Italy in February: best places to visit, top activities, tips: all you need to know to plan a trip you’ll love [Updated for 2026]

Visiting Italy in February: best places to visit, main festivities and events, what to expect from the weather in February in Italy.

February is one of the nicest times for sightseeing in Italy, and one of the most commonly overlooked by visitors.

February in Italy is very much a winter month, and this of course has an impact on the activities and areas you may want to prioritize.

If you are hoping for long days, warm weather and dinners out, you need to go to Italy later in the year.

However,there are good reasons to go to Italy in February.

If you don’t mind wrapping up a little, you’ll be rewarded by one of the quietest months of the year in terms of crowds and, often, nicer weather than you may expect: in large parts of Italy, February sees clear sky and a lovely first hint of spring in the air!

My birthday is in February and every year we ‘use’ it as an excuse to take a trip out of Rome and explore Italy. On this page, you’ll find all my tips for visiting Italy in February, based on our personal experience.

Safe travel planning!

Please note: this is a seasonal travel guide about Italy in February, 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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The weather in Italy in February: what to expect

February in Italy sees the seasons turn from winter into spring; however, how quickly that turns happens and what weather conditions you will actually get, will vary depending on where in Italy you are, on the year of your visit and even on the luck of the day!

In Italy in February, you’ll find snow on the mountains, but in cities it is not unusual to find yourself taking your coat off at lunchtime in February one day, and reach for an extra scarf at the very same time the day after!

In general, the weather in Italy in February sees the winter slowly release its grip, temperatures beginning to rise and blossoms starting to appear on trees.

However, while Rome and the South in February mix cold days with positively mild ones, the north of Italy tends to stay colder for longer and even see snow and the South may even have you catching a hint of sun on the beach (wrapped up! But you’ll get a nice outdoor walk along the sea)

At a glance, the weather in Italy in February is:

Name of the place	Temperature low/high	Days of rain
Milan, Lombardy	3C/37F – 10C/50F	4
Venice, Veneto	1C/34F – 9C/48F	4
Florence, Tuscany	3C/37F – 12C/54F	7
Rome, Lazio	3C/37F – 14C/57F	7
Amalfi, Campania	9C/48F – 14C/57F	7
Palermo, Sicily	9C/48F – 15C/59F	7

In practice, these temperatures mean you need to wear winter clothes but may experience milder temperatures in the middle of the day that, on a good day, may allow to you take off your coat,

It is however possible and well documented for February to bring even very cold temperatures so proper coats, scarves and winter shoes in Italy in February are a must.

February festivities in Italy you need to know about

The main festivity you need to take into account if planning a trip to Italy in February is the carnival.

Carnival happens on different dates each year, but usually falls during the month of February and can have a big impact on your plans, if you are interested in visiting Venice and Viareggio, the two carnival capitals of Italy.

If you are not, the carnival is unlikely to impact your trip much.

Unless you are in a locality with a special parade or series of events, carnival doesn’t affect museums/attractions opening hours and will mostly show itself in the form of kids wearing costumes and lovely carnival sweets in the shops!

The best places to visit in Italy in February

Italian Dolomites – best for skiing

If you eyeing Italy for skiing in February then you are in luck!

Italy in February has lovely skiing conditions in several localities and has slopes for all abilities.

Popular places to go skiing are, among others, Val d’Aosta and the Dolomites, at the two ends of the Alps, respectively in the West and the East and especially the Dolomites are easy to add to an itinerary to ‘classic Italy’ locations such as Venice or Verona.

Fantastic places for a winter escape are Ortisei, Cortina and San Candido, respectively perfect for a family stay, the Olympics and cross country skiing.

Venice in February

Talking about visiting Venice in February can only start from a mention of Venice carnival, one of the city’s most traditional and important yearly events, happening in February.

Venice carnival is a huge event and you cannot ignore it so my advice is: if you want to experience it, go for the carnival while if you want to avoid it, go before or after.

Basically, there is no avoiding the carnival in Venice during carnival week so you need to plan accordingly!

The pros of visiting Venice at carnival is the chance to participating in a unique and ancient tradition, that can be lots of fund and a one in a lifetime memory.

The cons is that the price of accommodation in Venice skyrockets at this time and the crowds are intense.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you wrap up as Venice in February is beautiful and romantic but cold!

