Season guide · Florence · Italy
Florence in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arek N., CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Blossom, wisteria and irises in the gardens, comfortable walking temperatures and the Easter Scoppio del Carro; busy from Easter onwards. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 22 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 5°C (41°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 22
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 16°C (61°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 7 | 11.8 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 8 | 13.4 h | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C (75°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 7 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 22 of the year's roughly 79 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Capodanno Fiorentino — historic procession for the old Florentine New Year (25 March)
- 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)
- April: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino — opera and concert festival (usually from late April into June)
- May: Giardino dell'Iris opens below Piazzale Michelangelo (usually May)
- May: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino continues
Make the most of the weather
Religious site · Piazza del Duomo
Florence Cathedral (Duomo)
Santa Maria del Fiore's red-brick dome, engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in the 1430s, is still the largest masonry dome ever built.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the climbs
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Kids
Viewpoint · San Niccolò
Piazzale Michelangelo
Continue five minutes uphill to San Miniato al Monte for the same view with far fewer people.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
- Kids
Palace · Piazza della Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio
The fortress-like town hall, begun in 1299, is still the seat of Florence's city government.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Garden · Oltrarno
Boboli Gardens
Wear proper shoes for the steep gravel paths and head for the top terrace by the Porcelain Museum for the widest view.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
Religious site · San Niccolò
San Miniato al Monte
One of the finest Romanesque churches in Tuscany sits on the hill above Piazzale Michelangelo, with a green-and-white marble facade, an inlaid marble floor and a raised choir above the crypt.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
Day trips in spring
- Siena (About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus) — Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the Gothic cathedral with its inlaid marble floor and the frescoes of the Palazzo Pubblico make it the classic day trip from Florence.
- Pisa (About 1 hour by train) — The Leaning Tower stands with the cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto on the lawns of the Piazza dei Miracoli.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Florence?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Blossom, wisteria and irises in the gardens, comfortable walking temperatures and the Easter Scoppio del Carro; busy from Easter onwards.
+What is the weather like in Florence in spring?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 22 rainy days over the season.