Weather in Italy
When is the best time to travel in Italy and where?
We have gathered all the information you need to know about the weather in Italy and its impact on your decision of when is the right time to travel and where to explore in Italy. Below, you will find answers regarding the weather in Italy divided by seasons, months, and key cities and travel regions.
Italy is a beautiful country with stunning landscapes, rich history and culture, and some of the best gastronomy in the world. The boot-shaped land has 20 diverse regions: amazing art cities, breathtaking mountains and passes, hundreds of kilometers of beaches, and rural areas that are a must-visit. Each of these regions is different from one another not only in terrain, culture, and food but also in weather, so it is essential to choose wisely where to travel and when.
Regarding the weather in Italy, it can generally be said that summers are hot and winters are cold; however, due to global warming and frequent climate changes worldwide, the weather in Italy is also unpredictable. Therefore, it is advisable to check the updated weather conditions for the specific cities or areas you plan to visit about a week before your trip to Italy, so you can better determine whether to pack sunglasses or an umbrella (or both).
A great weather website for Italy is www.3bmeteo.com (in Italian) which is reliable and will allow you to get the most accurate updates for the specific travel area you intend to visit.
So when is the best time to travel to Italy?
The answer undoubtedly depends on a considerable number of factors. For many of you, the possible travel period is predetermined and cannot be changed due to reasons such as studies, work, children’s vacations, and more. Your travel date also depends on your interests (skiing, art, history, archaeology, the sea, soccer).
Our recommendations below are primarily for those travelers who have flexibility in deciding on the time period for traveling to Italy.
We have divided the recommendations on the weather in Italy and when to travel there in such a way that everyone can find answers to the central question:
When is the best time to travel to Italy?
The recommendations are divided by recommended travel seasons, month-by-month suggestions, recommendations for major cities, and at the end suggestions for popular travel regions.
The best thing about Italy is that you can visit in all seasons. Each season has its advantages and disadvantages, but with the right planning, you can visit in any of them. The fact that Italy is narrow and long creates different temperatures in different regions at the exact same time.
Here are our recommendations according to the seasons:
Spring in Italy (March-April-May):
Spring is a great time to travel to Italy and to most of the regions, especially since it comes just before the summer period which is both hot in most regions and also very busy and crowded.
Spring is a great season to be:
In the major art cities: Rome Florence, Milan, and Venice. Pleasant and inexpensive.
In southern Italy before temperatures rise.
In the rural areas of Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, Piedmont and Marche – flowering is at its peak.
In the northern lakes: Maggiore, Garda and Como before they get flooded with tourists and locals.
Since Easter falls during this period you can find countless small towns that celebrate the holiday events in a special way.
To sum up: Spring is an amazing time to travel to Italy and you can also find reasonable flight prices with a variety of special offers.
Summer in Italy (June-July-August):
Summer in Italy is the peak season, in almost all regions. It is important to make a distinction in this period between the months of June / July and the month of August.
In the mountains, lakes, along the beaches and islands – August is the busiest and warmest month of all. The stunning coastlines such as the Amalfi coastline, the Italian Riviera, the coasts of Sardinia, Sicily and Calabria – are all extremely laden and accommodation prices sky high. In July and September – prices are much more reasonable.
On the other hand, especially in the big cities (Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan) the month of August is MID SEASON both in terms of the number of tourists and in terms of accommodation prices, for the simple reason that most Italians flee the big cities for their summer vacation. Since hotels in the big cities depend on business tourism and conferences, and in August there are almost none, hotel prices in August fall significantly. July and August on one hand are hot in the big cities, but on the other hand not expensive at all.
Summer is the best and most recommended time to hike in the mountains. The Dolomites, the Alps, the Apennines – all the highlands of Italy with its plethora of small towns, endless walking trails and clear air – are perfect in this time.
Those of you who love the sea and beaches – there is nothing like the beaches of Italy. About 7500 km of amazing beaches with a pleasant and comfortable water temperature awaits you.
Autumn in Italy (September – October – November):
The autumn period is the best time to travel – and to all of Italy. The number of tourists is dwindling, much less hot, much less expensive (except for the big cities where in September and October you will find the highest prices in the year).
During the fall, most areas change their colors which makes the trip to the country like travelling in a painting. This is the main vintage period along the boot so there is a good chance of finding wine festivals. During this time, is the famous truffles harvest. This is a perfect time to travel to Italy.
One caveat – in some high mountain areas, Dolomites and Alps, tourist sites and hotels begin to close in early October.
Winter in Italy (December – January – February):
Italy is one of the few countries that you can travel to it even in winter. The flow of tourists is declining, and this is a time when you can travel mainly to the big art cities and find low prices. Flights are especially cheap; hotels are just waiting for you, museums without queues and without a lot of tourists. Even in the countryside you can walk in peace and quiet, although not everything is open. Worth checking out before.
