Why Should You Visit Italy in Autumn?

I want to share 7 reasons why you should visit Italy in autumn. To be honest, I love Italy just about every time of the year. However, the autumn months are perhaps my favorite. More on that below.

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In This Post: Seven Reasons Why You Should visit Italy in Autumn

When is Off Season for Travel in Italy?

When is considered off season for Italy travel? It’s hard to say if there really is a true off season in Italy anymore. People are beginning to realize that Italy holds something special no matter the time of year. But in general, I would say that most people tend to visit Italy between the summer months of May, June, and July. I’m here to tell you that there are sooooo many reasons why you should consider traveling to Italy throughout the rest of the year.

A Quick Word about August

August can be tricky for traveling in Italy as most Italians are on holiday and many of the places you will want to visit could be closed throughout the month. It’s also the month that the Europeans from the north flood into the country for their summer holiday making Italy very, very crowded. Other than avoiding August, there are so many reasons why you should visit Italy in all of the other months.

Spring in Italy

Another wonderful time to visit Italy is in the spring. Many of the reasons I will give about the pros to traveling in autumn are similar to traveling in the spring. Obviously what each season has to offer is diverse and unique. Spring holds a unique beauty as well. In fact, if you are interested in traveling to Italy during the spring season, you should consider traveling with Old World Italian for one of our spring retreats.

Why You Should Visit Italy in Autumn:

Today, I’m going to talk about la stagione autunnale and give you seven reasons why you should visit Italy in Autumn. What do I mean by autumn? I’m talking about the months of October and November. They can be magical. Here are my reasons why you should plan to visit Italy in autumn.

1 – Better Pricing on Airfare and Accommodations

The first reason you should visit Italy in autumn is that you will most likely receive better pricing on airfare and accommodations. During the busy summer months, the prices are often at their highest. However, if you choose to visit Italy during the autumn months you will find better pricing. Not only on the airfare to get there, but also on your accommodations. Many hotels and Airbnbs will offer special, discounted prices during this season after the majority of tourism has slowed down.

2 – Less Crowds (better photos)

Visiting Italy during the autumn months, you will have less crowds compared to the summer season. This means a lot of things. It means that you will have less crowds to fight against to see the sights. It also means, just walking down the street will be a pleasant experience. No one wants to fight off people so you can enjoy your vacation. Your photos will look better, too without photo bombers in your way. Less crowds also means less waiting. Less waiting for a good restaurant. Less waiting to get into that museum. Less waiting in line to use the bagno. For me, crowds can really make or break an experience, so this one is a big draw for why I travel in the off season.

3 – Experience Authentic Culture

When you travel to Italy in autumn, you will experience a more authentic culture. By October, Italian life is back into its fall rhythms and vita quotidiana. The exhaustion of the heat of summer and the flood of tourism has faded. This is important as you are there to really experience authentic culture that the people have to offer you. Traveling to Italy is beautiful for sure. But, it’s the people of Italy that are the true gift to experience when traveling there. During this season, Italians are living their lives. You can see a side of the culture that is uniquely Italian rather than catering to you, the tourist. There are also many sagre (festivals) this time of year that celebrate the abundant harvests of the season. These are a great way to experience all that the culture has to offer. There are also opportunities to seek out experiences like truffle or mushroom hunting or a cooking class. Autumn is a fabulous season to try something different and new for your vacation experience.

4 – Eat Amazing Comfort Foods

Visiting Italy in autumn is a great choice for the foodie. You will eat amazing comfort foods in abundance. No matter the region, you will find bountiful harvests being enjoyed and celebrated. Things like, warm soups, grilled meats, and new wines. You’ll also find plenty of pumpkin, broccoli, chestnuts, mushrooms, and truffle! If you’re a foodie, autumn is perhaps the best time of the year to visit Italy. The bounty is everywhere. And it’s not over complicated. Like most Italian food, it’s simple and allows you to really taste and experience all of the flavors. Be adventurous and choose the tasting menu of what’s in season.

5 – Moody Weather

Visit Italy in autumn if you enjoy moody weather. Not all travelers appreciate the unpredictability of weather. For me, I love the drama the autumn sky has to offer. You might experience a bit of rain, but that can actually be quite magical as well. The wet, stone pavement makes for great photos. The cloudy skies can help with that too. Those skies! The gray clouds can roll over the sky like a blanket that rolls back during the evening making way for the sun to put on a show. The sunsets are incredible. The wind can be unpredictable as well this time of year. The main thing to remember is that all this unpredictability can be a reflection of the culture. It’s hot then cold, cloudy then sunny. It’s multifaceted—dramatic like its people. I love that actually.

6 – Benefits for the Location and its Community

Choosing to visit Italy in autumn or any part of the off season greatly impacts the location or destination and its community. Think about trying to show hospitality to a flood of thousands of people versus small numbers of people at a time. The answer is obvious. The location you travel to can handle the size of the group, the needs, and care for those people in a positive way. The community also benefits with travel happening in a more steady flow throughout the year rather than all smashing into a couple of months. This helps with the ecosystems and infrastructures of this beautiful but delicate part of the world. It also helps the people there to maintain their normal lives without a drastic disruption.

7 – Value

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to visit Italy in autumn is the value. There is value for you the traveler and there is value for the people. Surprises are more likely to happen when you visit in the off season, too. And I’m talking about the good kind. When you approach travel with a different mindset in hopes to really experience what that season of life in a country has to offer you, you will be met with unique surprises. These can be magical and filled with experiences you could have never planned on your travel itinerary. Embrace them. They are of great value.

I hope you gained some insight into how you might plan your next visit to Italy. Join me for one of our retreats for an experience to last a lifetime.

Now, start planning your trip to Italy!

xx Sommer

7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Italy in Autumn