Giuseppe Verdi, a famous composer, once said:
You may have the universe, if I may have Italy.
Verdi puts Italy above the rest of the world, and he has all the reasons to call it the best country ever. From antiquity to the present, Italy, which left a trail in the history of Western culture, is one of the best tourist destinations in all 12 months of the year.
This European country is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. In our time, it has a population of 60 million people and 145 cities with a population of over 50,000. Italy holds more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country: 55 out of 1,121 world-listed sites.
You may do plenty of things in Italy, whichever city you want to stop by. However, if you want to reap as many benefits from your journey as possible, you need to plan the time of your visit and the cities you should not miss. Due to the temperatures, occupancy, and a number of activities to do, April-June and September-October are the best months to visit different cities in Italy. However, you can consider several options.
Spring
Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Italy. During spring, the weather in Italy is very suitable for spending time outside and traveling around the country. People are looking for local sights, so many museums start working late. The prices in Italy are lower, and not many tourists arrive in the country.
Italy is warm and sunny during this time of the year. The average temperatures are 5–15°C in Northern Italy, 10–20°C in Central Italy, and 14–20°C in Southern Italy. Spring has the most rainfall in the year. Consider the average precipitation in April for statistical purposes. Tarvisio has the most rain in Northeastern Italy (133mm), followed by Torino in Northwestern Italy (113mm), Pisa in Central Italy (89mm), and Naples in Southern Italy (99mm).
Thus, even with precipitation possible, spring is a pleasant time for traveling to Italian cities.
Summer
Summer is the most popular season to travel to Italy. However, we do not recommend traveling during this time of the year because everything is massively overpriced in summer, and most cities have enormous crowds of tourists. However, if you still want to visit Italy in the summer, you can get many advantages if you plan your trip wisely. Temperatures are warm and mostly sunny. If you need to hide from the heat on certain days, the regions with mountains have the best temperatures, and it also gives you a lot of areas to visit. If you belong to the number of people who prefer leisure time by the sea to an active walk, choose the south region. In summer, Italy is just a dream place for those who like swimming in the ocean, especially in July and August.
Due to the warm temperatures, humid weather and the fewer crowds, June is the best time of year and summer to travel to this country. The average temperature in Italy in June is 15–27°C in Northern and Central Italy and 21–30°C in Southern Italy.
July and August are the hottest months of the year when many people visit Italy, and you might get tired of the crowds on the streets. The average temperature in July and August is 18–30°C in Northern Italy, and other regions have an average of 22–32°C. It means the weather in July and August is pretty similar. The difference is that July feels a bit warmer, and it can be the best opportunity to enjoy the sun when staying by the sea or pool.
If you choose August for your trip, expect the hottest temperatures and the highest humidity. Italians stock up on the beaches in August because the city is too hot. Walking around the hot and stuffy streets or visiting local attractions may feel uncomfortable. Go to the beach early in the morning when there are not many people to relax by the sea.
Autumn
In autumn, another excellent time to visit Italy, the Italians gather harvests and organize gastronomic events (e.g., the Prosciutto Festival in Parma, September 10–12). You can also spend some time walking in the woods away from crowds of people, visiting castles and cellars where people produce food.
The first month of autumn is the warmest in Italy. Northern Italy is cold (11–21° C), while the rest of Italy feels warm (17–25° C). October is the high season, with nice weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. The second month of autumn is the perfect time to visit Tuscany. The autumn harvest gives you an opportunity to taste fresh wine and local foods.
November is the wettest month in the autumn (77mm in 6.4 days). The temperatures in the regions are as follows: Northern Italy is as cold as 3–11° C, central Italy has an average of 8–17° C, and southern Italy expects 13–18° C.
Rome has the most precipitation (89mm of water), and Bolzano has the least rain in autumn (76,2mm to 35,5mm).
If you are looking for a place to travel in autumn, Emilia-Romagna could be one of the places to start your journey. October is the best month of the year for visiting Emilia-Romagna, with its mild weather and warm temperatures (10–19° C). Emilia-Romagna is a paradise for those who love delicious and quality food, like Italian cheese and wine, Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar. If you want to focus on food degustations and culinary culture of Italy, go to Emilia-Romagna. Emilia-Romagna is considered the best gourmet region in Italy and one of the wealthiest European cities to travel.
