Italy in May

The best month for most of Italy: warm, green, sea almost swimmable in the south; 1 May and 2 June long weekends fill trains.

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

  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, Turinbest weather

  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, Romebest weather

  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, Sardiniabest weather

  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.

• Labour Day

  1 May

  Free concert in Rome; many shops closed, most big sights open.

Crowds · Italy

High

Prices · Italy

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

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Rated best or good this month

• Po Valley and the north

  Best weather of the year (Milan, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Turin)

• Central Italy

  Best weather of the year (Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Rome)

• South and islands

  Best weather of the year (Naples, Amalfi, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia)

• Rome

  Warm and long days; good month.