On the other hand all the mountainous areas become in the winter crowded ski resorts and full of tourists and locals. The most expensive month in these areas is February, and the cheapest is December.
The winter in Italy is not extreme. The snow piled up mostly in the mountains and occasionally in the big cities as well.
Italy invites you to travel in all seasons. Get a breakdown by the months of the year so that you can make as accurate a decision as possible, in which month it is best for you to travel to Italy.
January:
A particularly cold month, few tourists and reasonable prices in all regions, except for the ski resorts in the mountains, where winter sports are in full swing. January can be a good month in all regions, but remember that Epiphany is celebrated in Italy on January 6th every year. Around this date the Italians continue their holiday and prices are slightly higher. As from the 7th, the Sale season begins all over Italy – a good enough reason to come and enjoy huge discounts.
January is best for: Ski vacation, visit the big cities (museums and churches) and for anyone looking for sales and shopping.
February:
February is still a cold month all over Italy. The peak month in the ski resorts and hence the most expensive. In addition, during this period (40 days before Easter, the dates are changing from year to year), the various carnival celebrations take place throughout the Catholic world in general and in Italy in particular. In those ten days of celebration: Venice, Viareggio, Verona, Ivrea and many other cities and towns celebrates the carnival, so hotels are full and the prices accordingly.
February is best for: ski vacation, visit to the various carnivals, and visit the big cities (museums and churches).
March:
The perfect month for travelling all over Italy. Winter is coming to an end and hence it is not yet crowded with tourists. It is starting to warm up and this is a great time for hiking.
March is best for: A visit to the big cities in southern Italy (Sicily, Apulia, Calabria), cheap ski holidays.
April:
The first month of Spring. Not so cold and can even be warm and cozy. Most of the tourist sites that were closed in the winter are starting to open and the Easter celebrations is approaching. During the ten days of the holiday (again, the exact dates varies from year to year) most of the tourist sites in the big cities are filled again with tourists and locals.
April is best for: Big cities, northern lakes, Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coastline and the southern islands of Sicily and Sardinia.
May:
May is an amazing mid-season month and without a doubt one of the best months to travel to Italy. Warm and pleasant weather, still not too crowded and almost all sites are already fully open. Bear in mind that Italy celebrates – May 1st – International Workers’ Day, when Italians take a few days off.
May is best for: Big cities, northern lakes and all regions of central and southern Italy.
June:
The beginning of the summer. Temperatures are rising and so is the number of tourists. Mountainous areas are fully open to tourists. The first part is more relaxed – the second part is busier. Towards the end of the month there is already a noticeable load of people as in most European countries students are already going on their summer vacation.
June is best for: Dolomites and the Alps, Big cities, northern lakes and the regions of Apulia, Calabria and Basilicata.
July:
Welcome to one of the hottest months in Italy. The peak season and almost the peak of the summer. It’s hot everywhere other than in the mountainous areas. Prices are high and most of the touristic sites in the mountains, big cities and along the beaches and lakes are tiredly crowded, with both tourists and Italians. In the first week of July the Summer Sale celebrations begin and throughout Italy prices drop dramatically in all areas of trade. A good enough reason to come to Italy in July.
July is best for: A trip to the least crowded regions: Basilicata in the south, Abruzzo and Marche in the center, Friuli and Valle D’Aosta in the north.
August:
The month when Italians and tourists are visiting all possible touristic sites, other than the big cities. The roads are congested, all the tourist sites are in their full capacity and if we add it to also being the hottest month of the year, then you will understand that this is the month that is seemingly the least comfortable and worth visiting. But not exactly.
The big cities are emptying of their inhabitants, who are on vacation and hence it is much easier to travel in them, it’s somehow less crowded and hotel prices lower. The “hottest” date in this month is Aug. 15th, Ferragosto holiday – in which the Catholic Church celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
This is the busiest date outside the cities. Therefore, please note that between Aug.10-20 especially in the big cities you will come across shops and restaurants that are closed since the locals are on holiday.
August is best for: family trips of all kind and everywhere, big cities for those who are not really bothered by the heat.
September:
End of summer and the beginning of autumn. The locals have already returned home but on the other hand the influx of tourists who wanted to avoid arriving in the busy month of August, are starting to flock to the boot country again. To where exactly? To all the Regions. In the big cities, hotel prices are rising again. On the other hand, in the northern lakes, the Dolomites, the Alps and along the sea shores, the amounts of tourists decrease and so does the cost of accommodation. Less hot and more pleasant. September begins with the wine vintage in southern and central Italy and hence many local celebrations, known as SAGRE, will happily welcome you. It is recommended to aim to the second half of September.
September is best for: Couples trips throughout Italy. Perfect time for hiking trips.
