Italy in January

Cold north, mild south; winter sales from early January; ski season in full swing; short museum queues in Rome and Florence.

• Alps and Dolomites · Bolzano, Cortina, Aosta, the Lakes' mountainscool

  Skiing mid-December to early April; hut hikes and lifts late June to mid-September. Afternoon thunderstorms in July–August.

• Po Valley and the north · Milan, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Turincool

  Foggy, damp winters; sticky summers with mosquitoes near the lagoon. Venice acqua alta floods most often October–December (the MOSE barriers now stop the worst).

• Central Italy · Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Romecool

  Rome and Florence reach 35–40 °C in July–August; November is the wettest month. Spring and autumn are the long sweet spots.

• South and islands · Naples, Amalfi, Puglia, Sicily, Sardiniafine

  Mild winters and hot, dry summers; sea swimming June to early October. Many coastal hotels and ferries shut November–March.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Quiet day; many museums closed.

• Epiphany (Befana)

  6 Jan

  End of the Christmas holidays; Befana fair in Rome's Piazza Navona.

• Christmas and New Year

  Dec 25–26 and Jan 1 · Rome

  Most museums and many restaurants close; transport is reduced.

Crowds · Italy

Low

Prices · Italy

Low

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Rome

  Cool and quieter; some rain; Jan 6 holiday.