Italy in November: best places to visit, top experiences, travel trips: all you need to know to plan a trip you’ll love [2025 Update]

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

November is not the first month that comes to mind when planning a trip to Italy.

Many associate Italy with lemon trees and boat tours in front of beautiful coastlines, and for those, the months of May and September are a most suitable choice.

However, November is not a bad time to visit Italy, and actually, it is a great one if you are hoping to visit art cities and the South as the crowds are usually lower at this time and the temperatures milder than in summer (or in the heart of winter).

It is also a great month for budget travel!

Without a doubt, however, some places in November are better than others and you need not to mind chillier temperatures and the occasional rainy day.

An autumnal month, November feels like fall in most of Italy and it is likely to treat you to a mix of rain and sunny days and, overall, increasingly chilly temperatures as the month progresses.

It is also not a month for the beach, pool or high altitude hiking: it is more a sightseeing and chilly day on the hills followed but warming chestnuts type of month!

If this sounds like a discouraging picture, let me reassure you: November in Italy can also be wonderful!

With smaller crowds, lower costs and the lack of the scorching summer sun, November in Italy is a glorious time for sightseeing and can be one of the best times to visit popular destinations without getting overwhelmed by the crowds.

This is all you need to know to plan a trip to Italy in November

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

November is autumn in Italy.

During this month, the summer is well and truly over in Italy and while you may still find mild enough temperatures in some localities, especially in the South and at the start of the month, you will spend most of your time wearing a mid-season jacket, long pants and, sometimes, reaching out for your umbrella.

Towards the end of the month, you can expect the weather to have transitioned to winter.

You can find here >>> our packing list for November in Italy (we always travel around Italy in November as the kids’ school takes a break and we make the most of it!)

November in Italy is first and foremost a time of changeable weather so what you will actually find once in Italy is not truly predictable until the very last minute.

However, to give you an idea of temperature, historically, the temperatures for November in Italy were:

Name of place	Temperature Max/Min	Average n. of rainy days
Milan	Max 18C/64F – Min 11C/52F	6 days
Bolzano	Max 11C/52F – Min 1C/34F	11.5 days
Rome	Max 17C/62F – Min 6C/43F	9 days
Palermo	Max 20C/68 – Min 11C/52F	8 days

November festivities in Italy you need to know about

The 1st of November is a national holiday in Italy and therefore a day off for locals.

If it falls close to a weekend, this may result in a long weekend which means you will compete with locals as well as tourists for accommodation, seats on trains etc.

If planning on being on the road around that day or planning on train travel, advance booking is recommended (see also below)

The best places to visit in Italy in November

It is hard to recommend places to visit in November as depending on the weather on the day, the same place can be wonderful or miserable!

Lake Como for instance can be an absolute delight at this time, as the photo above shows, or it can be wet and excessively quiet.

Expectations and taste do play a large part in how pleasant Italy in November is or isn’t.

Overall, these are our favorite for the season:

Rome in November

November is a fabulous month to visit Rome as the city tends to have smaller crowds and be gentle to the budget than at almost any other time.

At this time, you may still be able to have lunch outdoors and you can easily enjoy time exploring Rome piazzas and main attractions and the city’s beautiful museums.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City will be busy yet less so than at other times.

November is as close to a low season as Rome ever gets!

You can learn what makes November in Rome special here

Venice in November

Venice can be sunny and bright or misty, intimate and romantic in November, largely depending on the year and how far into the month you visit.

At the start of the month, we have often found ourselves in short sleeves and only needing a jacket in the evening; while later in the month we have usually needed jackets to protect ourselves from chilly temperatures and the city humidity.

While you may need to wrap up and endure rain (and potentially high water- check the forecast before going), November will allow you to see Venice with smaller crowds and still enjoy its lagoon.

Make sure you take a ferry ride to Burano to brighten up your November day with the colors of this stunning town.

Find here >>> our guide to visiting Venice in winter

Tuscany in November

Tuscany in the fall is stunning.

This is the time to enjoy the stunning foliage of the Tuscan forests and to taste the warming food of this amazing terroir.

November in Tuscany is a time for long walks in hilltop towns followed by dinners in local restaurants and also the best time to enjoy Tuscany’s hot springs.

Whether you like organized thermal spas or free springs that flow straight from the mountains, Tuscany will deliver. You can find here >>> our guide to hot springs in Tuscany.

The best places to visit in Tuscany in November are:

• Florence
• San Gimignano
• Siena
• Lucca
• Montalcino
• Montepulciano
• Pienza
• San Quirico d’Orcia
• Monticchiello
• Bagno Vignoni

Umbria in November

Often considered the little sister of Tuscany, Umbria is stunning in any season and can be a real treat in November.

The region is blessed by hills and forests, which are lovely for autumnal walks and it also have fabulous small towns where to enjoy warming meals and sightseeing. At this time, you often have local food festivals or ‘sagre’, which are a fun opportunity to taste hyper local produce such as mushrooms, cheese, chestnuts etc.

Not to be missed are:

• Orvieto
• Perugia
• Assisi
• Spello
• Gubbio

Amalfi Coast in November

The Amalfi Coast is hit and miss in November.

On one hand, the Costiera lives its low season at this time, meaning you can enjoy some of its usually very busy towns almost on your own.

On the other, the low season means you will miss out on swimming and boating and you may have fewer choices in terms of transport, the tourist ferries operating on a reduced schedule

Overall, this is a good destination in November only for those who don’t mind the peculiar atmosphere of a sea destination in winter.

