KarenWoo

Bvlenci and HungryinCT, we have decided on May 2025 for central and northern Italy, and that includes Florence. And we will most likely visit England and Ireland in September 2025.

HungryinCT

Restaurants and hotels are still open because of course not every single person in Italy is going to leave during August but it is still very much the case that many people do. You will find way more tourists the locals.
My son lives in Italy and we visit often. The summer is definitely the worst time to go. September is definitely not hotter than may or June. The best time to go is March, April September or October.
Winter isn't even the best time to go because it still gets dark early and the weather is very dreary however it will be cheaper to get there of course and less crowded.

bvlenci

I live in Italy, too. I don't know where your son lives, but in Le Marche (central Italy, like Rome and Florence) September has definitely been hotter than May and June in recent years

I just checked maximum temperatures in Rome last year for those months. September had 18 days when the maximum temperature was 30 degrees or more (About 85+ F). May had no days over 30 and June had 6. I would not have wanted to be sightseeing in Rome or Florence last September. I'm not going to check every recent year, or other cities, but I know that's typical of recent years. In 2022 I remember that I was still wearing a sweater in mid June.

My daughter lives in the US; she used to visit me in May, but for over ten years she's been coming in July, because she likes to go to the beach, and it wasn't really beach weather in May. This year she's coming again in May, because she can't come in July. I checked the forecast the other day, and told her I don't think she should bring swimwear, because it looks as though the temperature is going to remain mostly in the low 70s the whole time she's here. We're also going to spend a few days in Rome, where the predicted maximum temperature for the next two weeks is 23C/73F or lower.

I have often have visitors from the US, and I sometimes accompany them to Rome, Florence, or Venice. Because of school or work obligations, the summer is often the only time they can come. I know very well how uncomfortable it can be walking outside under s broiling sun. I also know that the number of tourists can be overwhelming in those three cities. I encourage people to visit those cities in the winter, because it can be extremely crowded at any time between April and October.

It doesn't matter to me whether those crowds are Italians or foreigners. Even the Italians in the tourist meccas of those cities are likely to be tourists. People who live in Rome don't have much reason to go into the center; most of them live outside the center. The Italians you see are usually tourists themselves , from the provinces. However, Italian tourists tend to visit Rome and Florence at the Christmas or Easter holidays, or on long weekends, such as around last week's May 1st holiday. As I said before, in August Italians go to the seaside or the mountains. And people who own restaurants or hotels or other tourist attractions take their holidays at other times of the year.

I have a friend who lives in Rome. I asked her if she could recommend a good restaurant in the center. She said she hadn't been to that part of Rome in some years. She mentioned two places she knew; one had closed and the other was under new ownership.
​​​​​

uppsala30

Karen, May I piggyback on your Italy plans? My husband wants to visit Italy- probably northern Italy- Tuscany next spring. You have given out such good advice- we used your recommendations for accommodations in Santorini last May. We really enjoyed our stay at the Blue Dolphins.

KarenWoo

uppsala30, Yes, of course you can piggyback on my Italy plans. I am honored. And so happy to know that you enjoyed your stay at the Blue Dolphins. I am never 100% sure if people will like the same things that we like.

Here is the link to my planning thread for Italy. We have decided to go in May 2025. I have made some changes based on people's wonderful advice.
Please review my itinerary for Northern Italy in May 2025

uppsala30

Yikes my daughter just reminded me that 2025 is the year of the Papal Jubilee. There will be tons of tourists coming to Rome- so I am crossing that off of my list. She is going to Rome in 2026, maybe we can meet her there.

bvlenci

I wouldn't worry too much about the Jubilee. The last one didn't have a big impact on Rome apart from the Vatican. I would expect this have even less. Most of the visitors will be day trippers; many of the foreign pilgrims will be on bus tours and will stay in outlying hotels. This Jubilee will have themed celebrations throughout the year. Most of them will be on Sundays. Rome is a big city; I would have no hesitation about visiting during the Jubilee.

SusanP

bvlenci, I'm glad to hear that! 😁