The summer month of August in Italy. Many Italians will take their vacations, sometimes taking the entire month off. In terms of the tourist season, cities will tend to see a drop in tourists as people escape the cities and head to the coast.
If you are travelling to Italy during August, there can be pros and cons to your visit. We have put together some of the things that you might experience when visiting Italy during August.
Weather in Italy in August
Italy gets quite hot August, with the South reaching 26-32°C (80-90°F), central Italy will reach around 21-32°C (70-90°F) on average and the North around 18-30°C (65-85°F).
August is typically the hottest month of the year, with cities becoming sweltering with high humidity. This is the reason Italians tend to take August as a holiday and will escape the city.
Although you might be used to heat, it is different when you are trying to visit somewhere and want to visit attractions. If you are planning on tours and walking around, please take water, have plenty of breaks in the shade and remember the sun-screen!
Why should you go to Italy in August?
With Italians trying to escape the heat of the city, why consider visiting Italy during August?
In the cities, August is a little cheaper than other summer months and there are also fewer crowds. There will still be tourists around, but most tourists, along with the locals tend to head to the coast. The good news is attractions will typically have shorter queues than normal. But, there will be fewer shops and restaurants open as the owners take a break from the heat.
With this, if you are heading to the coast, it will be busy and lively. It is a great atmosphere, with cafes and restaurants open along the coasts. The hotels near beaches will be full and it is suggested that you book hotels well in advance.
Do not worry – attractions will still be open (although, watch out for the 15th August which is a national holiday)
Even though many Italians leave the cities, you won’t have them to yourself
Although the locals will leave the cities, you won’t be alone with international tourists still visiting. These are often the times when museums are busiest, with the tourists trying to escape from the heat. So please keep in mind that the tourists sights will still be busy.
During these times, with the tourists and the heat, we suggest ‘off-the-beaten-track’ tours, like these one in Rome: Tivoli, Appian Way and the Undergrounds of Rome (which is not only cool, but a fascinating tour, discovering the history beneath the streets of Rome!)
August in Venice is a difficult time and is not always recommended. There is a lot of tourists in such a small space and the heat is often unbearable with the narrow streets. If you are visiting Venice in August, consider taking lots of breaks at cafes and always carry some water with you.
Events in August
Ferragosto (Assumption Day). 15th August, Italians celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, which is a national holiday. This means that businesses and visitor attractions tend to close.
Palio di Siena. 16th August is the famous horse race in Siena and draws a lot of visitors to Piazza del Campo in Siena’s centre.
Verona Operate Festival. Through out Augustis Verona’s famous festival and it is held at the largest opera venue in the world, Verona’s 10,000-seat Roman amphitheater.
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