We'll be in Europe for two weeks in the middle of July.
We wanted to spend 90% of that time in Italy but we now realize hit might be very hot.
Is it still enjoyable in Italy in July?
Please don't give me a link to an average temperature website.
I need personal experience like "oh, yeah, you'll sweat like a pig, etc.)"
Should we re-plan our trip to spend a full week up north? (North France, Germany, Bavaria, etc.)
Peter & Robyn
July 10->Paris,Venice,Florence,Tuscany,Rome->July 26
My take on your question, Peter, is this:
Plan to take 2-3 showers a day just to cool down and make life bearable.
Do it, anyway--but build breaks and shade and gelato and some nice chilled Italian white wine into your plans! And a room you can confirm has an air-conditioner that actually cools a little, not just hums.
It may be hot and humid and sticky and crowded, but keep in mind, it's crowded for good reason: these places can be magical in the summer!
Anytime in Italy is enjoyable. We went in July 2007, yes it was hot, yes I tried to drive to CT (mistake!) and yes we had a.c. in all hotels except one in Tuscany. Dress accordingly and enjoy.
Just from my memory for comparison. I've been to Italy in July several times and don't recall being very hot. And I don't think it is just my memory because I remember being too hot to breathe in Southern Florida.
I was in Italy the month of July 2 years ago, and it was hot! If I had the opportunity to put off the trip until, say, the next May would I have? NO! Go in July if that is your next opportunity. Start turning up your thermostat a few degrees at home right now. Plan to take a couple showers a day. And make sure your hotel has A/C. Take the time from 2-5pm(ish) each day for gelato and chilled white wine and relax. If you plan accordingly, you can be in a museum with A/C during the heat of the day.
We we're in Tuscany in the middle of July a few years ago, what is hot, yes, but our agriturismo had a very nice pool. We would start our day very early, and come back to the pool in mid afternoon. I would still go in July, and there is a nice breeze at night, well at least in the countryside. Go and have fun!
The problem is that weather is variable. If past data is no good, then the biased anecdotal observation of a traveller will be of less use. If heat is an issue for you, and given the heat waves of the last few years in Europe, just forget Tuscany and head to the mountains as many Europeans do.
We were in Tuscany in late July after being in Rome in mid July. I would say, looking at your itinerary, that Tuscany was a lot more enjoyable in the heat than Rome in the heat. We stayed in a hotel with a pool, took SLOW trips to wineries in Montalcino, Pienza,and Montepulciano, and ate a lot of gelato. Make sure your hotel in the cities are air conditioned, be prepared to see less than you would normally because you move slower, dress appropriately, and drink lots of water. Of course you're from North Carolina where, I imagine, it gets hot in the summer. I'm from the Pacific Northwest and not used to the heat. You'll do just fine. Have a wonderful trip!
I don't have personal experience of 'how hot it is in July' but I know where you are coming from. I don't like hot humid weather, ie. Florida in August, or Bangkok in April. We had a July 29 2007 2 week trip planned to Italy, Rome, Florence, Hill towns, Venice. 1 week before, we felt it was going to be too hot for us to enjoy, so we changed the whole itineary. Grabbed the RS, Germany, Austria, Brussels, Amsterdam books, and planned another trip. It worked out great, as we were glad to have changed the itineary. We rented a car and visted Munich, Salzburg, Hallstatt ( one of my favorites ), Ruette ( the castles ), Romantic Road, Bacharach, Cologne, Brussels, Brugge, and ended in Amsterdam. We don't like hot weather, so for us cancelling Italy was the right decision. BTW ended up visiting Rome for 4 days and Sorrento & the Amalfi coast area for another 4 days in April...Perfect weather for us. Planning to do Tuscany, Cinque Terre and Venice next April.
A city like Rome will definitely feel really hot in July. There is lot of stone and little greenery around which will make it feel even hotter. I'd never rent a room there without a/c in July.
Tuscany may feel a bit differently. It's more rural, you could find a place with a pool quite easily at an affordable price to help you cooling down. And the buildings are built in a way that's meant to keep you cool. So if you can't get a/c it's not a big deal.
Northern France or Germany present a whole different story, you just never know what's it going to be like.
During the World Cup in june/july 2006 most of Europe incl. Germany had quite a heat wave. I've never felt that hot in my life in Germany (and I lived there for 27 years).
And the following year we went in August and I was freezing most of the time. Actually, the day I went visiting my uncle in Muenster we went straight to a department store to buy some warm underwear for me. ONE single day in the three weeks we were there it felt a bit warmer and we dared going to one of the nice public outdoor swimming pools. And we hardy Canadians shared the entire facility with 3 more people ...
Wow... I really appreciate all the input!
Is Europe indeed trending on having heat waves the last few summers? What about right now?
Pete & Robyn
Right now it is raining up north and nice and cool, while the south is hot. If you come in July plan on taking a nap in the afternoon and staying out later at night. You will find that the Italians do the same thing. Italy is hot in general in the summer, while Rome and Southern Italy is hot, it tends to be a dry heat, while if you head north it tends to be more humid. In Rome especially just take it slow and relax in the shade when you can, and I second the gelato and water suggestions. If you do have a hotel without A/C close up the room in the morning while it is still cool to "trap" in the cool air, and open the room again at night. Italy is a wonderful, wonderful place and the heat shouldn't be a reason to cut short your trip. Also lately it is has been hot all over in the summer, you may find yourself sweating in Germany too!
