EvenMary

My husband and I will be traveling to Italy for the first time next year. What is everyone's favorite time to visit? (We are leaning towards May or October) We plan on visiting Rome, Venice, Siena, and the Amalfi coast.

Italiasubito

May is a fabulous time; try to go to the Amalfi Coast toward the end of the month for a chance at perfect weather! My mother loves the fall in Tuscany for the olive and grape harvests. It's hard to go wrong with either month.

LoveItaly

Hello EvenMary, personally I do not think there is a "perfect" time to visit Italy. But I agree that either May or October are wonderful.

Do expect some rain in either month. If I were you and I went in May I would travel south to north. If I went in October I would travel north to south. Have fun planning your trip. You will have a beautiful time.

rex

Late May clear through to mid-late June and the first 60% (or 99%?) of September are best, in my opinion. To include the Amalfi coast, I would pick June 1-15.

Best wishes,

Rex

jules4je7

I'm a Fall traveler myself, because all the people with kids go home, and we still have decent weather to travel in.

When I was in Venice in October 2003, it was c-o-l-d! There was a cold snap from Paris to Venice, requiring me to wear every available layer. For that reason, I'm going back this year in mid-September.

Other than that, I don't think there is a "bad time" to see Italy from the times you're choosing...I say a day in Europe in January is better than a day in January in Denver...even if it's cold and snowing at least I'm somewhere new!

Happy Travels,

Jules

gard

Hi

We went to Rome in July and Venice in June..as we live in Norway we enjoy getting some warm weather when we travel so we didn't mind that it was a bit hot when we were there I have posted trip reports from the trips to Venice and Rome on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com...maybe you can find some useful information there. Have a great trip to Italy.

Regards
Gard

EvenMary

Thanks for the advice. gard-great trip report, love the website! I think we are going to travel in late May. When is the best time to get a good deal on airline tickets for that time? (We fly out from Kansas City)

TexasAggie

We were in Italy May 13-25, 2005. We spent time in Rome, the Amalfi Coast area, and Liguria. We had wonderful weather except for one rainy day in Positano and another in Liguria. We would visit in May again but try to push it out to the last 12 days of May for hopefully less rain.

Brahmama

I have to disagree with our Patriarch Rex on this subject!

We were on the Amalfi Coast this year for 5 nights from 23 May. It was HOT! The buses were sweltering, and it was very hot in the afternoon everywhere. Our room did cool off at night with the doors to the balcony wide open.

The proprietor at the B&B told us that in his opinion the very best time for the Amalfi coast was October. Nice weather and much less people.

Of course, the weather is unpredictable at best - and with Global warming - it's hard to say what lies ahead in any part of the world.

Carol

ira

Hi em,

I would pick mid-May to mid-June or mid-Sept to mid-Oct.

bobthenavigator

I agree with Ira, but I would push back to early May as well.

toriann

My husband and I are traveling to Italy from Oct.8( 4 nights in Rome) then to Tuscany( 2 weeks) and Venice(3 nights).We will be in Italy almost the full month of October. We always travel in October have usually find it beautiful. Often hitting "Indian summers ". Although this is considered "peak season" almost anywhere in Europe the travelers do not seem as "touristy" as they do in the summer months. We both enjoy a "romantic rainy day" and also like ti sit by a cozy fire in the evenings. 70 to 60 degree temps are just great to us. We will keep you posted about our trip when we return. From Nov.1-8 we wlii be in Paris(Paris perfect apartment-Montrachet in the 7th). If any one has any tips feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Ciao,
Toriann

petsitter

My husband, son and I traveled to the Amalfi Coast end of May/beginning of June 2003. We had to go when my son was out of school. It was hot, hot, hot! (and we're from Dallas, TX) When we go to Italy we walk just about everywhere and it was uncomfortable. My husband and I are planning on going to Venice, Tuscany and back to the Amalfi Coast in mid April 2006. Anyone have any weather ideas for that time?

LoveItaly

Hi petsitter, IMHO, due to lots of conversation with friends in Italy I don't think anyone can predicate the weather. The weather has changed so much these last years. I would just go when I could and not worry about it. Saying that however I never want to be in the large cities in August as I just can't take the heat, humidty etc. Happy travels everone.

rex

<<and with Global warming - it's hard to say what lies ahead in any part of the world...>>

Global warming (remind me, is that the phenomenon that is going to bring on the next Ice Age?) will not impact weather patterns - - as it affects tourism and travel - - in the lifetime of anyone alive today.

Areala

I've always gone in Mid to late Sept and have always had wonderful weather. Last year was my first year not doing an open jaw ticket so we went in and out of Venice. We spent the first 3 days in Venice and it rained most of the time then we left, rented a car did the rest of the trip to beautiful weather. We arrived back in Venice very early for our return flight so we took a water taxi over (quickest way) and spent our final day in Venice, guess what...you got it...it rained again. The only rain we had the entire 3 weeks and it was all in Venice. darn........

MarciaS

This past May we arrived in Positano May 10 - had fabulous weather and plenty warm - a week in Assisi - had two days of rain - a week in Siena - perfect warm weather - week in Venice - great weather if not a little too warm (humid in the 80's a couple of days) - two years ago in Northern Italy early May we ran into a lot of rain. Its hard to predict, but we did find the crowds tolerable except the day we visted Florence. Anyway, no matter the weather, you will love Italy. Our friends went in March when it was a bit cold, but they layered up, had very little rain and loved it because it was pretty quiet. Enjoy!

stefanaccio

Recommend September. Nice weather, not high season, no crowds.
Teramo, Italy
www.angelfire.com/film/casale

metellus

Mid May to Mid September gives you good weather. You will barely be able to move from the crowds and will spend a lot of time standing in line. You will also have to book hotels at least 6 monthes in advance, especially in Venice.

Earlier spring and and later fall gives you poorer weather - especially in northern Italy where you are going - but far it is a far less of a mob scene.

Take your pick.

PS If you are really going to visit all the places you mention, you better allow at least 3 weeks.

rex

<<Mid May to Mid September gives you good weather. You will barely be able to move from the crowds and will spend a lot of time standing in line. You will also have to book hotels at least 6 monthes in advance, especially in Venice.>>

This is so ridiculously over-exaggerated. If even 60% of ALL the rooms in Venice are EVER completely booked up six months in advance, I will be on the next plane to buy any hotel whose owner I can convince to sell.

Sure it gets crowded, but not THAT crowded!