Climate of Italy

Climate of Italy

Where is the country of Italy located? Italy, officially the Italian Republic or Republic of Italy, is a country that consists of a peninsula delimited by the Alps. Italy has different types of climates. Two elements largely determine which climate applies: the absolute altitude (above sea level) and the north-south position relative to the equator. The south of Italy is warmer and drier than the north. The landscape also plays an important role: mountainous areas cause lower temperatures at higher altitudes and deviating precipitation patterns.

Much of the north of the country has a maritime climate (types Cfb – temperate and Cfa – warm), with relatively mild winters, no extremely hot summers and precipitation throughout the year. Central and southern Italy have a Mediterranean or Mediterranean climate (type Csa), with warm, dry summers and relatively mild winters. The northernmost part of Italy, where the lower border of the Alps is located, partly has a high mountain climate (type EH) and in lower parts a transitional climate (Dfb and Dfc).

Pleasant spring months

In the spring the temperatures quickly rise to pleasant values ​​and you can see the beautiful Italian nature blossoming. Because of the not too warm days and the sun that is not yet at its brightest, Italy is the most beautiful in spring. If you want to book a sun holiday during this period, it is still a bit too early for that. In March and April the pool water and sea water are too cold, it is not until May that it becomes pleasant in many places along the pool. The weather is also very unstable and there is a good chance that there will be rainy, but also cold weather for a few days. This applies to all of Italy, including in the somewhat warmer south of the country. In the second half of May, the chance of showers decreases and the water temperatures of the lakes and the Mediterranean rise to around 20 degrees, which is already quite acceptable for many people for swimming. Spring is also an ideal time to visit picturesque villages, beautiful nature reserves and the atmospheric Italian cities. When you rent a car in Italy, you have the freedom to see as much as possible.

Warm summer months

During the summer period (June, July, August) it is warm to very hot in large parts of Italy. Especially in the south (near Naples and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia ) the thermometers can reach as much as forty degrees. Particularly in large cities such as Rome and Naples, it can become unpleasantly stuffy. On average there are no major differences in summer temperatures, in practice it is possible due to the length of the country that differences in temperature of fifteen degrees between north and south are measured at the same time. In the higher parts of Italy it can even be twenty to twenty-five degrees cooler than in the extreme south of Italy at that time. The summer period is the best time to take a vacation to one of the many campsites in Italy to book.

Precipitation

Most of the precipitation in Italy falls west of the Apennines and in the mountains in the far north of Italy. The windward sides of the mountain areas often record more than 1200 millimeters of precipitation per year, part of which falls in the form of snow during the winter months. Where and when the most rain falls depends mainly on the region and the season. For example, the southern half of Italy has a fairly even rainfall pattern, with most rain falling in the winter months and little to very little rainfall in the dry summer months. The chances of rain increase again in September. In the northern half of the Italian mainland, the course of precipitation is much more uneven. Most precipitation falls here in the spring and there is also a reasonable chance of rain in the summer months, which often falls in the form of showers. If a severe depression is stopped by the mountains and, as it were, lingers, it can also cause rain for several days in the summer months, sometimes with flooding. At some campsites in Italy there is then flooding and mudslides. If you’re acycling holiday in Italy, you should keep a close eye on the weather reports. During heavy rain it can become dangerous for cyclists on the road.

Winter sports Italy

In the winter months, much of the precipitation above the Genoa-Venice line falls in the form of snow. Especially in the Dolomites and the Alps there is enough snow to ensure a thick white layer, which is suitable for all forms of winter sports. The Trentino-Alto Aldige region (South Tyrol) is a popular winter sports area among Italians, but also among other Europeans. Other winter sports resorts can be found in the regions of Aosta and to a lesser extent in the provinces of Turin (Torino) and Belluno. Because the travel time by bus and car to Italy is a few hours longer than to the popular areas in Austria and France Italy is less popular among the Dutch as a winter sports destination. A missed opportunity, because the areas are beautiful, the snow is often of excellent quality and the Italian food is of course excellent. Winter sports in Italy are therefore particularly popular among bon vivants, who, in addition to skiing, also want to take advantage of the excellent Italian cuisine.

