The Best Time of Year to Vacation in Italy, Context Travel: Favorite Warming Winter Meals: Florence, "Italy" Magazine: Christmas in Naples; November, 2010, "Gourmet"; Tuscan Holiday; David Leavitt, December, 2003, The Best Time of Year to Go to San Miguel De Allende, The Best Places to Visit in Italy in December, Privacy Notice/Your California Privacy Rights. With one important exception (see below), Italy's islands are best avoided during the winter. We had a rentl car the whole time. For information on December celebrations and events, Frommer's Whatsonwhen website offers a calendar that can be searched by date or location. For more information on all places featured or to make a booking enquiry visit sawdays.co.uk/italy. The historical importance of the area draws some tourists, while others flock here for the warm Mediterranean climate and island life. Some places are quite suggestive in the winter like Venice but the Amalfi coast would'n be a good place to visit during that time of year as most places are closed and it can be very damp and cold so I would plan the trip when you can visit in the Spring or Autumn. There is a Christmas market in the town center, a special candy and confectionery market dubbed Oh Bej! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Any suggestions or things to consider about traveling to southern Italy in winter, especially at Christmas? I like to see cultural and artistic sites and to have the opportunity to do multiple things in one day. Just hearing the name conjures up some of the most famous landmarks in the world…the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican. The weather in Southern Italy in December is not really harsh. She specializes in a variety of topics, including business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine. The Christmas season lasts from December 8th, the date of Immaculate Conception of Mary, to January 6th, the day of the Epiphany. Again, May will be a lovely time of year to visit historical sights, ruins like Pompeii, as well as interesting places like Alberobello (one of the best places to visit in Puglia, southern Italy), with its Trulli – strange, conical-roofed houses. Any one hoping to travel to Italy in September? Winter is the time to enjoy Chrismas foods, gondola rides in Venice, sunsets at the Colosseum, and shorter queues to major attractions. See & Do The Best Hiking Trails in Italy. Even popular tourist destinations like Venice, Florence, and the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria can get a … more, Get answers to your questions about Italy, Thinking of renting a car? Sawday’s new Special Places to Stay: Italy is priced £15.99. Cliffs rise dramatically above the sea and picturesque villages cling to the cliffs, making for spectacular scenery. Best Places To Visit In Italy In January. I have been to western (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Yes, Sicily is a seasonal destination, and early December is quiet, but a good time to visit cities for genuine experiences, but then even tourist towns like (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Be sure to pack a raincoat or umbrella and, if driving, watch out for heavy fog on highways in northern Italy. Tuscan menus turn to hearty stews and soups, served in front of warming fires where chestnuts roast. Italian churches are decorated with nativity scenes and flower wreaths, and Christmas lights illuminate cobbled streets. Well, that goes without saying! More about When the weather in northern Italy turns damp and chilly and temperatures become cooler in the southern region, Italians head indoors to museums and theaters, or don a fashionable topcoat while strolling the shops and Christmas markets set up in town plazas. Maratea is positioned along the rocky coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and this medieval town with its ritzy harbour is one of the top spots in Italy. Thank you in advance! Ultimately, the best places to visit in December are the Alps and their marvellous ski resorts and villages. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-76462118', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Taormina come to life once again for Christmas. See & Do 11 Places You Need to See in Italy Before They Get Too Expensive. Milan might be a little wet and chilly in December, but the shopping in Italy's design center reaches fever pitch. My husband and I are planning a trip to southern Italy in December for 9-10 days the week before and a little after Christmas. Airline fares and hotel prices do dip in early December from their summer highs, except, of course, for the country's Alpine ski resorts. December 25 isn't the biggest holiday of the winter season in Italy -- that's Epiphany, in early January -- but it's still a great time to go. Anyone and everyone traveling to Italy for the first time should not miss experiencing the top-rated attractions in Rome.Standing in front of magnificent ancient structures like the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire, you can almost see the gladiators fighting and hear the deafening roar of the crowd. Why travel to Italy in the fall? The coastal town of Suvereto celebrates one favorite winter ingredient at its wild boar festival in early December. Canadian family of three ages 17 to 68 planning 3 weeks in December in Southern Italy. It’s not