Should You Visit Italy In October?
The Best Month To Visit In 2024
I Believe October Is One Of The Best Months Of The Year To Be In The Land Of Pasta And Prosecco - Here Are Some Of The Best Local Activities To Enjoy In Italy In October
- Nathan Heinrich
- Rome, Italy
Whether you’re trying to figure out the best time to visit Italy or maybe you’d like to learn if spending time in Italy in October is a good idea, this travel guide will explain why October is the perfect month for your Italian holiday.
In this complete guide to Italy in October we will discuss why fall in Italy is a great time to visit due to fewer tourists, pleasant weather, and affordable prices.
Once we get finished discussing the benefits of avoiding the high season during the
summer months you will agree that Italy in October is both a great month and a very good time to plan your next visit to the boot-shaped land of pasta and Prosecco.
What Is The Average October Temperature In Italy?
From early October to late October the average maximum temperature range is 55-70°F (13-21°C).
Packing a wardrobe of light layers for your October holiday in Italy is an excellent idea.
While it can rain in October, it is unusual for there to be more than 4 or 5 rainy days during this mid-autumn month.
You can expect mostly sunny days with beautiful weather and cooler temperatures through the end of October in Italy.
What Is The Sea Temperature In Italy In October?
The good news is that the greater Mediterranean Sea including the Adriatic Sea has water that is warm enough to swim in until the end of October.
According to official Italian weather data, average sea temperatures in October are 68-72° F (20-22° C).
Although the perfect season for beach weather is traditionally considered to be the warmer months of summer, October can be a lovely time to visit Italian beaches before a sea temperature drop along with cooler weather at the end of the month.
The weather forecast, you can almost certainly expect for the month of October in Italy, is warm days that are not hot and cool nights that are not cold.
Rain in the month of October is rare, but it can happen.
As someone who is an Italian resident and has spent the past several Octobers in Italy, I can officially say that it is my favorite time of the year to be in this beautiful country.
What Are The Best Things To Do In Italy In October?
Here Are Some Of My Favorite October Food And Wine Festivals In North, Central and Southern Italy
Starting from the beginning of October, there are countless food and wine festivals in Italy.
Whether you’re a foodie, a wino, a vegan, vegetarian, or sweet tooth chocoholic sugar addict – there’s a festival in Italy in the month of October for you.
Here are some of the best harvest season food and wine festivals across South, Central, and Northern Italy during “shoulder season”.
*The exact dates of these festivals change each year, so I will reference them as early, mid and late October.
Northern Italy
1.) Mid-October: Cuneo National Chestnut Fair (Fiera Nazionale del Marrone) in the City of Turin in the region of Piemonte.
2.) Early October: Regional Pasta Festival “Tortél Dóls Festival” – Colorno (Parma), in the Region of Emilia Romania.
3.) Mid to Late October: Food and Wine Festival “Ein Prosit” in the City of Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia.
4.) Early October: Salami Feast – City of Cremona in the Region of Lombardy.
5.) Early October: Pumpkin and Winter Vegetable Festival in the City of Padergnone, in the Province of Trento, Italy.
Central Italy
6.) End of October: Saffron Market Fair – Cascia (Perugia), in the Region of Umbria.
7.) Mid-October: Food and Wine Festival “Boccaccesca” – City of Certaldo (Florence) in the Region of Tuscany (also the Alba White Truffle Festival).
8.) Mid-October: Italian Renaissance Festival “Torneoinarmatura” – City of San Leo in the Province of Rimini, in the Region of Emilia-Romagna.
9.) Early October: Rice & Risotto Fair and Festival – In the City of Isola della Scala (Verona) in the Region of Veneto.
10.) Late October: White Truffle Market in Gubbio Land of Truffles – in the City of Gubbio, in the Region of Umbria.
11.) Mid-October: Chocolate Festival “EuroChocolate” – in the City of Perugia, in the Region of Umbria.
12.) Late October: Archery Competition And Festival “Sagra del Tordo” (Thrush Festival or Feast of the Thrush) – in the city of Montalcino, province of Siena in the Region of Tuscany.
13.) Mid-October: Rome Film Festival Rome Italy in the Region of Lazio.
Southern Italy Festivals In October
14.) Mid-October: Chesnut Festival “Festa della Castagna” in Scala, on the Amalfi Coast in the Region of Campania.
15.) The Tagra Florio Classic car race through the Madonie Mountains in Sicily.
16.) Ottobrata Zafferanese a five day festival “sagra” celebrating 5 unique types of products grown on Mt. Etna.
There’s a day for grapes and wine, another for honey “miele”, one for mushrooms “funghi”, a day for apples “mele” and another for chestnuts.
What is "Shoulder Season"?
Hint: It has nothing to do with shoulders
The period of time from mid-September, October, and mid-November is often referred to as “shoulder season”.
This term refers to the months between high tourist season and the “off-season”.
The term “shoulder season” actually has nothing to do with shoulders, as I used to think it did.
I once thought that it meant due to colder weather one had to keep their shoulders covered.
The reality is that the term is much less glamorous.
It refers to the shoulder-shaped lines on a graph that depict the drop in the number of tourists visiting between peak and off-peak tourist seasons.
Looking For Interesting Things To Do In Italy In October?
