All you need to know to visit Italy in April: what to expect from the weather, main events and festivals, the best places to see and practical tips on when to book what.
April in Italy is a wonderful month and a very popular one for visitors from all over the world.
The start of spring and the Easter break, often falling in this month, are the perfect excuse for a trip to Italy and indeed, the country hardly ever disappoints.
Warm enough for al fresco dining but not so hot to make sightseeing difficult, Italy in April is a delight: however, not all is perfect!
Between rainy days and high crowds, visiting Italy in April takes a bit of planning. Here is all you need to know to make the most of your trip!
Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life — Anna Akhmatova, Russian Poet
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Table of Contents
The weather in Italy in April: what to expect
April is the first full month of spring in Italy and very much a season of transition.
Depending on where exactly in Italy you are and what the weather pattern is each year, you can have a very hot and sunny April, you can find yourself under torrential rain or you may get a mix of both on any given day!
While not as ‘crazy’ as March, the month Italians consider the most unstable of all weather wise, April in Italy sees changeable weather and it is best to have flexible plans to be ready for it.
Overall, this is what you can expect from the weather in Italy in April, in some of the most popular areas for visitors.
The North of Italy in April: Venice, Milan, Cinque Terre
Venice, Milan and Cinque Terre are in the North of Italy (Venice in the East, Cinque Terre in the West) and usually experience nice yet changeable weather during the month to April.
The average temperature in Venice in April is 13C/ 54F and you can expect 13 days of rain.
The average temperature in Milan in April is 12.5C/ 55F with 14 days of Rain
Cinque Terre usually sees an average temperature of 14C/57F in April and about 8 days of rain.
While the average temperature can change significantly from day to day, when visiting these areas in spring, you are likely to experience warm hours during the middle of the day and colder afternoons and evenings, often requiring a light jacket and possibly a scarf.
If visiting the North of Itay in April, I recommend you dress in layers and bring waterproof shoes and a travel umbrella as well as lighter clothes such as short sleeve tops.
April in the North of Italy is usually not sandals and shorts weather. See our tips for packing for Italy in April below.
April in Florence and Tuscany
April is a lovely time of the year to visit Florence and Tuscany.
The Tuscan countryside is at its very best at this time, showing off its glorious hills (Volterra is spectacular at this time!) and Florence tends to get good weather, the scorching days of summer still far enough in time not to pose a threat.
The average temperature in Florence in April is 14C/57F and you can expect 13 days of rain.
This is a great time to visit some of Florence’s main museums such as Uffizi and Accademia and a lovely time for day trips in the countryside.
Some of my favorite day trips from Florence in April are San Gimignano and the Chianti area.
This day tour brings you both and allows you not to drive – an excellent option allowing you to partake in wine tasting!
April in Rome
April is a wonderful albeit busy month to visit Rome.
The Easter celebrations usually make Rome very popular at this time and this has some obvious repercussion on the lines to visit main attractions and sites
However, the usually good weather and peasant temperature still make Rome a wonderful destination this time of the year.
I go every year and love it! You can see what to expect in Rome in April in our full guide.
April in the South of Italy: Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Sicily and beyond
The South of Italy tends to have warmer weather than the North of the center and is usually lovely in April.
Like everywhere in Italy this month, rain is possible (we got caught in 3 super cold and rainy days in April in Taormina!) however, it is also a month of beautiful light and overall mild temperature.
The average temperature in Pompeii in April is 15C/59F and the chance of rain is low.
In Catania (Sicily), the average temperature in April is 14.5C/58F and you can expect about 8 days of rain.
April in the South of Italy is a time for sightseeing rather than sea swimming, however, on a good day you will be able to take a leisurely lunch or a walk on the beach.
What to pack for Italy in April
As you can gauge from the above, packing for changeable weather in Italy in April is paramount.
You can find our full packing list from spring in Italy here.
Make sure you include your Italy travel essentials:
- All your travel documents
- Broken in walking shoes (find my shoe recommendations here)
- Travel umbrella
- Power bank
- Travel adapter
- Italian phrasebook
- Phone/Camera
- Toiletries/ prescriptions /medications as needed
Dates of notice for April in Italy
In 2023, Easter falls on Sunday 9th of April and this can have some repercussions on your travels.
Holy Friday – restaurants and attractions are usually open on these days. Several religious celebrations such as via Crucis take place in several localities including Rome city center, where it is led by the Pope.
