Italy in November: Things to Do, Weather, & What to Expect

Italy in November might look a little chilly at first glance, but it’s one of the country’s coziest and most cultured months. The Mediterranean’s milder year-round climate ensures Italy is one of Europe’s favorite fall destinations for good reason.

With fewer crowds at all but the most famous landmarks, abundant galleries and museums crammed with works by Michelangelo and Caravaggio, and even some sunbathing opportunities in the south, Italy’s low season has plenty of appeal.

Still worried about potential showers? Read on to discover the highlights of November in Italy, from seasonal culinary feasts in Sicily to swoon-worthy, serene scenes in Cinque Terre.

November Weather in Italy

Rome

Officially, November in Italy is the rainiest month of the year. This statistic alone might be off-putting, but it’s also a very good reason to visit now. You’ll avoid the high- and even shoulder-season crowds that can leave some of Italy’s most famed destinations overwhelmed in summer.

Pack an umbrella and a swimsuit, embrace the chance to pop on your trendiest fall outfit—this is the home of fashion, after all—and you’ll be all set.

Still, Italy is a long and narrow country, with nearly as many regional climates as provincial pasta types. While Rome might see around 4.5 inches of rain in November, southern Italy is drier, so much so that beaches often continue to be frequented.

Bay of Naples

As such, if you’re visiting Italy in November in hopes of the last wisps of beach weather, focus your attention on the warmer regions of the Mediterranean Sea.

While the eastern Adriatic Sea, near Venice and Ravenna, is usually warmer in summer, winter is a different picture. You’ll generally find more inviting temperatures on the western coasts, such as the Tyrrhenian Sea, near Naples, and the southern Ionian Sea, which both border Sicily.

Taste White Truffles & Vino Novello in Tuscany

White truffle pasta

There’s truly no bad time to visit Tuscany. Home to Pisa’s iconic leaning tower, Florence’s heavenly Duomo, and Michelangelo’s marble David, the region ticks every Italian vacation box.

Visit in November, and your taste buds will tingle even more than usual. This is prime season for Tuscany’s prized white truffles, particularly prevalent around Siena and San Miniato, a town outside Florence, which hosts a white truffle festival throughout the month.

Step into any restaurant specializing in seasonal cuisine—essentially, every trattoria—and these pungent and pheromone-triggering truffles will be the star of the month’s menu. Thankfully, their flavor is more subtle than their smell, providing an earthy, garlicky addition to any plate.

Truffle hunting in Tuscany

For a more intimate and unique experience, gourmands should join a truffle hunting tour in Tuscany’s postcard-perfect countryside. A specially trained dog will sniff out these celebrated funghi, taking you and your human guide directly to truffle treasure.

Another November highlight is Vino Novello, or new wine. Regulations decree it must be released at the end of October, making this autumn red wine the perfect seasonal sip.

Appreciate the Amalfi Coast at Leisure

Amalfi Coast

November in Italy feels like the whole country is taking a deep breath after a non-stop summer season. While Rome and Pisa’s landmarks still draw crowds, there are fewer visitors to contend with, and that’s especially true along the cinematic Amalfi Coast.

While it might seem unwise to travel to a beach destination during the low season, the Amalfi Coast’s true allure isn’t really swimming, sunbathing, or the beaches—which are mainly pebbles, rather than sand—but its pastel-hued, cliff-climbing villages. No matter the season, these pretty towns are postcard-perfect.

Restaurant in Sorrento

Without lines waiting for restaurants, you can savor fresh seafood and a zesty Limoncello in Sorrento, the “City of Lemons,” at a slower pace. Picturesque Positano is peaceful enough to tour the iconic Santa Maria Assunta Church and photograph the panoramic viewpoints freely. And with the heavy traffic of summer long gone, it’s easy to hop between multiple hamlets and historic villas in one day.

Join a Cooking or Creative Class

Sorrento

Renowned for its culinary and artistic talents, Italy is one of the finest destinations in the world for a hands-on experience.

Learning from local expert chefs and artisans not only affords a more intimate understanding of the nation’s culture but also allows for authentic connections and a chance to step inside, away from any November winds.

Florence is a fantastic November destination to join a pasta-making workshop, or a class that moves from the farmers’ market to the kitchen, where you’ll be taught how to prepare hearty Tuscan specialties. Some schools, such as Mama Florence, even offer specialist gluten-free workshops.

If cooking isn’t your thing, consider booking a creative class to enjoy a couple of hours inside as a warming break from sightseeing.

Castel Gandolfo

I once gifted myself a mosaic-making workshop at La Musa Mosaici in Castel Gandolfo, an easy day trip from Rome, and it remains one of my favorite Italian memories. Especially as Castel’s main attraction, Palazzo Pontificio, the former papal residence, has more restricted opening hours in November.

