Tuscany records 27.5 million overnight stays in summer 2026

Tuscany recorded an estimated 27.5 million overnight stays during the 2026 summer season, as tourism continued to grow modestly across the region.

The number of overnight stays increased by 0.8% compared with the previous year, while tourist arrivals reached approximately 6.8 million, according to a survey carried out by the Florence-based Centro Studi Turistici for Toscana Promozione Turistica, the regional tourism promotion agency.

The estimates are based on a sample of 765 accommodation businesses across Tuscany.

Foreign visitors drive growth

International tourism was the main contributor to the increase. Overnight stays by foreign visitors rose by an estimated 0.9% to around 15 million, compared with approximately 12.5 million stays by Italian tourists, up 0.6%.

Both hotels and other forms of accommodation recorded growth. Hotel stays increased by an estimated 0.7%, while non-hotel accommodation was up 0.8%.

The figures also show significant differences between destinations.

Tuscany’s mountain areas recorded the strongest increase, with overnight stays up 4.9%. Countryside and hill destinations followed with growth of 1.5%, while coastal resorts recorded a 1.1% increase.

Cities and art destinations, which include some of Tuscany’s best-known cultural centres, moved in the opposite direction, with overnight stays down an estimated 0.2%. Spa destinations recorded a larger decline of 0.8%.

The figures suggest that tourism growth during the summer was stronger outside Tuscany’s traditional urban destinations.

Mixed picture among international markets

Visitor numbers increased particularly from France, Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium. More moderate growth was reported from Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavian countries, Brazil, Switzerland and Hungary.

Tourism from the United Kingdom, Canada and China remained broadly stable.

The survey found declines from several other important international markets, including Germany and the United States, as well as Spain, Japan, India and Australia.

September bookings remain slightly ahead

The positive trend is expected to continue into September, although at a slower pace.

Bookings currently indicate an estimated 6.5 million overnight stays during the month, representing growth of around 0.2%.

The outlook for the final months of 2026 is less certain. Around 34% of the accommodation businesses surveyed expect demand to decline during the last quarter of the year, while 8.6% anticipate further growth.

The summer figures are preliminary estimates rather than final official tourism statistics. Tuscany’s official accommodation data are collected through the regional statistical system and remain provisional until confirmed by Italy’s national statistics agency, Istat.

(Cover photo: Torre Mozza, via Wikipedia)

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