Italy in January?
 

Hi,
I am getting married in January and being gifted a trip to Italy for our honeymoon. We would love to go in May, however it seems January may be our only option. Is this a terrible time to go? Is the weather horrible? I have read mixed things. We hope to have about 12 days.

Thanks!

Check the weather patterns in Italy at any of the weather websites. I like www.weatherbase.com but there are many options.

I've been to Rome in late December and have planned to go this coming November because the weather was cool with a little rain but not at all bad. Light jacket weather. I suggest you do go and stay in the south, Rome and where else may depend on how long you'll have.

I wouldn't go anywhere beachside or the Lakes, but you might find the cities refreshingly cool and not as busy as the spring and summer months.

I've spent a week or longer touristing in each of the cities of Rome, Napoli, Palermo, Florence, Venice & the Italian Riviera in January, and of those I would only rule out the Italian Riviera for a future trip. I've never done it but it is very popular to going skiing in January in the Dolomiti, and it is possible to combine a visit to Venice + Verona with a trip to the Dolomiti (even if you aren't a skier, but just like beautiful views).

It's possible to put together either a great winter trip in Italy with loads of art & history or a great trip that includes hot springs, food tours, historic cafes & bars & shopping -- or you can mix it up.

Just remember that Italy, except perhaps the most southerly parts like Calabria and Sicily, is likely to have wet weather in January - dark, drizzly day lasting all day. So you don't want to spend too much outdoors, but indoor attractions are fine, with smaller crowd, and it's a great time to visit museums and art galleries. I had a short holiday in Rome and Florence in the winter, and they were fine.

My experiences of Italy in Rome and south of Rome in January were not "dark, drizzly day lasting all day." There was plenty of sunshine on many days, and most days were dry. The only reason I wouldn't plan a trip to the Italian Riviera in January is that it is too cold to eat dinner outdoors and, if it does rain, it is very difficult to find things to do indoors.

I've seen more persistent rain in italy in November and October, or May. It was cold & rainy in Florence & Venice, but of course there is so much to see indoors there (although I went back to Venice at a later date because I wanted to see it in sunny weather, rather than gray weather).

In Rome, Napoli & Palermo I spent a whole lot of time sightseeing outdoors, including Pompeii, and walking tours of Palermo. All I wore was a jacket. I did bring an umbrella and used it some evenings to walk to restaurants, etc.

Of course you can get many rainy gray days in Italy, just about anywhere you go, at any time of year. Just look at the forecast for today in Italy. Buckets of rain all over the place in summer.

We spent the NYE week in Rome a few years ago and had lovely weather (could have been lucky!). We had jackets on but were able to sit outside to eat lunch and most places had covered terraces with heaters on so it was still pleasant to sit outside, even in the rain or evening.

The days are shorter, but most cities light up their buildings and monuments in the evening to that can be really beautiful too.

Spent NYE in Lucca and the next 2 weeks touring Umbria. Had a wonderful time, Less crowded, easy to eat in most any restaurant. Would not have any hesitancy about returning in January.

I've been to Rome several times in January and found great weather and few crowds. That would be my preferred time to travel to that city. I would NOT go to Rome May through September if I could help it.


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/w...ains.html?_r=0




This thread will gather great info only if you tell us where you are thinking of taveling.

We were there in late January a few years ago. Rome was pleasant, cold at night. Florence and Venice were very very cold...it snowed in Venice (lovely). Now, we like cold. Winter menus. Fireplaces. Beautiful night scenery. So this was right for us.

There weren't a lot of tourists, but things were open. That is not the case with the countryside....Tuscany. There, many restaurants and shops close for the winter.

Go. Have a good time. Don't worry about the weather.

I've told this story a few times here when people bring up the weather:

Some years ago we stayed in Venice for about a week and had a good time. The weather was good for the most part, but one day was rainy and a bit cold.

We spent that whole day, and into the evening, walking around the city in the rain and under our umbrellas, stopping for a meal here, coffee there, a museum or two, and an occasional grappa to warm the soul. And at night we rode an uncrowded vaporetto down the Grand Canal.

Of all the days we spent in Venice, guess which one we remember and talk about the most?

Thanks everyone,

We haden't nailed down exactly where we were looking to go, and unfortunatley, it seems now we might be limited due to work conflicts.
Originally we wanted to stay for two weeks and see as much as we could ( eventually making it to the coastal areas).
considering a possible trip in January I was thinking Rome, Florence, Venice. Any other "must do's" that would be a good idea in January?

If you wait until after Jan 6, prices will drop noticeably in Rome and probably Florence too.

Coastal areas other than Venice or Naples are a real gamble in January. If there are rainy storms, the views disappear and in the seaside villages there is nothing to do if the rain is pouring down outside. People determined to try anyway usually do best booking into Naples or Sorrento, and if the weather is beautifully sunny, they day trip down the scenic coast for a lunch or even boat to an island if the sea is perfectly calm. If it's overcast with low clouds and foggy, Pompeii is right there. And if it is actually raining, Naples has a whole lot of things to enjoy indoors (Sorrento is about one hour away.)

If you are thinking of gambling on a coastal visit, try to fly into or out of Naples, and make Venice the other airport you use, if Venice stays on the list.

Bologna is nice in winter because it has a dense, lively center; beautifully lit in the darkness; the food lanes, and lots of aperitivi places will warm you up real good.

Since you will have darkness a lot of the time, places with lots of lights, and where you aren't walking long distances in the cold, can feel the most nourishing. (This includes Rome, of course; and parts of Venice.)

I've been in Italy several Januaries and usually the weather in places like Rome and Florence and points south has been just fine - 50s and often sunny - and yes few crowds at tourist meccas.

Just once in Florence did I see ice on sidewalks but that melted away in a few hours.

Venice may not be quite as warm but rarely cold but I think more prone to wet weather then.

With only two weeks you have just about a good amouont of time to see the highlights of those three major cities. I would not try to fit in any other places, except maybe some daytrips from those cities. No coastal areas unless you consider Venice to be on the coast.

I'd rather have some wind and rain, as I've had at times in Venice in winter, than have to contend with hordes or cruise and group tourists in warmer months.

I was in Rome this past January for a long weekend (couldn't pass up amazing airfare from Baltimore!). The key is to wear layers and have an umbrella with you just in case. At night, I needed my scarf and gloves, but during the day, the sun was out and I ended up carrying my jacket. When it comes to weather, you just never know!

I would not hesitate to return in January!

http://www.holiday-weather.com/rome/averages/january/

these figures show a rather decent weather IMO for January - low for the month averages only 3F - avg high in 50s. Rome - Florence may be a tad chillier and Venice too but rarely cold.

Only 7 days of rain in Rome in January on average.