Easter Sunday – restaurants and attractions are usually open. Many restaurants have special menus out for the occasion so booking, especially for larger groups, is recommended.
Easter Monday – this is a National holiday and traditionally a day for Italians to take day trips and eat out.
Smaller shops are some attractions are closed on this day (including the Vatican). Please check specific opening hours with each individual attraction if traveling on this day.
21 April, Natale di Roma (Rome) – Rome celebrates its birthday on the 21st of April.
On this day, several events take place in the city and they may affect the use of buses and public transport. .
25 April – Festa della Liberazione – the day when Italy celebrated the end of the Nazi occupation, usually with beautiful parades and festivals in several cities to mark the occasion.
25 April – St Marks’s day (Venice) – the 25th of April is a very special day in Venice too, as it is the day when the city celebrates its Patron Saint. On this day, it is traditional for men to gift a rose blossom to the women in their life!
The best places to visit in Italy in April
April is a great month for most of Italy, but these are our favorite places for an Italy spring trip.
Venice and Veneto
Venice is wonderful in April. As the temperature starts to rise and the fog leaves the Venetian lagoon, the city fills with bright light, reflecting on its many canals.
This is a wonderful time for sightseeing (you can find our Venice recommended itinerary here) and also a lovely one to enjoy Venice’s Bacari, food joints serving local food and wine.
They are the perfect refuge for rainy days and cozy evenings after a day exploring!
April is also a wonderful time for visiting cute Burano and the beautiful Palladian Villas of the Veneto, Unesco world heritage site and a dream for architecture lovers.
Cinque Terre, Liguria
If you dream of hiking Cinque Terre, April is one of the best months to make this dream come true.
While rain at this time is possible, the temperature is usually ideal for hiking although too cold for bathing in the sea.
This can be a problem or a plus, since it means you usually are fighting a little less for space in this otherwise crowded area of Italy!
You can find our recommended itinerary and travel tips for Cinque Terre here
Central Italy: Florence, Tuscany, Umbria and more
April is a wonderful time for visiting central Italy and the areas of Tuscany and Umbria in particular.
At this time, the famous countryside of these regions comes back to life and the temperature is usually already nice enough for sightseeing and indulgent lunches al fresco with views over the Italian rolling hills.
Florence tends to be busy at this time, especially during easter so advance booking of main attractions such as the Uffizi is highly recommended.
You can find our tips for planning a great Tuscany itinerary here.
Among the best things to do in Tuscany in April, I recommend:
- A day trip to San Gimignano and the Chianti area, to see the famous Tuscan rolling hills and taste some its famous food and wine
- Bathing at the wonderful Tuscany thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni or Saturnia, perfect in this season
- A visit to Orvieto, in stunning Umbria
- A trip to the region of le Marche, off the beaten track Italy region often ignored by visitors but full of stunning towns and landscapes (Urbino is wonderful!)
Rome, Lazio
Rome is absolutely marvelous in April however, the city does get busy!
If visiting at this time, I highly recommend you book both your accommodation and tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican in advance (other attractions are usually OK crowds-wise).
You can find my tips on how to get the best tickets for Rome attractions here.
If visiting Rome in April, it is also paramount to book your accommodation in advance.
Some of the addresses I recommend you look up are:
Otivm Hotel, 4-star romantic hotel in the city center with a wonderful rooftop terrace perfect for spring
Le Clarisse al Pantheon, clean, beautiful and well-priced hotel a trone throw from the Pantheon
Hotel de Russie, gorgeous 5-star hotel in the heart of Rome perfect for couples, solo travelers and families alike.
Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, Campania
April is also a wonderful time to visit Pompeii, a destination that gest oppressively hot in summer.
You can visit Pompeii on your own, taking the train from Naples, or you can book one of the many tours available that also include a transfer.
Whatever you choose, I do recommend getting a guide or at least an audioguide to navigate the site at best.
Some options to consider are:
- Archaeologist led guided tour of Pompeii
- Pompeii fast track entrance with audioguide
- Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius day tour from Naples
April is also the month when the tourist season reopens on the Amalfi coast.
While still a little too cold for a proper sea and sun vacation, this is a good time to explore the wonderful towns of the area, towards the end of the month, venture to Capri.
if you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend you set base in Minori and explore Amalfi and the other local town by ferry.
Basilicata, Puglia
April is also a lovely time to visit the South of Italy.
While most likely still a little too cold for sea swimming, this is a great time for sightseeing and one of the best months to explore Matera, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Trani and Paestum.