Find here >>> our recommended Amalfi Coast itinerary

Pompeii in November

November is a great time to visit the archaeological site of Pompeii, one of the most beautiful in Italy.

In November, rain is possible; however, the site is at its best as you will be able to explore without the scorching temperatures of spring and summer, particularly unbearable in this open-air park.

The best way to visit Pompeii in November is by staying a few days in the area: staying in Naples, for instance, will allow you to make the most of both towns.

Naples in November is a great place to enjoy sightseeing, eat / learn to make the famous Neapolitan pizza and get a taste of Christmas, with famous nativity scene figurine artisans of Via San Gregorio Armeno gearing up for the season.

Puglia in November

Puglia is one of my favorite destinations in Italy in November.

On a good year, you will be able to enjoy long days out and still wear summer clothing here, without the scorching heat of the summer.

Wonderful places to visit in Puglia at this time are

• Trani
• Martina Franca
• Alberobello
• Locorotondo
• Ostuni
• Monopoli

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

Sicily

November can be a good month to visit Sicily.

Outside of the busy summer time, in November you will be able to visit Sicily’s stunning archaeological sites without melting in its torrid sun and you will still be able to enjoy beautiful sea views.

This is a good time for cultural tourism in Sicily 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:

• Ragusa Ibla and its area (Noto Vallei)
• Scopello and Segesta
• Palermo
• Taormina
• Siracusa

You can find here >>> a Sicily itinerary we loved

Other places you may want to visit in Italy in November

Dolomites – November can be a good time to visit the Dolomites, depending on your plans.

In terms of weather, is not a great time to visit this area: in November, the season is too advanced for most hiking and not quite advanced enough for skiing.

While you can still get lovely sights of the beautiful landscape here, a summer or winter trip here is better

However, many towns open their Christmas markets at the end of the month and they are among the best Christmas markets in Italy so if you are in the mood for German-Style Christmas, this can be a good destination!

Cinque Terre – similar to the above, Cinque Terre is not at its best in November, especially towards the end of the month when tourism businesses are closed for the season.

The weather is usually too cold for swimming and rain is frequent: if coming at this time, check carefully the conditions of the path before venturing up. Find here >>> our guide to the best towns in Cinque Terre.

Best Tours to take this November in Italy

The best tours for a November trips to Italy reflect the places I recommend to visit this season. My top picks all over Italy are:

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!

November in Italy with kids

November in Italy is hit-and-miss with kids.

Older kids who can enjoy museums and sightseeing will have no problems but little ones who may want days at the park and possibly the beach may be disappointed.

No matter how south you go, November is not swimming weather so pool and beach time won’t be possible (you can still visit beaches but not for swimming)

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 perfect for a November 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) November is low season in Venice and this means you can see the very best of the city without worried of crowds (nor hungry mosquitoes, vicious in summer!). In Venice in winter 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!)

Tuscany – November is a lovely month to go town hopping around Tuscany but if traveling with kids, you may need some planning as easy entertainment such as time at the pool, the beach or even farm visits are not really in the cards during the month. This doesn’t mean you cannot have fun with kids in November though! Pisa and Lucca are fun to visit in all seasons, November is the time to go truffle hinting with dogs, which is fun for kids, November is a good times for hot springs and, on a good day, it is still possible to get bikes and explore that way. You can find here >> my guide to visiting Tuscany in the fall

Rome – November is a spectacular month to visit Rome! November is one of the months with the lowest crowds in Rome which means all is nicer and easier to visit. It is also a great time to mix indoor museums visits with time outside and November is fall in Rome and often a very mild one too! Among the many things, I recommend you visit the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, take a cooking class (see above), a gold cart tour 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

Puglia – puglia is one of my favorite places in Italy with kids and November is a great time to visit as it is quiet but the weather is still relatively good. November in Puglia is not swimming weather but it is easy to enjoy your family time here as the towns are pretty and mellow, the beaches perfect for sandcastles and the locals super welcoming. You can find here >> my guide to Puglia with kids

Sicily – November in Sicily is usually mild and beautiful, perfect for family sightseeing and the occasional day on the beach making sandcastles (not swimming). While you won’t be able to swim at this time, November is the perfect time to visit Sicily’s incredible ancient sites such as the valley of the temples and Siracusa without melting in the very strong Sicilian summer sun; this is also a great time for a food tour for instance in Palermo’s traditional market or, on a good say, a climb up Mount Etna.

Pompeii – wonderful at this time, with lower crowds and without the scorching summer sun (wrap up though as it gets quite cold!)

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 November in Italy

November is not too busy in Italy but advance booking for all main attractions is recommended especially for the following ones that do sell out.

Attractions that need advance booking are:

• Last Supper (Milan) – careful as tickets are released on specific dates for the months ahead. Ticket for November come out on the last days of September
• Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
• Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome)
• Colosseum (Rome)

Trains do not usually need to be booked in advance.

However, high-speed trains on popular routes such as Rome to Florence do tend to book out or only have very expensive tickets available last minute.

I recommend you book trains ahead of time if you are traveling on a budget or with kids: in this case, advance booking will guarantee having seats together. You can find here >> my guide to train travel in Italy.

The first of November, All Saints, is a National Holiday, a traditional long weekend for Italians. Book in advance if planning on traveling at that time.

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