Europe Travel Guides

Italy in September: trip planning guide

Posted on by Marta Correale
Duomo of Siena, Italy
15
Dec

All you need to know to plan a trip to Italy in September: weather in Italy in September, the best things to do, when to book what.

September is a lovely month to visit Italy, one of the best.

The last month of the warmer season, September in Italy still feels like summer, but the heat starts to lose its bite, making the days warm but less oppressive.

Tourism is still heavy in September in Italy, especially during the first two weeks of the month, but prices start to come down and, from the middle of the month, when local schools resume also, prices start to go down.

What to expect in Italy in September depends on where in Italy you are planning to go.

In this guide, I give an overview of Italy in September, to help you plan your trip at best. Safe travel planning!

Disclaimer: this is a seasonal travel guide about Italy in September, meant to help you decide the best time of the year for your visit. It does not address the current state of travel. For official information please always refer to official info before making any plans.

Photo of Siena with overlay text: panning a trip to Italy in September, what you need to know weather, events, tips

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What is the weather like in Italy in September?

September is still summer in Italy and, overall, you can expect warm weather, with only the occasional rainy day, in most of the country.

The Alps start getting chillier but in the cities and on the coast it is still warm and it is usually possible to go to the beach, especially in the South.

Overall, in September in Italy, you can expect to wear summer clothing but also an extra layer such as a light cardigan for the chillier hours of the day.

Is Italy crowded in September?

September is still a busy month in Italy but it is much less busy than July and August and much better for visitors, both in terms of crowds and prices.

The first two weeks of September are the busiest while, from the 15th onwards or so, you can expect lower numbers, especially on the coast and in smaller centers.

Florence and Rome are still very busy at this time.

2020 update: due to current travel restrictions, foreign tourism is low in Italy at present. However, Italians do take breaks in September and especially weekends or after hour visits tend to book out fast. The advice to book early, therefore, stays.

Italy’s most popular destinations in September: what to expect

September feels pretty different depending on where in Italy you are. This is what to expect, historically, in each of the most popular destinations in Italy.

Venice in September

Venice is crowded in September, especially during the first two weeks of the month but visitors diminish as the month progresses.

Prices tend to go down as the month edges towards October and the weather gets increasingly pleasant, a welcome change after the oppressive heat of August (Find official weather info here).

Overall, September is one of the best months for visiting Venice: book early for the best accommodation options, especially if traveling in early September.

Cinque Terre in September

September is hit-and-miss in Cinque Terre in terms of weather.

On a good day, this is a glorious time to visit the area since the oppressive heat of the summer is usually gone, however, the area is subject to heavy downpours so you need to be prepared with an alternative plan (a visit to Genova can work well in case of rain).

When planning a trip to Cinque Terre, I recommend you start from our Cinque Terre guide with all the tips you need to plan a pleasant stay.

Is September a good month to visit Lake Como?

September is one of the best months for visiting Lake Como.

The weather tends to be good and dry, with the occasional and some times very intense rainy day: while the weather is not guaranteed in this season, this is usually a good time for relaxing on the lakeshore or taking boat trips on the lake.

Good to know: Lake Como is a very popular day trip from Milan and locals flock here at the weekend. If you can, come during the week for a quieter experience.

Is September a good time to visit Tuscany and Florence?

September is one of the best months to visit Tuscany, which is absolutely glorious in this season.

Florence is still pretty hot and crowded in September, but it loses that oppressive gust heat that makes it unbearable in the heart of the summer.

Advance booking of accommodation, in particular, is recommended, especially in early September.

Something special! During the month of September 2020 the Duomo of Siens has a special opening to admire its incredible floors. Not to be missed!

September is also a wonderful time to visit the Tuscan hilltop and for wine visits and, if you feel like the beach, you can still go for a pleasant day on the sea, especially at the beginning of the month.

Find our guide to the best stretch of the Tuscany coast here.