While hammering the stones and setting them is admittedly far more complicated than expected, you’ll enjoy a really fun afternoon, and bring home a beautifully personal souvenir.

Feel Festive at a Chestnut Festival

Italian chestnuts

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire aren’t just for Christmas in Italy. Sagre delle Castagne, or Chestnut Festivals, are an integral part of Italy’s fall harvest calendar.

Wholesome, cozy, and delicious, these annual events in October and November don’t just celebrate the humble chestnut, but also see the fruit turned into numerous local delicacies.

Tuscany, in particular, honors the season, with smaller towns hosting events throughout November, and castagnaccio, a Tuscan chestnut cake, becoming an autumn staple.

Attend Cultural Events in Rome

Jazz Festival

The Eternal City has enough cultural experiences to entertain anyone for a lifetime. That’s especially true if you visit Italy in November, when the country’s capital buzzes with events and festivals.

If you can find time between picturing gladiators in the Colosseum, the world’s largest ancient amphitheater, reflecting in the Pantheon, or visiting Vatican City, check the local cultural calendar to enjoy one of the celebrations.

Throughout November, events such as the Roma Jazz Festival, the MedFilm Festival, and Roma Arte in Nuvola, a celebration of contemporary art, add a more modern fall twist to Rome’s classic landmarks.

Swoon at Cinque Terre with Fewer Crowds

Riomaggiore

Cinque Terre, or the Five Lands, is one of the most popular destinations along the Italian Riviera.

Cinque Terre is a handful of picturesque, colorful fishing villages, each with its own personality. It’s easy to hop between two or three in one day by train, especially in November when crowds thin.

Monterosso al Mare

While the bathing beaches of the largest settlement, Monterosso al Mare, aren’t as appealing in November, the pretty panoramas of tower-topped Vernazza and the craggy harbor of Manarola are a picture any time of year.

Fall is also an excellent time to enjoy walking between the Cinque Terre’s villages. While the Via dell’Amore trail closes in the low season, the protected park’s other pathways are even easier to access than usual, as November is the first month post-summer when you will not need to purchase a Cinque Terre Card to walk the scenic routes.

Explore Naples Underground

Naples Underground

Colorful, characterful, and sometimes chaotic, nowhere in the world is quite like Naples. A warren of narrow vicoli, or alleyways, threads through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, one of the largest in Europe.

The birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, the port city is as delicious as it is historical, and searching for the perfect slice is a rite of passage. Once in November, I was lucky enough to walk straight into the acclaimed Gino Sorbillo without a wait—practically unheard of.

Another reason that Naples is an excellent Italian destination in November is that the narrow alleys continue underground. Book a tour of Naples Underground, and should it rain, you’ll be none the wiser.

Naples Underground

On the guided tour, you’ll be transported some 100 feet underground to a subterranean world. Here you’ll witness the buried secrets of one of the world’s most continuously inhabited cities, including the 2nd-century Catacombs of San Gennaro, Roman aqueduct, and WWII bunkers.

Discover a More Peaceful Pompeii

Pompeii

Pompeii, an easy day trip from Naples, is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites on the planet.

A near-perfectly preserved snapshot of an ancient Roman city, frozen in time and ash in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Italy’s most famous landmarks.

With its villa ruins, 1st-century BC amphitheater, and color-retaining frescoes, it’s easy to spend a whole day exploring the vast open-air archaeological park. Though in summer the lack of shade can become unbearable, a low-season visit can be far more appealing for the cooler climate and fewer crowds.

Sample Sicily’s Feasts of San Martino

Greek Theatre of Taormina, Sicily

Sicily is arguably the best place to venture during November in Italy. This sun-kissed, southern island—the largest in the Mediterranean—is closer to Africa than to Rome, ensuring temperatures suitable for outdoor exploring.

With crowds thinned yet the sun still shining, it’s an excellent time to explore Sicily’s storied past.

From the unforgettable panorama of Taormina’s ancient Greek Theatre, with the cerulean Ionian Sea twinkling beyond, to vivid fall foliage hikes around Mt. Etna, the world’s most active stratovolcano, Sicily feels like it’s constantly putting on a show.

Sfinci di San Martino

Another seasonal highlight is November’s Feasts of San Martino. Celebrated on November 11, though many events extend during the month, the festival is an excellent opportunity to sample local seasonal products and witness folk traditions.

Alongside the nationwide San Martino favorites, including chestnuts, roasted goose, and Vino Novello, Sicilians also celebrate their local bounty. This includes funghi found around Mt. Etna, apples, biscotti soaked in Moscato wine, and the event’s namesake, sweet, fried fritters, Sfinci di San Martino.

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Amalfi Coast

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