Italy In Fall – 5 Reasons Why Autumn Is The Best Time To Visit

Coming to Italy this fall?? You’re in luck—many think it’s the best time to visit Italy! From the amazing weather, to an abundance of food festivals, here are our top 5 reasons to visit Italy in the fall.

Italy in fall is a feast for the eyes. Golden vineyards, olive groves, and scattered farmhouses under a soft, hazy sky.

1. Enjoy the harvest at one of Italy’s famous fall food festivals 

If you love eating, the fall is really one of the best times to visit Italy and try some of the different regions’ most delicious seasonal cuisine.  In the autumn, sagra or sagre, or festivals celebrating a local food or wine, pop up all over Italy. We adore sagre; they’re just about the most authentic way to experience the local produce and culture of any given area, usually with hardly any other tourists! In the fall, there’s a festival for every taste: wine, chestnuts, chocolate, truffles, porcini mushrooms, fish, polenta, even potatoes!

Two locals revel in the old Italian tradition of rolling wine barrels in the Sagre parade.

There are so many sagre in Italy at this time of year because it’s harvest time. Olives and wine are harvested in the fall, and participating in a harvest—or even just tasting the result!—is a fantastic experience. Other foods being harvested now include almonds, chestnuts, white truffles, and produce like arugula, broccoli, potatoes, and zucchini. The truffle festivals, are one of the most popular in late autumn, and for more on fall foods, you can check out our post on four favorite autumn dishes in Italy! 

2. Italy in fall means fewer crowds… and lower prices

For many, of course, lower prices are one of the number one things that make fall perhaps the best time to visit Italy during the year. Not only are prices generally lower, fewer travelers come to Italy. Like cooler temperatures, lower prices begin to creep into the country at the end of August.

But don’t jump the gun: In high-trafficked destinations like Rome, Venice, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi coast, high season prices can run through September and even the start of October. 

Marvel at the stunning views of the the Amalfi Coast.

To take advantage of lower accommodation prices in September look to travel in more off-the-beaten path areas like Puglia, Abruzzo, or Molise. But If you want to go to the classic places and still avoid crowds while enjoying lower prices, come as late in the season as possible, between late October to early November.

3. Ogle the gorgeous fall colors

It’s not just New England that gets brightly-colored leaves in the fall! Italy, too, shows off a range of beautiful colors come October.

The beautiful Italian countryside at the start of fall, blue skies and the changing shades of greens, oranges and browns.

Of course, the best places to see the fall colors are in Italy’s wooded national parks. But even a drive through the countryside of Lazio, Umbria or Le Marche is a feast for the eyes. Here are 7 gems not to miss in Rome’s region of Lazio).

4. It’s the start of soccer season

Finally the buying, trading and deliberations are over, and the games are ready to begin. No sport is more beloved in Italy than calcio and the start of the season comes with much fanfare. Check out the game schedule and slip into any pub in any town – you’re sure to watch the game in company! Or better yet, buy tickets for a truly cultural experience.  Wear the right colors and get ready to scream your head off, this is soccer in Italy! 

There is no denying the Italian´s passion for the most popular sport in the world.

5. Say benvenuto to beautiful weather and cooler temperatures!

In the early autumn Italy has a very comfy climate. In fact, as far north as Venice, temperatures can often be expected to reach the 70s and 80s through September. Compare that to the sweltering heat of August and things are staring to look pretty good.

Enjoy a walk up the Spanish Steps in Rome in seasonal temperatures and beautiful light.

By October the daytime highs and lows are in that fantastic range where you can put on a light jacket in the morning and shed it in the afternoon before dawning it again while watching the sun go down over an aperitif. This climate is also better for pictures because the light becomes less harsh and the shadows deepen, meaning all those pictures of old Roman ruins look that much more dramatic.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa at sunset – simply stunning!

The only downside is that there are more rainy days mixed in, which is something you have to watch out for especially in Venice, starting in November.  But in general the sunshine is fantastic and unless you are a real sun lover, it’s much more comfortable during the day than the summer.

FAQ´s – Italy in the fall

1. Why is fall considered one of the best times to visit Italy?
Fall in Italy offers pleasant weather, fewer crowds, lower prices, and the chance to enjoy food festivals, harvest celebrations, and colorful autumn landscapes.

2. What kinds of food festivals can I attend in Italy during autumn?
In the fall, you’ll find sagre or festivals celebrating wine, chestnuts, truffles, mushrooms, chocolate, and many other seasonal specialties across Italy.

3. When are the best months to visit Italy in fall to avoid crowds and high prices?
Late October to early November is ideal for lower accommodation prices and fewer tourists, especially in popular destinations like Rome, Florence, and Venice. (Check out our blog to see why we love Rome in fall, and why you should wait for October or November to come.)

4. What activities are unique to Italy in the fall?
You can join harvests, taste freshly pressed olive oil and wine, admire the fall foliage in national parks, and even experience the excitement of the new soccer season.

Raise a toast to the end of the summer and the glorious start of the fall in Italy.

If you’ve already booked your trip to Italy this fall, check out our walking tours to get an incomparably authentic taste of Italian art, culture, and history. Or if you want a more guided intro to Italian food, check out our food tours in Italy.

Do you love the fall in Italy? Tell us why, or why not, in the comments!