Italy's climate is one of the most hospitable in the world, with a general pattern of warm, dry summers and mild winters. There are regional variations, however, ranging from the more temperate northern part of the country to the Mediterranean south. Summers are hot and dry along the coastal areas, especially as you move south, and cool in the major mountain areas - the Alps and Apennines. Winters are mild in the south of the country, Rome and below, but in the north they can be at least as cold as most places in the northern hemisphere, especially across the plains of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, which can be very inhospitable in January.
Current weather across Italy
When to Go
If you're planning to visit fairly touristy areas, you may wish to avoid July and August, when the weather can be too hot and the crowds the most congested. August is when Italians go on holiday so expect the resort areas to be especially crowded and the major historic cities - Rome, Florence, Venice - to be slightly artificial as the only people around are fellow tourists. The nicest time to visit, in terms of the weather and lack of crowds, is April to late June, or September and October. Below are some climate graphs for a few of the major cities in Italy.
Average temperatures in main Italian centers
Current time and temperatures in main Italian centers
