Best Time to Visit Florence, Italy | Ideal Seasons & Months

Discover the BEST time to visit Florence, Italy! Learn which months offer the perfect mix of fewer crowds and good weather to make your trip a success!

Florence, Italy is one of my favorite cities and holds a dear place in my heart as I studied abroad here during my college years. The food, art, history, architecture, and gelato make for a charming and memorable city.

The historic core is small and walkable with nothing more than a 20-minute walk away.

The compact center makes for a quaint city during the quiet months but is also a recipe for disaster when the crowds descend upon Florence.

The streets can quickly become a mass of shoulder-to-shoulder tourists during the summer months. This is why it's imperative to research the best time to visit Florence, Italy before you book your ticket!

Florence really is two different cities depending on when you visit. If you've been during peak tourist season and compared it to shoulder or slow season, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Florence in August, when many locals skip town and the streets are filled primarily with tourists, is completely different than Florence in November where you get a mix of locals and tourists; when you can actually find peaceful streets and quiet restaurants.

This is why it's imperative to research and pick the best time to visit Florence, Italy. Continue reading to discover which months offer decent weather and fewer crowds. 

Short and Sweet: The BEST time to visit Florence, Italy is late fall and early spring

Autumn in Florence - September through November

the best time to visit florence, Italy for ideal sightseeing weather and fewer crowds (late fall)

My personal favorite and the best time to visit Florence, Italy is autumn. Late October is the sweet spot offering nice weather and fewer crowds.

I would also say that fall is the best time to travel to Italy in general. Temperatures range between the 50s and low 70s and rain can be hit or miss depending on the year.

Each time I've visited Italy in October I've barely seen any rain and an abundance of autumn sunshine, but October has been known to vary. Some years are rainy and chilly and others are absolutely glorious.

October has become a popular month to visit as the tourist season for Florence seems to stretch longer and longer each year. While it's still better than summer and September, I recommend making reservations for Florence attractions and top restaurants in advance.

Late September weather sees highs in the 70s (often hotter with current weather trends) and a little less rain than October. This month also brings more crowds with tourists taking advantage of the last stretch of warm weather and sunshine. In recent years, early September is often as crowded as summer.

If you're trying to avoid the crowds I would recommend visiting in late October and November. Just note that the chance of rain hits its peak in November.

If warm weather is important and your picture of visiting Florence includes enjoying gelato on a sun-warmed bench and dining al fresco, then late September through early October is the best bet. Just be prepared for fairly high crowd levels.

November is perfect for those not worried about cooler temperatures or a higher chance of rain as the tourists empty out this month (for Florence standards).

Lower hotel rates, shorter lines into top tourist attractions, and the ease of getting into top restaurants might be worth the hassle of packing your jacket and umbrella. 

SEE MY OTHER FLORENCE BLOG POSTS:

BEST VIEWS IN FLORENCE + MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES

FLORENCE VS ROME | WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR TRIP TO ITALY?

BEST GELATO IN FLORENCE – TOP 5 FLORENCE GELATO SPOTS

A WEEK IN ITALY – 5 ITALY ITINERARY IDEAS

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR VISIT TO FLORENCE – TRAVEL GUIDE

Florence in Spring -  March through May 

Similar to fall, Spring is the best time to go to Florence for good sightseeing weather and fewer crowds

Spring is also the best time to go to Florence with lower crowds than summer and good weather. The chance of rain will typically be lower this time of year as opposed to fall. This is my second favorite time to visit Italy and comes after the fall season.

Late March to mid-April is the sweet spot in spring with fewer crowds and good hotel deals. The weather will require a coat as highs reach the high 50s but it's perfectly pleasant for runs along the river and touring the city by foot as long as you dress appropriately.

Pack an umbrella and dress in layers as it warms up when the sun comes out.

Late April and May bring more sunshine and more tourists. Try to end your trip by mid-May as Florence becomes packed and much of the charm is lost with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Winter in Florence - December through February

The best time to visit italy for lower crowd levels and hotel prices

Outside of Christmas and New Year's, December through February is the best time to visit Florence, Italy if you're looking for an authentic experience paired with the least amount of visitors.

The city is blissfully quiet this time of year and almost seems like a normal town as the tourist levels subside.

Winter in Florence brings great hotel deals as this is slow season. You'll have no problem getting into top Florence sights and restaurants.

Florence doesn't go all out for Christmas like other European cities but the quaint decorations and twinkle lights do add to the charm. Temperatures in December aren't bad either, ranging from the high 30s to low 50s.

If you want to avoid crowds, skip the middle of December through the first week of January. People taking advantage of work holidays flock to the city.

Opt for January and February instead. These months see similar temperatures as December (high 30s to low 50s). In general, the chance of rain is lower in winter than for both fall and spring with early December seeing the highest amount of rainfall. 

Florence in Summer - June through August

Summer is not the best time to visit florence for an enjoyable experience with insane crowds, high prices, and few locals

Florence becomes almost unrecognizable during the summer. In fact, with its rise in popularity, I'll actually include late May and early/mid-September in the definition of "summer crowds and prices".

The city swarms with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. The first time I visited Florence during this time of year was when I planned summer trips and traveled with collegiate basketball teams.

We were in Florence in August...and I can't believe I'm about to say this because Florence is one of my favorite cities...but I couldn't wait to get out. The crowds and heat were oppressive.

Combine packed streets and long lines/waitlists with hot weather and you'll be wishing you considered fall or spring to visit instead. All reservations must be made long in advance and hotel prices will be steep.

If summer is your only option my best recommendation is to avoid August at all costs and aim for as early in the summer as possible. Generally speaking, August is the one month I would say is NOT the best time to travel to Italy and for all travelers to avoid.

August not only becomes unbearably hot but is also the least authentic experience. Italians shut down their shops and leave town to take their own vacation and escape the worst of the crowds and heat.

In Summary

For the perfect mix of fewer crowds and enjoyable weather, the best time to visit Florence, Italy is mid-October through November and late March through mid-April.

Winter in Florence is actually fairly mild and brings the plus of minimal crowds (outside of the Christmas season). If you don't mind cooler weather and are focused on finding great hotel deals and experiencing the top sights and restaurants without a million other people, winter is the winner.

In general, I avoid summer as it can become very hot and the crowds make the city almost unbearable. If summer is you're only option, try to visit early June. 

Share the love and save this post on Pinterest!

best time to visit Florence, Italy

See my other Italy posts!

WhEN do you think is the best time to visit Florence, Italy? Let me know in the comments below!