Best time to visit Central & Southern Italy

The best time to visit Central & Southern Italy is May, June and September, judged across 22 places; January is its weakest month.

in seasongoodnot its bestlow season

Updated September 2026 · Europe · 22 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Central & Southern Italy month by month

MonthSeasonWhyBest places
Januarynot its bestoff-season shutdown · 13°C highs · best Apr–JunPalermo, Valletta, Catania
Februarynot its bestoff-season shutdown · best Apr–JunValletta, Palermo, Catania
Marchgoodbefore the heat · 16°C highs · 10 h sunValletta, Catania, Syracuse
Aprilgoodbefore the heat · 19°C highs · 11 h sunValletta, Catania, Syracuse
Mayin seasonbefore the heat · 23°C highs · 12 h sunCatania, Valletta, Bari
Junein seasonsea warm enough · 28°C highs · 13 h sunSan Marino, Cagliari, Alghero
Julygoodsea warm enough · 2 wet days · 31°C highsTaormina, Cagliari, Capri
Augustgoodsea warm enough · 32°C highs · 12 h sunOlbia, Taormina, Cagliari
Septemberin seasonsea warm enough · 27°C highs · 11 h sunCagliari, Olbia, Siena
Octobergoodsea warm enough · the heat has broken · 23°C highsMatera, Bari, Lecce
Novembernot its bestoff-season shutdown · best Apr–JunCatania, Palermo, Valletta
Decembernot its bestoff-season shutdown · best Apr–JunCatania, Palermo, Syracuse

In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.

All 22 places in Central & Southern Italy

Central & Southern Italy — FAQ

When is the best time to visit Central & Southern Italy?
May, June and September. In May: before the heat · 23°C highs · 12 h sun.
When is the low season in Central & Southern Italy?
Central & Southern Italy has no month that falls far below the rest of its year; January is the weakest (off-season shutdown · 13°C highs · best Apr–Jun).
Which months are in season in Central & Southern Italy?
May, June and September — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.