Italy in October: Things to Do, Weather, & What to Expect

Home to some of the world’s best architecture, incredible works of art, gorgeous countryside, and with a cuisine that’s world-renowned, Italy is always worth exploring. But Italy in October is another matter; fall could easily be the best time to take in this glorious country.

There’s enough residual heat from summer for the weather to have not turned truly cold. Crowds are much more sparing out of high season and there are fairs and festivals galore.

October in Italy seems to take on deeper hues too. Foliage riots in flashes of vibrant fall colors, fields are harvested for newly seasonal produce—truffles, grapes, olives—and hearty winter dishes such as stews and ragus start to dominate regional restaurants. More reasons than ever, then, to enjoy October in Italy.

October Weather

Italy can be extremely hot in summer, but October brings with it bright, milder days, perfect for exploring without the effects of high-season heat. Depending on where you visit in the country, the temperatures may change slightly, the warmer weather coming the further south you venture.

In the north, visits to iconic Venice, brilliant Bologna, and the beautiful landscapes around Florence and Pisa bring milder temperatures in the mid-50s and 60s, with cooler evenings requiring a coat or shawl to take off the chill. Around Rome, expect similar temperatures with the occasional warmer day when autumnal sunlight bathes the major sights in warm hues.

Looking for time on the beach? Then Southern Italy and Sicily are the places to go. In Naples on the mainland, and on the island of Sicily, temperatures can still hit the high 70s and, with beaches less full than in summer, it can be the perfect time to take a dip while the sea still retains some high-season heat.

Read: Best Beaches in Italy

More Time to Explore

Italy’s major destinations such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Naples are year-round attractions and never truly “out of season”. October, though, is a great time to visit for those looking for more reflective explorations without feeling the pressure of the crowds seen in high Italian summer.

This, combined with the lower temperatures means visitors are afforded less busy lines for major attractions and fewer people gathered in prime viewing spots. It’s a great time to explore the major Roman landmarks of the Eternal City of Rome such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Museums.

Similarly, the canals and landmarks of Venice such as St. Mark’s Basilica are less crowded, allowing for a more relaxed experience.

Florence is one of the best places to visit in October, where you will find shorter lines at the Uffizi Gallery and Florence Cathedral. In nearby Pisa, the famed Leaning Tower is also more easily accessible as fall comes to fruition.

Soccer Season

It’s said that there are two major religions in Italy: Catholicism and soccer, or football to Europeans, and by October, things are really starting to hot up in the major professional league “Serie A” after the summer break.

With 20 teams vying for the coveted title of Champions, or the ignominy or being relegated to the division below at the end of the season, games are fiercely contested. This is especially the case if you can take in one of the major derby matches that pit local rivals against each other in fierce competition stoked by an almost tribal pride.

Rome’s “Derby della Capitale” between AS Roma and Lazio, two of Europe’s best supported clubs, is a classic example. But even if you can’t make the bear-pit atmosphere of such a match-up, trying to catch any game is highly recommended.

Matches are usually played on Saturdays and Sundays with the occasional game also taking place in mid-week. For the biggest games, scanning the upcoming game schedules and trying to book tickets as far in advance as possible is advisable—demand for key games is high. But even if you can’t make the stadium, look out for a local pub or bar showing a match. The atmosphere can be every bit as electric as sitting in stands.

The Wine Harvest

If you have even a passing interest in wine, there’s probably no better time to visit Italy than in October, for this month marks the height of the grape harvest season, known locally as the “vendemmia”.

The harvest offers the chance for festivals and tastings, against the backdrop of some of the country’s most beautiful countryside at a time when the myriad colors provided by fall foliage are at their best.

In Tuscany, October is prime time for harvesting the Sangiovese grapes that make Chianti Classico wine such a special favorite. Wineries such as Castello di Verrazzano offer immersive experiences with tastings of their finest vintages, often matched with local delicacies that Italy is known for.

The Emilia-Romagna region, south of Venice and famed for its Lambrusco and Sangiovese wines, is another prime spot where harvest festivals abound.

To the south, meanwhile, Sicily’s unique volcanic terroir really comes to the fore with distinctive wines such as Nero d’Avola and Etna Rosso. The vineyards around Messina are famed for Malvasia delle Lipari, a sweet wine perfect for autumn evenings.

Truffle Tastings

Head to the Italian countryside in October and you’ll see a unique type of hunter foraging around the fields with their trusty hounds. October in Italy is prime time for truffle hunting, with the highly prized and super-valuable white truffle really coming to the fore.

As such, truffle regions include the chance to join in a hunt, sample truffle-infused Italian cuisine, and enjoy a host of festivals.

One of the best places to visit is the Tuscan countryside, especially around San Miniato. Set between Livorno and Florence, the town hosts one of Italy’s premier truffle festivals in November. But the gathering of these precious fungi starts in earnest in October, meaning there’s always a buzz about the place.

For those looking for something a little more off-the-beaten path in Italy, Sicily boasts a growing truffle scene in the mountains around Palermo, though here it’s the black version that is more popular—with foraged truffles appearing on many a menu throughout fall.

