What is the best time to visit Italy?

Best Time to Visit Italy

The best time to travel to Italy is during the Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November).

Spring in Italy

Spring in Italy is a delightful time of year. The days are warm and sunny, and the nights are mild. The countryside is lush and green, and the wildflowers are in full bloom. This is the perfect time to explore the countryside and visit the many outdoor markets. Popular attractions like the Colosseum in Rome and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are especially beautiful in the spring. The Venice Carnival and the Milan Furniture Fair are two of the most popular festivals that take place during this season.

Autumn in Italy

Autumn in Italy is a great time to visit. The weather is still mild and pleasant, and the days are usually sunny and dry. The countryside is alive with the vibrant colors of the changing leaves. This is the perfect time to explore the many vineyards and sample some of Italy’s world-famous wines. Popular attractions like the Colosseum in Rome and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are especially beautiful in the autumn. The Venice Film Festival and the Florence Biennale are two of the most popular festivals that take place during this season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Italy

Italy in January

Weather

January is the coldest month in Italy, with temperatures ranging from an average of 5-10°C (41-50°F). Snow is common in the northern regions, while the south remains relatively mild.

Events

• Epiphany (Festa dell’Epifania): January 6th – Celebrated as the day the three kings arrived to visit baby Jesus, Epiphany is a popular holiday in Italy. Many cities host parades and performances to celebrate the day.
• Carnevale di Venezia: January 25th – February 4th – One of the most popular carnivals in the world, Carnevale di Venezia is held annually in Venice. It features elaborate costumes, masquerade balls, and parades.
• Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul: January 25th – This holiday celebrates the conversion of St. Paul, one of the most important figures in Christianity. It is celebrated with special masses and processions.
• Feast of the Presentation of Jesus: January 2nd – Also known as Candlemas, this holiday celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple. It is celebrated with special masses and candlelight processions.
• Feast of the Chair of St. Peter: January 18th – This holiday celebrates the establishment of the papacy. It is celebrated with special masses and processions.

Italy in January

Weather

January in Italy is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 3°C to 10°C (37°F to 50°F). Snow is common in the northern and central parts of the country.

Events

• Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th. This is a Christian holiday that celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.
• The Carnevale di Venezia is a famous carnival that takes place in Venice in late January. It is a celebration of music, costumes, and masks.
• The White Night of the Arts is celebrated in Rome on January 28th. This is a night of free admission to museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions.
• The International Film Festival of Rome takes place in January. This is a celebration of independent and international films.
• The Milan Furniture Fair takes place in January. This is the largest furniture fair in the world and attracts visitors from all over the globe.

Italy in March

Weather

March is the start of spring in Italy, and temperatures begin to rise. The average temperature in March is around 11-15°C in the north, and 12-17°C in the south. Rainfall is common, especially in the north, and snow is still possible in the mountains.

Events

• The Venice Carnival is a popular event in March, with people dressing up in elaborate costumes and masks. It usually takes place in the last two weeks of the month.
• The Festa della Donna, or Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8th in Italy. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to honor the struggles of the feminist movement.
• The Palio di Siena is a traditional horse race that takes place in the Tuscan city of Siena. It is held twice a year, in July and August, but the preparations for the race begin in March.
• The Settimana Santa, or Holy Week, is a religious celebration that takes place in the week leading up to Easter. It is celebrated with processions and other religious events.
• The International Rome Film Festival is a popular event that takes place in Rome in March. It is one of the most important film festivals in the world, and it showcases the best of Italian and international cinema.

Italy in April

Weather

April is the beginning of spring in Italy, and temperatures start to rise. The average temperature in April is between 10-18°C (50-64°F). The days become longer and the sun shines more often. Rain is common, with April being one of the wettest months of the year.

Events

• Easter is celebrated in April in Italy. Many cities host Easter parades and special church services.
• The Mille Miglia is an annual classic car race that takes place in Italy in April.
• The International Rome Film Festival is held in April in Rome, Italy.
• The Florence Marathon is an annual marathon held in April in Florence, Italy.
• The Venice Biennale is an international art exhibition held every two years in Venice, Italy. It takes place in April.

Italy in May

Weather

May in Italy is generally a pleasant month with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s Fahrenheit (10-15°C) in the north to the mid-70s Fahrenheit (20-25°C) in the south. This is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors as the days are usually sunny and dry.

Events

• La Festa della Repubblica: On May 2nd, Italy celebrates the anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946. This is a national holiday and is celebrated with parades, concerts, and fireworks.
• Eurovision Song Contest: Held in Italy this year, the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rome on May 18th and 20th.
• Venice Carnival: Held from April 23rd to May 2nd, the Venice Carnival is one of the most popular events in Italy. People from all over the world come to enjoy the colorful costumes, parades, and parties.
• Palio di Siena: This horse race is held twice a year in the city of Siena on July 2nd and August 16th. It is one of the oldest and most famous horse races in Italy.
• Milan Design Week: Held from April 17th to May 23rd, Milan Design Week is the largest design event in the world. It is a great opportunity to discover the latest trends in design and architecture.

Italy in June

Weather

June in Italy is typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is low, with only a few days of showers throughout the month.

