Hello reader ! Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. This is my first post and I thought, what better to write about in my first post, than my first solo trip to Europe? So today I am going to tell you about one of my favourite places in the world – the land of Amore – Italy.
Let’s begin with the first question that comes to your mind when planning a trip – When to Go?
April
My suggestion would be the second half of April and here’s why…
North Italy is generally always colder, while South Italy tends to get hot at certain times of the year. In March, the weather is still quite cold, while in May, it starts getting hot. So, April marks the change between the two and is just the right kind of pleasant weather you want.
However, April is around the time of Easter and all hotels, hostels, and B&Bs, especially in Rome, will be packed with people who come to see the procession by the Pope. So, unless your aim is to witness a crowded festival and the Pope, make sure you avoid the Easter weekend including Easter Monday.
I happened to plan my trip on the Tuesday after Easter, which was the best time as most visitors had left by then and the prices of accommodations were comparatively lower. Also, I got to try the delicious Easter bread, Colomba di Pasqua. Trust me, I would go back to Italy just to have that bread again !
Avoid Peak Season
The peak seasons are May-June and August-September.
There are two obvious reasons to avoid peak tourist season. The first is because you really don’t want to be stuck in large crowds while sightseeing. The second is because flight and accommodation rates tend to be higher.
Similar to May, it gets quite hot in August, especially if you plan to visit places in South Italy, like Rome, Naples, Capri, etc. Remember, there is a fair amount of walking involved in sightseeing and you don’t want to do that in the heat. The beaches too will be unpleasantly hot at the time. That being said, I hear that accommodation can be cheaper in August, so if your budget is low, you could consider August.
Some people do prefer to go in September during the fall. It can be beautiful to see the leaves turn and witness all the different colours, but it doesn’t mean that it starts getting cooler. September could be as warm as August. So be prepared.
Rain
Like many other European countries, rains are very unpredictable in Italy. You may come across showers at any time of the year. But when I travelled to Italy in April-May, I was lucky to have seen very few, light showers. It was cool and still comfortable enough to walk around.
I was in South Italy towards the end of my trip in May and I could already feel the heat setting in. I was thankful for the rains then, as they helped keep it cooler.
Italy in Winter
If you’re looking for basking in the sun at beaches, winter is out of the question. However, if you’re a fan of skiing or snowboarding, you could well consider visiting Italy between December-February. The places you can visit are the Alps in the north. The Dolomites are a UNESCO world heritage site with breath-taking snow-capped peaks.
However, keep in mind that in November and December, Italy sees maximum rain and most places during winter will be cold and damp. Many hotels and B&Bs in regions like Tuscany, Umbria and oth
ers in central Italy might be closed for the winter, as well as some places on the west and east coasts.
Since it gets dark early, most sites will close early in the day. However, experiencing cities and towns at night with lights and Christmas decorations will be something to look forward to.
South Italy, while cool, will still be pleasant. The lower airfare and accommodation costs and fewer tourists makes it great for budget travel. Usually crowded sites in Rome like the Colosseum and the Vatican will be much emptier and a pleasure to visit at this time.
And of course, if you’re in the mood to celebrate Christmas in Italy, look out for the Christmas markets, decorations and special mass at the Vatican.
The one city in Italy that never sleeps is Venice. Venice is expensive but you can expect it to be less so in the winter. Fewer tourists filling up the narrow streets and the wonderful, misty atmosphere will set the mood for a romantic holiday. If you do plan to go to Venice in the winter, you might consider going in February during the famous Carnivale season. The larger than life decorations, costumes, masks and parties is what Venice is best known for.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect season which will have a combination of fewer tourists, lower rates and pleasant weather with no rains. So in the end, you will have to prioritize and plan accordingly.
Once you have decided on when you will go to Italy, other questions will crop up, such as, how many days? Which places to visit? Should I even visit Venice?? Stay tuned, because in upcoming posts, I am going to give in-depth information about my 21 Day Itinerary in Italy, details about places I visited and some important cultural and language tips to make your trip easier and fun.