Italy in November with kids: all you need to know to plan a trip
All you need to know to plan a trip to Italy in November with kids in tow! A trip planning guide for families, by an Italian mom, with info on weather, best places to visit in November in Italy with kids, when to book what, November travel tips.
November is a peculiar month to visit Italy with kids.
This month is one of the very few when Italy goes through a low season, a time with tourism crowds at a minimum and local life at its top: it’s a great time to see how normal life in Italy is!
However, November in Italy is low seasons for a reason.
The weather is not always great, you’ll be wearing coats and scarves rather than pretty summer clothes and many outdoor activities will have to wait for warmer times.
If you are planning a November trip to Italy with kids, expectations and picking the right locations is key.
I can help with this!
I am from Rome and I have two children. In November, schools have a break for us and we always use this time to explore Italy off season.
In this guide, we share all our top family tips for a wonderful trip to Italy in November, based on our experience!
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Table of Contents
November in Italy with kids: setting expectations
November in Italy is the month when autumn transitions into winter.
This means that you have limited times of daylight, some rainy days and you will want a coat: in most of the country you won’t need a very heavy one, yet humidity and temperatures will make you want to wrap up.
You will however still able to enjoy time at the playground most days.
At the start of the month, you may even be as lucky as we were last year in Venice and find yourself in sort sleeves or only in need for a light sweater (see photo)!
The best places to visit in November with kids in Italy are cities, as they can offer indoor activities when you need to find shelter.
While places don’t close as such in November, you will find small coastal villages with a strong summer tourism vocation to be in their low season, with limited tourism services due to low demand and weather constraints.
The same happens with country stays and wineries, that follow agricultural calendars for their activities.
While November is amazing in Rome and Venice, for instance, it is not a good time to visit the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre with kids.
While an adult might make the most of the weather by relaxing with a book, there is little to nothing to do for kids there out of season. Therefore, expectations are key.
November in Italy: important dates and festivities
The most important date to keep in mind if planning a trip to Italy in November is the 1st of November All Saints (Ognissanti), which is a National Holiday.
On this day, Italians are off work and this may result in longer lines at museums and exhibitions.
Depending on the day of the week on which this festivity falls, Italians may make a long weekend out of it, which may impact prices in popular localities and train seat availability.
Main attractions tend to stay open on this day.
Top tip: book transport and activities in advance if traveling on a long weekend as Italians travel a lot at this time, making it busier than you may expect.
November in Italy weather patterns
November is a fall / winter month in Italy.
In terms of temperatures, this is historically what you can expect:
| Locality | Temperature (max-min) | Average rainy days |
| Milan | 18C – 11C | 6 |
| Rome | 17C – 6C | 9 |
| Venice | 12C – 5C | 6 |
| Florence | 15C – 6C | 11 |
| Palermo | 20C / 11 C | 8 |
As you can see, the weather patterns are not as straightforwards as ‘cold and rainy north – warm and dry south’. Expect November to be changeable and potentially chilly everywhere.
In practical terms, this means that you need to pack closed, rain proof shoes, long pants / jeans/ sweaters, coat, scarf, long sleeve /pants pyjamas.
For babies and toddlers on strollers, you want a stroller footmuff or at least blankets you can easily zip / unzip, put on / off.
Where in Italy is best in November? The best places to visit in Italy in November with kids
My favorite places to visit in Italy with kids in this season are:
- Rome
- Bologna
- Venice
- Puglia
- Florence
- Bolzano
Rome in November with kids
Rome is a very fun city to visit with kids of all ages and the lower crowds of November make this month one of the most enjoyable of all!
Things you can do in Rome in November include:
- Sightseeing (Rome’s tops sites with fewer crowds are so much easier!
- Take a kid-friendly class like pasta making, mosaic making, pizza making. A super way to escape the rain!
- Indoor attractions such as Ikono interactive museum, the museum of illusions
- Kid friendly tours such as Percy Jackson Tour (in a museum, indoor)
You can find here >>> my tips fro visiting Rome in November with kids
Bologna with kids in November
Bologna is a lovely city to visit with kids and November is one of the best times to enjoy its famous food scene: ravioli, tortellini and lasagne are wonderful cold weather dishes!
With kids, you can enjoy the city but also the nearby Ferrari Museum, which is guaranteed to be a hit with car lovers but not only: it is such a flashy, inspiring place, it’s hard not to love it!
Venice in November with kids
I adore Venice in November, especially at the start of month, as this is a time when crowds are low and temperatures still mild.
My favorite time of all is the first week in November. Ofter at this time you still have lovely sunny days and the humidity is not excessive.
Things I love to do with the kids in Venice include mask making, glass working, rowing class (my absolute favourite), all typical activities and crafts of this area!
