Visiting in Winter

If you are interested in cities and all they have to offer, it should be great to go in February or March. April is hardly winter and would be a lovely time to go, though I am an outdoor lover and prefer May/June or Sept/Oct.

Not sure I'd extend it to the Amalfi coast, but it really depends on your goals and expectations.

Hello,

We travelled to Italy end of February/early March this year and really enjoyed it! My trip report points out the positive/negative aspects for us. It was the first time visiting Europe in the 'off season' for us.

For myself, I don't think I'd want to go too early in February because the days are shorter and a few things were closed in February (in Sicily). And for April, your choice as to whether you want to be there for the week leading up to Easter or if you'd rather avoid that time.

Here is my Trip Report:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-february-march-in-italy

Have a wonderful trip!

does "work my way down to the Amalfi Coast" mean mostly cities or also countryside? Mid-January to mid-February is a great choice for visiting Rome and Florence; less great for Venice, any seaside towns and certainly the Amalfi Coast. If you're visiting cities, museums, restaurants and cultural events (e.g., concerts) are fantastic with fewer crowds. It's pretty much the only time I want to visit Rome. But outdoors activities, especially on the water, will be less pleasant in February. Also Tuscany countryside will be a little dreary - browns fields, trees without leaves, except for the cedars of course. March and April are beautiful for outdoors experiences. The fruit trees are flowering in March, and by April the leaves are out and the days are longer.

Outside the ski areas/Dolomites, it's never truly cold. I've been here four years and the temperatures where I live (in the Apennine mountains but mid-altitude) have never been below -2 Celsius (28 Fahrenheit) and were that low only for a week in January. But I lived in Canada for 30 years, so use your own thermostat to gauge your comfort.

Long story short, off-season trips are great and highly recommended for cities, less so for seaside and countryside visits. But any of the three months you suggested will be good for reduced crowds.

One year I visited Venice in February, and it was a great time to be there. Much less crowded everywhere we walked and toured (no lines!). We had clear, but chilly weather, so packed accordingly with my fold up long puffer coat. The only time I was uncomfortable was on the boat to Venice from Murano, since it always seems windier and colder when on the water. I just went inside the cabin, where it was warmer than being on deck where I typically like to sit.

We continued to Rome a few days later, where the weather was incredibly spring-like for February, and I did not need a jacket (so I was glad to fold-up my puffer and keep it in my suitcase). I wore just a sweater over a long-sleeved t-shirt every day. The crowds were also noticeably less than when I had visited previously in June, which I will never do again - way too hot & muggy for me. My daughter returned to Rome last April, and it was chilly and rainy, so it is hard to predict what the weather will be, but having less tourists is reason enough for me to travel to Europe in February &/or March each year.

Venice will still be cold and damp in February, also there will be Carnival which you may want to see or avoid.
March the worst of the cold is usually over in the north of Italy so you could get some warm pleasant days ...or a little late snow.
April has a lot of public holidays - Easter, 25th April and long weekend, 1st May the same, which means a lot of Italians are travelling, especially to città d'arte and prices will be higher. I'd choose March and cross my fingers for the weather.