Winter
Winter is not in high demand by tourists, and you can book a tour for the best price, in case you decide to stop by any of the cities in Italy in winter. Without crowds of people, visiting cities of Italy could feel more comfortable. Temperatures in winter are not very cold. Italy also has the best conditions for doing seasonal sports like skiing and snowboarding.
Usually, December is not the coldest month of the winter season in Italy. It is snowing in many places in the northern regions, which are the coldest ones. Northern Italy has an average of -4-5°C, Southern Italy expects 13-16°C, and Central Italy, as usual, remains in the middle: 5-13°C is its average temperature.
In January, the weather in the cities of Northern and Central Italy remains the same as in December, and the other regions might feel colder this month: the average highest temperatures are still 16-17°C, but the lowest can reach 10-11°C.
February in Italy is damp and cold in many Italian regions. The weather is nearly the same as in December, yet cities in Southern Italy might have slightly colder temperatures in February (with a minimum temperature of +10°C).
The average rainfall and snowfall in Italy in winter are 60-65 mm of water per month.
When is the best time to visit Rome
Travel to the capital of Italy in April-May and September-October. These months are the peak tourist seasons of the year when you can enjoy many sights.
In April, the weather in Rome averages 14° C, with the highest at 20° C and the lowest at 8° C. 18mm of precipitation is expected in 9 days. In May, expect 13–24°C and a week of rain (33mm of rainfall). If you visit Italy in April or May, spend some time exploring the city and tasting gelato. Our historical tour will be relaxing. Traditional gelato tasting in the middle of the tour is worth trying, and you will also see the most important landmarks of this gorgeous city.
In September, Rome feels very warm to travel, and you can probably see most of the sights in comfort. You can expect 21.5° C, with 27° C as the peak and 16° C as the low temperature. It rains only for a week in Rome. A walking tour may be your best solution! Accompanied by our professional guide, you will see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and other historical landmarks with your own eyes.
In October, Italy and especially Rome feels a bit colder, with 23-24° C as the highest temperature and 12-13° C as the lowest, and it is raining only for a week. In October, head to the Vatican museums, a must-see destination in this city. As October feels cold, you do not need to worry about your dress code (your outfit needs to cover your elbows and knees). Our guide will show you the worthiest pieces from the greatest collection of art in the world. Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica are other highlights of the tour.
If you would love some cultural activities, the Art Walking Tour might be what you need. In three hours, you will cover the best galleries to visit in Rome. Our expert guide will be there to answer your questions, in case you have any, and you will be able to discuss the works of artists with others during a Roman tasting session.
Best time to visit Venice
If you want to go to the famous floating city of Italy, you can combine it with your trip to the capital. The best times to visit both places are the same. Venice is also becoming warmer in Italy every day, beginning in spring, which plays a significant role in it becoming one of the major local spots for tourists.
Longer days and more comfortable weather conditions for organizing a trip to this beautiful city are available in April (7 °C at the lowest, 18 °C at the highest). The best thing to do in Venice in April is taking a walking tour and seeing all the best sights of Venice, such as the two Big Columns and St. Mark’s Basilica.
With 170 islands separating it, Venice is one of the best places in Italy to spend time by the water in May (12°C at the lowest, 21°C at the highest). We recommend choosing an unusual route and joining a lagoon trip on the famous Vaporetto bus. You will be able to see a colorful town on Burano Island, and we recommend having lunch here as well; Burano is one of the best seafood cuisine locations in Europe. If you visit Burano, buy some souvenirs: Venetians produce the best masks and glass objects.
The beginning of autumn is the best season to visit due to the pleasant weather (14° C at lowest, 25° C at highest), and not many tourists visit the city. It means you can get a discount on your accommodation. You can watch Regatta Storica, a traditional gondola race in historical costumes. You may feel inspired by this event and want to try the best local attraction, riding a gondola, which is possible on a walking tour with a Gondola ride, including observing famous local buildings from the water.
