September has always been my favorite time to travel in Italy, and it is not a close contest. The scorching edge comes off the heat, the light turns golden and a little softer, and the sea holds all the warmth it gathered through summer. Across the lakes, the countryside, the mountains, and most of the coast, the crowds thin out as Europeans head back to work and children go back to school. It is the payoff for waiting out the peak of summer, and for many people it is the best time to visit Italy.
Here is the thing you have to plan around. The main cities are busy. As Italian families come home from their vacations, international visitors arrive in force, so Rome, Venice, and Florence run at absolute peak season through September, with the crowds and the prices to match. The Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre stay just as busy.
This is why September calls for a little strategy. I have had some of my loveliest Italian stays this month, on Lake Como and Lake Garda, along the Liguria and Cilento coastlines, and up in the Dolomites, and I would happily save the big cities for the cooler months either side.
There is one more reason the month is special. The vendemmia, the grape harvest, gets underway across Piedmont, Tuscany and Umbria in September, and the whole calendar of food is autumnal. This guide covers what September is really like across Italy's regions: honest weather, the harvest food and wine that define the month, the festivals worth planning around, where September shines and where it tests you, what it costs, and what to pack. If you are weighing up Italy in September, here is what you need to know.
Weather in Italy in September: The Cooldown Begins
September is the turn of the season in Italy. The days stay warm and very swimmable, the humidity of high summer fades, and the evenings begin to cool, especially later in the month and further north. It is a big part of why the month is so well loved, and why the weather rarely gets in the way of your time in Italy.
Northern Italy Weather in September
Milan, the Italian lakes, Venice, and Bologna are milder and pleasant in September, with daytime temperatures usually between 18 to 25 Celsius (64 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit) and cooler mornings and evenings especially toward the end of the month. The first proper autumn rain tends to return to the north and the lakes in the second half of the month, often as a short storm rather than a washout. If you are deciding between the two big lakes, our guide to Lake Como or Lake Garda helps you choose. Up in the Dolomites and at altitude, days are crisp and bright while nights can turn cold, so pack accordingly.
Central Italy Weather in September
Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Umbria hold on to warm, comfortable weather through September, with daytime highs between 20 to 28 Celsius (68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit) and mornings that start to feel fresh. Rain comes in occasional bursts rather than long spells. This is lovely sightseeing weather, which is exactly why the central cities are so busy now, so plan your Rome and Florence days early in the morning and late in the afternoon and let the middle of the day slow down. Time for a long lunch or maybe some shopping.
Southern Italy Weather in September
Sicily, Puglia, Calabria, Sardinia, and the southern coastal regions stay hot early in September and ease gradually as the month goes on, with daytime temperatures between 24 to 29 Celsius (75 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit). The sea is at its warmest of the whole year now, sitting around 24 to 26 Celsius after a warm summer, so this is prime swimming season, and often more comfortable than the fierce heat of July and August. Rain stays rare across the south until later in the autumn.
September Weather, Practically Speaking
Pack for two seasons in one trip. You want warm clothes for the afternoons, a layer or two for cool mornings and evenings, and a light rain layer for the north later in the month. That small effort pays off, because September gives you warm days without the punishing heat, and seas that are warmer than they were back in June.
Harvest Season in Italy: September Food and Produce
September is the beginning of harvest, when the food calendar turns from summer to autumn. The vendemmia (grape harvest) begins across the wine regions, and the markets fill with the produce that marks the change of season. If you love to plan a trip around what is on the plate, this is one of the finest months to do it.
Grapes are everywhere now, both the wine grapes coming in off the vines and the sweet table grapes piled at every market stall. Figs are at their best through the centre and south, served the classic way with a slice of prosciutto draped over them. Once the September rain arrives, the first porcini and wild mushrooms appear alongside chanterelles and the prized ovoli, though a dry month can hold them back, so treat them as a happy find rather than a certainty. Plums, the first apples and pears, pumpkin, fennel, and spinach all return, and late in the month the very start of chestnut and truffle season begins.
The regional dishes are where it gets specific. In Tuscany, look for schiacciata con l'uva, the flatbread pressed with wine grapes and baked only at harvest time, alongside pappardelle with porcini or wild boar, and the first bowls of ribollita as the evenings cool. Our guide to what to eat in Tuscany goes deeper.
