Italy in March: weather, best destinations and tips. All you need to know for a perfect trip [Updated for 2026]

Visiting Italy in March: all you need to know to plan a trip! The best places to visit in March in Italy, when to book what, what to expect from the weather.

March is one of the best months to visit Italy, a lovely time when the country moves from the winter into the spring season.

Blossoms return to the trees and balconies, days are a little longer, lunch outdoors become possible in most of the country, and crowds level are still under control, making this not really a low season, but as close to a low season as it gets!

In Italy in March, however, rain is always around the corner so you cannot truly trust the weather! This means that you must come with the correct expectations in terms of temps and outfits, and also that some destinations are better than other. Where to go in Italy in March is a decision best taken carefully!

The best way to describe March in Italy is probably by an old Italian saying ‘Marzo pazzerello, esce il sole e prendi l’ombrello‘, which translates ‘Crazy March, the sun comes out, you grab the umbrella’.

While layers and a portable umbrella are your best friend in March, I love traveling around Italy in spring. This is all you need to plan a trip to Italy in March.

This is a seasonal guide to the best places to visit in Italy in March. For all things that may affect your trip (Visa requirements, travel advisory, document needs etc) always refers to official Government websites.

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we might make a small commission.

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Visiting Italy in March TL;DR (Summary)

March is a lovely time to visit Italy but a time of changeable weather when rain and lower temperatures are possible.

The best places to visit in Italy in March are the cities: they are the places that most easily provide a mix of outdoor and indoor attractions and they are the liveliest, as March is when local life is thriving and in full swing.

In March you have both tourists and locals around, so you have the highest chance of a real, authentic experience.

March is not a good time for the coast: while you can of course visit, it is paramount to know that this is low season for beach activities and especially the first part of the month you will not have all services operational.

If you are hoping for boating and beach days, you want to come later in summer (from mid-April but even better in May or June)

March is end of snow season in the mountains so I only recommend to head there is you are planning on end of winter activities, not hiking.

The weather in Italy in March: what to expect

The weather in March in Italy is significantly different depending on where in Italy you are however, with the exception of the mountains where you still have snow, you can expect it to be spring weather, which in Italy means mild, changeable and, possibly, rainy.

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

Name of the place	Temperature Low/High	Rainy days (average)
Milan, Lombardy	7C/45F – 14C/57F	6
Venice, Veneto	3C/37F – 13C/55F	5
Florence, Tuscany	5C/41F – 16C/60F	7
Rome, Lazio	6C/43F – 17C/63F	7
Amalfi, Campania	12C/54F – 16C/60F	7
Palermo, Sicily	11C/52F – 17C/63F	6

In practical terms, these temperatures mean you will want to have layers as you will go from sunnier days/hours that will feel nice and warm to colder times that will require a jacket.

Do not let north/south considerations influence you too much: the South of Italy can be very chilly in March; so, you will want layers no matter where you go!

You can also find here >>> my complete packing list for March in Italy.

March festivities in Italy you need to know about

There are two main festivities in March. One that will not impact much if anything at all (international Women’s Day) and one that will have a significant impact if falling this month: Easter!

The 8th of March is International Women’s Day, or Festa della Donna, as it is called in Italian.

This festivity doesn’t affect the opening of offices, museums or attractions however, you may notice special events and higher crowds of women out, especially in the evening, to mark the festivity.

You will also notice many bouquets of yellow flowers around: you can read what they mean and why Italy celebrates the 8th of March here.

Good to know! Many museums and attractions are free for women on this day! check individual websites for notices about this close to the time.

Easter holidays often fall in March. Easter is one of the biggest holidays in Italy and can fall in late March (although more commonly in April).

When this happens , you will find Easter affects the opening of some museums and the availability of public transport (inner city bus 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. If traveling to Italy at Easter, check the websites of each attraction for closures and shortened opening hours between Good Friday and Easter Monday included.

Good to know: attractions operate independently from one another and there is no general rule about what closes / stays open at Easter. It is paramount to check each one and plan around the opening hours of the specific year of your visit.

Find here >>> official websites of Italy’s most popular attractions

The best places to visit in Italy in March

March is such a lovely month in Italy and you can visit pretty much anywhere, once you have the correct expectations.

