Italy is one of the world’s top cycling destinations, offering almost year-round opportunities for great riding, however the best time to ride in Italy depends on a number of factors including which region you’re exploring, what kind of experience you’re after and the type of rider you are. After 10 years of operating Italian cycling tours through many regions of Italy, we have come to learn that ‘best’ for one rider is often not the same as it is for another rider.
This guide is intended to help individual cyclists understand Italy’s distinct seasons across different regions, and to decide when the best time to ride in Italy is for them.
Seasons in Italy
Italy’s climate is distinctly different from north to south, and from the mountains to the sea. Despite being a relatively small country geographically, the various regions experience the seasons differently, with all experiencing all four seasons. The country’s seasonal diversity does mean that throughout the year, there is nearly always somewhere beautiful to cycle in Italy. Depending on your preferred climate and your desire to share the road and towns with other people and cars, will determine when is the best time for you, as crowd levels do vary between the peak summer months and the off peak seasons, and also in some regions, where the peak extends well beyond the summer months. For example, Tuscany experiences a peak during September and October, whereas other regions can be almost ‘shut down’ from October.
Key Factors to Consider as a Cyclist
When determining the best time to ride in Italy, we believe there’s a few factors to consider. Sometimes all factors can be met when choosing the timing of your Italian cycling holiday, and other times you may be able to accommodate some preferences, while compromising on others.
Terrain / Riding Experience
The best place to start is by determining the riding terrain and experience you are looking for.
Is your preference to ride iconic, challenging mountains where every day sees you pushing yourself up and up? Or are continual hills and descents through some of the magical landscapes on an adventure through Tuscany or Piemonte more for you? Or perhaps it’s a combination of hills with riding along some of the amazing coastal roads with vistas that stretch off into the Mediterranean sea, such as in Sardinia, the Cilento Coast, Sicily or Puglia.
Climate / Riding Temperature
Next is to know what your preferred riding temperature is for your cycling holiday? Is it a full summer, open jersey experience? Or is your preference for warm days and cool nights? Or to stay cool day and night, at all costs?
Volume of People on and off the Road
Quiet roads are the key, with your riding experience elevated when there is little or no interaction with traffic. To achieve this, it is about selecting the right time of year to travel to a region, but also being with an operator who takes you along the less trafficked roads, surrounded by immense beauty.
There is also high reward when post ride you can meander with ease through the tiny alleys and streets of local villages, with only a handful of locals. When you can experience this, there is a sense that you are one of them, even if it’s just for a short moment.
Is the region even open?
This may sound odd, however one of the more surprising elements of regional Italy to many visitors is that towns and whole sub-regions close for certain months of the year. So it’s important to take into account if the region or island is open, or whether it is just partially functioning during the off and shoulder seasons.
While regions can be amazing to explore when they’re quiet, you don’t want to be caught out not having enough services available to you, should you need them. There’s quiet and then there’s no life at all (or dead quiet).
Regions of Italy across the Seasons
From May to October each year and from north to south, we share with you our thoughts and views on the best time to ride in Italy’s various regions, which is the culmination of 10 years experience delivering immersive cycling tours across all of these regions.
The Dolomites and Alps (northern Italy)
These regions are absolutely spectacular and should be on every rider’s bike bucket list if you like a challenge, love to climb, and descend as many k’s as you climb. However, regardless of the season, there is always the chance of quickly changing weather in the mountains so you need to pick your time.
May in these regions will still see a significant amount of snow on the road and still some of the high mountain passes, closed. Even if the passes are open, riding up and over these requires you to enjoy riding in near-freezing conditions and with a significant amount of kit to stay warm, especially when descending.
May is still classed as shoulder season in the northern regions, with many towns and businesses closed, as they take a well earned rest between the ski season and the summer. While there are less riders and generally little other traffic on the road, it’s important to factor in the course of the Giro d’Italia in its final week in May as they could be racing in these regions, and when the pink party comes to town, it’s great fun, but you’ll have road closures to contend with…
June is a mixed month in the Alps and Dolomites, with the first weeks often still quite cool and the latter part of the month being a great time to be in these regions. The weather is good and while tourism is picking up, full tourism is often yet to arrive. If you choose the right passes to climb, you can still have very quiet and beautiful days on the road.
