When is the best time to visit Tuscany?

Visiting Tuscany in March

While still cold, March sees the first vestiges of spring and hotels in Tuscany tend to re-open from Easter onward. The weather can vary between wet and cold and sunny and bright, with locals referring to the climate at this time of year as ‘pazzarello,’ meaning ‘somewhat crazy’.

Events & Festivals

• Depending on when Easter falls, most towns and cities host a range of Holy Week celebrations including many dramatic processions and religious services.

Visiting Tuscany in April

April is one of the best times to visit Tuscany, with the beginning of spring, gorgeous weather, and the re-opening of many hotels that close for the winter. The region plays host to several flower festivals, including a camellia festival in Pisa and an azalea festival in Lucca.

Events & Festivals

• Depending on when Easter falls, most towns and cities host a range of Holy Week celebrations including many dramatic processions and religious services.
• Flower festivals (April/May): Between April and May, there are different festivals all over Tuscany dedicated to different kinds of flowers and gardens.
• Liberation Day, a national holiday held on April 25, commemorates the Allied overthrow of the Nazis and the end of Mussolini’s rule.

Visiting Tuscany in May

May in Tuscany is usually pleasantly warm, with temperatures not yet at their peak. The fields and hillsides are beautifully green and it’s a gorgeous time to visit. Consequently, visitor numbers also start to pick up. May is also the beginning of the season of sagre, village festivals dedicated to each place’s local goods or heritage. Visitors can meander through the strawberry and cream festival in Florence, or indulge in some pici pasta during Siena’s celebration.

Events & Festivals

• Flower festivals (April/May): Between April and May, there are different festivals all over Tuscany dedicated to different kinds of flowers and gardens.
• Florence’s Iris Garden opens to the public for just a few weeks this month.

Visiting Tuscany in June

June marks the beginning of summer in Tuscany, as the temperatures start to rise in earnest. Pisa is especially attractive in June, with the month referred to as ‘Giugno Pisano,’ or ‘Pisan June’. A multitude of festivals and activities take place to celebrate the city, including the beautiful Luminara ceremony and dramatic regatta.

Events & Festivals

• Giugno Pisano (June): Pisa celebrates itself all June long, with festivals, pageants and concerts throughout the month.
• The Luminara ceremony takes place on June 16 in Pisa with candles lit in windows all along the banks of the River Arno and bonfires lit to illuminate the city.
• Medieval Harvest Festival (June): During the third weekend in June, San Gimignano hosts the Ferie delle Messi, or Medieval Harvest Festival, featuring performances and markets with traditional medieval fare.
• Republic Day on June 2 is a national holiday, celebrating the foundation of the modern republic of Italy.

Visiting Tuscany in July - August

July to August is peak season in Tuscany and sees an exodus of Tuscans and a rise in foreign visitors. Ripening under the hot temperatures, a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is in season, from apricots and peaches, to green peppers and tomatoes. August’s clear skies also make it an excellent time to lie back in the countryside and witness magnificent shooting stars.

Events & Festivals

• Lucca Summer Festival (July): Every July, Lucca holds an enormous music festival. Past acts have included Michael Bublé, Lionel Richie, Elton John, and the Dave Matthews Band.
• Siena Palio (July 2 and August 16): Each year, Siena hosts massive horse races and spectacles, once in July and once in August, with the whole city coming out to watch.
• The Night of San Lorenzo (August 10): Cities around Tuscany plan celebrations to commemorate the martyrdom of San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence), and the night is usually spent watching for shooting stars to remember him.

Visiting Tuscany in September

September is the best month to visit Tuscany and take advantage of its many wineries, which are particularly busy with the Vendemmia (grape harvest) this month. The weather begins to cool while still remaining enjoyably warm, making it a great time of year to explore the countryside and vineyards.

Events & Festivals

• La Vendemmia, the grape harvest, begins toward the end of September.

Visiting Tuscany in October

As the temperatures start to decline and fall rolls in, Tuscany is still a great area to visit. Florence is very pleasant at this time of year, and in the countryside it’s the season of one of the area’s most treasured goods: truffles. October’s weather is comfortable for going on a truffle hunt through the woods. Roasted chestnuts also start to appear on streetside stalls.

Events & Festivals

• October and November is truffle season and the delicacy features at fairs, markets and gastronomic events across northern Italy.