Winter
Dec → Feb14 to 16°
nights 7 to 9°
- 9 rainy days · 66 mm
- 8.4 h of sun
- sea 16°
When is the best time to visit Sicily?
In short: May to June and September to October, to visit Agrigento, Syracuse and Etna at 23 to 28 °C in the afternoon, with swimming possible from June. June is the best compromise (28 °C and 2 rainy days in Agrigento), whereas July and August, at 31 °C, make the archaeological sites gruelling during the day.
- Greek temples: In April, May, September and October, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and Syracuse can be visited at 19 to 27 °C, without the summer heat.
- Etna: Summer for climbing towards the summit craters, winter for skiing facing the Ionian Sea; eruptive phases can close access.
- Feast of Saint Agatha: On 3, 4 and 5 February in Catania: one of the largest religious festivals in the world, drawing up to a million people.
- Almond blossom: Between February and March, Agrigento celebrates the almond blossom with an international folklore festival founded in 1934.
- Beaches and islands: From June to September for swimming, from Cefalù to Taormina and in the Aeolian Islands, with the sea at its warmest in July and August.
Best avoided: November, the rainiest month (135 mm and 13 rainy days in Agrigento), in a season when the French foreign ministry (France Diplomatie) warns of flash floods and landslides.
Sources: visitsicily.info, visitsicily.info, diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Jan14°not recommended
- Feb14°fair
- Mar16°fair
- Apr19°fair
- May23°recommended
- Jun28°recommended
- Jul31°fair
- Aug31°fair
- Sep27°recommended
- Oct23°recommended
- Nov19°not recommended
- Dec16°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Sicily, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14° | 7° | 8.3 h | 61 mm | 10 d | 16° | |
| February | 14° | 7° | 8.9 h | 77 mm | 8 d | 15° | |
| March | 16° | 9° | 10.2 h | 57 mm | 9 d | 16° | |
| April | 19° | 11° | 10.9 h | 30 mm | 6 d | 16° | |
| May | 23° | 14° | 12.3 h | 39 mm | 5 d | 18° | ✓ |
| June | 28° | 19° | 13.4 h | 9 mm | 2 d | 22° | ✓ |
| July | 31° | 21° | 13.9 h | 1 mm | 0 d | 25° | |
| August | 31° | 22° | 12.6 h | 11 mm | 3 d | 25° | |
| September | 27° | 20° | 11.1 h | 50 mm | 6 d | 24° | ✓ |
| October | 23° | 16° | 9.5 h | 73 mm | 9 d | 22° | ✓ |
| November | 19° | 13° | 8.1 h | 135 mm | 13 d | 20° | |
| December | 16° | 9° | 7.9 h | 61 mm | 8 d | 17° |
The four seasons in Sicily, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Valley of the Temples, Agrigento) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May16 to 23°
nights 9 to 14°
- 7 rainy days · 42 mm
- 11.1 h of sun
- sea 17°
Summer
Jun → Aug28 to 31°
nights 19 to 22°
- 2 rainy days · 7 mm
- 13.3 h of sun
- sea 24°
Autumn
Sep → Nov19 to 27°
nights 13 to 20°
- 9 rainy days · 86 mm
- 9.6 h of sun
- sea 22°
Book early for May 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 Sicily, 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 14h43 of daylight, in December 9h36, a difference of 5h07.
9h51Jan
10h46Feb
11h51Mar
13h07Apr
14h09May
14h43Jun
14h29Jul
13h35Aug
12h22Sep
11h09Oct
10h07Nov
9h36Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Valley of the Temples, Agrigento" (37.29°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Sicily, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Diving & snorkelling | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
EventsFeast of St AgathaFebruaryAcireale CarnivalFebruary to MarchGood Friday processionsMarch to AprilInfiorata di NotoMayDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Beach & swimming: June, July, August, September, October
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December
- Diving & snorkelling: July, August
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Sicily, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- FebruaryFeast of St Agatha big crowds
Catania brings out the bust of its patron saint for three days in February, and devotees in white tunics pull her carriage through the city.
- February to MarchAcireale Carnival
Floats made of papier-mâché and flowers parade through the baroque centre of Acireale in the weeks leading up to Lent.
- March to AprilGood Friday processions
In Trapani, the sculpted groups of the Misteri leave the churches for a procession that lasts a whole day and a night.
- MayInfiorata di Noto
On a weekend in May, artists cover Via Nicolaci with carpets of petals, between the baroque facades of Noto.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended14°7° at night
- 61 mm · 10 d
- 8.3 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair14°7° at night
- 77 mm · 8 d
- 8.9 h
- sea 15°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair16°9° at night
- 57 mm · 9 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
April
Fair19°11° at night
- 30 mm · 6 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended23°14° at night
- 39 mm · 5 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 18°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended28°19° at night
- 9 mm · 2 d
- 13.4 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair31°21° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 13.9 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair31°22° at night
- 11 mm · 3 d
- 12.6 h
- sea 25°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended27°20° at night
- 50 mm · 6 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended23°16° at night
- 73 mm · 9 d
- 9.5 h
- sea 22°
Busy, without the crush
November
Not recommended19°13° at night
- 135 mm · 13 d
- 8.1 h
- sea 20°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended16°9° at night
- 61 mm · 8 d
- 7.9 h
- sea 17°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Cool: 14 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 14 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (77 mm). Expect 8.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (57 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 39 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Cool sea (18 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 28 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 31 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 13.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (11 mm over 3 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 25 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 27 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Rain stays light: 50 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (73 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (135 mm). Expect 8.1 h of sunshine a day. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 16 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Expect 7.9 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 17 °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 Sicily?
May to June and September to October, to visit Agrigento, Syracuse and Etna at 23 to 28 °C in the afternoon, with swimming possible from June. June is the best compromise (28 °C and 2 rainy days in Agrigento), whereas July and August, at 31 °C, make the archaeological sites gruelling during the day.
Which month should you avoid in Sicily?
November, the rainiest month (135 mm and 13 rainy days in Agrigento), in a season when the French foreign ministry (France Diplomatie) warns of flash floods and landslides.
What is the hottest month in Sicily?
July, with 31 °C on average in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Valley of the Temples, Agrigento).
What is the coldest month in Sicily?
January, with 14 °C at best during the day and 7 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Valley of the Temples, Agrigento).
What is the driest month in Sicily?
July: 1 mm over 0 days of rain, against 135 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Sicily?
July, with 13.9 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Sicily?
The water reaches 22 °C or more in June, July, August, September, October (warmest 25 °C in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Valley of the Temples, Agrigento).
When to go diving or snorkelling in Sicily?
July, August: 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 (Valley of the Temples, Agrigento).
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