Italy in February- whose been?

In 2018, we spent two weeks in Rome during February. Of course, it snowed for the first time in 30 years. If you are used to Seattle in February, Rome will be a breeze. Other than the two days of snow, it was sunny and cold, and we enjoyed every minute. It was also very crowded with tourists like us (who knew), and probably only slightly less crowded than the summer.

This may not help much, but my adult daughter and I went on a RS Sicily Tour in February one year. We had days of sunshine and days of rain, and we wore long pants and jackets every day. It was beautiful and uncrowded. I would not hesitate to travel in Italy in February.

Rome, great. Florence and Venice too, as well as Tuscan countryside although it can be quite chilly. Puglia will be virtually shut down in February.

If your major concern is weather (it would be mine), you can take a look at actual, historical, day-by-day weather data for key destinations on the website timeanddate.com. Since weather varies so much from year to year, it's important to check several years' worth of statistics. I find this detailed data a lot more useful than monthly averages, which hide extremes.

For precipitation, though, I like to review the climate-summary charts usually included in the Wikipedia entries for cities. They provide an easy way to compare the likelihood of rain (or snow) in various months and in various cities. Note, however, that the time frame on which those averages are based often cuts off in 2010 or even in 2000. I think we all know weather has gotten wackier in the last 10 to 20 years.

I love Italy in February. It's low season for lodging so I've gotten very good prices and there weren't hordes of tourists anywhere except the Vatican and a somewhat long line for tickets to the Colosseum/Forum.

Mardi Gras is March 1, so depending on your timing you may be in Rome for some of the city's relatively low-key observances. I haven't been farther south than Salerno/Paestum. The patron saint of Sorrento is celebrated on Feb. 14 and is quite nice, with a seasonal market for a few days leading up to it.

My first trip ever was in February and I have been a couple of time in late December and January. I like that is mild weather wise than in Chicago. Rome is always busy.

Hope for the best; prepare for the worst. We once started a trip the 2nd week of April. The 1st day in Rome, the temps hovered around 32F. Next day it reached 40, with rain. We weren’t prepared for that and were pretty miserable for a couple of days. Later, we were in Tuscany, and the nights were quite chilly, but the days were okay.
With the 20/20 vision of hindsight, I recommend you take layers (not an original thought, lol)). Gloves, a warm scarf, and a fleece vest will do a lot to keep you comfortable should the worst transpire.
We also have experienced Puglia off-season, April? It was quiet, but everything we wanted to see was open; museums, archaeological sites, historic sites, etc.

I'll chime in with my friends Chani & Laurel extolling the virtues of Italy in February, which I've done twice. Full disclosure, both of these trips were late February into early March.

In 2015, finished up a train journey through Paris & Lucerne to stop for a few days in Florence, then down to Salerno, where we did geneological trips into the Campanian foothills. Also daytripped to the Amalfi Coast on a particularly nice day, which was about a high of 60 with little wind. Other than that day, it was 40's/50's with more wind, no rain.

In 2017, like you are planning, we first spent a week in Rome at an apartment overlooking Campo de' Fiori, and it was glorious. Few tourists, more locals, we took the bus everywhere, you could sit outside because temps were 50's/60's throughout with only one sprinkle of rain. Then...we trained it down to Sorrento, where we thought it would be even more temperate. Wrong! Rain, wind & 40's temps for 3 days, had an agriturismo tour cancelled. Then it cleared up for the final two days there, but our VRBO apartment was freezing cold the entire time. Only saving grace was the cuisine in Sorrento is some of the best in Italy!

Bottom line is you are at the mercy of the weather. It will probably be OK most of the time, but bring a slicker, and most importantly some warm slippers!!

Jay your 2017 Sorrento stay sounds like our 2013 Trapani stay. How anyone makes it through the damp cold with their inferior heating I do not know, but dang, the food was terrific!

We were in Sicily in February. It was 50s (F) during the day, 30s-40s at night. The locals were all bundled in puffy down coats. Take gloves and a hat in case. I think even March would be better.

Thank you all for your replies. We are flying with low season frequent flier miles, so are locked into arriving in February. Laurel, what areas of Italy seems to have the best heating? We are thinking of some time in Lecce for sunnier days.

Have been in Italy in February more than once and would echo the positives others have mentioned. It’s a terrific time to go as long as you don’t mind wearing a jacket sometimes and possibly some rain! In my opinion, definitely consider going then!

Thank you all for your replies. We are flying with low season frequent
flier miles, so are locked into arriving in February. Laurel, what
areas of Italy seems to have the best heating? We are thinking of some
time in Lecce for sunnier days.

Becky--

I'm almost inclined to think that northern-to-central Italy, where heat during the winter is used on a regular basis, might be better off for you in that regard. We were on the Amalfi Coast and Laurel was in western Sicily, where frankly they don't run the heat that often, if at all.

Research reviews on your AirBnB or VRBO sites, TripAdvisor as well, for winter stays.

Personally I would not go to Puglia in winter. It is a beachy, summer location. Ditto the Amalfi Coast except Sorrento at Christmas is nice. We have friends who got snowed in at Matera one February. Stuck for days. I would gravitate to cities in February: Florence, Venice, Torino, Milano are ideas in addition to Rome.

Hotels tend to have better heating everywhere than apartments or homes. Slept in sweatsuits in a Tuscan farmhouse in Feb one year. It’s hard to heat 400 year old stone buildings!

Thank you all for your thoughts. Now comes the fun part,
scheduling.