In Piedmont, the season brings tajarin, the fine egg-yolk pasta served with butter or the first shavings of truffle, and bagna cauda, the warm anchovy and garlic dip that returns as autumn sets in, while the Barolo and Barbaresco vines come into full harvest. Umbria is where you will find porcini and early black truffle from around Norcia.
Down south and in Sicily, the pistachios of Bronte, the fichi d'India ripening on the cactus, and the late-summer seafood are the eats of the monht. The real pleasure of it all is eating outside without the heat of high summer, over a long country lunch as the harvest comes in.
Italy in September: Festivals, Harvest Celebrations, and Public Holidays
September is not heavy on national holidays, but it is rich in harvest festivals and a few striking city set pieces. For a full calendar of what is on, check the Untold Italy app, which carries local event alerts through the season, and here are some worth planning around.
Vendemmia Harvest Festivals – all month
Across Tuscany, Umbria, and Piedmont, the grape harvest brings a run of sagre and wine festivals to the countryside, and they are the reason to base yourself in wine country now rather than the cities. In Piedmont, the Festival delle Sagre near Asti gathers dozens of villages in mid-September to cook regional dishes like tajarin and bagna cauda alongside the new wine.
In Tuscany, the Festa dell'Uva in Impruneta is a centuries-old grape festival held in late September, with floats, parades, and plenty of local wine to taste. The Expo del Chianti Classico in Greve celebrates the region's most famous wine, and estates like Barone Ricasoli open for harvest-season tastings.
Regata Storica, Venice – September 6,
On the first Sunday of September, Venice stages the Historical Regatta on the Grand Canal. A costumed water pageant of sixteenth-century boats leads into a series of rowing races, watched from the banks and the bridges across the city. It is one of Venice's great spectacles, with the honest caveat that the city is at its most crowded this month, so arrive early for a spot.
Festa della Rificolona, Florence – September 7
On the eve of the Virgin Mary's birthday, Florence lights up for the Festa della Rificolona, the festival of paper lanterns. Children carry glowing lanterns on poles through the streets in a procession that ends in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, and farmers come in from the countryside to sell the first of the season's produce. It is a warm, local evening in a city that is otherwise running hard through peak season.
Feast of San Gennaro, Naples – September 19
Naples honors its patron saint with the Feast of San Gennaro, when the faithful gather at the Duomo for the famous ritual of the saint's blood. It is a local public holiday, so expect some shops, restaurants, and businesses to close while the city celebrates, and plan your Naples day around it.
Best Places to Visit in Italy in September
Here is where to go in Italy in September. The weather is close to perfect nationwide, so the question is not really when but where. The cities and the two famous coastlines are at their absolute peak. Almost everywhere else is easing off, which is where you find the September that most visitors miss. Whichever way you go, book your accommodation ahead, because good places fill fast this month.
The Italian Lakes: Como and Garda
The lakes are where I keep coming back in September. The days stay warm enough to swim early in the month, the ferries run full timetables, and the summer crush loosens now that the August holidaymakers have gone home. Mornings on the water are calm, the hills stay green, and the evenings ask for a light layer over dinner. Whether you settle on Como or Garda, our guide to Lake Como or Lake Garda helps you pick the one that suits your trip.
The Quieter Coasts: Liguria, the Cilento, Puglia, and Calabria
If you want the coast without the Amalfi and Cinque Terre crowds, September is the moment and these are the places. In Liguria, look beyond the Cinque Terre honeypot to the towns further along the Riviera, where the cliffside paths and harbor lunches carry on with far fewer people.
The Cilento stretch of Campania coast south of the Amalfi, is the quieter, wilder neighbor most travelers skip, with clear water and hill villages behind it. Further south, Puglia and Calabria give you warm seas and softening prices as the Italian holidaymakers leave. Our Puglia travel guide, the guide to the best places to stay in Puglia, and the roundup of things to do in Puglia cover the region, and towns like Lecce, Monopoli, and the trulli of Alberobello are best taken slowly. Bari is best explored in the cooler hours around breakfast.
Sardinia in September
Sardinia comes into its own now. The water along its coves stays a clear turquoise, the beaches empty out as the locals return home, and prices for accommodation and transport ease off the summer peak. It rarely gets too hot, which makes for comfortable days on the sand and long dinners of the island's fresh seafood and stuffed culurgiones pasta.
