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The first thing you need to know - it'll be busy!
While everyone’s busy chasing that sun-kissed Euro summer dream, there’s no reason to put the other seasons on the back burner.
Autunno, primavera, inverno, when’s the best time to visit Italy?
The short answer: whenever your flight is booked! Whether you’re packing for crisp autumn vineyards or winter wonderland piazzas, we’ve got intel on where to go to keep your wanderlust fed, no matter the weather.
Sip and stroll in autumn – September through November
Autumn is the time to sip, savour, and soak in all of Italy’s flavours. With fresh grapes, olives, and truffles at their peak, every bite and sight will leave you feeling like you’ve hit the jackpot on Italy’s flavour roulette.
Piedmont
Fancy a stroll along the road less travelled? Piedmont is your destination. Known for its sophisticated cuisine and wines like the full-bodied Barolo, this region is a taste-tourist’s paradise, relatively untouched by heavy tourism. Imagine snow-capped Alps, lush rice fields, vineyards, and the rolling hills of the Langhe—it’s a postcard come to life with autumn gifting it a golden hue.
Umbria
Nothing screams autumn quite like Umbria, with its medieval hill towns like Assisi standing tall and dense forests putting on their best show. With a stroll through this region being like stepping into a Renaissance painting, it’s the ultimate cosy season backdrop.
South Tyrol
Snuggled among the “sunny side of the Alps,” South Tyrol is a maze of historic castles, cliff-hugging vineyards, and lakes reflecting the Dolomites. Visit during autumn for the Törggelen tradition—roasted chestnuts, fresh farm fare, and enough local wine to warm any visitor’s heart (via their stomach).
Veneto
Leave the tourist crowds of the Veneto region, home to Venice, in the summer months and visit in autumn to for views without the queues. With iconic Roman sites—think: Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Fortuny—and walled medieval cities, there’s no better time to dive into discovery without a tour bus on your tail.
Tuscany
Early autumn in Tuscany is divine, with the temperatures of 20-26 degrees being just right for truffle hunting, wine tours, and exploring cobblestone streets. Harvest season is the ideal time to dine at farm to table feasts and grapevine to glass experiences with snacks and sips that will have you saying, “Mamma Mia!” after every bite.
Ski and spa in winter – December through February
Itching to tear up some powder? There’s no better place to do so than in the real-life snow globe of Italy in the winter months. Step off the plane and straight into a snow holiday complete with Christmas markets, ice skating under twinkling lights, and powdery slopes.
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a no-brainer for winter sports fans. With feet upon feet of snow served up on a frosty platter, this is the perfect playground for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and sipping on mulled wine by the fireplace. Glide over to Dolomiti Superski, where 12 ski resorts provide the perfect springboard to the next. Who needs bar hopping when you can have slope-surfing?
Bormio
If you’re bound to Bormio, look forward to a getaway spent tearing up the slopes in the daytime before unwinding in thermal baths as the sun sets. Throw in some serene snowshoe walks through Stelvio National Park, and you’ve got yourself a snowy escape that’s as cozy and calming as it is cool.
Aosta Valley
If you like your ski trips with a side of history, Aosta Valley should be top of your itinerary. Step off the beaten path and into the Valley to find world-class skiing, warming dishes of freshly made pasta in the villages, and Roman ruins to explore on your rest days.
Livigno
The small town of Livigno turns into a winter sports hot spot (or should we say cold spot) come winter. With 30km of cross-country skiing this is a bucket-list essential for anyone wanting to clip in their boots for the first time or conquer the double-blacks of every mountain they encounter.
Monterosa
Christmas villages reminiscent of Santa’s are waiting for you at Monterosa, with twinkling lights, mulled wine stalls, and live music along every snow-lined street. Not only does this mountain-filled area have the streetscape worthy of your dreamscape, but it is home to the perfect peaks for advanced skiers looking for a challenge—and maybe a little bragging rights on the side.
Discover and dine in spring – March through May
Searching for your Pinterest mood board come to life? Picture warm breezes, occasional sun showers, and flowers blooming out of every windowsill garden, and you’ve got springtime in Italy! With fewer tourists to dodge outside of the peak seasons, expect amore with Italy March to May.
Termoli
As a seaside paradise with ancient architecture, Termoli is easily one of Italy’s most Instagrammable spots. Think Euro summer sans the tourist crowds and humidity. With local produce markets lining the water and fresh fish from the bay headlining the town’s menus, this stop won’t only fill up your camera roll, but your stomach too!
Matera
Visit Matera, a fairytale city that looks as if it belongs in a museum with streets of ancient houses carved from stone. Though from a distance it seems like a surreal land long, long ago, you’ll find this city of stone is very much alive with a vibrant nightlife and endless family-owned cafes to discover. Spring creates the perfect atmosphere for going out on the town with clear skies, day or night.
Calabria
Spring in Calabria is a feast for the senses – where the rolling farm hills meet the crashing waves and freshly grown fruit and vegetables meet your plate. Visiting this southern region in spring will have you opening the car windows for the refreshing scents of fields of grasses and flowers as you drive towards the cliffside towns.
Campania
Explore Campania’s rich tapestry of history and culture first-hand with tours of the region’s world-famous sites and ruins such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. You’ll feel as if you’ve jumped into a time machine back to the first century, without having to share the awe with the thousands of others that make their way during the hotter months.
Dive and dance in summer – June through August
Now, for all you Euro summer fans, this is what you came here for! The sun is blazing, the Aperol spritzes are flowing, and there’s a lounge chair and striped umbrella with your name on it. Keep cool while soaking up the Italian summer heat with the best of the beach along Italy’s coastlines.
Puglia
If you’re envisioning a classic Euro summer with seafood linguini on the way to your table, a refreshing spritz in your hand, and a boat tour booked for the next day—you have Puglia on your mind. This region offers that classic summer scene with sun-kissed beaches and the perfect dose of laidback vibes to embrace la dolce vita.
Sicily
Sicily is your island escape from your Euro trip straight out of a Mediterranean dream. Head to the largest island in the Mediterranean to find charming villages, coastal clubs, and local music and food festivals to pack into your itinerary. Bonus: if you don’t have time to stay the night, this still makes an epic day trip to soak up the sun away from the mainland.
Sardinia
Searching for a smidge of sophistication? Sardinia is the poster child of luxury island getaways. With over 1,800km of unspoilt coastline to dive into, clear seas to explore on board island-hopping cruises, and over 50 Michelin Star-rated restaurants, you’ll be walking the line between lax and luxury in no time.
Tips for first time travellers
If you’re mainly planning to touch down at bigger cities and tourist hot spots, getting a train in between can be the most cost effective and flexible way to travel.
Are you catching multiple trains throughout your trip? Check out the available Eurail passes to save some of your holiday for the more important things (pasta).
If you’re wanting to visit locations off the beaten path or simply want to soak up the countryside in between road trip stops, car hire will be your best friend.
The best seasons for budget travel are spring and autumn. These are off seasons for tourism, meaning that though costs are cheaper, activities and events are more limited in smaller towns.
If visiting during peak tourism seasons (especially summer), aim to have accommodation and flights booked 6-12 months in advance to beat the increase of prices closer to travel time.
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