Changing Fall Colors

Autumn is generally a great time to see the changing colors of the trees wherever you are in the world and the Italian countryside, famed for its rolling hills, forests, and vineyards, is no exception.

October in Italy is the perfect time for scenic drives, hikes, leisurely walks, and exploring natural wonders. Tuscany, with its vineyards and olive groves, explodes into shades of gold and red. Villages around hilltop towns such as San Gimignano offer sweeping views over the vineyards of the Chianti region.

On the Italian Riviera, there’s an incredible contrast of colors between the blur of the ocean and the autumnal hues on land. Portofino National Regional Park is a great place to visit with its undulating coastline views.

The volcanic landscapes around Mount Etna on Sicily and the Vesuvius National Park near Naples offer contrasting views between the lava landscapes and surrounding forests.

Even Rome doesn’t miss out thanks to the many parks and gardens in this beautiful Italian city itself, and the gorgeous surrounding countryside such as the forests around Lake Nemi and Lake Albano.

Festivals, Fairs & Fiestas

At any time of year, Italy has a vibrant calendar of fetes, festivals, and fiestas, but October is a particularly excellent month for cultural, religious, and artistic celebrations.

One of the key events nationwide is the October 4th celebration of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy. While the main celebrations occur in the Umbrian town of Assisi itself, churches across the country hold special masses and events in his honor.

On the same day, Bologna celebrates the city’s own patron saint with processions and cultural performances for the Festa di San Petronio.

There’s more modern culture in Rome every October with the city’s film festival usually held in the middle of the month, as well as Romaeuropa Festival. This experimental performing arts festival runs September through November and features performances in theater, dance, music, and the visual arts.

When it comes to sporting endeavors, the Venice Marathon is well worth a visit if time allows, even if you aren’t running the 26.2-mile course yourself. One of the world’s prettiest marathons, the route sees thousands of runners pass by world-class architecture as they’re cheered on by hundreds of thousands of onlookers.

Over in Florence, art takes center stage with the Florence Biennale held in October on alternate years. Usually hosted across the first half of the month, it features artworks by both local and international artists.

Read: How to Plan a Trip to Italy

Fall for Foodies

As the leaves turn a deep rust color, Italy’s foodie scene brings a similar depth of flavor to the country’s already incredible cuisine.

Aside from truffles, October in Italy is also chestnut season with Tuscany’s Fiera della Castagna, or Chestnut Festival taking place with workshops, cooking demonstrations, and product displays around this Italian region.

October is also a great time to taste Tuscany’s classic regional soup, hearty “ribollita”, a winter warmer that’s packed with earthy vegetables and cannellini beans. In Bologna, comforting dishes such as the city’s classic “tagliatelle al ragù” come to the fore in the local restaurants.

Or, you can take in the Mortadella Please Festival in the Zola Predosa district of Bologna, Italy’s renowned food city. Usually held in the middle of the month, the festival celebrates the famed spicy sausage, locals taking to the streets for various tastings and events.

Meanwhile, on Sicily, autumn brings the olive and grape harvests with new oils and wines available to buy in Catania and Messina. Nearby, in a small village on brooding Mount Etna, Ottobrata Zafferanese is one of Italy’s oldest food festivals.

Usually taking place across each weekend in October, it celebrates all manner of local produce including honey, mushrooms, chestnuts, grapes, and apples.

Activities & Adventure

For those who like to pack their vacation with some outdoor action, October is probably the perfect month to visit Italy, thanks to the cooler temperatures and thinner crowds. In Tuscany, the hills around Florence and Pisa make for the ideal backdrop to a cycling or hiking in Italy.

Further up the coast, La Spezia is the gateway to the famous Cinque Terre, a series of five colorful coastal towns and villages that make for a movie-like backdrop to the region’s hiking trails.

The Italian Riviera, further north still, is a prime location for sea kayaking along the rugged coast. Alternatively, Portofino Natural Park has some top-class trails through Mediterranean forests with panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea.

For animal lovers, Cagliari, Sardinia is also home to the Parco Naturale Molentargius Saline, a protected wetland area that comes to life in October, thanks to the many migrating birds that gather there to create a cacophony before heading south for winter.

Happy Hallowe’en

Spooky stories are not just the preserve of Americans. Halloween is celebrated throughout Italy over the last days of October, with events melding into Ognissanti, the traditional early-November All Saints celebration.

Resembling Mexico’s Day of the Dead, celebrations include church visits and the laying of flowers on the graves of loved ones.

Italians at this time eat “pan dei morti”, or “bread of the dead” cookies, a dessert made from crumbled biscuits, raisins, and chocolate.

One of the best places to celebrate is in the Tuscan town of Borgo a Mozzano, with the streets of its Old Town home to parades and spooky stories, including the legend of Lucida Mansi, a noblewoman who supposedly sold her soul to the devil.

Florence and Rome both have several spooky tours that come to life at this time of year. Rome is also home to the famous Capuchin Crypt, a series of small chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini that contains the skeletal remains of 3,700 Capuchin friars.

Read: What to Pack for Italy

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