October:
October is perfect for trips to Italy. In the big cities, despite the relatively high accommodation prices, the weather is excellent and it is no longer hot. In the mountains of northern Italy the weather is cool but still allows for hiking with quite a few sunny days. Along the beaches, for those who do not have to catch a suntan, this is a great time to enjoy and combine nature with amazing little towns. But most importantly – October is the most beautiful month in Italy in terms of colors. Italy is painted in red, orange, yellow and green, the colors of fall. Wow. Also in October you will find many vintage areas, mainly in the north, which creates an abundance of local gastronomic celebrations known as SAGRE. Accommodation prices outside the big cities are also dropping significantly, so this is definitely one of our favorite months to visit Italy.
October is best for: rural districts such as Tuscany, Piedmont, Marche, Emilia Romagna and for anyone for whom gastronomy is the main reason to visit Italy.
November:
In the past, November was synonymous with the beginning of winter, rain and a month that was not included in tourism. With global warming, November has become one of the favorite months for travellers to Italy. In terms of weather – cool and pleasant. Still not very cold although it’s considered the wettest month. But, a reminder, in the big cities the rain should never be what prevents you from visiting, as these cities have endless indoor tourist sites (museums, churches and more) and if we add the low number of tourists comparing to other seasons, much less queues and hotel prices that are really low, November becomes a very attractive option, with savings of at least 25-30%, in flight and accommodation compared to the peak seasons. By the end of November Italy is already preparing itself for Christmas and you will also be able to enjoy the special Christmas markets getting ready for the masses of shoppers.
November is best for: Those who want to travel and save, while enjoying the big cities that are just waiting for you.
December:
In December the Italians are ready to welcome the New Year. Although it is one of the coldest months of the year, the second half of the month is already packed with Italians going on Christmas break. The big cities are full of colorful markets and the decorated streets are inviting and highly recommended. Despite the relatively cold weather, the impending holiday atmosphere will allow you to experience a different, colorful and special Italy. Hotel prices in the first half of December are very favorable but rise slightly towards the second half. The ski resorts have long been waiting for you with natural snow or the artificial snow cannons create.
December is best for: cheap ski holidays, Christmas market trips and New Year’s celebrations in the big cities.
The big cities
There is nothing like traveling to Italy in the spring or fall. The weather is pleasant and not too crowded with tourists. This part is dedicated to the major cities: Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, each with its own accurate details.
In general, midweek is a less busy than weekends when the locals are also travelling.
When is it best to visit Rome?
The best time to visit the eternal city is in the spring (April and May) and mid / late fall (late September till early November). During this period, hotel prices are relatively high comparing to other seasons, but the weather is excellent. Not too hot and not cold and most importantly it is not too crowded.
In the winter months (December – January – February) it is very cold on the one hand but cheaper on the other. In the summer months (July-August) it is very hot and crowded with tourists, but hotel prices are cheaper.
Since the Vatican state is within Rome, there are countless religious events that take place throughout the year. Most important of all is Easter, celebrated by the entire Christian world. Bear in mind that during this time, some tourist’s attractions will be closed for a day or two. Don’t forget to check before.
| Rome | Average temp. Celsius | Average temp. Fahrenheit | Average rainy days per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8 | 46 | 7 |
| February | 9 | 47 | 6 |
| March | 12 | 53 | 7 |
| April | 14 | 57 | 9 |
| May | 21 | 69 | 7 |
| June | 23 | 73 | 4 |
| July | 26 | 78 | 4 |
| August | 24 | 75 | 0 |
| September | 22 | 71 | 6 |
| October | 18 | 64 | 8 |
| November | 13 | 55 | 8 |
| December | 10 | 49 | 9 |
When is it best to visit Venice?
The best time to travel to Venice is during the transition seasons. April till May and from mid-September to the end of October. During this period the weather is very pleasant and there are fewer tourists than in the summer season. On the other hand, during this period hotel prices are relatively high. In winter there are not many tourists in Venice and the touristic sites are not crowded, but it is very cold so if you are looking for a warm place, you will find it only in the museums and churches. Venice wakes up in the winter and in a huge way to celebrate ten days of the “Venice Mask Carnival” which usually takes place in February or early March (varies from year to year). During these days Venice is becoming super busy and crowded with tourists, especially on the weekends. Hotel prices are very high.
During the winter you will encounter the rising water phenomenon in the city called ACQUA ALTA – which slightly limits the traffic within the city but on the other hand makes the experience in Venice unforgettable.
The summer months (July-August) are hot and humid. Hotel prices are slightly low compared to other months of the year. The city is packed with tourists from all over the world and thousands of cruise ship tourists fill its narrow alleys. Venice is usually busier on weekends than in the middle of the week.