Here are some great things to do if you want to avoid crowds and soak up Italy in October like a real Italian
Visit Italy's Secret Apple Country
From the beginning of the month of October, through early November, is the perfect time to taste fresh-picked apples in the region of Trentino Alto Adige in the Italian Alps.
Personally, I would much rather spend time doing seasonal fall outdoor activities in Northern Italy breathing fresh air and taking in views of the stunning Dolomiti Mountains, rather than fighting throngs of tourist crowds at the Trevi Fountain in Rome during the summer months.
Picking apples and berries in this highly underrated region of Italy is one of the best things you can do in October.
I’ve also discovered what I believe to be one of the best wineries in Italy in this beautiful region and you can even help them pick grapes before tasting their wine.
Take In The Fall Colors On A Train Ride To Swizerland
Recently, I took a train from Milan to Lugano Switzerland with a quick stop in the city of Como on the gorgeous Lake Como, with some friends who were visiting from the United States.
Although Lake Como is a lovely town, it has become extremely overcrowded with tourists who do not know that it’s just one of hundreds of lakes in Italy.
In fact, there are more than 1,500 lakes in Italy, the largest of which is Garda Lake which borders the three northern regions of Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, and Lombardia.
With a fraction of the crowds found at Lake Como, Garda Lake is much larger and considered by many to be even more gorgeous – myself included.
Visit Lesser-Known Italian Lakes
Besides Garda Lake and Lake Como, Italy has many more lakes that most people have never heard of, even Italians don’t know the names of all their lakes as there are over 1,500 lakes in Italy.
Of these unknown “secret lakes” in Italy, one of my favorites is just 30 minutes from where I live in the Prosecco Hills in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.
Lago di Santa Croce in the City of Belluno is a beautiful clear water that’s perfect for boating in wooden boats that can be rented during the warmer months.
In October the weather is still warm enough to enjoy bird-watching, a stroll around the lake, and drinking a local Prosecco, and eating a delicious bite at one of the local cafes that provide an excellent view of the surrounding Alps.
Just a 45-minute drive from Venice, this is one of my favorite Italian lakes. Several other lakes that are worth visiting are Lugano on the Italian and Swiss border, Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, and Lake Iseo.
Visit The Beach Or Take A Boat Ride In Southern Italy
With over 7,900 km (4,900 miles) of coastline including many islands, the largest of which are Sicily and Sardinia, spending time on the Mediterranean Sea is a great way to spend time in Italy during the warm weather months of summer as well as into September and October.
In Southern Italy, the seawater in the branches of the Mediterranean surrounding Italy, which include the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ligurian Sea, Sea of Sardinia, and Strait of Sicily, stays warm enough to swim in well into October.
I was on the Amalfi Coast several years ago for a wedding in mid-October and the whole group of us went swimming every day and the water was still quite warm. If you go even further south to Sicily the water stays warm well into November.
Visit A Secret Wine Region
While you most likely have had the lovely sparkling wine known as Prosecco from Italy, it’s unlikely that you know where this bubbly beverage comes from.
I actually happen to live in one of the most famous Prosecco cities in Northern Italy – Conegliano.
Just 30 minutes from Venice, this charming town, nestled in the Prosecco Hills and tucked into the base of the lower Alps (the pre-Alps), is one of the best locations to visit when exploring this little-known wine region.
During harvest time in the month of October, you can expect to see tractors pulling trailers loaded down with freshly picked Galera grapes which are used to make Prosecco wine.
Prosecco is the Italian version of Champagne, and just like the Champagne region in France, Prosecco can only be produced in the Prosecco Hills and Valley.
My favorite cities to visit for wine tasting in the Prosecco Wine Region are Conegliano, Treviso, Asolo, Valdobbiadine, Tarzo, and Vittorio Veneto.
Visit Less-Crowded Cities
Rather than sticking to major cities like Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Cinque Terre, I recommend getting off the beaten path and exploring smaller cities in lesser-known regions.
Create a travel plan to include regions such as the Piedmont Region, Le Marche, Emilia Romagna, Umbria, Veneto, Calabria, and Trentino, during this time of year with the average temperature still quite comfortable, you will certainly discover hidden gem local restaurants and taste local wine in the rolling hills and coasts of Northern, Southern, and Central Italy.
Italy In October Is Always The Best Bet
If visiting Italy for a guided tour is on your bucket list, or if you are returning to Italy again after many previous visits, I recommend planning your trip to Italy in October for the mild temperatures and lower prices that are often much better than peak season rates.
Personally, I believe that the best months to visit Italy are April, May, October and November. Even the popular tourist destinations with high-season long lines such as the Uffizi Gallery, and Vatican museums in the Vatican City are far less crowded during October – the “good month” for Italian travel.
Because the average weather conditions in October are blessed with mostly pleasant temperatures be sure to bring comfortable shoes because you can spend a lot of days outside without rain.
Italy in October is the perfect time to walk the Roman Forum, enjoy a concert at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, visit Mount Etna in Sicily, or walk the Devil’s Bridge in Tuscany with the kind of weather that will make Italy’s main attractions, popular destinations, and secret local spots a true pleasure.
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Author Info:
Nathan Heinrich
Nathan is a writer, designer & horticulturist. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of "All Roads Lead to Italy" Magazine & host of the Top-10 Travel Podcast, "I'm Moving To Italy!". Nathan was born and raised in a 5th generation farming family in Northern California, he is currently, a dual Italian citizen, living in the Prosecco Valley of Northern Italy, near Venice.