We are very fond of this part of Italy and have an itinerary to recommend that is just perfect for spring! You can find it here
Sicily
Sicily is also a fantastic destination for a trip around Italy in the month of April, thanks to temperatures that are just perfect for sightseeing (the summer gets too hot, even for me!)
You can find our recommended Sicily itinerary here, perfect for this season!
What to book in advance if visiting Italy in April
April can be very busy and early booking of accommodation and attractions is a must.
These, in particular, sell out fast:
Last supper, Milan: often booked out weeks in advance, book as soon as your trip is confirmed via their official site here or via GetYourGuide here, which offers excellent cancellation options
Colosseum, Rome: the official site gets booked out months in advance (although you may be in luck if only looking for one or two tickets). However, guided tours are usually available on GetYourGuide here
Vatican, Vatican City, Rome: tickets sell out fast and operate on a time slot system. You can get them on the official site of the museums or choose a guided tour via GetYourGuide here: I highly recommend them as the museums are vast and easily overwhelming, without a guide.
Galleria Borghese, Rome: I recommend you book with at least a couple of weeks’ notice to get a decent time slot. The official website is here.
Train ticket: I recommend advance booking for busy travel days such as Easter Thursday, Friday and Monday, when many locals are on the go to reach friends and families for the long weekend.
Italy with kids in April
April is a good time to visit Italy with kids.
The mild weather is perfect for gelato but not hot enough yet pose a problem to the youngest member of the family and their delicate skin.
At this time, you may have sunny days to lounge on the beach but you are unlikely to have warm enough weather for the kids to swim.
I do however recommend you brins a sunhat and sunscreen: when the sun comes out, it can be pretty strong.
You can find our family guides to Italy here: How to plan a family trip to Italy | Best things to do in Italy with kids | Essential tips for visiting Italy with a baby or toddler
Among the many things to do in Italy with kids in April, I recommend
A family tour of the Colosseum: this one is super fun for school-age kids as it operated as a treasure hunt around the Forum too (many skip the forum, which is a terrible shame).
A visit to Villa D’Este, a stunning villa near Rome with stunning gardens and fountains
An art class: we took a wonderful mosaic making class in Rome and highly recommend it as a fun, hands-on activity for kids! Mosaic is specific to Rome but many more activities are available in other cities such as paper making in Florence or mark making in Venice.
A kids’ cooking class: we took a pizza making in Rome and we have been hooked to kids’ cooking classes ever seen! You have several options all over Italy, including this 3-hour group cooking experience in Florence which sounds great fun dor all ages
A treasure hunt: treasure hunts can be a great way to let the kids explore a new city while having fun. The first one we ever took was with Macaco Tour in Venice and it was excellent: you can read our review here
A day on the beach of the lake: April can be a lovely day for an excursion to the coast or the lakes. PLaces we love at this time are the coast on the south of Rome (Sperlonga and Geta in particular) and the wonderful beaches of Puglia.
What to eat in Italy in April
Italy is always a foodie paradise but in April, you truly are spoilt for choice!
Lamb and asparagus appear on the tables and the easter festivities bring chocolate and special easer dishes to tables all over Italy.
Among the many specialties to try, we recommend:
- Lamb cutlets (with rosemary, delicious!)
- Artichokes – several locations even have artichoke festivals at this time (sagra del carciofo)
- Fave (broad beans, traditionally served with cheese or in a puree)
- Asparagus
- Pastiera Napoletana (cake)
This is also a perfect time to take a food tour, so you can be sure to taste the best of the best of seasonal ingredients no matter where in Italy you are!
I hope you enjoyed this overview of Italy in April and it helped you plan your spring trip to Italy. Safe travels!
Italy travel resources we recommend
- Best shoes for Italy – stylish and great for walking
- Best luggage for Italy – all our tried and tested recommendations
- Booking.com – My go-to resource for accommodation (hotels, apartments and specialty lodging) with good deals and excellent cancellation policies
- GetYourGuide: booking platform for attraction tickets and day tours
About the author: Marta Correale is an Italian mama of 2, born and bred in Rome. Avid traveler, Marta graduated in Classics at the University of Rome and married her love for history and travel in a career as a travel writer. She is the writer and editor behind Learning Escapes, family travel blog about cultural travel with kids, the creator of the successful travel sites Mama Loves Rome, an in-depth travel site about her native city of Rome, and Mama Loves Italy, a comprehensive resources with travel guides, tips and advice for families planning a trip to Italy with kids.