July is a great month to be in the northern alpine regions – up until the 20th July, after which date tourism starts to move to a new level. A couple of the major gran fondo’s are on in the early days of the month so you need to be aware of these, however all roads and towns are open and while there is some additional traffic, it’s mainly local Italians on their weekends away. We think July is the pick of the months in the mountains as the riding temperatures are perfect, while the rest of Italy experiences soaring temperatures, and so it’s the month we choose to deliver our Stelvio & Dolomites cycling tour.
August is a great time to be in the mountains to escape the heat on the lower plains, however with many people, Italians and international tourists alike, making the pilgrimage to the Alps and Dolomites to ease their summer experience, this is the peak. There is an absolute increase in traffic, mountain towns are hectic and then all the roads that link the passes can become jam packed. The days are a beautiful temperature and the evenings are still cool, and so depending on whether you’re riding in the sun or shade, or dodging summer showers, can determine if you need a gilet or not for the day. The weekend and long weekend traffic is a big factor in August.
September in the mountains is starting to become cool, and while the first week or two can still be good, the weather can also turn cold quickly. There can still be a lot of people around in the first 2 weeks, who are also wanting to travel outside the ‘peak’ season, however from a pricing perspective, September is still considered the ‘high’ season in these parts of Italy.
Tuscany (central Italy)
Tuscany is an absolute dream to ride through, especially the Chianti wine region, the Crete Senesi and the Val d’Orcia. This is a mesmerizing landscape, dotted with small stone hamlets, vineyards, castles and olive roads and endless ribbons of tarmac scattered across the whole region. There are also some amazing places to ride in Umbria, Lazio and into the regions of Abruzzo and Le Marche where you’ll experience a similar climate to Tuscany, however here, we’ll focus on Tuscany as it’s our favourite place to ride in central Italy.
May in Tuscany is OK-good. The temperatures are mostly cool, but sometimes can be cold and wet, and it’s still quiet in the towns and villages, and on the road. However, the good news is that if you like changeable weather, everything is open across the region.
June in Tuscany is perfect. Warm days and beautiful long Summer evenings. This is a great cycling location and the perfect time for an amazing summer riding holiday. It’s warm to hot, but not oppressive. Your road or operator selection is important because it’s also possible to roll along stunning quiet roads, and often in the shade of trees, should the temperatures rise. It’s our favourite month in Tuscany.
July in Tuscany can be mixed. The first week or so can be like June and still really good for riding, however by mid month it does become very hot with temperatures regularly in the mid 30’s. It’s recommended only for cyclists who love to ride in hot weather.
August in Tuscany is hot, hot, hot. During the day, most people are inside and come out as it cools in the evenings. In our view, it’s best to be by the sea and not riding in Tuscany or central Italy during August.
September in Tuscany is magic – particularly after school goes back in the 2nd week of the month. You’ll discover warm days and cool evenings, and also less traffic on the roads. There is the potential for a little rain during the month, which is not all bad as it’s integral in the growth of the wild porcini mushrooms and truffles. Late in the month brings the harvest of the sangiovese grapes and the beginning of the L’Eroica festival. Our tour of L’Eroica and Tuscany at this time sees you experiencing all of the beautiful Tuscan elements at this spectacular time of year, when the Autumn colours start to pop and the Tuscan table comes into its own.
October in Tuscany is beautiful. The crowds have gone, the days can be varied, but still warm with early to mid 20’s temperatures, and you can feel the changing of the seasons. There is a tangible softness in the landscape. Riding during this time is an absolute joy.
South of Naples & Puglia (southern Italy)
There are many sensational places to ride south of Naples for a true and full Southern Italian experience, including cycling the stunning Amalfi Coast, however it’s the still very authentic areas of the Cilento Coast and Puglia that are amongst our favourites.
May in Italy’s south has changeable weather, with the chance of rain often. The days are pleasant and the evenings are cool, and the regions are starting to open up for the season. There is a low volume of traffic in the towns and on the roads. It’s pleasant.
June in Italy’s south is a full summer cycling holiday experience, with warm-hot days and beautiful warm summer evenings. Visitation to these regions starts to grow in June, however there are enough great routes and backroads that if you know your own way or join a guided tour who has done all the research for you, you’ll enjoy a stress free exploration of the region, keeping you away from much of the traffic and tourism.
