When’s the best time to visit Italy? Our guide to the weather, crowds and what’s on (2026)

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The best time to visit Italy depends entirely on what kind of trip you want. Beach holiday? Cultural city break? Food and wine tour? Each has a different ideal window, and picking the wrong month can mean sweltering heat, closed attractions, or shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at every major site.

We’ve been to Italy three times across different seasons: spring in Rome, Florence and Venice, winter in Naples, and late summer on the Amalfi Coast, so we’ve experienced the highs and the trade-offs firsthand.

In short: April, May, September, and October are the best all-round months for most travellers. You get comfortable weather, manageable crowds, and nearly everything is open. January and February are excellent for budget city breaks if you don’t mind cooler temperatures. July and August work for beaches and mountains, but cities become uncomfortably hot and packed.

Looking to save money on getting there? Our guide to the best time to fly to Italy covers flight prices month by month, the cheapest airports, and the booking tools we use.

Italy month by month: a quick overview

Best time to visit Italy by region

Italy stretches over 1,000km from the Alps to almost the coast of North Africa, so “the best time to visit Italy” varies a lot depending on where you’re going. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main regions and their ideal windows.

A few things worth noting:

Venice and acqua alta. Between October and January (and especially in November) Venice experiences periodic high-water flooding called acqua alta. It doesn’t make Venice impossible to visit, but you may need waterproof boots and should expect raised walkways (passerelle) through parts of the city. Some ground-floor shops and restaurants close during flooding episodes. If you’re planning a November or December Venice trip, check the forecasts and pack for the weather.

The Italian Lakes have a distinct season. Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore are at their best from May to September, when the weather is warm and lakeside restaurants, boat services, and hotels are all open. Outside this window, particularly November to March, many towns around the lakes go very quiet, with a lot of businesses shut for winter. We’re planning a Lake Iseo trip and will update with more detail on the lakes once we’ve been.

Southern Italy is warmer year-round. If you want to visit in winter but don’t fancy the cold, Naples, Sicily, and Puglia are milder than the north. They’re typically 10–15°C through January and February, compared to 0–5°C in Milan or Venice. Southern Italy is arguably the best region for a winter city break.

The Dolomites and Alps have two seasons. Summer (June–September) is hiking season, with mountain huts open and trails accessible. Winter (December–April) is skiing season. The shoulder months (October/November and April/May) are the quietest periods, when many mountain facilities are closed between seasons.

Italy’s key festivals and events: when to plan around them

Italy’s calendar is packed with festivals, religious celebrations, and cultural events that can either make your trip or significantly affect crowds and prices. Here’s what to know about the major ones.

February: Carnevale di Venezia. Venice’s famous carnival runs for about two weeks in February (the dates shift each year). The city fills with masked revellers, elaborate costumes, and events across the city. It’s a lot of fun if that’s what you’re visiting for, but hotel prices spike and the city gets extremely crowded. If you want Venice in February without the Carnevale chaos, go the week after it ends – you’ll get low-season prices and quiet streets.

March/April: Easter. Easter is a major event across Italy, but especially in Rome (papal masses at the Vatican draw enormous crowds) and Florence (the Scoppio del Carro – a 350-year-old tradition of exploding a cart of fireworks in the Piazza del Duomo). Plan for higher prices and busier attractions in the two weeks around Easter. Book accommodation 2–3 months ahead for Rome during this period.

April 25th: Liberation Day. A national holiday. Many shops close and Italians travel domestically, adding to crowds at popular destinations.

May 1st: Labour Day. Another national holiday with similar effects: domestic travel spikes and some businesses close.

May/June: Infiorata festivals. Towns across central and southern Italy create elaborate flower carpet displays on their streets. The most famous are in Spello (Umbria) and Noto (Sicily). Worth planning around if you’re in the area as they’re free and visually stunning.

June–September: Verona opera season. The Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre, hosts open-air opera performances through summer. It’s one of Italy’s most memorable cultural experiences. Tickets sell out for popular performances, so book well ahead.

July/August: Palio di Siena. This bareback horse race in Siena’s main square happens twice, on July 2nd and August 16th. It’s an intense, passionate local tradition with a medieval atmosphere. The piazza is free to watch from (arrive very early), but windows and balcony seats overlooking the square are expensive and booked months ahead.

