between 2 and 23 February 2026, booked before 27 January, and the equivalent period in 2025.
About KIWI.COM
Kiwi.com is a leading global online travel agency based in the Czech Republic. Its innovative algorithm allows users to find unique routes and prices that other search engines cannot see, performing billions of price searches on global flight content every day. Every day, 100 million searches are performed on the Kiwi.com website and its associated channels.
Source: SERGAT Comunicación