Too cold to swim in late September at the Italian Riviera?
 

Need some help on figuring out what to pack for my italy trip next month. FIrst I was thinking of flip flops and sneakers and summer skirts, sleeveless shirts and bathing suits but have realized I'll be there in the fall rather than the summer.

Do you think it won't be warm enough to go swimming in late Sept?

Also, suggestions on what to bring would be helpful.
Thanks all!

oops, adding that I will be in Italy from Sept 23 - oct 2.

Hi jc, well that is a problem I always have when I go to Italy in September, although I do not worry about swimming as I don't. Guess the answer is layering. I am usually in the northeast of Italy but go to the west coast also. It has been hot and humid usually and than suddenly rain storms, electrical storms etc.

A bathing suit or two sure doesn't take up any room. If you pack a few capri's, a few long pants, skirts, sleeveless shirts with some long sleeve cotton sweaters and perhaps a great looking jacket you should be fine. Flip flops, sneakers should be great. Have fun and enjoy every moment.

The Italian (and French) Riviera(s) are at roughly 43-44 degrees north, latitude - - about the same as Kennebunkport, Maine. I suspect that you will fin that the swimming/beach weather will be slightly better on the Riviera, but not very likely more than a degree or two warmer, on average.

Best wishes,

Rex

I swim in the ocean in NJ in Sept., and sometimes in early Oct., finding it the warmest time of year for ocean water (and I am not someone who likes cold water). I'd be really surprised if the water along the Riviera is colder than the water along the NJ shore.

I didn't mean to suggest that <i>no one</i> swims or enjoys the beach in early autumn - - whether in New Jersey, the Cape or southern Maine - - but clearly far fewer than in August. And of course, latitude is only one determinant; the Pacific with its Alaska currents is MUCH colder than the North Atlantic with its Caribbean currents, at the same latitude. And the Mediterranean is an &quot;inland sea&quot;, shallower and without (much of) the mixing of water from the larger oceans. The Caspian and Black Seas are further north than the Mediterranean but their inland nature makes them fairly enjoyable June-September, if I am not mistaken.

Still, far less... the further you get from summer solstice.

My husband swam from the beach at Monterosso in October a few years ago. I think it was a little chilly, but there were several others in the water, too.

His biggest complaint was not the temperature of the water, but the rocky beach (much like Nice). Bring water shoes.

Byrd

Around the summer solstice, the ocean water along the Jersey shore is still usually much too cold for me. It takes all summer to warm up, and is just right in very late summer/very early fall. The only problem then is that often a hurricane is coming or going, so the water may be too rough, and it's not safe to swim (especially since there are no lifeguards after the end of the swimming season). But in terms of temperature, September is the best time for swimming at the Jersey shore. I thought the same might be true for the Riviera, and in fact expected it might be even warmer. Water was perfect off western Crete and along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey in October (two different years), but I think the Riviera would not be as warm. An Internet acquaintance mine who owns a home in Monterosso routinely enjoys swimming there in the fall, and also swam once in March, but he forced himself to do it just because it was possible, but it was not pleasant.