Matera Italy in October view
Italy Travel Tips

Visiting Italy in October: all you need to know

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

October is one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit Italy.

A month of transition, October looks very different in the north of Italy and the South and the type of experience you are going to have will depend largely on your exact destination.

However, in most cases, in October Italy will treat you to fall atmospheres made of mild temperatures, beautiful foliage and earthy foods from harvest festivals.

I adore Italy in October. I am from Rome and while I travel around Italy in all seasons, October always makes these trips a little extra special.

The colors, the temperature, the harvest food, the busy-yet-not-excessive crowds make my beautiful country even more pleasant in October. Today I share my best tips for visiting at this time so you can make the most of this wonderful month!

Please notethis is a seasonal travel guide about Italy in October, 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 USCanadaUKIrelandAustraliaNew Zealand.

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Italy in October: what you will find in this article

  • Overview of weather in October in Italy
  • October festivities and events in Italy
  • Recommended places to visit in Italy in October
  • October in Italy with kids
  • What to book in advance for October in Italy

The weather in Italy in October: what to expect

October is the start of autumn in Italy.

It is a time when trees start donning their autumnal colors and the temperature starts to drop, more rapidly in the North and on the mountains and more subtly in the Central and Southern Regions of Italy, as the season progresses.

At the start of October, you can assume temperatures are likely to be mild during the day and a little colder in the evening. You are likely to want to have t-shirt at lunchtime but a light jacket at dinner.

Towards the end of the month, temperatures tend to be significantly colder, a mid-season jacket being important to have in most places, for most of the day.

Overall, temperatures in Italy in October are mild and you can expect a mix of sunny and rainy days.

In terms of clothing, if traveling around Italy in October, is is best to think of this time as one for long pants, short and long-sleeve shirts and light jackets although in the central hours of the day, especially in the South, you may get temperatures so mild to allow for short sleeves.

Overall, October in Italy is not a time for swimming in the sea although, in the South, it is not unheard of to have nice beach days at the beginning of this month!

To give you an idea of temperature, historically the temperatures for October in Italy were:

  • Milan: Max 18C Min 11C Rain: 6 days
  • Bolzano (Dolomites): Max 18C Min 7C
  • Rome: Max 22C Min 12C Rain: 7 days
  • Palermo: Max24C Min 18C Rain: 6 days

October festivities in Italy you need to know about

4 October: San Francesco – marked especially in Assisi, where several religious ceremonies in honor of the city’s most beloved sun take place on the night of the 3rd and the day of the 4th of October each year.

This is usually not a day off for offices and it should not affect your ability to visit museums and attractions.

Small centers with a strong Franciscan vocation are likely to have special festivals or markets to mark the occasion.

31 October – Halloween.

While not traditionally an Italian holiday, Halloween has well and truly arrived as a festivity, especially for kids.

Some themed events are organized in city museums and parks and costumes (any theme, not just scary ones) are encouraged.

How crowded is Italy in October?

October is still high tourism season in most of Italy and this is reflected in the number of people you’ll find in the most famous areas and the cost of accommodation.

Rome in particular is very busy in October and especially in the last few years, when heat and crowds have made the summers less appealing, Sorrento and Florence are also busy at this time, especially at the start of the month.

As the month progresses crowds diminish; however, the All Saints Break sees holidays both in Italy and abroad, so the last week of October is also often a very popular one with tourists.

if traveling to Italy in October, advance booking of accommodation and main attractions is a must.

The best places to visit in Italy in October

Rome in October

October in Rome is famous for crisp, bright days and wonderful fall colors.

We locals even have a name for the glorious days of autumn in Rome: ‘Ottobrate Romane’.

This term historically indicated the day trips wealthy Roman families would take in October, making the most of the last bright days of the season to enjoy a day on the lake or in the country and nowadays simply indicated the stunning weather the city usually experiences at this time.

I adore Rome in October: my hometown is wonderful at this time!

If going to Italy in October, you can easily enjoy Rome at its best, although you won’t be alone: Rome is busy at this time and securing tickets in advance is paramount.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, all of Rome’s beautiful piazzas will reward your travel planning with beautiful colors and (usually) the perfect sightseeing weather.

You can learn what makes October in Rome special here

View of the Roman Forum on a bright autumn day

Venice in October

October is a lovely time in Venice, a moment when the city has a more intimate feel than at many other times.