My favourite things to do in Venice in February are those that allows to experience the city but also to stay warm and well fed as you go. My top choices for this season are:

Mask making class – no better what to tap into the carnival tradition than by making your own mask with a local artisan!

Local food tour – Venice cicchetti and wine will keep you warm in winter!

You can find our guides about Venice here:

• Venice itinerary recommendations
• Best areas to stay in Venice
• What to eat in Venice
• Visiting Venice in winter
• Venice with kids (see below)

Rome in February

February is a lovely time to visit Rome.

During this month, the weather is overall mild, ranging from warm in the sun to chilly in the shade: it is the perfect weather for sightseeing!

Crowds in Rome in February are moderate: you still need to book attractions in advance, but you can expect the city overall to be less overflowing than close to summer.

My favorite things to do in Rome in February are sightseeing, museum going, eating out and this is also a great time for food tours and cooking classes (I have a selection of tours I recommend later in this post)

You can find my detailed guide to visiting Rome in February. here.

Florence and Tuscany in February

Tuscany is beautiful but cold in February, most suited to travelers interested in food and wine than outdoor pursuits.

At this time, the best places to enjoy in Tuscany are the historic towns and museums of this beautiful region, while for farm visits and often even winery tours you may need to wait until agricultural season kicks in again.

If you are hoping to go wine tasting, I recommend you make bookings are not all wineries will be open for tours and those that are need to make sure they have staff available to welcome you. A better option in February is to take food tours in Florence, that also come with generous pouring of local wine! You can find my recommended ones later in this post.

Great places to enjoy in winter in Tuscany are:

• Florence – cold yet so rich in museums and indoor attractions, it won’t leave you disappointed
• Val d’Orcia (click here to read our guide) – Unesco World Heritage, this is an area of great natural beauty but it is cold in winter, which means it is also mostly free from the crowds of the summer! This area has some of the prettiest towns in Tuscany such as Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano (famous wine towns for Rosso and Brunello), San Quirico and Bagno Vignoni.
• San Gimignano – delightful medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, very busy in the good season but lovely and quiet in winter. One of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany!
• 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

This is also among the best times to visit Bagno Vignoni and Saturnia, two thermal localities with some of the best thermal springs in Tuscany, an absolute delight when the air outside is cold!

Bologna and the food and car valley

Another lovely place to visit in Italy in February is the area of Bologna and Modena, famous for food and cars!

Perfect for changeable weather, in this area you can visit Bologna itself, which is beautiful and a foodies paradise (have Pasta in Sfoglia Rina, it’s the BEST Pasta in Italy in my opinion), Ravenna and its stunning mosaics and you can visit the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums, real treat for car lovers.

Places you may not want to visit in Italy in February

Coastal areas are in their low season in February and offer limited option to the out of season visitor.

Boat trips usually do not happen at this time, swimming is out of the question (unless you are an experienced cold water swimmer) and even hotels are mostly closed.

However, if you want a quiet experience and you are there for views rather than activities, February can be your chance to see these popular places without crowds!

Seasonal closures do affect Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast and Lake areas such as Lake Como and Lake Garda.

At this time, you may find accommodation limited and water activities such as boat tours at a minimum (or potentially not happening at all).

I therefore only recommend visiting these areas in February if you are the type of visitor who enjoys a quite stay with a book and relaxed sightseeing more than an action packed, tour oriented stay.

February in Italy is all about managing expectations and I feel this is particularly true in these much dreamed-of area.

The South of Italy in February – need to know

I get often asked if a visit to the South of Italy in February is worth it or if all will be closed.

The best way to answer this question is by making a distinction between where in the south and what we mean as ‘everything’.

The South of Italy is a varied part of the county with a mix of summer resort towns but also many normal living and breathing, stunning, productive cities with a vibrant local life all year round.

Summer resort towns mostly made of hotels and second homes indeed tend to be closed now, in the sense that you can go but there is nothing to see – if there is no sightseeing to be done and the attraction is just the beach then this is not a good time to go.

Personally, I do not feel going to Tropea or Porto San Cesareo in February is worth the trip, especially if coming from far away.

However, there are plenty of wonderful towns and cities that never stop as they have locals that work, go to school, go out for meals etc.

