When is a good time to visit Italy?

Where in Italy?

You can check weather averages on line on many websites.
Here is Rome:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/italy/rome/climate

The driest months are Jun through August, but May and September are good too. May/early June is actually a feat time to go. Not too hot yet, and not too rainy. The best time, I think.
April is good too, but the weather is unpredictable and cheangeable. It could be sunny the whole time, it could be rainy the whole time, and anything in between.

Rome,Florence,Venice and maybe Milan .

Thanks Roberto. We did check the weather websites and we are thinking of May , but just wanted to double check here before planning/booking everything .

I've been to Italy now in May, July & November. May was my favorite month, although the time we were in Venice (in May) there was flooding in St. Mark's and some of the boat services were suspended for the day.

Ouch ok . That must have been tough if the water services were stopped !

Acqua Alta is more prevalent in the winter, but can happen any time if conditions are right. It goes with the tide, so only lasts a couple of hours. Sometimes vaporetto service has to be curtailed for a while where the bridge clearance on some routes is too tight. It is actually quite fascinating to experience. I was staying at a hotel with cryptic sign taped on the elevator suggesting we have breakfast at 6 am. When the water starting sloshing into the breakfast room at 7:30, we figured out the reason for the signs. The staff knew the drill, they've done it hundreds of times. Walkways were set up on the streets where there was high water and a lot of traffic. Street vendors jacked up their kiosks and immediately started hawking plastic knee length overshoes. Kids in Piazza San Marco discovered the worlds biggest Slip-and-Slide.

In the past 10 years I've been to Italy once in October (hot and sunny) and 3 times in February - from Venice to the Amalfi Coast. In winter I once had a day of snow in Rome (first time in 25 years), once acqua alta in Venice, and a few days of light rain. The temps were in the 50s on the coldest days, and occasionally in the 70s, with lots more sun than clouds.

The best thing is to look at actual daily weather conditions. This site will show you the data for the last several years. The default destination is Paris, just type in your city and click the "yesterday/past weather" link.

We often visited in May with mixed weather results. Usually it was temperate and pleasant, but it can be cool and rainy. September is lovely although can be a bit hot; we had no rain the 3 weeks we were there in September a few years ago; October is even more lovely if you don't love hot weather. We would never choose summer.

I would vote for May. The weather should be more stable, and there seems to be more seasonal activities to join. Also, if Easter falls in April, lots of places will be more crowded. Also, if you would like to enjoy some swimming beside sightseeing, April could be too cold (only south is usually warm enough).

In my opinion there is no bad time! However we usually go late August through late September. Travel from Venice and many points as far south into Apuglia.
Lorieann

This is a post from January....chances are the OP made a choice and may well be traveling or have completed the trip.

I always go to Italy in "shoulder" season. Late March and April. Haven't experienced extended periods of rain on any trip. A day or two here and there is the most we have had to deal with.

We did September in Italy our first time, and then four more trips but all in May. We prefer May because everything is green, the wisteria are blooming, and US schools are still in session so fewer US tourists. And the days are longer in May than in September, so more sunlight. Drawbacks - Tree pollen in Rome, some rainy weather.

Rain happens, that is why invented umbrellas and rain gear. Spring is full of green and flowers. Aspargus is plentiful and you will have a wonderful time.

enjoy
John

We just returned from Italy and Central Europe, spent 6 days in Italy in mid May and it rained at least part of every day but one. On the plus side, it was light at 5AM and sun went down at 9:45 or so. Only had one day of persistent rain, other days all had at least some sun. Our Venice day trip started with rain and we were wearing plastic wraps from the train station to Rialto. Had lunch near Rialto bridge. After lunch it cleared, and we had sun at Piazza San Marco. In Florence we had rain at the Boboli/Bardini gardens. We sat on a bench for half an hour to wait out the worst of it. Rain diminished, we entered the gardens, half hour into the walk the rain stopped, just as we reached the top with best view. Bottom line, you can work around the rain in most cases with patience and flexibility, and it helps to have long days to work with.

Both of our trips have been the first two weeks of June. In both cases the weather was great. We had no rain and the temp wasn't hot except for the day trip to Rome.