When is the best time to visit Italy?

Spring and fall are the best times of year to visit Italy, from April to June for spring, and September through October for autumn.

The summer months of July and August are high season for tourism in Italy. August is also when many Italians take their vacation. Because of this, the summer season is extremely busy. Major attractions are crowded and expensive, and you'll have to deal with high temperatures and very hot weather.

Visiting in the spring season or fall season, you'll be able to enjoy pleasant weather with warm temperatures, sweetened by reduced rates and better deals, as well as far fewer tourists. Our Italy tours take advantage of this, taking place in spring, summer and fall for the best weather and rates. March and November may be sunny and temperate, meaning they can also be lovely months to visit.

There are pros and cons for visiting Italy during the high, low, and shoulder seasons. High season during the summer is when Italy is at its busiest. The beaches, cities, and towns are bustling, prices are higher and the weather is hot and dry, sometimes excessively so. Summer is also when many regional festivities such as Tuscany's Wild Boar Festival take place. Northern Italy occasionally has rain showers or storms during the summer, but in general, there's very little rainfall.

Shoulder season, during spring or fall, offers numerous benefits. You'll encounter cooler temperatures and pleasant weather, as well as fewer crowds. In shoulder season, you can also experience fun events like the grape harvest in major wine regions like Tuscany. On the downside, late spring and late fall sometimes have slightly higher rainfall.

The best time to visit Italy and encounter fewer crowds is during the shoulder seasons of spring or fall. Low season will have the least crowds, but you run the risk of encountering seasonal closures.

From art museums to historic architecture, discovering the major cities of Italy is one of the top reasons to visit the country. The best time to visit central Italian cities such as Rome and Florence is from March or April to June, and from September through October. In Northern Italy, Venice and Milan are best explored from April to June or September to October. In Southern Italy, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots for Naples and Palermo in Sicily.