When is the Best Time to Visit Italy?

Whether you're holidaying in the big cities or dreaming of a lazy week on the beach, there's an ideal time for you to visit Italy.

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Best time to visit

Surely, there is no bad time to go to Italy. However, there are some factors to take into consideration when it comes to finding the best time of year for you. First, consider the purpose of your holiday. Do you dream of a quiet week in the Tuscan countryside? Is it seeing the celebrated sites of Rome and Florence that lure you to Italy? Or is spending a sun-soaked week lounging by the gorgeous coast, and swimming the in sea more what you have pictured? There’s an ideal time to visit Italy for all the above and more.

 

Our Experts Say...

"The best time to visit Italy is late spring (April – May) or autumn (September – October) when the cities are less crowded than the peak months of July and August and it is not as hot. Venice in particular is very humid in July and August with lots of crowds. If you're visiting Southern Italy in March and November, the region can still offer mild weather but there will be a higher chance of rain. Visiting cities in the winter months can mean fewer visitors but the weather can be quite cold and rainy. In tourism-focused areas, such as Taormina in Sicily, keep in mind that hotels, restaurants and some shops may be closed during the winter months."

Becky Theriault, Europe Specialist

Monthly Climate Guide for Italy

, Italy

Average temperatures (Celsius) and rainfall (mm)

Jan
16°C 10mm
Feb
18°C 9mm
Mar
21°C 10mm
Apr
25°C 6mm
May
28°C 6mm
Jun
32°C 4mm
Jul
32°C 4mm
Aug
33°C 2mm
Sep
31°C 4mm
Oct
26°C 6mm
Nov
22°C 9mm
Dec
18°C 7mm
Jan
10°C 10mm
Feb
12°C 4mm
Mar
17°C 4mm
Apr
23°C 9mm
May
25°C 13mm
Jun
31°C 11mm
Jul
30°C 14mm
Aug
31°C 13mm
Sep
27°C 11mm
Oct
21°C 16mm
Nov
13°C 19mm
Dec
10°C 12mm
Jan
10°C 10mm
Feb
12°C 4mm
Mar
17°C 4mm
Apr
23°C 9mm
May
25°C 13mm
Jun
31°C 11mm
Jul
30°C 14mm
Aug
31°C 13mm
Sep
27°C 11mm
Oct
21°C 16mm
Nov
13°C 19mm
Dec
10°C 12mm
Jan
15°C 16mm
Feb
17°C 8mm
Mar
22°C 8mm
Apr
25°C 20mm
May
28°C 42mm
Jun
35°C 28mm
Jul
36°C 4mm
Aug
37°C 23mm
Sep
32°C 33mm
Oct
26°C 12mm
Nov
21°C 9mm
Dec
17°C 14mm
Jan
15°C 4mm
Feb
16°C 6mm
Mar
21°C 10mm
Apr
25°C 11mm
May
28°C 15mm
Jun
33°C 11mm
Jul
34°C 7mm
Aug
34°C 8mm
Sep
30°C 6mm
Oct
24°C 9mm
Nov
18°C 12mm
Dec
14°C 5mm
Jan
16°C 5mm
Feb
19°C 6mm
Mar
21°C 8mm
Apr
25°C 5mm
May
28°C 7mm
Jun
35°C 3mm
Jul
35°C 1mm
Aug
35°C 1mm
Sep
31°C 4mm
Oct
27°C 6mm
Nov
22°C 7mm
Dec
18°C 4mm
Jan
14°C 12mm
Feb
15°C 12mm
Mar
21°C 11mm
Apr
25°C 15mm
May
27°C 17mm
Jun
34°C 16mm
Jul
34°C 12mm
Aug
34°C 27mm
Sep
30°C 31mm
Oct
24°C 16mm
Nov
18°C 21mm
Dec
14°C 15mm
Jan
16°C 5mm
Feb
19°C 6mm
Mar
21°C 8mm
Apr
25°C 5mm
May
28°C 7mm
Jun
35°C 3mm
Jul
35°C 1mm
Aug
35°C 1mm
Sep
31°C 4mm
Oct
27°C 6mm
Nov
22°C 7mm
Dec
18°C 4mm
Jan
17°C 9mm
Feb
18°C 16mm
Mar
21°C 10mm
Apr
24°C 8mm
May
27°C 10mm
Jun
32°C 9mm
Jul
33°C 5mm
Aug
35°C 3mm
Sep
31°C 6mm
Oct
26°C 8mm
Nov
21°C 13mm
Dec
18°C 7mm
Jan
20°C 5mm
Feb
22°C 5mm
Mar
24°C 10mm
Apr
27°C 3mm
May
30°C 2mm
Jun
34°C 1mm
Jul
35°C 1mm
Aug
35°C 2mm
Sep
33°C 4mm
Oct
31°C 5mm
Nov
25°C 6mm
Dec
20°C 5mm
Jan
10°C 10mm
Feb
12°C 4mm
Mar
17°C 4mm
Apr
23°C 9mm
May
25°C 13mm
Jun
31°C 11mm
Jul
30°C 14mm
Aug
31°C 13mm
Sep
27°C 11mm
Oct
21°C 16mm
Nov
13°C 19mm
Dec
10°C 12mm
Jan
15°C 16mm
Feb
17°C 8mm
Mar
22°C 8mm
Apr
25°C 20mm
May
28°C 42mm
Jun
35°C 28mm
Jul
36°C 4mm
Aug
37°C 23mm
Sep
32°C 33mm
Oct
26°C 12mm
Nov
21°C 9mm
Dec
17°C 14mm
Jan
12°C 13mm
Feb
15°C 13mm
Mar
20°C 12mm
Apr
24°C 14mm
May
27°C 14mm
Jun
33°C 9mm
Jul
34°C 7mm
Aug
34°C 8mm
Sep
30°C 8mm
Oct
24°C 9mm
Nov
19°C 12mm
Dec
14°C 9mm

Italy boasts a warm, pleasing climate all year. During the summer months (June-August), temperatures can peak at 37°C or higher in regions like Sicily and southern Italy, such as Puglia and the Amalfi Coast.