The winter sports season in Italy runs from December to March, although there are certainly places where you could ski before, and in some locations you can ski until the end of spring.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 11℃ 2℃ 3 14 13℃
February 12℃ 3℃ 4 13 13℃
March 15℃ 5℃ 5 12 13℃
April 17℃ 8℃ 7 11 14℃
May 22℃ 11℃ 9 8 18℃
June 27℃ 15℃ 10 7 21℃
July 29℃ 18℃ 11 6 25℃
August 29℃ 18℃ 10 7 26℃
September 26℃ 16℃ 8 8 24℃
October 22℃ 11℃ 6 11 20℃
November 16℃ 6℃ 4 15 17℃
December 13℃ 4℃ 3 14 15℃

Best time to visit Italy

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Italy? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. Italy, the country that has the shape of a boot, is located in the south of Europe and is largely surrounded by the sea. The north side of Italy is mountainous. The Alps are located here, with Mont Blanc, partly in France and partly in Italy, as the highest mountain. The Apennines are another mountain range. This branch of the Alps forms the backbone of the peninsula and partly determines the weather in large parts of Italy. For example, on the western side of the Apennines there is a warm Mediterranean climate, while on the eastern side there is a warm maritime climate. Within the Apennines you see more temperate climate types. In the north, where the Alps are located, the moderate continental climate at higher altitudes changes to a cool continental climate and finally a high mountain climate as soon as you get above 2000-2500 meters above sea level.

Best travel months for Italy

Due to the different climates and travel purposes, it is not so easy to indicate one period as the best time to travel to Italy. If you leave out the winter sports and sun holidays, we would especially choose mid-April to mid-June as the most suitable travel period for Italy. The temperatures are pleasant in large parts of the country, the amounts of rain decrease and the sun shows itself more than in winter. From mid-June it gets warm in more and more places to sometimes downright hot in Italy. July and August in particular can be too hot in some regions to be active, travel around or go on city trips. Autumn is a good alternative, but keep in mind that the chances of rain increase in quite a few regions in Italy. For example, if you want to travel to the famous lakes in the north, such as Lake Garda, you can count on fairly good weather in September. The month of October is already a lot less pleasant here due to the increasing precipitation and falling temperatures.

Sun holidays in Italy

If you go to Italy for the sun, the best time to travel is from mid-June to mid-September. This is the warmest and sunniest time of the year in Italy. On the coast it is then almost everywhere and always a good place to stay. In the central interior (including Tuscany and Umbria), on Sardinia and on Sicily it can get very hot in July and August. There, the maximum temperature on the hottest days can reach 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. The question is whether you don’t think that’s too hot.

In the north of Italy, where Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lago Maggiore are located, there can be a period with heavy rain or heavy thunderstorms in every summer month. Sometimes things go well for years in a row and sometimes the summer at these destinations is very unstable.

City trips and tours in Italy

Do you want to discover cities in Italy or travel around this beautiful country? Then choose spring or autumn. The months of April, May, June and September are the best time to travel for this type of holiday in Italy. Rome is also very popular among tourists in October. Dutch families quite often opt for the autumn holidays for a city trip to Rome. If you want to avoid the crowds there, you could switch to November as a travel month. That is the wettest month of the year in Rome.

Winter sports

You can enjoy winter sports in Italy. Spread over the Alps you will find a large number of winter sports areas, which are good for many kilometers of winter sports fun. In terms of snow security, it does matter where you celebrate your skiing holiday. In the western part of the Italian Alps most snow falls in late autumn and early winter. The eastern half, which includes the Dolomites and the Carnic Alps, has more snowfall in the first two months of the calendar year. In general, mid-December to mid-March is the best time to travel for a winter sports holiday in Italy.

Italy