Do, however, expect the odd rainy day, especially as you get closer to October.

Is September a good time to visit Rome?

September is a beautiful month to visit Rome, one of the best!

Rome in September is still warm and sunny but the worst of the heat is gone.

Usually, you can expect lovely and hot hours in the middle of the day, pleasant temperatures for sightseeing and a need for a slightly warmer layer in the evening or very early in the morning.

You may need a light jacket towards the end of the month, when the occasional rainy day is also possible.

Rome is busy in September so advance booking of accommodation and attractions is a must (you will find my recommended hotels in Rome in this article).

Is September a good time to visit the Amalfi Coast?

September is a lovely time to visit the Amalfi Coast.

The temperature on the Amalfi Coast in September tends to be nice and mild and it is usually still possible to swim in the sea.

Crowds and prices diminish as the month progresses and drop significantly around the 30th of September when the end of the tourism season in this area approaches.

This is a great month to visit this area and arguably the absolute best time to visit the Amalfi Coast!

What to book in advance for a trip to Italy in September

September can still be pretty crowded in Italy so I recommend you book accommodation and main attractions as early as possible.

This is my list of those you should book in advance, with a link also to providers with good cancellation options, for peace of mind.

For accommodation, I recommend booking.com which you can access here.

They have an excellent selection and great cancellation options (please check the rules for each room as they have different prices depending on the flexibility of your reservation)

St Peter Basilica, Vatican, Rome, with monumental fountain in foreground

I recommend the following attractions as soon as your trip is confirmed:

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. 

2020 Update: please note that due to the current situations there are extra safety measures in place at all attractions. They usually include an obligation to wearing a mask and, often, temperature checks. Please make sure you check the rules specific to the day of your visit as they are subject to change and strictly enforced.

What to pack for Italy in September

September in Italy is a time of transition, going from a hot summer month to milder temperatures.

You can find my full packing list for Italy in summer here, however, this is a quick overview of essentials:

If you are planning a visit to the Alps, you will need to add much warmer clothing and hiking gear.

Important dates in September in Italy

The main thing to be aware of when traveling to Italy in September is that this is the time of transition between the high tourism season and a slightly less busy one.

Collage with Trani (Puglia) and Tuscany with overlay text 'trip planning guide Italy in September'

This has an impact on some activities in particular such as boat tours, which tend to diminish as you get closer to the end of the month and on the opening on paths on the Alps.

Similarly, it can be useful to know that Italian schools usually resume towards the middle/end of the month.

This has an impact, lowering the number of locals vacationing, although often results in busy weekends in the most popular weekend getaway locations near the biggest cities.

The best things to do in Italy in September

What there is to do in Italy in September? Or maybe I should as: what there isn’t to do: September is wonderful in Italy and you can visit pretty much anywhere.

My favorite things to do in Italy in September are:

September in Italy with kids

September is a wonderful month to visit Italy with kids, the weather being very nice but not overly hot.

If you are going to the beach, you will still need proper protection from the sun but you will be able to stay out long and allow your kids a lot of outdoor time.

Our favorite family things to do in September in Italy are:

Make sure you also check out our guides to Cinque Terre with kids, Dolomites with kids should you plan on tackling those areas too!

Planning a family trip to Italy? Join my FREE Facebook group Travel Italy with kids and get personal tips and advice from me and many like-minded, Italy loving parents!

Is September a good month to go to Italy? Conclusions

September is one of the best months to visit Italy, perfect for sightseeing pretty much anywhere in the country.

I hope this guide to Italy in September has come in handy and has helped you plan your Italy trip. Happy travel planning!

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Marta Correale

Marta Correale is the creator, writer and creative mind behind Learning Escapes. A travel loving mama of two from Italy, Marta currently lives in Ireland with her husband and two kids, they take frequent trips to European destination, the US and beyond. A professional travel blogger for over a decade, Marta is passionate about traveling with kids and helping others to travel more and better as a family.