Winter
Dec → Feb12 to 14°
nights 4 to 5°
- 9 rainy days · 78 mm
- 7.4 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit Italy?
- Jan12°not recommended
- Feb14°not recommended
- Mar16°fair
- Apr20°recommended
- May23°recommended
- Jun29°recommended
- Jul33°fair
- Aug33°fair
- Sep27°recommended
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov17°fair
- Dec14°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Italy, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12° | 4° | 7 h | 66 mm | 10 d | 15° | |
| February | 14° | 5° | 8.3 h | 73 mm | 8 d | 14° | |
| March | 16° | 6° | 9.3 h | 89 mm | 11 d | 15° | |
| April | 20° | 9° | 10.9 h | 59 mm | 9 d | 17° | ✓ |
| May | 23° | 13° | 11.8 h | 77 mm | 12 d | 20° | ✓ |
| June | 29° | 18° | 13.3 h | 34 mm | 5 d | 24° | ✓ |
| July | 33° | 21° | 13.8 h | 16 mm | 4 d | 27° | |
| August | 33° | 21° | 12.7 h | 30 mm | 5 d | 27° | |
| September | 27° | 17° | 10.9 h | 90 mm | 9 d | 25° | ✓ |
| October | 22° | 14° | 8.8 h | 105 mm | 11 d | 23° | ✓ |
| November | 17° | 9° | 7 h | 140 mm | 13 d | 19° | |
| December | 14° | 5° | 6.9 h | 94 mm | 9 d | 16° |
The four seasons in Italy, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Rome) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May16 to 23°
nights 6 to 13°
- 11 rainy days · 75 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 17°
Summer
Jun → Aug29 to 33°
nights 18 to 21°
- 5 rainy days · 27 mm
- 13.3 h of sun
- sea 26°
Autumn
Sep → Nov17 to 27°
nights 9 to 17°
- 11 rainy days · 112 mm
- 8.9 h of sun
- sea 22°
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Italy, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h13 of daylight, in December 9h08, a difference of 6h04.
9h27Jan
10h32Feb
11h49Mar
13h18Apr
14h32May
15h13Jun
14h56Jul
13h51Aug
12h25Sep
10h59Oct
9h45Nov
9h08Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Rome" (41.90°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Italy, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
EventsCarnival of VeniceFebruaryHoly WeekMarch to AprilPalio di SienaJuly to AugustFerragostoAugustDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: February, April, June, September, December
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, December
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August, September
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Italy, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryCarnival of Venice big crowds
Masks and costumes fill St Mark's Square for the ten days before Shrove Tuesday, right down to the vaporetti.
- March to AprilHoly Week big crowds
Processions across the whole peninsula, from Trapani to Assisi, and the Easter blessing in St Peter's Square: trains and roads are packed.
- July to AugustPalio di Siena big crowds
Two horse races, in early July and then in mid-August, around the Piazza del Campo, preceded by parades in the costumes of each district.
- AugustFerragosto big crowds
In mid-August, Italians all go on holiday at the same time: cities empty, shops close, and the coast and lakes are packed to bursting.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Italy, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Rome | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 Venice | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 Florence and Tuscany | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 The Amalfi Coast | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇮🇹 Sicily | · | ~ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | · | · |
| 🇮🇹 Sardinia | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇮🇹 Milan | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 Cinque Terre | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 Puglia | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
| 🇮🇹 The Dolomites | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇮🇹 The Italian Lakes | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
| 🇮🇹 Turin | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · |
Florence and TuscanyBest time: May to June and September to OctoberWhen to visit Florence and Tuscany →The Florence and Tuscany guide
The Amalfi CoastBest time: May to June and SeptemberWhen to visit the Amalfi Coast →The Amalfi Coast guide
Cinque TerreBest time: April to June and September to OctoberWhen to visit Cinque Terre →The Cinque Terre guide
The DolomitesBest time: June to September (hiking) and December to March (skiing)When to visit the Dolomites →The Dolomites guide
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended12°4° at night
- 66 mm · 10 d
- 7 h
- sea 15°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended14°5° at night
- 73 mm · 8 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 14°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair16°6° at night
- 89 mm · 11 d
- 9.3 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended20°9° at night
- 59 mm · 9 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
May
Recommended23°13° at night
- 77 mm · 12 d
- 11.8 h
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended29°18° at night
- 34 mm · 5 d
- 13.3 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair33°21° at night
- 16 mm · 4 d
- 13.8 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
August
Fair33°21° at night
- 30 mm · 5 d
- 12.7 h
- sea 27°
High season, book early
September
Recommended27°17° at night
- 90 mm · 9 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°14° at night
- 105 mm · 11 d
- 8.8 h
- sea 23°
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair17°9° at night
- 140 mm · 13 d
- 7 h
- sea 19°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended14°5° at night
- 94 mm · 9 d
- 6.9 h
- sea 16°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 12 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Expect 7 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 14 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (73 mm). Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 16 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (89 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.3 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 29 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 34 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 16 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 13.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 21 °C at night. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 27 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 27 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (90 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (105 mm). Expect 8.8 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 23 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (140 mm). Expect 7 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 14 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (94 mm). Expect 6.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Italy?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 20 to 29 °C, with 9 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Rome).
Which month should you avoid in Italy?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 94 mm over 9 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Rome).
What is the hottest month in Italy?
July, with 33 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Rome).
What is the coldest month in Italy?
January, with 12 °C at best during the day and 4 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Rome).
What is the driest month in Italy?
July: 16 mm over 4 days of rain, against 140 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Italy?
July, with 13.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Italy?
The gap between day and night reaches 12 °C in July: 33 °C in the afternoon, 21 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in Italy?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 27 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Rome).
When is the best time to hike in Italy?
February, April, June, September, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Rome), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Italy?
July, August, September: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Rome).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Italy guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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