Weather in Spain or Italy in Jan or Feb
May 23rd, 2008, 12:53 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Weather in Spain or Italy in Jan or Feb
I have no idea at all just what the typical weather is in Spain or Italy in January or February. I live in the northern part of the US, and it typical sucks here that time of year. (Actually, I think it sucks here 24/7! It's cloudy, on an annual average, 51% of the time in my zip code! In downtown Seattle, it's less! Fer cripes sake! But I digress.)
Usually if I want to escape I go south, of course. But I also have a desire to spend 2-4 weeks touring Spain and Italy, concentrating on art, history, etc. (what I construe as mostly indoor stuff), and traveling mostly if not exclusively by train, so driving weather is irrelevant. What should I expect? Is it at all reasonable to consider those countries for those reasons, those months?
Usually if I want to escape I go south, of course. But I also have a desire to spend 2-4 weeks touring Spain and Italy, concentrating on art, history, etc. (what I construe as mostly indoor stuff), and traveling mostly if not exclusively by train, so driving weather is irrelevant. What should I expect? Is it at all reasonable to consider those countries for those reasons, those months?
May 23rd, 2008, 01:01 PM
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 7,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can check www.weather.com or www.wunderground.com for historical averages in the particular places you intend to go.
May 23rd, 2008, 01:09 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last year we did Italy/Paris in late January, early February. Started in Rome, total 2 weeks. There were only about 3 days when the weather drove us inside.
Rome: Pleasant cold. A little rain. Some days we could even sit at sidewalk cafes.
Florence: Bitterly cold. 2-scarf weather. Couldn't be outside much.
Venice: About like Rome (except the day it snowed!). The stones in the Doge Palace were so cold they made my feet hurt, though.
I would imagine Spain would be about like Rome (maybe warmer).
Rome: Pleasant cold. A little rain. Some days we could even sit at sidewalk cafes.
Florence: Bitterly cold. 2-scarf weather. Couldn't be outside much.
Venice: About like Rome (except the day it snowed!). The stones in the Doge Palace were so cold they made my feet hurt, though.
I would imagine Spain would be about like Rome (maybe warmer).
May 23rd, 2008, 01:19 PM
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I spent January 2000 in Madrid, with weekend trips to Granada, Seville, and finally Barcelona. It wasn't bad at all, but then we'd had a couple of really nasty Januaries in Spokane, so almost anything would have been an improvement. I remember it as being fairly cool in Madrid, but quite a lot warmer in Seville and Granada.
My last day in Madrid was a beautiful sunny Sunday, and all of Madrid was in Retiro park. Lovely day!
My last day in Madrid was a beautiful sunny Sunday, and all of Madrid was in Retiro park. Lovely day!
May 23rd, 2008, 02:29 PM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since you may be visiting old stone buildings and churches, keep in mind that it can seem as cold inside as out--no central heating in these old structures. But that's why both these countries have the most delightfully thick and delicious hot chocolate.
I love traveling in Italy and Spain at the time of year--lower prices and fewer tourists.
I love traveling in Italy and Spain at the time of year--lower prices and fewer tourists.
May 23rd, 2008, 02:34 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought it was even <i>colder</i> inside those stone structures!
The only other caution I would give is that you probably have to be more flexible with your day-to-day plans than you would in fine weather.
For instance, the January day we went to the colosseum/forum was unbearably windy. We had to abandon that day's schedule. If we'd booked a guide for that, it would have really messed up our plans.
Probably leave most specific plans until you're close enough that you can check that day's weather.
The only other caution I would give is that you probably have to be more flexible with your day-to-day plans than you would in fine weather.
For instance, the January day we went to the colosseum/forum was unbearably windy. We had to abandon that day's schedule. If we'd booked a guide for that, it would have really messed up our plans.
Probably leave most specific plans until you're close enough that you can check that day's weather.
May 23rd, 2008, 03:45 PM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Italy and Spain are temperate - not sub tropical - don;t think FL.
If you're in the northern areas or the mountains you will have winterish weather in Jan/Feb - although rain is more likely than snow except at altitudes. In southern areas you will get weather more like the Carolinas in winter. Warmer but nothing like beach weather.
But- you will have the benefit of everything being much less crowded.
If you're in the northern areas or the mountains you will have winterish weather in Jan/Feb - although rain is more likely than snow except at altitudes. In southern areas you will get weather more like the Carolinas in winter. Warmer but nothing like beach weather.
But- you will have the benefit of everything being much less crowded.