The weather is hit and miss and you will have less daylight hours than if you came in the spring.

However, the city at this time tends to see fewer crowds and overall has a more pleasant feel than during humid and busy summer times.

Depending on the year, you may find Venice already a little chilly or still warm and sunny: last year at the end of October we were in short sleeves during the day and wrapped up in a puffy jacket at night!

my daugher in venice in October rowing a boat,
This is my daughter last October in Venice, during a rowing lesson!

Wonderful things to do in Venice in October include:

  • See all Venice must-see sites, making the most of the slightly smaller crowds.
  • Take a class with Row Venice to experience an ancient skill and get up close and personal with Venice canals
  • A visit to the beautiful glass workshops in Murano, where you can learn how glass is made and buy gorgeous glass jewelry or home decor for yourself or a loved one (they make fantastic traditionally Italian souvenirs!)
  • A visit to Burano and its delightful colorful houses: don’t forget to check out the local lace museum and taste Burano’s local biscuits buranelli – they are perfect with coffee or tea!
  • Gorge on Venice chicchetti: chiccetti is the name Venice people give to small bites of food served in local establishments (bacari).

They come in several forms, with meat/fish/seafood/vegetables and they are a wonderful excuse to sit indoors and have a rest when the sun starts to go down or rain threatens to ruin your plans.

You can find here >>> our recommended itinerary for Venice

Tuscany in October

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

The mild weather is perfect for sightseeing and the bright sky of this season, with the occasional cloud coverage, always strikes me as the perfect backdrop for Tuscany’s Medieval and Renaissance gems.

Red vineyard in tuscany in the fall with St Antimo Abbey in the background

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

October in Tuscany evokes long walks in hilltop towns followed by dinners in local restaurants indulging in local wine and a platter of cheese.

The best places to visit in Tuscany in October are:

Find here >>> our complete guide to Tuscany in the fall

Emilia Romagna in October

The land of Parma ham and Parmigiano is wonderful to visit at this time of the year, after the oppressive summer is gone and before the cold and foggy months begin.

tortellini in Brodo in Soglia Rina, Bologna
Tortellini in Broth, a Traditional Italian Recipe, with Red Wine

The best places to visit in Emilia Romagna in October are:

The cities of Emilia Romagna offer endless opportunities for sightseeing and the area is a foodie paradise: this is the part of Italy that gave to the world tortellini, ragu’ alla bolognese, prosciutto di Parma and Parmesan, just to name its most famous creations!

If you are into food, this will be your personal corner of paradise.

Umbria in October

Umbria is a wonderful part of Italy to visit in October.

The region has beautiful medieval towns and stunning forests which, in October, blesses locals and visitors with an amazing harvest of olives, truffles, hazelnuts and more!

Gubbio main square, Umbria

A visit to Umbria in October is ideal if you like sightseeing and can offer great opportunities for fun activities such as olive harvest and truffle hunting.

In October, Umbria celebrates its most famous saint, St Francis and especially the city of Assisi hosts large festivals in his honor at the time of his death, the 4th of October.

Places not to miss in Umbria in October are:

Puglia in October

Puglia, the heel of Italy, is often blessed with amazing weather in October.

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.

The photos you see on this page from Puglia are taken at the end of October!

Wonderful places to visit in Puglia at this time are

  • Monopoli – and its adorable, picture-perfect port
  • Trani – with its wonderful seaside cathedral
  • Martina Franca – stunning whitewashed town with impressive baroque architecture
  • Alberobello – the town with UNESCO famous trulli
  • Locorotondo – a tiny gem of a place with whitewashed houses and pretty balconies
  • Castel del Monte – UNESCO castle with a unique structure and history
Locorotondo Italy in October

Matera in October

Matera is unique in Italy but has fickle weather.

Hot in summer and cold in winter, it is perfect in October, when you can sightsee in mild temperatures and make the most of its crisp bright sky.

Matera has a unique history and it is visually stunning. I highly recommend you spend at least two full days here: the evenings in Matera especially, as the sun starts to go down on its cave dwellings and the city’s wine bars come to life is a delight.

You can find here >>> my travel guide to Matera

Matera at sunset

Sicily in October

October is one of the best months to visit Sicily. Outside of the busy summer time, in October 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:

if you can rent a car, October is a fantastic time for a mini road trip in Sicily, away from the scorching temperatures of summer!