Beyond the beaches, Cagliari is a fine place to wander, with its cathedral and the medieval Torre dell'Elefante above the old town, and the Golfo di Orosei and the Supramonte give you boat trips and hikes inland. We talk through the island in our podcast episode, 10 or More Reasons to Visit Sardinia, and there are more ideas in our guide to the most beautiful Italian islands.
The Dolomites and the Mountains
September is one of the finest months to walk in the Dolomites. The high-season hiking crowds thin out, the air turns crisp and clear, and the rifugi stay open into the autumn serving proper mountain meals, though it is worth reserving a table ahead to be safe. Later in the month the larches begin to turn gold at altitude, and cableways like the Marmolada cable cars run into mid-October if you would rather ride up than hike. Our guides to the best things to do in the Dolomites, the best towns in the Dolomites, and where to stay in the Dolomites cover the routes and villages worth the detour.
Wine Country: Tuscany and Umbria
For the harvest at its heart, base yourself in the Tuscan or Umbrian countryside rather than the cities. This is vendemmia season, when you can watch the grape harvest, taste new wine at the source, and eat the food of the region as it comes off the land. Our Tuscany travel guide, Tuscany itinerary ideas, and guide to where to stay in Tuscany map it out, and if a farmhouse base appeals, our tips for renting a villa in Tuscany will help. If you do want a city fix, hill towns like San Gimignano, with its striking Duomo, and Pisa, home of the Leaning Tower, sit within easy reach, and in Florence you can still pre-book the Uffizi Gallery and see the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.
Piedmont, the North-West
Piedmont is coming into its best season in September, as the Langhe hills move through the grape harvest and the countryside quietens before the October truffle-fair rush. This is Barolo and Barbaresco country, and the food follows the vines, from harvest sagre to the first truffles of the year. Group it with the north on your map rather than the centre, and give it a couple of slow days built around long lunches and cellar visits.
The Quieter Towns and Cities: Verona, Lucca, and Emilia-Romagna
If you want to experience Italian cities without the peak-season crush of the big three, the mid-sized towns are the answer. Verona is made for wandering its streets, with a night at the open-air Arena. Lucca, ringed by its Renaissance walls, is calm and walkable, with the Cattedrale di San Martino at its heart, and in mid-month the Volto Santo procession runs by candlelight from the Church of San Frediano to the cathedral.
Over in Emilia-Romagna, Parma pairs its cathedral with some of the best eating in the country, and nearby Imola draws motorsport fans to its famous racetrack. For more inspiration, see our roundup of the 20 most beautiful Italian cities and towns and this guide to the country's beautiful small towns.
The Famous Names at Their Peak: Rome, Venice, Florence, Amalfi, and Cinque Terre
Italy's favorite tourist hot spots are glorious in September, and they are also at their absolute peak for crowds and prices, because the international season is in full swing just as Italians head home. Rome, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and the Cinque Terre all deliver if you go in knowing that. Book months ahead, start your days early, and consider that these places are arguably better in the cooler, calmer months either side. If you are set on them, plan around the crowds rather than hoping they will not be there. For the wider picture, our guide on how to plan an Italy trip will help you slot the cities in without losing your patience.
IMMERSE: Yourself in the Tuscan countryside with our Tips for Renting a Villa in Tuscany.
Is Italy Expensive in September? What to Know About Costs
Yes, in the places everyone knows, and this is worth being clear about. September is still high-season pricing in the cities and on the famous coasts, and the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre in particular hold their peak rates as international demand stays strong right through the month. If your trip centres on those, budget accordingly and book early.
Value returns as soon as you step away from the top tourist zones. The lakes and the quieter coasts ease off the August peak as European holidaymakers leave, and the countryside, the mountains, Sardinia, and Puglia all offer better value for a similar quality of food and stay. Book major-city accommodation and site tickets for the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, and the Doge's Palace well ahead, since September sell-out windows are long. Our guide to how much a trip to Italy costs breaks the numbers down further.
What to Wear in Italy in September
September dressing is two-season dressing. You want lighter clothes for warm afternoons, a sweater and a light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, and a swimsuit that still earns its place, especially in the south. A light rain layer is worth packing for the north later in the month, and comfortable walking shoes handle both the cities and the hill towns.