Events

• The Venice Biennale, an international art exhibition, takes place from May to November in odd-numbered years.
• The International Festival of the Aeolian Islands is a two-week celebration of music and culture held in the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily.
• The Palio di Siena, a traditional horse race, takes place in Siena on June 2nd and 16th.
• The Festival of San Giovanni is a religious celebration held in Florence on June 24th.
• The Sagra della Fragola, or Strawberry Festival, takes place in the town of Sant’Agata Bolognese in Emilia-Romagna.

Italy in July

Weather

July in Italy is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s Celsius (low 70s Fahrenheit) to the mid-30s Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit). Rain is common, with most of the rain occurring in the northern regions.

Events

• The Palio di Siena is an annual horse race held on July 2nd in the city of Siena. It is a traditional event that dates back to the 16th century and is a major tourist attraction.
• The Ferragosto holiday is celebrated on August 15th in Italy and marks the beginning of the summer holiday season. It is a public holiday and is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and other festivities.
• The Venice International Film Festival is held every year in late July and early August. It is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world and attracts celebrities from around the globe.
• The Salone del Mobile is an annual furniture fair held in Milan in early July. It is the largest furniture fair in the world and attracts designers, manufacturers, and buyers from around the globe.
• The Sanremo Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Sanremo, Italy. It is one of the most popular music festivals in Europe and features performances from some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Italy in August

Weather

August is typically a hot and sunny month in Italy, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s Celsius in the north to the low-30s Celsius in the south. August is the peak of the summer season, and rainfall is generally low.

Events

• Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on August 15th. It is a celebration of the Assumption of Mary, and is marked by parades, fireworks, and feasts.
• The Venice Film Festival is held in the month of August. It is one of the world’s oldest film festivals, and is a major event in the Italian cultural calendar.
• The Palio di Siena is a traditional horse race that takes place in the Tuscan city of Siena every year on August 16th. The race is a major event in the city, and attracts thousands of spectators.
• The Notte Bianca is a night of music, art, and culture in Rome. It takes place on the first Saturday of August, and is a major event in the city.
• The Sagra del Pesce is a festival of seafood held in the coastal town of Cefalu in Sicily. It takes place in the first week of August, and features a wide variety of seafood dishes.

Italy in September

Weather

September is a pleasant time to visit Italy. The temperatures are mild and the humidity is low. The average high temperature is around 24°C (75°F), while the average low temperature is around 16°C (61°F). The sun shines for an average of 8 hours a day.

Events

• The Venice Film Festival is one of the most important events in Italy in September. It is held every year in the beautiful city of Venice and showcases the best of international cinema.
• The Ferragosto holiday is celebrated in Italy on August 15th. This holiday marks the end of summer and is a great time to visit Italy as many restaurants and shops are open.
• The Palio di Siena is a traditional horse race that takes place in Siena every year on the 2nd of September. It is a popular event that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
• The Festival of San Gennaro is held in Naples every year on the 19th of September. This festival celebrates the patron saint of Naples and includes a procession through the streets of the city.
• The International Festival of Folklore is held in Florence every year in September. This festival celebrates the traditional music and dance of Italy and other countries.

Italy in October

Weather

October in Italy is generally mild with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-60s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is common, especially in the north of the country.

Events

• The Venice Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, taking place in the city of Venice in October.
• The Sagra del Tordo is a festival celebrating the migration of the thrush bird that takes place in the city of Montefalco in October.
• The Festa della Zucca is a festival celebrating pumpkins that takes place in the city of Bologna in October.
• The International Festival of Comics and Games is a festival celebrating comics and video games that takes place in the city of Lucca in October.
• The Festival of the Redeemer is a religious festival celebrating the redemption of the city of Rome that takes place in October.

Italy in November

Weather

November is a transitional month in Italy, with temperatures beginning to drop as winter approaches. The average temperature in November is between 10-15°C (50-59°F), with the northern regions of Italy being slightly cooler. Rainfall is also common throughout the month, with some areas receiving up to 100mm of rain in November.

Events

• All Saints’ Day (November 1): All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in Italy, with many churches hosting special services to remember the saints.
• Festa dell’Immacolata Concezione (December 8): This religious feast celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated with special masses in churches throughout Italy.
• Festa dei Morti (November 2): This festival is celebrated to honor the dead and is observed with special services in churches and cemeteries.
• Festa della Repubblica (November 2): This public holiday celebrates the establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946. It is celebrated with parades and other festivities throughout the country.
• Ferragosto (August 15): This is a public holiday in Italy that marks the beginning of the summer vacation season. It is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.

Italy in December

Weather

December in Italy is generally cool and wet. The average temperature is around 10°C (50°F), and the average precipitation is around 5 inches.

Events

• The Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th is a national holiday in Italy, and is celebrated with special masses and processions.
• The Christmas markets in Italy are a popular attraction in December. From the first week of December until Christmas Eve, many cities and towns hold Christmas markets, selling decorations, food, and other holiday items.
• The Feast of the Holy Innocents on December 28th is a Catholic holiday in Italy, commemorating the massacre of the innocents by King Herod.
• New Year’s Eve is celebrated with fireworks, parties, and traditional Italian dishes.
• The Epiphany on January 6th is a Catholic holiday in Italy, celebrating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.