That said, some places are, I believe, even better than others.

Beach destinations, for instance, will be in their low season, and you don’t find swimming weather (usually): summer resort towns with little local life tend to be very quiet at this time, and hotels and restaurant options will be limited.

However, bigger coastal towns will local life, schools etc (Sorrento, Sestri….) will be open for local life and can be very pleasant and ‘real’ at this time. Of course, local also means tourist services are more limited so if you are hoping for a vast choice of hotels, tours, classes etc, it is best to check ahead what is actually open and running in each destination.

This is a quick overview of my favorite destinations for March in Italy.

Rome – the best visit to visit in Italy in March

March brings very changeable weather to Rome. However, it is one of my favorite months in the city!

Flowers are already in full bloom in Rome in March and all outdoor attractions from piazzas to the Colosseum and the Forum are simply delightful to explore.

In Rome in March, you can mix traditional sightseeing with fun tours such as a vespa sidecar tour, a food tour or classes such as pasta making (a good indoors activity!) and of course museum visits.

Since I am from the city, I have more than a couple of tips to give you about visiting in March! You can find my full guide to visiting Rome in March here

Venice in March

March 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 slightly lower tourist numbers, both contributing to making the city positively magical!

March may still bring rain and, in the case, of Venice, the dreaded ‘acqua alta‘ (high water) however there is plenty to do here whatever the weather.

Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, Rialto but also Cannaregio can be wonderful at this time and tend to be less busy than at, almost, any other time.

Fun things to do in Venice in March are a rowing class (so much nicer than a gondola ride and a fantastic way to see the city from the water!), joining a food tour with market and traditional eateries (bacaro) visits, visit the top sites and of course just stroll, the very best thing to do in Venice1

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 March

Tuscany and its rolling hills go through a magical time in March.

On a sunny day, you can enjoy the stunning rolling hills of this area, go for long days of sightseeing and drives.

On colder and rainy days, you can visit Tuscany’s infinite museums and warm up with the local food (wonderfully warming in winter) and, of course, indulge in the region’s wines.

Due to the time of year, I recommend to plan to stay in a larger town, so you have local options for dinner and museums without always having to drive.

The best places to visit in Tuscany in March are:

• Florence – too hot in summer, cold in winter but perfect in spring
• 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
• Bagno Vignoni and Saturnia are two thermal localities with some of the best thermal springs in Tuscany and lovely for a day trip.

Puglia in March

Puglia is one of my favorite destinations in Italy in March

On a good year, you will be able to enjoy long days out and you may even get the chance to wear lighter clothing here, however, don’t count on it as, as we said, March weather has a mind of its own!

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!)
• Lecce – the stunning art city so beautiful, it is often called the ‘Florence of the South’

In March, you can also head to Salento, which is the area to the South of Lecce, however, how good your experience will be depends massively on the weather and what you like! If you enjoy sightseeing, then Lecce and Galatina will be real treats.

If you prefer beaches, then it is best to be aware that March here is low season so coastal towns with a strong tourism vocation are empty and, basically, closed (meaning: not really closed but you won’t find anything to do, even basic services operating at a bare minimum level)

You can see them all with a short road trip: you can find our 3 day Puglia itinerary here.

Matera in March

Close to Puglia but in the region of Basilicata, you have Matera, another wonderful destination to add to your March itinerary through Italy.

One of the most ancient cities in the world, Matera was entirely built in the side of a mountain and has an appearance like nowhere else in Italy: here, you walk along pretty alleys along houses that alternate between traditional architecture and cave dwellings (now upscale and super clean) that make you feel like you are in a made up land of a faraway planet!

March is hit and miss in Matera weatherwise and you want to have a jacket handy but it is a lovely and quiet time to be here.

You can find our guide to Matera here.

Sicily in March

March 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.

March 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.

Other places you may want to visit in Italy in March (aka: it depends on expectations!)

The Italian Dolomites in March – March is the end of the ski season on the Dolomites so a trip here can be great if days on the slopes are in your plans.

The exact snow and weather conditions depend on the time of the month, the year and the exact locality, but usually places such as Val Badia or the area of San Candido are wonderful, but do check with local providers as the weather here is fickle!