Puglia in November with kids
November is a lovely time to visit Puglia with kids, provided they are aware that this month won’t allow for beach time.
The reason why I love this time is that the weather is often still mild and sunny and crowds are low, so you can see places such as Alberobello at their quietest.
Our most successful family trip to Puglia was in early November (first week), we also included Matera and it was top!
You can read here >>> our 4 days in Puglia and Matera itinerary
Florence in November with kids
Florence tends to get quite chilly in November. Yet, I love to come here at this time as crowds really are a problem in the city at almost any other time!
In November in Florence with kids we love to take cooking classes, gelato classes, and visit the museums (both the traditional ones and the unusual ones like the selfie museum or museum of Illusions!
You can read here >>> our travel guide to visiting Florence with kids
Need to know: Florence is a great starting point to visiting the Tuscany countryside. Yet, in November not all activities kids usually like (horse riding, farm visits etc) are operational. If thinking of going at this time, I recommend you read out tips here >>> tips for visiting Tuscany with kids in winter
Other popular destinations in Italy in November: what to expect
Is Cinque Terre open in November?
November is not a good time to visit Cinque Terre, an area famous for hiking paths and coastal views.
At this time, the season is in-between summer and winter and tends to miss the beauty of both.
You cannot bathe or enjoy the beach, several paths are closed and many hotels are shut for the cold season.
This is not necessarily a problem for adults, but the lack of indoor entertainment in the area can be a problem for kids. The Genoa aquarium is the one exception, but it won’t fill more than an afernoon.
If November is the only time when you can visit, your best bet is to go on a day trip and wait for a day with no rain.
You can find the weather forecast here: check a couple of days before for maximum accuracy.
You can find our guide to Cinque Terre here:
- Best places to visit in Cinque Terre and travel tips
- Visiting Cinque Terre with kids guide for families
What is Lake Como like in November?
Lake Como is very quiet in November.
At this time, the temperatures drop, the sunny day diminishes and the lake becomes a place for contemplative relaxation in a nice hotel rather than outdoor pursuits.
It can still be nice to come here as a day trip from Milan however, it is wise to check the weather first and make sure torrential rain is not in the cards.
You can find here >>> my guide to Lake Como with kids
Milan itself is pretty grey in November however, this can be a nice time to visit to avoid crowds and long lines.
Is November a good time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
November is not the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast with kids.
The weather here in November is a mix of good and grey days and many tourism businesses shut for the winter, meaning you have a lower choice of accommodation and few services available.
While this is not necessarily an issue for adults, kids may find coming here at this time very limiting: no swimming, no boat tours and lack of indoor entertainment can affect their experience.
You can, however, visit Pompeii and Naples and, if the weather cooperates, it may be possible to visit the coast too! I would just be conscious of making the coast the main stop.
Low crowds are a rarity here and allow you to see the area at a better, slower pace and the sea in winter has a special beauty: if you are happy not to be in the water, this can be a nice time for a relaxing, contemplative stay in one of the areas beautiful hotels.
Pick one with a view and take the beauty of the Costiera in!
Find all our guides to the Amalfi Coast here:
- Best places to see on the Amalfi Coast
- Tips for visiting the Amalfi coast with kids
- Travel guide to Minori
- Travel guide to Amalfi town
Is November a good month to visit Sicily?
November can be a wonderful month to visit Sicily for sightseeing. However, it is not an all year round se and sun destinations so don’t promise kids days at the beach thinking the Southern location will make it hot.
November in Sicily can be nice and sunny yet it is more suited to visits to temples and cities than coastal pursuits.
You can find our guides to Sicily here
What to book in advance in Italy in November
In November, I recommend you make advance bookings for the main Italian attractions, which are pretty much always busy no matter the time of the yeat.
In particular, I recommend you book:
Last Supper, Milan via their official site here or via GetYourGuide here
Colosseum, Rome, via the official site. Tickets get released from 30 days before.
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. Tickets tend to come out 60 to 90 days in advance.
What to pack for Italy in November
When packing for Italy in November, you need to be ready for changeable weather, rain and chilly temperatures, especially in the North.
You can find my full packing list for Italy in the autumn here, however, these are your Italy must-have for November:
- All your travel documents (passport, Visa, Insurance, etc)
- Face coverings (compulsory in indoor spaces in 2020)
- Broken in walking shoes (find my shoe recommendations here)
- Clothing essentials
- Jeans / long trousers / pants (no shorts)
- Short and long sleeve tops
- Cardigan
- Coat and scarf
- Reusable water bottle
- Power bank
- Travel adapter and converter
- Italian phrasebook
- Portable travel umbrella
- Phone/Camera
I hope you enjoyed this overview of Italy in November and it helped you plan your trip. Safe travel planning!
This post was originally written in 2019 and has not been fully updeayd with recent photos, experiences and recommendations.