Other places you may want to visit in Italy in October

Dolomites – October is not a great time to visit the Dolomites.

At this time, the season is too advanced for most hiking, especially at high altitudes and not quite advanced enough for skiing.

However, you can still get lovely sights of the beautiful landscape changing its colors from green to golden, making an autumn trip here worth it.

At this time, I love to base myself in Bolzano and explore locally.

You can find here >>> my guide to my favorite places on the Dolomites.

Amalfi Coast – the Amalfi Coast is wonderful any time of the year and October is a lovely time to visit.

At this time, the temperatures are usually much milder than in summer and, by the end of the month, tourism services tend to wind down; however, you will still be well able to enjoy all this wonderful area has to offer: food, coastal views and history being only the beginning!

Especially if going towards the end of the month, double-check the schedule for ferries if you are counting on going to the islands and be prepared for the occasional rainy day.

Cinque TerreCinque Terre is a wonderful part of Italy however, it is not always at its best in October, especially towards the end of the month.

The weather is usually too cold for swimming and rains are frequent.

If coming at this time, check the conditions of the paths carefully before venturing up.

The villages and their wonderful food will be, however, well able to keep you busy in October too!

October in Italy with kids

October is a lovely time for a family trip to Italy, a time when you can experience Italy’s local life, for instance going to the playground after Italian schools finish for the day, as well as enjoying traditional sightseeing activities.

However, October in Italy is not a time for beaches, pools or boat trips and even hiking sometimes can be tricky die to the weather. Therefore, I feel having the right expectations is key!

Keeping temperatures, in mind, I feel the best things to do with kids in Italy in October are:

Rome with kids – magical in October, when the city usually gets crisp sky and mild temperatures. The Colosseum the city’s parks are perfect for sunny days and the many family-friendly museums in the city offer refuge for the wet days.

Florence with kids – always lovely with children but way too hot in summer, Florence offers a good mix of indoor attractions and easy access the the Tuscany countryside, which you can enjoy in this season with truffle hunts and vineyard tours. You can read here >>> my guide to Tuscany with kids.

Florence can also easily be combined with a trip to Bologna and the car valley, where kids may enjoy the exciting Ferrari Museum!

Venice with kids – blissfully devoid of mosquitoes, hungry and annoying in summer

Verona with kids – Verona is one of my favorite cities to visit in Italy with kids, well able to keep them busy even on a rainy day!

Puglia, Matera and Paestum – one of the most successful October trips we have taken in Italy has led us to Puglia, Matera and Paestum: the wonderful photo below with my daughter and a temple is from there!

Just for fun! In the last couple of years Italy has embraced the tradition of days at the pumpkin patch! These can be great fun for kids – find here >>> a list of kid-friendly pumpkin patches in Italy.

My daugher in paestum in late october

What to book in advance for spending October in Italy

October is surprisingly busy in Italy and advance booking for all main attractions is recommended.

Attractions that need advance booking are:

Last Supper (Milan) – The Last Supper tends to book out quickly. I highly recommend you secure a ticket as soon as you have your dates set. The one at the provided link has a good cancellation policy, for peace of mind.

Uffizi Gallery (Florence) – always very busy, it is worth securing a guided tour in advance

Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome) – The Vatican Museums are vast and wonderful and this can result into the experience of your visit being overwhelming. Unless you know already what parts of the museums interest you, I highly recommend you get a guide and join a tour (either small group tour or private).

Good tickets/ Vatican Tour options (they all include the Sistine Chapel) are:

Colosseum (Rome)

The Colosseum and the nearby Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are stunning in October but advance booking is a must.

You can choose between several types of tickets:

  • Standard entry ticket, with a guided tour of the Colosseum and self-guided tour of the Forum by Coopculture: this is the official OClosseum concession and has good value tickets but offers no flexibility on your booking time/date

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.

I recommend you use the website trenitalia.it or italo.it: these are the ones that allow buying tickets directly, without additional agency fees.

Learn here >>> all about train travel in Italy

The last week of October is usually one of the busiest due to the proximity of the National Holiday on 1st of November, All Saints, 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 October. Safe travel planning!

This post was published in 2020 and has now been updated with recent photos and weather patterns. The experiences and opinions are based on my own personal experience and travels around Italy.

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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.