The Italy mistake
The most common mistake in Italy is trying to do it all. The second most common mistake is going at the wrong time. Italy in August is not the same country as Italy in April.
Spring: April to June
This is our most recommended window. The cities are warm but not fierce, the coast is opening, the wisteria is out in Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast is not yet packed. Truffle season begins in Alba in October.
Summer: July and August
Hot, crowded, expensive. The cities empty as Italians leave, but the tourists arrive. We send clients to the Dolomites, the lakes, or Puglia. We avoid Rome and Florence in August unless we have a very specific reason.
Autumn: September and October
Harvest in Piedmont and Tuscany, the sea still warm, the cities calm again. This is the best time for a food-led trip. October is truffle season in Alba and the forests of Tuscany.
Winter: November to March
The cities are at their emptiest and most atmospheric. Rome in December is a joy. Venice in January is foggy and quiet. The Dolomites ski from December. The coastal properties are largely closed.
Our rule
Two regions in two weeks is usually one region too many. Three nights in one place is the minimum for Italy to become anything more than a postcard.