TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDES

Italy in September: Your guide to weather, events & travel

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Written by

Matt Byrd

Last updated

July 10, 2025

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Italy in September is all about the open road, golden light, and the quiet magic that lingers at summer’s end. Picture yourself driving through winding roads in Umbria’s hill towns, tracing Sicily’s sun-drenched coastline, or following the curves of northern valleys that open up to pristine alpine lakes. Windows down, playlist on, and nowhere to be but in the moment. That’s what Italy has to offer in September.

Vineyards hum with the start of harvest, early morning mist rises from the fields, and village markets overflow with figs, grapes, and porcini. The sea is still warm enough for afternoon swims in the south, while the mountains begin to stir with the first signs of fall. Trattorias lean into heartier seasonal dishes, and food festivals return in full swing, turning town squares into open-air dining rooms filled with chestnut smoke and clinking glasses.

It’s the kind of month that invites you in — to linger a little longer at lunch, to follow picturesque roads into the hills, to return to cities when they’re just starting to feel like themselves again. And if you’re dreaming of nabbing that cliffside room in Positano or lining up tastings in Barolo before harvest crowds roll in, an advisor on TravelJoy can make it happen.

Is September a good time to visit Italy?

Yes — and not just because the crowds thin. September brings some of the most comfortable travel weather across Italy. In the north, you’ll get clear days in the low 70s, ideal for hiking in the Dolomites or wandering lakeside towns like Como and Garda. Central Italy, including Tuscany and Umbria, stays in the mid-70s range with cooler evenings that make al fresco dinners feel extra cozy. Down south and on the islands, it's still beach weather — Sicily and Puglia often hover in the low to mid-80s, and the sea remains warm enough for a swim well into the month.

September falls just after Italy’s peak summer stretch, which means fewer crowds, easier restaurant bookings, and better availability at boutique hotels and vineyard stays. Cobblestone piazzas that once overflowed with tour groups now welcome locals back from holiday. Pizzerias fire up again, markets brim with late-summer figs, and trattorias reopen with menus that hint at autumn. It’s calmer, warmer, and full of that just-returned energy — the perfect time to settle in and explore.

Visiting Italy in September means you’ll be trading in the vibrant coastal nightlife of the peak season for a richer and more personal experience. Think harvest feasts in Tuscany, grape-picking mornings that end in vineyard lunches, and lantern-lit nights in Lucca’s old town. An advisor on TravelJoy can line up stays during la vendemmia, reserve tastings at family-run estates, and time it all around the festivals that make September so special.

High temperature
79°F / 26°C
Low temperature
63°F / 17°C
Rainfall
2.4 in / 60 mm
Sun & daylight
8.5 hours / 12.5 hours
Seasonal tips

- Warm and pleasant

- Ideal for wine season

- Great shoulder season value

- Pack for changeable weather

- Beaches still inviting

Where to go in Italy in September

Tuscany
September in Tuscany means la vendemmia is in full swing. Vineyards near Greve, Montalcino, and Montepulciano buzz with harvest energy, and festivals like Expo Chianti Classico offer tastings, cellar tours, and local bites under the late-summer sun. The countryside glows in warm golds and soft greens — perfect for long drives through the Val d’Orcia or walks between wine towns still lively with local celebrations.
Cinque Terre
September softens Cinque Terre in all the right ways. The heat mellows, the trails quiet down, and the Ligurian Sea stays swimmable well into the month. You can hike the cliffside paths between villages without the summer crush, then cool off with a dip or a spritz on a terrace in Manarola. In Vernazza, trattorias lean into pesto and fresh anchovies, and in nearby towns, harvest festivals pop up with chestnuts, wine, and music. It’s a time when the pace eases, but the flavor lingers.
Bologna
September marks the return of Sagre — small-town food festivals — and Bologna is a perfect jumping-off point. Between plates of tortellini in brodo and walks under the city’s porticos, you can take short day trips to nearby towns hosting harvest events: porcini in Castel di Casio, figs in Cesenatico, or mortadella tastings back in town.
Lake Como
September is one of the best times to visit Lake Como — the summer crowds have thinned, the water’s still warm, and the light takes on a softer, golden glow. You can kayak from Bellagio without the rush, hike to Monte Grona in cooler air, or wander the quiet terraced gardens of Villa Monastero before settling in for a lakeside lunch.

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Things to do in Italy in September

Event
Location
Timing
Venice Film Festival
Venice’s film festival premieres international cinema
Venice
Early September
Chianti Wine Harvest
Chianti’s vineyards welcome wine harvest celebrations
Chianti
Mid–Late September
MITO Festival
Milan and Turin host classical music performances
Milan & Turin
September
Festivaletteratura
Mantua gathers authors for literary discussions
Mantua
Early September
Sagra dell’Uva
Marino celebrates grapes with traditional festival
Marino
First Sunday
Eurochocolate Preview
Perugia previews chocolate delights ahead of main event
Perugia
Mid-September
Slow Food Cheese Fair
Bra showcases artisan cheeses at Slow Food fair
Bra, Piedmont
Late September

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