I was in the Tuscany area in mid-May and I found it was very hot and humid, up to 35 degrees celsius.
Our hotels in Siena and Lucca, although advertised air conditioning, did not have them working as I was told it is only "spring" and they don't get turned on until June! Still, a fan was found, a window opened, and we survived. If I had a chance to go back to Italy, I would go at ANY time of the year!
Peter,
I see you are based in NC, so the temps. and humidity are going to be about the same.
Venice will be pleasant as you get the breezes off the lagoon.
Florence/Tuscany are also very nice even in early to mid-afternoon.
Rome is HOT, humid, and uncomfortable.
To use your time of travel to best effect, the Northern Option may be a better one and save Rome and points south for Mid to late September.
Peter--we always have had to travel in the summer when our kids are out of school. You can never predict the weather, but I love the summer months in Italy or anywhere in Europe for that matter! Have been to Italy in the months of June, July and August. Were in Tuscany in June 2002 and it was very hot but when we were there in August 2007 (the only time we could go that year)the weather was some of the best we have ever had and extremely comfortable. On that trip went as far south as Orvieto. In 2005, Mid-July, we came from Slovenia and Croatia and onto Venice. The 4 days we spent in Venice couldn't have been more perfect and comfortable weatherwise. We had fab. weather in Croatia and Slovenia too. In 2006 we were in Italy for 3 1/2 weeks in July, going as far south as Rome and the Amalfi Coast. It was hot in Pompeii and Rome but drink lots of water and take breaks. Our hotel in Rome, Hotel Smeraldo, had super great a/c and we would go back and cool off for awhile. Go ahead--soak your feet in the bidet! Our hotel in Sorrento, Settimo Cielo, had a great rooftop pool. All of the agriturismi we have stayed at have had great pools. In the C.T. we stay in Vernazza and in the afternoon go down to the harbor and grab a rock like the locals do! Were in France the first 3 weeks of July 2003 and had stunning weather but during the month of August that same summer France had a heatwave that killed many people.
Just go and have a great trip!!!
Forgot to mention in the above post that we are headed to Italy this summer, July 6-23(after son's college orientation). Going back to Venice, Florence and C.T. and I am psyched!!! As you can see from my address that I live in Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis) and many people think that it never gets hot here but it does! We can have unbelievable humidity here in the summer/fall months. Could not live here without A/C. Peter--I have never been to NC but it must get pretty humid there too? You probably have some tolerance to heat and humidity! Buon Viaggio!!!
Three weeks ago it was 96 degrees in Florence, unusually hot for that time of year locals said but we still loved it. We walked on shaded sides of streets, carried water bottles in our packs, bought water in small grocery markets instead of from the cooler cases in stores. Stepped into air conditioned shops or stopped in the shade of buildings. Tuscany and seaside locations were cooler. Take a siesta like the locals in hottest part of day. I wished I'd had more linen tops or pants. It was definitely the coolest and the locals wear lots of linen. Even my husband found his beigh linen pants to be the coolest. My son went in July and he said it was very hot but he didn't mind. He was in Italy and that was what created the memory, not the heat.
As for rain or heat, there is no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Wear a hat, lose fitting clothing, don't get sunburned, use sunglasses, drink plenty of water.
I've travelled through Italy, Greece, Turkey and Egypt in the summer. Sure it's hot, but I don't get sunburned because I wear appropriate clothing. I don't try to walk too much in the sun and or run through the hottest part of the day. Spend the afternoons in the museums when the heat is the most intense, go outside in the mornings and evenings.
We just came back from 3 weeks in Tuscany and Rome. The weather was unseasonable warm for May and the other couple travelling with us really struggled with the heat and lack of ac at some of our accomodations. I tried to plan as many museums, and van tours as possible in the heat of the day which seemed to help. They did siesta almost every day while we went out on our own where our tactic was to walk in the shade whenever possible, duck into churches (which we would have done anyway) stop in a cafe for a cool drink, or have a cup of gelato.Everyone has their own private "thermostat". How are you guys when it gets hot and humid in NC? How do you get along when there's no ac? What activities are you planning and would they be less fun in the heat? Is your heart set on Italy, or would you have just as much fun up North? If you chose to go to Italy, contact your hotels and make sure they have airconditioning and that it's working. Check them out on Trip advisor as well to see if they have a history of ac problems. Last year while we were in Rome we were chatting with several couples who were staying at different hotels that ALL mysteriously had problems with their airconditioning. I suspect the problem was that, given the high electric costs in Italy, the owner simply didn't want to incur the expense of turning it on.
I've struggled with re-planning our Italian trip to northern countries and I must say I feel like "it's the wrong trip." I can plan a trip to the north (Sweden, etc.) but that's not where my heart is right now. We want to go to Italy.
So, I think we're just going follow-through with our original plan of spending most of our time in Italy... we'll just have bear up under the heat (hope I don't regret that) and follow all the great advice you've given.
Pete
We were in Florence, Rome, and Paris...2 wks. ago.. it rained slightly in Florence and Rome...Temperatures were probably in 60's in the mornings and 75 or so in the afternoon.
It rained almost everyday while in Paris (on & off
during the days). Temperatures in the 60's.
Keep this in mind, Peter: when one travels to Italy, no matter how hot he/she may be in July or August or September, memories have a tendency to moderate air temperature. We were DYING last June/July in Italy, but looking back on it, now, we can't stop smiling about our trip and longing to return. So much so that we're going back this July! And I really dislike warm weather!