Bari, Lecce in Puglia, Matera, Palermo and Catania (Sicily), Naples, Agrigentos’ temples are all wonderful and quiet in February and they offer stunning sightseeing and are 100% worth visiting even in February.

Just keep weather expectations in check though: February can be cold in the south too, don’t expect summer dresses or boat trips at this time.

February in Italy with kids

February is a hit and miss month to visit Italy with kids.

While they will have their fix of gelato even at this time, February in Italy is not a time for the beach, outdoor pursuits, or playing in fountains so small kids may find it a little frustrating.

If you go, I recommend you stay in the big cities so you can easily mix time sightseeing with time in the playground and indoor kids attractions,depending on the weather on the day.

Fun free resource! If you have small kids, they may enjoy our free seasonal, Italian coloring sheets which include a winter one and carnival one. They can be cute for them to do as you have a meal out or on the train!

Destinations I feel work well with kids at this time are:

Florence (click here to read our family guide to Florence with kids) – always lovely with children but way too hot in summer, Florence is great for a February trip! At this time you can wander the city center, take a food your, enter one of the kids’ museums (Loeonardo interactive, Selfie, Illusions…), visit a traditional museum, see the shops and of course take day trips to Pisa and Lucca, always fun with kids!

Venice – click here to read our family guide to Venice with kids) February is a peculiar time to visit Venice as often the carnival falls during this month. If this happens, it can be overwhelming because of crowds but also fun as it means kids (and yourself!) can dress up! With or without the carnival, in Venice in February you an easily take strolls, enjoy the museums, take a fun indoor class such as mask making (traditional) or take a rowing class (on a sunny day!). See suggestions below.

Rome – February is a spectacular month to visit Rome! February tends to be mild in Rome, with cold mostly descending onto the city in the evening, so you can easily spend the days mixing sightseeing with fun activities. Among the many things, I recommend you visit the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, take a cooking class (see below), a golf cart your to see the city highlights or you can also get bikes and cycle the ancient Appian Way! You can find here >> all my tips to visit Rome in November

Bologna and surrounding area is a lovely destination for kids who love cars because of the Ferrari Museum at Maranello especially! This area is also famous for food, so if you want to visit a cheese factory, learn to make pasta or have kids who can enjoy a food tour, this is the perfect are for it, especially as the food of this area is very kid friendly (lasagne, tortellini, parmesan…)

I do not recommend visiting Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast in February with kids as there is honestly nothing to do for them there, especially if it rains. But if you want to tackle them as this is the only time you have, check our guide to Cinque Terre with kids and our Family Guide to the Amalfi Coast.

Looking for family destination ideas in Italy? Find my selection of the best places to visit in Italy with kids here.

The best tours to take in Italy in February

Best Colosseum Tours

The best Private Tour is this one, which also sources tickets for you (LivTours is partner with the Colosseum and have reserved tickets) and gets you to see the Colosseum inside included Galdiators’ Gate and arena. This is an ‘express’ tour that allows to see the best of the Colosseum without rush but also without having to devote many hours to it. Since it is private, the tour stays comprehensive despite the efficient length.

Best Semi Private / Small Group Tour This is a great tour if you want to have a personal connection with the guide but prefer a lower price point than the private tour. Still an excellent, personal experience. 

Best larger Group tour great fro those who want a guide but are happy in a group setting (the prince is significantly lower than a private or semi private one – great for the budget!)

Best kids’ tours – If you have kids, a fantastic tour that is fun, engaging and interactive is this one, which also get them to step on the arena which is the stage where the gladiators’ fought! If you prefer budget friendly alternative, this one also is good and specific for kids

Best Vatican Tours

Vatican KeyMaster Tours – high end, top of the top, once in a lifetime experience. You visit the museum before opening hours and walk around with the key master as he opens the museums halls (with your help!). I literally found myself opening the Sistine Chapel during this tour, it is magical!

Private Vatican Museum Tour: if you are looking for a private experience, I love this tour by LivTours the allows to see the best of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a dedicated guide that can tailor the tour to your exact interests and needs.

TOP PICK: semi private tour with Museum highlights and Sistine Chapel with early morning entrance, before the crowds. A fantastic tour with only 6 people max, so a lot of attention from your guide for a personalised experience but at lower cost than a fully private one.