August 15th: Ferragosto. Italy’s biggest summer holiday. The entire country seems to move to the coast. Cities empty of locals (many restaurants and shops close), while beaches and coastal towns are packed. Avoid cities around this date if you can, or embrace the quiet and explore Rome or Florence with minimal crowds but limited dining options.

September/October: Wine harvest season. Grape harvests across Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, and other wine regions bring festivals, tastings, and a generally festive atmosphere in the countryside. The Chianti Classico wine festival and Alba’s truffle fair (late October–November) are highlights.

October/November: Truffle season. White truffle season in Piedmont (particularly around Alba) runs from October into December. The Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba is one of Italy’s most famous food events. Restaurants across the region add truffle dishes to their menus.

December: Christmas markets. Northern Italy, particularly Bolzano, Merano, and Trento in the South Tyrol region, hosts traditional Christmas markets from late November through early January. They’re influenced by the region’s Austrian heritage and are worth a visit if you’re in the area. Rome, Florence, and Naples also have festive markets, though they’re smaller.

When’s the best time to visit Italy to avoid both heat and crowds?

April to May or September to October. These shoulder-season months consistently deliver the best balance across the board.

The weather during these windows is comfortably mild (not the 35°C+ you’ll face in Roman summers) and tourist numbers are lower at the major sites. We visited Rome and Florence in late April on our first trip and had the Uffizi practically to ourselves on a weekday morning. That wouldn’t happen in July.

Prices for accommodation also tend to be 20–40% lower than peak summer in most cities. And restaurants, museums, and coastal attractions are all fully open, unlike winter, when some places reduce hours or close entirely.

If we had to pick a single month, we’d say September. The summer crowds have thinned out, the sea is still warm enough for swimming, and the light across Tuscany and the lakes is stunning. It’s also wine harvest season, which means food festivals across the countryside.

How intense is Italy’s summer heat and crowds?

Summer in Italy (particularly July and August) can be brutal if you’re spending time in cities.

Rome, Florence, and Naples regularly hit 35°C (95°F) or higher, often with high humidity that makes sightseeing physically draining. We’ve seen people queuing for the Colosseum in direct sun with no shade, looking like they deeply regretted their choices. Our Rome itinerary is designed with this in mind: we’ve built in plenty of indoor time and shaded routes.

The crowds are at their worst in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Cinque Terre from late June through August. Queue times for major attractions can double or triple compared to shoulder season, and popular restaurants need booking days in advance.

August adds another wrinkle: it’s when Italians take their summer holidays. This means many family-run restaurants, shops, and smaller businesses in cities close, sometimes for two or three weeks. The coast gets packed with domestic tourists, while cities feel oddly empty of locals.

If you have to visit during summer, prioritise the coast or the mountains. The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Dolomites are all designed for summer. Just avoid trying to sightsee through Rome or Florence in a heatwave.

Which is a better travel period: mid-September or early June?

Both are excellent, but they suit slightly different trips.

Early June gives you warm, mostly sunny weather (25–28°C across most of the country) with longer daylight hours. It’s ideal if beaches, lakes, or hiking are part of your plan. Coastal towns on the Amalfi Coast and in Sicily are fully up and running by this point. The catch: June is already edging into high season for pricing and crowds, especially in the second half of the month.

Mid-September has slightly cooler temperatures (still comfortably warm in the south), fewer crowds than summer, and the added bonus of harvest season. Wine regions like Chianti, Montepulcino, and Langhe in Piedmont come alive with grape harvest festivals. Cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence are more relaxed post-summer rush.

We think that if warmer weather and beaches are the priority, then go in early June. If a more relaxed pace with fewer crowds matters more, mid-September would be better. Either way, you’re visiting at a great time.

Should I avoid travelling around Easter or early May holidays in Italy?

If you can, yes. Easter and Italy’s spring bank holidays on April 25th (Liberation Day) and May 1st (Labour Day) are trigger significant spikes in domestic tourism.

The effect is most noticeable in Rome (where Easter draws huge pilgrim crowds to the Vatican), Florence, and Venice. Hotels fill up fast, prices jump, and popular attractions are noticeably busier.