October in Italy feels way cooler (10° C at lowest, 18° C at highest), and Venice has a mild humidity (more than 70mm). Almost nobody travels here in October, and it feels more comfortable away from the crowd. In October, you can take a trip to the festival of Festa del Mosto (the first weekend of the month) in Saint’ Erasmo and enjoy the local celebration of regatta and grape tastings.
Best time to visit Florence
The best months to travel to Florence would be during April-June or the first two months of autumn.
The first option would give you 205 hours of sun. Florence in April is very sunny. It rains for 8 days (86mm). Florence has an average temperature of +8°C and a maximum temperature of +18°C. From April to June, it is just getting warmer. In the first month of summer, the average temperature in Florence is 27,7 °C at the highest and 15 °C at the lowest. This time is the best to observe nature awakening from the winter and visit the natural parks in Italy.
In summer, the Apuan Alps Regional Park is a favorite spot to travel to in Italy. Choose a day and the weather to discover its best sites: Lake Isola Santa, Barga, and Garfagnana. Each hidden lake, narrow street, or trattoria has its history and vibe. Spending a summer day in nature will impress you with the beauty of the Apuan Alps and the best scenery of nature.
Florence is mild and comfortable from September (+14-26 °C) to October (+10-21 °C) for exploring the best local sights. Want to enjoy some sun and travel around Florence? You would love our walking tour. They include traveling to the Florence Cathedral and Piazza Reppublica.
October feels colder, yet it is also one of the best seasons to travel here. Days here remain warm, but they slowly get colder. At the beginning of the month, you can expect weather like 19 °C as a daily average, and at the end of the month, it is usually as cold as 14 °C. Rainfalls feel nice and refreshing after hot summer days: it rains up to 104 mm in only 8,5 days.
If you plan your trip to this country in October, you can entertain yourself with the Pisa cooking class. During the session, an Italian chef will accompany you. You can also book a tour in the Uffizi Gallery, which contains works of art from different epochs.
Best time to visit beaches and coasts
For those who would like to spend their time by the sea, summer is the best time to visit Italy. Summer has the best conditions for swimming, walking around, and spending days in the fresh air. July is the hottest month, making it perfect for swimming in certain regions.
If you like to spend an active holiday in the summer, your best option would be to choose Ponza Island as your final destination. Here, in the hidden tourist spot, crystal clear water has a range of things to do, like swimming and snorkeling, which is popular in summer. You can enjoy local sightseeing from the ferry that will be taking you to Ponza Island, the largest island in the Pontine Islands Archipelago of Italy.
If you prefer to relax by the sea in summer, you can pay attention to such beaches as Scala del Turchi (Sicily), Capri (Campania), or Baratti (Tuscany). Another worthy and high-demanded beach in summer is located on the Sorrento Coast. Sail by Sorrento beach to see its best sights, such as Faraglioni, a group of rock stacks eroded by the sea, the Lighthouse of Punta Carena, and many others.
Best time for wine lovers
In Tuscany, the first month of autumn is the month of the wine festivals. Chianti Classico EXPO is an annual event, held in September 8-11 in 2022. However, if you do not get to visit the festival, you can go on a private wine tour instead. Our guide will walk you through the beautiful landscapes of Siena, San Gimignano, and Piazza del Campo. Wine tasting will be the gem of the day. The best wineries will present their work, so you can try delicious wines and learn something new about them.
January and February are the harvest months when winemakers produce the best wine. Winemakers are very busy from January to February. We recommend visiting wineries in April or May to visit Vinitaly, a significant world exhibition for Italian wine. You can also participate in Cantine Aperte, an event in which everybody has a chance to visit the best wine cellars and meet the creators of this delicious beverage.
Travel to Suvereto to see an enormous winery and learn about winemaking. While visiting two top-quality wineries, you will learn the secrets of this beverage and taste delicious wines during your lunch. One feature of this tour is the opportunity to ride a one-horse carriage. Of course, this opportunity is available in other seasons as well. However, we recommend tasting wine during harvest season to try the best wines and talk to the winery workers about their beverages.
These are only a few of the ideas that you might consider. Whichever time you choose to visit, Italy has all the opportunities for you to accomplish your goals for vacation. Just make your choice and enjoy Italy!