Group Tour (more budget friendly) Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour: this is an excellent option for a standard guided tour of the museums. The lower price points reflect the higher number of participants but this is still a viable option. 

TOP PICK FOR FAMILIES

Vatican Museum Family Tour with Scavenger Hunt: If you are visiting the Vatican Museums with kids, I highly recommend you splash out on a family tour. 

While the price is steep, this tour allows them to properly enjoy a museum that is, otherwise, easily overwhelming by making is fun via games, anecdotes and a cool booklet for kids. If you need tour for kids but at a lower price point, this one is also very good

If you prefer to visit without a tour, the official site for tickets is this one https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html If sold out, you can check valid alternatives in my guide to visiting the Vatican Museums.

Best food tours and cooking classes

Rome – Fun and hands on Pasta making class in Rome Trastevere

Rome – Pizza making class in Rome Trastevere Pizza is a strong local tradition in Rome!

Rome Food tours – Trastevere at sunset Food and wine Tour with DevourTours or Jewish Ghetto and Campo de’ Fiori area food tour (city center, perfect to also taste traditional Roman-Jewish cuisine and its famous artichokes!)

Florence – Florence street food tour with wine or Devour Florence Food and wine tour, both excellent to also have a taste and intro to local Tuscan wines

Florence – pasta making class (several locations in the city center), also suitable for families with kids

Bologna – Walking food tour of the city center with pasta, gelato, cheese and wine or Traditional food tour, both fantastic to get a comprehensive idea and taste of local specialties

Parma (near Bologna) – Parmesan, Ham and Balsamic Tour, which is fun if you want to learn how these local specialties come to be, as well as of course tasting all of them!

Venice – a Mask decorating workshop with a real Venetian artisan is a great way to tap into the Venice carnival tradition. With this experience, you make your own mask you can then use while in Venice or treasure as a very special souvenir

Best kids’ tours in Italy in February

My handpicked, super selected kids’ tours I recommend for winter are the following:

Rome Colosseum: Best kids’ tours – If you have kids, a fantastic tour that is fun, engaging and interactive is this one, which also get them to step on the arena which is the stage where the gladiators’ fought! If you prefer budget friendly alternative, this one also is good and specific for kids

Rome Vatican Museums: Vatican Museum Family Tour with Scavenger Hunt, fantastic as it means the kids can explore the museums in a fun and interactive way, the best way to tackle such a vast and traditionally laid out museum 

Rome – Pizza making class in Rome Pizza is a strong local tradition in Rome and a fantastic way to spend a cold afternoon in the city. Pizza making is hands on and fun, plus a skill you can use over and over again once back home

Florence – pasta making class (several locations in the city center), suitable for families with kids and a very fun, hands on way to learn a real traditional skill. You make several types of pasta with different sauces so you are guaranteed to have at least one the kids will love (But they are kid friendly recipes so they’ll more than likely like them all!)

Florence – Uffizi family tour: the Uffizi Gallery is not an easy place for kids. A little bit like the Vatican Museums, this is a place that can really do with a specialised guide and this one is truly fantastic with them!

Venice – a Mask decorating workshop with a real Venetian artisan is a great way to tap into the Venice carnival tradition and a great indoor activity to do with kids.

What to book in advance for spending February in Italy

February is less busy than other months in Italy (Venice at carnival excluded) but some attractions need to be booked in advance even at this time.

You can find my ticket booking resources here

Attractions that need advance booking are:

• Last Supper (Milan) This is the official site but tickets are hard to come by so you can also opt for a solution like this one on GetYourGuide which often has additional availability
• Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome)
• Colosseum (Rome), this is the official site; should you also want an audioguide or should it be sold out, you can also try on GetYourGuide (despite the name, they do tickets only too!)

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. If going in or out of Venice during the Carnival, I recommend advance booking.

The cheapest way to get train tickets in Italy is via the official railway service website trenitalia.it

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. I use them ALL THE TIME myself and have always found them excellent and the reviews reliable. For some destinations, I have lists of accommodation I recommend, which you can check on this part of the site

I hope you found this quick overview of what to expect in Italy in February useful. Safe travel planning!

Italy in February: Trip Planning guide – Pin this!

Last Updated in October 2025.