If your dates are flexible, aim for the week immediately before or after Easter. You’ll get similar spring weather but without the holiday surge. If you can’t avoid these dates, book accommodation well ahead: at least 2–3 months for popular cities.

One thing to keep in mind: flights also spike around Easter, so the earlier you can book, the better. Our guide to the best time to fly to Italy has more information.

Is winter a good time to visit Italy?

It’s underrated, and we’d recommend it to anyone who’s flexible on weather.

We visited Naples in February and had an incredible time: the streets were quiet, we walked into restaurants that would need bookings in summer, and the museums were a lot quieter. Pompeii without crowds is a completely different experience to Pompeii in July. Our guide to getting from Naples to Pompeii has the details if you’re planning that trip.

That said, we went to Ischia from Naples for a few days. The spas an the Aragonese castle were shut (it opened for the summer season just a few days after we left!), and everywhere was quiet. So, just check that where you’re going won’t be completely shut down.

Northern Italy (Milan, Venice, the Lakes) gets properly cold (0–5°C) and foggy. Some lake towns and smaller coastal resorts shut down almost entirely from November to March. Daylight hours are shorter, which limits how much outdoor sightseeing you can pack in.

Central and southern Italy are more forgiving: Rome sits around 8–12°C through winter, and Naples is a degree or two warmer. It’s not beach weather, but it’s perfectly comfortable for walking and sightseeing with a decent jacket.

The financial upside is significant. Flight prices drop dramatically in winter (we paid under £45 each return to Naples in February) and accommodation in cities like Rome and Florence can be 40–50% cheaper than peak season.

Just avoid the Christmas/New Year window if budget is a priority: that two-week period is Italy’s winter peak, with higher prices and bigger crowds (especially at Christmas markets and in Rome).

What’s the best month for both culture and outdoor activities?

If you want to combine museum days, city walks, and outdoor activities like hiking or cycling without being limited by weather or closures, there are two ideal windows.

Mid-May to early June gives you long, warm days (22–28°C across most of the country) with reliable sunshine. Everything is open (beaches, mountain trails, outdoor restaurants, and cultural sites) and school is still in session across most of Europe, so crowds haven’t peaked yet. It’s the best window if you want to hike in the Cinque Terre in the morning, visit a museum in the afternoon, and eat outside in the evening.

Early October is the autumn equivalent. Temperatures are still comfortable for being outdoors (17–22°C in central Italy), the summer crowds have gone, and the countryside is at its most beautiful with autumn colours and harvest activity. The only downside is shorter daylight hours compared to May/June, which means less time for outdoor activities in the late afternoon.

Both windows also offer reasonable prices – not winter-low, but noticeably cheaper than July/August. If we had to pick one, mid-May edges it for pure versatility.

For planning a trip that balances the big sights with quieter days, our 4-day Rome itinerary is a good example of how to mix cultural highlights with more relaxed exploration.

For spring travel, is March, April, or May the better choice?

April is a good month for most travellers. Temperatures are comfortable (about 15–20°C across central Italy), days are sunny more often than not, and tourist numbers are still manageable outside of Easter.

March is unpredictable. You might get beautiful early spring weather in Rome, or you might get cold, wet days that feel more like winter. Southern Italy (Naples, Sicily, Puglia) is a safer bet in March than the north.

May is beautiful, and probably the prettiest month in Tuscany, with wildflowers and lush green countryside. It’s also when prices and crowds start climbing toward summer levels. The second half of May, especially around the May bank holidays, feels much busier than the first half.

Our recommendation: aim for the first half of April (or immediately after Easter if it falls early), or the first two weeks of May. You’ll get the best balance of weather, crowds, and pricing.

Is late autumn (October–November) a good period to travel in Italy?

Definitely, especially for a culture and food-focused trip.

October is one of our favourite months for Italy. The weather is still pleasant for walking around (usually 15–20°C in central Italy) and the summer crowds have gone. You’ll find wine harvest festivals across Tuscany, Piedmont, and other wine regions, and restaurants start serving seasonal autumn menus. Truffles, porcini mushrooms, chestnuts – October in Italy is an incredible time to eat.

