Hello,
I am returning to Italy in 2017 and would like to hear from those whom have been to Italy (northern and southern) specifically during the months of April and September. I was previously in Italy in early June of 2014 and the heat (or rather the humidity) really bothered me. I am honestly leaning more towards April but am afraid that most of the trip will consist of overcast non-sunny days.
Can anyone who has been to Italy during those two months offer some advice?
Thank you in advance!
IMO, Sept is essentially the same weather as August- go in April & dodge a few rain showers from time to time. April is also a little less crowded.
I can't speak for April. We have always gone in Sept. In 2014, we were there early Sept (Amalfi, Rome, Venice) and the first two stops the heat was really bad - we'd generally return to our rooms mid afternoon to re-shower and rest during the hottest part of the day. By the time we got to Venice closer to the middle of the month, the temps felt better. Otherwise, our other 3 visits were all mid-late Sept. Other than Florence being really hot the days we were there, the weather was great in Cinque Terre/Milan and Venice.
So if you didn't like June heat, but want to go in Sept, if you can do mid-late Sept, I think you'd be better off.
Robin,
I usually travel in September but have been in Italy (both north and south) in April and the weather on those occasions was "mixed". In my experience it was generally warm and pleasant in the south in April, but somewhat cooler and in some cases rainy in the north at that time.
The weather varies from year-to-year so there's no absolutely sure way to predict what it might be like in 2017. If you want to travel in April, you might just have to take your chances. One other thing to mention is that I've encountered severe rain storms in both north and south in September so be sure to pack accordingly.
Our preference is late September through Oct. Other than shorter days we find the weather more agreeable - dryer and cooler. Have been in April and early May and found it much cooler and wetter. Not unpleasantly so, however needed a rain jacket every day for the little showers we frequently encountered.
I have been in both and have been fortunate enough to have beautiful weather in mid April.... both Germany and Italy in different years. There are never any guarantees but I think you can find it will be consistently hotter in Sept. Felt just like summer to me. However, I have been in Italy and France and Spain at the end of Oct. and it was beautiful. If you are looking to avoid crowds and still have some relatively nice weather I would look at Oct. instead of Sept. I kind of prefer the fall landscape vs. the spring, but I am a photographer, so tend to look for some different views. I like the warm color of the fields and trees vs. the budding green trees and fields in spring.
I've usually had lovely weather in April in Italy, with of course some rain at times. But gloomy and overcast is NOT an accurate description, except for the odd day here and there.
As for temperature, I vividly remember that in Rome in September 1994, I was able to eat all my dinners outside (all the restaurants had outside tables, and all of central Rome was like a block party). However, in my several subsequent April visits to Rome, I ate all lunches outside, but dinners were inside as it wasn't warm enough. I mention this not only as a sign of the weather, but as something that made the visits feel different. I and a friend agreed that the ambiance created by everyone eating dinner outdoors was wonderful, but another friend didn't feel that way at all; he preferred the cooler weather of April and didn't feel he lost anything by not having dinners outdoors.
So, in summary, unless you care about eating dinner outdoors (and are willing to have hot days as a tradeoff), you will definitely like Rome better in April.
I've been to Venice, Florence and Rome in the 1st week of Sept and it felt really hot to me. I am from N. Idaho and don't tolerate heat as well as I used to when I lived in a warmer climate. I also have done the RS Village Italy (so starting in Padua - or actually we had a few days in Venice first, heading south and then looping back up to CT and NW of Milan) starting the last week of September in to mid-Oct and the weather was warm but much more tolerable. This was in the same year so that may or may not be a good comparison, lol.
Robin, do you have anything against May and October? Those months are my favorites. Of course, a lot depends on whether you are, for example, considering Sicily, Sardinia and Southern Iraly, or the Dolomites or the Lakes.
Larry,
No, I do not have a problem with May but I was thinking October was too late in the tourist season. I plan on spending more time in Southern Italy versus Northern.
Robin
Precisely because Italy is hotter than, say, Belgium, October is not "too late" for most places in the country. I'm sure beach resorts are closed down, but everything else should be open in full swing.
We've been to Rome and south as far as the Sorrento/Amalfi area in early-to-mid October and had great weather. A little rain here and there but no washouts, and comfortable temps. Needed a light jacket a few nights but not during the day.
Our experience is that Italy is a bit withered in September. There are far more flowers in April and May :-)
Especially I remember the Spanish Stairs in Rome, which was a completely different experience in May than in September.
Beach resorts in Southern Italy, Sicily and Sardegna usually close after the All Saints' holidays (1st November).
After that in small villages or near the sea might be rather dead (this usually last until Easter).
In cities, however everything should be open but hours in museums and sights might be reduced a little. Advantage: less crowded.
April is often the most crowded month, Easter week being the most trafficked one. The last April week, being between two fixed Italian holidays (April 25th and May 1st) is traditionally tourist time for Italians as well. April is not beach time anywhere in Italy. Usually April has spring weather, difficult to divine but mostly fine, not as cold as the winter and not as hot as the summer.
September: the first two weeks have usually similar weather to August - so they are good for beach resorts - but are much less crowded as most Italians have holidays in August and by September 1st are back at their work place. Also September is mostly fine, but the actual weather you will find - if closer to August or to October - is in God's mind.
