Best time to visit · Florence · Italy
The best time to visit Florence
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best months for Florence are April, May, September and October, when days are warm enough for the viewpoints and gardens and the summer heat has not yet set in or has eased. June to August is hot and crowded; November to February is cool, damp and much quieter, with the shortest museum queues and lowest hotel prices.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, June and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 11°C (52°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~9 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Florence sits in a basin ringed by hills, so summers are hot and still, regularly above 33°C in July and August, while winters are cool and damp with occasional frost. Rain is heaviest in autumn, especially October and November.
March–May
Spring
Blossom, wisteria and irises in the gardens, comfortable walking temperatures and the Easter Scoppio del Carro; busy from Easter onwards.
June–August
Summer
Long, hot evenings, Calcio Storico and open-air events, but peak crowds, the highest prices and heat that makes midday sightseeing hard.
September–November
Autumn
Grape and olive harvests, mushrooms and truffles on menus and settled September weather; November is the wettest month.
December–February
Winter
Cold, sometimes frosty days, the lowest hotel prices and the easiest access to the Uffizi and the Accademia, plus Christmas lights in December.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C | 2°C | 7 | 9.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 13°C | 3°C | 7 | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 16°C | 5°C | 7 | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C | 8°C | 8 | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C | 12°C | 7 | 14.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 29°C | 15°C | 5 | 15.4 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 32°C | 18°C | 3 | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 32°C | 18°C | 4 | 14 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 27°C | 15°C | 6 | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 21°C | 11°C | 8 | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 15°C | 6°C | 9 | 9.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 11°C | 3°C | 8 | 8.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winter sales — shop discounts across the city (usually from early January); Pitti Uomo — international menswear fair (usually mid-January) |
| February | Carnival — costumes for children and Carnival pastries (February or early March) |
| March | Capodanno Fiorentino — historic procession for the old Florentine New Year (25 March); Scoppio del Carro on Easter Sunday (late March or April) |
| April | Scoppio del Carro — a cart of fireworks set off outside the Duomo (Easter Sunday); Maggio Musicale Fiorentino — opera and concert festival (usually from late April into June) |
| May | Giardino dell'Iris opens below Piazzale Michelangelo (usually May); Maggio Musicale Fiorentino continues |
| June | Calcio Storico Fiorentino — costumed historic football in Piazza Santa Croce (June, final on 24 June); Feast of San Giovanni — fireworks over the Arno (24 June); Pitti Uomo — menswear fair (usually mid-June) |
| July | Estate Fiorentina — summer programme of open-air cinema and concerts (usually June–September) |
| August | Ferragosto public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Festa della Rificolona — paper-lantern procession (evening of 7 September); Grape harvest in Chianti (usually September to early October) |
| October | Olive harvest and new-oil tastings begin (late October into November) |
| November | Florence Marathon (usually late November); Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce (usually from late November) |
| December | Christmas tree and nativity scene in Piazza del Duomo (usually from early December); New Year's Eve concerts in the city's piazzas |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Florence?
The best months for Florence are April, May, September and October, when days are warm enough for the viewpoints and gardens and the summer heat has not yet set in or has eased. June to August is hot and crowded; November to February is cool, damp and much quieter, with the shortest museum queues and lowest hotel prices.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Florence?
Usually in January–February and November. Cold, often bright days with morning fog in the valley; queues at the Uffizi and the Accademia are at their shortest of the year.
+What is the rainiest month in Florence?
November, with about 9 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Florence get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F).