November is quieter still, and prices for both accommodation and flights hit some of the year’s lowest levels. The catch is that rainfall picks up, especially in the north, and smaller coastal towns and beach resorts start closing for winter. Don’t do what we did and visit Ischia (a spa island near Naples) when most of the spas were shut for the season.

The major cities (Rome, Florence, Naples, Milan, Palermo) stay lively through autumn. Museums, restaurants, and indoor attractions are all fully open, and the lack of crowds makes for a much more relaxed experience.

Getting between cities is easiest by train: our complete guide to train travel in Italy covers routes, prices, and booking tips.

Is late September into October suitable for visiting both beaches and cities?

Yes, this is actually one of the best windows to do it.

Beach towns on the Amalfi Coast, in Sicily, and on Sardinia are still warm in late September – usually 22–26°C with sea temperatures comfortable for swimming. The summer crowds have thinned, hotel prices have dropped, and it will feel more relaxed than in July or August.

Meanwhile, the big cities have cooled down from the summer rush. Rome at 22°C is infinitely more pleasant to walk around than Rome at 36°C.

The window closes gradually through October. By mid-to-late October, smaller beach towns start shutting down for winter, and the sea gets too cool for most people. So if beaches are a priority, aim for late September or the first week of October.

What about combining Italy with neighbouring countries?

If you’re already flying to Italy, it’s worth knowing that the train connections to neighbouring countries are excellent, and combining destinations can actually save money on flights by allowing open-jaw routing (flying into one city, out of another).

Italy to Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia all have direct train routes. Milan to Zurich takes about 3.5 hours, Venice to Ljubljana about 4 hours, and Turin to Lyon about 4 hours. If you’re planning a 10-day itinerary, adding a couple of days in a neighbouring country is very doable.

For sustainable travel tips on making these connections by train rather than plane, see our guide to train travel in Italy.

What to pack: a quick seasonal guide

Italy is generally a smartly-dressed country. Outside of beach towns, you’ll rarely see locals in shorts and flip-flops, even in summer. A couple of practical notes per season:

Spring (March–May): Layers are essential. Mornings and evenings can be cool (10–15°C) even when afternoons are warm. A light jacket and a scarf will get a lot of use. Bring a compact rain jacket for the April showers (especially in the north).

Summer (June–August): Light, breathable fabrics. Cities radiate heat from the stone, so loose-fitting clothing in natural fabrics is more comfortable than tight synthetics. A hat and sunscreen are non-negotiable. Note that many churches require covered shoulders and knees for entry, so carry a light shawl or longer layer even on the hottest days.

Autumn (September–November): Similar to spring, wear layers, a rain jacket, and comfortable walking shoes. By November in the north, you’ll want a proper coat. If you’re visiting Venice in late autumn, waterproof boots are worth packing for acqua alta.

Winter (December–February): A warm coat for northern and central Italy. The south is milder but still cool enough for a decent jacket. If you’re skiing in the Dolomites or Italian Alps, obviously pack full winter gear. The ski season (December–April) draws a different crowd to the city-break travellers, and most ski resorts have rental shops for equipment.

Quick-reference summary

Best all-round months: April, May, September, October: comfortable weather, manageable crowds, good prices.

Best for budget travellers: January, February (outside half-term), November: the lowest prices for flights, accommodation, and attractions.

Best for beaches: June to mid-September: warm enough for swimming, with coastal towns fully open.

Best for food and wine: September to November: harvest season, truffle season, and seasonal menus at their best.

Best for skiing: December to April in the Dolomites and Italian Alps.

Best for city breaks on a budget: January, February, or November: quiet, affordable, and still plenty to see and do.

Months to approach with caution: July and August in cities (extreme heat, intense crowds), Easter week (domestic tourism surge), Ferragosto/August 15th (nationwide holiday), Christmas/New Year (winter peak pricing).

What next?

Know when you want to go but still planning the details? These might help:

➡️ Best time to fly to Italy – month-by-month flight prices and booking tips
➡️ Is Italy expensive to visit? – a full budget breakdown
➡️ First time in Italy? – our top 5 places to visit
➡️ Our 10-day Italy itinerary – Rome, Florence, Venice and more
➡️ Getting around Italy by train – routes, prices, and tips
➡️ Or, browse all our Italy content

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