In the Dolomites and at altitude, evenings turn cold, so pack a warm layer even if the valley was mild at noon. If churches are on your list, and around the September feast days they often are, a scarf or sarong covers shoulders and knees at the door. Our full Italy packing guide covers every season in more detail.
LISTEN: To our podcast on what to wear in Italy, covering the best shoes, outfits, and more.
Is September a Good Time to Visit Italy? An Honest Answer
Yes, and it is one of the best months of the year, with one clear condition. The weather is close to ideal, the harvest is coming in, and the sea is at its warmest. But the truth is the cities and the two famous coasts are at absolute peak, so the whole trick of September is planning around where the crowds are.
September is a fine month for the lakes, the quieter coasts, wine country, and the mountains, where you get warm days, calmer crowds, and the food of the harvest. It is harder if your heart is set on Rome, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, or the Cinque Terre at an easy pace, or if you are hoping those places will be cheap. The useful thing to hold onto is that September's one trade-off is entirely predictable, which means it is plannable. Choose the countryside, the lakes, or the mountains over the cities, book the famous places early, and September gives you the Italy people fall in love with.
Italy is more than a checklist, and September belongs to the traveler willing to take it on its own terms. For how the month compares to those either side, read our guides to Italy in August and Italy in October.
Plan Your Italy in September Trip with Untold Italy
Getting September right takes more than choosing where to go. It takes knowing which lake town has the best position for your trip, which coast stays calm while the famous ones fill, and which week to be in wine country for the harvest. If you would like to bounce ideas around with our Italy experts, our Italy trip planning services are built for exactly this. We can help you go from a loose idea, or a half-built itinerary that needs a second opinion, to a plan you are excited about.
Frequently Asked Questions: Italy in September
Is September a good time to visit Italy?
Yes, it is one of the best months of the year for weather, food, and swimming. The one thing to plan around is peak-season crowds, which hit the cities and the famous coasts hardest. The lakes, wine country, the quieter coasts, and the mountains give you the calmest and best-value September.
What is the weather like in Italy in September?
Warm and pleasant, easing off the summer heat. Northern Italy runs about 18 to 25 Celsius (64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit}, central Italy including Rome and Florence about 20 to 28 Celsius (68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit), and the south and islands about 24 to 29 Celsius (75 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit). Mornings and evenings turn cooler, and the first autumn rain returns to the north late in the month.
Is September still warm enough to swim in Italy?
Yes. The sea is at its warmest of the year in September, sitting around 24 to 26 Celsius (75 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south and on the islands. Swimming is often more comfortable than in June.
Is Italy crowded in September?
The cities and the two famous coasts, the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre, are at absolute peak as international visitors arrive and Italians head home. Away from those, the lakes, the countryside, the mountains, Sardinia, and Puglia are noticeably calmer.
What festivals happen in Italy in September?
September is harvest season, with vendemmia festivals across Tuscany, Umbria, and Piedmont. The month also brings the Regata Storica in Venice on the first Sunday, the Festa della Rificolona in Florence around September 7, and the Feast of San Gennaro in Naples on September 19. We share many more local events in the Untold Italy app.
Is Italy expensive in September?
In the cities and on the famous coasts, yes, since these hold peak-season pricing through the month. The lakes, the quieter coasts, the countryside, and the islands offer better value as the summer crowds leave. Book early either way.
What should I pack for Italy in September?
Layers for two seasons in one trip: lighter clothes for warm afternoons, a sweater and light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, a swimsuit for the south, and a light rain layer for the north later in the month. Add a warm layer for the Dolomites and a scarf or sarong for church visits.
Visiting Italy in Other Months
Planning a trip at a different time of year? We have guides for every month: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | October | November | December
Our team of writers and creatives at Untold Italy are experts in keeping you informed and inspired about travel in Italy. Our team collaboration involves writers, photographers and editorial staff dedicated to sharing accurate Italy travel information.
Katy is the founder of Untold Italy and host of the Untold Italy podcast, with more than five million downloads and counting. She has spent decades traveling, writing about, and helping travelers plan trips to Italy that cover the highlights and lesser-known regions. When she is not planning someone's Italian adventure, she is probably already on one. → Read Katy's bio
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