Weather & Seasons
Planning your trip to Italy? Understanding the weather by season and region will help you pack smart and make the most of your time - from sunny beach days to cozy winter sightseeing.
Planning your trip to Italy? Understanding the weather by season and region will help you pack smart and make the most of your time - from sunny beach days to cozy winter sightseeing.
Italy isn't a large country, but the weather can be dramatically different from one region to the next thanks to proximity to water or mountains (or both) almost everywhere you go. In general, you can expect summers to be hot and fairly humid and winters to be cold, but you should consult city-specific forecasts for the places you plan to visit during your trip for the most accurate and up-to-date weather information.
Spring weather is usually a mix of early summer heat and late winter chill, sometimes in one day. In Rome, March and April are still likely to be quite rainy, although the temperatures are starting to warm up. By May, the city feels like it's squarely in summer temperatures, albeit with a few more rainy days than June. It's a good idea to pack a lightweight rain jacket for a spring visit to Rome, though you may also need sunglasses at times.
Summer in Italy is hot and fairly humid basically everywhere you go, and that includes Rome (the city can feel downright stifling by August). Be sure you're carrying a water bottle you can refill at one of Rome's ubiquitous fountains, and don't forget sunscreen. Keep in mind, though, that if you're dressed in tank tops or shorts for summer temperatures, you may be denied entry to some churches that require shoulders and knees to be covered. Be sure to dress accordingly on days you plan to visit churches. Avoid long lines by booking your Rome tours and skip the line access in advance.
September doesn't seem to care that it's technically the start of autumn, since it's just as likely to have summer-like heat for much of the month. By October, the weather feels more like what you'd consider fall, especially as the nights cool down and rainfall increases. You may need a light jacket or sweater in the evenings even in early autumn, and by late November you'll be very glad you brought a light rain jacket.
Winters in Rome are wet and cooler, though you're more likely to experience rain than snow. Despite the colder weather, Rome can be quite busy with tourists, especially since so many people head for Vatican City for the Christmas season. It's not necessarily a season for spending lots of time outdoors, but winter is a great time to explore museums.
Spring in Tuscany means mild temperatures with a healthy dose of rainy days each month, but by late April or early May the weather is starting to warm up and feel a little more like summer. When packing for a spring trip to Tuscany and Florence, plan for the unpredictable - a light rain jacket is a very good idea, as is a pair of sunglasses.
June marks the official start of summer in Tuscany, though temperatures in May are often warm enough to qualify. Tuscan summers are hot and can be humid, particularly in the afternoons, so you might want to plan your outdoor activities for the mornings. You'd do well to carry a water bottle with you that you can refill, and don't forget the sunscreen. Just remember that summer attire (think tank tops or shorts) isn't appropriate for many churches and you may not be able to enter if you don't have something to cover up with. Make the most of your time by booking a Florence guided tour and skip the line tickets in advance.
Autumn begins in September, but summer weather in Tuscany and Florence often continues right through to the end of the month (though you may start wanting another light layer as the sun goes down). The uptick in rainy days usually starts in October, and November is the wettest month in the region - you'll definitely want to pack an umbrella for most trips in the fall.
The temperature doesn't typically drop below freezing during the winter in Tuscany and Florence, but it still can feel quite cold thanks to the dampness (especially in Florence, since it's in a valley). If your travels include the hills or mountains, you've got a good chance of seeing snow. Even if you're not leaving Florence, though, the mountains surrounding the city will have beautiful white peaks that make excellent scenery for your photos from Piazzale Michelangelo. Note that crowd sizes swell for the Christmas season.
Any island city is bound to have some unpredictable weather, and spring in Venice is a good example of this. March-May are some of the wettest months of the year in the canal city, and that dampness makes cool temperatures feel colder. Especially in early spring, it's a good idea to bring not only an umbrella but also a coat (and maybe a hat and scarf) to stave off the chill. Carnevale, which sometimes falls in March, draws enormous crowds to Venice.
Summer is the warmest and busiest season in Venice. Popular attractions draw more visitors, and the canals are busy with gondolas, adding to the lively atmosphere. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a refillable water bottle to stay comfortable - and a bit of extra patience will go a long way in helping you enjoy all that Venice has to offer in this vibrant season. Also, be sure to book your Venice tours and boat experiences in advance during the summer.
September in Venice can still feel quite summer-like, but by October the temperatures are dropping and rainfall increasing, so you're encouraged to pack a rain jacket. The bulk of the summer crowds are gone, too, so you're less likely to run into lines at the city's main attractions. Note that the “acqua alta†in Venice, when parts of the city are apt to flood, sometimes starts in October.
Venice is never completely empty, but the winter months are among the quietest you can experience in the city. Lots of Venetians take their annual holidays in the winter rather than the more typical vacations in August, so you can expect some shops and restaurants to be closed. Winter is also firmly in “acqua alta†territory. The city erects raised sidewalks in a few of the busier streets, but winter is when locals break out their knee-high rain boots for the majority of the city. If Carnevale falls in February, though, no amount of chill or water keeps the crowds away.
In early spring, the Amalfi Coast is still coming out of its winter hibernation and the towns start coming back to life. Springtime rainfall is intermittent along the Amalfi Coast, though it's not usually as wet as other parts of Italy. By April and May, the temperatures are more conducive to outdoor exploring and the ferries serving the coastal towns are back up and running, though it may not be quite warm enough for lounging on the beaches just yet. Note that Easter, which traditionally kicks off the tourism season on the Amalfi Coast, falls sometime in March or April.
Starting in June, summer is essentially nonstop on the Amalfi Coast as far as tourist crowds go. This is the height of beach weather, particularly in July and August, and the beaches are packed. The summer calendar is busy, too, with festivals, events and concerts to entertain visitors and locals alike. Keep in mind that traffic can be bad on the Amalfi Coast highway in any season, but it's especially bad in the summer. Couple that with access and parking restrictions during the summer and you probably shouldn't plan to rent a car for this part of your trip.
The warmth of summer usually continues into September on the Amalfi Coast and, sometimes, into early October. September is still beach season, in fact, and the ferries that run along the coast are still operating through most of October, so it's great weather for outdoor exploring. By November, the temperatures are starting to drop and the pace of life slows down.
Temperatures along the Amalfi Coast are generally mild (it's rare for the beach towns to get anywhere near freezing), but winter is when you can expect the most rainy days. Some of the towns all but shut down in the winter and the ferry service is much more limited, so be prepared for lots of shops and restaurants to be closed. If you've packed appropriately for the weather, though, winter on the Amalfi Coast can be peaceful and magical - especially if you're there during the Christmas season.
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