Italy in April: all you need to know to plan the perfect trip in 2023
Visiting Italy in April: all you need to know to plan a trip! The best places to visit in April in Italy, when to book what, what to expect from the weather.
April is one of the best months to visit Italy, a lovely time when spring blossoms in full force bringing pleasant temperatures, flowers and fragrant air.
An old Italian saying goes ‘Aprile, dolce dormire’ (April, sweet sleeping) and indeed, April in Italy is a month that makes you want to go slow and rest.
This is until it starts pouring with rain, when you want to find refuge as quickly as possible!
As sunny as April can be, this is still a spring month so changeable weather is a thing!
While layers and a portable umbrella are your best friend in April, I love traveling around Italy in at this time. This is all you need to plan a trip to Italy in April.
Please note: this is a seasonal travel guide about Italy in April, meant to help you decide the best time of the year for your visit. For official information and travel advisory that may affect your trip, please refer to your Government travel advisory. Check here for official info if traveling from US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
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Italy in April: what you will find in this article
- Overview of weather in April in Italy
- April festivities and events in Italy
- Recommended places to visit in Italy in April
- April in Italy with kids
- What to book in advance for April in Italy
Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The weather in Italy in April: what to expect
April is spring in Italy and while you will find variations in the exact temperatures depending where you are, you usually can expect mild to warm days and chilly but pleasant evenings.
At a glance, the weather in Italy in April is:
| Name of the place | Temperature Low/High | Rainy days (average) |
| Milan, Lombardy | 10C/50F – 18C/64F | 8 |
| Venice, Veneto | 8C/46F – 17C/63F | 7 |
| Florence, Tuscany | 8C/46F – 19C/66F | 9 |
| Rome, Lazio | 9C/48F – 19C/66F | 8 |
| Amalfi, Campania | 15C/59F – 19C/66F | 13 |
| Palermo, Sicily | 13C/F – 19C/66F | 5 |
In practice, this means that you will still need a jacket, which you may even be able to take off in the middle of the day, but you can leave at home hats and gloves.
April festivities in Italy you need to know about
The main festivity you need to be aware of if visiting Italy in the month of April is Easter.
Easter holidays often fall in April. When this happens, you will find Easter affects the opening of some museums and the availability of public transport (service is usually reduced).
Eating out and basic sightseeing is usually not impacted however, places such as the Vatican Museums are closed on this day.
Italy sees celebrations for easter over 2 main days; Easter Sunday and Easter money. Easter Sunday is usually a day for lunch with friends and family and many restaurants will have special menus for Easter specialties for the occasion.
Easter Monday is traditionally a day for getaways out of the city, a day of picnic with friends. This is something you want to remember if you are planning on driving today: traffic in and out of main cities will be intense and the lakes and the beaches will be full.
In 2023, Easter dates that may affect your trip are:
- Friday 7th April – closures are unlikely but may occur if impacted by religious celebrations (for instance in Rome, the Colosseum closes in the afternoon to facilitate the Pope’s Via Crucis)
- Saturday 8th Aptil – Easter Saturday. High affluence day for tourism everywhere in Italy. Expect crowds.
- Sunday 9th April – Easter Sunday. Closures are possible; restaurants will be busy.
- Monday 10th April – Easter Monday. Traditionally a day off, expect closure and crowds. Travel will be busy on trains and roads.
The best places to visit in Italy in April
April is such a lovely month in Italy it is hard to pick the best destination for it as, truly, you can visit almost anywhere in April in Italy and find it lovely.
That said, some places are, I believe, even better than others.
Rome – the best city to visit in Italy in April
April brings very changeable weather to Rome however, it is one of my favorite months in the city, especially outside of the busy Easter weekend!
Flowers are already in full bloom in Rome in April and all outdoor attractions from piazzas to the Colosseum and the Forum are simply delightful to explore.
Since I am from the city, I have more than a couple of tips to give you about visiting in April!
You can find my full guide to visiting Rome in April here
Venice in April
April is one of the best months to visit Venice.
After the damp cold of the winter and the exciting yet tiring crowds of the carnival, Venice is spring welcomes better temperatures and the canals in the sunshine in all their splendor
Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, Rialto but also Cannaregio can be wonderful at this time and, if you get a warm day, it can also be worth stretching to Lido, a lovely beach area in Venice with peculiar architecture.
The lagoon islands of Murano and Burano are also not to be missed at this time.
You can find our guides to Venice at the following links:
- How many days in Venice? Itinerary ideas
- The best places to stay in Venice
- What to eat in Venice
- Venice with kids (see below)
Tuscany in April
Tuscany and its rolling hills go through a magical time in April.
On a sunny day, you can enjoy the stunning rolling hills of this area, go for long days of sightseeing and even sit in the sun on one of the many Tuscany beaches.
The best places to visit in Tuscany in April are:
- Florence – too hot in summer, cold in winter but perfect in spring
- Val d’Orcia – an area of Tuscany of natural beauty so unique, it is now Unesco World Heritage Site
- San Gimignano – delightful medieval town and Unesco World Heritage Site
- Siena – One of the most beautiful small towns in Italy, with a wonderful historical town center
- Lucca – a pretty town with a lovely center and the option to cycle along its medieval walls
- Montalcino – wine town, perfect for wine lovers
- Montepulciano – one of the prettiest villages in Tuscany and my personal favorite
- Pienza – built in the Renaissance as the perfect city, no less!