Cinque Terre – March is not the best time to visit Cinque Terre as it will be too cold to swim/go boating and some trails may be closed due to weather.

However, this can be a good time to visit the Cinque Terre villages, especially if you get a nice sunny day.

If you are in the area and the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can also consider a trip to Genoa, which is lovely and full of beautiful museums, perfect even on rainy days.

Amalfi Coast – March is the last stretch of the low season on the Amalfi Coast (unless it is Easter!) and this has pros and cons.

The pros of coming at this time is that usually you have lower crowds than later in spring and summer and the prices are usually a little more affordable too, both excellent reasons to come!

This is also a time when the terrible traffic of this area is often less intense, meaning you can actually drive here, one of the most scenic ways to see the area

On the cons list, however, you have a reduced ferry system that will limit your option of seeing the islands and enjoy the coast from the water.

Need to know: If Easter falls in March, the low season remark doesn’t apply as the area is very very popular and when schools are off it can get very busy even if the weather is not amazing

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
• Visiting the Amalfi Coast with kids (see below)

The best tours and experience to book in Italy in March

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 or near the Colosseum Pizza is a strong local tradition in Rome and a fun way to spend an afternoon!

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 –local food tour (also a fantastic way to get introduced to good places to go back to and avoid the many touristy places dotting the city)

March in Italy with kids

March 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 with kids (click for the full guide) – always lovely with children but way too hot in summer, Florence in May with kids is wonderful. Here you can take game based tours of the top museums, take a gelato class (Did you know gelato was born in Florence?), visit interactive museums and you can of course venture out into the Tuscany countryside by car or train. In this case, I recommend you stick with towns as much as possible: staying in the countryside can be lovely if you have kids who can easily entertain themselves but since there are no pools nor many farm activities at this time, city settings offer more opportunities.

Venice with kids – March is a fantastic time to visit Venice with kids. Fantastic things to do in Venice with kids in spring are a rowing class, a family friendly tour with gondola ride to see Venice’ top sites, and a self guided day trip to the islands of Murano and Burano. Make sure you have a jacket as it may get humid here.

Rome with kids – Rome is AMAZING with kids and March in Rome is a great time to to visit with kids as you can pretty much enjoy all the city has to offer. At this time, you can go sightseeing but also take bikes on Via Appia, take a gladiator’s class (so much fun!) and you can make the most of the weather with fun tours such as vespa side car and golf cart.

Emilia Romagna -Emilia Romagna is the region of Bologna and a fantastic place to visit with kids in Italy in May. Here you have interesting cities such as Bologna and Ravenna, super easy to visit with kids and famous for outstanding food (always a plus!) and it also has specific attractions for kids that make it easy to mix sightseeing with a day of fun: Mirabilandia, Italy in Miniature and the stunning Ferrari Museumsare here! 

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 March in Italy

March can be busy in Italy and advance booking for all main attractions is recommended. If Easter falls in March, booking well ahead is recommended as demand and prices go up fast.

Attractions that need advance booking are:

• Last Supper (Milan)
• Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• Accademia Gallery (Florence)
• Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome)
• Colosseum (Rome)
• All Tours – anything you know for sure you want to do is better booked well ahead. Find my favorite Italy booking resources here.

Trains – High-speed trains tend to cost more if both last minute, so it is a good idea, when possible, to book 3/4 weeks ahead. You can find here >>> all my tips about train travel in Italy

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.

They have a large selection of accommodation options and excellent free cancellation opportunities too. If you want tried and tested properties, I recommend you search the ‘where to stay‘ section of this website which has my tops picks in several destinations around Italy.

I strongly recommend to book car rentals ahead of time for the widest selection and best price. I use DiscoverCars to find the best options.

How to get around Italy in March

Depending on your plans, you will want to travel around Italy by car or train. In general, cities are best explored by trains, while anything rural and the vast majority of the south of Italy is best explore by car. 

I recommend you read here >> how to get around Italy, which shows what mean of transport is most suitable for each area.

To help you plan, please find below:

Our guide to driving in Italy (no, you are not mad thinking about driving here!)

Our guide to train travel in Italy

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to Italy in March. Don’t forget to also check out our 101 travel tips for Italy, for extra info. Safe travel planning!

Traveling to Italy in March: pin this!