When is it best to visit Florence?
| Venice | Average temp. Celsius | Average temp. Fahrenheit | Average rainy days per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 | 37 | 8 |
| February | 5 | 41 | 6 |
| March | 8 | 46 | 8 |
| April | 12 | 54 | 12 |
| May | 17 | 63 | 11 |
| June | 20 | 68 | 11 |
| July | 23 | 73 | 9 |
| August | 23 | 73 | 9 |
| September | 20 | 68 | 9 |
| October | 14 | 57 | 10 |
| November | 8 | 46 | 11 |
| December | 4 | 39 | 10 |
The most recommended period to travel to Florence and Tuscany is during the transition seasons; April, May and early June, September – October. The weather is very pleasant, but the city is crowded with tourists and hotel prices at this time of year are the highest. It is cheaper in July and August, but warmer and more crowded.
A great time to enjoy a variety of Florence museums is winter. Fewer tourists, lower hotel prices and you can see and enjoy all major sites at significantly cheaper prices.
The recommended period of spring and autumn is also true for the rural areas of Tuscany, of which Florence is the capital. Here there is one big advantage: during this period the prices of villas are lower than in summer so the transition periods are best to rent a family villa and enjoy an amazing holiday in one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
When is it best to visit Milan?
| Florence | Average temp. Celsius | Average temp. Fahrenheit | Average rainy days per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 45 | 11 |
| February | 8 | 46 | 8 |
| March | 10 | 50 | 9 |
| April | 14 | 57 | 13 |
| May | 18 | 64 | 9 |
| June | 22 | 72 | 8 |
| July | 25 | 77 | 5 |
| August | 24 | 75 | 6 |
| September | 21 | 70 | 9 |
| October | 16 | 61 | 12 |
| November | 11 | 52 | 14 |
| December | 8 | 46 | 13 |
The most recommended period to travel to Milan is during the transition seasons April May, September and October. The weather is very pleasant, and the city is not crowded with tourists. It should be taken into account that throughout the year a number of international exhibitions are held there, and during these weeks the city is crowded with tourists and hotel prices are raising significantly.
In April, the largest furniture exhibition in Italy takes place, SALONE DEL MOBILE, so it is mandatory to book accommodation well in advance. Prices during this period are sky high.
Milan is known as a good city for shopping all months of the year. After all, it is the capital of world fashion. During January/February + July/August are the big shopping sales. The fashion weeks for men and women are held in February and September. In these weeks the city is crowded with tourists and hotel prices are rising accordingly. If you are a culture buff, the recommended months to visit museums and galleries are June and December.
It is not recommended to come to Milan in August. In the second half of the month the city is emptying of its residents, it becomes very hot and most businesses are closed, mainly between 15th till the end of the month.
| Milan | Average temp. Celsius | Average temp. Fahrenheit | Average rainy days per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 | 37 | 9 |
| February | 6 | 43 | 6 |
| March | 10 | 50 | 8 |
| April | 13 | 55 | 14 |
| May | 19 | 65 | 12 |
| June | 23 | 73 | 11 |
| July | 25 | 77 | 9 |
| August | 25 | 76 | 10 |
| September | 20 | 67 | 10 |
| October | 15 | 58 | 11 |
| November | 9 | 47 | 12 |
| December | 4 | 39 | 10 |
אז מתי בדיוק הכי כדאי לנסוע לאיטליה?
The recommended months for a ski holiday in Italy are January and February. In certain areas, it’s also possible to start in December, and in many regions, the snow allows for skiing in March and even early April.
There is one particularly high area in Italy, the town of Cervinia, where you can ski even in the summer.
Drinking wine in Italy is possible in every season of the year. If you want to participate in the various harvest celebrations, the harvest season in Italy begins at the end of August (in Sicily and Calabria), continues mainly in September (in most areas of central Italy, including Tuscany), spills into October in northern Italy (the Langhe region and the Valpolicella area), and can sometimes be delayed until early November in the Dolomites.
The recommended months for trekking in Italy are mainly July and August.
In areas like the Dolomites (the famous Alta Via trek) or the Alps (around the famous Mont Blanc), depending on the weather, it’s also possible from mid-June and during the first half of September.
In the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, the Amalfi Coast, and the Puglia region, the recommended period is from April to October.
In other areas of Italy that are not in the mountains, it’s possible to hike in the other seasons as well, but in winter, appropriate clothing is essential.
If we are talking about the famous carnivals in Venice (masks), Viareggio (giant puppets), Ivrea (oranges), Verona (gnocchi), Acireale in Sicily (giant carts), and Mamoiada in Sardinia (the characters) – then the only possible month is February – when they take place (sometimes, depending on Easter, the carnivals may start as early as late January or even in early February or early March).
- 2022: March 1
- 2023: February 20
- 2024: February 13
- 2025: March 4
- 2026: February 17
- 2027: February 9
- 2028: February 29
- 2029: February 13
- 2030: March 5
