Best time to visit Italy

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Best time to visit Italy

Every month offers something beautiful or exciting somewhere in Italy.

Soaring temperatures in July and August mean this isn't the best time to visit Italy for cycling or hiking, particularly in the south, Sicily and Sardinia. Summer also sees crowds in popular cities and some coastal destinations. But often you can avoid the melee simply by heading off well-worn trails. April-June and Sep-Oct are good for active holidays, with comfortable temperatures and reasonably dry weather. Sardinia, Sicily and southern Italy are warm from May-October, and also get more intense summer heat. Winter is excellent for snow-activities in the Alps, Dolomites and Apennines.

Call us for the best time to go to Italy

Tuscany Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

114

DEC

Our Italy Holidays

Italy, month by month

Italy in January can be all about making the most of the early snow in the Dolomites and Apennines or revelling in a darker, moodier side to the country’s tourist bereft cities such as Venice, Bologna and Florence. The further south you go and the warmer you’ll find it with several sites in Sicily and Sardinia certainly worth visiting in the ‘off peak’ months of February and March. Easter is a major calendar event in Italy with everywhere from Rome to Milan recognising religious ceremonies and cultural traditions in some form of procession or another. April and May are certainly the best time to go to Italy if you’re looking for ideal temperatures for hillside hiking and steep cycling although there’s still every chance of rain, especially in the north. June, July and August are heating up no matter where you are in Italy and it’s probably too hot for cyclists and hikers hoping for lengthy treks and too crowded for couples looking for secluded romance. September and October are also considered the best time to go to Italy as the harvest brings the freshest market produce imaginable as well as a flourish of colour from the forests and characterful images of farmers and pickers working the undulating agricultural landscapes. November can be bleak and regions such as Tuscany take on a much more sombre mood ahead of the religious festivities and brazier warmed Christmas markets that help to make December a dark horse but well worth a punt on a city break.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Italy or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

What happens when in Italy

Etien Veeman from our walking supplier 46 Degrees explains why she believes spring and autumn are the best time to visit Italy: “In spring and autumn nature offers different faces every day! Skies can be deep blue and it’s not too warm for a good hike. Spring mountain hikes are like walking through the seasons: in lower areas, especially lakeside, summer seems to have arrived with flowering camellia and bougainvillea next to palms. Heading upwards, primula colours the path yellow, while on shady mountain ridges crocuses still peek through snow - all on the same day! In autumn, mushrooms pop out, leaves colour and migrating birds can be spotted. Plus there's much more chance of encountering wild animals like deer, wild boar or chamois.”

Festivals & events in Italy

Did you know about...?

Ferragosto (August 15)

Now the Feast of the Assumption, this sprang from the pre-Christian Roman festival Feriae Augusti, offering a fun break after harvest exertions – hence the continuing decoration and parade of work animals like ox and mule. Each region parties differently: outdoor dancing (Rome), effigies and fireworks (Liguria and Abruzzo), historic pageants (Tuscany), climbing poles (Campania) and giant candles (Sardinia)!

More about Italy

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Explore our Italy travel guide like a wild boar snuffling for truffles in a sun dappled oak orchard deep within the eternally undulating Etruscan countryside.

Italy map & highlights

If you’re searching for where to go in Italy and how to make the most of your time, then check out our map that will take you all the way from the Dolomites to Sicily.

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Sicily is a Russian doll of an island. The closer you look at the cities and coast, the more intriguing the puzzle.

Things to see & do on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

The Amalfi Coast is a crowd-pleaser, but the lemon grove footpaths, island vineyards and backstreet museums are a balm.

Things to see & do in Puglia

Travel to Puglia to dive into Italy’s deep south. You can stay in a trulli and spend days cycling from farm to vineyard.

Things to see & do in the Dolomites

The sheer mountains of the Dolomites aren’t just for winter. Read our Dolomites travel guide to find out more.

Things to see & do in Tuscany

Most feel that they know Tuscany before they’ve seen it, but that's a misstep. Our Tuscany travel guide explains why.

First time traveller to Italy

Is this your first time in Italy? Here’s what you need to know, from the culture that you might not expect to how long you need for your adventure.

Travelling in Italy with kids

Here's what we recommend if you’re travelling in Italy with kids, from active volcanoes to pizzas every day of the week.

Italy travel advice

Our Italy travel advice page is for those who love to learn from local experts who have imparted their pearls of wisdom. Read our health and safety advice, too.

Responsible tourism in Italy

From slow food and sea life to preserving rural communities and ancient traditions: read our responsible tourism in Italy page.

All our Italy guides

Find all our Italy guides in one place: Italy holidays in places such as Tuscany or Sicily, or different types of Italy holidays such as walking or cycling.