Italy-when to visit?

Wondering when you should go to italy? While many people think that May or April may be less crowded actually, the summer is much less of a hassel and it sometimes even priced better. If you're going on an extended trip during the winter, try to stay in central italy for nicer weather and more opportunites. Same with late fall and most of spring, although by the end of spring there, it's practically a US summer.
Hope it gives you ideas! -Padme

Sorry to say, but I really have to disagree.
Summer: less of a hassel und better prices???? Please tell me what destination in Italy you are thinking off! Juni/July/August and te first 2 weeks in September is absolutely high season all around Italy.
Winter: Did you ever hear about the many ski-resorts in the italian Alps?
What part of Italy are you calling "central"? And what kind of "more opportunites" can you find there?
I am visiting Italy for 30 years now, every year about 5 - 6 times, every time about 3 - 5 weeks, in all seasons and every part of Italy.

Hello! Thanks for your opinion, however my family and I have lived in Italy for a while, and as I'm a fluent speaker, I ask many people there about when they get the most tourists and raise their prices. Central Italy is around the Rome area and Lucca and Siena. It's normally the most warm. I have never been to the Alps, although it sounds beautiful. I did not specify opportunities because people could ask if they wanted to know more, and I had to choose a season, not all four! Thanks for your feedback, glad to see you love Italy as much as me!
- Padme

Thanks for the tips! It will be super helpful for my trip this summer

I was going to let this one go but changed my mind as it's questionable advice, IMHO.

While many people think that May or April may be less crowded actually, the summer is much less of a hassel and it sometimes even priced better.

Respectfully, if you were to ask residents of Rome, Lucca, Siena, Florence, Pisa, etc. when they see the largest influx of tourists, it absolutely would be May through Sept. I don't even have to live there to know that as it's been a reported fact for years. In fact lately, tourists on some other forums have reported that there doesn't seem to be shoulder seasons at all in some of these locations anymore; they're crowded pretty much all the time aside from winter. Hang out on travel forums for Italy long enough and it's evident that many, many more tourists plan trips for spring thru fall, summer being peak, than any other time of the year. For families with school-aged children, this is often the only time they can go.

I've never seen high season reported as offering reduced prices in "central" Italy, and they can experience steep increases for special events. Case in point, Rome is ramping up for a Jubilee Year in 2025 and is expecting very large numbers of visitors in addition to the mobs they already experience during the busy months. I would expect that to affect accommodation prices; rule of supply and demand.

(Hope an informational news link is OK to post):
https://apnews.com/article/vatican-jubilee-rome-pope-francis-20189e83df9dd8eb5312d5e96e076af2

In short, the general advice I see elsewhere is NOT to travel to the more popular Italian destinations during the summer due to very heavy crowds, intense heat, higher prices, and/or (in some cases) overloaded public transit.

I'm curious why it would be less of a hassle to travel central Italy in summer/high season vs. other times of the year? Could you explain further?

[ Edit: Edited on 13 May 2024, 14:26 GMT by goodfish ]

Quoting goodfish

(Hope an informational news link is OK to post):

Our spam policy is based on trying to figure out the intent. An established member is very unlikely to be posting to promote something in breach of our spam rules, so post away with anything you think relevant.

Thanks, Andy. :O)

I would avoid summer simply due to heat. Weather is nice to travel (may be not to go to the beach) even in winter all around Italy.