Italy in July

palio Summertime in Italy can be glorious, so it’s no wonder that in the month of July in Italy it feels like the country is absolutely overrun with every last tourist on earth. The further south you go, the warmer the weather will get - this is true year-round, but in a month like July this can mean that places in Calabria and Sicily can get furnace-hot. Of course, you might be into that kind of thing. And the fact that the locals in the hottest areas are spending as much time as possible in the water should be a clue to your own behavior.

So, that’s the trade-off of Italy in July - great weather throughout most of the country (beach-going weather in many areas) and massive numbers of tourists. Oh, and another downside of Italy in July is the higher prices, because the high season prices will be in full swing. Everything will cost you more, from souvenirs to accommodation to airfare, in most parts of Italy. Yes, it is hard to find cheap tickets to Italy in July, but that doesn’t seem to keep anyone away… Savvy travelers will be wondering why anyone still travels to places like Italy in July, given the crowds, but for many this is the only time of year when they can get away - especially if you’re talking about a family with kids who would otherwise have to be pulled out of school - so it’s not surprising why the crowds persist in the summers.

I will say to the parents out there that traveling is just about the best education you can possibly give your kids, so if you want to take them for a jaunt around Italy in the middle of the school year I think you’ll find that it’ll be worth it for more than just the lower prices and smaller crowds…

For an added educational bonus any time of year, check with this Italy festival finder or the local tourist information office for the places you’re visiting to see what local celebrations or events are taking place while you’re in town - there’s nothing like a local festival to get you into the local spirit of things and help really make a vacation magical. And July is great for festivals, including the first running of the world-famous Palio di Siena and the Venice Biennale art exhibition (though it only takes place in odd years). These festivals are famous and popular, however, meaning that if you want to build a trip around one of them you’ll want to book your hotel room well in advance and prepare to pay even more than the high season rates. And in the case of the Biennale, Venice airfare, already usually a little costlier than airfare to Rome or Milan, will go up as well. It’s all about supply and demand, right?

While most of Italy won’t really shut down in earnest until the August holidays, you may find places deciding to go on early holidays toward the end of July. You shouldn’t run into too much trouble with this in the most touristy areas, but if you get really off the beaten path you may find shops closed for “no reason,” other than the August holiday has come early.