- San Quirico d’Orcia – a delightful medieval town in the heart of stunning Val d’Orcia
- Monticchiello – a delightful country hamlet perfect to immerse yourself in relaxing country settings
- Bagno Vignoni and Saturnia, two thermal localities with some of the best thermal springs in Tuscany
Umbria in April
Often considered the little sister of Tuscany, Umbria is stunning in any season and can be a real treat in April.
Depending on the weather, you can enjoy long walks and days along the shores of the regions’ lake Trasimeno or you can warm up in its lovely museums and restaurants.
Not to be missed are:
- Orvieto – a stunning hilltop town with a long history and one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy (the Duomo)
- Perugia – a wonderful medieval town
- Assisi – the famous and stunning town of St Francis
- Gubbio – one od the most beautiful medieval towns in central Italy
- Citta’ di Castello – a gorgeous renaissance town
Puglia in April
Puglia is one of my favorite destinations in Italy in April
Further South and warmer than other destinations in this list, in April in Puglia you will be able to enjoy long days out and you may even get the chance to wear summer clothing here (don’t count on it, though, always bring layers!
Wonderful places to visit in Puglia at this time are
- Trani – a pretty, small village with a stunning church overlooking the sea (a vision!)
- Martina Franca – a lovely, whitewashed town with wonderful churches in a unique Baroque style called ‘Barocco Martinese’
- Alberobello – the famous town of trulli, UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Locorotondo – a delightful small town with whitewashed houses and pretty balconies everywhere (they win an annual prize for them, they are so special!)
You can see them all with a short road trip: you can find our 3 day Puglia itinerary here.
Matera in April
Close to Puglia but in the region of Basilicata, you have Matera, another wonderful destination to add to your April itinerary through Italy.
Matera is famous for its rupestrian churches and cave dwellings and can be lovely in spring.
Winter is rigid here and summer can be hot while spring can bring lovely temperatures that make sightseeing easy and do justice to this wonderful city.
You can find our guide to Matera here.
Sicily in April
April can be a good month to visit Sicily however the weather can be hit and miss so I recommend wrapping up, or at least you have layers with you so you can enjoy wonderful Sicily whatever the weather.
April in Sicily is a good time for cultural tourism, rather than and sea and sun vacation since high temperatures, especially towards the end of the month, are not always guaranteed.
Places we love in Sicily are:
- Scopello – a charming small village with a beautiful, historical ‘tonnara’ (tuna fishing station, not turned cultural/event venue)
- Palermo – one of the most beautiful cities in Italy
- Taormina – a town with a fantastic ancient theater and glamorous town center with shops and hotels
- Siracusa – a fantastic town with a historical city center and one of the best archaeological parks in Italy
- Noto Valley – UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the presence of unique baroque towns
You can find our recommended Sicily itinerary here.
Amalfi Coast in April
April can be a wonderful time to visit the Amalfi Coast. This is the month when tourism starts to resume in this area and while you may find the water too cold for bathing (and you may get rainy days, it is pretty rainy here at this time) on a sunny day the Amalfi Coast simply shines!
If you are in the area at this time, make sure you stay not just on the mainland but also stretch to the island of Capri, Ischia or Procida, a magical Mediterranean paradise this time of the year.
You can find our guides to the Amalfi Coast at the following links:
- How many days to spend on the Amalfi Coast: itinerary recommendations
- The best towns to visit on the Amalfi Coast
- Travel guide to Capri
- Travel guide to Procida island
- Visiting the Amalfi Coast with kids (see below)
Cinque Terre in April
April is one of the best months for visiting Cinque Terre. It is the first moment after winter when trails tend to reopen (always check specific conditions for the days of your trip) and a time when spring temperatures allow for drinks in the sun, taking in the stunning views of this area.
Make sure you book in advance if coming during the Easter holidays and do be ready for rain, always around the corner at this time!
Find our Cinque Terre guides at the following links:
- An introduction to the towns of Cinque Terre
- Cinque Terre packing list
- Visiting Cinque Terre with kids
April in Italy with kids
April can be a lovely time to visit Italy with kids as chances are the weather will allow them to spend time and the park and play in the spring sun at least for part of your stay.
Destinations I feel work well with kids at this time are:
Florence – always lovely with children but way too hot in summer.
Venice – mild and devoid of mosquitoes, hungry and annoying in summer
Tuscany – April has the perfect temperature for hilltop town hopping
Rome – full of indoor and outdoor attractions for all ages
Sicily – mild and beautiful perfect for family sightseeing and the occasional day on the beach (for sandcastles, not swimming)
Looking for family destination ideas in Italy? Find my selection of the best places to visit in Italy with kids here.
What to book in advance for spending April in Italy
April can be busy in Italy but advance booking for all main attractions is recommended.
This is also the case in 2021 when crowds are lower but advance booking is compulsory to ensure compliance with current regulations.
Attractions that need advance booking are:
Trains do not usually need to be booked in advance however, high-speed train on popular routes such as Rome to Florence do tend to book out or only have very expensive tickets available.
I always recommend booking accommodation in advance and my favorite booking engine is booking.com.
They have a large selection of accommodation options and excellent free cancellation opportunities too.
Good to know! Easter Monday is traditionally a day when Italians go on excursions outside the main cities. This means that roads, in particular, can get very congested: should Easter Monday fall in April, it is a good day to stay put and explore locally.
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to Italy in April. Don’t forget to also check out our 101 travel tips for Italy, for extra info. Safe travel planning!
Marta Correale
Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.