The in-between seasons of spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) offer cooler temperatures of 15°C to 25°C. These can be the best times to travel to Italy and explore cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, without such big crowds.

Winter in Italy (December-February) ushers in cooler temperatures, particularly in the north. The south enjoys mild winters with temperatures around 10°C to 15°C, while the north, especially the Dolomites, become freezing, which makes way for excellent ski conditions.

Italy’s Seasonal Highlights

Deciding which season is best to visit Italy depends on what you’d like to experience. From admiring Renaissance masterpieces in the spring to sampling some heartwarming Italian cuisine in the winter, there are endless things to do in Italy, no matter the time of year. Below are some of our travel experts’ favourite ways to enjoy Italy’s vibrant seasons.

Best Times to Visit Italy for…

For some, the joyful summer atmosphere and busy tourist hotspots are part of the attraction of Italy, while for others it could be off-putting. Follow our tips to get the holiday you’re looking for at the time of year to suit you.

Avoiding the crowds

If you prefer to explore Italy without the hustle and bustle of tourists, avoid the peak tourist season. The months of June to August are the busiest, with popular destinations like Rome, Florence, and Venice being particularly crowded. Consider visiting during the shoulder seasons of spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) when the weather is still pleasant, but the crowds are less dense.

Italy’s coast is very popular in the summer too, however, there are always those harder-to-reach beaches and destinations that are a little less on everyone’s radar. Sardinia, for example, has space for everyone, and the Italian Lakes are gorgeous, even in their peak season between June and August. Alternatively, head to the Dolomites in the summer, for cooler air and space aplenty.

Enjoying good weather

Italy’s blue sky and sunshine days are plentiful between spring and autumn (March to early October), so you have a big window to visit and make the most of the warm temperatures. It gets hotter, and you have more guaranteed sunshine, as the year goes on, with August being the hottest month in Italy (high thirties), and June being the best month to visit Italy overall.

If you can travel outside of the school holidays, then you can make the most of better prices and fewer people, while still getting the best of the late-spring, early-summer weather. And then you have the pick of the destinations too. Wander around the world-famous cities and sites, enjoying alfresco meals in pretty squares under the sun, or head to the coast for refreshing dips in crystal clear waters, and boat trips around craggy bays.

Exploring different regions

Italy is a diverse country with each region offering unique experiences. The best time to explore them depends on what you're looking for on your holiday. For example, if you're keen on hiking in the Dolomites or visiting Lake Como, summer is the ideal time. To experience the Amalfi without the crowds, visit in spring. Winter is perfect for skiing in the Italian Alps or enjoying the festive atmosphere in cities like Rome and Naples, as well as Venice’s Carnevale in February.

If you’re looking to combine some of Italy’s regions on a road trip, or multi-stop holiday then you’re best travelling when the weather is fine and avoiding the peak times (when the roads and public transport will be busy). Spring and autumn are the best time for driving around Italy, specifically May, June, September, and October. Southern Italy's weather in September and October on average stays in the thirties, making it beautifully warm to explore regions like Sicily and Puglia.

Geraleine Yap

Europe Specialist

Coming from a tropical country which is hot and sunny year round, my love for travel was ignited when I first saw snow at the tender age of five.

Best Time to Visit Italy FAQs

  • When is the best time to visit Italy’s beaches?

    For the hottest weather, the best time to visit Italy’s beaches is in the summer, from June to August. If you can avoid July and August, you’ll get better deals on hotels and flights and find the coast quieter.

  • When is the best time to visit Italy’s wine country?

    Overall, the best time to visit one of Italy’s wine regions is May or September. However, wine is made all over Italy, from the north to the south and the island of Sicily so choosing the best time to visit vineyards and go wine tasting really depends on which region catches your eye. Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily, Campania, Lombardy, Lazio, and Emilia-Romagna are all best in May, while Veneto and Piedmont are ideal in September.

  • When is the best time to visit Italy for a honeymoon?

    The best time for a honeymoon in Italy is between May and September when you will have lovely sunshine in most of the country and your pick of its most romantic destinations, from Amalfi to Rome or a whistle-stop tour of all its highlights. Look at some of our tours for inspiration.

  • When is the best time to visit Italy and Greece?

    For a turbo-charged dose of culture and stunning scenery, combine Italy and Greece on one holiday. The best time to see the two countries together is spring and summer, to make the most of the beautiful coastlines and outdoor sightseeing. One of our favourite pairings is the Dolomites and Costa Navarino.

  • When is the best time to visit Italy and France?

    France and Italy must be two of the best locations in Europe for absorbing culture (and food!) and visiting both in one holiday will give you a taster of the Grand Tour of yesteryear. Start in Paris, before making your way to the Alps, into northern Italy and down south, ending in Rome. The best time to visit Italy and France is in spring or summer.

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