I'm planning a trip to Italy in October and was wondering if places would be busy even then, Thanks for your posts!

Which cities are you referring to? I believe October is still considered to be high season. When we visited Rome and Florence in October it was quite busy. We went in mid-October to Rome and found that quite a few visitors were UK student groups. There was the film festival going on also and that added to the crowd.

Venice, Rome, Sorrento, Florence. I was kind of hoping it wouldn't be so bad then. At least the weather may be in my favour!

We went to Venice, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Siena, Assisi, etc., and didn't find it terribly crowded. We did see many seniors like ourselves, but I think it's less crowded than it would have been in the summer.

There weren't enough crowds that it interfered with anything we wanted to do.

October is peak season for bus tours. These usually focus on five-star sights only, so those places will be just as crowded as in high summer. The rest of the country should be significantly less busy than in summer.

I've been in Rome in October and to Rome and Florence in November--October is definitely more crowded, but it didn't feel overwhelming (except at the Trevi Fountain, and I think it's always like that there), and the weather was absolutely gorgeous when I was there (in November, not so much--though it was great going to the Uffizi and not having to stand in line, etc.). I think October is a beautiful time to be in Italy.

Where? Cities are crowded all the time. Small towns and villages, depending on their popularity, can still be crowded in October or can be virtually deserted.

The weather in October can be very warm. It can rain sometimes also. But generally it's a very nice month to visit.

What are your other options?