A-levels, Trainline: post-exam getaways to the seaside – here are the top destinations for summer 2026

For thousands of young Italians, the end of the Maturità marks much more than just the conclusion of a series of exams: it’s the start of summer, independence and new adventures. Whether it’s their first trip with friends, a long-awaited city break or a chance to discover a new destination before starting university or work, travelling has become one of the most eagerly anticipated post-exam rituals for young people across the country. In fact, recent research by Trainline into travel trends has revealed that almost two-thirds of Generation Z travellers choose to travel with friends, making the shared experience a defining feature of today’s youth travel.

The analysis

And to find out which destinations travellers chose this summer, Trainline – Europe’s leading platform for booking train and coach journeys – analysed rail travel trends for the first two weekends following the end of the Maturità exams.

The analysis highlights a clear preference for seaside resorts: Bari (+94%), Lecce (+69%), Lamezia Terme (+55%), Rimini (+39%) and La Spezia (+32%) are, in fact, among the destinations that recorded the largest increases in passenger numbers during the post-exam period. Although Rome recorded the sharpest growth on a weekly basis and Milan on a monthly basis amongst the cities analysed, the destinations chosen by travellers suggest that, with the arrival of summer, many young Italians are opting for seaside resorts over city breaks. But where do young Italians go after their Maturità exams? Bari, Lecce, Lamezia Terme, Rimini and La Spezia have emerged as the destinations that recorded the largest increases in passenger numbers in the period following the Maturità exams, highlighting a clear preference for seaside holidays and summer adventures. The analysis also identified particularly popular routes departing from major Italian cities, with destinations in Puglia, Calabria, Liguria and along the Adriatic coast proving very popular with travellers.