July in Italy’s southern regions is the beginning of the peak season and the temperatures are high. Hot days and warm evenings make for a great holiday by the sea, but the narrow coastal roads, shared amongst all modes of transport, can be challenging to ride at this time of year.
August is best to be by the sea in Southern Italy as it is super hot and it’s also when the entire country goes on holiday. Our decision has always been to not ride in Italy in August.
September in Italy’s south is also a mixed month; the first two weeks can still be warm-hot during the day, and there is also still a medium volume of people travelling in the regions, particularly on weekends, and this lessens as the month progresses. There are many back roads in these regions which allow you to enjoy rides through beautiful parts of the landscape, and into authentic towns, with little traffic. We love riding in Italy’s south in September.
October in southern Italy is a diverse experience, with some regions remaining open, while other regions that are ‘less travelled’, see many businesses close quite quickly as the month commences. The temperatures are warm during the day and pleasant at night, and the majority of visitors have returned home, leaving less congestion. However it’s important to know where to go to experience these regions at their best, so that you leave with that warm hospitable feeling that the people of southern Italy offer only too well.
Sardinia
Sardinia is an absolute shimmering jewel in the Tyrrhenian sea. The island is full of beautiful natural surprises and offers an immersive cultural adventure as you roll around its stunning coastline, and into its inland heart.
May in Sardinia is good as the island has recently opened, and everyone is set for the new season. The days and evenings are pleasant and there is not a high volume of people or traffic in the towns or on the road.
June in Sardinia is beautiful. This is the time before the peak season hits. The weather is warm during the days and pleasant in the evenings, and if you choose the correct routes and roads, your experience will be sublime. It’s also magical for swimming and enjoying long summer evenings. It’s our pick.
July in Sardinia is mixed; the first week is much like June, however as you move into the second week of the month, the island starts to hit its peak. This is the full summer experience of hot days and hot nights, and in our view, it’s a time when you’re better off enjoying the mesmerising sea, rather than tackling the roads on a bike.
August in Sardinia is great if you’re at the beach as the hot days and nights continue. This is the island’s absolute peak and it’s best to avoid being on the road.
September in Sardinia is another mixed month, with the first weeks still quite warm to hot, and the island still full of people and traffic. From mid month, the heat lessens, and so does the volume of traffic, and the amount of people in the towns and villages.
October in Sardinia is also good as the high volume of people has reduced, and there’s less traffic on the roads. The weather has become cooler both during the day and certainly in the evening, however many beautiful areas of the island start to close for the late autumn and winter months.
Sicily
Riding in Sicily is a true two wheeled adventure. The riding is not tough, it’s just consistent, and what sets it apart are the diverse landscapes you ride through from east to west, the cultural journey and complex history you experience, and the delicious food and wine scene that make Sicily a unique place to ride and experience. It is absolutely one for the bucket list.
May is a great time to ride in Sicily. While the island generally re-opens in mid-late April after a short winter/early Spring break, it opens in earnest from early May, and at this time, there’s a new season buzz with the locals back and refreshed from their break. There is a lower volume of people in the streets and on the roads, and the temperatures in May are near perfect for riding, with warm days, and sometimes just a gilet required for the commencement of the ride. One of the most rewarding elements of riding in Sicily at this time of year is the colour that surrounds you with the stunning wildflowers in full bloom.
June in Sicily is really good for the first two weeks, with it being a proper summer riding holiday, but not oppressive. The island is in full swing with higher volumes of holiday makers and consequently more of everything that goes with that.
July in Sicily is just too hot to do anything other than lie in the shade by the sea and enjoy a spritz.
August in Sicily is hotter than July, especially when the Scirocco winds arrive from Africa. It’s best to be by the sea as it’s also when the entire country goes on holiday.
September starts off still quite hot, but by the midpoint of the month, the days are quite warm, not hot, and the evenings are cooler. The number of tourists on the streets and the traffic on the roads decreases as the month progresses, however late September remains a peak time for tourism in Sicily.
October in Sicily is near perfect with warm days and coolish nights, depending where you are. However it is still a relatively busy month in Sicily and it’s really only as you approach the middle-end of the month that there are a lot less people around and there’s less traffic on the road, making for ideal riding. The water is still warm enough to swim.
Find out more about our guided Italian cycling tours and the times of year we choose to host each tour across the various regions of Italy by visiting our tour calendar.