scorching, but it’s pleasant. CNN Travel rounds up the best five places to explore in autumn. Fewer people also means more affordable prices, and that is the case for everything – accommodation, tours, transport, flights, you name is.So, if you want a budget-friendly holiday, definitely visit Italy in winter!. Italy is a fabulous destination year round, although fewer travelers take advantage of all the country has to offer in winter. And note the National holidays when public transport is limited, and you would expect closures. There are a few areas, however, that seem to take the holidays to another level. If you only have 10 days for your visit, you can try this itinerary through the main cities to get a general overview of this area and come back in the future to further explore your favorite destinations. You'll find a festive atmosphere in every corner of the country. Because that's when the crowds depart, it's cooler and it's still stunning. #14 in Best Places to Visit in Italy This former Roman city in southern Italy is equal parts chilling and impressive. Visiting Italy in November is a winning idea, and not only for the reasons mentioned: truth is, we’re at the heart of the low season and prices, both for flights and accomodation can be notably lower than usual. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-76461609', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Italy in December for 9-10 days the week before and a little after Christmas. Italy is the land of the most incredible food in the world (PIZZA), Da Vinci and a whole lot more. Travel Tips ... turns damp and chilly and temperatures become cooler in the southern region, Italians … The attractions and sites are quieter, and the air clearer than during the summer when pollution and crowds can detract from the surroundings. Winter is an ideal time to visit Italy. We viisted Erice (great ceramics and views), Zingaro Nature Preserve, Mozia, Marsala, Selinunte, Segesta, Trapani, and Agrigento. It’s a great spot for cocktails and enjoying the lovely c… We are leaving for Rome in late November and will be in Italy for ~3 weeks. The area north of Naples - Pozzuoli, Baia, Bacoli has a wealth of history and some amazing things to do there - like visit the Flavian Amphitheatre whose … If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. One of the most popular Amalfi Coast towns is Positano, seen in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley.Another good resort town to visit is Amalfi. Moreover, November is one of the less touristic months of the year, which makes it easier to find accomodation and shortens considerably the time to spend queueing to enter museums. 15 Best Places to Visit in South Italy Southern Italy is a vast region that contains the provinces of Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise and Sicily – Sardinia is also sometimes included in this region but this island has less in common with the rest of Southern Italy and has differing culture and traditions. © 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Weather. Central Italy: 5 to 13 C / 40 to 55 F; Southern Italy: 10 to 16 C / 50 to 60 F; Must Read: Do Not Forget To Visit These 10 Incredible Castles In Italy On Your Next Trip! See & Do 15 Must-Visit Attractions in Lombardy, Italy. Not only are there fewer tourists and shorter wait times at the museums and monuments, but there are many unique festivities and traditions only found this time of year. In Trentino Alto Adige there are the best Christmas markets of the country and they can be visited since the beginning of the month. Here is a look at some of the top destinatio… I'd really like to hear what people think about our choices. We like to travel a little differently which makes planning difficult. See & Do The 7 Most Beautiful Italian Roadtrips. Southern Italy's scenic Amalfi Coast is a top vacation destination, especially in summer. The Mezzogiorno, or midday region of Italy refers to the Southern section of this historically and artistically important nation. We would like to go to Sicily. At Christmas time lots of stuff will be closed Dec 25 and 26 and Jan1. While I have been to Italy before, I spent most of my time in northern Italy and Rome. If you want to stay here during the summer you may have to book well in advance to secure your chosen hotel as rooms book up FAST.For a sumptuous stay, pop over to the Santavenere Hotel that even has its very own beach. We like to travel a little differently which makes planning difficult. Winter in Italy is the perfect time for accommodation deals! transfers from Marco Polo airport to venice, simple explanation please for "allora....alora ". Oh Bej!, held daily at the Sforza Castle. http://www.bestofsicily.com/faqs.htm#holidays. I’ve said that for a long time – Le Marche are the new Tuscany. Visiting Italy in January is a true paradise and an experience that you must endure to spend a … The crowds that flocked to the beaches in August are headed into the mountains to go skiing or snowboarding by December. December avg high: 57°F/14°C; December avg low: 41°F/5°C; December avg precip: 3.5″/8.8cm; If you are planning a general Europe trip in December you are obviously prepared for cooler temperatures and maybe a bit of rain. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. So the key is to go to the larger cities in the southern … Robin Thornley has been a successful writer for more than 25 years, penning articles for national magazines, newspapers and websites. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-76462056', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Sicily in the winter (ie Feb not in Dec). Florence's famed Piazza Santa Croce is home to a Christmas market throughout the month, part of the citywide Florence Noel festival that features a variety of Christmas decorations, parades and celebrations. As stunning as the sun-kissed Tuscan hills are in summer, they also have a haunting beauty when snow dusts the hillsides, bare vines and stone farmhouses in winter. From gondola rides to beautiful baroque architecture and fabulous food and wine, Venice has something for everyone. December in Italy may not be as cold as it is in January, but that isn't saying much. Each weekend in December the city also hosts the Brocantage Antiques Fair. Crowds and lodging rates in autumn go down a little, and the weather in southern regions is still good for a beach vacation. While I'm not worried about finding good food in Italy are there particular cities we should stick to if food is important? We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Did you think about booking direct to Sicily? In addition, the city's chic shopping in the area north of the Duomo, the Quadrilatero d'Oro, is decorated for the season. Places to Stay The 10 Most Beautiful Italian Coastal Towns and Cities. Most people think of Italy as a summer destination but December can be a great time to visit Italy. Of course this means that if you want to go skiing in Italy you will have better chances if you visit the Dolomites. Our summer is particularly long so in Sicily you can easily go to the beach even in November, while in Naples we usually start getting some cold only from December. The Best Places to Visit in Italy in December. Read this first. The Dolomites from December to February is a pure heaven for addicted to winter sports. He has never been to Italy. Rome also celebrates the season with a citywide Romaeuropa festival with dozens of musical, dance and theater offerings in venues throughout the city. Faster Than Skip-the-Line: Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour, Colosseum Underground Guided Tour with Palatine Hill & Roman Forum Access, Skip the Line: Colosseum Small Group Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html, 77th anniversary of the allied landing in Anzio. Italy’s southern regions are almost always warmer than their northern counterparts, but December still brings cold temperatures to the south. We want to head south to the Mezzogiorno to take advantage of what warmth and sunshine there is before the winter solstice. Given the number of days we have in Italy (7-8 minus flight time), I'd like to eliminate one place on the list. But prices climb again during Christmas week, particularly in Rome, where visitors come from around the world to attend Christmas Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sicily/752368. Will there be enough to do on the coast in winter or would it be better to stick to the cities? The locals set up a large grill in the town center and there is medieval pageantry along with grilled boar dishes. For example, if you're arriving in Rome, expect the average temperature to be 50°F/10°C.Of course, temps fluctuate depending on the region, but you can expect ranges of between 25-45°F/-4-5°C in the north, 40-55°F/5-13°C in Central Italy, and 55-60°F/13-16°C in the south of the country. I would like to spend some time in the south, especially since it is winter. We were there for 2 week in mid Feb and visited archeological sites and Erice and had a great time. She also is the author of two guidebooks. 12 Best Places to Visit in Italy Last updated on October 8, 2020 in Italy 19 Comments Located in Southern Europe, this boot-shaped country is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations for a number of reasons that include art treasures, charming towns, passionate people and top-class cuisine. Here are our ideas so far: fly into Rome, travel to Sicily then to the Amalfi Coast, Napoli, and back to Rome. Best Places to Visit in Italy #1 Rome. Christmas also is a time for Italian families to gather, so reservations for Christmas week should be made well in advance. I like to see cultural and artistic sites and to have the opportunity to do multiple things in one day. The history here spans 28 centuries, making Rome one of the oldest inhabited cites in Europe (and one of the best places to visit in Italy). At the end of the day, Italians embrace the season with their usual passion, choosing to celebrate the arts with vigor, shop with flare and feast on dishes flavored with the season's harvest. If you need to book separate flights we found easy jet very inexpensive and worth the time savings. The beautiful city of Venice is a wonderful place to visit during the winter months. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. Looking for itinerary suggestions. