Off-Season Italy?

[hz80408]

My parents, sister and I are planning on doing a 2wk+ trip to Italy in 2014 and in rough/early stages of planning. We don't want to go during peak tourist season or when it's extremely hot; so we're thinking of avoiding May-mid September; we wouldn't go during Christmas holiday either.

Any recommendations for when to go/not go? My parents suggested February. Thoughts?

[GilliC]

You should probably avoid Easter as well, since that's also consider a peak tourist week.

[Susie]

We really enjoyed early October last year. Warm but comfortable, and it only rained once in ~12 days (we got lucky and were on a train for the rain storm anyway).

[sm12]

We went for two weeks in mid-October (2010), and I thought it was great. There were still a fair number of tourists, but the weather was fantastic - great for sitting outside and watching the world go by. We got rained on a couple times, but eh, it's part of the experience.

[hz80408]

Sept 13, 2012 10:21:52 GMT -5 GilliC said:

You should probably avoid Easter as well, since that's also consider a peak tourist week.

Definitely; we considered doing just Rome when we went to Europe this year and decided it would be stupid to go then.

[Deleted]

I went at the end of March - Beginning of April and the weather was just perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, just needed a light jacket or sweater. Very comfortable for the miles and miles of walking and sightseeing. Venice wasn't flooded or crowded. We enjoyed the off season trip far more than going at the mid-end of September.

[hz80408]

Sept 13, 2012 13:50:55 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

I went at the end of March - Beginning of April and the weather was just perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, just needed a light jacket or sweater. Very comfortable for the miles and miles of walking and sightseeing. Venice wasn't flooded or crowded. We enjoyed the off season trip far more than going at the mid-end of September.

Great! Good to hear since we're thinking early year time-frame!

[Deleted]

We went to Venice and Milan this year at the end of May and other than one day of rain in northern Italy, the weather was perfect (not hot but warm and sunny, comfortable for lots of walking) and it didn't seen overwhelmingly crowded.

[smock]

I've been in Italy in February. It was pretty cold (it actually snowed) and there was flooding in Venice. March was much nicer, but we still did get a little snow. As long as you're prepared for cold and wet weather, though, you won't run into many crowds and it will be cheaper!

[hz80408]

Sept 14, 2012 8:02:48 GMT -5 smock said:

I've been in Italy in February. It was pretty cold (it actually snowed) and there was flooding in Venice. March was much nicer, but we still did get a little snow. As long as you're prepared for cold and wet weather, though, you won't run into many crowds and it will be cheaper!

Good to know/hear. Thanks! I'm going to suggest pushing back until March I think.

[dawnyp]

Check when lent starts if you are planning on visiting Venice. They do a huge carnival the week lent starts. Very cool to witness, not at all like Mardi Gras in New Orleans but loads of tourists.

[hz80408]

Thanks dawny and mx!

[bunch]

I spent January - may in Genoa and found it too cold for my liking. Granted it was unseasonably cold that year (snow in Pompeii for the first time in like 60 yrs when we were visiting), but I couldn't appreciate most of the places we visited because none of the churches or museums had much if any heat. When I go back, im going in the fall.

[dutchgirl678]

I went to the Amalfi Coast late September, early October and it was fabulous! Still warm/hot weather and the mediterranean is still warm, perfect for swimming. In the spring it would be too cold to swim if you were into that.

[marytini]

My sister and I also went to Italy end of Feb in 2004. It was the end of Carnival in Venice. We actually went to the Vatican on Ash Wed, not realizing what day it was. We arrived at St. Peter's right as mass was ending. The doors flew open and we were standing on the front steps as the Swiss Guards came out, followed by all the people. After they cleared out, we went in and toured.
The weather wasn't terrible. In Venice it was a bit rainy/snowy but not overly cold. The rest of the time it was just overcast.