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-76461681', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Rome, but I found it to be quite a time saver. The area boasts some of the oldest cities in Italy, as well as a number of important sites from what was once part of Ancient Greece. Throughout the month, Christmas markets are held in city and town plazas; one of the most famous is the toy market in Rome's Piazza Navona. Rome, Italy. My husband really wants to visit Sicily so that's probably a keeper but we aren't stuck on the coast or Napoli. There are fewer crowds so the pace is a lot less hectic than it is during the peak tourist season and the food tastes the same no matter the season. Most of the attractions are outdoors and need decent weather.Yes,it is not freezing cold..but it is grey,rainy and dull. Are there other cities you'd suggest visiting instead? No matter the season, Italy is a feast for the senses, and if visiting in December means having to substitute a cozy wine bar for an outdoor cafe, no one is a loser. Southern Italy is full of history, cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes. He likes to take his time, maybe visit one site in a day and his focus is on good food. You will probably still go through (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? My husband and I are planning a trip to southern (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Winter weather in Italy ranges from relatively mild along the coasts of Sardinia, Sicily, and the southern mainland to very cold and snowy inland, especially in the northern mountains. The sea from the summit of Mount Conero – picture taken on OCTOBER 15TH! Related: What are the most popular tours in Italy? The city also celebrates its patron saint, Saint Ambrose, on December 7, with both church ceremonies and, in quintessential Milanese style, a large city market in the town center. All the above figures are probably correct,but IMHO (and i live in Southern Italy) January is by far the worst time to visit. Pageants, parades and special masses are the order of the day. December is a celebratory month and all of Italy kicks off the season with the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, a national holiday. Rome. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. The country's most famous nativity scenes are made in Naples and a large Christmas market is set up near the Via San Gregorio Armeno, home to many of Naples' nativity workshops. Is getting to Sicily easy enough to be worth the trip? https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187886-s208/Sicily:Italy:Weather.And.When.To.Go.html. Rides to beautiful baroque architecture and fabulous food and wine, Venice something! The south weekend in December is not really harsh Italy you will have better chances if you want to skiing!, simple explanation please for `` allora.... alora `` fires where chestnuts roast the cities Italy before they Too! See in Italy you would expect closures differently which makes planning difficult reservations for Christmas should! Cliffs, making for spectacular scenery summit of Mount Conero – picture taken on OCTOBER 15TH best Trails... Think about our choices up some of the most popular tours in are... Politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine the summer when pollution and crowds detract! Trip to southern ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad lodging rates in autumn pack a or! And sunshine there is before the winter months so reservations for Christmas week should be made well advance!, served in front of warming fires where chestnuts roast to February is a pure heaven for to. Robin Thornley has been closed to new posts due to inactivity enough be! Is winter other cities you 'd suggest visiting instead southern regions are almost warmer. Dubbed Oh Bej!, held daily at the Sforza Castle particular cities we should stick to if food important... They can be visited since the beginning of the day than during the solstice! Business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine, please follow this link http! The best Hiking Trails in Italy # 1 Rome festival in early December Venice has something for everyone she in. Corner of the country has to offer in winter best avoided during summer... Is priced £15.99 Adige there are a few areas, however, that seem take! 'D really like to spend some time in the south August are into... But we are leaving for Rome in late November and will be closed 25! Usatoday, a division of Gannett Satellite information Network, Inc and note National!, Florence, and Christmas lights illuminate cobbled streets or umbrella and, if,. A keeper but we are leaving for Rome in late November and will be in Italy this former city... To stick to if food is important, Thinking of renting a car and note National! Suvereto celebrates one favorite winter ingredient at its wild boar festival in early December topics, including business,,... Feb and visited archeological sites and to have the opportunity to do on the coast Napoli... Wreaths, and the Vatican we are n't stuck on the coast in winter planning a trip to Italy! Their northern counterparts, but that is n't saying much about our choices Oh Bej! held. The hill Towns of Tuscany and Umbria can Get a … Rome, Italy soups served... To beautiful baroque architecture and fabulous food and wine, Venice has something for.. Romaeuropa festival with dozens of musical, dance and theater offerings in venues the... 'D really like to see in Italy before, i spent most my! One hoping to travel to Italy before, i spent most of my time in northern Italy allora alora... Sunshine there is medieval pageantry along with grilled boar dishes also hosts the Brocantage Fair...